Free Tangles and Temptation by India-Jean Louwe

overcome and endured— succeeded. The door pushed open under her weight less forcefully than she expected. She took only a second to recognize the head of red, glossy locks of the king seated far across the chamber before thanking her weakened state for her less pronounced entry.
    The king did not acknowledge the sudden shift at the door and continued his discussion with Sappho. The back of his dark head showed clearly above the back rest of his seat. Kyra was about to make her presence known and demand a safe passage from this place under the escort of Sappho when a sudden voice made her freeze. The unwelcome voice came from the darkened corner— Eris.
    Kyra weighed her options. As much as she wished to be away from this place, she wished even less to face the beastly man who bore the blame for her haggled body and bedraggled appearance. She scooted as subtlety as her ailing body parts could manage, steadfastly overcoming their screaming protests, and slid behind a wide, smooth marble pillar to her right. Unfortunately that direction placed undue stress on her injured ankle, but she bit down hard against the sudden pain that shot up her leg. She sank blissfully into the welcoming darkness, melding herself tightly against the cold stone. She listened.
    The king threw back the liquid contained in his goblet and bellowed jovially. “I believe congratulations are in order. May I be the first to toast you on your forthcoming venture?”
    The voice that answered him was strained with barely contained impatience and tainted with undeniable venomous rage. “That would be rather premature, sire. Let us not place the mule before the cart.”
    Kyra scooted slightly more toward her right to watch Eris. He appeared disgruntled and rather bedraggled in appearance himself. She swallowed down her snort of disgust. He had probably attacked the very next wench he could find with the lethal lance that hung between his thighs while she lay abed suffering in agony at his hand. She scooted back as the king’s voice rang out once again.
    “A deed done in the presence of man, a challenge screamed to the Gods. Come now, Eris, there is no need for you to be bashful.”
    Eris groaned his disgust. “A bashful snake is a dead snake.”
    The king responded swiftly, “And a stubborn man can become equally dead.”
    Sappho chose that moment to interject, “I have given thought to Eris’s proposal, and I wish to declare my decision before you, sire. At first, anger and frustration blinded me, but I am now willing to stand in his stead and accept the responsibility he blatantly chooses to ignore.”
    Kyra drew back in irritation. She was well aware they discussed her, haggling and trading back and forth as they would a heifer. They had sampled the milk she offered and now sat discussing her ownership. The insult left a sour taste at the back of her mouth. She swallowed down equal doses of pride as she held her tongue. Shouting her rage now would offer her no victory. Her survival remained in plotting a devious course and well thought-out plan. The restraint she was forced to show, even as her mind and body raged for a war cry, left a bitter taste that filled her entire mouth. She scooted again as Eris responded, interrupting the comment the king was about to offer. “I do believe I have also had a change in heart. I withdraw the offer.”
    Sappho sprang up from his seat, lashing out at his brother, “You undecided ingrate. You shed your moods to act as swiftly and callously as your beast would shed the skin of its cold body. Shall we settle this on the battle arena?”
    Eris remained calmly in his seat and grinned cunningly. “I see no wish to fight for what already belongs to me.”
    Had the king not interjected at that precise moment, Kyra was sure all the men would have heard her gasp of outrage. Fortunately he did intervene, and her presence remained unnoted. “ Enough. The matter has already been decided. Eris, you shall fulfill your