by R. J. Lloyd
Indrell started me, appearing by my side with Aeden close behind her. “Proposed?”
Slowly, I pulled my hand back out, fanning my fingers out and shying away from looking at anyone. “Yes.”
Indrell gasped as well. Albeit, her gasp was more from someone seeing something exquisite rather than a young woman excited about some gossip. Hesitantly, she reached out and took my hand, moving it to see all sides of the delicately designed ring. “Auriena, it is gorgeous.”
“Congratulations.” Aeden bowed deeply, showing a sign of his respect.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. But Wulfgar saved me from having to as he grumped, “It is of no surprise. If one was blind, one could see his love for you. That aside, he has admitted to his desire to make you queen by telling others to treat you as such.”
Indrell sighed. “But it doesn’t make it any less of a beautiful thing when the desire is confirmed by both involved.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I suppose.”
I made introductions between Oberlea and Dohlmas with the others now at our table. Chatter flowed easily, even if Wulfgar kept eyeing Kane and Dorian.
I leaned over and nudged him. “What does our dear friend, Dorian, have to be concerned about?”
“I am not sure,” he grumbled, “But I smell fear and the distinct stink of a beta wanting to challenge his alpha. But I am certain Kanedraven will handle it appropriately.”
“You think Dorian is trying to overthrow Kane?’ I asked.
“No. I believe he disagrees with something and wants to challenge Kanedraven on his choice on the matter,” he explained.
“I wonder what he disagrees with.” I fidgeted with my new ring as I watched them.
Wulfgar stiffened. “We are about to find out.”
Standing, Dorian and Kane approached our table. Aeden and Indrell stood. Holding his hand out to Kane, Aeden bowed his head. “I understand congratulations are in order. May the gods bless your union and your family to come.”
Kane accepted the gesture. “Thank you.”
A round of similar sentiments came from those seated with me, all of which Kane graciously accepted. But all of which made Dorian appear to grow impatient.
“Dorian?” I cautioned. “What’s on your mind?”
Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, Kane’s expression of happiness slightly faded as he replied for his commanding soldier. “Dorian is a bit skeptical of us taking anyone else with us. He feels it is a risk that we should not take.”
I was a little surprised that Kane sounded like he was allowing Dorian to sway him. “And what do you think?”
He rubbed my arm. “I know that Dorian has been a trusted advisor for a very long time. However,” he stopped me as I opened my mouth to retort. “I also trust your instincts. But more than that? I trust your powers.”
“What does that mean?” I was curious if he meant that I could fight one of them if anyone we allowed to travel with us were to betray us.
“Dorian does not believe some of our party to be of true loyalty. He believes they have treason in their hearts,” Kane explained.
Wulfgar, now standing, groaned.
I glanced around at all of them, taking note of the shock and offense that was written on their faces. Stopping on Kane, I was confused. “I cannot read minds.”
“No.” He turned, taking my hands in his. “But you can read emotions, and, therefore, intentions.”
He was right. And it had been a way that, on rare occasions, I have deciphered if someone was being truthful with me or not. It wasn’t an instant the moment I touched them. I had to tap into their energies. But I could do it. And knowing how my powers were all seemingly stronger on Naelyra, I figured such would be the case with this.
And suddenly, I felt the weight of the situation upon my shoulders. “You want me to tap into our guests to check for their intentions because Dorian is worried?”
“No.” Kane pulled his shoulders back. “If you are feeling up to it, I would like you to tap into everyone who is traveling with us.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why?”
A number of shocked responses sounded out around us.
Kane held his hand up, stopping the growing commotion. “I understand the need to be concerned. I, of all people, am more so than any of you. This is my future wife, and she is pregnant with my child… or children.” I was sure he threw in that last part to appease those that were sure of the prophecy. “But, if I am to question one, should I not question all to be sure? And if there is a way to know, should I and Auriena not be certain of everyone?”
“This is a waste of time. Your army is true to you and have been for many years. Why would it change now?” Dorian spat.
“Aeden?” Kane turned to the Emalne warrior.
“Yes?” Aeden stepped forward.
“Were you aware that your fellow warriors would turn on your orders as they did? Had they not fought beside you for some time, and did it not take you by surprise that any, let alone so many did as they did?” Kane inquired.
Sorrow pulled his head down. “I was taken by surprise by their actions… their betrayal of a direct order.”
Kane slowly turned his head back to Dorian. “One can never be so sure. And in my many years, when someone pushes for the possible condemnation of another without reason, it almost always smells of betrayal of its own.”
“We do not have time, nor does she have the strength to read each of our energies,” Dorian’s words were hissed through his teeth.
Kane grabbed the soldier by the front of his armor. “You assume to tell me that you know more than I… or more than she knows about her abilities? About her strengths?”
I walked over to the men and placed my hand on Kane’s arm, my other on Dorian’s shoulder, directing my words at Kane. “My love,” I took a breath when I saw Kane relax. His shoulders dropped when he let go of Dorian. “I cannot say that I would have the strength to connect to every single person in our party one by one and rifle through all of their emotions to see if they have even a shred of malice against me. No. But,” I turned toward Dorian, my hand still on his shoulder. “I get that you do not like me. However, I do not need to unpack each of you to feel your intentions. I can do that with just being near you… which I have done to everyone in question. And only certain people…” I paused, looking at him for longer than comfortable, “stand out to me. Do you really want me unpacking everyone’s emotional baggage?”
Dorian straightened up. His eyes going wide for a moment before he attempted to hide them. “My sincerest apologies. I merely want to protect my king.”
I lowered my arm. “Your king does a well enough job of protecting himself. Your job is to protect me. Is that a job you can do?”
The commanding officer looked to Kane, who stood, stoic, verging on anger the longer it took Dorian to respond. Looking back to me, he tipped his chin up. “Yes. It is the wish of my king that you stay safe, and you are to be my queen. That means it is my duty.”
“Now,” I walked around the table and knelt down by Oberlea and Dohlmas. Putting a hand on their arms, I offered both a friendly smile. “Would you want to stay or come with us and help me learn about Naelyra since I grew up very sheltered to its ways and other races?”
“We’ll come,” Oberlea stated decidedly.
Dohlmas’s deep breath spoke volumes of how he felt. But instead of arguing with her, he agreed with his sister’s choice. “We shall come.”
“Are you sure?” I asked him.
“Other than work? We have nothing here. And for the first time in a very long time, my sister is excited and happy. We shall come.” The grin he gave to Oberlea was one that didn’t hide a sadness but did show his love for her.
“Thank you,” she practically whispered to him.
I went back to Kane’s side. “Would you care to have all of the warriors and soldiers come shake my hand? Or are we set so I can eat and then get so
me sleep so I can go home tomorrow?”
Proudly, Kane rolled his shoulders back. Nodding to Aeden and then curtly doing the same to Dorian, he took my hand in his. “What would you like to eat? I would like to get you back upstairs to rest soon.”
Wulfgar chuckled. “She needs the rest after…”
“Consider yourself warned.” Kane’s tone was sharp.
The raider roared with laughter. “What? I was wondering if we needed to have someone come fix the glass in your windowpanes.”
“Wulfgar…” Kane warned.
His laughter grew. “I’m glad you’re satisfied with a woman, my friend. She’s definitely worthy of your love and our respect.” He patted Kane’s shoulder and went back to his station at the bar, immediately ordering another ale.
Chapter
Fifteen
Home
The evening before, once everyone had settled down after Dorian demanded that I read them, we - human, vampire, Emalne, Voirechoes - all gathered. Pulling together a cluster of tables, we ate, talked and enjoyed the night.
It had been decided that the siblings, Dohlmas and Oberlea, were coming with us. They had plenty of knowledge to share from what we could tell, and I wanted to know it all if possible. I also had decided that I needed Indrell to finally pray for the blessing of her love of Aeden. It warmed my heart to see how much they loved each other, but it also broke it at the pain that filled them both at not being able to have the other.
Once back in the room, Kane showed me, once again, the depths of his love for me. A gesture that I reciprocated in kind. And because of the many hours we spent telling each other how much we loved each other instead of sleeping, come morning, Indrell had to do another herbal wash, and I slept the majority of the journey to Everwinter.
With everything packed the next morning, our things were loaded, and we said goodbye to our temporary lodgings and continued on the final leg of our journey home. We’d left Everwinter with questions and uncertainties and returned with experience, knowledge and quite a few more members to our caravan.
The carriage passed into the city, bypassing citizens and buildings. The horses, shaking off the snow from the path outside the city walls, neighed as we slowed. We came to a stop when we pulled up to the castle gates. Curled up under my blanket on Kane’s lap, with his arms around me, I slept peacefully. As I woke, I felt his strong hands lazily running paths through my hair as the landscape passed by the windows. Enjoying the calmness of the moment, I continued to lay there, eyes only barely opening occasionally, relaxed.
Indrell, however, sat tense in the seat across from us. “Do they always check your carriage before they let you enter your own home?”
Before Kane could respond, someone knocked on the carriage door. “My liege? It’s Saarzlairn. May I please check on the human before you go in? Or is she no longer in your company?”
"Why do you feel the need to check, Saarzlairn?" Kane opened the door to let the man have a look, tilting his head at him.
Saarzlairn peered in, obviously disapproving when he saw me. “She lives.” He stated flatly.
"She does, and she will be Queen soon. I will see you inside." He went to close the door.
Saarzlairn stopped him but then pulled back, as if he knew the mistake he’d made. His mouth agape, he took a step backward, holding his hand up.
Kane glared at Saarzlairn. "That will be all." He slammed the door.
The man stumbled aside as the carriage lurched forward, mumbling as we passed by him, “Queen?”
As the carriage rolled past the gates onto the castle grounds, Indrell’s tension didn’t lessen. “They will try to kill her. Some of them will. Or even you. Especially with what they fear.”
"Change is scary, but I take care of my people. That won't change. As far as I go, I have always found a way to survive," he stated.
I stirred on his lap, rolling over and wincing slightly from the lack of proper rest and the long journey. I groaned then settled back down.
Indrell closed the drape over her window and sat back. “Are you prepared?”
He played with my hair as they talked. "Only my most loyal are in the castle. I will be making other changes as well. And with you, Wulfgar, the siblings and the Emalne soldiers, if they will stay, I feel confident that things will be secure."
“If you need, I will speak with Aeden and his men. He is honorable. And I know he feels he owes the both of you after what happened.”
“Aeden owes us nothing. I know that he was trying to follow the laws despite the urging from Gael and the others to kill her.” His hold on me tightened momentarily as he spoke those words.
“The rumors of you being a generous king were not wrong.” Indrell pushed open the door and exited.
He brushed my hair from my face. "We are here, little one. We will get you settled then I can set to work locking down the kingdom more.”
Climbing out of the carriage, I wrapped my arm around his, holding my growing belly with my free hand. “How far?” My voice betrayed how sleepy I still was.
“Not far.” He lifted me up into his arms and headed inside.
I smiled and curled into him, wanting to stay blissfully distant from the tension the others carried about my safety. “Can I go get some food? I’m so hungry.”
Indrell caught up with us. “I’ll get something for you.”
Kane tilted his chin to the guards as we passed, signaling for them to close the doors, which they immediately complied. “Sarah can bring food. Then, you two can meet without delaying introductions. I want the best care for her.”
“I understand.” Indrell kept in step with us as we ascended the stairs.
Once in the room, Kane sat me down in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, igniting a flame in his palm and throwing it into the logs. The fire roared to life, instantly warming the room as he went and pulled on the rope to summon my handmaiden.
I pulled the blanket up around my shoulders. “Am I going to be on lockdown?”
He returned to my side, kneeling down and bringing the blanket up around my shoulders more. “You will be closely guarded.”
I lowered my voice. “The man that came to the carriage. His energies were off.”
Kane’s jaw set. “Did he mean you harm?”
I thought for a moment, trying to roll around the memory of what he put off to see what it was that I had picked up on. “I don’t think so, but there’s something. Aside from that he does not approve of me, there’s something he’s aware of that feels menacing.”
Obviously unsettled by what I said, Kane consciously measured his breathing. A muscle in his cheek twitched as he tried to gain control over what brewed inside of him. He touched my cheek before moving his hand to mine. “I will find out what it is and eliminate any threats. I promise.”
I leaned in and kissed him, breathing him in. Partly to try to calm his strain but mostly because I needed him to calm me. It all felt surreal. The entire situation. And in moments like that, I felt like I was losing grip on myself. All that was happening was not easy to grasp. After all, teleporting to a new world, falling for a vampire king, getting impregnated by him and getting engaged to be his queen wasn’t exactly on my radar only weeks before back on Earth.
Sensing my rising anxiety, Kane pulled me into his arms. “You are home, and I will ensure that you are safe. Now, let’s get you food. You need to eat and rest more. Indrell will make you more of her mixtures.
I looked up at him, my eyes pleaded for something I was not sure how to put into words. All I knew to say was, “I need something normal.”
His lips brushed against my ear. “Later, once I have spoken to the men and the staff, we will have a bath, and you can teach me more of that music on your device. Just us.”
The thought was nearly intoxicating. “Yes. Please.”
He kissed my forehead and stood. “I shall return soon. Until then, the ladies will take good care of you.”
Indrell opened the door a
s Sarah and Oberlea came in, giggling as the Voirechoes woman chattered away. Seeing me in the chair, wrapped up, Sarah ran to my side, signing, “Are you unwell? Hurt? Should I worry?”
“She is fine. She needs food and to be tended to. Please see that she gets that.” Kane glanced over at me and smiled before walking the direction the ladies came in.
Wulfgar appeared in the doorway, his eyes on Sarah as she signed away at me. His lips curved up into a smile, but he didn’t interrupt her or try to distract her. He just watched wistfully.
I smiled as Kane watched the raider’s reaction, patting him on the shoulder. “She is a fine woman, my friend. The man who is willing to see past her misfortunes will be very fortunate.”
Both men turned back, watching us. I nudged Sarah, motioning toward the door with a tilt of my chin. At first, she looked confused, but following my line of sight, she quickly looked back, her cheeks stained a deep red. Her reaction completely obvious, which brought a smile to Wulfgar’s face.
Again, Kane patted his friend’s shoulder. The two of them turned, leaving the room, leaving us women to our chattering.
Kane stopped at the door, addressing the two new females in the room, “You will be shown your chambers when I return. Until then, Indrell, tell Sarah what you need if she is not busy aiding Auriena. Then later, she can show you around. The same for you, Oberlea. Assist Auriena with whatever she needs.”
All three women bowed. “Thank you, my liege.” Of course, Sarah signed her reply.
Once the door was closed and it was just us women, Sarah held her hand out to me. I lifted the one in question, knowing exactly what she wanted. Fanning my fingers out, I waited for her reaction. A reaction that was no less than I expected as she took my hand in both her hers and tilted it so she could get a better view. Her eyes wide, mouth agape, she squealed.
I laughed. Not only at how perfectly on cue her reaction was. But a couple of things dawned on me in that moment. First, how some emotions and reactions were more or less universal. Here I was, on a planet who knew how far from my own, and I was seeing the same reaction, the same emotions, the same emotional processes as I was used to in the races back home.