by D. R. Grady
“They do that all the time.” Stefana complained to Lajos.
“I see. How long does it take before you can stomach such behavior?”
“I haven’t reached that point yet. It’s been two weeks.”
Raene’s lips spread into a beautiful smile. “Thank you for marrying me.”
“Thank you for marrying me.” He traced the contour of her cheek before he reluctantly pulled away. “This brings me to something I wanted to discuss with you.” He glanced at his brother.
Who ate the last bite of meat on his plate with pleasure. “Yes?”
“Now that Raene is queen and married, she doesn’t require a bodyguard as she did.” He didn’t miss Raene’s moue of distaste.
“However, Stefana, who is now the acting princess, does.”
Stefana pointed to the table accompanied by her family. Except her brother sat at a table nearby with a few of the warriors who had been invited to the feast. “My brother is here.”
“He is. And he has been tasked with watching you, but eventually he’s going to be required to report to his previous duties.”
“I thought his time here was indefinite?” Stefana’s troubled eyes rested on her brother.
“It is. But he’s not trained to be a bodyguard, and I’m certain it won’t challenge him to the same extent as his previous post.”
Stefana looked stricken. “You’re saying if he’s my bodyguard, he won’t advance?”
“Correct.”
Gaze dropping to her plate, Stefana played with the food there, but she stopped eating. “He needs to return to his previous assignment.”
“His commander has assured me he is free to guard you for as long as necessary.”
“But?” Stefana pushed some potatoes into a pile of vegetables. She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“But he should be permitted to return to his company. I’ve another idea for your bodyguard.”
“Who?”
He transferred his attention from the agitated princess to his brother. “You’re free to serve as a warrior?”
Lajos had to swallow before he could answer. “I am. I don’t suspect Fricassa is eager to leave here any time soon.”
“Unless she and Aern have a fight.” Raene tapped her fork. “That’s not likely is it?”
“No. Aern has been enamored with her for centuries.” He had no trouble answering that question.
“I didn’t know Fricassa knew him until we made our way here.” Lajos shook his head.
“But she’s so small.” A frown pleated Raene’s forehead.
“Dragons are tough. And Aern is probably the largest dragon I’ve ever encountered.” Lajos pursed his lips. “There are a few who come close.”
“I’ve never met another as immense.” Vidar stole the rest of Raene’s turkey since she had finished. Marriage was an institution he intended to tout to other Aasguards.
“So Aern and Fricassa will guard the royal treasures?” Raene asked him.
“Without difficulty. They’ll enjoy being together.”
“Fricassa twittered about him the entire way here. We had to stop every few miles so she could check her appearance.” Lajos didn’t look impressed. “She hasn’t looked different in twelve hundred years.”
“It’s a female thing,” Stefana murmured and Raene attested to this with a knowing nod.
This must have mollified Lajos. “I have never seen her like that. So I expect we’ll be here for a while. How long does the princess need a bodyguard?”
Vidar recognized the light in Lajos’ eyes, but he politely didn’t call his brother on it. Not right now. Later, when they were alone he’d mention his suspicions.
“Until she’s married.” Vidar’s answer brought forth a gasp from both ladies. “Or when the new princess is born.”
Stefana turned a little pale.
“A child won’t be able to perform the duties Stefana currently oversees. So she’s going to remain the princess for a long while yet.” Lajos flicked a look in Stefana’s direction.
“Stefana will remain a princess her entire life.” Raene spoke firmly. “Unless she marries a king.” Her brooding gaze landed on Stefana’s still pale face.
“Is that a possibility?” Stefana’s voice strangled.
“Of course. There is only one neighboring country who has a single king, but there are plenty more monarchies beyond this one.” Raene tapped a finger on the table. The ring he had given her played with the light.
“I do get a choice in this, right?” Stefana’s taut question drew his attention back to her.
If she didn’t have a choice, Stefana might be a flight risk.
“Definitely. No woman in my realm is going to marry against her will.” Inflexibility resounded within Raene’s voice. Her hand clutched his. “You will be given a choice.”
“What if I don’t want any of the men who are available?” Stefana’s voice thickened.
Vidar stepped in to reassure her. “Then you shall not marry. This is why you have a bodyguard. Nobody in his right mind is going snatch you from an Aasguard warrior.”
The rigid line of Stefana’s shoulders loosened. “Right.” Her face remained too pale.
“I circumvented the ‘rules,’ and you will be able to as well.”
“There is no need for you to marry, Stefana. Not until you wish to do so.” Vidar made his full support of his wife’s declaration as clear as possible.
Raene’s decisive nod furthered their resolve. “I had to because of the outdated laws of this land. Not to mention, the outdated thinking. You do not need to acquiesce to those.”
“Thank you.”
Stefana’s heartfelt—and slightly teary—thanks, pierced his heart.
Chapter 23
Raene clutched his hand as they retired to their new suite. The space was ready and from what they’d gathered, all their belongings had been moved.
He shoved open the door for her and then indicated for her to precede him. With a quick smile and a deep breath, she stepped into the room.
“Oh Vidar.”
Following her after he shut the door, he released her hand to instead enfold her from behind as they took in the suite that would now be theirs. “It’s beautiful.” He felt the deluge of emotions blast her, all of them positive. He savored her warmth and the happiness he had no trouble discerning.
“I couldn’t picture the final product for some reason.” Now as her eyes leapt from corner to corner, his heart swelled with hers.
“It’s plenty big enough for us.”
Her eyes lit on the small alcove to the right. Space for a baby cradle. Right now it was empty, but someday . . .
He heard her thoughts as though he had peeked inside her head.
Vidar squeezed her again. “We’re not ready for that stage yet, right?”
“Right. It’s far too soon.”
“Excellent. Although I am looking forward to being a father. But we have so much to learn about our new positions and being married.”
“We have plenty on our agendas right now. It would be overwhelming to add a child to that mix.”
“When we’re bored with life, then I’m all for adding to our family.”
Turning within the circle of his arms, she fixed him with a fierce frown. “When we’re bored? Do you think that will happen for us?”
He winced at his poor choice of words. “No, I don’t. But you understand what I failed to say as eloquently as I hoped.”
She cupped his cheek in her hand as their eyes met. “Yes, I understand. I believe we’ll know when to start our family.”
“As do I.”
That wonderful sense of being alive geysered from deep inside him. Maybe in the past he hadn’t been alive. During those long years, he had gone through the motions, but had never been truly living before. Now he was a complete person again. At least complete when he was with Raene.
“I—” He shook his head and decided to show her instead. Tugging her tight, he melded the
ir lips and she responded exactly as she had the last two weeks.
With enthusiasm and warmth. His joy ballooned as their tongues met. More heat, so much he didn’t know how to contain it, suffused him.
Vidar scooped her up and crossed the room in nearly the same motion. He laid her on the bed and fell beside her, welcoming her back into his arms. Hers circled his neck as she nuzzled him.
“This bed is much bigger than my childhood one.”
“It is. Although I didn’t mind the previous one.”
“This one is king sized.” Her mischievous grin and the way she wrinkled her nose made it impossible to look away.
“Seems appropriate.”
The music of her laughter lit the dark places that had lurked within him for years.
A long time later, they finally stirred on the bed. He was relaxed and satisfied. Raene snuggled against his side.
“Does Lajos have designs on Stefana?”
He leaned back to peer into her face. He appreciated her dreamy expression.
“Yes.”
Sinking a little deeper into the most comfortable bed he’d ever laid in, he drifted on empty thoughts and contentment.
Until Raene scrabbled away from him. Or, at least up on her elbow. She eyeballed him. “Yes and what?”
Additional blankness swarmed. “I don’t understand your question.”
“Can you add to that?”
“Add to what?” He had no idea what she wished to know.
“We’ve established Lajos is interested in Stefana. What are his intentions? Why is he interested in her? Does he plan to pursue this? Will she get hurt?”
Okay, those were all relevant questions. Women’s brains differed vastly from men’s.
“I have no idea.”
Her eyebrows rose, lowered, then rose again. Then her eyes narrowed at the same time as delicate fingertips dug into his ribs. “You need to answer my questions.”
Shooting upright at the impromptu tickling session, Vidar caught her hands and held them away from his body.
“What was that for?” He tried for offended but failed miserably. Laughter bubbled.
He couldn’t remember the last time someone had tickled him. That it was his new wife . . . A lump shot into his throat.
“You need to answer my questions.” Raene cocked one of her elegant eyebrows. “You’re not doing so.”
“I don’t know the answers to your nosy questions.” He shrugged. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I’m not interested in waiting or seeing. I need answers now!” Raene twisted her wrists in his hold and broke free at his thumbs. Then she slid both arms around his neck. “You’re distracting.”
He curled his arms around her to keep her close. “Lajos might have gotten ideas from my marriage. It’s a step none of us have ever entertained but now that I’ve done so, it’s sure to have intrigued other Aasguards.”
“I don’t want to see Stefana get hurt.”
“Meaning she has been already?”
Her nod was subtle. “She’s been interested in a certain warrior for years. Only he just announced his betrothal to one of our friends. Who is over the moon about him. And he’s just as enthralled with her.”
“My brother is not about to trifle with a maiden.”
“You’re certain?”
“Of course. It’s part of the code. If he’s interested, he’s thinking marriage.”
“Stefana couldn’t do better than Lajos.”
“He’d protect her all the days of her life.”
“I believe that.”
Vidar held her a little tighter. “Just as I’ll protect you all the days of your life, Raene.”
Her heart leapt into her throat. “I also believe that.”
Their eyes connected, followed by their lips. This kiss was unlike any other they’d shared. A promise. A sweet, simple pledge to fight whatever came at them together.
It extended their wedding vows and firmed their resolve.
“I adore you.” Her earnestness humbled him.
“I feel the same.” He stroked a finger across her cheek. “You’ve become far more important to me than I ever thought possible.”
Her swallow was loud in the quiet room. “Yes.”
There was no need to say more.
They both understood. He felt her intention to hold on tight to their amazing relationship with everything inside her. It harmonized with his.
Chapter 24
“Raene, Vidar, hello?” Frantic pounding on their bedroom door yanked him out of a deep sleep.
Vidar’s eyes snapped open and he grabbed trousers and his sword on the way to the door. Once he donned the trousers, he opened the barrier.
Stuart, of mischief and mayhem, waited impatiently on the other side. His hair stood every which way and he sported several sleep creases on his cheek. He had dressed in a misbuttoned shirt and trousers that might be inside out.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s a huge contingent marching this way.” A muscle in Stuart’s cheek tensed.
“As in an army?” Vidar hurried to his closet, with Stuart on his heels.
Raene waited until they entered the space before she rolled out of bed. She hurried into her own closet, Driies in hand.
As he tugged on additional clothes and his leathers, Vidar spouted questions to Stuart.
“From which direction?”
“North and east. There could be additional troops from the other directions, but we haven’t spotted them yet.”
“How many men?”
“There are at least a thousand. But probably more.” Stuart’s voice quavered for a moment.
Vidar took a moment to glance at him. “There are two Aasguard warriors here and two dragons.”
The muscle in Stuart’s cheek pulsed again. “What does that mean? In terms I can understand.”
“Were you present at my wedding?”
“No. I worked through it.”
Vidar finished strapping his sword to his side. “Some idiot warrior challenged Raene and me. Aern, the black dragon who has been my companion?”
At Stuart’s nod, Vidar continued. “Aern took exception to the man’s complaints. And he showed the difference between a human and an Aasguard.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Aern vaporized the human with dragonfyre. He charred my wedding finery a bit, but Aasguard warriors don’t have trouble with dragonfyre. We can withstand far more than a mere human.”
“Are you another species?”
The question made him pause. “In technical terms, we might be.”
“Obviously dragons are a different species.” Stuart ran an agitated hand over his unruly hair.
“Dragons store copious amounts of dragonfyre. Aern is the largest dragon I’ve ever met. He doesn’t fly well, but he is capable of annihilating the entire contingent coming at us by himself.”
Stuart paled. “One dragon can do that?”
“Sure. My brother and I could also take this approaching army on, by ourselves. There are two of us, so this should be easy. With the two dragons, we probably won’t even break a sweat.”
Raene joined them in the bedroom. She was dressed in warrior garb with Driies strapped at her hip. “I’m ready.”
“You are not coming with us.” When had he become a dictator?
His wife’s expression didn’t alter. “With our combined presence, we might be able to stave off any bloodshed.”
“Raene.” But then he thought about what she said. His need to protect her vied with the best decision for the land. “You plan to talk to this army?” Everything within him resisted the notion of her accompanying them.
“Of course. They’re probably neighbors.”
She eyed him as though she doubted his intellect. He spoke succinctly. “They’re approaching with every intention of fighting.”
“They’re coming here because they believe they can force me to marry whoever thought up this
not-so-bright idea. Once they’re aware I’m married, to you, and we have dragons, most of them will back off.”
She did know these people, whereas he didn’t. “What are your exact plans?”
“We meet them at the border. With you and your brother and the dragons. As well as some of our warriors. The majority of the soldiers need to remain posted on our borders as they are.”
“Send Stefana into the treasure room.” He at least wanted the new princess out of reach of any of this marauding army. He’d feel better if he could tuck Raene there as well.
“Excellent idea. She’ll be safe there.” She turned back to him as though something new had occurred to her. “Doesn’t Aern have to be there in order for her to enter the room?”
“He’s expecting her. Then he and Fricassa will join us outside.” While reluctant to include her, Raene did likely know these people, and her hiding would not send the proper message to their neighbors. As the queen, she needed to meet the threat.
Vidar’s skills were up to keeping her safe. Not to mention his brother’s. They could, and would, protect her.
Raene leapt across the room to her crystal and called up Stefana. He didn’t listen in on the conversation, but from what he gathered in passing, Stefana agreed. The woman didn’t intend to be married out of hand.
“She’s on her way to the cavern.”
He breathed a little easier.
“I’m ready.”
“So am I.” They left their bedroom together. Stuart went to rally more people, with specific instructions from Vidar. He had a plan and since he was now king, it would be implemented.
As they passed his brother’s suite, Lajos joined them. “I heard there’s some action going on. Thought I might help.”
“You’re most heartily welcomed.” Raene’s hand wrapped around the hilt of Driies.
“Stefana?”
“Is heading to the treasure room as we speak.”
“Perfect. She’ll be safe there.”
“Do you think she’s not safe?” Raene sent Lajos a sharp glance.
“I believe she’s considered a treasure to certain unsavory characters.”
Vidar had to hide a smile at the politically spoken answer. “She will be safe in the treasure room.”