Dread pooled like slime in my stomach. My mouth was dry, and my tongue no longer worked. Calli turned to try and see who it was. She gasped.
"J-Jonny!" she stammered, releasing my neck and trying to smooth out her dress. She slipped under me to try and go to him, but my hand shot forward and snatched her wrist. She spun around, confused.
"Let her go!" Jonathan snarled. I growled wolfishly at him. By thunder would I let her go to him!
"It's OK," Calli whispered, giving my hand a pat. I hesitated. She gave me a pouty look like a wounded puppy, which she had discovered on about the second day of our courtship would get me to do just about anything for her, no matter how much I hated it. Like how much I hated letting her go to the embrace of another man. I sighed and dropped her hand. She immediately dropped the pout for a full smile and whirled to go to Jonathan.
"This is such a surprise!" she squealed, giving him a hug. He returned it fiercely, glaring darkly at me the whole time. I sneered at him, bitterly loathing how long and tight their embrace was. I'm going to rip your arms off and smash your skull in with them, irritating punk!! I pushed the voice down, even though I fervently wanted to obey it. He was her "friend" after all. He pulled away, anxious hands brushing her hair from her face so he could examine it.
"Are you alright?!" he asked urgently. "Did he cast some sort of allure charm on you?"
"What?" Calli asked, confused. She flapped a hand to shoo away his. "No! Cha-the Tel'mak would never do that!" His eyes narrowed.
"What'd you call him?" he pushed, looming over her, his eyes darting between her and me. I took a step forward. My patience was thinning.
"Th-th' Tel'mak," she stammered, her accent slipping in with her nervousness. "I-i-it was jus' a slip o' th' tongue." He pulled back with a scoff.
"Oh really?" he said sarcastically. "Or maybe you meant to call him 'Chance'?" She flinched. He gave her a long look that reeked of betrayal.
"You nicknamed him the name of our first child?" he said.
"My first child," Calli hissed, shoving him away. She took a step back as she continued, "I always said I'd love ta name my first child 'Chance.' I nevah said it'd be yours! Besides, what do you care what I call 'im? You're my friend, not my guardian!"
"I'm worried about you!" he pleaded. "Obviously this hoodlum has convinced you he's a Tel'mak, and, if he was, that'd be even more of a reason to not trust him! Don't you see, Cal? He's trickin' you!"
"Just stop, Jon!" Calli yelled. "Ya don't know what yer talkin' about!"
"What 'n th' blazing sand dunes is goin' on 'ere?!" I groaned. Now Lyterias was in on this. Jonathan stabbed an accusing finger in my chest.
"This . . . trickster! . . . has done up Calliena!!" I felt my blood run hot and cold at the same time. Street-licking, dog-kissing, son-of-a-whorehouse!!!
"HE'S WHAT?!!" Lyterias roared.
"WHAT??!!" Calli screeched.
"THEY WERE ON THE COUNTER!! KISSING!! I KNOW HE'S DRAGGED HER TO BED!!!" Jonathan shouted.
"LIKE HORSE DUNG THEY WERE!!!" Lyterias bellowed. He whirled on Calli. "DID YE . . . ?!" She swallowed hard and looked away. Lyterias's shoulders drooped for a moment. Then, he turned on me, face contorted in unbridled fury.
"YOU!!!" He seized my shirt.
"Enough!" The one word fell from my lips with the force of a clap of thunder. Jonathan stepped back, confused, while Lyterias sat down hard on the floor. I vented some energy to keep them quelled, my body now radiating with pale blue fire. All three mortals stared at me, and I felt sure that the silvery symbol on my forehead was glowing on its own. Jonathan seemed to finally realize that Calli was telling the truth because he suddenly got very pale and very quiet. I sighed, grabbed Lyterias's arm, and pulled him upright.
YOU ARE READING
The War God's Wife
RomanceShe has no desire for marriage. Calliena has her hands full being the assistant in her father's clinic and keeping them afloat. Not that she hasn't had her fair share of suitors; she just never had any interest in boys looking for a pretty face or...
