by Megg Jensen
"We haven't known each other long." It was a weak protest.
"And you have known Bastian your whole life. You have loved him. Yet you came with me instead of running to him. Does only the length of time you’ve known someone determine how much you can love them?"
Tressa thought carefully, wanting to choose the right words. She wasn’t sure she knew the answer. Her lips parted and a screech rang out in the sky.
"That's not one of our dragons," Jarrett said, springing to his feet. "I know their calls." He flung the door open and looked out, then poked his head back in. "Tressa, it's the blue dragon. Bastian and the blond woman are riding it."
Tressa scurried out the door behind Jarrett. He was right. The blue dragon flew above the Sands, casting a shadow across the bunker's door.
Jarrett jumped, waving his arms in the air. The dragon continued to fly toward the southeast. Then it banked slowly to the left, coming back toward Jarrett and Tressa. It coasted ever closer to the ground, kicking up a small sandstorm.
Tressa flung an arm over her face, squinting through the sandy air. The dragon landed not far away. Bastian slid off its back, holding a hand out to Tressa. He beckoned. Come with me, she could almost hear him say.
She looked at the grand beast who she believed was her best friend Connor and at the blond woman sitting expressionless on his back. Who was she to Bastian? Was she really just a healer or something more? She was pretty. Her face kind. The way she gazed at Bastian told Tressa the woman had feelings for him. It was easy to see.
Tressa waited for a pang in her heart. She waited for that jealousy to kick in. She waited for the memories of her time with Bastian to rush over her and send her running into his arms.
They didn't come.
Tressa stumbled backward, closer to Jarrett. Bastian would be safe and healthy without her. She knew that. If he’d survived everything he'd faced over the last few months, he could live with losing Tressa.
She looked Bastian straight in the eye and shook her head no.
He stood still for a few moments. His arm dropped to his side in resignation. Bastian climbed back on the dragon and dug his heels in. Without another glance, the three of them lifted into the air leaving Tressa and Jarrett standing alone in the sand.
The fighting in the distance was done. Tressa turned to Jarrett. "Perhaps it's time to head back to the castle?" She slipped his hand into his as they climbed the dune.
Kilrothgi lay dead on the dais where they'd almost been joined in marriage. Men in Jarrett's guard stood on top of the defeated beasts, waving their swords in the air.
Chapter Thirty-Three
"Where were you?" Jacinda demanded when Jarrett and Tressa walked through the door to her throne room.
"I was protecting my bride from the kilrothgi," Jarrett said, his arm around Tressa's shoulder.
"You are the captain of my guard." Jacinda huffed, sinking into her throne. It sparkled, crusted with gems and fitted with a fine red silk over the golden frame. Her hands gripped the armrests. "You should be protecting me."
Jarrett rolled his eyes, keeping a tight grip on Tressa. "You can take care of yourself just fine."
"Then my people!" she yelled, slamming her fist on the chair. A sapphire broke off and tumbled to the floor.
Tressa remained silent. Jarrett swore he knew how to handle Jacinda's anger. He'd had years of experience taming her dragon.
"I am protecting Tressa, just as we should be protecting her people. Give me troops to find the residents of Hutton's Bridge. With the fog gone, no one is safe. Only one village holds the secret of the honey and that is Hutton's Bridge. Do you think the Red will sit by? No! That's why the kilrothgi attacked today." Jarrett stood firm. He'd let go of Tressa and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know as well as I do if the Red gets to the honey first, the war will be reignited. All of our lives will be in danger."
Jacinda sighed, the pinched wrinkles around her eyes relaxing. She rubbed her forehead. "I know. The world is regressing. We are going back to the time of our forebears."
"The fog is gone. War is upon us." Jarrett pointed at Tressa. "She can help us. She knows her people better than anyone. With Tressa on our side we can return peace to the Dragonlands."
"The Red will not back down so easily," Jacinda says. "They will not be afraid of one girl."
Tressa's hands tightened into fists. She lifted her chin and stepped into the argument. "No, but with your help, we can put fear into their eyes. I will lead them into battle. I am not afraid."
Jacinda laughed. "Silly girl. You should be sulking in the corner, upset about your wrecked wedding day."
"That is not why we came to you," Tressa said. She gritted her teeth, remembering the harrowing ride to Risos in the dragon's claws and her imprisonment until Jarrett arrived. "You forced this wedding on us. Jarrett and I were fine the way we were. We only came to you for help because Jarrett thought you would care about the future of the Dragonlands."
"What can you do? You're just a girl, not a warrior." Jacinda eyed her, reminding Tressa of her see-through gown.
Tressa's first instinct was to cover her body, still exposed in the sheer gown. Instead she thrust her chest out proudly. "I am a woman. Younger than you. Stronger than you. I have ties to the honey. I know who tended to the bees. There is no one better suited than me to lead this search mission. Give me some of your troops. Let me win this war before it starts."
Jacinda's eyes narrowed. They swept over Tressa's midsection, then focused on her face. "If this is what you want, then I will offer you a small contingent of my men." She glared at Jarrett. "Get the honey and her townspeople, and get back here as soon as possible."
"You'll offer my people asylum?" Tressa asked, pushing the boundaries. She needed every assurance her people would be cared for or there was no point in pursuing help from Jacinda any longer.
"Yes, yes. Asylum. But I expect them to work and contribute. I won't be host to a permanent settlement of dullards."
Tressa fumed. "My people are not like that. They are survivors and they are hard workers. Everyone outside the fog assumed they were dead. Not only were we alive, but we flourished. If anyone can adapt to a new environment, it's the people of Hutton's Bridge."
Jacinda yawned. "Are you done with your little speech?" She waved a hand in the air. "Be gone. Both of you. It's been a tiring day."
"That it has." Jarrett placed a hand on Tressa's back. "Are you going to order us married again tomorrow, or do we have your leave to set out in the morning with the army?"
"You've proven to me that you're going to go through with a marriage to this girl whether I like it or not." Jacinda closed her eyes, but not before Tressa glimpsed the resignation in them.
So she'd won. She and Jarrett had proven to Jacinda that they truly loved each other. Tressa wasn't sure exactly how she felt about Jarrett yet, but she did know he was a special man. Attractive, caring, empathetic. She hadn't found a chink in his personality yet.
Jarrett bowed to his queen. "With your leave, we will retire to my rooms."
Jacinda either ignored him or missed the implication of his simple statement. But Tressa didn't. He wanted her to come back to his chambers instead of the ones where she'd been held prisoner in the last few days. Her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Of course he'd take her to his chambers. That was where her new wardrobe awaited her. The attendants had probably moved all of her things there during the first part of the ceremony – before the kilrothgi had taken them by surprise.
Jarrett slipped his hand over hers and lead her out of the throne room. No one stopped them. Tressa felt the invisible bonds that had chained her here fall away. Finally she had her freedom.
They walked in silence through the castle to Jarrett's chambers. He flung the doors open, revealing a sumptuous sitting room. Another door was set back in the room, presumably leading to his bedchamber. A fire roared in the fireplace, infusing the room with warmth in the dark of the ni
ght. Jarrett held his arms out wide. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful." Tressa's fingers ran along the silken couch. She'd never grow tired of the gentle fabric, so unlike the bulky wool of Hutton's Bridge. It screamed luxury and at the same time whispered sensuality.
"I know you stayed here only because of your loyalty to your people. I don't mistake your choice for anything else. I know it does not include me."
"Jarrett..." Tressa wrung her hands. How could she tell him that she couldn't stop thinking about him? That he'd broken through that armor she'd so carefully built? That she wasn't married to Bastian in her heart any longer, and hadn't been for a very long time? That she'd fallen into Bastian's arms out of habit? That if Jarrett made one more move, she wouldn't be able to resist him any longer?
He placed a hand on her cheek. "I'm sorry for everything you've had to endure here. I had hoped Jacinda would readily agree to help us. The wedding, well, it was brave of you to go through with it."
"We didn't actually get married," Tressa said, letting the heat from his hand warm her whole body. She closed her eyes and leaned in. "Jarrett?"
"Yes?" he asked, his voice a careful whisper.
"I —"
His lips fell on hers and his arms snaked around her back. They tumbled onto the couch, their arms a tangle, Tressa on top of Jarrett. She forgot to breathe, only taking in Jarrett, as if her heart couldn't manage one more beat without him.
Jarrett pulled back. "Are you sure?" His hand found its way back to her cheek, his thumb stroking her lips.
Tressa trembled. His shirt had fallen open and her hands rested on his bare chest. The stark paleness of her skin contrasted against the deep brown rippling across his abdomen. A shiver traveled from her heart to that warm spot between her legs.
"Yes."
All it took was that one word. Jarrett stood up, gathering Tressa into his arms. He kicked open the door to the bedchamber. She laughed. "Don't break anything."
Jarrett turned his dark eyes on her. "Trust me, I'm very gentle."
He laid her down on the soft blankets. Tressa had no doubts in his promise as he slowly removed her sheer gown, savoring every inch of her body with his lips.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tressa woke up, her head resting on Jarrett's chest.
"Morning," he said, smiling at her.
"Morning." She grinned and sat up, not at all ashamed of her nakedness as the sheet fell to her waist. She reached over to the table. An attendant had brought them breakfast, silently sneaking in when both Jarrett and Tressa slept. Tressa took a cup of tea, letting it snake down her throat. "Mmm. It's the same tea my Granna used to give me back in Hutton's Bridge. We'd take it every morning together. Everything feels so unreal this morning."
"It wasn't a dream." Jarrett wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.
Tressa sipped the last of the tea, set the cup aside, and laughed. "If it was just a dream, then we wouldn't be forced to get out of bed and head out with an army this morning. We'd get to stay here and do more of all the wonderful things we did last night." She kissed his chest, savoring his smell, a heady combination of the desert and wine. "But we can't. We have to march out as soon as the sun is up."
"I know." Jarrett kissed her forehead. "If you changed your mind and told me you wanted to wait another day, you wouldn't be the same woman I've risked everything for. I'm ready whenever you are."
Regretfully Tressa stood and padded across the floor to the wardrobe. She hadn't even had a chance to look at her new clothes last night. As Adara had promised, the new leather outfits were in there. They looked and smelled more glorious than Tressa could have imagined. Her fingers grazed over the pant legs under the long tunic, barely feeling the outline of a dagger. She smiled. Adara had done just as she’d asked.
"What are these?" Jarrett asked, sliding his arms around her waist and nuzzling his lips into her neck. His hands slipped dangerously low, almost convincing Tressa to push him back into bed.
"Some new clothes Adara made for me. I can't wait to get them on. Aren't they beautiful?" Tressa pulled one out of the wardrobe and held it up in front of her.
Jarrett's hands had made their way north, cupping her breasts. "Mmm, yes."
She slapped Jarrett. "You're not looking at the clothes."
"No, I'm not," he said. "Should I be?"
Tressa dropped the outfit on the floor and spun around, still wrapped in his arms. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his, letting her tongue meander.
Jarrett pulled her closer.
Tressa grunted, pushing him away. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. Falling to her knees, Tressa fought against the tears spilling from her eyes.
Jarrett squatted next to her. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Pain coursed through Tressa, unlike any she'd ever felt. A tearing sensation ripped through her lower stomach. Her muscles cramped and she crumbled to the floor.
Jarrett picked her up, cradling Tressa against his chest like a baby. He laid her down gently on the bed. "Stay here, I'm calling for the physic."
A warm liquid burst from between her legs, streaming down her thighs. "What?" Tressa reached down, her fingers touching the sticky substance. She looked at her fingertips, covered in blood and mucous.
"I don't understand," she whispered to no one.
The door burst open, Jarrett ran in, followed by a female healer. After only a quick glance the woman yelled, "Get me Lea and Darja."
She sat on the bed next to Tressa. "How far along were you?"
"I'm sorry?" Tressa asked. She looked up at Jarrett. "What's going on? What's wrong with me? Am I dying?"
The woman stroked Tressa's hair. Sympathy dripped from her eyes. "You've lost your baby."
Baby?
Tressa's eyes met Jarrett's. "What does she mean? I wasn't pregnant."
"Oh dear." The healer grabbed Jarrett's hand. "You didn't know?"
Jarrett's eyes wide, he shook his head. "No. We didn't." He sat on the bed next to Tressa. "Did you know?"
"No." It came out a strangled cry. "I didn't. I would have told you. I would have..." She trailed off. She didn't know what she would have done differently. The baby would have been Bastian's. He was the only man she'd been with since leaving Hutton’s Bridge — up until the night before.
A baby. The only time she'd ever managed to get pregnant after all those years of trying.
Gone.
Lost.
And she didn't even know.
"We made love last night. Is this my fault? Was I too rough with her?" Jarrett pleaded with the healer. "Is this my fault?" Tears glistened in his eyes.
"No," the healer said. "That is quite unlikely. Miscarriage is common. You can try for another soon enough."
Tressa shook her head. Anguish spread through every part of her. It tingled in her fingers. Bit at her toes. Cramped in her stomach. Tressa leaned over the side of the bed and threw up.
A gaggle of attendants broke into the room carrying buckets of water and cloths. One knelt on the floor, cleaning up the mess Tressa had just made.
"It'll be okay," the healer said, stroking a wet cloth along Tressa's legs, cleaning up the remnants of the expelled life. "You will heal. You will conceive again." A pipe rested between her lips, a sweet smell wafting from the bowl.
"No." Tressa whispered. She said it over and over again. Her lips going dry with the effort. "No. I cannot."
"Tressa, my love." Jarrett sat next to the healer. He kissed the top of Tressa's head. "I am so sorry I couldn't protect you from this."
She looked up at the man she'd come to care for. Her heart ached. Was this her punishment for leaving Bastian, then? Was she to suffer for the rest of her life? Never to be a mother, when it was once the only thing she'd ever wanted? "Go."
"I'm not going anywhere." Jarrett stroked her hair and kissed her head again.
"You have to take the army and find them. I can't go...like this." She closed her ey
es, refusing to look at the mess from the expelled remnants.
"No. I won't leave you." His voice cracked.
Tressa was touched he cared so much about a child that wasn't his. She'd never told him about her inability to conceive. There was never a reason. Now that he knew, maybe he'd leave her for another woman who could bear him children. Just like Bastian and the other boys had been forced to do.
"You must," she said finally. "No one else can save my people. Go. Please."
"Tressa – "
"If you love me as you say you do, you'll go." She measured even breaths, keeping herself on the brink of passing out.
"Listen to her," the healer said. "Go. Do as she says. There is nothing you can do for her now. She needs to rest."
Jarrett kissed Tressa on the head one more time. "This changes nothing. My feelings for you remain as they were, stronger even. I will come back to you and I will deliver your people, wherever they may be. I swear this to you."
Tressa attempted a smile, then closed her eyes, lost in a deep sleep.
***
"Is it done?" Jacinda asked. She eyed Tressa lying in Jarrett's bed. It was one she herself had spent many, many nights in. Now it belonged to this whore from the east.
"Yes, my queen. The tea did just as it should have. The baby has been ejected from the girl's body. Nothing remains." The healer chomped on her pipe, blowing smoke out the window, away from the girl.
"Good. Jarrett will be gone for days. It is more than enough time to dispose of the girl. Tell the attendants the story. That she recovered and decided to leave him. That she could not stand her sorrow at losing his child. That she ran away, after stealing a good portion of his gold, of course."
The healer laughed, coughing halfway through. Her lungs were likely as black as her heart. Loyal only to Jacinda, Miranda had served the queen since Jacinda was but a babe. "It will be done. The boat will be ready soon."
"Send her to sea." Jacinda admired her fingernails, sharp as a dragon's claw. "Let the darkness there swallow her."
"As you wish it, my queen."