18. Mia

In the stunnedsilence that follows Renowlf"s announcement I feel my heart race and my stomach twist into knots. I"m overwhelmed by the magnitude of his announcement, of what it means to me and my future.

I"m not prepared for this!

A terrifying shriek sounds behind me and my knees buckle. Without a doubt, I know it"s an infuriated Bayliss. Renowlf"s grip on my arm keeps me from falling to my knees in front of the shocked orcs. Although I don"t think anyone is more shocked than me.

Dolphus steps forward, standing next to Renowlf. He unsheathes his sword, raises it high above his head, and shouts, "All hail future Queen Mia!" Seconds later, the crowd erupts with parroting choruses.

"All hail future Queen Mia!"

"All hail future Queen Mia!"

"All hail future Queen Mia!"

A pleased Renowlf glances down at me, his satisfied grin fading when he sees the shocked anger on my face. "We need to talk," I say through clenched teeth for his ears only. "In private."

With a smile that doesn"t reach his eyes, he turns back toward his subjects and declares, "My consort and I need a few moments alone to revel in our future union. Enjoy the feast that has been prepared for the celebration. We shall rejoin you soon!"

He scoops me up like a bride on her wedding night, striding off the dais and back toward the palace with Dolphus and a couple other guards in tow.

"Is something wrong, sire?" his second asks under his breath.

"All is well," he snarls. "Find out where Bayliss went, then see to your duties in the town square."

After a slight hesitation, Dolphus says, "Yes, sire," and lets us go.

Renowlf increases his strides, the muscles of his shoulders taut beneath my grip, and by the time we make it to the palace steps, he's nearly running. He doesn"t slow down until we reach a set of double doors. One of our tagalong guards opens the door and Renowlf carries me through.

"Leave us," Renowlf growls.

When we"re alone and the door is closed, he puts me down and steps away. It"s like he suddenly can"t stand to touch me or even be near me.

"You are not pleased with my choice of queen?" he says quietly, his emotions tightly constrained. I can"t tell if he"s angry or hurt or just confused by my reaction to his announcement. But I can tell he's ready to snap. "I thought this is what you wanted."

"Not like this, in a public proclamation," I reply, exasperated. "Especially without you talking to me about it first."

"What is there to talk about? You wished to be more than a breeding slave. Yet when I make you my consort, you disrespect me in front of my subjects."

I pull the tie free from my hair and drag my fingers through the strands while reminding myself that I'm not in Kansas anymore. "Look, I didn"t mean to disrespect you, but you kind of took me by surprise. I thought Bayliss was going to be your queen."

"Did I not warn you that things with Bayliss are seldom what they seem?"

"Yeah, and that was about as clear as mud," I practically yell. "You had plenty of time when we were alone earlier to explain what you meant by that. As in, she was out of the running. Or, you know, to ask me if I even wanted to be your queen."

He looks at me like I"ve turned blue and sprouted horns. "I am the king," he states. "I do not need permission to make decisions that will benefit my people. You should be honored to serve by my side."

"Honored to serve?" I say, my voice strangled. I pace the room to keep from throwing something at him. "I already told you I want to go home. That means back to Earth."

He doesn't back down. "And I told you this was your home now."

"Right, you did. You never told me why, though. Is it because you say so?" I sneer with my hands on my hips. "Or is it because you can"t wait to fuck me with your spiked dick?"

Renowlf moves slowly toward me, his face unreadable. When he"s so close we"re nearly touching, he stops. My thoughts were less muddled when he was across the room.

He towers over me, dwarfing me, his chest heaving with each angry breath. I feel the heat radiating off his body, his spicy scent drawing me in like a cool forest on scorching summer day. Even now, with his anger front and center, I want him.

"Is that what you think, Mia?" His warm breath caresses the top of my head and I tremble, though not with fear. "That I am a monster who prevents you from leaving? One who keeps you here for his own carnal pleasures?"

His rough fingers caress my cheek, trailing lightly down my neck and over my tingling breast before snaking tightly around my waist.

Before I can find my voice, he pulls me tight against his rock-hard body...tight against his giant spiked cock...and presses his lips to mine.