He draws in a sharp breath. “That’s terrible.”
“So, will you help her?”
“This is something I will need to discuss with the council. We don’t treat annulments lightly.”
“I understand, but please don’t tarry, Hector.”
“I won’t.”
As I tuck myself closer to Hector, I think about each of those women, and I think about Wrenley. There’s something more than her being sad. Something that makes me think she’s grieving. But what or whom is she grieving?
Maybe I can help her too.
The thought brings a smile to my lips as I fall asleep in Hector’s arms.
ChapterForty-Two
On the first day of a new month, everyone gathers to eat dinner together. Two weeks after our arrival in Karra, Hector and I attend one of those dinners in the grand dining hall.
Hector takes his chair at the center of the table. Kheldar sits to his immediate right, with Luc next to him. Adelaide sits next to her father. She keeps one hand wrapped firmly around his arm, as if she fears he might disappear at any moment. Her other hand is clasped tightly around a small wooden doll.
I walk to the other side to take a seat. Before I do, Tersah falls into the chair and offers Hector a bright smile. She even has the audacity to look up at him through her long eyelashes.
Anger flares to life inside me. It’s the same way the women at Father’s brothel looked at their patrons.
She ignores me as she addresses Hector. “Do you remember when we went fishing in that big pond outside of Fillmon’s, and Hero didn’t catch a single fish, but you caught five?”
Hector nods.
“I swore that day that you would be a fisherman like my father.” She pats her perfect hair. “Little did I know you were the chieftain of the Bloodstone people.”
Hero plucks up his goblet of wine. “You tried to cook the fish and burned every piece. I had to feed my share to the dog.”
Tersah rolls her eyes at him and talks in a pouty voice. “You don’t appreciate good cooking.”
“Burnt is burnt,” Hero says.
“Was it burnt, Hector?” Tersah asks as she stares at him.
He shrugs. “I don’t remember.”
“You liar!” Humor twinkles in Hero’s eyes as he shakes his head. “You were always way too nice to Tersah.”
She stares up at Hector again, her face pouty. Irritating.
He is my husband.
Not hers.
And she can stop looking at him.
Hector glances up at me as I clench and unclench my left fist. “Tersah, this is Sol’s seat.”
“Oh.” Her gaze shoots to me as she shrugs and gets up slowly. “I forgot you were married.”
That’s it. I will murder her!
The moment I grab my goblet and lurch toward her, Hector grabs my arm and pulls me to the chair.
