Chapter Thirteen

 

 

Dinner was torture. I kept seeing Barret on the floor before me, licking me. He would cast me knowing looks from his seat beside me, making it all so much worse. The silk kept rubbing at me deliciously, making it impossible for me to forget it was there, and I had to squeeze my legs together numerous times to get some relief from the ache Barret had left me with. When I finally crawled into bed that night, my hands had trailed over my body as I thought about the brothers and prayed that the next few days would pass quickly.

I awoke the next morning in a horrid state of need. I was about to go down to Barret's room and demand that he do those things to me again when my mother came into my bedroom with a flurry of females. There was much to do, much to do.

“I hate 'much to do,'” I whined, and she chuckled.

“Come now, you're to be married on the morrow,” my mother chided. “We must finish our preparations.”

Married on the morrow, the words made my legs tighten in anticipation. Finally, there would be no more turning away from me, no more restraint. We could.... oh dear God, what were we going to do? Would they all come at me at once? Would I have to lie there and accommodate one of them while the others watched? The reality of marrying multiple men was hitting me hard. Could a woman even endure so many bouts of lovemaking at one time? Maybe I would die! My face flushed and I swayed on my feet.

“Adelysia!” my mother steadied me, staring into my face. “Easy now, my darling, come here,” she eased me into a chair, and then took my hands. “Addy, are you unwell?”

“I just...” I looked up at her.

“Yes,” she nodded, knowing immediately what I was concerned about. “It could go badly for you. This is something your father did not consider. They could insist on their husband's rights, one after the other, or even all at once. This is a possibility. But I urge you to remember what you've learned about these men. After getting to know them myself, I highly doubt they will demand anything of you that you will be unwilling to give.”

I took a deep breath and let her words sink in.

“You're right,” I sighed. “They're good men, aren't they?”

“Almost as good as your father,” she smiled gently. “I think they will be gentle with you. And if they are not, I shall murder them in their sleep.”

My mother said it so casually that I didn't catch her meaning at first. Then I gaped at her, and she winked at me. I burst into laughter. Who knew the Queen had a sense of humor?

“There's my brave girl,” she nodded and stood. “Now get up, Adelysia, and behave like the princess you are. Your kingdom is expecting a grand celebration, and we must provide it for them.”

“A spectacle more like,” I huffed but followed my mother obediently out of my bedroom.

We made our way down to the great hall, and then out into the courtyard. We were headed to the gardens, where the gardeners were waiting for us to instruct them on which blooms to cut. They needed to begin the numerous arrangements to adorn our little chapel and the dining hall. Along the way to the gardens, we passed a small training space, reserved for knights. Evidently, royalty could use the field too. And my soon-to-be husbands were already considered royalty, even though they wouldn't be crowned till after we were wed.

I say “evidently” because all four of my men were sparring on that field. Arnet and Robyn were obviously teaching Barret and Hugin the moves of swordplay, coaching their pupils in the ways of knights. I stopped, and my mother froze with me. Both of us gawked openly at the display of male flesh. All of them were clad only in breeches, sweat dripping over rippling muscles which were covered in four different shades of skin. Hair plastered to their skulls, faces set into grimaces of determination, and their bodies twisted through complicated maneuvers.

Robyn's foot shot out and tripped Barret. “Always watch for treachery,” he said to his little brother. “In war, as in love, anything goes,” Robyn paused to wink at me, letting me know he'd been aware of our presence the entire time.

Robyn bent down and helped the laughing Barret to his feet. Barret gave me a secret smile, and then swiped his foot behind Robyn's knee, while Robyn was busy trying to make sexy eyes at me. Down went Robyn, who stared up at his brother with a mixture of irritation and respect.

So, maybe not exactly the way of knights.

“Well done, Barret,” Arnet hit his brother on the back, then he turned to us and bowed. “Robyn and I felt that all of us should be prepared to defend you if need be, Princess,” then he turned to my mother. “We treasure your daughter, Your Majesty, above all else.”

“As you should,” she nodded primly and drew me away, but I caught her smile as she turned, and I gave the men an encouraging look over my shoulder.

Robyn hadn't bothered to get up. Instead, he laid out in a sensual pose, one leg cocked up and crossed over the other, and blew me a kiss. I rolled my eyes, but I, just like my mother, smiled secretly as I left.