Venture Unbroken
Page 22
Venture drew back. “Thank you, Mrs. Fieldstone. That’s quite the compliment.”
Venture’s eyes danced and Jade couldn’t help laughing through her tears. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
“Yes,” she whispered in his ear. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Venture Delving.”
Epilogue
Earthsong
Summer’s Second Month, 660 After the Founding
“Jade?” Venture called into the foyer. “Jadie?”
There was no answer in the front room either. Outside Earthsong’s arched windows, it was completely dark. He’d been kept much later than he’d anticipated, discussing security plans with Dasher, Earnest, and Jasper, the steward at Earthsong. Dasher had told Venture to let them handle it, but he couldn’t rest until he saw that everything was taken care of, nothing overlooked.
Their wedding, just days after his proposal, had been rushed and tense. They’d gathered in a small town near Earthsong with their closest family and friends, just long enough to make it official. No feast. No party. No peace of mind until they arrived here at Dasher’s estate. The Cresteds, if they were to keep their code of honor, would not attack another Crested man’s home.
Venture would never entirely trust the honor of Crested men, but he’d promised Jade he was going to make things up to her. He’d spent the whole ride here planning how. It was time to keep his promise. A wedding night to erase the unspoken disappointment of their wedding day.
“Sir, she’s gone upstairs to lie down,” whispered Pearl, the head housekeeper, with a sharp look that told him he ought to keep his own voice down. That he shouldn’t wake her.
Dasher had insisted that Venture and Jade take the best room, a corner bedroom with a balcony and a handsome fireplace. He thought of Jade waiting for him there, and his anticipation increased with every polished step. He bounded up the last stretch and down the hall to the bedroom. Lightning, who was sitting watch at the bedroom door, jumped up to greet him, tail wagging.
He scratched her under the chin. “You be a good girl and wait out here tonight.”
He paused, his hand on the glass knob. His heart had begun throbbing as soon as he’d headed for the stairs, but now, unexpectedly, his mind was racing. What if she was in there regretting this? What if it was all a big mistake?
Lightning made a plaintive sound at him in her throat, more talking than whining, and he pointed back at the little rag rug Jasper had given her. She settled back down with a snort and rested her chin on her forepaws.
Venture eased the door open.
Jade’s hair spilled over the down pillows, her nightgown-clad body perfect, relaxed as she slept. He almost regretted waking her—almost. It had been a long day, but she was so beautiful, and how long had they looked forward to this? He leaned over her, brushed her hair back with his hand, and kissed her face. She’d had a bath while she waited for him to sort things out with the men, and she smelled fresh and light, like rose water.
“Jadie?”
Her eyes fluttered open. When she saw him, she smiled. She was so beautiful, he couldn’t help thinking, What is she doing with me? How can I be her husband?
“There you are.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I thought you’d forgotten about me,” she said softly, playfully.
“How could I forget about you tonight?”
She gave him a look that reminded him of days so long ago—summer days spent with his best friend. She loved him, just like this. Just like she always had.
“Are you mine? Are you really mine?” he said between kisses.
“I am. Always. I love you, Venture Delving.”
He felt her breath on his skin as he kissed her cheek, then her chin. “I love you, Jade Delving.” It felt strange and good to hear her first name with his last.
His kisses drifted to her low lace neckline, and his wooden pendant swung against her silver one.
Her hand was trembling. He took it in his before he kissed her again, lacing his fingers through hers. So soft, so slender, so unlike his. His own nervousness was forgotten, lost in his desire to please her so that she forgot hers.
“I’ll take good care of you Jadie, always.”
He was meant to be a fighter, but even when he was at the pinnacle of success in that calling, he was missing something, because there was more to who he was meant to be. He was meant to fight a bigger battle—a battle he and Jade had won in that alley. A battle they would keep fighting together.
That night he felt the first sense of himself completed—Venture Delving, husband of Jade Fieldstone Delving. He was Jade’s and she was his, indelibly, in a way they’d never been before.
<<< End >>>
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Acknowledgments
So many people have supported me in my writing and publishing journey. Friends, family, and teammates, you continue to inspire me! Without you making my life a great adventure, I’d be a cranky hermit writing some painfully boring books. And if you hadn’t stepped in to help during the busiest, craziest summer of my life, Venture Unbroken would never have made it out on time.
Special thanks to my son, first reader and Super Motivator. P.Z. Mendiola also read an early draft and his thoughtful comments gave me a fresh perspective and sparked so many new ideas. My friend Dr. Karyn was frighteningly enthusiastic in helping me come up with ideas for Venture’s stab wounds, and John Harai helped me hunt down the sneaky errors that seem to find their way into my manuscripts. Any mistakes are my own responsibility.
Most of all, thank you, Lord, for readers! I’m grateful for every single one.
About the Author
R.H. Russell has been on the mat with talented young fighters since 1993. Their ambitions, struggles, and triumphs inspired her to write the Venture books. She hopes to share the fascinating world of fighters with readers in a unique way—a way anyone can identify with, because she truly believes there’s a fighter in all of us. She's having a great time letting Venture and his friends loose to play on the page, writing about brawls and big dreams, betrayal and camaraderie, and of course, Venture and Jade’s forbidden love.
She also writes the Unicorns of the Mist series as R.R. Russell.