by Alice Wade
“A bath is being drawn for us,” he said smirking.
She stood with incredulity when he just sauntered past her back into his room. His arrogance made her speechless. He acted like this was perfectly normal. “You are crazy,” she yelled to the ceiling.
“I’m most certainly not crazy but I suggest you get bathed and dressed.”
Tillian finally turned and saw he’d found a pair of thick cotton pants but left his chest bare. “Ryan, you can’t do this.”
“Too late. I suggest you get into something soon, because I also asked Kincaid to send for the chamberlain to map out the plans. He’ll be here any moment, dear.”
When he approached again, he wrapped her in his arms and placed his soft lips kiss her forehead. “I will marry you, Princess Tillian. You belong with me, don’t you see that? I can’t let you go back to the very people who caused you so much pain. Now move towards the bath please. I would really like to avoid Kincaid seeing you like this,” he teased with a gentle swat to her backside.
Tillian squeaked once before she moved quickly to the hot bath, which was large enough to fit four adults and sank below the surface, letting the hot water surround her. Ryan followed her in then pulled her into his lap, taking pleasure in the feel of her skin under the water. This felt almost as lovely as feeling her sliding against him on the bed. “This is what I want for the rest of our lives, Tillian. If you leave me to go home, I’ll die,” he murmured against her neck.
She got lost in the feeling but needed to stay focused. “Ryan, please think about what you are planning.”
He didn’t allow her to continue for her mouth suddenly disappeared under his soft lips while his beard tickled her face. He prevented her from any further arguments and didn’t release her until he felt her relax into his attentions.
He waited until he felt no tension then whispered between little kisses, “No more arguments. You will be my wife...my Queen...” which only further broke down her defense.
“You have to see how dangerous this plan is, Ryan.” The fire of her argument faded with each kiss he planted on her lips, neck, cheek and ear. He kissed her everywhere his lips could reach to distract her.
“I do, and honestly I’ve already had this argument with Wallace. I will marry you, my lovely Tillian, and I will accept the consequences. You will not be going back to Folkyn, so will you please stop fighting me?”
His kisses became more insistent and she felt him begin to rise to make love. “Stop.” She pushed at him. “If you continue with this seduction, Kincaid will be waiting for hours,” she ordered just before she slid off his lap and located the soap and oils on the opposite side of the tub. Far enough away from his firm body that made her want to straddle him right now.
That made Ryan laugh but he did the same and raced her while they both cleaned and exited the bath. When she was partially dried off, he approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to his chest. “So, do you agree to this now?”
“It’s not that I don’t want it, Ryan. I don’t want to start a war over it, is my point.”
“Do you agree to marry me though?” he whispered against the shell of her ear.
“Yes.” Tillian could feel his arousal against her back and shivered. She wasn’t ready to give him up either, but a war?
“I’m glad you said that. Now that you’ve agreed to marry me, I’ll make you a promise. I’ll make love to you with the same intensity we’ve shared last night and then again this morning for the rest of our lives.” His words were said so softly, barely a whisper in her ear. It had her trembling in his arms and she felt the smile it generated against her ear.
He continued, “You don’t know something about me, Tillian. All those fears your Folkyn warriors have for me? They’re valid. There is a reason we’ve had peace in both our lands for such a long time and it has everything to do with that fear being very well substantiated.”
Tillian just stood there.
“It’s well known I’m a Mage, Tillian. A damn powerful one, too, so they can’t touch me.” He waited for her to react.
After the numbness wore off, she turned to look at the man she had agreed marry, the man she had come to love and shuddered. In Folkyn, the very word ‘Mage’ made grown men near wet themselves and here she was about to marry one? Yet...here was a gorgeous, kind man who loved her. Wasn’t he supposed be wicked and harm her if he was really a Mage—if the stories were true?
“You look scared.” He sounded concerned.
“I—” She was speechless.
“While you stutter, can you please finish getting dressed? You look terribly tempting and I would hate to keep Kincaid waiting as you so bluntly pointed out in the bath when I was about to seduce you again.”
“Flame Thrower,” she whispered and turned up to look at him again. The river experience, the warning of not hurting her, the heat she felt radiating off him and the flicker of flames in his eyes. It all became clear now. “That’s the meaning behind your name.”
“Yes. I earned it when I was very young, during our last war with Folkyn. My Father’s army was under heavy attack on the border and, while I watched from the knoll, he was about to be overrun by your Father’s army and killed. I was young and didn’t want to be King yet, nor did I want to lose my Father. The intense emotions woke my magic and I incinerated the Folkyn army while your Father watched. I sent a wall of fire down upon them and didn’t allow one man to escape. He lost half of his army that day under my fire. All whom he sent into battle. I still remember his glare from across the field when he realized it was a seven year old boy who had wrought such destruction. I laughed months later when I heard the name your country gave me—Flame Thrower.”
“It’s not something to be laughed at, Ryan. They fear you enough to be convinced you were the one who orchestrated the kidnapping. My Father will spread lies and threats.” She was all serious again.
“Tillian, I’m not worried. I’m three hundred times more powerful than I was as a seven-year-old boy throwing fire balls. I can protect my country...and my wife.” He grinned at her dumbfounded expression as he passed her to get dressed.
* * * *
Kincaid and the chamberlain showed up not much later. They both settled down to the topic immediately and pulled Tillian down onto the couch to discuss little details. They knew King Ryan would not participate at this phase and would interject once Kincaid had a plan. Then and only then would Ryan add to it with magic.
They plotted it out to take place in two weeks’ time, which surprised Tillian. Such a grand event normally took months to prepare. When Ryan saw her confusion, he added, “You have never seen Kincaid in action, dear. He could organize an army in less time if asked.”
Hearing her reactions to the planning kept distracting him from writing his message to King Irfan. He kept hearing her exclamations of surprise each time Kincaid presented a new idea, and he just couldn’t focus. His pen paused at the point in the message where he informed Irfan they had fallen in love and were marrying immediately. He even planned to offer a false apology that Irfan couldn’t attend. That was his own selfish dig at his fellow Ruler for the injustice he’d caused his daughter.
Tillian approached while he was engrossed again and scanned the letter over his shoulder. It wasn’t written like she’d suggested. Instead this was a declaration of intent, not a request for permission for her hand. “My Father will spread a rumor that you set all this up.”
“I understand that. Let him try. My reputation stands outside of Folkyn and the people of Yorath and those of Lysban will ignore it. In time, your homeland will too.” He penned the last sentence then signed it with a flourish, adding a drop of wax to which he pressed the signet ring on his finger to confirm his authority. “There, all done.”
“You are calling for many deaths with that note, Ryan. I can’t say I’m happy about this.”
He sighed, loudly. “Are we back to this again?”
“No, I’m th
rilled to be marrying you, but I never accepted the war that will transpire because of it,” she answered before she turned to enter the adjoining room to let him finish.
“I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that, Tillian,” Ryan whispered after she left, “but I’ll gladly fight to keep you if it does.”
* * * *
That night Tillian swallowed her fears while she was led into the hall for a formal dinner announcing their engagement. He formally introduced her to each of the nobles while she sat in a receiving line, while each one kissed her hand and professed their loyalty to the new Queen. Part of her still resisted because she didn’t feel worthy but she sat there as each one filed by and held a smile on her face.
This wasn’t as terrifying as the previous night but she still found being around men to be unnerving. The only thing that kept her from falling apart was Ryan’s presence to her right. He was all laughs and smiles while each noble congratulated him on finally finding a woman worthy of being Yorath’s Queen. Ryan’s enthusiasm was enough to keep her emotions under control.
“Princess Tillian,” a familiar male voice called. Wallace stood before her, last in line and wearing a worried expression on his face. “Congratulations.”
“I know you disagree with this too,” she whispered and received a look of wonder from the Captain. “You have to get him to not send that note and not to go through with this.”
“It is too late, Milady. The note is miles from here and the announcement made to the nobles. It is done. Now we must pray that a war does not result,” he added.
June gently pushed Wallace out of the way and approached, giving Tillian a formal curtsey before she smiled brightly. “I’m thrilled for you, Princess. You will enjoy Yorath and I hope that one day soon you will call it home.”
“Thank you, June.”
Wallace talked with Ryan now, so Tillian took a moment to watch her future husband. With his trimmed beard and glowing expression, he was absolutely charming. He had chosen to wear a formal doublet that was tailored to his body and hugged him alluringly. The leather pants didn’t hide much either, and she felt her cheeks flush at what she knew was underneath. Her heart pounded at the power he held over her and she felt a familiar fire burn between her legs. Tillian suddenly wanted to leave and be alone with him again, but wasn’t sure what other ceremonial responsibilities they had left.
June didn’t miss the line of sight that generated the blush, and started to try and help her new friend. “King Ryan, I congratulate you on your engagement and honestly think you should let the Princess get some rest before all the planning starts.” She had the nerve to wink at Tillian while she said this.
Ryan turned his head, confused at first until he too saw the blush that tinted Tillian’s cheeks. There was no mistaking the desire that lighted her green eyes and that spurred him into action. After shaking Wallace’s hand, he cleared his throat and he announced they would depart. The faster he could get them away, the better. He dodged the looks of disappointment that showed on the faces of those gathered who had hoped to mingle with their future Queen further. They all bowed gracefully in consent, confused to say the least. The evening should have carried on longer, and the King’s sudden departure was confusing. He didn’t care. Whisking her away was his primary concern, and he winked in June’s direction in gratitude.
Ryan stood, held out his arm, tucking her hand snuggly on his arm. When they were halfway towards the door, he whispered softly, “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“Depends on how you look at it,” she replied, trying to quicken her pace in order to get away faster. She heard his amused chuckle before his pace slowed to her frustration.
“We have all night, love. We have to look regal after all.”
“I don’t feel regal at the moment and I want to be out of this gown they’ve dressed me in.” She looked down at the frilly thing that poofed out at all angles. The top was so tight that her breasts were smashed behind the stiff corset top and it interfered with her ability to breathe. Not to mention it was indecent, exposing too much flesh in all the wrong places.
“Pity. You look fantastic,” he said, eyeing her body from head to toe. It was a traditional dress for Yorath, but he understood that it being so different from Folkyn’s more severe style, this most likely made her self-conscious.
“You would say that, because you are not wearing it,” came her tart reply. “Can you please walk faster?”
When they were beyond the hall, Ryan unceremoniously picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She wanted to go faster, well then, he thought.
“Ry—” Her words were cut off while he adjusted her. She found her breath after a moment and demanded, “Put me down!”
“No, not until we get inside. You said to go faster and I have longer legs. I’m only doing as you asked, my dear,” he teased while she batted his behind with her hands.
It didn’t take long to return to his private rooms. Once inside he placed her on the bed and pacified her with a slow deep kiss. Through this, he pushed her back into the soft downy mattress.
“Smmmph,” she mumbled into his mouth. She pulled away further in order to speak. “Stop this,” she ordered.
“Why is it that you keep fighting this?” he sighed. “You have to trust me.”
“Ryan, this is foolish. I love you, I do, but I’m not worth a war.”
“I sense there is more to this than that, am I wrong?” He could see the familiar pinch of insecurity in her eyes and that bothered him. He wanted her to be completely engaged in this wedding or he would wonder if he’d forced it on her for the rest of his life.
When she looked away, his concern grew. He gently forced her face back to meet his gaze, pleading with her desperately. She groaned in defeat. “You are so frustrating!” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not fit to rule at your side, Ryan.”
He actually laughed. “Why is that? More of this tainted business?”
“It’s not funny, but yes.”
“Did my nobles look like they cared tonight? Did any one of them display displeasure at our engagement?”
“Well no, but—”
“I take that as they don’t care, Tillian. They all know your history and will defend you as their Queen. You really must let this go.” When she frowned he added, “Now may I please get that contraption off you so we can begin our evening events?”
That brought a smile to her face and she answered. “Gladly!”
Chapter Four
Tillian stood caught in a dream. She wore a full white gown, thin veil that properly obscured her face and an unbelievably long train that dragged behind her for fifty feet. Tillian stood at the altar, next to Ryan who lovingly caressed her arm to keep her from fainting.
This was her wedding day.
She gulped in a pathetic attempt to calm her nerves, but it was impossible. In a moment, the two words she uttered were going to start a war, and no amount of arguing her point would persuade the man next to her to change course.
Two weeks ago, Tillian learned the carrier departed with the note to Folkyn and knew that it was a matter of time before her Father sent someone. She also knew that whoever he sent, they would be fuming.
Tillian looked up at Ryan who towered over her in his formal midnight blue velvet doublet, edged in gold thread. He wasn’t watching the priest before them but staring down at her with affection and tenderness. His eyes spoke volumes with just a hint of mischief that she had to smile at.
“You really should be paying attention, love,” he whispered. “He’s getting to the good part.”
“Shh, take your own advice, Ryan,” she replied nervously. She was utterly terrified and no amount of jesting would erase that away.
The past few weeks were something out of a dream. Slowly, with tender care and patient love, he helped expunge the horrid memories of her captivity and replaced them with pleasant memories of being passionately loved. She still had nightmares of the three who abused her, though. Accor
ding to Ryan, her nightly thrashing while she relived her terror in her dreams no longer plagued frequently. As it stood, she had not dreamed of them in two days.
Tillian missed everything the priest said because her mind had wandered to memories of his loving attention. She acutely felt Ryan’s fingers pinch her arm, and looked down in stupefied confusion.
Was this real?
The priest’s mumblings were a jumble to her, but her attention was brought back when Ryan uttered proudly, “I do.” The roar of the crowd alone would have woken her from any daydream. She looked around and gulped at the sheer volume of people who had come to watch their beloved king get married. Tillian went numb when she stared at the many faces staring back at her.
Tillian turned back around and stared, frozen, at the priest’s lips moving while he spoke to directly to her. She heard no words, though. Not a one. It was impossible to hear anything over the pulse pounding in her ears while her poor heart beat rapidly in absolute terror. She realized both men were both staring at her with expectation.
“Tillie?” Ryan asked with an amused expression. That cute half smile was back.
“Sorry.” A crimson blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks and down her neck into the generous cleavage of her dress. Tillian smiled and whispered, “I do.”
It was Ryan’s turn to swallow away his distraction, for his eyes couldn’t break away from following the blush down into her dress and his mind raced through all the lovely things he would be doing shortly once he got this damned dress off.
“Children, please turn and face the audience,” the priest asked under his breath when the two nimbly turned while jockeying around her train. Together, they gracefully faced his people.
My people now, she thought suddenly. Yorath was now her home.
With a loud booming voice, the priest announced, “May I present the King and Queen of Yorath!”