by Lily Thomas
Stepping out of the bath, she dried off and glanced at the dresses laid out on the bed. These weren’t the dresses Elizabeth had given her, they were tighter around the waist, and she knew her small bump wouldn’t be completely hidden.
Roxanne was sure to select a dress that tied in the front so she wouldn’t require a maid’s assistance. As she finished the laces on the dress and looked in the mirror. The dress didn’t cover her bump as well as she would’ve hoped, but people might just think she gained weight while a captive.
Maybe she’d made an error in coming back. No one here would accept a child if it were born with piercing crimson eyes. She groaned.
Roxanne then straightened her shoulders. There was nothing for her to do now, other than see her father and trust that he loved her enough to take this in stride.
She strode down to the great hall, her heels clicking against the stone floors with every step. She couldn’t believe she would see her father again! He must’ve thought her dead with how much time had passed.
When she entered the hall and didn’t see her father, she stopped a servant. “Have you seen General Johnston?”
“Yes, I think he is in his solar.” The maid supplied helpfully.
“Thank you.”
Roxanne couldn’t believe all the jitters running through her. Here she thought it would feel all fuzzy and warm, but instead, her hands shook a bit. Maybe if she didn’t have Daerrin’s child in her belly this would be easier, but she had no idea how to predict people’s views, and she feared what her father would think of her.
Knocking on the door to her father’s solar, she was pleased to hear his voice call for her to enter.
“Father?”
“Roxanne?” Her father looked up from his paperwork. “It’s nice to see you have the clothing the maids laid out for you.”
“You knew I was here?” Roxanne asked.
“Yes. I was the one who had the dresses brought to your chamber when the guards told me of your return.”
Roxanne felt hurt he hadn’t visited her the very moment he’d heard about her return. “Do you have any time to talk or are you too busy?”
“Not at all.”
Roxanne took a seat in the chair her father waived her towards.
He put down the quill he was writing with. “What is it you would like to speak about?”
Should she dive right in? Her father glanced at the papers before him. Yes, she should, because he had other matters to attend and she would need this to be quick.
“I saw some things… while I was a captive, and I need answers.” Her father waved her on when she paused. “Did you know your…” she cleared her throat, “men were ransacking fire giant villages and killing women and children?”
Her father stared at her, and for the first time in her life, she found his gaze to be cold and oppressive. “War brings out the worst, but slaughtering them all is the key to beating them back.”
“But women and children?” Roxanne argued.
“They are still fire giants and will only breed more fire giants if they’re allowed to live.” Her father reasoned.
Roxanne’s mouth fell open. Who was this man in front of her? “Do you know why I was taken?” Roxanne asked.
“Some fire giant who doesn’t agree with the way I wage war, I suppose.”
“You murdered his family in cold blood.”
“I’ve ordered the deaths of many fire giant villagers.” Her father said exasperated with this topic of discussion as his eyes fell to the papers in front of him again.
“He sought revenge against you. He was using me against you.”
“So much for that.” Her father scoffed.
Her brow crinkled. “What do you mean by that?”
Her father looked into her eyes. “I love you, and you know that, but you also understand I have a war to wage. My forces are already spread thin.”
Roxanne shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not following.”
“I couldn’t spare any forces to go searching for you.”
“You…” She cleared her throat. “You didn’t search for me? Not once?”
“Thankfully you got back to us on your own. You really are my daughter, and I’m proud of you. I’m sure you faced challenges we can only have nightmares about.”
She was floored by his admission, but it was something for her to think about later. She still needed answers about the giant villages he’d destroyed.
“Would you change anything if you had the chance? Would you spare the women and the children?” Roxanne needed her father to regret what he’d done to all those villagers. His orders had ended so many innocent lives.
“No. It needs to be done. I’m glad for your safe return Roxanne, but I need to see to these notes from my commanders. Will you please excuse me, until later tonight?”
“Of course.” Roxanne rose from her chair stiffly and made her way from the solar. She was too stunned to stay and say anything else.
He hadn’t even asked how she escaped, or what she’d been through. Hell, she hadn’t even received a hug from her father. Why had she brought her unborn child back here?
She was now certain that her father would want the child to be killed the moment it was born. He didn’t regret all those others, what would one more be to him?
Daerrin couldn’t believe he was about to do this. He stood at the edge of the forest staring at the castle Roxanne was in, or at least he hoped she was in. He’d been on the edge of the forest for a few days scouting it out. Daerrin was sure he had found the turret Roxanne would be living in if she was here.
At night he would see a woman with fiery hair get ready for bed, so he prayed it would end up being his vixen.
He was ready to see her again. They needed to speak and discover if there was anything between them. She carried his child, and he wished to be a part of their lives. He’d lost one family, and now he was missing his chance at another, and he wasn’t about to let it slip through his fingers without a fight.
Taking a deep breath, Daerrin slipped into the night as he crept towards the castle. He’d painted his face in black paint and wore black clothing to blend into the night surrounding him. He didn’t intend on getting caught by any humans.
Tossing a rope over the curtain wall, he gave it a quick yank to make sure it was secure. After waiting a brief moment to make sure he wasn’t heard, he used the rope to scale the wall and landed silently on the other side.
Glancing around he ducked behind a wagon. No alarms were sounding so no one had seen him.
So far, so good.
Looking up he saw the window of the room he wanted to get to. This was definitely going to be a challenge, but he was up for it. Sneaking into the castle through a side door, his footsteps made absolutely no sound on the stone floor.
Footsteps approached, and he ducked into a doorway, pressing himself against the stone wall when he found the door locked.
A couple of women passed by him, without even noticing his presence. That’d been close. Once they disappeared down the hall, he glanced around and found a set of stairs. He began taking them as fast as he could without making a sound.
It didn’t take him long to get to the door of Roxanne’s room, hopefully. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and peered in. Someone was lying on the bed, but was it, Roxanne?
Slowly he entered the room and then closed the door behind him without a sound. Tip-toeing his way through the dark room, he leaned over and saw Roxanne’s face resting peacefully on a pillow.
His heart thundered away in his chest. He’d found her.
Gently he sat down on the edge of the bed and shook her shoulder.
“Huh?” Roxanne woke slowly, glanced up, and then shot up in the bed. She let out a squeak, as she pushed herself away from him.
He knew she was about to let out a scream, so he clamped a hand over her mouth. She bit down onto the flesh of his hand, but he didn’t budge.
“It’s me. Daerrin.” He s
upplied in a rush knowing his painted face and black clothing would make him unrecognizable. Then he removed his hand from her face.
“Daerrin? Your… you look like a demon.” Roxanne squinted at him in the dark room.
He broke into a smile. “I’m sure I do.”
Roxanne relaxed back onto the bed. “I’m glad to see you again.”
“Good.” His heart stuttered. She was glad to see him, and it made him want to jump for joy. She’d only be glad to see him if she felt something for him.
“Would you like to join me?” Roxanne held up the covers.
Daerrin snuggled up against her and spooned her against his chest. “It feels good to have you back in my arms.” He was right to have come for her. There was no denying his feelings for her. He might hate her father, but he loved Roxanne. She was an addiction he couldn’t get enough of.
Daerrin’s hand rubbed over her hip, and then her stomach. He paused, and then rubbed her stomach again. His child was in there, but he wanted to hear her say it to him.
“Roxanne?”
“Yes?”
“Are you carrying my child?”
“Mmm hmmm.” She confirmed.
“Mine.” He echoed.
“Yes, Daerrin, it’s yours.” Roxanne rolled around and smiled up at him in the dark.
“I thought Elizabeth and Stryme had beaten the odds with having a couple of children, but it appears humans and giants are compatible.” He was going to have a child. He would finally have a family again. He couldn’t help but be excited about it.
“How will you keep the child safe among humans? What does your father think about this?” Daerrin wanted her to come back with him, but he knew he couldn’t force her. He’d have to persuade her.
“Well… I can’t keep this child. My father will never accept it as a part of his house. I’m sure he will get rid of it the moment it’s born.” Roxanne confessed.
“Have you told him?” Daerrin asked, curious if she had come to this conclusion by herself or if her father had come out and said it to her.
Roxanne shook her head. “I haven’t had the confidence to tell him. I fear what he might say.”
“You don’t want to get rid of the child,” Daerrin confirmed.
“Who says not?”
Daerrin just stared at her, not knowing what to say. Was she going to take away his hope of a family?
“Then you will give me the child when it is born. Your father can have no reason to refuse. It won’t be in his house, and it will be safe with me.” If she refused to even think about coming with him, then he wanted to guarantee the safety of his child.
Roxanne opened her mouth, but he placed a finger on her lips. “No arguing with me on this.”
“How did you get in without anyone noticing? Are you safe here?” Roxanne was truly amazed he hadn’t raised any alarms.
There were supposed to be guards watching the surrounding area. So much for that. She would have to tell her father the men were slacking in their duties, but then she would have to say how she knew and she was sure that wouldn’t go over well. Her father wouldn’t like the idea that she had a nighttime visitor without alerting someone.
“Don’t worry about me. I will be sure to leave before the morning comes. No one except you will know I was here.”
“You’re sleeping with me then?”
“Yes. Close your eyes and rest easy with the knowledge that I will always be watching out for you.”
Roxanne’s heart jumped in her chest. She’d never had someone so protective of her. It felt good to be loved. She wasn’t a fool. Her father didn’t love her. He only protected her because of their blood tie. If he loved her, he would have met with her the moment she arrived back at the castle or sent someone to search for her when she was taken.
Roxanne had grown used to his nightly visits, and she missed him every time she woke in the morning and found his spot empty. She wanted to wake up beside Daerrin. She wanted to be kissed awake or wake him with kisses, but he always had to leave before the sun lit up the day.
Every night she would wait by her hearth for him to return to her or wait in her bed. Every time he crept into her room like a ghost in the night it would thrill her. Daerrin was dangerous, but he was nothing but loving to her.
This night, however, she waited beside the fire impatiently. She was eager to see him again, and he was already late which caused her to worry that he either wasn’t coming or something had happened.
“Roxanne?”
“Daerrin?” Roxanne stood up from where she sat and faced her chamber door. There he was with his face yet again hidden by black paint. He could be someone’s worst nightmare or the most thrilling bed partner known to man. Thankfully for her, he was a thrilling bed partner.
“We need to talk.”
“Okay. Well, have a seat.” Roxanne motioned him towards a seat, but he shook his head in refusal.
“This can’t keep going on, Roxanne. Someday I will have to leave and leave for good.”
Roxanne felt her heart shatter at that thought. “I’ve grown used to your nightly visits and the thought of those ending… has me panicking.”
“No one will be raising my child, except myself.” Daerrin eyed her from behind his face paint. “I’m taking you back.”
Anger replaced her panic. “Excuse me?! You and what army?!” Roxanne moved away from him.
“The child will be welcomed by my people but will either be killed or an outcast in your world. You can’t keep deluding yourself. You haven’t even told your father, and we both know why.”
Roxanne shook her head, but couldn’t deny his statement. She was afraid of what her father would think and do when he found out. As her stomach grew, she kept letting out her dresses, hoping everyone would think she was just gaining weight.
“I can’t go with you. My life is here with my father and people I know.” Roxanne raised her voice. He was ridiculous if he thought she would allow him to boss her around.
She couldn’t stay here though, he was right, but she was scared to decide to live among the fire giants. It went against her entire upbringing.
“Roxanne?” Her father stepped into the chamber and closed the door. “I was passing by your room and thought I heard raised voices.”
Daerrin leaped into action before he was spotted. He grabbed his dagger and forced her father up against a wall.
“What the hell?” Her father cursed taken completely by surprise.
Daerrin growled into her father’s face, as he pushed his forearm into her father’s neck.
“Let him go,” Roxanne demanded as she rushed to stand beside them. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want Daerrin to kill her father, but she didn’t want her father to sound the alarm and get Daerrin killed.
Daerrin pressed the tip of his dagger into her father’s side.
“Let him go!”
“Never. I’ve never had a better chance to kill him for what he did.” Daerrin growled. His crimson eyes were focused only on her father.
Her father’s eyes darted between them. “What is this?” He croaked out as he looked at them.
“I’ve impregnated your daughter with my seed,” Daerrin announced triumphantly.
Roxanne blushed with embarrassment and exasperation. “Do you have to sound so smug?” Couldn’t he sound a bit more pleased instead?
Her father blustered, as his face turned beet red, but it wasn’t from the pressure Daerrin was applying to his neck. “What is this giant blabbering on about?”
Roxanne shuffled uncomfortably. Now she had both of them staring at her. “I slept with Daerrin.” She pointed in Daerrin’s direction. “And now I carry his child.”
“You were forced.” Her father spit out.
“No,” Daerrin growled. “I’m not a monster like you. She came to my bed willingly.”
“It was my choice,” Roxanne confirmed.
“You’re my daughter? How could you be?”
Her throat
closed up as she forced a sob back down. She’d held out hope her father would’ve taken this better.
“What were you thinking sleeping with a fire giant? You’ve ruined any chance of getting married if this comes out.” Her father raged, foaming at the mouth and she flinched away from the rage in his voice.
She’d been right to keep this a secret from him.
Daerrin growled down at her father as he pressed the tip of his sword deeper into her father’s side.
“Don’t kill him! He might not understand why I did what I did, but I don’t want to see him killed, especially by you.” She whispered the next part. “Then I’d never consider a life with you. You’d just be a reminder of my father’s death.”
Daerrin didn’t budge though.
“It’s your revenge or me.” Roxanne stopped short. Did she just utter that? And did she want to know which he would pick? “You can’t kill my father and have me.”
Daerrin eyed her and then eyed her father. Clearly, he wasn’t sure either, and her heart pinched. He was going to choose revenge over her.
With a growl, Daerrin lifted the butt of his dagger and smacked her father over the head. Her father crumpled to the floor as Roxanne let out a strangled cry and leaped forward.
“Did you kill him?”
“No,” Daerrin growled. “I chose you.”
“But why?” She looked up at Daerrin from where she knelt by her father. “I thought your ultimate goal was revenge.”
“Imagine how he’ll feel to know his daughter is not only loved by a fire giant, but she also loves a fire giant.” Daerrin smiled in the dark, and the firelight glinted off his crimson eyes. “My revenge will be to show him that his own blood can never hate as much as he can.”
Roxanne was floored.
“You love me? I mean I heard all the rest, which still doesn’t please me, but… Do you love me?
Daerrin nodded. “And you love me?”