Page 170 of North Queen
“Your maid will collect your things,” the captain said. “You’ll return to the castle now.”
“I’ll decide what I do,” Norah told him, an anger swelling inside her. If he thought he could control her like the lord commander had tried, he was mistaken.
“See her back to the castle,” he ordered the guard, ignoring her.
“I’ll go back when I’m ready,” she snapped, sending a ripple of tension through the air.
“Salara,” Kiran said softly from behind her. “I must obey.”
She pushed out a breath, shaking with anger. But what could she do? “Vitalia, get the silk. It looks like we’re finished shopping for today.” Then she spun on her heel and turned back toward the castle, stewing in rage as she walked. She wouldn’t live like this. She was salara, and she would go where she pleased.
Norah stormed through the castle and found Mikael in the library.
He stood from his chair with a concerned brow as she entered. “Are you all right?”
“You have to choose another captain,” she demanded. “Or better yet, I’ll use mine.”
He stiffened. “I’ve already dealt with my lord commander. Now you ask me to remove my captain of the Crest?”
“Am I prisoner here?”
His brow dipped. “Of course not.”
“Yet I’m still under constant watch and command.”
“For your protection.”
“No.” She shook her head. This wasn’t about protection with the captain and lord commander. It was about control. “I’ve accepted the stipulation of a proper guard. If I’m a prisoner, then tell me I’m a prisoner. But if I’m salara, I’ll go where I please; I’ll do as I please.” She held the fire of her gaze firmly with Mikael’s. “Am I your prisoner? Or am I salara?”
Mikael’s brow dipped in concern, and he drew closer. “You’re salara. I’ll speak to Artem.”
Norah narrowed her eyes.
“I’ll speak to him,” he said again. “With a proper guard, you’ll go where you want and do as you please.”
“Including going to the market?”
He paused but gave her a nod. “Including going to the market.”
But rage still burned on her skin.
Mikael stepped in front of her. He took her hand and pulled her closer, gently, like he feared the fragility between them.
As he should.
But as his warmth danced across her skin, she feared what was between them wasn’t fragile enough.
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers softly. Something stirred inside her. He was doing more than just trying for civility, more than simply fostering an alliance. Norah forgot about the market.
“Where are you going now?” he asked.
Where was she going?
“Can I walk you?”
She nodded.
Instead of offering it this time, he simply pulled her hand under the fold of his arm and covered it with his own. Then they stepped out into the hall.
