The pull away from him struck Damen hard and where it hurt. The words that followed were little surprise after that, but they still had the power to hurt more. Damen's temper couldn't take it any longer. He sat bolt upright and yanked his horse to backup from Laurent's, facing him head on. His poor mount felt the tension in him and prepared for some warlike action that didn't come. The effort for them to both keep still was tremendous.

"No right. No right? Did I sign a different contract than you?" Damen was almost helpless with impotent anger, the worst of it because he knew he had only himself to blame for seeking a man with this cold approach to their union. "Do you want word getting back to Arlas that the new Prince of Akielos openly scorns his husband and favors other men instead? That he's banned the King from his bed not a week into the marriage? Is this your statecraft?"

His voice grew as his frustrated passions led him to a perilous brink. "I do not ask much of you, Laurent. Only that you treat me as a husband and not a - a King on your chessboard to shove away until convenient."