(Ashdeer POV)
Islands of the Veiled Tribes
Lowan was nursing a bleeding nose in my room, where my fist had met it.
It was the least I felt I could do, after he had put me in the situation I was in. A few broken bones would have been better.
He placed a kerchief to it and said, "Look Duke Ashdeer, this is not my fault. I never imagine Maraba would place these demands. I was ready for something else, something worse. I actually thought she would make leave Eva and our unborn child if she made those the terms. I never anticipated this one."
"Have you sent her the herbs we wanted to give her as a mark of respect?"
"Yes, I have. I thought she would be deeply appreciative of that. But it seems she wants more!" He shrugged.
I said, "I cannot marry this young woman. She is barely an adult. I don't even know her. I a still grieving for Azriel...she was my one true love. I cannot be doing this."
