Chapter 7: The First Night

The raven came back within the hour.

"The lady swallowed it," it said. "Her breath is clear. The frost is gone from her throat."

Ingrith sat down hard on the edge of the black bed.

Her hands were shaking so badly she had to press them between her knees.

Kaelor stood by the window with the chain slack between them.

He did not say I told you so.

He only watched her, and let her cry.

When she was done she wiped her face with her wrist and looked up.

"She'll have it tomorrow too," she said.

"Every dawn."

"You keep your word."

"I do."

"Then I keep mine."

She stood.

She was far from home.

The only one here who had touched her kindly was the king who had stolen her.

She did not care.

She crossed the room and took the front of his coat in both hands.

"Take me to bed," she said.

His breath stopped.

"Ingrith."

"You said I'd say yes. I'm saying it."

"You are grateful."

"I'm furious, and I'm grateful, and I want you so badly my knees hurt." She pulled. "Stop arguing."

The gold chain flared between their wrists.

His control broke all at once.

He lifted her and carried her to the bed, and the furs hissed under her back.

He knelt over her and tore the green wool open down the front.

The cold air hit her skin and she arched into it.

"Look at me," he said.

She looked.

His eyes had gone black except for the ring of gold.

"Mine," he said, low and rough.

"Yours," she gasped.

His mouth closed over her breast.

She cried out and sank her fingers into his hair.

He sucked hard, then bit gently, and her whole body jerked against the chain.

His hand slid down her stomach and between her thighs.

She was already soaked.

He groaned against her skin.

"You have been wanting this since the wall."

"Since the lake," she panted. "Since you climbed out of the ice."

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