“The people are eager to see her again,” Mattias says, his dark eyes warm on mine. “Since taking leadership, I have received requests for her more than anything else. Extra food is nothing on the prospect of seeing your pleasure broadcast.”
“You... uhm...”
Suddenly, there are smiles all round except on my face.
They know how embarrassed I was the first time. They know the humiliation involved in being turned into a sexual spectacle.
“A fitting punishment,” Oren says. “A reminder...”
“But Tore...” I say. “It was with Tore. And I am going to be a mother. You can’t do filthy things like that to me now.”
“We will certainly do filthy things to you,” Oren says. “You’re ours, Trissa. We’re going to make full use of you.”
I narrow my eyes and open my mouth to argue, but Mattias stops me.
“Don’t argue with him, princess,” he says, the affectionate term defusing some of my outrage. “You can’t expect all you have done to be wiped clean in one day. You led these men on a chase across the country for two, worrying about your welfare every moment. And you promised them your obedience.”
“I’m not arguing. But... but... I did what was right for the life inside me. Not what was best for...”
“You are arguing,” Mattias says kindly, but firmly. “You did what you did, knowing that there would be consequences, so take those consequences now, without complaint.”
Mattias makes a good king. A very, very good king. He knows what it is to suffer, and to be humbled. And he knows what it is to be kind as well as firm. Even in the midst of my embarrassment at the notion of another public mating, I can’t help but admire him.
“Very well.” I lower my head. “I accept your punishment.”
“Good girl,” Mattias says. “This time it will be you and me.”
“You... and I?”
“I am capable, girl. The implant has been removed. We have waited a long time to have our moment together. It should come before the people.”
I glance over at the others, my three mercenaries. Will they be jealous?
They don’t seem to be. They seem to be satisfied. Oren in particular is sternly impressed with Mattias’ ruling. Alexios is harder to read, but Silver is clearly at ease with it.
“You should be more possessive,” I tell them.
“Hard to be possessive with a pregnant wench who runs off even when she’s told not to,” Oren growls. “Hard to find you in order to be possessive with you.”
“And yet, you found me, because I’m exactly where I said I’d be. And I was safe. Alexios gave me weapons...”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I see Alexios roll his eyes in disbelief as Oren and Silver turn to him.
“You did what?” Oren asks, dumbfounded.
“She was going to do what she was going to do. I wanted her to be safe. We know she can handle a weapon.”
“We should be the ones handling the weapons, not encouraging her to run off into war zones by herself!”
Suddenly, Alexios tips me off his lap and they’re on their feet. Oren looks like he’s about to hit Alexios, and not in a sexy way.
“Either we put her on a leash, or we work with the temperament she has. She’s going to be punished for her disobedience, so what’s the difference?” Alexios argues.
“The difference is days without guard. Days alone across predator-infested countryside, to come to this city. How dare you give her weapons!”
“You might own her, Oren. But you don’t own me,” Alexios reminds him.
A fight seems almost inevitable. Pharaoh is a little taller than Alexios, but Alexios has a lot of combat experience. I don’t know who I would put my money on if they were to fight.