A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(52)

“Harea will become thirdwife if she produces a son. Only concubines who give birth to sons may become wives,” Arud said. There was a kindly bend to the woman’s head. Unlike Vich’s wives who seemed to be a little bit above their company.

“How many wives can you have?” Ariana asked.

“Up to five. Raj Vich may not take any more wives or concubines until one of us is no longer here or is proved barren by going five autumns or more without producing a child. In that case the wife or concubine would be put aside and retired,” Caran said. “Save the mother of the heir of course. She will always be firstwife.”

“Unless the son dies,” Kindah said, smiling sweetly.

“Yes then the secondwife becomes firstwife and on down in a ripple effect. Firstwife, in this case, would become secondwife…or thirdwife depending on whether Harea produces a son before such a terrible tragedy occurred.”

“But we will not talk of my son’s death,” Vich said stormily. “The entire line of succession rest on his shoulders after mine.”

“That is…until Raja Sin has a son and heir,” Harea said softly.

Everyone looked to her then and she flushed uncomfortably. It was clear everyone on that end of the table knew what Sin expected of her. She did not like it.

“But first I must find a woman worthy enough to become firstwife. It must be someone extraordinary. Someone who could rule equally by my side.”

“No woman could ever rule equal to you, brother,” Vich said with a scoffing sound. “No woman could ever rule our people.”

“Mother did so,” Sin reminded him in a sharp dig.

“That was different. She was raji-mother, ruling in your stead until you were of age. And even so you were of age in only five autumns. You were already wise enough and powerful enough to be ruling. It was more like she was aiding your rule. You were far above others even at fifteen autumns. But perhaps someone of Kiltian birth could aid you in your rule by providing you comfort and ease, but surely no woman could be allowed full power over the fate of the Kiltian government. Not even that, should you do the unthinkable and take a foreign bride.”

Sin made a hard movement in his chair, as if to push it back, lunge out of it and throttle his brother. But Ariana’s hand came to rest over the one that was gripping his knife in a strangling hold, calming him. He looked at her with questioning eyes but she merely smiled and said to Vich, “I think perhaps you need foreign blood in your royal house. Royal foreign blood. A princess perhaps. One who knows the workings of a court and what it means to rule a people. Then you will have the best of both worlds. A woman who can rule in her own right, and a treaty of peace with the country she comes from for all the rest of her days. There are many such women who would jump at the chance to become a queen at your brother’s side.”

“But as a woman of power and of foreign blood, surely such an idea would not appeal to you. So why would you expect it to appeal to others?” Vich said.

“Why would it not appeal to me? It would very much appeal to me… if I was not a ruler to my people in my own right. My people need me. I have already assumed a mantle of power. However, a foreign princess who has not assumed a role of power as yet would make an ideal wife and would no doubt find such an offer very attractive.”

“If only my brother would consider taking such a wife. We are beginning to despair of him ever taking a bride and producing an heir.”

“Your brother cannot be rushed in these matters,” Ariana said. “Finding such a wife will take time and care. These are not choices a man makes on a whim.”

“Far be it from my brother to act on impulse,” Vich said with a smirk over his implication that his brother had done exactly that.

However the more she thought about it, the more she understood her abduction had not been an impulsive act. He had had two autumns to think of what he would do. He had built the room in which she was staying, and he had planned her actual abduction down to the last detail. He had thought about what kind of woman he had wanted and, after all these years of ruling alone without the comfort and aide of a woman, he had finally chosen someone to be by his side.

He had chosen her.

She was extraordinarily flattered by the act. She was surprised to find herself feeling that way. It was, of course, out of the question…but still. To be chosen above all others by this selfless, extraordinary man…it was the highest of compliments.

“No,” she said. “Your brother puts much thought into everything he says and does. It is the mark of an extraordinary ruler. Few others could boast such a trait.”

She felt his surprised eyes on her and she was glad of his regard. She felt this undeniable urge to let him know how much her opinion of him had changed. She looked at him through her lashes. His gaze was hot and fierce, full of…of pride. And more. Full of his passion for her. There may as well have not been anyone else in the room, that was how ferocious his regard of her was.

She finished her meal, but barely tasted a thing. Her skin felt hot and uncomfortable on her body and she felt the need to keep shifting in her seat. However, she did sharply parry his brother’s every attempt to stab at Sin’s back. For Sin’s part, he did not lose his temper again. He seemed now to be comforted by her very presence next to him. Again she wondered that he didn’t defend himself against his brother…save that moment he had almost lost control.