While Ruben was happy—so happy—that his home was unscathed, he’d lost something, too. This had been his refuge. And now it was no longer.
As he stood surveying the ruins, letting his sorrow show in the bend of his shoulders, she came up behind him and once again wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. It obviously meant a lot to you.”
“Yes. I’m not sure what happened to it. It looks like another explosion, though why the extremists would want to target this section...” But even as he spoke, he knew why.
“My father’s father declared it off-limits, but of course I came here every chance I got. Even as an adult, this was where I came when I wanted to escape the rest of the world. They must have been targeting me.”
“But how did they know?”
He shrugged. “All of my family knew I came here, as did most of the servants. No one spoke about it and I was never disturbed here. It’s easy to see how, if word had leaked to the extremists, they could hurt me by destroying this.”
“They didn’t know you weren’t here.” Her caramel-colored eyes searched his face. “I’m very glad you weren’t here.”
“Me, too.”
Standing on tiptoe, she touched her mouth to his. Gladly, he kissed her back, letting her touch erase the sorrow. He’d only lost a place. She—and his family—were what really mattered.
Chad grunted, grimacing. Ruben sent him a warning glare, then focused his attention back on Willow.
Chuckling, she broke apart. “It does have a beautiful view from here. Maybe you can put a bench here or something.”
“Maybe. No more hiding away,” he mused. “I’ll miss it.”
“I think perhaps its loss is fitting,” she said, still holding his arm. “You no longer have a need to hide away from your life.”
She was right. “And now it’s time.” Giving Chad’s tether a shake, he linked arms with Willow as he forced his prisoner toward justice.
Recognizing him, the guards immediately sprang to attention and opened the door. Ruben kept Chad’s tether a bit tighter and led him up the steps and into his home.
“My son!” Nothing but joy in his voice, King Leo rushed from around the corner, enveloping Ruben in a heartfelt hug. “Welcome home.”
When he pulled back and caught sight of Willow, who hung back, he held out one arm and motioned her forward so he could include her in the embrace. “Princess Willow. Thank you for taking such good care of my son.”
He glanced at Chad and his brows rose. “You caught him?”
“Yes. He’s also Bright—from EastWard—and a prince. He’s under a magical spell to prevent him from using his magic. The bonds are also ensorcelled, so that he cannot get away.”
“Excellent.” Giving Chad a hard glare, King Leo motioned to his men. “Take him below to the dungeon. He will stay there until he can be brought to trial.”
“What of my bonds?” Chad spoke for the first time. “Surely you plan to remove these once I’m in my cell.”
Ruben and his father shared a glance. Finally, Ruben shrugged. “King Puck didn’t tell me how to remove them.”
Willow didn’t even try to hide her smile. “He told me. But I’m not sure you deserve to have them taken off. He said they’d remain until you received your sentence.”
Narrowing his eyes, Chad glared at her. He said nothing as the guards marched him forward.
Once he was out of sight, Ruben looked at the woman he loved. “Are you going to remove them?”
“Maybe someday.” Her smile widened, including King Leo. An expression of satisfaction shone in her eyes. “I can do it remotely. I don’t have to be anywhere near him.”
Linking arms with her, Ruben gazed down at her, matching his smile to hers. “I’m glad. I think we’ve both had enough of Chad to last us the rest of our lives.”
King Leo cleared his throat, reminding them of his presence. “You’ve been gone about three months.”
Again Ruben and Willow exchanged a glance. “I told you time passes differently in my world.”
Though he wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss her, before asking her to stay with him forever, Ruben knew now wasn’t the time. He turned to his father, letting some of his weariness show. “It was a difficult journey.”
Face grave, the king nodded. “We had troubles here as well. The extremists stepped up their attacks.”
“Is that what happened there?” Ruben asked, gesturing out the window in the direction of the ruins where his beloved tower had once stood.
“Yes.” King Leo frowned. “The extremists apparently decided to capture you and must have learned that you often visited the old tower. So they set a trap.” He grimaced. “Or tried to. There’s a reason that place was condemned and deemed unsafe. Best as we can tell, there were six of them.”
“Six to capture one man?” Willow sounded impressed.
King Leo gave Ruben a fond smile. “My son is known for his fighting ability.”
Tilting her head, Willow considered him, the glow in her caramel-brown eyes making his face feel warm. To distract himself, he looked back at his father.
“Were they all inside when it collapsed?” Ruben asked.
“Yes. Four of them were killed instantly. The other two were badly injured. One died in the hospital. The other is still recuperating from his wounds.”
“I’ll talk to him later,” Ruben said. “After I rest.”
“Of course.” His father clapped him on the shoulder, then held out his other arm for Willow. Grinning, she walked into his embrace.
When they broke apart, Ruben’s throat was tight and Willow’s eyes moist.
“Now why don’t you two get some sleep? We can deal with all of this later.”
“Agreed.” Ruben held out his hand. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with Willow. She took it, exhaustion putting faint hollows under her eyes. “At least the hard part is behind us.”
As they walked away, down the long corridors toward the staircase, heading for his bedroom where this incredible journey had first begun, she stopped and pulled her hand free.
“Ruben, I—”
A loud barking interrupted her. Cocking her head, she listened as the sound grew closer.
“York!” Ruben called. “My dog,” he told her. “He must have learned I’ve returned home.”
He’d barely finished speaking when a huge German shepherd dog came barreling around the corner, barking frantically and joyously. The canine leaped for Ruben, who dropped down and held out his arms, bracing himself for the one-hundred-pound animal.
With a powerful lunge, the ecstatic dog took him down, whining and licking as he welcomed his person home.
“There, there, boy,” Ruben said, hugging his pet and burying his hands in York’s short coat. Gradually, the dog calmed down, his delighted shudders disappearing. Finally, panting, York sat, leaning against Ruben’s leg as if to warn him not to go anywhere else without him.
Eyes brimming, Willow made a sound low in her throat. “The purest sort of joy,” she managed to say. “He loves you so much.”
“As I do him.” He motioned her to come closer. “Willow, may I introduce you to my beloved dog, York,” he said, feeling only slightly foolish at the formal introduction. After all, this was a woman who could actually communicate with animals.
“York,” Willow said, in that singsong voice of hers. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
The German shepherd sniffed the air, tilted his head, studying Willow. Rather than approaching the big animal, she crouched down low, turning sideways so she didn’t face the canine directly. The wolf in Ruben admired this tactic, well aware of the need to let the dog approach her of his own free will. Especially since they were going to be a family, if he had his way.
After a moment, York made a sound, low in his throat. A woof, which Ruben swore sounded as much like a question as anything else.
Willow nodded. “I do love him,” she said, so softly that Ruben could barely make
out the words. “More than I ever thought possible.”
Then, rising and moving with great dignity, the huge dog went to her and raised his paw. Solemnly, Willow shook it. “I promise.”
“You promise what?” Ruben asked.
Without lifting her gaze from York, Willow slowly shook her head. York whined and licked her, his large tongue sweeping her cheek. Willow laughed, delight making her eyes glow. And then she listened, her expressive face showing, at first seriousness, then wonder and finally a tentative sort of hopeful joy.
When she finally raised her gaze to Ruben, she looked shaken.
York got up and went back to Ruben, taking a watchful seat at his side.
Meanwhile, Willow appeared close to tears.
“What’s wrong?” Ruben asked, helping her get to her feet. Though he still wanted to know what she’d promised his pet, he needed to make sure she was all right.
“He says that you love me,” she whispered, a single fat tear rolling like silver down her cheek.
“I do.” Ruben kissed her now, tasting salt and hope and more on her lips. “What did you promise him?”
When she raised her gaze to his, the emotion he saw shimmering there made him catch his breath.
“I promised that I would love you the rest of my life,” she said, her voice husky.
“You know I’ll hold you to that,” he told her. “And I promise you the same. There will be no others.”
Desire, electric and raw, hummed between them. Meeting her gaze, he willed her to read his thoughts.
A slow, sensual grin blossomed as she eyed him, the passion blazing to life in her whole face heating his blood.
“I want you,” she breathed, standing up on tiptoe to kiss the pulsing hollow at the base of his throat, sending a rush of need through him.
“And I want you,” he responded. “Forever and always.”
“Starting right now,” she said, laughing up at him, the sound full of life and joy and love.
“Wait.” He took a step back, feeling as though a weight crushed his chest. “I can’t ask you to give up your world and I can’t leave mine.” His voice broke. With great effort he steadied it. “Here, Teslinko—I’m the heir to the throne.”
She cocked her head to gaze up at him, the sparkle in her rich brown eyes completely undimmed. “You can take vacations, can you not?”
“Of course,” he answered, at first not completely sure where she was going with this. “You mean visits to SouthWard? You actually want to go to Tatiana and Eric’s wedding?” The two had finally agreed to marry, which had made Eric ecstatic and Tatiana resigned.
A brief shadow crossed her expressive face. “No. Not there. I meant to visit my father, King Drem. And all my other relatives. I’m sure if I ask him, he’ll arrange for a portal to take us there periodically.”
“But after what happened to you there...”
She shook her head. “I spoke with him about that in private. He’s promised to make sure no one else tries to put any spells on me. There’s no reason we can’t go. Especially once we have children. I want them to know their grandfather.”
Children? The idea brought him such happiness, he could barely swallow past the lump in his throat.
Misreading his silence, she searched his face. “You do want to have children, don’t you?”
Opening his mouth to speak, he realized he couldn’t find the words. He nodded instead. Finally, hope bloomed in him, fierce and bright.
Which might have been a good thing. “Love will always win,” she breathed, standing up again on tiptoe to press her mouth to his.
Then, grabbing his hand, she tugged him after her as they took off running for his room where they could consummate the lifelong pact they’d just made.
Epilogue
The wedding was held in Teslinko, on a bright, cloudless day. Ruben’s entire family was in attendance, including his sister Alisa and her husband, Dr. Braden Streib, who’d traveled from America.
And Willow’s family, King Drem and his wife, myriad half siblings and cousins and family friends, filled up the chairs on one side of the outdoor tent.
At the last moment, Willow had asked Tatiana and Eric to come, telling Ruben she couldn’t live with bitterness in her heart toward her sister. To Ruben’s surprise, they both had agreed to attend, and sat in the front row next to King Drem’s immediate family.
Queen Millicent and King Puck had declined, which had saddened Willow, though she refused to let this ruin her day.
King Leo and Queen Ionna had put on a lavish ball the night before, and all the Sidhes danced, appearing to enjoy themselves. Extra guards were posted to ensure that the extremists didn’t cause trouble, but since a few arrests had been made while Ruben and Willow were gone, rumor had it that the group was on the verge of disbanding.
The ceremony was simple and lovely. Willow wore a dress of her own design, something ethereal and elegant rather than sparkly and bright.
Standing at the front of the gathering, watching his mate seem to float down the aisle toward him, his wolf at full attention, Ruben knew he’d been blessed. Not only with his own fairy princess to love and cherish the rest of his days, but with, at long last, coming to terms with his dual nature. Now able to enjoy being a man as well as wolf, he’d finally banished the deep darkness that had once haunted him.
He looked forward to joy and light—and children, lots of children, all resembling their beautiful mother, he hoped. And of course love. Love most of all.
As though she read his thoughts, Willow’s mouth curved in a smile as she reached him. She took his hand, and her smile broadened into a wolfish grin, both a contrast and a compliment to the heartrending tenderness of her gaze.
As they spoke their vows, his heartbeat picked up, waiting for the kiss. Finally, they were man and wife. At long last, he swept her into his arms, she trembling and breathless, he exhilarated and strong and sure, and sealed the bargain they had just made.
Together. Forever and always, whether in his world or in hers.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460310373
Copyright © 2013 by Karen Whiddon
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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The Wolf Prince Page 27