Hoping they had books from her world, or at least in English, she began searching the stacks for something to read to help her get back to sleep. Most of the books appeared to be in the shifters’ strange language, with a few in what looked to be ancient Greek, Latin, and Aramaic. A few books sat open on a small table, reminding her of the late-night study sessions in college. Flipping through a few of the books, nothing really caught her eyes until she spotted the book lying on the desk, unopened.
Instant recognition flashed through her, and she practically ran over to the desk. Sure enough, it was the same text she had been working on for Dr. Cull in DC, but what was it doing in Laurasia?
Rianne settled down at the desk, determined to crack the strange code the author had used while writing the text. She had to take the book back to Cull Industries, but maybe she could finish the translation before she arrived. It might help save her job.
A candle sat on top of the desk, and she searched for something to light it with. She was surprised to find a rather humanized box of matches in the top drawer. Lighting the candle, she opened the text to the first page, all her notes coming back to her as she skimmed the handwritten words. As if the knowledge had been there all along, the words suddenly began to make sense. What had once appeared to be a sophisticated form of gibberish was now developing into a language she’d never studied in her mind. The words seemed to combine different aspects of every language known to man, fusing them together to create something entirely new.
Excited at her sudden epiphany, Rianne grabbed a nearby sheet of paper and began transcribing the text for Dr. Cull. With each new page that was translated, she knew there was no way she would lose her job once Dr. Cull saw whose journal this was.
* * * *
“Rianne, you must awaken. It’s morning.”
Rianne groaned, turning away from the voice dragging her out of a long-awaited peaceful sleep. Her pillow crinkled beneath her cheek, and she frowned in confusion. Her pillow didn’t crinkle. It was soft and plush, the perfect fit to the space between her head and shoulder while she slept. She then realized she wasn’t lying down on the super-comfortable bed in the room between Nikolas and Dorin.
“Rianne. Child, it’s time to wake up,” the voice insisted.
Turning back to the voice, Rianne opened her eyes to find herself in the study from the night before. Merlin’s journal was acting as her pillow, which explained the crinkling. Dorin’s father stood over her, clearly amused to find her in such a position.
“Oh. I’m so sorry,” Rianne mumbled, sitting up.
She scrubbed at her face, shaking off the lingering effects of sleep.
“It’s all right. I see you found the journal,” Silal smiled.
“Oh, um, yes. I was just looking for a book to read. I guess I fell asleep,” Rianne explained unnecessarily.
“Yes, I can see that. It’s no problem, Rianne, I assure you. Feel free to use my study anytime you’d like,” Silal offered, moving to clean up some of the papers spread across his desk.
“Sorry. I got a little carried away with the translation,” Rianne murmured embarrassedly, scooping the papers into a pile.
“Rianne, stop. It’s perfectly fine for you to be here. You’re to be my son’s mate and part of my family. What belongs to one of us belongs to us all. You are more than welcome to use this study or any other room in the castle. If you like this room, I could always use some company while I’m going through the books or dealing with issues from neighboring clans and the ambassadors from Gondwanaland. Besides, I’m sure Nikolas would feel better if someone was with you while you worked on the journal,” Silal insisted, taking the papers and the journal from her.
“Why?” Rianne asked, unable to say anything else as he settled her things on the table by the fireplace.
“Nikolas has a, shall we say, aversion to anything to do with the magical part of our realm. He was quite adamant that you never look at the book, but Morna seemed confident that you would find your way to it. I can see she was right, as usual,” Silal smirked.
“Morna? What does she have to do with this?” Rianne asked, becoming more and more confused.
“She’s Merlin’s sister. I believe Nikolas was hoping she would return the journal to the Order of Warlocks in Gondwanaland, but she insisted that the book was meant for you,” Silal explained further.
“But why is Nikolas so against magic?” Rianne asked, standing up and walking toward him.
“That is something you will have to ask him. I’m afraid I cannot divulge Nikolas’s past without his consent,” Silal said, smiling down at her apologetically.
Rianne hummed thoughtfully, but respected his wish to keep Nikolas’s life private. She found herself liking the king of this territory more and more. He reminded her of her grandfather, the only person she had ever really enjoyed spending time with in her family. He had been more open-minded than anyone else and had always been fond of her. While her mother and father frowned at her for anything that didn’t fit into their neat little box, such as reading about the right of homosexuals to get married, she’d always thought it was sad that the government kept people in love from being together. Her parents hadn’t approved, but her grandfather had never made her feel wrong for her thoughts. She knew without a doubt that her grandfather would be thrilled at the idea of her finding not just one, but two men who would love her forever. Just as certain came the knowledge that her parents would never approve and would likely disown her if they ever found out.
As Silal moved to take his place behind the desk, Rianne took the time to look around the study in the light of day. A map hung on the wall opposite the heavy oak door, detailed lines showing the different borders of the territories in both Laurasia and Gondwanaland.
“Is this your territory?” Rianne asked, tracing a line with her finger that showed a territory the size of the whole state of Alaska and then some.
“Yes, that’s Wolvden Territory,” Silal answered, barely glancing at the map.
“Wolvden? As in ‘wolf den’?” Rianne asked, unable to hold back a giggle.
“Yes, my ancestors weren’t very creative when naming the land, but it suites us just fine,” Silal grinned wryly.
They settled into a comfortable silence while Silal began writing and Rianne explored the map more. What she assumed was the polar bears’ territory sat on the other side of the Emddyn Bay. The word Bearsalei stretched across it. The play on words was not lost on her and she found herself smiling once again. At least the polar bears were a little more creative in naming their territory.
A knock at the study door had both Rianne and Silal turning.
“Come in,” Silal called out, leaning back in his chair.
“Excuse me, Highness. I was sent to find the Lady Rianne,” Carme curtsied.
“Of course. She’s all yours, Carme.” Silal nodded, giving the woman a slight smile.
“Thank you for letting me use your study,” Rianne murmured as she walked over to Carme.
“As I said, it is yours to use at your leisure,” Silal reminded her.
“Thank you,” Rianne repeated, following Carme from the room.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Carme hissed as soon as the door to the study was shut.
“Sorry. I kind of fell asleep at his desk,” Rianne winced.
“Well, the queen came by your chambers this morning while I was straightening up. She wants you to meet her in the hothouse after you’ve had breakfast,” Carme instructed as they made their way back to Rianne’s room.
“The hothouse?” Rianne questioned.
“It’s the place where she grows her flowers. The king had it built for her when she came here. She’s originally from Corane, the territory to the southwest of us. The king was visiting Corane’s king when he met the queen. They felt the mating pull instantly, and he returned home with her as his mate,” Carme informed her.
“Wow. So she left everything to be with him?” Rianne asked, enteri
ng her room.
“She still visits her family often, but yes. For the most part, she gave up all she knew to be with her mate. It’s the way of our kind,” Carme said.
Rianne was silent as Carme uncovered her breakfast, a tray of eggs and sausage with a glass of milk. While Rianne ate breakfast, Carme dug out a dress for her to wear. Surprisingly, the dress had short sleeves. She figured it was because she would be spending time in the hothouse, which would be warmer than the seemingly below-freezing temperatures outside.
“Here you are. You’ll be needing this,” Carme said, pulling out a thick dark-gray cloak that looked more like a sort of shorter trench coat.
She slipped into the cloak, fastening the catch at the neckline. The dark gray complemented the light blue of the dress underneath perfectly, and Rianne knew it would keep her warm on the walk to the hothouse.
“All right, let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the queen waiting,” Carme insisted, urging Rianne out the door.
“Where is the hothouse?” Rianne asked as they made their way down the stairs.
“At the back of the castle. The king wanted her to be able to see the flowers from their suite,” Carme explained, leading her toward the rear of the castle.
“Is the queen a wolf, too?” Rianne asked.
“Oh, no. She’s a cougar,” Carme answered.
Rianne tried not to laugh at the double entendre, knowing Carme had no idea of what she had said. Rianne wasn’t even sure the queen was older than the king, but it was still an amusing thought.
They came up to the hothouse, and Rianne was surprised at just how large it was. Nearly the size of a floor of her apartment building, the glass windows of the hothouse displayed a plethora of green plants and exotic flowers.
“Go on in. The queen is usually somewhere around the middle of the garden. She has a small sitting area,” Carme explained.
“Thanks, Carme,” Rianne murmured, entering the warmth of the hothouse.
Instantly, the cloak around her shoulders became much too heavy, and she removed the weighty clothing. The warmth of the sun felt marvelous on her skin as she made her way through the lush paradise. Flowers and plants of all different kinds surrounded her, arranged to appear as wild and untamed as possible while still allowing for a pathway throughout.
“Rianne, I’m so glad you could join me.” Visess greeted her as soon as she came into sight.
The queen sat on a small wicker loveseat, a matching coffee table in front of her. A servant had brought her some tea and cakes for the older woman to enjoy while surrounded by her plants. Rianne wondered how Visess managed to survive in such a cold climate when she clearly preferred the heat found in the sunlight.
“Thank you for inviting me. Your plants are beautiful,” Rianne commented, taking a seat beside her.
“Silal had all the best imported from both Laurasia and Gondwanaland. He knows how much I love them,” Visess said, smiling at the beauty around her.
Rianne leaned back, relaxing to the smell of the flowers and the feel of the sun. There was a silence within the glass walls that she had been unable to find anywhere else. For a long time, neither one of them spoke, simply enjoying the quiet.
Her thoughts revolved around Nikolas and Dorin, what they were doing at that very moment. Nikolas was likely training with the other warriors, working to make them all stronger. She imagined Dorin was spending time with his father, assisting in the running of the kingdom. The two men were so incredibly different, it amazed her they were able to form such a strong bond.
They were two halves of a whole. Nikolas was the strength for Dorin, and Dorin was the intellect for Nikolas. Alone, they were both fine, but together they were a force to be reckoned with. Therein lay her problem.
How was she going to walk away from them both? Despite her desire to return home, she hadn’t been able to keep herself from enjoying their company. Talking with Dorin during their ride had been so easy. He’d told her stories about the beginning of the worlds, how shifters, humans, and magi had once walked between portals and shared the two worlds. His knowledge of both worlds was vast and he had answered all her questions patiently. He was cinnamon and sugar, sweet with just a little bit of spice. The way the man kissed rocked her from the tips of her toes to the ends of her hair.
Nikolas, though, was like dark chocolate. He was sin on a stick and didn’t seem to mind. The fear she’d felt watching him bleed in front of her had surprised her with its intensity. She would likely never forget the feelings that had slammed into her when she realized how close the wound was to his temple. A little higher and he would’ve been killed. The idea was terrifying, and yet neither he nor Dorin had acted as though the wound had been that serious. Maybe shifter anatomy was different than human anatomy. Either way, she knew she would never be able to recover if something happened to the big, silent bear. It also made her realize she would miss both of them when she did return home. Even though she’d only met them two days ago, there was a bond between them that she just couldn’t ignore.
“You don’t have to go back, you know,” Visess murmured, as if she was reading Rianne’s thoughts.
“But I do. I have a family and a job, people who count on me,” Rianne insisted.
Visess was quiet for a while, obviously contemplating a response. Rianne waited, turning her attention to a bright-red flower across from her. The petals were various lengths, creating an explosion effect with a single yellow circle acting as the origin of the flame. It was beautiful in its vibrancy, but she’d long ago learned that the most beautiful flowers could often turn out to be the most dangerous. Lilies, one of her favorite flowers, were extremely poisonous, but she still found them incredibly beautiful. The flower in front of her sort of reminded her of the lilies she’d helped her grandfather grow over the summers of her teen years. They’d been just as stunning, a bright pink with white tips that had spread all over his yard, creating a sea of breathtaking beauty.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Visess asked, interrupting her memories.
“Yes, very,” Rianne agreed.
“It’s called monalar, the passion flower. Silal had it imported from the territory of Eserald, the smallest territory in Laurasia. I was worried it wouldn’t be able to survive in this climate, especially since it’s only found at the southernmost tip of the territory. Even here in the hothouse the temperature doesn’t get as hot as it does there, but it seems to be thriving. Silal says it’s because I’m so careful in my care for it, as if it knows how much I love its beauty and fragrance,” Visess explained.
Rianne didn’t miss the double meaning in Visess’s words, but the fact of the matter was she wasn’t a plant. She had a family, a job, and a home to go back to. Granted, she hadn’t spoken to either her father or her mother in over six months, but she still had her job. There was nothing more important to her than working with Dr. Cull. In a way, he and Cull Industries had become her family.
“I know you don’t plan on staying, Rianne, but I ask you to give it a chance. Dorin and Nikolas would be devastated if you left, but they could do it if they knew it was what you truly wanted. The problem, my dear, is I don’t think you really know what you want,” Visess said thoughtfully.
“Maybe not, but I know what I need,” Rianne insisted.
“And what is that?” Visess asked, leaning toward her.
“I need to work. I love my job. I worked hard to get it, and I won’t give it up just because a couple of Neanderthals decided I would make a good baby machine,” Rianne grumbled.
“Well, now, it’s not all that bad. Mating is about much more than bearing children. It’s about sharing your life with someone. Mating is forever, Rianne, not just during your fertile years. If you were to join yourself to my son and Nikolas, you would be gaining life partners. I already know Dorin is well on his way to falling in love with you. He speaks of nothing but you when he’s with me,” Visess told her.
She didn’t want to admit that her heart gave a sharp tug at the
queen’s words, but she knew she was already half in love with Dorin as well.
“As for Nikolas, well, he’s a bit harder to read. He doesn’t like to talk, much less about his feelings, but the way he looks at you says it all. I’m telling you, dear, that man would carve out his own heart and hand it to you on a silver platter if that’s what you wanted. He’s completely devoted to you,” Visess assured her.
He would, too. If there was something she wanted or needed, Nikolas would move heaven and earth to get it for her, even at the cost of his self. His intensity was something that wouldn’t show up in his words, but showed up in his every action.
They were both so good to her. She knew it was only a matter of time before she was completely in love with them both, and when that happened, she’d never be able to leave.
* * * *
“Did you enjoy your time with the queen?” Carme asked, turning down the bed covers.
“I did. Her hothouse is amazing,” Rianne said as she brushed out her hair.
“Yes. She takes great pride in keeping it beautiful all year round,” Carme agreed.
“Do you know what Dorin and Nikolas did today?” Rianne asked.
“Sir Nikolas spent all day in the lists, training. The prince spent the day with his father seeing to some issues that have arisen with the revolutionaries,” Carme told her, moving around the room to light candles.
“Revolutionaries?” Rianne questioned, pausing in brushing her hair.
“Oh, yes. We have quite a few shifters who are tired of the old monarchy and wish to establish a more human form of government. I believe you’ve spoken of it being the form of government in your territory,” Carme explained.
“Democracy? They want to create a republic?” Rianne gaped.
“Or something similar. The kings are banding together to put down the revolts, but it’s causing problems. The revolutionaries have somehow managed to get their hands on human weapons,” Carme whispered, though no one was around to overhear their conversation.
The Journal Keeper (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 8