Markus held her head against his chest and stroked her hair. “Youll always have my protection.
Her pulse stuttered. “What arent you telling me?
He answered in an oddly quiet tone. “As soon as I prepare the documents, youll no longer be my slave.
Then he said, “You will be my wife.
CHAPTER 9
A KINGS REFUGE
Of all the responses she had expectedtricks, lies, forcethat had never been one of them. “Dont taunt me!
“Im not. He was tracing his finger over the ridges of her ear, touching her as he always did, as if he couldnt stop, couldnt get enough.
“Its crazy, she said. “I wont.
“You know, Allegra, he said wryly. “Most women, upon being told they are to become a queen, dont say, Its crazy. I wont.
“Dont be cruel.
“Making you queen is cruel?
“You cant make me a queen. You arent a king.
“Consort to the Prince Regent, then. Its essentially the same thing. His voice lightened. “Unless you plan on marrying the atajazid. Then you could be queen.
“This isnt funny.
“Taking you as my wife isnt supposed to be funny.
“And you just had this idea?
“Actually I decided this morning after we made love. After a moment, he said, “No, I think I decided when you threw wine in my face.
Allegra blinked. “That makes no sense.
“I know. Markus sounded as confused as she felt. “Nothing about my reactions to you makes sense. He rested his cheek on top of her head. “I need to marry someone. I am thirty-six years old and have no heirs. Youre a good choice.
“I cant imagine one reason why I would be a good choice.
“Youre perfect, he said. “A man in my position needs a woman who will give him strong, tall, intelligent sons. Thats how we pick our wives. Its why all the men of the House of Onyx are strong, tall and intelligent.
“Well, goodness, she said. “That was a moving declaration of love. Then she added, “Besides, Im neither strong nor tall.
He rubbed his cheek on her hair. “I like your size. You fit just right with me. And strength can be of character rather than physique. A man should marry a woman who makes him more than he is. As much as I hate it, you do that, even when I wish you would be quiet.
She felt as if she were sinking into a quagmire. “Im not a brood mare. And Im not a mirror for your reflection.
“You see, no one else would dare tell me that. I wouldnt tolerate it from anyone else. He blew out a gust of air. “With you, I dont know what happens. Something is wrong with me. I would think you used a spell, but you obviously hate me, so why enchant me? None of this is sensible. Yet I cant think of anything else. Only a few days with you, and Im turned upside down.
“You want to marry someone who hates you?
“Apparently so.
How did she feel about him? He angered herand made her laugh. Just when she was convinced he was hopeless, he would surprise her with his sensitivity. She could see the true leader in him, not the hard exterior he presented to his men, the severity his culture demanded, but a greater man within. And yes, she desired him. He was the most sensuous man she had ever met. Unfortunately he was also the most overbearing and arrogant.
“Im afraid of you, she said. “And I hate the way you control everything I do. But II dont hate you.
“Its a beginning, he murmured. “Maybe in time youll come to care.
In time. He had never intended to offer her a choice. She felt as if walls were closing in. “You let me think I could leave.
“If you could convince someone to help you. He held her close, one hand on her stomach under the blanket and the other around her shoulders. “I doubt any sane man in Jazid would help my consort leave. Hed know I would execute him.
“Markus, no! You mustnt.
“I would kill any man who took you away from me. He lifted her chin so she was looking into his face. The moon had set, leaving only a cold brilliance of stars to silver his features. “When we see the atajazid, Ill ask for his blessing. Then Ill march our men into Taka Mal and put the atajazid on the Topaz Throne. When weve added their army to our own, well drive Cobalts forces out of Jazid and retake the Onyx Throne. For my king. My brother. The boy I swore to protect. We will do this, Allegra, and you will sit by my side.
“No! I dont want any part of it.
“Yet you have one. His voice quieted. “When Im with you, it changes me, and I dont like it, but for some reason I dont want it to stop.
“Why? Why me?
“I dont know. He touched his fingers to hers under the blanket. “You challenge me. You defy me. You demand I be more than I am. And yes, damn it, I want you so much, I cant think when youre near me.
She felt as if she were drowning. “I cant handle this.
“Youll have a good life, anything I can provide.
“I want to provide for myself. Not be your bird in a cage.
“But youre a beautiful night bird. He brushed back a curl that had straggled into her face. Then he leaned against the wall, holding her in the warmth generated by his body. “Sleep if you can. Tomorrow Ill have the documents prepared.
“You want to sleep here?
He chuckled. “My tent is full of smelly, snoring men.
Allegra smiled wanly. She couldnt sleep in this place of stone, especially not after what he had just told her. Yet despite everything, almost the moment she leaned into him and closed her eyes, a blanket of exhaustion settled over her.
Cold prickled Allegras face, bringing her awake. The blanket had slipped off, and the nights chill bit into her. She and Markus had slumped to the ground, she with her back against his front, he with his arms around her. A stone ridge jutted into her thigh, and she tasted dust. She lifted her head, remembering what Markus had told her. Consort. It seemed little different from pleasure girl, except their children would be legitimate. She had a feeling that mattered a great deal to him.
Markus was asleep, perhaps an aftereffect of her spell or maybe simply because exhaustion had overcome his insomnia. In slumber, his face relaxed, gentling his features, bringing out the beauty that his normal visage disguised. Such a handsome man. Confusing, though. She didnt understand why he wanted her. Insulting him seemed to have had the opposite effect from what she had intended.
She lifted her hand to touch his face, then stopped. Yesterday he had given her pleasure. She may not have fully realized it was him until they were nearly finished, but at some level she had known it wasnt Tanner in her dream. She had yet to sort out how she felt about it. That didnt matter, though, for he was fast asleep and she wasnt, which meant she could leave. She stood up and headed for the entrance to the hollow. She needed to find a shape and sing his guards to sleep.
“Allegra? Markus pushed up on his elbows. “Bah, he grumbled. “I have dust in my nose.
She stopped halfway to the edge of the hollow.
“Ive a guard at the top of the path, he said, watching her. “And I checked myself. No curves, circles or spheres are anywhere on top of the Anvil. Nothing except you, me and rocks.
She went back and knelt next to him. “You have dust in your nose because we slept in the middle of the wildlands.
He pushed at his bangs, tangling them on his forehead. A whiff of his soap drifted to her. At least he kept clean. Given the way some of his soldiers smelled, she appreciated such favors. She would have liked to dump the rest of them in a big tub.
“Why are you smiling? Markus asked. “Its luminous, like seeing the sun at night.
Allegra touched her lips, surprised to find them curved. “I was thinking your men needed baths.
He laughed quietly. “Probably. Stretching his arms, he cracked his joints. “Itll be dawn in less than an hour. We should get back.
Allegra didnt move. For once, he wasnt pressuring her. Without that influence, she might find out if what had happened yesterday was a fluke. Did she want him? Maybe it was only the miradella affecting her, but she wanted to know. Before she had time to change her mind, she leaned forward and kissed him.