He pulled the cover over her nakedness and bid Mushira enter. Saj followed her.
“Majesties…” Mushira started before she noticed Adrienne was asleep. She corrected herself in a lowered voice, “Sire, the cook wishes to know if you and Queen Adrienne will be in the dining hall for breakfast.”
Malik gestured to Adrienne before he answered. “As you can see, Adrienne is too exhausted to handle the court. We will be present at dinner.”
Mushira, satisfied with this answer, bowed her way out of the room. Saj stood his ground and stared at the far wall. Malik knew what Saj wanted and also knew the man wouldn’t leave him alone until he got it.
Saj was one of the servants who had helped finish Malik’s upbringing. Ten years older and a foot shorter, Saj didn’t fear Malik’s temper or magickal prowess. Only a few servants could make that boast.
“The mess is in the bathroom, Saj. Truly, you can leave it until later,” Malik suggested. He learned at an early age that he couldn’t command Saj. The man did what he thought best, and nothing else.
“No, I cannot.” Saj made his way to the bathroom with quick and precise steps. Before he closed the bathroom door, he added, “I will have a servant bring you and the queen a breakfast tray. You will not be able to beget heirs if you are hungry.”
Adrienne stirred again. This time she curled into Malik’s side, or tried to, at any rate. With Malik sitting up, it made the task somewhat difficult. She opened her eyes and blinked up at him. “What’s going on?”
“Mushira and Saj wished to bid us good morning.”
“Oh?” came Adrienne’s reply. She lifted her head and looked around. “I don’t see them.”
“Mushira has gone already. Saj is cleaning the mess we made of the bathroom.” Malik smiled at her instant embarrassment.
Though Adrienne seemed not to notice the tearing of her maidenhead, the blood was still present. Malik had taken Adrienne back to the bathroom and cleaned her. The task led to another encounter, which had ranged over the entirety of the bathroom.
He leaned down and captured her mouth with his. Against her lips he said, “Do not fret. Saj does not mind cleaning. He demands it, actually. Everything in its proper place.” He cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple.
Adrienne tried to pull away while she was still lucid, but Malik’s other arm held her firmly in place. She turned her head from his kisses but her action only made Malik move his mouth to her nipple. She batted at his head and hands to no avail. Even if he released her, she couldn’t escape the liquid warmth sliding along her skin.
“Saj is in the other room. We can’t do this with him in here,” she whispered in a pleading tone.
“He will not come out of that bathroom until it is clean. Even then, he will not exit the room until he is sure he will not embarrass us.”
“He’ll hear us.”
“Correction, my Adrienne, he will hear you,” Malik purred. His teeth clamped down lightly on her nipple, punctuating his sentence. Her resulting gasp proved his point, and he smiled.
“I don’t want him to hear me,” she whined. Understanding showed in Malik’s eyes and Adrienne gave a relieved sigh. He sat away from her and she returned his smile. Once Saj left, Adrienne would have no problems allowing Malik to ravish her again. She had enjoyed it.
Malik had no intention of waiting for Saj to leave. He moved forward to kiss Adrienne’s lips. His hand slid down her stomach to steal between her legs. He could feel her dismay but knew soon she wouldn’t care.
He stroked her until she stopped thinking about Saj. Once properly distracted, he entered her. Malik knew Saj heard every moan and cry because Adrienne was not a quiet lover. She vocalized her pleasure to the point where the distance between the bathroom and the bed wouldn’t muffle the sound in any way.
Saj would approve of his queen’s pleasure and his king’s efforts to give her pleasure. Pleasure meant an heir would take root faster. Or it would if Malik hadn’t employed a contraceptive spell to uphold his side of their bargain.
After their mutual climax, Adrienne rolled to face the windows. She couldn’t see anything but sky from her vantage point, but it didn’t matter. The afterglow of making love to her new husband had her too distracted to notice if the bed was on fire, let alone to notice the scenery.
Malik pressed himself against her back, draping one arm around her stomach and propping his head on the other. “Though the barrier was absent, you did not dream last night.”
Adrienne ran her fingers over his arms. “I didn’t sleep long enough to dream.”
“I will not apologize for that.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” she said. She looked at him over her shoulder. “I thought you didn’t care about my nightmares? You didn’t bother to show up on that first night when the others called you.”
He caressed her cheek. “I could feel your fear and I knew what caused it. My presence would not have assuaged that fear but added to it.” He kissed her shoulder. “Qamar reported you were well. I left your care to your maids.”
The bathroom door opened. Saj came out with Malik’s and Adrienne’s wedding attire smoothed over his arm. He bowed. “The bathroom is cleaned, Majesties.”
Malik nodded. “Thank you, Saj.”
He tickled his fingers over her stomach before reaching down between Adrienne’s legs and spreading her nether lips. She stiffened and looked over her shoulder at him. Before she could protest, he entered her from behind, forcing her to clamp her lips shut lest she cry out.
Adrienne closed her eyes as Malik started moving. She didn’t want to look at Saj. The distance between the bed and the door of the bathroom, as well as the blankets she and Malik were under, were enough to muffle Malik’s movements from Saj—she hoped.
Malik continued to move his hips behind Adrienne and stroke her tiny nub. He felt her shiver and knew she fought with herself to remain quiet. His distraction at torturing Adrienne made him miss Saj moving to the foot of the bed. He asked in a breathy voice, “Was there something else you wanted, Saj?”
Saj looked pointedly at the bed. “I wish to take the sheets as well, Malik. The people will want to know Queen Adrienne was virginal.”
Malik pointed at the side of the bed. “I anticipated your request. The sheet is over there.” He returned his hand to Adrienne.
Saj retrieved the sheet. After he looked at the blood stain on the sheet, he nodded in approval. “The people will be happy.”
Malik grunted. Adrienne wasn’t the only one affected. He stopped his movements and finished his conversation with Saj. “The people will be happy but the chancellors will not until they use their magicks to assure themselves the blood is Adrienne’s virgin’s blood and not simply spilled from a wound.”
Saj nodded in agreement. He turned to leave but said over his shoulder, “I shall have your breakfast tray sent up presently. I suggest you finish, Malik.”
The door barely closed after Saj before Malik restarted his movements in earnest. Adrienne curled in on herself at her climax. Once they recovered, she swatted him on the arm. He fended her off half-heartedly and laughed at her assault.
“You jerk! It’s not funny. Saj knew.”
Malik pinned her arms and hugged her to his chest. “Calm down, Adrienne. Saj is discreet. And I do believe you enjoyed him watching you. Your climax was much stronger this time than any of the others.”
Adrienne growled at him and struggled against his hold. In the end, she gave up. Her strength didn’t compare to his. “I want a bath.” She wanted to be dressed and out of bed before the breakfast tray arrived. Knowing Malik, he would try this again.
“Of course, my Adrienne.”
* * *
Adrienne and Malik spent four more days holed up in their rooms, enjoying each other. They only left to eat dinner with the palace folk. They never stayed for more than two courses before excusing themselves. One and all found their distraction with each other amusing and promising.
So it surprised some when, on the fifth day, Malik sat on his throne dais alone. Malik hadn’t wanted to bring an end to his fun but his kingdom needed him. Adrienne pleaded to be left out of the proceedings.
She wasn’t confident in her abilities to rule and would probably be a silent observer while Malik continued as he had before he married her. When the time came to sit before the court, Adrienne bowed out of the affair all together. She decided to take a walk with the promise she would be present the next day.
Malik didn’t want Adrienne away from his side but he understood her anxiety. Her goal didn’t involve hiding in their rooms, so he was happy to let her dodge her royal responsibilities.
Adrienne strolled in the main gardens off the dining hall instead of the ones below the royal wing. Mushira was right—they were even more gorgeous than the ones Adrienne had seen before.
Being out in the open didn’t scare her as much as she thought it would. Khursid and Qamar, who walked five paces behind her, helped keep her fear at bay.
She threw comments over her shoulder at them every few steps and Qamar answered, but they made no move to keep pace with her. Adrienne figured her new status was the reason.
It was a beautiful but lonely walk. After an hour, she resigned herself to going to the throne room and sitting with Malik. Ruling made her feel apprehensive but it beat being lonely and bored.
“May I join you, Adrienne?”
Adrienne gasped and looked around. She would know that voice anywhere, especially since it spoke in her head. Feyr walked towards her.
“Hello, Feyr. I haven’t seen you in days. Where have you been?”
“You have not seen me, but I did see you, at the wedding ceremony.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice you, but I was a little out of it,” Adrienne admitted. She glanced back at Khursid and Qamar, who had stopped walking when she had. Actually, it looked as though they stood farther away. “They’re scared of you because Malik uses you to punish people, right?”
“Correct.” He glanced over his shoulder at Khursid and Qamar, then looked up at Adrienne. “Are you scared of me?”
“No. I have no reason to be.”
They started walking. Now that Adrienne had a companion, she could stand strolling around the gardens a little while longer. She asked again, “Where did you go? I wanted to spend more time with you but you disappeared.”
“Yes,” Feyr agreed with a nod. “My mate’s time was at hand. She gave birth to my cubs three nights ago.”
“That’s great,” Adrienne gushed. “How many?”
“Six total: two boys and four girls. A large litter for her first. She was exhausted.”
“I can imagine.” She gave a little laugh. “Well, I can’t really imagine since I’ve never had children.”
“From what I’ve heard throughout the palace about your and Malik’s activities of late, that should change soon,” Feyr said with a wink.
Adrienne didn’t respond. Feyr had just voiced a constant worry of hers. Malik agreed to take her back to her family before their first child but Adrienne hadn’t missed the lack of a contraceptive during their lovemaking. She could be pregnant even now.
Feyr snapped her out of her thoughts when he said, “My mate says you can choose a cub in one month’s time. They should be weaned by then.”
“I’d almost forgotten about that,” Adrienne said with a laugh. She looked down at Feyr. “What is your mate’s name? I want to know what to call her when I see her.”
“She has no name. Naming is for kept animals only, such as myself.”
“Oh.”
“Queen Adrienne,” Rena yelled as she ran towards Adrienne and Feyr. She waved her hand over her head frantically. Her movements dislodged her auburn braid from the top of her head. It had been pinned in the shape of a crown to match Mushira’s. The little girl insisted on becoming one of Adrienne’s maids once old enough. Until then she only dressed the part.
Adrienne called back, “Hello, Rena.” Here was someone else she hadn’t seen in days. She knelt and caught the girl, then hugged her close. “How have you been? Are you eating properly?”
“Yes. Cook said you said I have to eat more vegetables. They taste bad but I eat them because I want dessert,” Rena admitted. She glanced at Feyr. “Hello.”
Feyr nodded to her.
“Rena,” came a frantic shout.
Indivar ran towards them, Bayard and Flavian not far behind. They seemed spooked about something. She looked around, expecting to see an attacker. Khursid and Qamar were relaxed. If she were in danger, they would be the first ones to try to get her out of it. What was going on?
Indivar grabbed Rena and pulled her behind him. Bayard tried the same with Adrienne but she stepped out of his reach.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Bayard said, “Please come this way slowly, Majesty.”
All of them stared at Feyr. He sat on his haunches and watched them. He looked bored. “They are trying to protect you from me, Adrienne.”
“Why?” she asked aloud.
“The cat is dangerous,” Flavian answered.
“No, he’s not. At least, he’s not dangerous to me.”
“You do not know Feyr, Majesty. The cat is dangerous,” Bayard reasoned. He reached for her again. “Please Majesty, I—”
“Stand down, Bayard,” Qamar said, finally coming forward with Khursid behind her. “Queen Adrienne and Feyr have met before.”
“They have?” Indivar asked in disbelief.
Adrienne answered, “Yes we have.” To Feyr, she said, “This is silly.”
“They only wish to protect you,” he pointed out.
“And I’m grateful, but—”
“You can speak to the cat?” Flavian asked.
“Yes, yes, I know. Speaking to animals is a rare trait,” Adrienne said. “I’m grateful to you all for trying to protect me but Feyr isn’t going to hurt me.” To Indivar, she added, “He won’t hurt Rena, either.”
Indivar blinked down at his daughter. She smiled up at him. He turned a horrified expression to Adrienne then went quickly to one knee with his head bowed. “I did not mean to consider my daughter before you, Majesty. I—”
“Was concerned for your daughter’s safety, and I totally understand that, Indivar. You don’t have to apologize. I’m fine; Rena is fine. Everyone is fine, and Feyr won’t hurt anyone.” Adrienne smiled at Indivar’s concerned look. “It’s okay.”
“No, it is not, Adrienne,” Malik gritted out later that evening. He paced in front of the bed.
Adrienne watched him from her perch on the edge of the bed. She had told him about the entire ordeal, thinking he would find it funny. Instead he got angry. She hadn’t wanted to get Indivar in trouble, but couldn’t take it back. “Rena is his daughter, Malik.”
“You are his queen, Adrienne. Your safety comes before everyone else’s, including his daughter. Rena should not be allowed in your presence if he cannot remember that.”
“I like Rena,” Adrienne said through her teeth.
Malik stopped pacing and looked at Adrienne. He tried to soften his words. “I did not mean to say you could not see her, my Adrienne.”
“Then what did you mean to say, Malik?”
He sighed. “I do not want you in danger.”
“I don’t want to be in danger either. Believe me. But being with Rena is not a problem,” Adrienne reasoned. She searched his eyes to see if he agreed with her. “Rena has already been denied her mother. Don’t make me deny her, too.”
“As you will, my lady,” Malik conceded.
Adrienne smiled at him. Malik had started his lessons in compromise, and the ordeal seemed frustrating to him. “Besides, Rena is an integral part of my plan to get Hani and Indivar together.”
“Excuse me?”
“Hani likes Indivar,” Adrienne said plainly. “If Rena starts to see Hani as a mother, then Indivar will start to see Hani as a possible wife. Not to mention it’ll get him
over that silly infatuation he has with your cousin.”
“Lady—”
“Don’t say her name around me.”
Malik chuckled. He walked over to her and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He intended to make the kiss brief, but it changed the second he touched her. Suddenly, he couldn’t get Adrienne’s clothes off fast enough.
Adrienne gasped out, “What about dinner?”
“I have been with the court all day. I wish to spend my evening with you. In you,” he growled against her neck.
Adrienne put her hand in his way before he could follow through with his plan. “You promised to take me home before our first child, Malik.”
“I will, my Adrienne.” He reached out to move her hand.
“Not if we keep doing this. How do you know I’m not pregnant already?”
Malik could feel her concern. He stopped trying to move her hand and laid a gentle kiss on her lips. “You are not pregnant, my Adrienne. I have used a contraceptive spell every time we have come together. I do not wish you to be disappointed in me, so I have taken measures to ensure I do not go back on my word.”
“Really?” she asked. Her eyes searched his.
“Truly,” he whispered back.
She hugged him close. Malik always thought about her feelings and her safety.
Chapter Thirteen
Adrienne sat on her throne next to Malik the next morning. Feyr sat between the royal couple and enjoyed head scratching from both sides.
Adrienne watched Malik preside over the many problems brought before them. He asked for her input every now and then, but she simply shook her head and remained silent. It was her first day and she wanted to observe. If anyone thought her attitude odd, they kept the opinion to themselves.
Observing went to the wayside when the Keeper showed up. Adrienne knew something was wrong when the man entered the throne room. First the woman announcing people with grievances only referred to the man as “The Keeper”—an obvious title, but the announcer didn’t give the man’s name or what he kept. Second, Malik stiffened, looked at her and then looked at the Keeper. The actions of a man caught doing something wrong.
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