Taming the Thorny Rose novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Mine

"Seize him," said Osric.

Six guards in grey stepped out from behind the first tier.

They were his men, and they carried silver-rimmed halberds.

They came at the dais, and the shaved-head guard planted himself in front of the throne with his sword out.

"Hold!" he shouted.

"The king is not yet judged!"

"The king is a danger to the hall," said Osric.

"Under the Charter the Houses may bind him until the Rite."

The hall was already breaking apart.

Some of the tiers cried out for the chains and some for the doors.

I walked up the steps to the throne and put myself between my husband and the halberds.

I did not draw the blade.

I set the Thorn on the arm of his chair, where he could see it.

"Aldric."

He was breathing in short, hard pulls.

The red was a full ring now, and his hands were crushing the stone.

"The scent," he said, hoarse.

"The blood.

"I can't..."

"Then don't breathe it.

"Breathe me."

I knelt on the step in front of him and took his face in both my hands.

It was cold as river stone.

A pulse jumped in his jaw.

"Look here.

"Not at him, not at the floor.

"Here."

I tilted his face until his red eyes met mine.

"Do you know me?"

"Kestrel."

"What did I tell you, in the crypt?"

His mouth moved.

"That you would hit me with a lid."

"I will.

"I'll find one."

My thumbs stroked his cheekbones.

"I'm not going anywhere.

"I'm the one who bites back.

"Stay with me."

The fever shook him once, hard, and the throne groaned.

Behind me the guards were closing in.

I didn't turn around.

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