Are we going to your royal city?
No, we have another battle to finish first.
Regus growled in excitement and it sent chills racing up Kiernan’s spine. He bent his front forelegs to the ground. Come, Princess, get on my back. We will get there faster.
Your back? But, Bajan never—
I am not Bajan, daughter of Kenley.
Yes…I know that, I’m sorry.
There is nothing that would honor me more than to ride to battle with you.
Then, I accept. Kiernan grabbed hold of the hair at the scruff of his neck and swung up onto his back. She leaned down to whisper, I know you’re not Bajan. You’re Regus! Bondmate of Kiernan Everard Atlan!
A feral roar tore from Regus’s throat and she felt her own erupt forth loud enough to match his.
****
Cael caught the Falcon’s sword on his rake and pushed it aside. He didn’t know much about fighting, but keeping the pointy end of his opponent’s weapon from sticking him in the gut seemed to be the most urgent priority.
The guard growled and came at him again, and he managed to duck beneath the swing just in time, although he might have lost a chunk of hair in the process. Unfortunately, he also lost his footing and went down hard into the mud.
The Falcon spun around and raised his blade for another strike. Cael dug frantically in the mud for his rake.
A loud, tinny clunk drowned out the guard’s snarls and his eyes rolled up in his head. Cael scrambled back as the man crashed to the ground next to him.
He looked up.
Marian stood over him holding the skillet she had just bounced off the Falcon’s head. She gave him a savage smile and ran off.
Cael jumped back to his feet in thrilled disbelief. We’re finally doing it! What he had prayed for his entire life had finally come to pass. A fight for freedom. The people of Lewstin were at last standing up to the Duke. Standing up for their right to a life worth living. He felt giddy with hopefulness.
First, though, he had to survive the day, and the townsfolk of Lewstin were sorely outnumbered.
The next soldier came at him with a loud scream. Cael howled back and stood his ground, causing the Falcon to hesitate. It gave Cael the time he needed to find his rake in the mud and just like that he was back in the fray, losing bits of wood with every swing of the man’s sword.
He held only a foot of the rake in his hands when a hair-tingling roar erupted over the noise of combat. It came from somewhere out in the woods beyond the fence. An animal. A very big animal by the sound of it.
As a terrified silence descended over the town, the wooden gates swung open and slammed against the sides of the palisade.
Cael’s eyes widened in shock.
A wild creature, the likes of which he had never seen before in his life, stalked into the town carrying a bloodied Kiernan Everard on its back. Lean muscles clenched with feral strength as it moved. Sharp talons pierced the ground with every stride.
Cael instinctively took a step back, but Kiernan looked quite at ease atop the beast with her sword thrust high into the air.
The stories are true. She really is a warrior princess.
One of the Falcons was stupid enough to charge toward them with his weapon drawn. The cat creature leapt forward and let out a frightening stream of fire from its open maw. The soldier didn’t even have time to scream before being reduced to a smoking corpse.
Dear Highworld, what is this animal?
“Townspeople of Lewstin!” the Princess yelled. “Your aggressor is dead! You have nothing further to fear from the Duke of this town! Let these walls hold you no more!”
People cried out at the possibility. Several of the men ran to the palisade and began to pull it down piece by piece. Cael, caught up in their excitement, ran to help them.
When the gates and several large sections of the wall came down, Kiernan slid from the cat and dropped into the mud. “Soldiers of Lewstin! As Princess of Iserlohn, I order you to stand down! Work with us to return the town of Lewstin to green grasses and picnics and joy! We shall walk in mud no more!”
“To the mines!” someone roared.
“The trench!”
As one, the townsfolk raced up the hill. Young and old, men, women and children—every last one of them.
Kiernan Everard laughed and ran among them. At the summit, everyone who was able picked up a shovel and started to dig, including the Princess. At the first surge of water into the trench, the people went wild with celebration.
Cael knew it would probably be frowned upon to touch the Princess in Nysa, but this was Lewstin and he couldn’t help himself. He ran to Kiernan, picked her up into the air and swung her around. “Do you realize what you’ve done for us?”
Her green eyes sparkled with tears. “We all did it, Cael. Together.”
“Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Please know that I didn’t deceive you intentionally. It sounds unbelievable, I know, but I’ve been suffering from memory loss since the day I met you.”
“I do believe you.” His brown eyes sought to capture hers. “If you’ve forgiven me, does that mean we still have a chance to be together?”
She gently wriggled out of his embrace and placed a hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry, Cael, truly I am, but my memory has returned.”
His face fell, but then brightened just as quickly. “Hey, how many men can say they’ve enjoyed the affections of a Princess for a time?”
A sudden deep voice cut through their intimate moment. “Actually, she is not your Princess, she is your Queen.”
A shadow loomed over Cael and he spun around. A gigantic man with short, dark hair sat atop an equally enormous horse, leaning forward with his arm resting casually against the horn of his saddle. He wore simple clothing and a black cloak, but anyone caught up in that piercing gaze would know that this man was far from simple.
****
Beck stuck his hand out toward Cael. “Beck Atlan.”
Cael took the hand hesitantly. “Cael Trathen, Your Grace. I’ll be honest, I’m not too familiar with royal protocol. Should I kneel?”
Beck smiled. “No.”
Kiernan could not take her eyes off Beck. He didn’t seem real. She struggled to swallow past the stinging burn in her throat so she could say something to him—anything—to prevent him from disappearing from her life again.
After shaking Cael’s hand, Beck turned to her and his stare held the weight of a thousand words. “Come here.”
She wasn’t sure if she could get there, but somehow she managed. He reached down and touched the bruises on her cheek, now fading thanks to Regus. “Is the man that put these here still alive?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Lucky for him.”
His hand moved lovingly across her face to tuck her short hair behind one ear. “You cut it.”
“Yes.”
“I like it.”
He started to remove his hand and she grasped it and pressed it to her cheek. “Beck, please…my memories…I’m just not sure of anything anymore. Tell me I’m not mistaken. Tell me we are man and wife. Dear Highworld, tell me you love me.”
A small smile curved his lips. “I wake up every morning loving you.”
For long moments, she couldn’t speak and simply let his words drift over her, filling her, making her strong. She hadn’t realized how much she had grown to depend on his quiet strength and unfailing loyalty over the years. Yet, here he was, lifting her up when she needed him most. Two souls connected as one. They had created something beautiful and rare together and she vowed never to take it for granted. “I thought so.”
He dismounted and dropped down next to her.
“How did you find me?” she asked.
“Rogan. As he was preparing to leave Nysa, he remembered seeing a woman with green eyes like yours. He thought it remarkable at the time, so I thought I better check it out. Do you want to tell me how you came to be here?
”
“It’s a long story.”
“Fair enough.”
“You called me Queen. Is this accession war over? Does House Everard reign?”
“That is an even longer story.”
“Fair enough.”
He looked around. “Are you finished with your adventure? Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes, I’m ready.” She placed a hand on her belly. “We both are.”
“Both?”
“Well, in another seven months or so.”
“Seven…? Wait…are you…? Does that mean…?”
“I think it means we’ve made another Earthshine child, my love. Another daughter, perhaps?”
Her beloved wizard let out a booming laugh and dragged her face to his. He kissed her and she lost herself to lips as drugging as poppyvine. To muscular arms that enveloped her like the warmest blanket on the coldest of nights. How could she have ever forgotten this man? How could she have not remembered what it felt like to be loved by him?
Never again. Highworld willing, never again.
The End
About The Author
Valerie Zambito lives in New York with her family. A great love of world building, character creation, and all things magic led to the publication of her epic fantasy series, ISLAND SHIFTERS, in October, 2011. The first book in her paranormal fantasy series, ANGELS OF THE KNIGHTS, followed the following year in 2012. Visit www.valeriezambito.com for the latest information.
Books Published by Valerie Zambito:
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Blood (Book 1)
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Mage (Book 2)
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Children (Book 3)
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Kings (Book 4)
Angels of the Knights - Fallon
Angels of the Knights - Blane
Angels of the Knights - Nikki
An Oath Of The Kings (Book 4) Page 28