She held out her hand to him and slid one leg over the other, slowly opening her white thighs.

Marcus averted his head. For some reason, the sight of her like that sickened him beyond measure.

“Please, get dressed!” he said coldly. He yanked on his breeches and began to search for his shirt.

Evelina burst into loud and noisy sobs.

“You did this to me and now you hate me!” she cried, gulping. “But you won’t get away with it! You’ll make me a princess! You’ll take care of me. Or else I’ll tell everyone how you used me and then tossed me away like a bunch of stinking fish heads. I’ll tell everyone in the village. I’ll tell everyone I meet! I’ll make sure everyone in your damnable kingdom knows what a monster you are!”

Her face was red with her fury, the ugly red spreading down to the hollow between her breasts, which jiggled with the force of her sobs and her threats.

“For you are a monster! I’ll tell them lots of things about you, Your Highness,” she cried in a frenzy, almost incoherent. “You summon up the fires of hell! You talk to people who aren’t there! You wave imaginary swords and shout about killing dragons!”

She glared at him, her eyes awash.

“I’ve heard the talk around the village about you. Strange rumors. And I know they’re true. I’ve seen you use demonic powers. When I’m finished, they’ll be tying you to the stake and stacking the wood around your feet!”

Marcus turned his back on her and started to walk for the door.

Evelina leapt from the bed and went running after him. She flung her arms around him, pressing her naked body against his. “My love, my love, forgive me! I didn’t know what I was saying. I would never, never do anything to harm you. It’s just . . .” She paused. “Just that we have a baby coming . . .”

Marcus managed to disentangle himself from her grasp. “Get dressed! Please! I . . . have to think about this.”

“Yes, Marcus,” said Evelina meekly. “I don’t blame you. It was partly my fault, too. I just wanted to make you happy . . . I’ll go get dressed now. I’ll do whatever you say.”

She padded off, still sniffing, sobbing an occasional sob that she couldn’t quite control.

What she said is true. People do talk about me. They have talked about me since I was old enough to hear the whispers. They whisper that I am my father’s bastard, and all know that bastard children have a propensity/or evil, are easily ensnared by the devil.

And now my kingdom is about to come under attack by forces that will be considered demonic. And I will be one to warn of their coming. Evelina’s timing, though accidental, is perfect.