Page 78 of In the Embrace of Dragons

I nod, because I am coming to understand that.

“Do you want me to speak with him?” he asks.

“Would it work?”

“I don’t know. But I will try for you.” He kisses my forehead and lies down on the bed again beside me. “Because I want him here, too.”

VIZARIOS

When I awaken, Nissia is sleeping beside me, her face surprisingly relaxed. I crawl on top of her as she dozes, teasing one of her nipples through the sheet and then the other. Her face screws up, and she lets out a long breath of air.

“Is your cock always so eager?” she asks with playfulness in her voice, and I am immeasurably pleased to see this side of her, her eyes half-open but a smile playing on her lips.

I am rather aroused, so I’m even happier when she spreads her legs for me and reaches down to guide me inside her.

When at last, Nissia dresses and says goodbye, I kiss her before allowing her to go. I will most certainly have a talk with my captain of the guard today, because I can’t watch her cry like that again.

She never cried like that over me, and I hated seeing it. Her pain makes me want to turn the world upside down to give her everything she could possibly need.

Nissia freezes in the doorway when she steps outside. “Oh. Good morning, Captain.”

She pulls her robe tighter around herself, and then she does something I’ve never seen her do—sheruns. As I come out into the hall, she sprints down it and around the corner, leaving me standing beside Ragnakor and staring at where she used to be.

He sighs heavily. “The queen does not care for me much, does she?”

“I think the opposite is true.” I gesture for him to come in. “I need to bathe and dress. Sit down?”

My captain does as he’s told. I call my footman to fill the tub and take a seat.

“It seems that relations are going well,” Ragnakor observes, sniffing the air.

It certainly does smell like sex in here. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.

“You know, Nissia cried last night,” I say casually, drumming my claws on the table. “I’ve never seen her cry before.”

Ragnakor sits up straight, worry overcoming his features. “Over what?”

“You.”

His shoulders creep up to his neck, and he turns his head away. “I did not intend for that. I should never have gotten as involved in this as I did.”

“It is far too late for that, Rag.” I lean toward him as servants arrive carrying water. “You have gotten very involved.”

He shakes his head miserably. “I have made many mistakes, you mean.”

“And yet, there is such an easy way to repair it.”

Ragnakor cringes. “I cannot give the queen what she wants. You are herhusband, Your Majesty. The king. It is uncouth, it’s a violation of my honor for me to?—”

“Your honor has never once been in question.” I get up when the servants leave, abandoning my robe. Ragnakor sees everything as I make my way to the bathing room and into the tub. “I don’t know why you won’t just tell her.”

“Tell her what?”

“That you love her.”

I crack a smile at the inevitable expression that crosses his face, which even he cannot guard against—the one that says he’s been found out. He shutters it immediately, but it’s too late.

“Nissia is easy to love.” I soap myself down as Ragnakor slouches over the table, cradling his head in one hand.