Whispers and Chains

Chapter Four

“Do you crave me even when I am not in your bed, my king? Or do you simply crave control?”

Liana’s voice slid into Kael’s ear like silk laced with venom. She stood close behind him in the council chamber, her fingers daring to trace the back of his chair while the most powerful men of the realm argued over maps and borders.

Kael did not turn his head. His golden eyes stayed fixed on the parchment spread across the table, his jaw hard as steel. But his hand twitched on the armrest, betraying that her words pierced deeper than any advisor’s counsel.

Around them, the air was thick with the scent of ink, wax, and sweat. Nobles bickered over troop movements, over taxes, over the bleeding edge of war pressing against the kingdom. Yet for Liana, the only battle worth fighting was the one she waged against the man seated before her.

“Lady Liana,” one of the councillors sneered, his gaze sliding over her figure. “The king’s bride would do well to remain silent while men discuss matters of state.”

The words dripped with disdain, and several others chuckled in agreement.

Before Liana could answer, Kael’s voice cut through the room like a blade. “Be careful, Lord Merek. She may speak fewer words than you, but hers weigh far more.”

The chamber fell silent.

Liana’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. Kael had not defended her out of kindness—he defended what was his. Still, his protection in front of the council was a weapon she could sharpen.

Merek’s face flushed, his hands trembling as he returned his gaze to the maps. The others shifted uneasily, whispering among themselves.

Kael leaned back in his chair, finally glancing at her from the corner of his eye. His expression was unreadable, but the faintest smirk tugged at his mouth. He had felt her provocation, and he had answered with fire.

When the council session finally ended, the nobles bowed themselves out, their whispers following them down the hall. Liana lingered in the chamber as Kael dismissed the servants.

The heavy door closed. Silence wrapped around them like a cloak.

Only then did Kael rise, turning to face her fully. His gaze burned, hot and unrelenting. “You enjoy testing me in front of my council.”

Liana tilted her chin. “Perhaps I enjoy reminding them that the king is not the only one with teeth.”

He moved toward her slowly, like a predator savouring the chase. “You are bold, little queen. Bold enough to embarrass lords, bold enough to provoke your king. Do you know what happens to those who forget their place?”

Her pulse quickened as he closed the distance, his presence swallowing her whole. Still, she refused to retreat. “Perhaps they are rewarded, if they are clever enough.”

Kael’s hand shot out, gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him. “Or perhaps they are punished.”

His lips crashed onto hers, fierce and claiming, swallowing her defiance in fire. She moaned against him, nails digging into his shoulders as her gown slipped down, baring the swell of her breasts. His hands roamed her body with possessive hunger, and for a moment the council chamber itself seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them locked in a battle of mouths and breath and desperate need.

When he pulled back, his forehead pressed against hers, and his voice was a growl. “You burn me alive, Liana. Do you know what that means?”

She smirked through her ragged breathing. “It means I have power over you.”

His laugh was sharp, dangerous. “No. It means if I cannot have all of you, I may destroy you.”

Her smirk faltered, but only for a heartbeat. She would not let fear rule her. Not here. Not now.

The door creaked open suddenly. A young noblewoman entered without knocking, her jewelled gown glittering in the candlelight. She froze at the sight before her—Kael gripping his bride’s body against the council table, Liana’s lips swollen, her gown slipping low.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” the woman stammered, though her eyes lingered on Kael with something far hungrier than fear. “I… I was summoned to deliver a message.”

Kael did not release Liana. His grip tightened possessively as he turned his gaze on the intruder. “Who dares interrupt me this time?”

The woman bowed her head, but her voice shook with both fear and longing. “It is from Lord Varos of the borderlands. He begs for reinforcements, claiming enemy scouts have crossed the river in greater numbers.”

Kael cursed under his breath, his hand still locked on Liana’s waist as if unwilling to let go. “Leave it on the table,” he ordered.

The woman obeyed quickly, though her gaze flickered again to Liana, burning with jealousy. She curtsied low and fled, leaving behind the faint scent of perfume.

Liana’s eyes narrowed. She had seen the hunger in that woman’s stare. She had felt the shift in the air. She was not the only one who desired Kael—and not the only one he could claim.

She stepped back from him, her gown falling back into place. “Your palace drips with rivals, my king. Women who look at you as though they would claw me to pieces for a taste of your lips.”

Kael smirked, unconcerned. “Let them look. Let them envy. You are the one in my arms.”

“But for how long?” she whispered.

His eyes sharpened. He caught her chin between his fingers, forcing her gaze up to his. “For as long as you can endure me, Liana. And for as long as I desire you—which, I assure you, is longer than you think.”

Her heart pounded, torn between fear and exhilaration. She wanted to defy him, to challenge him, to prove she could wield his desire as a weapon. But as his lips claimed hers again, brutal and intoxicating, she realised the truth.

This was not just a marriage. It was a war.

And the battlefield was their very bodies.