Page 31 of In the Embrace of Dragons

I gape at her, and so does the king.

“I won’t say that I’d never have married you if I knew,” she begins, speaking to Vizarios. “I didn’t have a choice in the matter, and neither did you. But what I will say is I would have gone about this much differently.”

“There is nothing you need to do differently,” I tell her. “You are queen, and?—”

Nissia covers my mouth with her hand, and I fall silent. This sudden close contact feels like lightning on my skin. I almost want to reach out my tongue and lick her palm, just to taste her.

“And you,” she says, narrowing her eyes at me as she withdraws her hand. “You were the one who should have said something to me, Captain. Him, I can see. But you?” She shakes her head, and her disappointment in me is crushing. “It explains so much, though.”

Vizarios has been still this whole time, watching us as if in a daze.

“But now that I understand, it’s time to move forward,” Nissia says. She steps away from us both, and her lips curl down. “I don’t need my husband to love me to do my job. So I’m not going to get in the way.”

I’m not sure I’ve heard her right. “There is nothing to be in the wayof,” I say.

Vizarios glares at me. “You’re such a liar.”

“I have never lied to you, Your Majesty?—”

“Stop!” Nissia shoves her finger into my face. “Get off your high horse,Captain. You’re certainly not doing me any favors by behaving this way.”

I close my mouth, properly chastised.

“It’s fine,” she says at last, her harsh demeanor falling. “It’s not uncommon for royalty. I’m sure my dad has had many mistresses, even while my mother was still alive.” She laughs darkly.

But Vizarios does not appear relieved. “You’re going to just... accept this? You don’tmindthat your new husband is involved with his own guard captain?”

“I do mind,” she says. “You know, I enjoyed the ceremony.”

His eyes widen, and for once, his mouth is unmoving.

“So I have one rule.” Nissia holds up her index finger. “You can do what you like. The two of you can have this relationship, if you truly want, as long as you keep it quiet. Maintain the image ofunityin the eyes of the kingdom, right?”

Vizarios nods dumbly. My own heart is racing much too fast, though, anticipating what she might say next.

“I will not get in the way of you two pursuing as you choose. But my rule... is that you must let me watch.”

VIZARIOS

It hurt, I must admit, that my new queen was not jealous. It would be better for me if she weren’t, and yet the animal in me that marked her, claimed her, is furious that she would allow this.

She should want me for herself. She should desire me as I desire her. I want her to covet me, to want my cock inside her again.

But she’ll also let me have what I’ve always wanted most: my devoted captain. I struggle to believe it. I could embrace how Ragnakor stirs me, how my soul longs for his, without my new wife angry at me for it.

Ragnakor looks as if he’s been hit by a boulder.

“Your Majesty?” he asks, uncertain. “You would... allow us to have relations?”

“I can’t stop you from doing what you want.” Nissia sighs. “But if I had the choice, I would not want my husband doing it without me. Alone in my room, while you two get to be happy together for the rest of time?”

For the rest of time. She would allow me to truly be with him, without interfering, without telling everyone in court what a dishonest creature I am? As long as she gets to bear witness to it?

The itch in my groin grows stronger, and I can’t resist reaching down to scratch it. Both Ragnakor and Nissia’s eyes follow my movement, and Ragnakor grunts.

“Your glands have refilled?” he asks, giving me a knowing look.

The queen, puzzled, glances between us. “What does that mean?”