Rebel's Honor(72)

"One of the priestesses, surely," Stefan said, looking between Malika and Felix.

Lukan stepped forward, staring coolly at Stefan. "As emperor, I make that call, and I think it fitting that Colonel Zarot go."

Stefan's eyes darted to Lynx. With him gone, she was minus a vital ally.  Still, Malika was right; Axel could not travel alone. She nodded, as if  she had the power of veto or ratification over the emperor's commands.

"Go. Tell Heron I send my love. Explain . . ." She paused. "You'll know what to do when you meet him."

"Enough of all this waffling," Felix snapped, moving to the door.

Lynx was about to follow Axel when Lukan grabbed her arm. "You and I need to talk."





Chapter 43





Lynx wanted to shake Lukan off, to go with Axel, but Lukan needed  dealing with. She could not live with a potential murderer. After  waiting for the room to clear, she turned to him. "You do know that from  now on, it's war."

Lukan's breath hitched, and then he pleaded, "Lynx, listen to me, you've  got it all wrong. I planned to save you. Honestly, I did. I had this  whole speech worked out that I was going to give the high-born. It would  have changed everything."                       
       
           



       

"A speech? That was going to save me from a quarrel?" Lynx shook her head in disbelief. "Tell that to Axel!"

Anger flashed across Lukan's face, and his eyes narrowed. "Don't talk to  me about Axel. I had to stand in front of the whole court, watching  while you kissed him not five minutes after we married."

Ignoring his outburst, Lynx added, "I wouldn't have needed saving if you  hadn't plotted to kill me in the first place." Why she was debating  with him, she'd never know, when all she wanted was to break his neck.

Because I'm not ready to take on the Fifteen yet. Until I am, I have to  manage this man. For that, she had to bring him firmly under control.  Everything she knew about him screamed that fear and humiliation where  the best tools for nobbling Lukan Avanov.

Lukan confirmed her thoughts by saying, "I've now told you over and over  that my intentions were pure, but you have chosen not to believe me.  Lynx, you have humiliated me in every possible way."

"And humiliation beats premeditated murder every time." Lynx laughed  mockingly. "Lukan, even if I believe you, you sported with my life."

"What about Axel?" Lukan demanded indignantly. "Did he tell you what everyone was planning?"

"No. He didn't. But that's not the point. He made a choice to use his  life to protect mine." She scowled at him. "And what about next time?"

"Next time?"

"Yes! Next time your uncle decides I'm not worthy to live? How can I trust you not to plot against me again?"

Lukan's hands gripped his hair and then fell back to his sides. He  strode across the room and hit the wall with his palm. "Because I want  you. I've always wanted you, since the day I first saw you. You know  that. Why would I harm you?"

The memory of Lukan leering at her across the hall during the summer  burned harsh in Lynx's mind. Still, she would have expected the threat  of her son to have changed that. Apparently, she was wrong. "Want is not  love. I'm nothing but an object to you. I saw that at the ball. And it  played out again so beautifully when you schemed with Felix to kill me."

Another slap on the wall, then Lukan faced her. "Look, you're right when  you say I don't love you. I can't possibly because I hardly know you.  But I'm willing to try, and that's a start. I-I can even overlook this .  . . obsession of yours with my cousin, if you promise to conduct  yourself properly as my wife-especially when he returns. I cannot have  the court talking about you and Axel behind my back."

Lynx's mouth dropped in disbelief. She snapped it closed. Did he really  think she could let this go? That she could trust him again? With no  qualm or conscience, he had been willing to cross his uncle in their  deal. What stopped him from backstabbing her if it suited his agenda?  Lukan Avanov was a man devoid of honor. And men devoid of honor were  like vipers-only to be trusted when their heads were crushed between two  rocks.

In the face of her stony silence, he cried, "You know Felix! You know how manipulative he is. What was I supposed to do?"

Lynx pointed to the empty space where Axel's bed had stood. "You fight  for what is right, for what you believe in, no matter the cost. As much  as I love Axel, I was not letting your pathetic uncle intimidate me.  It's called having a backbone."

Lukan shook his head, studying his feet. "Well, maybe I'm not as strong as you are."

"No, you're not," Lynx agreed. She folded her arms and studied him.

Sniveling weakling that he was, she'd get no assurances from him. It was  time to discover how Lukan saw the future-and to tell him what to  expect if he had any illusions about trying to kill her again.

She did not intend becoming a typical Norin bride married to a murderous  Chenayan emperor. "What are your plans for your reign? More of what  your father served up? Or do you see things changing in Chenaya?"

Lukan slumped down onto the chair. "There is so much to consider."

"Would you take guidance? Counsel on how to rule, what to change?"

He looked up at her. "From whom?"

"Me."

"A woman." He shook his head. "What would the Fifteen say? Empresses are  supposed to look pretty and host balls, not make decisions on  government. Especially the kind of decisions you'll want to make."

It would do no harm to remind Lukan of the curse if he would not see  reason. "I am sure you're aware that I am the woman Dmitri spoke of."

Lukan leaped to his feet. "Are you threatening me? I won't tolerate it.  I'm emperor now, and I won't be bullied by anyone ever again."                       
       
           



       

"Yes, a thousand witnesses saw you and Felix murder the emperor. I doubt  any of them would dare cross you. Me, I'm not so reticent."

Hoping he didn't notice her blush, Lynx walked right up to him and  deliberately brushed her body against his. His breath sped up, and his  groin immediately responded. Lynx gritted her teeth against the pressure  on her leg.

"Lukan, you chose me to marry you because you think I'm a plaything.  That was a serious misjudgment." She pinched his testicles through his  clothing. He screeched-more in surprise than pain, given that she hadn't  squeezed hard-and jumped back. Lynx let him go. "Try to hurt me, and I  will emasculate you in ways you can only begin to imagine."

Lukan shook his head, his face more bemused than angry. When he finally  spoke, his voice was mournful. "You never gave us a chance. From the  moment you arrived here, you were determined to despise me. Why? Why  even agree to the marriage?"

It was time to enlighten him. "The only reason I married you was to  fulfill an oath to my father. I've done that now." She remembered her  letter to her father with its promise that Axel would tell him  everything there was to know about the ice crystals. Her heart burst  into song, and she couldn't resist grinning. "Winds know, I am freer now  than I have ever been."

Lukan's beautiful face turned scornful. "Free? You're still my wife. My  empress. You live here, in my palace. You'll do what I say. I hardly  call that free."

Before he could get too comfortable with his delusions, Lynx said, "Don't for a minute think you'll control me."

Lukan's head hitched to the side, dark eyes calculating. "An oath to  your father, you say? Don't you Norin consider yourselves cursed if you  break them?"

How did Lukan know that? Lynx shifted, suddenly uncomfortable-and hating herself for it.

"The cursing is moot," she snapped, determined to quell any advantage he  may think he had. "My oath was fulfilled when I married you today."

A triumphant smile danced across Lukan's lips. "Then I hate to break  this to you, but our marriage is not yet complete. Your oath to your  father still stands." He laughed.

Voice ominous with threat, Lynx demanded, "What do you mean?"

In Norin, marriage vows uttered together in front of witnesses  constituted a legally binding contract. Mott had demanded to see  bloodied sheets to confirm that she had indeed slept with Lukan, but  he'd said nothing about needing them to clinch the marriage.

"Sex." Lukan stepped back from her, gloating. "No marriage in Chenaya is  legal until it is consummated. Today, you and I have merely performed a  spectacle for the masses. The legal stuff happens in bed. My bed, which  you will never be invited to."