Free Chained (Chained Trilogy) by Elise Marion

knights in her father’s service. Jorin always wanted to be near the knights and their squires, hearing tales of tourneys, battles , and glory.
    Her mother invited Queen Rhiannon to take Evrain’s vacated seat so the two could chat, leaving her with only Gaiwan for company.
    “Milady, I wondered if you would honor me by joining me in the garden for a stroll. I’d much love to admire your beauty by moonlight.”
    Gwen fought the urge to roll her eyes at Gaiwan’s honeyed words. They would have meant much more to her if he truly meant them. Oh, she did not doubt that he thought her beautiful, only the sincerity of the love he’d been professing for her since they first time they met. They scarcely knew each other, and Gwen knew Gaiwan only spoke to her in that manner because he thought of her as the type of lady who placed value in such things. She wondered how much he would claim to love her when he discovered that she was not at all the kind of woman he’d first thought. However, his invitation offered a chance to escape the hall. She stood and placed her hand in his; it would not do to be seen publicly rejecting his invitation in either case.
    “That would be wonderful,” she said, forcing a smile. “The garden is particularly lovely by night, is it not, Uncle?” she prodded Orrick as they passed him on their way down from the dais.
    “Most especially, my dear,” Orrick replied, nodding his understanding.
    Knowing that she could count on her uncle to appear at the opportune time, Gwen took Gaiwan’s arm and allowed him to lead her from the crowded great hall. She led him to a postern door, which led to the back of the keep and the stone walls enclosing the flowering garden. Mingling with the salty scent of the sea beyond the walls were the smells of honey myrtle, sea lavender, rock rose, valerian, germander, and dianthus. Even in the dark of night, bursts of pink, yellow, and purple were visible amongst the greenery. She plucked a stalk of sea lavender, still clutching Gaiwan’s arm as she brought it up to her nose, inhaling its fragrance deeply.
    “Milady enjoys the scent of lavender,” Gaiwan observed as they rounded a tall, flowering hedge. It brought them beneath a series of archways cloaked in climbing pink morning glories.
    Gwen turned to face him. “I do.”
    Gaiwan smiled down at her and took her hand, lifting it so he could sniff the delicate blossoms himself. “ You smell of it, and I find myself developing a love for the scent as well.” He turned her hand to expose the inside of her wrist, pressing his lips there. Gwen’s eyes widened as the rasp of his tongue found her pulse.
    “My prince,” she stammered. “Please, you … you grow too bold.”
    “Gaiwan,” he admonished. “You shall call me Gaiwan, and I will call you Gwen, my sweet. I am not a prince with you, darling, I am only a man.”
    When he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her against him, she could feel just how much of a man he was. The prince’s body was hard and sinewy against hers, and the most male part of him was harder still, pressed insistently against her belly.
    “ Gaiwan,” she murmured. “Please, we should talk. We are to be wed, yet we hardly know each other.”
    Gaiwan pulled away, but Gwen could clearly see the flash of annoyance in the depths of his sea green eyes. “Forgive me,” he said, his voice polite, but strained and clipped. His lips pursed in a petulant pout and the spoiled prince in him was revealed in that moment. “I thought you understood the depth of my affection for you, milady. It is a heady thing, being so near you. Love has made me most eager.”
    More like your cock has made you stupid, Gwen thought to herself. Out loud, she simply said, “There is nothing to forgive. I feel affection for you as well, Your Grace. It is just that …”
    “Gaiwan, sweetheart,” he insisted, pulling her to him once more, his lips finding the line of her jaw as she turned her head to avoid