Predatory Marriage

t them…

Leah sunk deep into her thoughts and was surprised when she realized they were starting to sound quite belligerent.
It was as if she were slowly turning into Ishakan.

“I don’t know what Blain was thinking when he invited you,” she said, changing the subject.

“I suppose he is trying to determine the hierarchy,” Ishakan replied, watching her as she sat down on the couch.
“I’ll compete with confidence, though the queen and prince may have their tricks.”

‘Just that?’ Leah couldn’t believe it, but Ishakan was calm.

“It’s normal to go a little crazy when you fall in love,” he said.

She didn’t understand why he mentioned love out of nowhere.
Ishakan tilted his head.

“Look at me, Leah.” His eyes narrowed, a slight smile on his lips.
“I’m being pretty stupid myself.”

She looked at him, stunned.
His words echoed in her head, though he looked unperturbed, as if he hadn’t said anything strange.
Her eyes grew wider and wider as the words sunk in, her thoughts swirling, and she put a startled hand to her mouth.

What had she just heard?

As she sat there without any idea what to do, Ishakan took her hand and placed five cookies in it, moderate-sized with chunks of palm dates.

“I’ll be a while with the Crown Prince, so eat all of these in the meantime,” he said, pressing a cookie to her lips.
She chewed and swallowed reflexively.
She tasted the sweetness of the palm dates, but swallowed too quickly to fully absorb the flavors.

The cookies were not her biggest concern.
Leah got up from the couch.

“Just now,” she began, and stopped.
She tried to get the words out, but couldn’t stop stuttering.
“Just now, what you told me…”