Chapter 29 Devotion
Chapter 29 Devotion
“You’re coming back with me,” Aizurah told him after they both caught their breath. As she attempted to dress, Zeidan caught hold of her waist and kissed her deeply.
“You know, one day, I’m going to sit on the throne, and you’re going to sit on my lap and ride my cock until you can no longer walk,” he informed her. Aizurah laughed, her face flushing. She wondered how they had been married for years, yet his words could still make her blush like a maiden. “I will return to Dawnport with you,” he added, “but first you need a bath, Princess.” Then he dragged her to their quarters and ordered Lyra to draw a bath.
“You never answered my question. Why are you so dirty? Have you been fighting?” Zeidan inquired as he poured water over her head and scrubbed the filth from her silver locks.
“Indeed. Sir Moryce decided to give me a lesson today.” Zeidan’s fingers tensed in her hair at the words. “You should know, I knocked him into the dirt,” she added, feeling him relax behind her.
“And how is your little plan working out so far?” He asked as he resumed scrubbing her scalp.
“I’m not quite sure yet,” she answered truthfully, “Sylene seems to be more open, now that I’ve upheld my end of the bargain, but it’s hard to decipher whether she is sincere or just playing a game of her own.”
“She likely feels the same way about you,” Zeidan said.
“Perhaps,” Aizurah replied, before he kissed the top of her head and playfully dunked her under the water…
“Lyra,” the princess addressed the maid as she readied to leave, “I’m sure Zeidan will once again be returning to The Fire Hills often. I would ask something of you.”
“Of course, your highness. What can I do?” Lyra asked, her blue eyes wide with curiosity.
“I know the prince does as he chooses, but he listens to you sometimes. He likes you. Try to discourage him from bringing his whores here.” Aizurah told her. “If he’s going to fuck other women, I’d rather he not do it in our home.” The maid looked at her in shock.
“My princess, I—" she paused, seeming lost for words, “Prince Zeidan has never… He’s never bedded other women here, not since you married.” Her head was spinning and she stared at the maid clinically.
“You can tell me the truth, Lyra,” she assured the woman softly. “I’ve smelled their oils on him when he returned to Dawnport.”
“I swear to you, my Princess. I’ve seen him sitting with his men, who were accompanied by whores at times. I’ve seen them interact with the prince, possibly rub his shoulders, but I have never once seen him lie with anyone since you’ve been married.” How can that be?
“You’re absolutely certain?” Aizurah asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Lyra responded without hesitation. The princess stared at her in disbelief but saw no falsehood in her eyes.
“Very well, Lyra. Thank you.” Her stomach turned, and she leaned against the wall, squeezing her eyes closed, the cold of the stone doing nothing to ease the nausea rolling through her.
She recalled that day at the caverns when Zeidan had returned, reeking of flowers; the angry march through Dawnport. Zeidan hadn’t even bothered to deny the accusation.
Why hadn’t he denied it? Then she wondered if she would have believed him if he had. She remembered how easily he diverted her attention, almost unbothered, by the argument they had. Aizurah realized he had never actually admitted to fucking other women.
She broke down, resting her head against the wall and sobbing with an overwhelming combination of guilt and relief. Zeidan was still hers; he always had been.
The princess was running down the hall and out of the gates in an instant, hurrying down the stairs and to the beach, where Zeidan was readying Varynx.
Aizurah threw herself into his unprepared arms, her full weight nearly knocking him into the sand. He gripped her about the waist as she craned her neck to plant her lips against his.
It was cold and windy outside the protection of the castle walls, but she couldn’t feel anything but the fire burning between them. All the while her hair whipped around them as she kissed him long and hard. When they finally released each other, she was breathing heavily, and Zeidan was staring at her in bewilderment.
“Let’s go,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. She turned on her heels and made her way toward Starlyght; Zeidan continued to watch her. The look of confused wonder never left his face…
Sir Sebastian Kane walked through the courtyard, inwardly mulling over his frustration. He was sure, when he left, that Sylene had finally understood what he told her—that her duty was to her family, and the throne belonged firmly in their hands.
Based on her letters home, he believed her shroud of ignorance and innocence to have been pulled back. Since he returned to court, however, he noticed her demeanor had softened toward the princess. Adding to his annoyance was the fact that Rayneir had yet to call on him or even speak to him alone.
“Sir Sebastian,” Lynk Stonewell greeted, shuffling up to the former Hand. “You asked to see me?”
“Yes, Lord Lynk,” Sebastian replied. “I wanted to speak to you… about the Queen.” He made his way to one of the benches around the edge of the garden, and Lynk wobbled closely behind him, slightly hunched. He lowered his voice as the pair sat down. “I understand that you and my daughter have been in close council in the years I have been absent…”
“We have, Sir Sebastian,” Lynk answered, “Though, as of late, the Queen seems to have become withdrawn. I haven’t been able to converse with her privately in weeks.”
“Yes, I have noticed. I believe we can come to an arrangement.” Lynk gave him a timid smile of agreement. “Do try to keep an eye on her, as best you can,” Sebastian said. The wheels in his head were already turning.
If his daughter couldn’t be trusted with his vision of the future, he would use Lynk to his advantage. “What can you tell me of Aizurah and Zeidan since my departure?”
Lynk recalled the extensive details of the couple’s dismissal, their return to Dawnport, and all that had happened since. Sebastian immediately realized that his stay in the capital was a clever maneuver by the princess, though not clever enough.
Aizurah was playing the short game. He was playing the long game; he had been for far longer than he would ever divulge…