by Barb Hendee
Rico was awake.
Before Jan could even feel relief, Rico spotted Lydia and ran to her, grabbing her hands and looking at her fingers.
“Are you hurt? Are you burned?”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“What in the seven hells did you think you were doing?” Rosario shouted, closing on Jan. “Taking something like this upon yourself? You fool! Suppose you’d been killed? How would I ever face your mother again? Did you think of that? Did you?”
Behind, Julianna watched helplessly and gave Jan a pleading look that seemed to say, I couldn’t stop them.
He nodded as Aunt Doreena joined her husband in a shouting rant, threatening Jan with violence should he ever try something so stupid again.
“Auntie,” he interrupted quietly, motioning to the small, silent group behind himself. “These people need our help.”
She looked over at the little girl and the underfed women. “Oh… oh.” Then she was off, bustling over to see what could be done.
Jan turned his eyes back to Julianna as she stared at him. Without her, he was well aware that he’d never have bluffed himself inside that castle, he’d never have stolen the scroll, and Rico would have died of thirst in his sleep… under a curse.
And she was the only one who saw him exactly as he wished to be seen.
There was no one in the world like Julianna, and it was time he admitted to himself that he couldn’t live without her. He could never live without her.
It was time he ensured that he’d never have to.
· · · · ·
Late that night, Julianna lay awake in her bunk, unable to sleep. Her mind was too busy with all that happened.
Rosario had decided that the few remaining members of Lydia’s family would be unable to safely travel alone or to earn enough to support themselves, and so he’d offered to let them travel with Jan’s family at the end of the autumn fair. Lydia had readily—and thankfully—agreed.
Julianna was glad. No one blamed Lydia for what happened, most certainly not Rico, and it seemed that perhaps the risks and fears and tragedies of this night might have all been for the best in the end.
Still, Julianna couldn’t sleep.
She couldn’t stop going over the adventure she’d embarked on with Jan, deceiving her way into that castle, and now feeling embarrassed by how much she’d… well, how much she’d enjoyed it.
She also couldn’t stop think of Jan himself.
She couldn’t stop thinking of the handsome lines of his face, and how other women responded to his smile, to his wiles, to the beautiful music that came from his violin. These thoughts brought her pain. He thrived on female attention and admiration, and what she could give him would never be enough.
With a soft sigh, she climbed from her bunk and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. Quietly, she slipped outside and walked over to the long dead campfire with some chairs still placed around it.
Then she froze.
Someone was sitting in one of the chairs. She could see the back of his head, his long legs and boots.
Jan turned his head. “Julianna?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either.”
Walking over slowly, she thought to sit down when he suddenly stood up.
“Before everyone went to bed, I’d wanted to ask you something,” he said, “and there was no chance, and I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow so I’ve been just… sitting out here wondering what to do.”
He seemed almost distraught, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear whatever it was he had to say.
But she steeled herself and asked, “What is it?”
Turning to face her, with absolutely no warning, he blurted out, “Marry me?”
Julianna’s stomach lurched in sheer surprise.
“I know what you think of me,” he rushed on, “but I swear no one else will ever come between us. I’ll change. And when we get back home to Chemestúk, I’ll work harder at home to help my father. I will strive to be more worthy of you.”
How could he think that? How could he sell himself so short? Unbidden, tears leaked from her eyes.
“You already are worthy. You are worthy of anyone. Can’t you see that?”
He froze, his locked on her face. “Then you will?”
She didn’t need to think about her answer. “Of course I will.”
As if he still didn’t believe her, he stressed, “You’ll marry me?”
“Yes, but I want to wait until we get home, so your mother and I can arrange a proper wedding.”
His body was tense, and then finally, he nodded. “Anything you want, as long as you keep saying yes.”
At that, she fell into silence. He loved her. He feared being without her. The realization made her determined never to use that power against him.
“I won’t stop saying yes. I promise.”
Slowly, he leaned forward and touched her mouth with his. The kiss was soft, and she wished it would go on, but instead, he pressed his forehead gently against hers and breathed outward.
She grasped his hand as the following past few moments truly sank in. Never, in her most far flung thoughts would she have expected this when she first left Chemestúk with Jan.
Other Works
About “Pending” Works:
This indicator within brackets is only used for works confirmed for release within six months following the release of this text. Where a more specific schedule has been set, this is usually mentioned instead.
The Noble Dead Saga
by Barb & J.C. Hendee
Series/Phase 1
Dhampir
Thief of Lives
Sister of the Dead
Traitor to the Blood
Rebel Fay
Child of a Dead God
Series/Phase 2
In Shade and Shadow
Through Stone and Sea
Of Truth and Beasts
Series/Phase 3
Between Their Worlds
The Dog in the Dark
A Wind in the Night [1/2014]
[…and more to come.]
Tales from the world of
the Noble Dead Saga
by Barb and/or J.C. Hendee
“Homeward”
The Game Piece
The Feral Path
The Sapphire
The Keepers
The Reluctant Guardian
Captives
Claws
The Sleeping Curse
“Bones of the Earth”
Karras the Kitten
Karras the Cat
“Tales of Misbelief”
The Forgotten Lord
“Sagecraft”
Puppy Love
The Mist-Torn Witches Series
by Barb Hendee
The Mist-Torn Witches
Witches in Red [5/2014]
The Vampire Memories Series
by Barb Hendee
Blood Memories
Hunting Memories
Memories of Envy
In Memories We Fear
Ghosts of Memories
[complete]