Crown's Shield: The Aermian Feuds: Book Two

by Frost Kay

  She jerked straight and backed out, her gut churning. “Excuse me for the interruption.”

  Sage paused for a moment realizing that a woman in love wouldn’t walk away. She squeezed her eyes shut, morphing her face into anger and spun toward the door.

  “Sage, I…”

  Sage peered over her shoulder at the two. “Save it. You disgust me. I’m done.”

  She slammed the door shut behind her. That was…odd. Her eyes burned a little. What was wrong with her?

  Sage looked up to find both Sam and Garreth were looking at her in concern. Oh no, did she muck it up? Stepping away from the door, Sage looked between them. “That was convincing, right?”

  “What now?” Garreth asked, confusion wrinkling his brows.

  “Sage wants to know if her performance was good enough to fool the whore in there with my brother,” Sam growled.

  The Elite blinked. “You’re pretending to be upset?”

  “Yes,” Sage drew out.

  “You’re not upset by what you saw?” Garreth nodded at the door.

  “No,” she said slowly, ignoring the betrayal churning inside her. “Why would I?”

  “Because he’s your husband, and what he is doing is wrong.”

  “Technically, I was sold to the Crown. I could have the marriage annulled if I wanted. It’s not real.” Her heart pinched; they weren’t a married couple in the normal sense but she still thought they would be respectful of each other.

  A crash and a loud bellow was her cue to leave. Sage backed away from the two men and shrugged. “Let the prince know I’ll stay somewhere else tonight, but I will be back by morning before the servants arrive. Make sure his guest is gone by then. Garreth?”

  He shook himself and met her eyes. “Yes?”

  “Are you going to be guarding through the night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Make sure no one notices her exit, please.”

  She paused when Sam started in her direction. He placed both of his hands on her cheeks and searched her eyes. “This isn’t right, even if you feel like your marriage isn’t real. There were oaths.” He dropped his hand and touched her cuff. “You wear his cuffs.”

  “Not by choice,” she said lightly pulling his hands from her face. “Don’t worry about me,” Sage wiggled her eyebrows playfully, “I am the spymistress, I wear many masks, hurt isn’t one of them, but I ought to be going. We’ll speak more tomorrow.”

  His lips thinned, but he didn’t stop her from walking away. Her joking manner dropped and her lips quivered. Even if they weren’t a real couple, no one liked feeling worthless and betrayed.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Tehl

  “Get out!” Tehl growled as he shoved the treacherous woman off of him. She stumbled to her feet, looking shocked. He cursed loudly and glared at her.

  “Are you deaf? I said get out.”

  Caeja jerked back a step, tripping on her garish red dress. “But I thought…”

  “You thought wrong.”

  She blinked. “But you invited me to your rooms, and we danced the Sae.”

  Tehl didn’t quite remember it like that. “No,” he said slowly, “you are my wife’s lady-in-waiting, and you offered to help her undress.”

  At his statement, a seductive smile replaced the uncertainty. Caeja held her hands out in innocence and took a step forward. The innocence was as fake as she was.

  “Well, she wasn’t here, so I wanted to lend a hand,” she purred.

  He snarled, and she froze. In no way, had he given her the impression she was welcome in his bed. He was a married man for heaven’s sake, and for all intents and purposes, he was in love.

  “I love my wife,” Tehl stated.

  Caeja barked out a sharp laugh crossing her arms. “If you love her, I’ll eat my own hat.”

  Tehl frowned as she drew shapes on the bed with her finger. He wished she would stop doing that. It was creepy.

  “I am not blind, I know when a man is enthralled with one woman.”

  Her eyes traveled from the bed and met his.

  “And you, my dear prince, are not that man. The Methian prince on the other hand…” She tsked. “Well let’s just say he has an issue with covetousness.”

  Tehl’s eyes narrowed to slits. So he wasn’t the only one who took notice. The heated exchange between Rafe and Sage during the Sae was plain for all to see. The small, jealous part of him had reared its ugly head as he had observed their dance. Sage was alive in Rafe’s arms. He detected the loathing but there was also something else there. And she hadn’t responded to him like that, ever. Was it an act? Was it hate? Or was it something more? He still didn’t know.

  When she’d excused herself, the rebellion leader had discreetly followed her. Tehl decided to call it a night and see what his troublesome little wife was up to, but Caeja had managed to come along.

  “I am here for you if you need anything.”

  He snapped back to the disgusting woman who was still somehow standing in his room. Tehl had dealt with her flirting and blatant advances for years, but now it would end. He was tired of it.

  It saddened him to remember the girl she used to be growing up. She’d been a wonderful person, but somewhere along the way she’d become a power-mongering harpy. Maybe if someone spoke frankly to her, it would snap her out of her ways.

  He drew in a deep breath and stared her down. “Caeja, this needs to stop. As a girl you were precocious, kind, and funny.” Her smile widened, and she batted her lashes. “But now all you are is an insipid, shallow wench.”

  Her smile dropped. “Excuse me?”

  “What made you this way?”

  Silence.

  “Caeja, you need to change. If you act the whore, men will treat you that way.”

  “You don’t know a damn thing about me!” Caeja hissed, rage sparkling in her eyes.

  “You’re right, and I don’t care to.” He winced. That was a little harsh but he continued on. “I would be remiss if I didn’t straighten you out while I have the chance.”

  “You’re not my father, how dare you speak to me in such a way!”

  “You’re right, I am not, but I am your crown prince and acting ruler. Remember who you are speaking to.” Her eyes dropped to the floor. “Where are your morals, Caeja? You were raised better than this. Your father may be a ruthless man, but he would never wish this type of life on you. Have you forgotten what’s right and wrong?” Tehl gestured to her dress. “What are you even wearing? What kind of attention are you trying to attract? You’re barely covered. What happened to modesty? You’ve thrown yourself at me without any thought to your future. Don’t you desire a family? A husband who loves you?”

  Her lips quivered for a moment before she pressed them together so tightly they turned white. “Yes.”

  “Then take a good look at yourself, and change, or you’ll find yourself in a place you don’t want to be.” Tehl ran a hand through his dark locks staring at the plush rug beneath his boots. “Now, leave me.”

  Tehl lifted his head when the swish of her grown signaled her exit.

  He needed to find his wife and explain. It had taken a while, but he was beginning to read little things about Sage, and she had been genuinely shocked finding them. She’d recovered well, but he had sensed emotion.

  Tehl waited a minute and then pushed off the bed, striding to the door. He wrenched it open and halted at the sight of Sam casually leaning against the far wall.

  “Where’s Sage?” He looked left then right, nodding to Garreth who jerked his chin up at him in a stiff way.

  Hell. Even Garreth was pissed at him.

  He spun back to Sam and noted his brother hadn’t moved or spoken. Usually he had too much to say. “Where is she?”

  Sam shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Sam, you keep track of everyone. You’re a better liar than that.”

  Another shrug.

  Tehl rolled his eyes. “No comment.”

  An
ger crossed Sam’s face surprising him.

  “She needs to be alone.”

  “I need to explain.”

  “Well, that’s for damn sure,” Sam snapped.

  “Nothing happened.” Tehl’s fists closed and his jaw clenched. “Caeja instigated it and tricked me.”

  “Now that sounds like Caeja.”

  His brother pushed off the wall and strode toward him.

  “What I don’t understand is the amount of time you spent with her after Sage barged in on you.” Sam jabbed him in shoulder. “Are you so stupid to risk everything for Caeja?”

  “We were talking,” Tehl said.

  “Is that what they’re calling it these day?” Sam snorted. “I know a tumbled woman when I see one.”

  “She looked tumbled because I shoved her off the bed! Do you really think I am capable of being that callous? We’re not a love match but do you think I’d so readily disrespect my wife and my standards?!”

  Sam searched his face and visibly relaxed. “You’re not a very good liar, and you’re one of the most loyal people I know. I should have figured. I am glad I won’t have to defend Sage’s honor by kicking your ass.”

  His brother believed him. Tehl let loose a deep breath. “Do you really not know where Sage is?”

  “She disappeared right after she walked in on you.” His brother’s lips thinned. “Rafe sauntered by a few minutes ago.”

  Tehl straightened at that. The rebellion leader was always lurking. “He was in the royal wing?”

  Sam rolled his eyes. “The rebellion leader is everywhere. I doubt there is any place we could keep him out of. He moves like a ghost. I am a little envious sometimes, I’ll admit.”

  That’s all he needed, Rafe finding Sage while she was upset at him. After the rough day they’d had… One thing was clear: he needed to find her because the rebellion leader wasn’t playing by the rules.

  “It’s like he doesn’t understand that she is taken.” Tehl found himself saying. “Doesn’t anyone have any respect these days? Sage is a married woman, and I am a married man.”

  “You might want to speak about that with your bride, then,” Garreth piped in.

  Tehl craned his neck to look at the Elite. “What do you mean by that? Has she been unfaithful?” The words burned in his mouth as he said them.

  Garreth’s eyes rounded as he shook his head emphatically no. “No, that’s not what I meant. What I meant is that she doesn’t consider herself in a real marriage.”

  “It’s real.”

  “Is it?”

  “It’s not fake, we share a room every night.” Tehl pointed to the cuffs on his biceps. “I am wearing her damn cuffs. What could be more real than that?”

  Garreth held up his hands. “I am just repeating what she has previously said. Sage is of the mind that she’s been sold, and that she can annul whenever she wants.”

  “What?” She wanted an annulment? Not in his lifetime. “Like hell that will happen. Plus, there’s no one who’d examine her for innocence without my say so.”

  “Mira,” Sam breathed.

  Tehl froze. Mira, of course, the blond healer wouldn’t care what he threatened her with if she wanted to help Sage. “I need to go.” Stars above, why did everything feel so unsecure all of a sudden?

  Sam slapped him on the shoulder as he stormed by. “I’ll look for her too.”

  Tehl tossed his thanks over his shoulder before searching all the places he could think of where his little wife liked to disappear to.

  Nothing.

  He rushed up a stairway and spotted Rafe walking toward him. Tehl swerved and intersected Rafe’s path. “Have you seen, Sage?”

  Rafe’s golden eyes studied him for a moment before answering. “No, I’ve not seen her since our dance.”

  Tehl fought back a growl at the memory of how the other man had looked at Sage. “If you see her, tell her I am looking for her, will you?”

  Rafe nodded.

  “I also don’t appreciate uninvited guests in the royal wing. Especially ones looking for my wife late at night.”

  Every drop of civility Rafe held disappeared. “She’s your nothing.”

  He said it simply like it was the truth.

  Tehl bared his teeth. “That’s where you’re wrong.” He tapped his cuff. “She’s now my everything.” Tehl ignored the growl that rumbled out of the dangerous man. “Your covetousness and blatant disregard for the sanctity of marriage tonight could cause the death of many. Sage and I are working as partners the best we can to protect Aermia, and you’re just making it difficult.” He stepped toe to toe with Rafe, their noses almost touching. “So I’ll say it again, stay away from my wife.”

  Rafe’s eyes hardened. “You will never deserve her.”

  Tehl nodded. He may not have been in love with Sage but he did see her worth. “Maybe you’re right, but I am thankful you drove her into my home.”

  He dipped his chin and stalked around the rebellion leader to the grand staircase. Hopefully, he had talked some sense into the man. Tehl snorted. Doubtful. The man was as stubborn as he himself was.

  Tehl reached the royal wing, irritated that Sage had disappeared. As he wandered down the hall, firelight flickered underneath a door casting wispy ropes of dancing light on the dark carpets. He followed the light to the door.

  A smile.

  Sage’s old room.

  He’d found her.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Tehl

  He pulled in a deep breath through his nose and knocked. Time to prepare for battle.

  Silence.

  No way. She wasn’t going to ignore him. They were going to talk. Tehl pushed open the door and stepped inside.

  “Sam, do you ever wait for an invitation—” Sage swung out of the bathing room wearing a playful scowl that dropped at the sight of him.

  Tehl clicked the door shut and gaped. She’d changed out of her Sirenidae dress into a long silk nightgown. Tehl scanned her from head to toe. Stars above, she was a lovely woman. His mood soured. A lovely troublesome wench. But even that thought didn’t tear his eyes from her. He hadn’t seen her in anything like that since they’d been married. Each night she went to bed in her linen shirt and leather pants armed to the teeth with weapons.

  “You’re wearing a nightgown,” he said stupidly.

  Her scowl returned. A real one. Great.

  “Thank you for stating the obvious. I wasn’t expecting any guests. Give me a moment.” She spun and disappeared into the bathing room.

  “You called me Sam when I walked in.” Tehl pointed out as he strode farther into her room. He paused by the fire, enjoying the warmth wrapping around him. “Obviously, you were expecting some company.”

  “Sam’s harmless,” she hollered.

  What a crock. “Are we still speaking about the same person?”

  “He doesn’t have any design on my virtue,” came her muffled reply.

  “Sam has a design on every woman’s virtue.” His tone was full of disgust. His brother’s questionable pastimes bothered him. “Anyone who thinks differently is foolish.”

  The door swung open revealing Sage in her typical nighttime attire, leather and linen. For a moment, he thought it was a pity she’d discarded the nightgown, but he shook his head and focused on what needed to be said. “We need to talk.”

  She paused at the dressing table and pulled a brush through her tangled hair which left transparent wet spots on her shirt.

  “What about, my lord?”

  Damn it, she was using formalities. One thing he had picked up living with her is that when she wanted to distance herself from someone, she was overly formal.

  “I want to speak about what you witnessed earlier. I need to apologize.”

  Her brushstrokes stopped, and she met his eyes. “There’s nothing to apologize for. We don’t love each other, and it’s not my place to judge you.” She turned from him and began yanking the brush through her hair. “Is that all?”

&n
bsp; Tehl’s brow wrinkled in confusion. He explained nothing. Sage believed he had broken his marriage vows and yet she acted like it was something as common as stepping on someone’s toes. That it wasn’t a grievous sin against her. He’d have been angry if he had caught her in that position.

  “So you’re not upset that another woman was in our bed?” Tehl waited to see if she would pick up the bait. She said more when she was angry. It lit her up.

  “No, technically it’s not even my bed, it’s yours.”

  “But I am bound to you,” he prodded, trying to get some read on her.

  “A written piece of paper, some words, and silver does not constitute a marriage.”

  Now that was a damn lie. Her words ignited his anger. How could she be so callous about marriage vows? “Do you remember what we agreed upon before we were betrothed?” Tehl asked meeting her eyes in the mirror.

  She nodded.

  “Have you up held them?”

  Carefully, she set down the brush and watched him in the mirror. “I have,” she ground out. “And I find it unfair that since you have broken yours, you now question mine.” Sage placed her hands on the dresser not losing eye contact. “Have I not been a good wife?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have I not shouldered the responsibilities you heaped upon me without a single complaint until today?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have I not given all to keep your kingdom together?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then how dare you question my morals.”

  Well, hell. That’s not what he meant at all. Tehl took a couple of cautious steps until he stood behind her, placing his hands on her rigid shoulders. “It was not my intention to accuse you of anything. My purpose for seeking you out was to clear the air.”

  She dropped his gaze to stare at the brush. “Well, you sufficiently cleared the air. Thank you for coming to apologize, but it isn’t necessary. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am heading to bed. I’ll make sure to sneak back into the suite before the servants come to greet us.”

  “You’ll be sleeping in our room.” They would not go to bed angry with each other. His mother always said never go to sleep provoked but to make peace, and he planned to.