“What is this, Liana?” Disgust taints Crede’s voice. “Since when do you bend for anyone?”
My eyes narrow as heat travels over my neck and to my cheeks. Not from shame because there is no shame in how I feel about Noble, as twisted and varied as the emotions are, but from anger. “This is marriage. It’s a give and take of two people who want to make their relationship work. It isn’t always pretty but,” my gaze shifts to Noble, who studies me, “uniting our realms, bringing peace to our people is worth it.” I swallow my words, because what I really wanted to say was Noble was worth was it, only I no longer know if it’s true.
Crede shakes his head and scoffs. “The Liana I grew up with, the Liana I know and recognize as mine, knows she’s the only one worth fighting for. You can give it up, my lady. I told you I’d find a way to bring you back to Summer so you can rule by my side and I have.” He turns to address Noble, whose stance is so rigid I’m afraid he’ll break. “I’ve spoken to your mother, Noble, and we have decided it is in your pack’s best interest if you annulled the sham that is your marriage so that Liana can indefinitely return to Summer, to her home, and take her place by my side.”
Eyes wide, hands and legs trembling, I look from Noble to Crede. Unable to speak, I stand there, mute, and wait for Noble to decide my fate. He looks over me, assessing me entirely and I wonder if once again I fall short of his expectations. A derisive snort rushes through his nose and I wrap my arms over my chest, holding myself together.
“Noble,” I finally whisper, but his attention is on Crede.
“You cannot have her,” Noble decides.
His words make me sound like a piece of property, rather than a beloved wife. But I was never beloved by my husband. Crede was right in calling my marriage a sham, yet it’s a sham I’m not ready to give up on, because my heart… it belongs to Noble.
I didn’t realize it until now, until Noble had yet another chance to cast me aside. But my heart, it beats and trembles, cries and rejoices for Noble.
Pathetic as it may be, I’m grateful my husband still wants me, even if it’s to scorn Crede. While Noble stares straight ahead, Crede takes in my relief and with a repulsed nod, he turns away from us. The same impatient steps I witnessed before, carry him back to the castle that I once lived in.
“You best make good on your word, my lord,” I say, my tone as steely as my gaze.
Noble’s attention snaps to me, but he remains quiet. A quiet that fills my heart with dread.
Dignity and pride, that is all I have left. “My coronation,” I answer his unspoken question. “As soon as we get back to Winter, I will be made queen, so our marriage can no longer be called into question.”
Chapter 30
Liana
Crede’s coronation goes by in a foggy blur. Words are spoken, promises made, and the new King of Summer is crowned. My gut twists and a slight pang of jealousy slams into me. Because even when I’m queen, I will never truly have a home again. My people - Noble’s pack, will never be mine and they will never honor me the way the lions respect Crede.
The day of my ceremony teases closer now that Crede rules Summer, and I know on my day I will stand before a pack that loathes me, beside a husband that is suspicious of me. He’s remained true to his word and has kept me safe, with Oren keeping my shadow company.
I know it’s meant to reassure me, to make me feel secure in my surroundings, but all it serves is a constant reminder that I do not belong. That actualization drills further into my brain the longer I stay in Summer, where once I stepped into the courtyard, I am not only welcome by my old pride, but celebrated as some sort of hero.
“We should go,” I say to Noble.
He tenses, and the separation between us seems to grow tenfold. “Aren’t you having fun? Your ladies seem quite happy to serve you, and your people do nothing but praise your presence.”
The sarcasm in his tone isn’t lost on me, but still I reach for kindness. And hope.
“They’re not my ladies or my people. Please, Noble, take me back home.” Loneliness drapes its familiar arms around my body, reminding me once again I don’t have a home.
“Crede wishes to have a final word with me before I go.” His bushy brows furrow and I rub a thumb over the bridge of his nose, smoothing out the creases. He takes my hand and kisses my finger. I melt into him the way I always do when he’s intimate with me.
“You don’t have to entertain him, my king. We’ve done our part in coming here. He treated us with disrespect when we first arrived, but despite that we stayed. There is nothing else required of us.”
He draws back, and his face hardens as he builds up his shield against me, his wife, again. “So eager to go back to your self-proclaimed prison, Liana?” he scoffs.
I sigh. “I’m eager to get back to our lives. Maybe then you’ll realize I’m not your enemy.”
He towers over me, with his face so close his breath falls on my face. I put a hand to his chest where I feel the erratic beat of his heart. He leans into me further, his arms go around me, caging me in. The knot in my gut twists tighter as the rest of me comes undone.
He means to intimidate me but when I jut out my chin, he unravels. His lips brush over mine, tasting and teasing and stirring up the passion and affection I harbor for only him.
My Noble.
It should terrify me how easy it is to lose myself, lose my resolve when Noble touches me. How easily I’d give in just to be in his arms.
Crede wasn’t wrong when he said he no longer recognized me. This woman who’d give everything up for a man as intolerable as he is good. I don’t know who I’ve become or how I got here, but I’m not ashamed of myself, either. Although Crede and my mother would disagree, I know I’m not weak, but stronger because of the chaotic feelings Noble stirs within me. And because of the chaotic feelings I stir in Noble.
If we could only come together in more ways than just lust…
“You are my wife,” he says on a growl against my lips. “I’m doing what’s right for you, so I’ll let Crede have his say and then we’ll be on our way.”
I run my hands over his back and through the fabric of his clothes I feel his muscles twitch in response. “And when we get back home, will you take me to bed?”
His lips dance and spread into a brilliant smile. “If that is what my wife wishes.”
“It is,” I purr.
“Our vows.” He rushes the words on a single breath. “Our marriage, I mean. You want to make that work?”