Reign Queen by L. Gibbs (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

Kambry moved out ofRussal’s grip. “Well, it’s time everyone headed back to bed orsentry duty, whichever applies. The king is here, and all iswell.”

Nobody moved.

Kambry gazed at each of the guards detailedto her. “You may go now.” She enunciated each word carefully,waving her hands at them as if they were wayward children.

Burty stood at the wall, his hands foldedbehind his back. Each guard gazed first at him, then at Russal.

Kambry clenched her teeth. “Now,” she said,her voice sounding hard and out of patience. Covey was likely longgone. And she needed to keep it that way if she was going to keepthem apart. Drew gave a quick bow and left the room, followed bythose Kambry had picked out. Lessa lingered to the last, givingKambry a worried glance before slowly stepping out of sight.

Burty and seven other guards remained.

Kambry folded her arms and tapped the fingersof one hand along a bicep.

Russal stood still, his eyes shifting fromBurty to Kambry and back. “I would like them to search ourchambers.”

“He’s not here anymore.” Kambry waited, herface devoid of emotion.

“How can you be certain?” Russal frowned.

“You left me here alone. I assume that meansyou consider our chambers perfectly safe.”

Russal winced. “They should have been.”

“What exactly would they search? Do you seeany place in this room where Covey could crouch out of sight? Arethere hidden passages perhaps your guards will scour?”

“He could be upstairs.”

She noted he hadn’t said there weren’t anypassages. “He didn’t go upstairs.”

“You were down here with him?”

“I needed a new area to pace.”

Burty stepped forward. “Your Majesties,perhaps you would like to head upstairs while I and my squad checkdown here.”

Russal gave Kambry a questioning glance. Heraised his brows, perhaps using them to point toward the stairwell.She assumed that was his intention.

“Good night, Marshal Burtram.” Kambry strodeaway from Russal and took the steps slowly. The enclosed spacegained just enough light from the lamps below and those above forher to see her path, though her shadow left her feet in darkness,and she felt that a proper metaphor. She had no idea what she wasstanding on. Moving forward was her only course of action. Firstshe had to deal with Russal leaving her.

Russal’s footsteps followed her.

Upon entering their chambers, she angledtoward a pair of chairs, a small round table resting between them.She sat, her hands folded in her lap. The chair’s fabric was apretty blush color, textured and soft, yet they were stiff chairswith little padding. The decorative round back displayed the samefabric and stiffness. Good. Russal would be as physicallyuncomfortable as she felt.

“It’s late, Kambry. Wouldn’t you like to goto bed?”

“No. I would like to know where you were andwhat you were doing all this time.”

His blue eyes glanced about the room. Therewasn’t any sign of the passionate embraces that had occupied theirearlier time together. Kambry wasn’t even sure those embraces hadoccurred. They seemed almost a dream.

“I was with Burty and Tomo.”

“Sit down, Russal.”

He sat on the other chair and rested aforearm on the table separating them. It was a delicate table, andthere wasn’t room for his entire arm. His hand hung over the edge.He drew his arm off the table slowly and leaned back.

She faced round in her seat, knocking herknees against the table leg. She ignored the flash of pain and kepther hand from rubbing the sore spot. “So you were with the marshaland Lord Strom for over an hour. I waited for you.”

“I’m sorry. It took longer than I expected. Iwent to see the injured guards.”

“How are they?”

“One should be well enough to return to hisassignment tomorrow. The other will be out for a few weeks. He’ssuffered a blow to the head and is still unconscious. The guard’ssurgeon feels he’ll make a full recovery with care.”

“So you saw them and spoke to Baraby, thenwhat?”

Russal’s gaze twisted to her. “You knowBaraby?”

“He treated my shoulder after they accused meof attempting to assassinate you in the archery range.”

“Oh, yes. I’d forgotten.” His gaze toured theroom again. “How is your shoulder?”

“It’s been months since then.”

“Kambry, you’re angry with me for taking toolong to return. I’m sorry, darling.” He stood.

“That is not why I am angry.”

He peered at her and returned to the seat.After a moment, he took a breath and shook his head. “Then I don’tunderstand what this is about.”

“That is obvious.”

He looked slapped, and she almost apologizedfor her tone. He had to understand she hadn’t married him so shecould sit in a cupboard only taken out when it was convenient orinteresting for him. Was that Covey’s opinion or her own? She hadbeen angry with Russal before she’d discovered Covey below. HadCovey echoed her thoughts?

“I’ve never had a queen at my side, Kambry.Forgive me for being obtuse. What have I done wrong?”

“I was not at your side.”

His eyebrows creased, and he shook his headslightly.

“You relegated me to this room, deliberatelyleft me behind.”

“Kambry, there was nothing you could do.”

She stood, paced toward their bed and back towhere he sat. Her hands curled into fists.

“You did not give me the choice to determinewhat I could do. You took it upon yourself to decide for me. Whatcould you do? Did you treat your guards, search the palace,discover any intruders? What did you do that I couldn’t do?”

His face softened into a grin. “You are solovely, even in anger.” He rose, reaching for her hands.

“I am not just here for you to admire or runyour hands over.”

“I see both your anger and your beauty.”

“You are an idiot.”

He rocked back on his heels. “Kambry?”

“Do you think I married you to garnish apretty room, so you could admire my beautiful wrath, my desirablefeatures? Is that all I am to you?”

“No. I am not that foolish.” He looked away.“But I see that I have been foolish.”

“You keep pushing me into a tiny space,Russal. I once fit in such a space. Not anymore. Not after all thatI have experienced.” She walked away, putting distance betweenthem. She had friends now. People who expected more from her thanscribbled words in a village record book. She wasn’t hiding, afraidof what people would expect from her.