The Royal Hunter

by Donna Kauffman

  “Devin—”

  “Yeah, yeah, you can walk. I just want to hold you.” He looked down at her. “Okay?”

  “Okay.” She realized then they hadn’t even kissed yet. And it was suddenly a yawning, gaping need inside her. But he’d “planned” and she was going to let him call the shots.

  “Almost there.”

  Talia had a pretty good idea where they were going, but she still found herself holding her breath until they got there. She let it out when Archer stopped by the flat rock. Their rock.

  He let her slide to her feet once again. “Okay, now turn around.”

  “What?”

  He motioned with his hand. “Turn around. Don’t peek.”

  He was actually nervous. She smiled, touched. “Really, you don’t have to—”

  “Tali, please.”

  She raised her hands, totally charmed. “Okay, okay.” She turned around, but listened unashamedly. Zippers whizzed open, things rustled, something broke, Archer swore, another zipper whizzed, more rustling, more swearing. And she thought her heart might just burst with how much she loved him. “I didn’t know kangaroos could do that,” she said. “Do all Aussies swear so creatively?”

  “We’re creative in all kinds of ways, sweetheart. I thought you knew that about me by now.”

  Talia felt the heat climb inside her. And then his hands were covering her eyes and the heat spiked clear through the top of her head.

  “Okay,” he said next to her ear. “You can turn around, but don’t open your eyes. Promise me.”

  “I promise.” He turned her around, and into his arms. Then his lips were on hers and her eyes stayed shut anyway. It was better, so much better than all her fevered dreams and wistful remembrances. And once wasn’t nearly enough.

  “You make me want things I’ve never wanted, Tali,” he murmured against her mouth.

  She opened her eyes, but looked only at his. “I know what you mean. I was all set to live alone, me and my animals. Animals I gave away to someone else to love. I can’t settle for that anymore. You taught me that.”

  He looked honestly shocked. “I did?”

  She nodded. “You taught me that I have a lot more to give if I am willing to risk my heart.”

  He was trembling. “I didn’t even know I had one. Not really. My whole life has been focused on security. Making sure I had enough, that I’d never want for anything ever again. And that I’d never depend on anyone else to give it to me. And then I met you, and I needed you. In ways that had nothing to do with independence or material wealth.” He took her hand, kissed her palm, and placed it on his heart. “You gave me back this. And I want to share it with you.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes again.

  “You once asked me if people still get married in my time. The answer is yes, they do, if that is how they wish to show their commitment to one another. I never, ever, believed in that romantic type of love, much less any kind of commitment. But I’ve already committed my heart to you, Talia. And I find that I want the rest.” He shifted and turned so she could see what he had set up.

  There was a silk blanket, suspiciously woven in the royal colors, and a bottle of champagne with two glasses. But it was the petals, the hundreds of petals, that caught her attention. Some were blackened and crushed from their arduous journey—perhaps those touched her the most.

  “My romantic bower,” she whispered.

  “You deserve more, and I want to give it to you.”

  She turned back to him. “I want only one thing from you. I want your love.”

  “I do love you, Talia. That I most certainly do.”

  “Then the answer is yes.”

  Archer tipped his head back and shouted to the skies, then once again swept her up in his arms. “She loves me! Did you hear that?” His words echoed across the pond.

  “I’m fairly certain they heard you all the way to the Lodge.”

  He spun her about, then stopped. “Say it, Tali. I need to hear you say it.”

  “I love you, Devin Archer. I love you with my whole heart.”

  A loud purring intruded and they turned to find Ringer, in sleek, black cat mode, luxuriating among the rose petals.

  “Thinks I did all this for him, most likely.”

  He’d tried to sound irritated, but Talia saw the love and the relief in his eyes as he looked at his other life companion.

  “I won’t tell him if you won’t.”

  Archer looked back to her. “Let me give him the boot.”

  She traced a hand over his face. “You do know how much what you did means to me.”

  “I just wanted to—”

  “I know,” she said, reaching up to kiss him. “You need the romance as much as I do.” His face reddened adorably, but he didn’t deny it and she kissed him again. “Now, about all that other stuff you packed, does that mean—?”

  “Yeah. I’m home.” He looked down into her eyes, and winked even though his eyes were glassy. “Our home. I quite like the sound of that.”

  She held his face in her hands and kissed him long and hard. “Me, too.”

  “I’m thinking that, at the moment, our bed has an even sweeter ring.”

  She grinned. “I’m thinking I agree with you.”

  “See? We’re starting this marriage out on the right foot, then.”

  “Don’t get too used to it,” she warned, still smiling.

  “Oh, I plan to get used to a lot of things. Mostly, I plan to get used to seeing you smiling up at me like that and knowing I am at least partly responsible for it.”

  “Oh, Devin.” Her heart melted completely.

  He winked and swung her up the path, toward home, toward their future.

  Behind them, Ringer stretched out among the petals and smiled.

  Epilogue

  He truly is a miracle.” Talia looked down, mesmerized by the perfect little hand clinging to her finger.

  “We think so.”

  Talia sent a quick smile toward Catriona, who was herself smiling up at her husband, Niall.

  Archer propped his chin on her shoulder and toyed with Trevor’s other hand. “Not a bad-looking sort.”

  “He’s the finest-looking young man in the land.”

  Talia swallowed a laugh. Baleweg had become a man transformed since the rescue. “Well, you’re a bit biased, being his godfather and all.”

  Baleweg sniffed, but his eyes glowed as he turned his attentions to his godson. He’d been coming to terms with the life he’d spent distancing himself from everyone. He and Emrys were working on it, but it wasn’t easy. Still, he was sticking it out. And the little future king was doing a great deal in teaching the Old One how to reach out with his heart.

  Talia slid her finger from her nephew’s fierce grip and moved back next to Archer. “They’re all so happy.”

  Catriona, who was still recovering, but already remarkably healthy-looking, sat ensconced in a plush lounge with Trevor in her lap, her husband perched next to her. “Yes, we are.” She leaned over to kiss Niall.

  Talia thought again about the amazing, tumultuous adventure that had brought them to this moment. Emrys was basically behaving himself, Chamberlain was in exile, and the queen had regained a firm hold on the monarchy. Baleweg worried anyway, but when he looked into his godson’s eyes, one would never have known.

  “I’m glad he’s here,” Talia whispered to Archer. “It’s good for all of them.” She looked to Archer and squeezed his hand. “I meant what I said. If you want—”

  “My life is with you. At our home. In Connecticut. Occasional holidays to court to see our favorite nephew will be more than enough.” He turned her face to his. “I love you. And I have never been more content.”

  Talia settled back against him. Archer had embraced his move back in time with all the gusto he embraced everything else in life. He seemed quite happy and settled out in the country.

  He had surprised her by taking on the task of winning over the Lodge residents with
equal fortitude. She grinned. Not an easy task, despite the fact that he was now her fiancé. In two short months, he’d already taken on the job of adding another Furry Friends Day, which he ran himself. He’d told her just last week that the Colonel had begun sharing war stories with him. And Miss Helen had been caught staring at his backside with more than a little admiration.

  And then there was his recent discovery of the stock market, which no longer existed in his time. She’d already driven him into New York City to walk Wall Street and watch the frenzied trading firsthand at the Stock Exchange. He’d already made some investments and, not surprisingly she supposed, they were thriving. The whole enterprise captivated his business mind. And she was perfectly happy with it, as it allowed him to be home with her more often than not and got them both into the city on occasion, too.

  He wanted driving lessons next. She didn’t even want to think about that. She still had a wedding to plan.

  Catriona and Niall had tried to convince them to have their wedding here at the castle, but they’d wanted to begin their life together where they intended to share it. She wished her sister and brother-in-law could attend, but understood they couldn’t leave. They were hoping, however, to convince Baleweg to come. If he could take a break from playing doting godfather, that is.

  “Have you asked him yet?” she whispered to Archer.

  He shook his head. “Don’t want him getting too swelled a head just yet. He’s already been in a royal wedding. Now he’s a royal godfather. Being my best man … well, there’ll be no living with him after that.”

  She swatted him on the arm, then slid her hand around his waist, leaning on his shoulder as they watched Niall and Catriona nuzzle and coo at their son.

  “I’m not so sure we can top the royal wedding,” she said.

  Archer wasn’t listening. He was watching Trevor and his parents. “So, you think we might have ourselves one of those?”

  She looked up to find him grinning at her, hope twinkling clearly in his eyes. How have I come to find this? She’d never even contemplated being a mother. Had never even thought to be married. Now, everything seemed possible. You make me want things I never knew I could want. His words rang truer every day.

  “I’m still getting used to dealing with Ringer and Rascal.” Her little puppy was no longer so little. Ringer had steered clear at first, but eventually he’d revealed himself to the fluffy mutt and they’d forged an unlikely bond. In fact, she probably owed most of Rascal’s rehabilitation to Ringer. Rascal seemed to understand his ever-changing friend, and from that he had learned that not all humans were the same, despite their similar appearance.

  “Rascal isn’t exactly the coddling type,” Archer said.

  Talia laughed. Rascal was still more standoffish with his humans than she’d like, but they were getting there. “Since when did you want a pet you could cuddle? Because Ringer is about the least cuddly pet I’ve ever met.”

  “Ringer isn’t a pet. He’s a mate. Family.” He squeezed her. “So is Rascal.” He winked. “I suppose.”

  The teasing light faded from his eyes and he stood silent for a moment. Her soon-to-be husband was such an incongruous mix of arrogance, confidence, and boyish uncertainty. He was so sure of himself, except when he wanted something and wasn’t sure she’d go along. He so wanted to please her, but he was equally determined to get what he wanted. He’d quickly discovered that asking her in bed, just after making breathless love to her, was a successful approach. But he honestly couldn’t do anything unless he really thought it was okay with her. It bothered him endlessly if he thought she’d just given in to him. Then he was so charmingly insecure she couldn’t help doing whatever she could to work things out.

  “I wasn’t actually joking,” he said finally. “Earlier I meant.”

  “About?”

  “Having one. Of those, I mean,” he added, nodding toward Trevor. “Of our own.” He leaned down and kissed her neck. “You and me.”

  She let him kiss her neck, her heart already a melted pool at her feet. “We’re still planning the wedding, and you’re talking kids?”

  He turned her around then, and looked quite seriously into her eyes. “I’m not saying right away. We have a lot of adjusting to do, with one another. I know that. I just wanted to, you know, feel you out. On the subject. In general.”

  He really was quite adorable. She stepped in closer. “Well, on the subject, in general, I’m thinking, oh, I don’t know. Four? Five?”

  He looked confused, then his eyes popped wide. “Five?” He swallowed hard. “Now wait a minute, I mean, maybe we should—”

  Talia laughed and pulled him tight against her, kissing him quiet. She could see another round of negotiations in their future. “This should be interesting,” she murmured against his lips.

  Then he took charge of the kiss, making her squirm against him and forget completely that they weren’t alone. He grinned against her mouth. “I was just thinking the very same thing.”

  For Jill & David

  Two people who understand the true power of love

  Acknowledgments

  I need to thank several people who were instrumental in helping me with this book. First, Kara Cesare, my editor, whose support for my doing things “a bit different” is unflagging and invaluable. Also to my mom, Jean Hobday, for the same unflagging support and for reading under a tight deadline. To Karen Solem for coming in at a difficult time and jumping right in with her help. Thanks to Jill Shalvis for being there for me every day and reading … and reading. Thanks again to the reliable creative mind of Michael Cretu for providing the sound track that I work by.

  To Mitchell, Spencer, and Brandon, thank you for respecting summer work hours so well and for being proud of what your mom does. Lastly and always to my husband Mark, who defines the meaning of love and support. The quest continues …

  About the Author

  Nationally bestselling author, Donna Kauffman, has often wondered what the future world will be like. The demands of a busy husband, three growing boys, two rowdy terriers, two noisy baby parrots, and a house that looks like a tornado site often have her wishing one of those handy triangles would open up in front of her. She’s not picky, even a window to modern-day Hawaii would be just fine. But as that is unlikely to happen, she’s just as happy to take a break from her everyday insanity to enjoy notes and posts from her readers. Please feel free to visit her website at www.donnakauffman.com and drop her a lifeline.

  Dear Readers:

  I’ve wanted to revisit the inspiring western highlands of Scotland ever since I wrote The Legend Mackinnon. Finally, I’m getting the chance to do just that with my next romance, The Charm Stone, set on a tiny island off the coast of Skye, and coming soon from Bantam Books.

  Meet my hero, Connal MacNeil, clan leader of the MacNeils, who has been waiting in Black’s Tower for the return of his clan’s charm stone and the prosperity it promises to bestow. The problem is … he has been waiting for three hundred years! His patience has just about run out completely, to say the least, when he meets our heroine Josie, who finds the stone when it washes up on her beach … in South Carolina! Charm stones have a long and colorful heritage in both Scottish and Celtic history as bearers of good fortune, and so Josie decides to return this stone to the original family owners. She never imagines this will lead her to a devilishly handsome ghost, hundreds of years old, who is demanding not only the charm stone she has in her possession … but also that she bear the next MacNeil clan chief!

  I was inspired to write this story when I read an article about the actual MacNeil clan. For a pound note a year and a bottle of whisky, the current clan chief signed a 1,000-year lease with Historic Scotland to ensure continued renovations of the clan seat, Kisimul, on the island of Barra. Legend has it that Kisimul has been a MacNeil stronghold since the eleventh century, which really blew me away. As I kept digging into the history behind this, a story began to take shape. Wouldn’t it be interesting if my heroi
ne ended up in Scotland in possession of the MacNeil stone … only to discover that the bearer of the charm stone is destined to belong to the last clan chief … who lived three hundred years before her?

  I hope you’ll pick up a copy of The Charm Stone and read Josie and Connal’s love story.

  Best wishes,

  Donna Kauffman