The King’s Bride : Chapter 17

DELTON AWOKE to the feel of her soft body in his arms. Opening his eyes, he took in the sight of his beautiful, sleeping wife. Xara slept silently under his gaze, her hair spread around the pillow, a few mahogany strands curling into his fist. During the night, the bedsheet had slipped, revealing her breasts and her back. He spotted the love bite on her neck, as well as the proof of his scratchy stubble on her breasts. A bedsheet draped over her curvy hips bunched at her knees. When he turned, he felt a weak sting in his back. The mirror behind them reflected the scratches on his skin—long, red lines that had solidified during the night. She had marked him as he fucked her.

Delton smiled.

Last night had been cathartic. After they’d made love, he’d sunken into a dreamless slumber, with her in his arms. It felt like heaven. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so sated.

He had always known that she was special. But last night had shown him the extent of his feelings. What he felt for her wasn’t merely sexual attraction. Little by little, she’d dug her way into his heart. And he wanted to collect more and more pieces of her until he owned her entirely. He wanted to bottle up every little moan, every kiss, every soul-shattering cry, and hold them deep in his heart.

The rhythmic rise and fall of her breasts awakened his manhood, which now pressed into her back, seeking the sheath of her tight cunt. Using his knuckles, he brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead, possessiveness hardening in his chest.

The words popped into his mind without warning. His heart tightened at the recognition of the truth. She was his. Had always been. Her body, her mind, and her soul would all belong to him. Life had given him a second chance, and he didn’t plan to waste it.

Xara stirred beneath him, her ass grinding on him when she moved. Inhaling sharply, he tried to hold himself still. Deep brown eyes fluttered open. She turned, placing her belly in direct like with his hardening dick. A soft palm cupped his cheek, taking in the sight of him in daylight.

“Good morning.” God, he could come just from the sound of her voice. Her body slid closer to him and he belatedly noticed that he was cuddling her.

“How are you feeling?” His arms wrapped around her soft body. It was then that she noticed his erection pressing into her stomach. An adorable blush colored her cheeks.

“A little sore but wonderful.” When her eyes met him, his heart melted. Every time he saw her, he only wanted her more. His blood craved her with primal lust. Last night had only cemented his obsession. Her hand reached between them, and she wrapped her fingers around his hardening member. She’d wanted to explore it more last night but had been too nervous to.

He brought a hand to her wrist and stopped her. She must’ve read the flicker of worry in his eyes for she said, “I’m fine. I’m not as fragile as you think.”

“There is nothing I want to do more than take you right now. But we need to talk. There’s something I want to say to you.”

Her hand receded from his cock, her body growing alert. He looked into her eyes when he spoke.

“I meant what I said last night. My excuses can’t give you back your youth. I realize that what I took from you can’t be returned. But…” He swallowed. Delton had ruled Inferno for over one hundred years. In that time, he’d taken over three different territories, two of them full-fledged countries. His reign had been marked by prosperity and a significant growth in Inferno’s influence. He’d fought the Millennium War to take over Elysium and lost. He’d even forged friendly relations with Terra, the human kingdom. But never in all those years had he felt as vulnerable as he felt now. Challenged. Insecure. “I want to try again.”

At the sound of those words, she went still. “What…”

“I believe it is the only way I can give you back what you lost. Ninety-nine years ago, I was young and full of self-importance. I justified treating you badly because I was angry with your father. I thought if I let you go…you might be able to start afresh. And in time, you’d forget what happened. But I was wrong.” His knuckles brushed her cheek. “I don’t want to let you go. I don’t think I can.”

Only when he said those words did he realize how much she had come to mean to him. The idea had been building in his mind for a while. They were already married. If they were so explosive in bed, couldn’t they be more outside of it? He didn’t want to waste another hundred years without her, regretting the choices he’d made.

“Delton…”

“I want to fix this…I want to mend us. Like it or not, we’re married forever. I don’t know if I can ever love someone again, but I want to give you whatever you want. If you can’t forgive me right now, that’s okay.” The surprise in her eyes didn’t change. “You don’t think about it today. Take your time. I can wait.”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.” She said. When he turned to get up, she caught his arm. “There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“Hmmm?”

“Why did you pull out last night? Was it because you don’t want me to have my father’s heir—“

“No.” When he looked at her questioning eyes, his heart was moved. “There’s nothing I’d like more than you carrying my child. Our child. When I make love to you, it’s only you that I see. Not your father, not Karina, not our past. Just the both of us wrapped in glorious, naked heat. But I don’t know if you’re ready to have children. You asked me for only one night.”

“You’re right,” Xara said. “I…I don’t know if I’m up to having children but…”A few beats of silence passed. “I don’t just want one night.” She met his eyes. “That is…if you’re okay with it.”

His heart swelled with emotion.

“I could make love to you all day and never get bored.” His eyes passed over her marked skin. “I thought that was obvious.”

She blushed.

“We’ve always had great chemistry. I felt it when I kissed you at our wedding and again when you kissed me after our chess game. So believe me when I say, I’d gladly fuck you as many times as you’d like.”

She smiled.

Then, she did something unexpected. She leaned in and kissed Delton. His hands went around her, covering her naked waist and sliding up the back of her neck. Her skin pressed against him as she did the same, cupping his shoulders and deepening the kiss. The familiar throbbing in his groin returned.

“I think we should stop,” he said, breaking the kiss. “Unless you want me to have you for breakfast.”

“I like that idea.” She said, pulling him closer and kissing him again. This time, the kiss was slow, but more intimate than any intense coupling. He leisurely drank her in. She explored his body with her roaming hands and they slowly got to know each other. Her lips roamed on his jaw, tasting what she had missed last night. She kissed him everywhere, on his shoulders, his abs, his cock. His hips almost arched off the bed when she pressed a kiss to the tip of his cock.

“Xara, god—”

“What, you don’t like it?” Her eyes looked up at him from between his thighs, his cock poised on the edge of his crown and blood started pounding through his veins. It was a sight for sore eyes. He wanted her lips around him, taking him in, making him come. But he wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

“I love it,” he said. “But you don’t have to—“

She ran her tongue from the base to the tip in one fluid glide.

Delton’s hips bucked. “Where did you learn to do things like that?”

Silence.

“Xara?”

“I read a lot of books before we got married…I listened to the maids’ gossip. I-I wanted to please you.”

Her face turned away. He had no idea that she’d worked so hard to make their marriage work. To please him. To think that he’d turned her away that night…

“Look at me.” Her brown eyes angled in his direction. His thumb gently brushed the inside of her wrist, feeling her pulse. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “You can do anything to me and I’d be pleased.” Her lips parted. “Would you like to try?”

Xara stared at him silently for a moment. Then, she nodded.

Her hands came around him once again and he felt the contact deep in his groin. Her finger moved up, smearing pre-cum all over his throbbing, pulsing dick. Then, she liked the underside. His body reacted on instinct. But she didn’t stop, continuing to lick circles around his tip, as her fingers gripped the base of his shaft. Then, she looked up.

“Tell me what to do,” she said. “I want to make you feel like…like you make me feel.”

He would’ve come from her words alone if it hadn’t been for the eagerness written across her face. Delton didn’t want to steal her first experience, he chose to guide her instead.

“Suck,” he said. “Wrap those pretty lips around my cock and take me into your mouth.”

He felt her jagged exhale on his member, cooling against the sensitive skin. She opened her mouth in an ‘o’ and took in his tip. Sparks of pleasure exploded in his body. Closing his eyes, he moaned. She took him in deeper and deeper. The descent into the wet, molten heat of her mouth was pure torture. His nerves responded immediately, and his body stretched tight. She seemed to stop when he noticed he was almost entirely inside.

“Deeper. Take me in deeper.”

She seemed to want to say something, but since she couldn’t; she pulled his hands and buried them in her hair. His hands slipped into her unbound hair, pushing her closer, forcing her to take in more of him.

she seemed to say.

His body was buzzing with heat, with the desperate need to thrust into her mouth. She took in more of him until her eyes watered. It was a pretty sight, her mouth taking his cock like she belonged to him.

“Take me all the way in,” he commanded, pulling her hair to bring her mouth closer. Her eyes watered when his dick the roof of her mouth but she didn’t flinch. When her lips touched his balls, his cock all the way in, his body tightened. Her watering eyes met his and an evil glint appeared.

“You kill me—” His cock was hard as granite and his voice was a rasp torn from his aching body. The sight of her dark hair buried between his thighs, his fingers possessing her in a primal way, made him ache with lust. Pressure pooled at the base of his spine, the urge to thrust into her overcoming every other impulse.

“I’m going to fuck your mouth now.” His voice was ragged. ‘Are you ready?”

When she moaned in assent, he felt the vibrations tease his cock. He thrust into her, hitting the back of her mouth. She groaned, her fingers digging into his ass. And he wanted to come right away. There was something so unbearably provocative about her claiming him with her mouth, her naked body writhing underneath his.

Delton pulled out, but she didn’t relinquish her hold. When he pounded into her harder this time, she was prepared. His balls grew heavier, his release edging precipitously close. Grabbing her hair harder, he yanked her mouth closer, pounding savagely into her. His balls ached for release. Her tight, hot mouth felt like a tight, wet sheath around him, taking him in harder and deeper with every thrust. It was so hot, so erotic, the way her hands moved to the base of his cock, brushing against his balls as he approached the climax. Her tongue swirled around his shaft; his wife was always so giving. She sucked and tantalized, matching her pace to him.

That did it.

His entire body detonated. An electric current tore through him, the pressure that had been building up screaming for release. He shot his seed into her mouth. Delton wanted to stop, to pull out, but she resisted his attempts. Xara’s pretty lips remained wrapped around his shaft, milking every bit of his arousal, making him come until her mouth was full of him. He emptied himself into her, forgetting everything else. He hadn’t come like this in a long time.

They stayed like that for a long moment until he was completely spent and no longer capable of movement. Her lips receded, leaving him lying on the bed, unable to breathe. Delton’s eyes fell on her bright eyes, her reddened face, and her messy hair framed that round face. His cum dripped down her lips.

“Spit it out, Xara.” He reached to wipe it off but she caught his hand in mid-air. “What are you—”

She swallowed it. Her throat muscles worked, Licking her tongue over her lips, she swallowed it. A groan erupted from his lips.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“What? Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

“Wrong? If I hadn’t taken you last night, I wouldn’t believe you were a virgin. Come here.” He held her close, gently massaging her scalp. “Did it hurt?”

“No.” He gently caressed her hair, her back, and her skin, until the buzzing in his skin tapered. Unfortunately, it was back the moment her fingers moved over this chest. She rested against him, their sweat-dampened skins sticking together, his heartbeats elevated. When he saw the glow in her eyes, he couldn’t help but bent down and kissed her. Resistance melted like butter in a pan. Just a day ago, they’d been adversaries, so distant from each other. But he craved her now like this was where he belonged—between her legs, his lips on hers, his skin on hers. He could taste the saltiness of his release on her lips. She wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him in closer. They kissed like that for a few seconds until he pulled back.

“Ummm….I like my taste on your lips,” he said, wiping his wet lips. “I wonder what other surprises you have for me.”

She smiled. “You’d never guess.”

He breathed in the sex-glazed scent of her skin. If only he could start every morning like this.

Someone knocked on the door at that moment. Delton groaned.

“Your maid has bad timing.”

“I was wondering where Arya had disappeared last night,” Xara said. She gently nudged him and rolled off the bed, her touch lingering on his skin, as began pulling her dress on. “She was supposed to mend my gown.”

“I told her to stay out,” Delton said. “I assumed our conversation was going to take a while.”

“Umm…the conversation between our bodies, you mean.”

He got off too, busying himself with getting dressed. A new day was here and he couldn’t lie in bed all day, no matter how much he wanted to.

“I didn’t think we’d get that far.” He pulled on his shirt. “It was a welcome surprise.”

She stepped toward the door fully dressed. He extended his hand out to her before she opened the door. Xara hesitated for a moment.

“Everyone is going to know what we did last night. You might as well take my hand and make it official.”

Dark brown eyes flickered to his outstretched hand. He’d apologized to her and made love to her. She’d taken him in her mouth and blown his mind. But he still had no idea where they stood. She still hadn’t forgiven him.

With a swallow, Xara took his hand. The minute their palms connected, his chest swelled with a sense of elation. It felt like a victory. Sweeter than any victory he’d claimed on the battlefield.

He pressed her closer to him, interlinking his fingers with hers. Her questioning gaze was subdued by his smile. With that, he opened the door.

As predicted, Arya stood on the other side. Her eyes immediately latched onto their hands and her jaw dropped. Arya didn’t know what had hit her. For as long as she’d known Xara, she had been alone. That was going to change.

“Y-your majesty…” Her enlarged eyeballs darted from Delton to Xara. “I-I thought I should come and help the queen dress.”

“As you can see, I am already dressed. Please prepare a bath for me. I would like to bathe after breakfast.”

“Of course.”

They walked hand-in-hand to the breakfast table. When they got there, Delton took his seat at the head of the table. Reluctantly, he let her hands go as the servants buzzed about. However, she didn’t move to her seat on the opposite side of the table. Instead, she sat next to him. He stared at her as the servants brought trays filled with food and placed them on the table.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I feel quite full,” she said.

A heated flush bloomed under his collar. He liked her poised and refined and regal, but he loved this dirty, teasing side of her even more.

Breakfast had suddenly become his favorite meal.

DELTON STRODE into Sapphire Serpents that morning with a smile on his face. He felt lighter, and he wondered if it was because of what happened last night. Years of attraction had been building to the breaking point. Delton knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy for them, but he didn’t regret what he’d done. He wanted them to be together, and not just in name. The weeks he’d spent with her had allowed him to see parts of her he didn’t know. With every new discovery that he made, he found himself drawn more deeply to her. She could be shy and self-assured at the same time. It was a rare combination of contrasts.

Felix was at the door the minute he stepped in.

“Your Majesty.” The wise old demon bowed. He was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

“Felix. Looks like you stayed up all night questioning our prisoner.”

“Yes. But that isn’t what I want to talk to you about. Ifer was spotted in Skera yesterday,” he opened unceremoniously.

“What? Did you see him?” The smile vanished in an instant. At once, his blood boiled with irritation. Ifer. That’s why they were here.

“No.”

Delton’s fists clenched and all the pleasure was instantly replaced with irritation. “How is it that we never manage to get him, Felix? Nobody can be that lucky.”

“I’ve co-ordinated our plan with Heires,” he went on calmly, unaffected by Delton’s irritation. “If Ifer takes up his offer, which he will, we’ll have him in a week. His being here confirms that.”

A week. It seemed too good to be true.

“This is your last chance,” he said. “You better have him in chains.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Anything else? Has our prisoner spoken?”

“No.” Delton kneaded his temples. “I believe having the queen here would help. He’s likely to say something, to let a word slip if he meets her.”

“I told you the queen hadn’t been in touch with her cousin.”

“Nevertheless—”

“No.” The answer emerged more forceful and definitive than he expected. “My wife isn’t a bargaining chip. The queen will be kept away from this.”

Felix’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected that. But years of experience kept him from arguing.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We will continue to question the prisoner. However, he’s quite resistant to torture. We will have to try something else.”

Felix’s voice carried a chill that made Delton shudder. He certainly wouldn’t want to be Felix’s enemy. Contrary to his sober personality, Felix possessed superior intelligence and endless patience. He’d wait it out until his enemy lost.

“If that’s all, I’d like to see the prisoner.”

“There’s something Amara wanted to tell you,” Felix said. As if on cue, Amara appeared in the hallway, looking as exhausted as Felix.

She bowed. “I looked into the royal seal, as you requested.”

Delton’s eyebrows rose curiously. “There wasn’t much we could find. The seal is genuine and belonged to the previous king. However, there is speculation among the masses that Ifer is a member of the royal family.”

“What? That’s impossible. King Elian has no living relatives except the Xara and Walric.”

“No legitimate relatives,” Amara explained. “He had illegitimate children.”

“You think one of his by-blows is trying to steal the crown from me?”

“They might want revenge for the king’s death. Or maybe, he’s always wanted the throne, thinking it belonged to him.”

That certainly made sense. If such a mythical person existed.

“Is that anybody you suspect?”

“We haven’t gotten that far yet. With Walric to question—”

“Did Walric say anything about his illegitimate children?”

“I doubt he knows,” Amara said. “King Elian didn’t tell his family about his illegitimate children.”

Xara knew. That was the first thought that crossed his mind. She’d overheard the maids talk about Karina. Could she have heard of the others too?

“I will look into it—“

“Don’t bother,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “We will make Walric reveal Ifer’s identity.”

“Understood.” Amara sounded weary. Walric wasn’t an easy prisoner. Why did Ifer’s men have to be so faithful? What did he do to inspire such loyalty?

It struck him as strange that Walric would join hands with his uncle’s illegitimate child. He had always been so particular about bloodlines, thinking himself superior because of his blue blood. Perhaps he didn’t know of Ifer’s parentage. Could Elian have given his illegitimate son a royal seal? It seemed highly unlikely but Elian’s mind was twistier than a maze. Elian had fathered no known sons. He had always considered Xara inferior to a son, a bargaining chip. Though she could inherit the throne, he’d planned to hand it to her husband because she couldn’t fight and conquer more territories. Could he have secretly pinned his hopes on his bastard son?

“Take a break,” he told Felix and Amara. They both looked haggard.

DELTON RETURNED HOME THAT EVENING, thoughts circling around Amara’s discovery. He meant to ask Xara if she knew of any missing members of the royal family. As if by coincidence, the room opened, and he scented roses. Steam blew out of the wide door as Arya emerged.

“Your Majesty—”

Xara appeared from behind her, her long brown hair curling wet around the edges. The square-necked gown she wore displayed her creamy cleavage and clean skin. She looked delectable in that red gown, her skin glowing. Like a confection, he wanted to eat. Delton’s eyes spotted roses floating in a bathtub behind her.

“So that’s how you get your signature scent,” he remarked. She raised an eyebrow. “You bathe in rosewater.”

Her dark eyes were fixed on him. She brushed a hand over her unbound hair, and he wished it was his hand combing through those wet strands. He wanted to press a kiss on her cool skin and taste her freshness. He wanted to lick her, taste her, sully everything clean and beautiful.

“Yes.” Her round face was luminous as the moon, but he didn’t her darkened irises.

They looked at each other for a while, neither of them saying anything. Arya shifted to her feet, not knowing how to handle this new development.

“You may leave now,” he said. “I want to talk to the queen.”

He extended his hand to his wife and she took it, her fingers curling in the crook of his arm. Arya bowed and left and together, they walked toward the balcony on the second floor. The minute they were in, away from the prying eyes of servants, he pressed her against the ivy-covered wall. His wife slipped her hand behind his neck and kissed him before he could think. Hands wrapped around her waist, he drank her in. She tasted of roses, woman, and of all the secret longings buried in his heart. Her lips slid between his and his strong hands raised her off the floor. Their bodies mashed together, desperate and eager for a taste, even though they’d been apart for only a few hours.

Delton had never before understood the meaning of missing someone. He had missed her all day. Perhaps he’d missed her all her life. There had always been something missing from his existence. He hadn’t known what it was until tonight. Some part of him had gotten used to her presence, seeking it out when she wasn’t around.

“You drive me insane…” he said when they broke the kiss, coming up for air. He kissed a wet trail down her jaw, and her neck, inhaling the sweet, floral scent. He kissed her neck, the smooth slope of her shoulder, all the way down to the tops of her breasts. Her fingers raked his hair. “I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I saw you.”

His fingers reached for the hem of her square neckline, wanting to pull it lower and take her tight, rosy nipple in his mouth, but he suddenly remembered the reason he was there. Reluctantly, Delton stopped kissing her and took a step back. Her eyes filled with disappointment, her flushed face questioning.

“Why did you stop?” she asked.

“Because this isn’t why I wanted to see you…” He raked his hand through his already messy hair. “There’s something I must ask you..”

He strode to the railing and placed his hand on it, looking out at Skera stretching beyond them. The city was a patchwork of lights in the evening. It was densely populated but lacked the beauty of Cadia or the buzzing modernity of Inferno City. It was a tad depressing, Delton thought. The air often smelled of smoke and news of the revolution cast a shadow over the city.

Her skirts rustled as she came to stand next to him.

Meeting her eyes, he asked, “How was your day?”

“That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?” she asked, disbelieving. Her fingers brushed his arm from where they curled around the marble railing.

“No. It’s a…sensitive topic.”

“Say it.”

“Amara has been looking into Ifer’s history.” At that, Xara stiffened. She seemed to react strongly every time he mentioned Ifer. Delton had wanted to press her about it but she said she’d remained faithful to him and he didn’t want to distress her by asking more questions. She had already been through a lot, thanks to him. He cleared his throat. “We won’t speak of it if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No. Go on.” Her fingers moved from the railing and came to rest on his forearm. “What did Amara find out?”

“Ifer carries King Elian’s seal. General Michael found it several months ago when we captured Walric. Ifer has been using that seal to officiate circulars and documents that he sends out. I wanted to know if there was a symbolic meaning behind it. Amara thinks Ifer could be one of your father’s illegitimate children.”

“What!?” Her voice was disbelieving.

He turned in her direction and took both her palms in his. “I know this is an uncomfortable subject for you, but did your father have any other children that you knew of?” Xara blinked. “You said you heard the maids talking about Karina. Did you hear of other love children?”

Love children. How ironic that term was.

King Elian wasn’t capable of loving anyone. If he were, he’d have loved his daughter. The beautiful, brave, kind daughter who deserved his love more than anyone else. The daughter he’d thoughtlessly sacrificed to a ruthless demon king.

“I…don’t know…” Xara’s reply was barely a whisper. “Karina was the only one I knew about. I didn’t think he had other children, but it is possible. If you want, I could talk to the old servants at the palace and ask if they know something.”

Her response was rational. Calm. Unlike what he’d expected.

“You could,” he said. “But we can’t go to Cadia now. Not with the way things are.”

“I can ask them whenever I’m back,” she replied, eyes darting to where their hands were joined.

Not .

Of course, she intended to return alone. They had made no promises about living together. She hadn’t even agreed to give their marriage a second chance. Delton didn’t know why that felt like a knife driving into his heart.

A silent beat passed, but he didn’t let go of her palms. When her voice emerged a few seconds later, it was low. “How is Walric?”

He met her eyes and noticed the worry in them. “You’re worried about him.”

“He might be a traitor but he’s still my cousin,” she said. “It hurts me to know he’s being tortured.”

“Xara—“

“I’m not asking you to stop,” she said. “Or release him. But I can’t stop worrying either. Isn’t there a more humane method to question Walric? Surely torture can’t be the only way.”

“He won’t talk.” Delton let go of her hands, too guilty to face her. “He knows who Ifer is but won’t tell me.”

“What if I pay him a visit?” she asked. “Maybe he’ll tell me.”

“No!” Delton’s voice cracked like a whip.

She crossed her hands over her chest, unhappy with his tone. “Why not? I thought you came to Cadia to use me to get to my cousin. I’m offering to help. Don’t you want to capture Ifer anymore?”

“I can get him without using you.” He spoke. “You’re my queen. You shouldn’t set foot in a place like that.”

“Is that the only reason?” Her perceptive eyes cut to him. He swallowed. He should say yes.

“No.”

“Enlighten me.”

“I like you, Xara.” The words slipped out of his mouth too easily. Discomfort tightened around his gut. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

She merely blinked. “You… what?”

“I like you. Did you think I slept with you because I hated you?”

“No. But I didn’t think you liked me either. It was just… lust, wasn’t it?”

“Not for me,” he said. “I think nothing is purely physical with you. The more I get to know you, the more I realize what a fool I’ve been. You’re nothing like I expected, but everything I want.”

Suddenly, the air felt too warm. The way she looked at him, a mixture of hurt and surprise, made him feel vulnerable, like an exposed wound.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I don’t know what to make of it,” she said honestly. “All this is… new to me.”

“I didn’t mean to burden you.” He spoke. Then, because he didn’t know how to fill the uncomfortable silence, “I’ll stop torturing Walric if it’ll put your mind at ease.” He couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You can visit him. Not tomorrow, or the day after, but soon. Let me talk to Felix. We’ll have to set things up for your visit. You won’t be questioning him. I already refused Felix’s request to use you. Have a friendly chat with your cousin. I owe him that much for telling me about your past.” She still said nothing, and he went on, “Do you have any other requests?”

“No,” she asked. Then, “Why would you do that? This isn’t like you, Delton. I thought you didn’t believe in giving in.”

“I promised that I’d try to fix our marriage. I’m trying, Xara.”

Her eyes grew shuttered as she turned away. She stared at the city beyond the marble pillars and he saw a shudder shake her shoulders. He wanted to ask her if she was afraid of something, but she spoke before he did.

“I have another request,” she said. “You know, what you said about teaching me how to swim…” Her sudden words caught him off-guard. “I think I’d like to try.” Now it was his turn to be surprised. She didn’t look at him as she said, “There’s a lake outside the city. Nobody ever goes there.”

She had thought this through. Even come up with a place for them to practice. He was impressed. “You’ve been thinking about this.”

“I have,” she said. “If your offer still stands—”

“We could go this weekend,” he said.

“I… I’d like that. Let’s go in the evening. Once you’re back from the secret service?”

They continued to watch the stars after the plan was settled. When he slipped his fingers between hers and held her hand, she didn’t resist.