The Wolf and the Snake (English version)

Chapter 3

Warning 💥

This chapter contains an explicit and violent scene. 

***

In the darkness, my eyes are looking for my husband. His name is Reyn, and he's the only son of John, Lord of Chasseney.

The man we once saved!

Good lord! I think Reyn is naked.

He lay down on the bed without asking for anything. 

He's cold as ice against my back, and I shiver. 

I'm just a fool, too shy to turn my face toward him.

He's a lord.

He must like to stalk prey relentlessly through the vast forest.

He must like hunting and blood.

It's time to be fearless!

Well! I question him timidly to know if he returns from hunting.

Did he kill any wild beasts? 

He laughs. 

I'd never heard him laughing, so I turned around. 

Reyn is a good-looking guy! All the more when he laughs.

But there's something wrong.

I watch him better.

It sounds like he got into a brawl, and he's probably injured.

It's true! He fought like a demon.

Who did he face?

Reyn still laughs, admitting difficulties joining me because his damn cousin doesn't appreciate our marriage. Tonight, at the tavern, he drank heavily. Aurel of Campemy, his name, attacked the newlywed, swearing he had admired me first. And it would thus be necessary to go over his dead body to consummate the marriage.

My husband laughs again, and so do I. 

I don't see anything funny, but I want to laugh with him. He adds he defeated that jerk. However, he's in pain all over, the other fool being in a worse condition than he is.

Then we don't laugh anymore.

I'm uncomfortable and carefully avoid his gaze. 

Suddenly, he asks, "Why did you keep your nightgown? It isn't so cold, even if the fire is out."

I'm getting red down to my hair roots. Fortunately, he probably cannot see anything because of the half-light in the room. "I thought you would take it off, my lord," I mumble.

He's smiling, looking like a joker.

Is Reyn arrogant?

For sure! 

Would he make fun of me?

Perhaps! 

I know I'm not the first woman in his bed. 

A lord like him must be only spoilt for choice. 

"Take it off!" he now says. "I don't feel like fiddling with your nightgown! I prefer watching you."

Is this an order? 

It appears so.

I must not blush again as if I were a fool. 

I'm not a fool!

Time to be brave!

Time to grow up!