Talon nodded. He should rest but not in his chambers, here beside Hemera. He stepped outside reluctantly, not that he let anyone see it.
“Go to your wife, Wrath. I want a few words with Tilden,” Talon ordered.
Wrath looked to Tilden and to the two guards that stood to the side, confident the King was protected, he gave a nod and took his leave.
Talon stood in front of Tilden and kept his voice low for only the young warrior to hear. “What did you see?”
“Only what you want me to, my King,” Tilden responded his own voice a near whisper.
“Keep her safe.
“With my life, my King.”
Reluctantly Talon took his leave, Paine’s warning echoing in his head. Paine was right. The secret would not stay a secret for long. What then?
The answer was simple to Talon. Hemera belonged to him and he would let no one take her from him.
Chapter 18
Hemera sat on the edge of the sleeping pallet, her mind churning. That she and Talon would not have this night together disturbed her. Even if she only got to sleep in his arms for a short time, it was better than not being with him at all.
She began to pace around the fire pit and as she did a plan began to form. She remembered shortly after her arrival here, seeing Talon emerge one evening from behind several bushes that grew close to one side of the feasting hall. Curiosity had gotten the better of her and one day she explored the area and found a door that one would never find or think was there—a secret door.
It had taken a bit of a struggle but she had managed to unlock the door and climb the stairs. She had been surprised to find herself in Talon’s sleeping chamber. Upon hearing several voices below, she had stepped out of the room to find the feasting hall crowded. She was not spotted until she was on the stairs and had received a few strange looks, but no one had given thought to her presence there.
She stood, having made up her mind. She would go to Talon. Her only problem was getting past Tilden. It took only a moment for a thought to strike her and she hurried to brew a concoction of leaves. The drink would make Tilden drowsy enough for him to fall asleep and hopefully he would remain asleep until after she returned.
Tilden seemed grateful for the brew and guilt nudged at her as she watched him drink hardy of it as she closed the door to her dwelling. She snatched her cloak from the peg and after slipping it on, she placed her ear against the door. She smiled when after a while she heard a light snoring.
She eased the door open and was pleased to see Tilden sitting on the bench beside the door, his head resting back against the wall, and a light snore coming from his mouth that hung open. That he had been weary to begin with had helped in having him fall asleep.
With light steps, she hurried off to the secret door.
Talon paced his sleeping chamber, fighting the urge to return to Hemera and at least hold her close until she slept. He shook the persistent thought from his mind before he surrendered to it and forced his musings elsewhere.
He needed to speak with some of the chieftains of the various tribes, especially those who were his closest allies, those who had encouraged him to unite the Pict tribes and bring peace to the land. Not that Talon believed there would ever be peace. There would always be someone who sought power and dominance or in some cases revenge.
There were those who had not wanted the tribes to unite, hatred for each other having grown strong, but with foreign invaders threatening the Pict shores, it was either force unification or lose their land and their freedom. Together they would survive. Divided they were sure to be conquered. Unfortunately, there were still those who felt strongly against unification and their opposition was mounting. He had to put a stop to it before it spread and war once again raged across the land.
Talon slipped out of his garments and stretched out on his sleeping pallet. This land was home to him. It was his heritage. He recalled his mum telling him tales of this land and how it had welcomed their ancestors here when they arrived long ago. The land shared its abundance, providing them with food and shelter. He had enjoyed hearing the myths, though he had discovered they had not all been myths. He, himself, had gotten to meet what he had thought a mere myth...the Giantess. She guarded the forests and all within them. He had thought to show his prowess to his warriors by entering her special domain and disproving her existence or conquering the myth.
He had failed, though not in the eyes of his warriors. They believed him invincible after having survived confrontation with the Giantess. It was her revenge that gave credence to the rumors that he could wield his sword against a mountain of men and satisfy a handful of women in one night. She had cursed him for daring to challenge her by increasing his prowess with more than just his sword. His thirst for women had increased until it seemed he was never satisfied... until Hemera.
She satisfied him like no other woman could. His thirst now was for her and her alone and she seemed as hungry for him as he was for her.
He closed his eyes and shook his head as he felt himself grow aroused. He only need think of Hemera and he found himself wanting her.
His eyes suddenly flew open and he lay still, not moving a single muscle. Had he heard a soft creak? He had been too deep in thought to be sure. He lay there listening and once again he heard it. He recognized the sound.
It was the door to his secret passage—opening.
He slipped silently off his sleeping pallet and padded across the wooden floor so lightly that not a sound was heard. He positioned himself behind the door, waiting. No one knew of this door but he and the man who had built it and he was dead. The person who had learned of it would rue his discovery, for he would not live to see another sunrise.
The door continued to open slowly and Talon wished he had added more wood to the fire, the room having grown dark, making it more difficult to see who entered. He would have his hands around his throat soon enough.
The culprit stepped past the door and Talon’s hands lunged for his throat.
Bright red hair blazed before his eyes as slim hands frantically tore at his.
Talon released Hemera so quickly she stumbled back, gasping for air.
Oath after oath flew from his mouth as he reached out and grabbed her arm. “Easy. Breathe slowly.” Her eyes remained as round as full moons, though they shined bright green. “Slow,” he urged again.
Hemera gripped his other arm and did as he said, breathed slowly, her fear abating. He had shocked her when his hands landed around her neck, squeezing tightly. She had been so excited about seeing him that she had not given thought he would think her an intruder, possibly someone there to kill him.
She stumbled over labored breath to say, “I shou—should ha—ve an—announced myself.”
“Do not try and speak until you can breathe properly,” he scolded, more annoyed with himself than her for causing her harm. “How do you know about this passage?” He shook his head. “Never mind. Do not speak yet.”
He stripped her cloak off and helped her over to the sleeping pallet to sit. She took tight hold of his hand after he sat beside her and that she should seek solace from him after what he had done to her had guilt rising up to jab repeatedly at his insides.
Finally her breathing calmed and a faint smile surfaced. “I needed to be with you.”
His tongue was ready to chastise her for her foolish actions and to demand she tell him how she had learned of his secret door, but he said none of that. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her.
It did not take long for them both to shed their garments, their hands busy helping each other until finally they both stood naked in front of each other. When Hemera shivered, Talon hurried to stoke the fire and add more wood.
Hemera was climbing into the sleeping pallet when he turned and went to her, grabbing her at the waist and pulling her back against him. His hands splayed across her stomach, gently kneading her soft flesh before roaming further down.
She shuddered and her head fell
back against his chest when his thumb teased the small numb nestled in the triangle of red hair and sending it pulsating. She let out a small gasp when his hands moved further down between her legs, and one of his fingers slipped inside her.
He nibbled along her ear. “You are always ready for me as I am for you.
She moaned when he rubbed against her, his hard manhood poking her backside.
His hand drifted up ever so slowly over her stomach in a faint swirling motion and her whole body burst with a tingling passion that seemed to devour her until it finally reached her one breast. She continued to moan as his fingers circled her breast with deliberate slowness and when he reached her taut nipple, he gave it a hard squeeze.
Talon yanked her head back and caught the gasp that rushed from her lips with a kiss that demanded. He did not know why or perhaps it was because of what she had suffered at another man’s hands, but he had to claim her. Make her realize without a doubt that she belonged to him.
“Mine,” he said briefly moving his lips off hers, then claiming them again in a kiss that left no doubt that he meant it.
Hemera could barely breathe when the kiss ended and her body could barely stand to wait another moment with the steady, teasing, rhythm of his finger inside her, she was going to come.
“I cannot wait.” That she heard herself beg, she did not care. “Please, Talon. Please.”
She gasped when he bent her over the sleeping pallet, her hands going to brace herself on it. Then she let out a long moan when he entered her from behind in one swift thrust.
Talon groaned as he buried himself deep inside her and felt her close tightly around him. He was close to coming himself, but he held back. He would make her come more than once before he came himself.
Hemera dropped her head forward and let herself feel and delight in every hard thrust. Even the slap of flesh against flesh excited her beyond reason. And it would not be long before... her moan grew louder.
He stopped suddenly and his hand went to cover her mouth. “If you moan any louder the guards will hear and this will end.”
She nodded and clamped her mouth tightly shut after he removed his hand and resumed his mighty thrusts. It was not easy keeping quiet with the way he was making her feel. How he had tempted and teased her and fired her passion until she wanted to scream aloud with pleasure and with what she knew would follow.
“Talon,” she whispered with a heavy breath, drawing nearer and nearer to that moment of exquisite release. “Please. Please,” she begged and with two deep plunges, she burst so hard that she had to clamp her mouth tightly to stop from screaming with pleasure. She felt as if her whole body exploded in unending satisfaction. It poured from her over and over and she never wanted it to end. When the rippling pleasure began to fade, Talon startled her by pulling out of her, scooping her up and dropping her on the pallet to drop down on his knees between her legs, lift them over his shoulders and enter her again.
That he could spark her passion again before it completely faded had her gripping the blanket beneath her and fighting hard to keep from crying out as her body burst to life once again.
Talon climaxed with her this time and with an immense pleasure he had never felt before, but then that seemed to be the way with Hemera. Their coupling grew more and more satisfying each time they joined together.
He dropped down over her after the last of their shudders rippled away and rolled off her onto his back, his hand reaching out to take hers. They lay beside each other, their breathing labored, their bodies wet, and the scent of mating heavy in the air.
“I have never felt anything so wonderful,” Hemera whispered.
“I will make sure you feel wonderful often,” he said a slight smile tempting his lips at the thought of how much they would enjoy each other.
Hemera turned on her side. “Have you felt this way before?”
He rolled on his side, aware that she was truly asking if other women pleased him as well as she did. He ran his finger lightly over her lips. “Never. Only with you have I felt extreme pleasure.”
Hemera sighed. “I am glad I came to your sleeping chamber.”
Talon turned a light scowl on her. “You will tell me how you found out about my secret entrance and how you got passed Tilden.”
“First answer me a question?” she asked, placing a gentle hand to his chest.
“One,” he said with a nod.
“Are you glad I am here?”
His scowl faded and he shook his head before lowering it and kissing her lips lightly. “More than I care to admit.”
Hemera smiled. “I am glad to hear that, for there is no other place I want to be.”
“And no other place I would have you.” He kissed her again, his scowl returning, though not as deeply as before. “Now tell me.”
She grimaced as she said, “Please do not punish Tilden. I gave him a brew that made him sleepy and being he was already tired, he fell asleep easily. It is entirely my fault and I feel terrible for doing it to him, but my need for you overpowered my good sense.”
“I will consider your plea,” he said. “Now tell me how you learned of my secret door.”
Hemera told him how she had come across it after seeing him emerge from the bushes one day.
“So that is how you appeared on the stairs that day in the feasting hall,” he said. “It has always puzzled me.”
“I am glad I found it,” she said, snuggling close against him. “Now I can use it to visit you.”
“You will not use it. It was meant for me and me alone. I forbid you to use it.”
“Why? When it would make it so much easier for us to be together,” she argued.
“I take a chance when I use it. To have another use it would only be inviting discovery.”
Hemera sighed disappointed. “As you say, but if an emergency should arise—”
“It would have to be a dire one. You will not use it again.”
“How will I return to my dwelling?” she asked.
“I will escort you back through the secret passage and have a word with Tilden.”
Her eyes pleaded with him.
“Tilden will get what he deserves...a heavy dose of guilt and humiliation in front of his King for being duped by a woman.”
“I am grateful he will not suffer because of me.”
Talon laughed. “He will suffer more than if I raised my hand to him.”
Hemera cringed, understanding the young warrior will feel that he failed his King, a far worse punishment to one of the King’s personal guards than a beating.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms, woke, and enjoyed the pleasure of mating slowly before dozing off again. They woke shortly before sunrise and hurried to Hemera’s dwelling where Tilden paled so badly upon seeing Hemera approach with the King that he almost dropped in a faint.
Hemera went to apologize to the young warrior when Talon ordered, “Go inside and wait for me.” She did not dare disobey him again and with a nod to him, she did as he commanded.
Tilden stood stoic, ready to accept his punishment, fearing the worse, dismissal from the King’s personal guards, a position he took great pride in.
“You will take no drink or food from Hemera ever and you will continue to protect her with your life, always,” Talon ordered. “You also have my permission to knock on her door and if she does not answer, you may enter and make certain she is within.”
“Aye, my King. I will keep a more vigilant eye on her.”
“It will not be an easy task, but if you manage to do it, you will rank the highest among my guards and have my utmost respect.”
Tilden’s chest broadened. “Have no doubt, I will not fail you, my King.”
“I am pleased to hear that,” Talon said for he knew the young warrior would do anything now to keep Hemera safe.
Talon entered the dwelling to find Hemera curled up on her sleeping pallet asleep. He pulled the blanket over her and kissed her cheek lightly.
He turned and walked out of the dwelling, ignoring the twinge to his heart and how it grew as he got further and further away from Hemera.
Chapter 19
Hemera was lost in her thoughts. It had been seven sunrises since last she had seen Talon and she had missed him more and more each passing day. No one would say where he had gone. She had woken the morn after she had snuck off to Talon’s sleeping chamber to find him gone, and a guard following her every step.
She was upset with both and worse was that she could not seek the comfort of the woods. With a guard always near, she could not sneak through the opening in the fence, not that she would, though it probably had been a concern of Talon’s. With Ulric still having plans for her, she would be foolish to place herself in harm’s way.
Her hand went to rest at her middle. If her sister’s vision proved true, which they always had, she would be carrying Talon’s bairn... the King’s bairn. The thought brought a smile to her face. She would give Talon what no one else could. It was another reason she would not chance going into the woods. She would not only be placing herself in harm’s way, but possibly the heir to the Pict throne.
If she was softly round with child when Verity had seen her and the land had been lush with growth as she had said, then it would mean the bairn would be born when the land began its sleep, possibly when the first snow fell. It would mean that Talon’s seed had already taken root and was flourishing inside her.
She smiled, the thought pleasing her. Her smile vanished when further thought had her wondering if people would doubt Talon was the father. No one knew they had mated. Would everyone believe it a ruse?
A scrunch of her brow had her wondering why his seed could flourish in her and not his two previous wives who now were near to giving birth to their new husbands’ bairns. Why her and not the other two women? If she questioned it, would others do the same?
She shook her head. She could not worry over something that was yet to be.
The King & His Queen (Pict King Series Book 3) Page 16