The Wild Swans

by Shea, K. M.

  After Elise sat, Rune eased in next to her, curling an arm around her shoulders. “So, you’re having nightmares?”

  Elise nodded.

  “It’s not unusual. I’ve had the occasional nightmare since we returned,” Rune said, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.

  “Of what?”

  “You, in the fire.”

  Elise shivered and rested her head on Rune’s shoulder.

  “My heart stopped when I turned human and realized you were among the flames,” Rune said, squeezing her shoulder. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so terrified.”

  “Me, either,” Elise admitted, adjusting her head so it was pressed against Rune’s chest rather than his shoulder. “I didn’t know if the shirts worked and the curse was really broken, or if you all were still swans. Thank you for saving me.”

  Rune dropped a kiss on Elise’s head, making her blush to the roots of her hair. “As long as I live, I will do everything in my power to rescue you—whether it be from mad kings or the mundane.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I am wild for you, Elise.” Rune brushed Elise’s shoulder with his fingertips. “I love you. This may not be the right time to mention it, and Steffen would gut me if he knew, but I don’t know when I will get another chance to tell you.”

  When Elise was silent, Rune persisted, “Do you still doubt me? Can’t you see my love in my actions for you?”

  “I do,” Elise said. Even when on the run from a black witch, Rune had proven that his first concern was Elise in a million different ways. Furthermore, it wasn’t just her physical wellbeing that concerned him, but her emotional state as well. Rune could tell when she was upset, like tonight, and he knew exactly what to say. But… “But you never treated me like a lady. You flirt and charm women everywhere you go. You have never flirted with me.”

  “Yes,” Rune agreed. “Because I wanted to make it clear to you that I was not playing with you. I’m not blind. I do not lead women on—why do you think I call Brida Captain Meier?”

  “She liked you?” Elise squawked.

  “I picked up on it fairly quickly after it became apparent she had few feelings of kindness for you. Did you ever wonder why that was?”

  “No. I assumed it was because my status as a fosterling.”

  “Brida is a fair girl. She wouldn’t dislike you because of that. No, she disliked you because of the way I treat you.”

  “And how do you treat me?”

  “The way a hero treats his lady love.”

  Elise whipped her head off Rune’s chest to stare at him. His face was smooth with its seriousness.

  “Who else do I offer to rescue and help at any time of the day? What other woman will I go charging across Arcainia for? What female besides you do I kiss—not even on the lips but on the hand and head? I escort no one to parties or dinners because I will not partner myself with anyone who is not you.”

  Elise stared at the fire. If she looked at Rune, she would bolt. The passion of his feelings both thrilled and frightened her. “Who am I to evoke such emotions in you? You are a hero. I’m nothing but an orphan—,”

  Before she could say more, Rune pressed a finger against her lips. “No, you are Fürstin Elise, financial genius, savior of Arcainia, brave, loyal, and true. I chose you because of who you are, not your pedigree.

  “You are so beautiful, and you don’t know it—or at least you don’t believe it. And for the life of me, I will never understand why you continuously bind your glorious hair back,” Rune said, burying his hand in her wild hair.

  Elise closed her eyes and allowed herself to see the future she kept locked in the deepest part of her heart. More than marrying someone for the country, more than marrying someone who was a good person and kind, Elise wanted to marry someone who was passionate for her, and who would spend every day the rest of their lives proving that passion.

  Elise wanted to marry a hero.

  Elise would be happy with Rune if she could let go of her fears and doubts and allow herself to love him. But, could she do that?”

  “Elise,” Rune whispered. “I love you.”

  Before Elise could open her eyes, Rune kissed her. The kiss was very much like the heroic prince: true, controlled passion, and warm. This close to him, Elise could smell the outdoors and open road on him. Every part of her tingled, and Elise almost laughed.

  Oh, yes. She could easily give in and let herself love Rune.

  When Rune finally released her, Elise blinked to try and clear her head. “Well. I don’t think nightmares will be a problem for me tonight.”

  Rune chuckled until he processed what she said and broke it off. “Wait, does that…?”

  Elise avoided her eyes and felt her cheeks burn. “I love you, too, Rune.”

  “Really?”

  “Truly.”

  Rune bolted to his feet and scooped Elise up, laughing as he twirled her in the air.

  “Keep it down. Our family is sleeping,” Elise chided, or tried to. Rune’s laughter was infectious, and soon, she was laughing as well.

  “I don’t care. Let them wake up. You have made me the happiest of men,” Rune said, still holding Elise aloft.

  The salon door swung open, revealing Steffen in his robe. His hair stuck up at odd angles, and his face was squished like a troll’s. “Rune, what are you doing to Elise?” Steffen said, his voice calm.

  “Elise said she loves me,” Rune said as he set Elise on her feet.

  “How wonderful for you. If that is the case, what are you two doing in a room together, this late at night, unchaperoned?” Steffen said.

  Elise and Rune exchanged guilty glances.

  Steffen shuffled into the room and grabbed Rune by the collar of his shirt. “I am going to leash you. You will not be unchained until after you two are married—which won’t be for many years—as I cannot trust you not to paw my baby sister. Say goodnight, Rune,” Steffen said, dragging Rune out of the room.

  “Steffen,” Rune said, tripping along behind their older brother. He gave Elise, who followed in their wake, a wry smile.

  Elise giggled and, unseen by Steffen, took Rune’s hand and squeezed it. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said.

  “Good night, Elise,” Rune said, his eyes soft with the promise of love and happiness.

  “Good night, Rune,” Elise said, scarcely less happy and full of love.

  “If you do not muzzle yourself, Rune, I will find a kennel for you,” Steffen said.

  Elise stifled another peal of laughter as she left the brothers and darted into her bedroom.

  Clotilde’s presence and King Torgen’s games were a foul chapter of her life, but there was no reason to let them spoil the rest of her days.

  One day, she and Rune would marry—although Steffen was right, it would not be for a handful of years. Elise wanted to get the country back on its feet, its financial power restored, and Carabas harbor opened before she married. She had no doubts Rune wouldn’t agree to the waiting—he had patiently waited for years to tell her his feelings, after all.

  She would have to tell Falk. She didn’t look forward to this, he would be hurt. However, Elise knew her antisocial foster-brother had a warm heart. He would learn to love another.

  Elise had made her choice. Rune would be her true love from now until she died. The hero and the banker was something of an odd combination, but—Elise realized with a start— perhaps she was a hero, too.

  Either way, it didn’t matter. Rune chose Elise, and Elise chose Rune. For the first time in months, perhaps since the death of Queen Ingrid, Elise looked forward to the future.

  “You may tell Advisor Withold that I will certainly take his advice under consideration, but the return on investment of a merchant fleet hardly seems worth it when we can tax our country’s imports and exports, saving us the expense of building and outfitting ships and stimulating our economy by investing in diverse merchants,” Elise said as she marched down a hallway, scribes and couriers scramb
ling at her side.

  “B-but Princess,” the scribe protested.

  “Furthermore, we have a Navy to complete. Three more ships are being built as we speak. It seems silly to build merchant ships when we already have a flotilla of boats,” Elise frowned.

  “Princess, your brother wishes to speak with you,” a new courier said, jostling in the crowd.

  “Which one?” Elise asked.

  “Crown Prince Steffen.”

  Elise sucked in air through clenched teeth. “No. No, that is too bad. Tell Steffen that no, I will not be the master of ceremonies for the anniversary celebration of Clotilde’s defeat. It’s tacky.”

  “But the people, Princess, they long to honor you,” the courier wheedled.

  “They can honor Captain Meier, or Gabrielle, or her cat. They did just as much as I did,” Elise said, adjusting the red sash of her customary work uniform.

  “Princess,” the courier protested.

  “Princess Elise,” a young page boy shouted at the top of his lungs as he skidded into the hallway. “Princess Elise!”

  “Yes?” Elise asked, directing her gaze to the small boy. This shift of attention earned the young boy many glares from the scribes and couriers.

  “He’s home!”

  “Rune is?”

  “Yes! He’s just arrived at the stables.”

  The scribes and couriers groaned, knowing their lady well enough to predict what would happen next.

  “Thank you, Wulf,” Elise said to the young boy as she lifted her skirts several inches off the ground. “If you will excuse me, ladies, gentlemen,” Elise said before she, in a most undignified and certainly not Perfect Princess fashion, ran down the hallway.

  Elise tore through the castle, dodging maids and footmen. She flung herself into an open air corridor and cut across the gardens, slipping through a gap in the hedge that walled the gardens in. She skidded into the castle grounds just as Rune left the stables. He was dusty and dirty from traveling and camping in the woods, but Elise never thought him more handsome.

  “Rune!” Elise said, throwing herself at him.

  Rune, who was carrying several saddle bags, dropped his load and swept Elise up in a whirling bundle of skirts and laughter. He laid a solid kiss on Elise’s lips that was so long, the servants in the area clapped and catcalled.

  Elise hid her blushing face in Rune’s shoulder as Rune laughed and held her close. “I will never grow tired of returning home to you. It almost makes the separation worth it,” Rune said, tugging the ribbon that held Elise’s hair in a low ponytail until it released, spilling her wild curls about her shoulders.

  “I am glad you are home,” Elise said, recovering enough to smile.

  Rune kissed the palm of her hand before he adjusted the beautiful engagement ring on her finger. “And I am glad to be home. Only two months,” he said before he threw the saddle bags over one arm and twined his free arm around Elise. “Any trouble with the wedding plans?”

  “Falk has been crusading against the cook to convince us to serve pilaf at the banquet. He thinks we can hook the foreign guests on the taste and increase our rice exports,” Elise said.

  Rune sighed. “I almost wish you hadn’t introduced him to that little secretary minion of the Commerce Department. Since those two started courting he’s been nagging me to crack down on monsters to create safer trade routes for food exports.”

  “There’s more: Gabrielle’s belly has exploded,” Elise said.

  “I thought she wasn’t due for three months?”

  “She is, but according to her, their baby has the same fat head as his father and is going to be quite large. She fears she will have to be wheeled down the aisle,” Elise said as they entered the castle together.

  “What does Steffen have to say of that?”

  “Not much. Gabrielle has banned him from speaking of their baby in her presence. Apparently he has been hovering, and she grows tired of it. Last time she hefted herself into a saddle for a horse ride, Steffen suggested it wouldn’t be good for the baby.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She threw Puss at him.”

  Rune winced. “Ouch.”

  “Indeed. But I don’t think he will question her activities again,” Elise said, a mischievous grin twitching across her lips.

  “That’s probably—my word, what is that?” Rune asked, almost dropping his saddlebags again when they entered the portrait gallery. He stared at several giant monstrosities of art and embroidery. Hung on the walls were tapestries and life-sized paintings of Elise and Rune. Instead of being the typical portraits, each piece had Rune battling some kind of monster, usually wearing a gaudy set of armor or brandishing a shining sword, and Elise at his side, glowing and wielding magic like a top-notch enchantress.

  “Oh, yes,” Elise frowned. “Steffen has decided since we are marrying, together we can be the perfect public relations image for our subjects to rally under. He means to portray us as some kind of heroic duo with you as the monster killer and me as a magic user. Since I killed Clotilde, our ‘image’ has reached new heights of admiration from the commoners. Steffen wants to make the most of our marriage.”

  “It’s fitting,” Rune said, looking at the various pieces of art. “He’s gone all out, hasn’t he?”

  “It just about killed him that we had to downplay my magic before the Shimmer Conflict,” Elise wryly said.

  This time Rune did drop his saddlebags again and pulled Elise into a close embrace. “It was to keep you safe.”

  “It’s no longer something to worry about,” Elise said, listening to the steady thud of Rune’s heart.

  “I cannot wait for our future together,” Rune said, entwining his hands with Elise’s before kissing her. “I love you. I missed you,” Rune said, resting his forehead against hers.

  “I love you, too.”

  “We’re going to live happily ever after,” Rune said.

  “As the Monster Killer and Magic Tamer.”

  “Sometimes I think our epic combination is the only reason Steffen agreed to our marriage,” Rune said.

  Elise chuckled and picked up one of Rune’s saddlebags. “It doesn’t matter what Steffen thinks. It’s what we feel that makes the difference.”

  Rune gathered the rest of his saddle bags. “Two months. I cannot wait,” he said, entangling his free hand in Elise’s wild curls before leaning in to kiss her.

  The kiss went on for several moments until a door to the portrait gallery opened.

  “Rune, you’re home—hey! You get your paws off my sister,” Nick shouted from the far end of the room.

  Rune ended the kiss, but leaned his forehead against Elise’s and sighed. “Two months,” he repeated in a long-suffering tone.

  Elise giggled.

  “What are you doing? Stop giggling. I said, what are you doing? Mikk! The love-birds are at it again; we’ve got to stop Rune!” Nick said before he ran at Elise and Rune like a mad bull.

  “I would like to see you try,” Rune said, bracing for impact.

  “No, let’s run,” Elise said, grabbing Rune by the arm and pulling him along.

  “Stop! I’ll tell Father you’re eloping,” Nick said as he tore after Rune and Elise.

  Rune stopped running. “That’s a great idea,” he said, his face serious.

  “What? No! Mikk!” Nick roared.

  Elise almost tripped, she was laughing so hard as she and Rune fled the portrait gallery and ran.

  Marrying her personal hero was a happily ever after Elise had never dared to hope for. Being fully embraced by the royal family—for now she really would be her foster brothers’ sister—was a dream come true.

  There was a chance a creature like Clotilde would surface again, but with her fierce husband and her wonderful family, Elise thought there was nothing they couldn’t handle.

  [Fluffer Nutter]

  Other books by K.M. Shea

  Life Reader

  My Life at the MBRC

  Re
d Rope of Fate

  Princess Ahira

  Robyn Hood:

  A Girl’s Tale

  Fight for Freedom

  King Arthur and Her Knights:

  Enthroned

  Enchanted

  Embittered

  Timeless Fairy Tales

  Beauty and the Beast

  The Wild Swans

  Coming Soon

  Cinderella: a Timeless Fairy Tale: Since her country was invaded by the country of Erlauf, Cinderella, the daughter and only child of a rich duke, has been cast from opulence into squalor. In order to keep her lands intact and her servants gainfully employed Cinderella has reduced her chateau—once a shining jewel of luxury—into a barely self-sufficient farm. To supplement her income and keep the chateau afloat, Cinderella manages a produce stand and works a variety of odd jobs. Cinderella’s carefully constructed world is about to fall to pieces, though, with the new taxes and rules the Erlauf monarchy seeks to impose on Cinderella and her countrymates. Unless she can snatch a moment with the Erlauf Prince and convince him otherwise, Cinderella will lose everything.

  About the Author

  K.M. Shea is a book lover, champion web surfer, and all around geek. She’s been writing for over ten years and has worked as librarian and a newspaper reporter. K.M. lives in the quaint countryside with her pets: Perfect Dog and Fat Cat.

  Follow K.M. Shea on Twitter: KM_Shea

  Visit her blog: www.kmshea.com

  Visit her Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005ANPMZU

  Please visit the blog for information on upcoming books, free chapters, contests, scheduled freebies, and more!