Page 115 of White Raven

And I was the queen.

“How awkward . . . if I only would have known you were coming to save the day.” The king grasped my ring finger, holding it up. “I would have waited to marry her until you arrived. I hate that you came all this way for nothing.”

Brynden blinked, noticing it for the first time. His attention locked on the wedding band; the Night Raven crest coiled around my finger like a collar.

“What?” His mouth parted, head shaking back and forth. “No.” He lifted his face to mine, hoping to hear rejection of this claim.

“Would you like me to fuck my wife right here in front of our wedding guests to prove it?” Gavric grasped my chin, lifting it to show his painted mark down my chest, too drunk to notice the symbols were smeared, showing the ones underneath.

Brynden wouldn’t perceive any difference, though, understanding only that my body was claimed by another man. To someone like him, that was the deepest betrayal to his idealistic view of marriage.

Horror and pain shot through Brynden’s features. “No. This can’t be. Tell me he is wrong, my White Raven.”

“Yes, tell him, dove.” Gavric’s hand squeezed my breast, his chin propped on my shoulder, enjoying the taunt. “Tell him how I’m going to ravage you tonight, spew my seed so deep inside you, you’ll be carrying my child before the moon is waxing.”

Brynden’s expression went from shock to outrage.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” He fought fruitlessly against the soldiers, spitting and seething like he was playing the hero. “She is my wife! She is meant for me! I vowed never to stop until I brought her back home!”

“Technically, she is mine.” Gavric slid his hand down my waist, cupping my dress between my thighs. “This is mine.” My spine went rigid, dread at him finding my undergarments were missing.

“It doesn’t count,” Brynden argued. “It is not lawful.”

“It isn’t?” the king’s tone mocked. “Even though the same seer who was going to recite your vows performed ours?”

“What?” Brynden jerked as Morrigan rose from her seat near the throne. I could see his eyes widen, turmoil scrolling over him, not understanding how my father’s seeress stood next to the Night King.

“You—you forced her!” he raged, nodding at Morrigan. “She had to do it!”

“Did I force you?” He let me go, stepping to the seer.

“No, my lord.” She smiled.

“You think me a fífl? She has to say that!”

“Oh, I think you are a very skillful half-wit.” Gavric grabbed the back of the seer’s head, yanking her to him, their mouths crushing together, hungrily kissing. She rubbed against him, moaning loudly, looking like she’d love him to take her right here, getting off on us watching.

Gavric pulled away, peering at my ex-betrothed. Brynden stood still, both stunned and traumatized, as if his brain could not understand deceit like hers. Or a husband so blatantly insulting his wife.

“I am bored with you, boy.” Gavric licked his lips, snapping his fingers. Sölvi rushed to his side, handing him another fresh goblet of wine and claiming Gavric’s attention for a moment. The king’s desirous gaze slid over his bare chest to his cock showing through the thin trousers. “I have much more interesting things to do tonight.”

He licked his lips, turning to me.

“As my wedding souvenir to you, wife . . .” He clasped his hands. “Which body part would you like to send back to your father, letting him know about his new son-in-law?”

“What?” My head snapped to the king.

“I thought I would let you choose.” He took a step down to Brynden. “He’s quite handsome, maybe send his head?”

“No.” Panic rushed into my ears. “Please. Let him go.”

“Let him go?” Gavric frowned, his hand dramatically over his heart. “How can I sleep at night knowing your ex-lover is out there threatening our marriage every day? Vowing to never stop until you are his again?”

“He’s innocent in this.”

“Innocent?” The king huffed. “Do you expect me to believe your father sent this child to bargain for you without something else planned?”

“It was my decision.” Brynden bristled. “The king could not stop me.”