He had forbidden her to come near him unless summoned, or leave her room without an escort of Maidens — the sisters who had sworn to him had been found rooms last night, in the Palace where he could keep an eye on them — but he had sensed tears from the moment she bonded him, tears and a raw grief like being ripped by claws. Holding her hand so her Great Serpent ring was plain, she said heatedly, Now, you look here —
Very pretty, the woman said, and pushed each of them so hard they found themselves sitting side-by-side on the bed!