THE KING'S SLAVE BRIDE

IT'S A PROMISE

NAIMAH

I didn’t bother wasting my time doing any extra cleaning. I simply slipped out of the muddy dress and grabbed my other gown from the tree branch in the tent that sufficed as a hanger. I don’t know why he had to come get me himself, but if I have to guess, then it seems the Queen Dowager pulled some punches behind my back. Kaedyr was outside the tent waiting for me when I stepped out. I walked past him and ignored him the rest of the way back to the palace.

It was difficult walking through the camp without acknowledging the curious gazes of my clan members. I am sure they saw him when he arrived, and they saw him standing outside my tent. Whatever desire I had to keep this under wraps from them has now been thawed by Kaedyr showing himself where he didn’t belong. If I am still allowed to return to the camp, I know my people would have questions, but I’m not sure if my answers would please them in any way. I know they won’t support this path that I have chosen to take even if I am doing it partially for them, but I have to do what I have to do. And if I ever want to succeed in killing Kaedyr, I need to get close to him.

We got to the palace in record time, and I followed Kaedyr as he continued in the direction of the Queen Dowager's palace. When we got to the bridge that stretched over the lake running through the palace, I noticed the female guard from earlier was still following, so I paused. “Does she need to keep following us?” I asked because she was obviously still shaken up, and she probably needed some minutes to herself.

Kaedyr stopped walking, giving me a sideways glance; he shrugged. “She’s yours. Do whatever you want with her.”

I eyed him skeptically before turning to face the lady. She looked a few years older than me, but the events of earlier had her so coiled up in herself that she looked so fragile right now. “What did you say your name was?”

“Kewe, My Lady.” She bowed despite the way her entire frame trembled.

“Alright, Kewe, since the big oaf said I can do whatever I want with you. Do you live in the palace?” She nodded frantically.

“Do you have any family members outside the palace?” She hesitated a few seconds before giving a curt nod.

“Okay, go back to your barracks. Clean yourself up, change out of that and go home. Take the rest of the week off.”

“What?!” Her head snapped up in quick succession. “I—” Her eyes flickered between me and Kaedyr. “My lady, I don’t think I can…”

I cut her off before she could continue. “You’re not the one doing the thinking. I just told you what to do. That’s my first order for you—if you’re going to be watching my back around here—then I need you to be of sound mind. So, take the rest of the week off. Go be with your family.”

I barely had the words out of my mouth when she fell to her knees and began thanking me.

“Let’s go.” Kaedyr’s cold voice cut through her rendition and she scurried to her feet, mumbling her gratitude one last time before practically fleeing.

“That is coming back to bite you in the rear. If you continue like this, the palace is going to eat you alive,” he grumbled.

“What’s your deal? Are you saying that because you suddenly care about me? What business of yours is it if the palace eats me alive?” I asked, glaring him down.

Scoffing, he shook his head. “You wish I cared for you.”

“As if.” I hissed.

“Don’t get your hopes up. I don’t care if the palace eats you alive. I just care about the heir I was promised you would give me. As soon as you pop him out, I’d personally feed you to the wolves,” he muttered, walking past me.

“Bold of you to think I’d let you live long enough to hold your heir.” I trailed after him, not letting him have the last word.

He stopped abruptly, and I almost walked into his broad chest as he turned. “Is that your way of letting me know your plans? I’ve been wondering why you would agree to Mother’s proposal. Did you just slip up?”

“Do you take me for a fool who doesn’t know what she’s up against? I figured you’d be smart enough to know I am not saying yes because I want to play house with you and fall in love with you. It is not a secret if I had already told you I’d be driving my blade through your heart someday.”

He stepped closer, a wide grin tugging at the corner of his lip. Only a lunatic like himself would take delight in someone threatening to end his life. “So, are you telling me you’d be in my palace with the sole purpose of killing me? Do you think you can succeed? Are you capable?”

I know I should back down and probably not give in to him baiting me like this, but honestly, what’s there to lose? My hatred for him isn’t news to him anyway, “I am saying…” I closed what’s left of the gap between us. “Henceforth, you should sleep with your eyes open. Be careful what you put in your mouth. I’d check under my bed every night if I were you. I’d look twice before crossing any road. I am saying you should watch your back, because as long as I am in this palace with you, there’s going to be an attempt on your life every fxcking day.”

He chuckled low, his hazel eyes darting wildly all over my face as he leaned in. He grabbed my jaw, his fingers running a slow pattern along my cheek. “Bold of you to think you can threaten me in my own palace, princess.” I hate the way he says the word princess with a hint of mockery, but I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of watching me lash out over that.

“It is not a threat, Your Majesty.” I held onto the hand holding my jaw, ignoring the slight pain that flared up my face as his grip tightened a little. “It's a promise. Remember when I found you in the forest, wounded with broken limbs and I promised to nurse you back to health? I kept to my promise.”

Something flashed across his eyes and his grip faltered. “This is also a promise I intend to keep, Eseh.” He ground his teeth, a growl rumbling between us. I knew he hated hearing me call him that; he hated the reminder of what he did and how he betrayed my trust. “I will kill you, and I’ll take great pleasure in it. I don’t care if I have to fxck you every night to make it happen. I don’t care if I have to carry your heir to make it happen. Yes, I resent you. I resent you enough to fxck you just so I can get my chance to kill you.”

“There is—

“If you’re going to be all over each other like that, there are enough rooms in the palace to do that. You don’t have to put on a show for the palace maids.”

The Queen Dowager’s voice suddenly cut through our squabble, causing Kaedyr and me to pull apart. A quick glance around, and I realized there were several court ladies and palace maids watching us with curious gazes.

“You’ve kept me waiting long enough.” The Queen Dowager muttered before turning around.

I snarled at Kaedyr one last time before following her.