Chapter 8 Their Protest

• | • King Dain’s POV
• “She is an enemy, my king! This is a disaster!”
• For the umpteenth time, I rolled my eyes. The ministers had grown bold with their tongues, yet I let them bicker.
• Their outrage was almost entertaining, though it would never sway me.
• I glanced at Gideon, who stood by my side, and he nodded with the ministers. My eyes rolled again. One more and they might tumble from their sockets.
• “Why are you so certain I will heed your pleas?” I asked, fingers tapping the armrest in rhythm with my steady heart.
• “She is a damnation, my king,” the minister of finance spat, his face carved with disdain. “She should have been executed for her family’s crime, yet you’ve brought her in as a bed slave.”
• I parted my lips to speak, but another court minister stepped forward.
• “The other ladies will not agree to such arrangements, my king. This has never happened before.”
• The other one continued. “The goddess will not be pleased.”
• I frowned. “And the goddess would be pleased with your daughters?”
• “Your majesty?!” The one who stepped forward after the minister of finance dropped to his knees.
• I contained my rage.
• “Quell your anger, my King!” He roared, fear in his tone.
• I scoffed.
• “Why? Is a king not permitted a woman for his own pleasures?” A cold smile tugged my lips.
• “….”
• The minister of finance’s face flushed crimson, knowing fully well I was talking to him.
• “Or would you rather I take your daughter to my bed?”
• “Your majesty!” He roared, fury reddening his cheeks.
• “Of course, you’d prefer that. Your greed would have her pushed from your home and into my chambers if it gave you favor.”
• “Spare us your wrath, your majesty!” He dropped to his knees with a roar of anguish.
• Since my coronation, they had shoved their daughters at me. Now it stung them that I chose a ruined woman from a ruined family for my bed.
• And if she bore me a child… she would be queen.
• Lycos law decreed it so.
• I chuckled. Not a bad thought. She would have no choice but to remain by my side and mother my children.
• How utterly beautiful would she turn out to be, wearing a crown?
• My mind betrayed me with images of her writhing beneath my touch, slender legs trembling with each thrust.
• Her soft whimpers, her flushed skin beneath my strokes.
• “Mercy…” I groaned under my breath.
• I should have been the first sight she woke to this morning. But if I didn’t put these vultures in place, they would tear at her like predator to prey.
• What dress would she wear today?
• Where was she now?
• I drummed my fingers louder, and the world turned a blur as the hall vanished into thoughts of her.
• Her. The redhead that captured my attention like a damn cat.
• Blood surged to my cock, my memory dragging me back to last night.
• She took it like a good slave.
• Tearing off the silk that I had gotten for her and licking every ounce of the water that leaked out of her cunt.
• The way she would shudder and hate herself for loving it.
• Would she try to kill me in my sleep?
• “Your majesty!”
• Or freeze with fear, dagger shaking in her hand?
• My mind continued to ask questions, ignoring the fact that it was neither the time nor the place.
• “Your majesty!”
• No, my little fox would toss her hair in my face, bend her hips, and demand her price—
• “Your majesty!”
• A hand tapped my shoulder. The smile I hadn’t realized was on my lips died. I snapped back to the hall, all eyes wide and staring.
• My frown cut through their silence. This was the first time I had ever been distracted in council.
• “What?” I snarled, irritated at the look on their faces.
• Father had been right, women were a damnation to a king. Yet for once, I did not mind the curse.
• This was fate, and I would like to think of it that way.
• “Seems our king has found pleasure enough to make him smile,” Virel drawled, leaning lazily on the table, her mouth curved in amusement.
• I chuckled. When had I last smiled in such meetings?
• “Want me to find you someone similar, Baroness Virel?” I asked.
• She recoiled, shaking her head, disgust flickering across her face.
• “I do not indulge in such base flesh,” she snapped.
• A laugh thundered from me, startling them all.
• Base flesh? I long to know what was going on in my East Court Advisor’s head.
• But I could always understand what she meant.
• My voice dropped, sharp as steel, as I glared at each one of the ministers. “Trust me, Virel. Once you taste the fruit, you will crave it until your dying breath.”
• They all bowed their heads immediately, and cold sweat gathered on their foreheads.
• My skin was itching to go back to my little fox.
• Virel sighed heavily, refusing to drop her gaze. “Then I would like to meet this fruit you treasure so dearly, my king.”
• I scoffed.
• “Why wait for permission when you may see her now?”
• Her brow arched in surprise. “Oh?”
• I leaned back, a smile ghosting my lips. How would my little fox react, being summoned so suddenly?
• Would she bow out quietly, or fight to prove her worth? Either way, I would see to it that not a speck of dust marred her skin.
• I gestured to Gideon. He leaned close.
• “Bring me my little fox,” I ordered softly. “Treat her well. No harm, no harshness. She is to be introduced to the court.”
• He hesitated. My glare sent him scurrying.
• “So,” I said, my voice booming, “what was the matter we were discussing?”
• “The slave you brought in,” Baroness Virel replied lightly, never thinking twice before she answered me.
• Knowing fully well about my wrath.
• My head snapped toward her. “Do you want your head, Virel?”