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front of the castle population again.” He arched a brow. “I will speak to you whenever and wherever I choose. As my betrothed, you have duties. It is time you started doing them.”
    She crossed her arms, determined to push away the hurt at his treatment of her. “I am not staying and I am not going to marry you. So it is pointless for me to do anything but wait until my father returns for me.”
    “Your father will not be returning except to attend our wedding. You might as well push thoughts of leaving from your mind. I am in charge of your welfare now. You will answer only to me.” Fury boiled inside her. “My duty is to marry someone else, not you.”
    “Are you daft, woman? Did you not understand that your father authorized our marriage? You would defy D’Naathian law?”
    “I defy no laws. I am simply not marrying you.”
    “You are mistaken. You will abide by my rules and my wishes.”
    “And if I do not?”
    His lips curled in a mocking smile. “Then I shall drag you into the middle of the courtyard, pull you over my knee, bare your ass and spank you soundly.”
    Anger warred with desire as the visual of his hand swatting her naked bottom had the opposite effect of what he intended. Arousal coiled like a sensuous flame deep in her belly. She pushed aside thoughts of spankings and what would follow, letting indifference take control.
    She laughed at him. “My father threatened that all the time and never followed through.”
    His brows knit together and his face contorted. She felt the barely leashed control simmering on the surface and found it rather exciting. She wondered how far she would have to push him before he lost that control. “I am not your father. Do not challenge me, faerie. You will lose.”
    “I will do whatever I like,” she countered, raising her chin and letting him know that she would never be ordered about by the likes of him.
    “Then you shall suffer the consequences. I will only issue the warning one time.” He turned on his heel and exited, leaving her simmering hotter than the midday soup boiling on the stove next to her. She wondered if the heat was due to anger or something entirely different, deciding it was safer to choose ire as the reason for the flames shooting through her.
    How dare he treat her this way? She would make him pay. Somehow, he would suffer her consequences!

    Two hours later she had it figured out. Nadine had engaged her in assisting with the evening meal preparations. Having never supervised or worked in the kitchens before, she felt helpless and did not know what to do. Fortunately, Nadine was quite patient, instructing her how to oversee the kitchen staff and what decisions to make for meal planning.
    Since she was also required to taste what was being cooked and to help serve the men their meals, she took it upon herself to personally serve Braedon, trying to hold back her smirk when she placed the bowl of hearty stew in front of him. He arched a brow at her innocent smile but said nothing. She turned away and continued to serve the men their meals, hiding her face when she heard Braedon’s loud bellow.
    “Are you trying to poison me, woman?” he asked, sputtering, his face an angry red.
    Ah, so the red pepper was a bit hot. See, she was learning already. Casually walking toward to his chair, she clasped her hands behind her back and waited while he gulped his entire mug of ale, choking and gasping the entire time.
    “This is horrible!” he exclaimed, then turned to his men who frowned at him as if he were daft. “How can you eat this?”
    “Tastes quite good, m’lord,” the man next to him exclaimed, followed by “ayes” from those nearby.
    Braden turned his head and glared at her.
    “You are right,” she said in her sweetest voice. “Cooking is not my strongest talent. I had meant only to season yours in a special way, since I wanted to please you. My apologies ‘twas not to your liking.” His face colored even darker than it had