Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Frustration

Loren

Thursday, Late Afternoon

Loren was frustrated because he’d been summoned by his king when he was needed by his bride.

After she’d holed herself in her father’s study with her mother for a long conversation, they’d had a quiet evening, and when they were abed, it was the first night they hadn’t explored each other.

He sensed her mood, therefore, he simply held her the very long period of time it took her to fall asleep.

The next day, he understood her preoccupation, only after he demanded she share it.

She did just that.

“You are you,” she said. “You must be free to be you. Do the things that make you feel right inside. Therefore, the Madam Duponts of this world need to be dealt with. And the Satrines and Corlisses need to be helped, though, never again in that exact way,” she’d attempted a weak joke.

As weak as it was, he still smiled at her.

“But those are risks you accept, situations you control, things you decide to do,” she carried on. “Father has brought danger to you, and that was not yours to decide. And I can’t…I can’t…well, I find I can’t abide it.”

“It will be dealt with by the end of the week,” he stated, instilling his words with the determination he knew Marlow would be utilizing to see that statement made true.

“I know. I don’t doubt your skills. I just don’t…” She sighed. And then she gave it to him. “How evil can one man be?”

That was when he took her in his arms.

“He keeps surprising me. All my life, he just keeps surprising me,” she mumbled against his chest. “And obviously not in good ways.”

“He will be dealt with soon as well, my love,” he reminded her.

“Yes,” she replied, but he could tell she remained despondent.

Loren did not remember much of his mother. But he held vague memories of bright smiles and gentle touches and the sound of much laughter shared with her husband.

However, he remembered everything about the rearing he received from his father.

So he had no foothold to understanding what she was feeling.

Which meant his only recourse was to return the favor she was extending to him.

Hold her close and keep her firmly tethered to the belief that there was good in this world, and he was giving it to her.

In the midst of this, he’d received his summons from his king and had to leave her.

It was a summons from a king, he could not say no.

It also expressly asked he come alone.

As such, he was frustrated.

That frustration dissipated when he arrived at their suite to see True, Farah, Cora and Circe were not there, but a redheaded woman wearing an attractive, but very strange garment was with his king and the ruler of Korwahk.

She studied him, thoroughly, and then smiled a small smile that was both spectacular and terrifying.

“Lore, we need you to sit down,” Tor said quietly.

“Satrine is—” he began.

“Please sit down,” Tor said, still quietly, but now firmly.

It was then, Loren took full note of the look on his king’s face.

And he sat down.