Share
Bath
TOVA
I looked at High King Erik with alarm. He was in my bath chamber, and I was naked under the water. The bubbles hid most of me, but he was my betrothed, and there was nothing improper about him being here. He was High King. He could be anywhere he wanted to be.
He was also irritated with me. I am used to him being angry with me, but usually just because I was existing, not because I’ve actually done anything. I should have been very afraid, knowing how volatile and brutal he could be, but I wasn’t. I was angry.
I still had enough self-preservation to know that I should not provoke him while he was angry. I lowered my eyes while I considered my words.
“And now you’re ignoring me?” he continued to shout. Okay, that’s it. Forget it. I’ll probably be whipped tomorrow morning, but he was making me mad.
“Yes, High King. I am ignoring your question. I refuse to lie to y
Related chapters
Tova's Four Kingdoms Pure
ERIKI left Tova’s chamber and almost ran into Birgir who backed against the wall and inclined his head slightly, showing respect. I ignored him and the pang of jealousy that ran through me when he entered her chamber door, going to her to check on her wellbeing.I didn’t regret making my mother’s lover my future wife’s Keeper. There was no one better to keep her safe and I knew that he would die for her, and he would not betray me with her. I smiled ruefully. My mother kept him too busy to consider taking another lover.I marched back to my wing of the castle, ignoring the concubine that came out of her room to intercept me. When she stepped in front of me, I pushed her aside, causing her to stumble. I did not even look at her. She was nothing to me anymore.Ever since dinner last night I have been unable to get Tova out of my mind. She was smart and sassy, and she commanded re
Tova's Four Kingdoms Updates
ERIK My mother left my chambers and I sat and thought a few minutes, and my mind kept returning to how lovely Tova looked tonight, especially when she stood up from her bath. The memory of the water and bubbles streaming off from her form made me hard again and I licked my lips in arousal. I sighed, gathered up my things and went to visit one of my concubines. Nita was my newest acquisition, purchased from her father a six months ago from a small fishing village. I had been riding with my groom when I saw her on the edge of the lake and had to have her. I spoke to her father and the deal was made. A bag of gold for his daughter. He was pleased and she, not so much. I know the women of my harem are easily jealous and not kind to newcomers, but she handled herself well. She had her own tiny apartment that was built into the seventh hallway, traditionally where the concubines are housed. They have their own courtya
Tova's Four Kingdoms The Concubines
TOVA Three days after the king was in my bath chamber, I watched from my windows as five of the eight concubines that the King kept were escorted out of the castle. The wagons led, heavily loaded with the belongings of the women and children. Then a few servants followed, leading some of the younger kids by the hands. The women followed last, also in a wagon, glaring murderously at those around them. One noticed me looking at them and pointed. The other four turned their gaze to me and started shouting. Birgir came and pulled me away from the window. “This is of no consequence to you, Tova,” he stated. I looked at him, confused. “Where are they going? And why are they angry?” Birgir sighed. “The King has prepared a compound for them on the shore village.” I was shocked. The shore village was on the other side of the lake. Those wagons would be floated over the water and the women and children would be put into a boat. Even crossing at the narrowest spot on the lake
Tova's Four Kingdoms The Ride
TOVAI exhaled through my nose, my anxiety high. I had gone and made the king mad, again. At this rate he would kill me before he wed me. I looked over at Birgir who looked amused.“Queen Tova has a unique way of looking at a situation,” he said, somewhat defending me. I turned an outraged look on him and he choked on his chuckle before bowing himself out of the barn.I ignored the King and went to the tack room, pulling down Bo’s saddle and equipment. The King looked on with amusement while I saddled Bo, who was excited about the prospect of running with his favorite friend, Troi. I was less than excited, and Bo picked up on my mood, nudging me with his nose incessantly, until I laughed and kissed it.“You have blood on your shift,” the King said, suddenly. I looked down in surprise and saw a smear near my shoulder. I shrugged.“Not mine,” I said, continuing to saddle Bo. The king looked surprised.“Do you not want to go and change?”I looked at him. “Would it please your g
Tova's Four Kingdoms Meeting
ERIK It took great self-control to pull back and not penetrate Tova on the muddy bluffs overlooking the ocean. Her body was exquisite and when we kissed I could feel my restraint lessening. I had to leave before I did something to scare her or, worse, to harm her. I led us back to the stable and I could sense her confusion. I didn’t speak to her because I couldn’t trust myself not to yank her from her steed and puncture her blossom, taking her in the woods or on the side of the trail. Someday, I promised myself. But not today. She didn’t chatter and when I looked back at her she had her eyes downcast, looking at Bo, appearing sad and confused. I felt badly and then I was irritated that she could invoke this type of emotion in me. The woman was making me soft. If I wanted to take a woman in the mud and brambles, I took that woman. Why was I concerned about showing Tova sensualism and gentleness for her first time? I tossed Troi’s reins to the groom that was waiting for me
Tova's Four Kingdoms Accusations
TOVA When I got back to the stable, Birgir was waiting for me to help me unsaddle Bo. He looked at my face, seeing the unshed tears that bubbled right behind the surface and leaned down to whisper to me. “What happened?” I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it. I couldn’t admit, even to my best friend, that the King had kissed me and found me lacking so much that he had abruptly left, not speaking another word to me. Instead, I busied myself by taking the saddle off Bo and running the curry brush down his back, an act I knew he loved. He nuzzled me and I felt better, even smiling now. Birgir still looked at me with concern. “Did he hurt you, Tova?” he asked, quietly, even though the King had already left the stable. “No, of course not, Birgir,” I smiled at him, reassuringly, but his look of concern didn’t leave his face. “I will ask the King about it,” he warned me. I shrugged. “Go ahead,” I said, calling his bluff. I would have caved when I was younger but th
Tova's Four Kingdoms The Fight
TOVA After Erik stalked out of my chamber, Liv crawled out from under the table and looked at me with disbelief. I relaxed and plopped back into my chair with a sigh. “I wonder what that was about,” I mused. “I have never seen the High King like that before,” Liv commented, picking up a piece of bread and spreading animal fat on it. “He was very intense and then he wasn’t. It was like you calmed him down. Amused him somehow.” I sighed again. “Men are weird,” I told Liv. For some reason that set her off into a fit of giggles. The next morning, I got up and dressed into my shift with the tunic over the top. I knew that I had more training today and so I ate a hearty breakfast, looking forward to it. I liked feeling strong and the training gave me practice in case I was ever in this situation again. Birgir showed up at my door promptly on time, but this time he had one of the castle guards with him. “My Lady, I have a meeting with the High King. Shipp will escort you tod
Tova's Four Kingdoms Taken
ERIK I heard a knock at my door. I checked the time. Birgir was prompt. “Enter!” I shouted. The door to my chamber opened a little and Birgir slipped in. He bowed his head. “My Grace,” he said, respectfully. I smiled at him and held out my hand. “Don’t be so stuffy. When there’s no one else around, please call me Erik.” I smiled ruefully. “You changed my diapers, my companion. There are no secrets between us.” He laughed and took a seat in the chair that I indicated. “How can I help you, my friend,” he asked. I paused, unsure how to broach the subject. “I want to get your opinion on Tova,” I said. “I know that you must be diplomatic when around anyone else, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to be honest and upfront with me.” He looked at me shrewdly. “Are you having feelings for her, Erik?” he asked, forgoing all pretense. “I am,” I admitted. “I am finding that I admire her. She is different than the other women I have had opportunity to surround myself w
Latest chapter
