Cassius’s gaze dropped to my frown and he scowled at it.

I looked away and took a sip of wine.

“Please tell me you do not force the Airenzian wedding on this creature,” Silvanus cut in. “I see her beauty blooming in pink. Perhaps blue. Maybe lavender. Not the dreaded Airenzian wedding black.”

“I was going to wear my tunic,” I told him.

His lids drooped.

My belly swooped.

“And you should, for you wear it well,” he hummed to me.

Cassius suddenly reclined against the cushions at our backs which were up against a boulder.

And he took me with him with his arm snaking about me so that I ended up mostly reclining against him.

Silvanus smiled a knowing smile.

I turned my head again and shot my betrothed an annoyed glare.

He endured that but half a second before he turned, set his goblet to the ground and then came back to me.

I held my breath as he used the very tips of his fingers to trail my cheekbone before they sifted into my hair at the side and his face came very close.

“In mourning, the Firenz shroud everything in black,” he murmured. “Windows, mirrors, murals, fountains, doorways, horses, heads, covering anything they see that could bring joy and depicts beauty, for they cannot bear to gaze upon it in their despair.” He shifted just his eyes in the direction of Silvanus before he said in a louder voice. “Apropos an Airenzian bride should wed in that color, don’t you think?”

“Indeed,” I heard Silvanus agree softly.

Cassius’s attention returned to me, he was again murmuring, and I was again holding my breath at the expression on his face.

“The Dellish bride wears white, pale pink, pale green. The Firenz bride wears whatever color she wishes.”

My lungs started burning so I dragged in a breath but held it again when his hand in my hair shifted to cup the back of my head and his beard scraped my cheek as he put his lips to my ear.

I could feel them brushing my skin as he said, “You, my lamb, will wear pale lilac. You will herald a new beginning for all Airenzian women by wearing a color of light and hope. By showing them through your reign as their princess, and then their queen that they face a future where they will know choice.”

His arm about me curled tighter, drawing me nearer.

I gasped softly when his teeth nipped my earlobe before he growled, “And if you flirt one more time with that Zee, before the night is over, you will know the stroke of my cock so you will have no doubt who you belong to.”

It was then I realized I was panting and pressing my until-then forgotten goblet tight to the leather at his chest.

“Am I understood, my princess?” he asked.

“I’m not flirting,” I whispered.