You Are Mine (Mine #1)(16)

“I—I...”

“You're shaking. Follow me.” She guides me to my cot and helps me sit. The tent is almost full. Most of the women must be in already. And they're all watching me.

I give a shy smile and say loudly, “Too much partying for me, I think.”

The women return to their own business, a low hum of words. A few snippets of Thomas's name. My hands shake.

Cynthia settles next to me and leans closer. “What really happened”

I pick a twig off my dress. “Thomas insisted on walking me.”

When I stay silent Cynthia says, “Did something happen with him?”

A cold wave washes over me. I rub my arms. “Almost. It almost did.” My voice catches. “But Cynthia, someone came.” The women around us are still paying us no mind. Just to be safe, I lower my voice further. “Before he could do anything, Thomas was knocked out by an Envadi.”

She gasps. The women closest to us look at her. She gives a false laugh. “There were mimes? I shouldn't have come back early.”

After the women turn away from us, I whisper, “What's a mime?”

She shrugs. “Don't know. I've been listening to the others. Did anyone else witness it?”

“No one. Only Thomas and he were there.”

“Chancellor Thomas. You've got to remember that.” She shakes her head. “Is he angry?”

“I don't know. He wasn't conscious when I left.” I swallow when I realize what that could mean for me when he wakes. “The Envadi said he'd be fine. Thomas had a lot to drink though.”

She lifts her eyebrows at me. “And you left him?”

“I had to return before curfew. Besides, he was making me uncomfortable.”

She bites her lower lip. “Turn around. I'll help you out of your dress.”

I twist until my back faces her. As she unfastens my dress, I think of Thomas and the Envadi. Their barbaric ways are widely known. The one that attacked Thomas had continued to kick him after he was down and unconscious. Yet, I don't know what would have become of me if the Envadi had not come along. Which of the two is really worse? I can't decide, but my mind keeps remembering Thomas laying on the ground, the Envadi looming over him.





Chapter Six





As Cynthia and I leave the tented area, Father strides toward us. I keep my expression serene despite the quivering inside me.

“Why weren't you here sooner? Chancellor Thomas's duel is about to start.” He squeezes both our upper arms and directs us to the box. I hold back a wince at his grip. “He was furious he didn't see you this morning, Serena.”

Fear pricks my heart. I took as long as I could getting ready, even applying extra face paint to delay this moment. We enter the box. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“What do you think he wanted?” Father lets go and I scurry to my chair.

To tarnish me for my crimes, for not letting him be my Master. For leaving him unattended while unconscious with an Envadi. My sins are many.

“You're his bride,” Father says. “Everyone was asking after him this morning and he wanted you at his side. Once he came to himself that is. Woke in the Envadi section of camp not remembering how he got there. Drank a bit too much last night if you ask me. Took some extra spells to fix that.”

I relax into my chair. He doesn't remember what happened. Cynthia and I exchange a glance. The wrinkles in her forehead smooth.

Though I shouldn't speak, I can't help but try to take the conversation somewhere safer. “Is he the first duel of the day?”

“Yes. He's paired against that Envadi. Massive brute that. Must be what's gotten him this far. No other Envadi have made it to the last day. Should be easy enough for Chancellor Thomas to best him. With any luck, he'll take the day. Not that he needs the prize money now.” Father chuckles. It stops when he looks at me. “Why am I wasting this talk on you halfwits?”

He storms out of the box. I don't watch to see if he's going to Thomas or somewhere else. What happens to Thomas gives me no concern. Win or lose, I'm still his. Unless he does remember something from last night that he didn't want to discuss with Father, only me. I shift in my chair. Even if he does want to talk to me about it, I'm going home tomorrow. I won't have to use this facade much longer. By the time we are living under the same roof, as a Chancellor he should have other things to occupy him. Still, I'll have to come back and return to masking my feelings toward him.

Except he could require me to stay. The contract is sealed. As his possession, he could force me if he so wished. I rub my forehead. No sense worrying about that. No one has required that of their possession before they've become wed.

“You look ill.” Cynthia moves closer to me. “It appears you have nothing to worry about. Chancellor Thomas is going to duel and win from the sound of things. He'll be in a good mood after that.”

“I suppose.”

“He will.” She relaxes in her chair. “Do you want any breakfast?”

“No. But get yourself something.”

“It's probably not a good idea. There's likely to be more deaths today. More of them happen today than any other day.”

“You've been talking to the servants again?”