Chapter 53

Ayla took a long sip of her wine before asking. “And t’xoria?”

Hudde turned serious. “You mean he still calls you that? I feel bad for you!” He drank from his goblet.

Ayla studied him for a moment. Hudde appeared sad, but there was a touch of mischief in his eyes. She couldn’t tell if he was serious or if he was jesting.

“It means something bad?” Ayla wanted to know.

Hudde drank some more from his goblet. “It means dog.”

Ayla could not believe Rhobart had been calling her a dog. No wonder everyone laughed each time he said t’xoria to her. Tears pooled in her eyes.

“If you ever lie to her again, I will rip out your tongue!” Rhobart’s angry voice came from behind Ayla.

Hudde turned pale.

Ayla turned on her heels, and Rhobart cupped her face between his hands. “I would never call you that,” he told her before gently kissing her lips.

Ayla heard the two women gasp, but she didn’t care. She was upset. Why was it so hard to tell her what that word meant?

“Dance with me,” Rhobart sa