With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(106)
Then she glared at her crockery on her tray for it, too, was beautiful in a sturdy, handsome way with the bottom of the plate and the outside of the bowls, mugs and jugs being a rich, earthen brown but the inside was a gorgeous, muted turquoise.
Of course, only Callum could have crockery that she instantly loved and therefore forced herself to instantly hate.
“…executed them all,” Maraleena was saying as Sonia pushed down the top of the cafetière, her words catching Sonia’s attention.
“Sorry?” Sonia asked.
Maraleena was zipping up an empty suitcase and setting it aside as she looked at Sonia.
“They should have executed them all,” Maraleena repeated.
“Who?”
“The rebels!” Maraleena exclaimed, not ceasing in her endeavors and heading toward another suitcase then repeatedly pulling out Sonia’s jeans and cords and piling them, folded double, on the couch. “A stroke of brilliance, we all think, King Callum handing down the order to slay them one-by-one until they signed the terms of surrender.”
Sonia sucked in breath and the oxygen burned her frozen lungs.
Slay them one-by-one? Sonia repeated in her brain.
“Nothing less than they deserved,” Maraleena muttered, again oblivious to Sonia’s reaction. “Lots of us feel they shouldn’t have stopped. This has been going on years. Years! And what they want, what they’re fighting for! And killing our males for. It’s revolting. Now, finally, it’s over.”
Sonia decided to get her system working by pouring coffee into it which always helped and therefore, with studious precision in an attempt to stop her hand from shaking, she prepared her mug.
Callum had ordered the executions of men.
One-by-one.
Until they did what he wanted.
It was barbaric.
He was barbaric.
And he was her mate, her husband, now he was her king!
“Anyway, it’s a happy New Year with this business over and you seated in the lap of your king,” Maraleena declared while hanging Sonia’s pants on hangers. She threw another smile at Sonia as if she hadn’t just been crowing at the deaths of multitudes of men. “Everyone’s really excited.”
“I’m glad,” Sonia replied but her voice sounded choked so she sipped her coffee.
It was delicious. But it didn’t help.
“You know,” Sonia started, wishing (desperately) to change the subject in an effort not to go stark, raving mad. “I can do that.”
Maraleena froze while shoving the hangers with her pants on them in the wardrobe.
Slowly, she turned and bowed her head low.
Then, deferentially, she murmured, “Yes, my queen.”
But before her head bowed, Sonia saw a look on her face that was near to tragic.
“What?” Sonia asked before she remembered Callum telling her that Julianna would be offended if Sonia tried to help. So, quickly, she said, “Maraleena, I’m so sorry. I’m human and new to this royal business.” Maraleena’s head came up but her face had lost its cheerfulness as Sonia carried on, “I’m used to doing things for myself.”
“I suspected, as King Callum’s mate, you’d want to take care of him,” Maraleena replied in a dead voice.
Hardly, Sonia thought but did not say out loud.
“It’s not that, it’s just –” Sonia stopped speaking when the hint of a light of hope lit in Maraleena’s eyes.
Sonia made a decision, put the tray aside and got out of bed. She walked to Maraleena, grabbed the surprised woman’s hand and led her to the couch. Seating them both side-by-side, she faced the tall woman.
Then she explained, “Callum has been kind of busy. He hasn’t had time to tell me about the ways of your people and my people are very different. So, if you would, could you tell me what’s happening here because I need to understand it so I can…” Sonia trailed off, not knowing what to say then found her words. “Be a good queen.”
It sounded lame but the hope built in Maraleena’s eyes and, obviously not a woman who needed a lot of coaxing to talk, she did so.
“Well, you see, as King Callum’s mate you can decide to take the running of the castle, you know, the cooking and cleaning and stuff. Queen Regan did it for King Mac.” When she stopped, Sonia smiled and nodded encouragingly for her to go on and the hope dimmed as she began to get nervous but she sallied forth. “But, you see, this is my duty to my king but it’s also…” She hesitated. “My job. King Callum pays me to do it and Drogan and I just bought a bigger cottage because our pups are growing and we need the money so if you –”
“You can keep your job,” Sonia cut in swiftly and the light flared bright in Maraleena’s eyes before she pulled a surprised Sonia in her arms and hugged her.
“Really?” she cried then went on before Sonia could reply. “Oh, I’m so happy! I’d been so worried since I heard he claimed you.” She pulled back and looked at Sonia. “Drogan said we shouldn’t get that cottage because we never knew when the king would find his mate and if she’d want the running of the castle.” She beamed. “But I told him not to worry. I had a feeling all would be well and now you’re here and you’re so tiny and pretty and nice. And, I know it may sound crazy but I love my job, I love this castle and it’s an honor for anyone to be of service to our king.” She pulled Sonia in her arms and gave her another fierce hug with a whispered, “Thank you.”