Unarmed (Unarmed Trilogy)

by Nina Monroe

  “He is not coming with us,” Will said in reference to Quincy, who was long gone. “I lead men into battle. I am a very accomplished defender and fighter.”

  “Are you finished with your tantrum?” Tamzin said in a very unladylike tone. Will listened to his men chuckle at her blunt response, but he was still enraged. “Quincy is coming. I want him to be my personal guard.”

  “I am your personal guard. I am your husband; I am supposed to protect you!” Will yelled as he clenched his fists.

  “You are not now. When we are in Johansson Territory, you are not my husband. You represent your father and your kingdom. Your first concern is to seal the alliance between the families. I am not a concern,” Tamzin responded firmly as she stared him down. Her words were a bitter reminder of his statement when she wanted to learn how to fight. Will didn’t answer as he grabbed her arm and nearly dragged her from his men and into the forest. When they were alone, he released her arm and rubbed the red spot on her flesh.

  “You are my concern,” Will said as he cupped her face with his hands. “I know that we are going to arrange a marriage, but if it comes to saving myself or you if it came to it, I pick you. Listen to me, I love you. You may think I don’t know the meaning of the words, but I do,” Will continued as he pressed his lips against hers. She didn’t fight him, but embraced him tight in her arms as she stood on her tiptoes. Will touched the bare skin of her back, uncovered in the dress, as he pressed her closer to him. “I want to protect you,” he murmured against her lips.

  “We protect each other, but don’t you dare touch me again like you just did,” Tamzin said as she bit into his bottom lip. “You know of my feelings for you, but Quincy is coming with us. We need as much help as we can.”

  Will knew he wouldn’t be able to convince her otherwise, but it didn’t stop him from keeping her in his arms.

  “I have a very strong wife for a princess,” he whispered in her ear as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “I shake in my boots at the thought of you with a sword in your hand.”

  “I am quite lethal,” Tamzin giggled as Will ran his fingers down her spine. “Douglas Johansson should be terrified at the thought of me.”

  “Oh yes, a short young woman with a pretty dress on. Simply terrifying,” Will teased and earned a slap on his arse. “Woman, don’t do that to me. You’ll make me do something you don’t like.”

  “If it involves your tongue or your manhood in between my thighs, I think I’ll have to do that more often,” Tamzin smiled before she kissed him again. “It’s a smart move to let me win.”

  “And you have said that I am arrogant,” Will kissed her cheek again before he turned towards the opening of the forest. “We have an hour or so more of riding. We will discuss this more when we arrive.”

  “I don’t think so,” Tamzin said as she laced their fingers together. “This argument is over.”

  Will rolled his eyes as he led her out into the opening again.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Have you taken your potion yet?”

  The words Lucy said to Tamzin in the carriage rang in her head over and over again. Tamzin hadn’t told Will, but these were the few words Lucy had spoken to her in weeks. Will and Tamzin had been married for nearly three months by the time they had all decided to travel to Queen Isabelle’s territory and Lucy had become extremely distant. As Will held onto her waist, Tamzin kept her eye on the carriage that carried Lucy and Kendall. The girls didn’t quite seem to be arguing, but were having a tense conversation about something.

  Tamzin hadn’t been taking the potion Lucy was making her. She had nearly daily discussions with Jacque about why she hadn’t yet conceived, and Jacque’s brow furrowed when Tamzin described the bitter taste of the fertility potions.

  “They should be sweet, not bitter,” she heard Jacque mutter as he walked to his desk and pulled out various herbs and plants from canisters on his desk. “Perhaps she is making it wrong,” he said almost suspiciously as he ground together the herbs. He poured a slight bit of warm water into the herbs and then poured that into a goblet, which he handed to Tamzin. Expecting bitterness, she downed the concoction immediately, but it was a marked improvement.

  “It isn’t unpleasant,” Tamzin commented as she placed the goblet on the table. She watched Jacque’s eyes darken as he slid the herbs back into a hidden compartment in his desk. “It is much more agreeable.”

  “I’m sure it was a mere mistake,” Jacque said quietly, though his tone suggested he thought something different. “Perhaps you should only drink what I give you, Your Grace.”

  “She wouldn’t betray me,” Tamzin answered, like she knew what Jacque was thinking. “She’s my best friend.”

  “She’s also a Johansson,” Jacque spoke quietly as he inspected the goblet on his desk. “I’m sure that’s something you haven’t passed on to your husband.”

  “It’s irrelevant,” Tamzin began as she pressed a hand to her belly. She didn’t feel the tingle or pain from this drink, like she did from the one with Lucy. “Her father sent to her Roth Territory because he didn’t want her. She lost her virginity to some young boy, and her father deemed her useless. It was my family that took her in and treated her like she was a Roth.”

  “Johanssons are not meant to be trusted,” Jacque said, his eyes flashed with a slight anger. “You may deny it to me, but you know now that she wasn’t giving you a fertility drink.”

  “I know nothing,” Tamzin confirmed, but she knew he was right in the back of her head. “This doesn’t leave this room.”

  “Yes, Princess. I am loyal to you, not a Thurston,” Jacque said as he handed her a vial that looked similar to the one he gave to Will. “Never drink what she gives you. Pour it out or claim to forget. You will find that you are with child very quickly after this.”

  Tamzin never told Will about this conversation that happened a few weeks ago. Since she stopped taking Lucy’s drink, her monthly bleedings had regulated again and she hadn’t felt any pain. She had been taking Lucy’s drinks for over a month when Jacque stopped her.

  “A penny for your thoughts?” Will asked as he whispered in her ear. “You’ve been very quiet. It’s been nice.”

  “Don’t tease your wife, Your Grace. You will find your bed very cold,” Tamzin smiled as she felt him tighten his grip around her waist. “I’m just relaxing. It’s nice to feel warmth again.” Tamzin pulled at the cloak around her shoulders and untied it. The cloak fell off her shoulders and rested in the small space between their bodies. “Will it be much longer until we are in your aunt’s territory?”

  “Look out ahead, Tam. It’s right there,” Will said as he pointed to a small kingdom in the distance. “My aunt doesn’t have a large kingdom like our fathers, but it does well. She is excellent with foreign relations,” Will said as he pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. “We will eat, drink, and be merry until it’s time for us to visit the snake pit.”

  “If you have such little respect for the Johanssons, why are we doing this?” Tamzin asked as Angus returned to a trot as they waited for the other bannermen to catch up. She didn’t want to think what her husband would do to Lucy if he found out she was a Johansson. Will would never have allowed her in his kingdom and it would have strained Roth and Thurston relations immensely since Turner hadn’t disclosed that fact either.

  “I don’t make the decisions,” Will continued as he stared ahead at the grand oak gates to the kingdom. “If I did, we would have drawn Douglas Johansson out of his walls and destroyed his army in a battle. I don’t always believe diplomacy is the best route to take with men like him.”

  Tamzin swallowed hard as she leaned back into his chest. She watched as they trotted closer and the gates began to open for their party. Tamzin couldn’t deny that this kingdom definitely had a Queen; the inside of the palace gates were covered with vines and flowers. The townspeople were dressed nicely, and the children fawned over Angus and the other horses. Will unwrapped his arm from her waist
and dismounted from Angus when a woman walked out, followed by two children that looked similar to her.

  “Will!” A woman that must have been Isabelle called out. Tamzin waited patiently as the woman ran to him; she was slender and tall with deep black hair and much darker eyes than her own. Her skin looked like it had never been burned from the sunlight and despite her age, she didn’t look a day over twenty-five.

  “Aunt Isabelle,” Will smiled as he embraced the woman tightly. Will didn’t have a mother, but it was obvious that she was the closest to a mother he had. Tamzin felt her stomach knot itself in nervousness; what if Isabelle didn’t like her? Will turned to look at Tamzin as he extended his hand. “This is my beautiful wife, Princess Tamzin of Roth and Thurston Territories. Tamzin, this is my aunt, Queen Isabelle,” Will introduced as he helped Tamzin dismount from Angus.

  “Your Highness,” Tamzin said as she curtsied close to the ground. When she stood up straight, Isabelle stared at her with a bright smile.

  “How in the world did Turner Roth produce such a beautiful daughter?” Isabelle teased lightly as she took Tamzin’s hands in her own. “I’ve heard many rumors of your beauty, but they don’t quite do your justice. A beautiful face for a beautiful soul, no?”

  Tamzin blushed a searing red as she looked down to the ground. The warmth extended down her neck and chest as she felt Will place a hand on her shoulder. “You’re too kind, Your Highness.”

  “Isabelle, please. Aunt Isabelle. We’re family now,” Isabelle said as she kissed her cheek. “I know that blush. A mother’s glow, yes?” Isabelle pulled away and gave Tamzin a pointed look. She didn’t respond because she didn’t know the answer, but the thought of carrying Will’s child made her feel a joy she had never known before. “Come, please! You and your bannermen must be exhausted. Ale and food for your men!”

  Thurston bannermen yelled out in delight as they all dismounted their horses and followed the Prince and Princess into their grand hall. Tamzin noted how much cleaner and pure Isabelle’s Great Hall looked in relation to Will’s. The walls and floor were made of an off white marble and sculpted columns kept the roof elevated. Tamzin noted that Isabelle hadn’t introduced her two children yet, but she wouldn’t dare mention it. Tamzin turned to look over her shoulder and saw Kendall being escorted by Garrett and Lucy walked and smiled at a handsome bannerman who escorted her. She felt queasy about Lucy now; she wondered if it was a bad idea to bring her with them to visit the Johanssons?

  The table at the head of the Throne Room was very similar to the Thurstons, but it was covered with a white tablecloth and the food wasn’t as hardy. Tamzin did smell meat, but saw lots of greens and fruit. She could already hear Will’s sneer and complaints on his tongue. It wasn’t a man’s meal; a man couldn’t grow large with all that dainty food.

  “Join me, my family,” Isabelle said as she and her children sat on the left side of the table, while the Thurston party took the right side, with Will and Isabelle sitting next to each other. “Children,” Isabelle began as she gestured to Tamzin. “This is your new cousin, Tamzin. Tamzin, this is my oldest John.” John had his mother’s dark hair and alabaster skin, but his eyes were a striking green. He was handsome, but he didn’t have the hardened look of her husband. It was hard to believe he was seventeen, but it was obvious the boy was inexperienced. He nodded lightly to Tamzin as Isabelle continued. “And this is my youngest, Dinah.” Dinah would be beautiful like her mother and was her twin. Dinah was clearly only five years old and wore a pretty pink dress and covered in flowers. She smiled a toothless grin, and Tamzin returned the grin. “Do you remember your cousin, Dinah?”

  Dinah shook her head meekly as she sat back in her chair in embarrassment. Will smiled as he wrapped an arm around Tamzin’s shoulders.

  “Promise me you’ll give me lots of daughters,” he whispered in her ear as he looked out as his bannermen began to eat and drink their beer.

  “Most men want sons, but not you?” Tamzin asked as her goblet was filled with wine. She thanked God that it didn’t taste like blueberry wine; she wasn’t sure she could ever eat blueberries again. She watched as Will placed a piece of meat on her plate and asked if she wanted any fruit. She didn’t, not yet.

  “I do want sons, yes, but I want at least one little girl that looks just like you. She would be so spoiled,” Will laughed as he cut into his meat. “Aunt Isabelle is going to ask you what you think about the Johansson marriage treaty. She will probably value your opinion more than my own, but I want you to be honest. Something tells me Aunt Isabelle will derail the plan, anyways.”

  “You’re willing if I will take the blame?” Tamzin giggled as she listened to the laughs and jeers of her men. Will rolled his eyes but didn’t answer. The meat was delicious and she was nearly finished when she heard Isabelle’s voice boom in the throne room.

  “Bannermen, friends and allies, we have been brought together for business. Our ally, King Gregory of Thurston Territory, has asked us to marry off my son to the eldest Johansson girl in a quest to remove a joint enemy. King Gregory’s illegitimate brother has made a claim to the Thurston Throne and means to remove my nephew as successor,” Isabelle was interrupted by the boos of the bannermen. Isabelle laughed as she continued, “So you think we should marry off my boy to a Johansson dog?”

  “I think we should cut off Johansson’s head!” a bannerman called out and Tamzin tensed. She saw, out of the corner of her eye, that Lucy bristled at the suggestion, but said nothing as she smiled to the bannerman at her left.

  “Well, we know how the Thurstons feel about it, but how does the Roth girl feel?” Isabelle turned as she looked to her newest niece. “Tell me, Tamzin, do you support your husband regardless?”

  “I do support my husband. He’s a very smart man, but I don’t always agree with him. I’m sorry, husband, but I cannot support you with this. I don’t think we should even talk about the Johanssons. They are not a direct enemy, and Douglas Johansson is notorious for having a weak army. By making this marriage proposal, we are signaling to him that we believe he is someone to be reckoned with. I understand that King Gregory wishes for a diplomatic solution, but we are not sure if Johansson is helping your uncle or not. It’s a bad decision.”

  Isabelle smiled as she took a long sip from her goblet.

  “Well, you have definitely made a fan of my son,” she laughed before she turned to Will. “I hope I haven’t caused any problems in your marriage, Will.”

  Will took a deep breath, the nervousness in him was boiling over. Tamzin had no idea what she had just done.

  “She’s expressed her opinion to me before. Since our first day as a married couple, she has let her opinion be known,” Will laughed as he raised his goblet. “To my opinionated wife.” Will watched as Isabelle laughed and raised her own goblet, as did the other men.

  “Well, dear nephew, I’m afraid that I must refuse the marriage proposal. I’m a romantic woman; placing my son with a Johansson wench that will probably betray us later doesn’t bode well for my family or yours,” Isabelle said as she cradled the goblet in between her slim, pale fingers. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t spend some time with your dear aunt and cousins. I cannot let you leave until I get to know your wife better,” Isabelle continued as she looked to her son. “I’ve saved you, John. Please pick a lovely bride with your new lease on life.”

  Will swallowed as his aunt announced her denial of the betrothal. His father would be angry, as it would back him into a corner or force a battle strategy against the Johanssons. Will knew that it would take no great strategy to dismantle Douglas Johansson, but traveling and forcing the bannermen to leave their homes was taxing. He looked at Tamzin as she continued to eat and spoke with Kendall and Lucy; the thought of leaving her left a lump in his throat. Above everything else, Gregory would be angry that someone went against his plan. Kings were not used to things not going their way.

  Silently, he took her hand that was resting on the armrest into his own.
Holding her hand made him feel whole, and it wasn’t until she came into his life that he knew he was missing something. His bed was so bitterly cold until she warmed it, his hand was so empty until hers filled it, and his life was so unhappy until her smile brightened it. Tamzin turned to look at him and smiled brightly as she leaned in.