by Mary Auclair
“A common peasant who just happens to be the daughter of your High Lord’s Draekarra.” Endora forcefully stepped into Mistress Hael’s space and the Delradon woman backed away, her face suddenly showing more fear than stubbornness. “Leave now, before you say something you will regret.”
Mistress Hael glared at Endora for another second, then turned in a flurry of gray fabric and disappeared, slamming the door behind her.
I need to get rid of that woman.
As soon as she formulated the thought, Endora knew it was true. She didn’t want Mistress Hael teaching Shari and Tallie, she didn’t want her looking after them, she didn’t want her judging them at every turn, with those yellow, unforgiving eyes killing the joy in their play. She wanted Hael gone.
From the bedrooms, Henriette’s voice rose above the girls’ giggling, admonishing them to sleep, and silence descended upon Endora’s apartments. That voice, both firm and infinitely loving, made up her mind.
Endora hesitated only an instant. Aldric hadn’t been back in two days, not since she’d accused him of withholding medical care for humans. She knew she had to see him and apologize, but her pride had made her stay away.
Until now.
She walked past the living room and opened the door to face the tall, bulky guard posted there for her protection. She groaned when she recognized who was on duty.
“I need to see Aldric,” she told Raeg.
“I’m sorry, Lady Endora.” Raeg’s eyes said otherwise. His eyes said he was quite happy to forbid her anything, especially to go about freely. “You are to remain here, under Lord Aldric’s orders.”
Endora stared at the man, his barely disguised smugness pulling up a single corner of his mouth in a lopsided half smile. This was another man who wanted to decide things for her, treated her like a possession. Anger flushed like acid hot in her guts, washing the back of her mouth with an acrid taste. Powerless, and at the mercy of a man’s decisions. That was what her life had become since she’d accepted Aldric’s offer.
She wasn’t having any of it anymore.
“Listen to me, you small, insignificant bastard.” Endora stepped closer to the guard, so close that the churning smell of his sweat reached her nostrils. “I will walk out of here and talk to my mate. If you so much as raise a finger to me, my grandmother, or my daughters, I swear you will have to answer for it.”
Raeg stared at her, all traces of humor gone from his crude features. Endora glared back, allowing her anger to show. Slowly, the man’s eyes widened, then he swallowed.
“If I let you out of that door, I’m a dead man,” he said in a voice laden with fear. “Lord Aldric is not one to easily forgive.”
“Call for an escort,” Endora retorted, not caring about the harsh tone of her voice.
Raeg blinked a few times, then the information seemed to make its way into his brain. He fumbled with the commu-link at his wrist, then looked up at her. “A guard is coming.”
A few minutes later, a familiar, grim-faced man approached in their direction in the hallway. A smile spread on her lips as she recognized him. He was still limping slightly, but he walked toward her at a steady pace.
“Walfrey!” Endora’s smile was a genuine one. “Why are you working? You’re not healed yet.”
“Forces are stretched pretty thin.” Walfrey scowled, but she could see the twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “With everything that happened, there’s no time to coddle old warriors like me.”
“Well, I’m glad to have you with me,” she said sincerely. “I need to find Aldric. Any idea where he might be at this time?”
Walfrey stared with surprise. “His apartments would be my first guess. Does the High Lord know you’re coming?”
“He’ll know when he sees me.”
Endora smiled when Walfrey made a face, then he turned around and started walking, not pausing for her to follow. The next second, she was hot on his heels.
She paused on the other side of the door, facing the ornate wood. She hadn’t returned to Aldric’s apartments since the night of the mating, and she was suddenly nervous.
“You can always change your mind.” Walfrey’s rough voice came from behind her. “The High Lord allows you much freedom already. Don’t push your luck.”
“That’s exactly it, Walfrey.” Endora didn’t turn around. “I can’t live my life as someone else’s toy. I can’t be with someone who allows or forbids me to do anything. I’m simply not wired like that.”
She inhaled deeply, then pushed on the door tentatively and was surprised to find it unlocked. The door rotated on its hinges quietly, revealing the interior of what seemed to be Aldric’s personal sitting room. After a few more moments of hesitation, Endora stepped in and the door closed behind her with a silent whisper of air.
The room was deserted, and lit only by a single pile of heating crystals lying in a clean, conical formation in the far left corner. The chill of the space quickly ran through her light green velvet gown and she hugged herself, wishing she had a shawl to cover her shoulders. The room was full of shadows, stretching in the dark purple glow of the crystals, but she could see a single long black sofa and a set of four chairs arranged around a round, plain rug. The walls were a dark color, and starkly bare. There were no family pictures, trophies, or anything that could give away information about the owner of the room’s personality. It was cold and raw like the crude jagged teeth of the mountainside and Endora shivered, standing in the middle of it.
The silence of the room was like a wet blanket, closing around her body, depriving it of what little warmth she had left.
She shouldn’t have come. Aldric wasn’t here, and he certainly wouldn’t like her to be here, either. He must have gone to fulfill some important High Lord duty. Then a thought occurred to her. By the looks of them, it was clear that Aldric didn’t spend much time in these apartments. That could only mean one thing. He had somewhere else to go, somewhere that made him feel warm and wanted. Somewhere he felt comfortable. Somewhere—and someone.
A woman, perhaps.
The thought made her heart constrict with pain. Aldric had an entire life before she arrived in it. He wasn’t able to conceive a child with an incompatible woman, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a relationship, or even be in love.
She’d never thought to ask, but now that the thought occurred to her, it made sense. He was a strong, powerful and handsome man. Women must flock to him like flies.
She must have been mistaken when she’d assumed he cared about her more than simply as the future mother of his child. She was nothing but a potential mother to his heir, an incubator, nothing more.
Her throat closed up and tears stung her eyes. She had no rights to Aldric’s romantic life. He had sworn to protect her, and give her an easy, well cared-for life, but he’d never made any promise of fidelity. Love was never a part of their deal.
Then why do I feel like crying?
Endora hugged herself, covering the painful goosebumps under her palms. It was so darn cold in that room, and she wasn’t sure if that was only because of the lack of heating crystals. That desolate, dark space said more about the man she’d mated than any words ever could.
A shuffling noise, just within her hearing, made her turn.
“I thought you were gone.” She stared at the tall, masculine silhouette standing in the doorway to one of the back rooms. In the dim light, she could see the outline of a desk and a large bookcase but nothing else. Her heart lurched nevertheless, full of a need for him that she was losing control over—if she’d ever had any.
“My work has taken a toll over the last few days.”
Aldric stepped closer, then reached for a glowing orb lying on a long dresser and the room lit up with a soft, orange glow. As light pushed the shadows away, the room was transformed. It was still bare and starkly impersonal, but no longer threatening. The walls were a dark purple, and the furniture was of fine black leather. It was an efficient room, but not an uncomfor
table one. Except for that cold.
“It’s cold here,” Endora said, searching for the words she had prepared but not finding them.
“I’m sorry for that.” Aldric winced as he glanced at the pile of heating crystals. “I can call for more heat if you like.”
“No need.”
She moved toward the door. Whatever she’d thought she could accomplish by coming here, she’d made a mistake. Aldric moved fast, faster than any human could, and just like that, he was in front of her. His hand closed around her elbow and he stepped closer.
“Do not leave.” His voice was soft and low. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the corners of his mouth were pulled down with lines of worry that weren’t present a few weeks ago, when she’d first met him. He looked around the room, then back at her. His brows drew together in a slight frown. “Did you slip outside without a guard again?”
“I had Raeg call an escort for me.” Endora smirked, unashamed.
“You did good.” Aldric nodded and the lines around his eyes grew, underlining his fatigue. “I don’t want you wandering around the castle without protection.”
“About that…” Endora braced herself, preparing for Aldric’s objections. “We need to find a new governess. I dismissed Hael.”
Aldric blinked a few times, clearly taken aback by the turn of the conversation. “Mistress Hael came highly recommended. She has been Shari’s governess since the child was born.”
Endora stared at Aldric, horrified that the cold, uncaring woman had had charge of Shari for so long. “She’s not suited to caring for young children,” she insisted, not willing to drop the matter. “She’s harsh and unloving.”
“Highborn children need more than coddling and games.” Aldric’s frown deepened. “The children have much to learn. Mistress Hael has a vast knowledge of Delradon culture, literature, as well as history.” He inhaled, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but until I can find a suitable replacement, Mistress Hael will be teaching the children.”
Endora pursed her lips. How could he think she didn’t value the girls’ education? Still, she could see from the line of his jaw that he wasn’t going to be moved. Well, she wasn’t, either.
“Fine. Hael teaches the children, but nothing more.” Endora crossed her arms. “I don’t want her caring for them, and I don’t want her to have any authority over Shari, except during the lessons. I’ll be responsible for her from now on.”
Aldric watched Endora for a while, then nodded once. “You are Shari’s mother, as far as the law is concerned. She is under your care. Whatever you see fit. Mistress Hael will provide education and nothing more if that is your wish.”
Relief washed over Endora, and she felt the tension leach from her body. “Thank you.”
“It is I who should thank you.” Aldric reached out to touch her arm. “You are a fierce and protective mother. Tallie and Shari are lucky to have you.”
Endora nodded. This was what she had come here to do, yet she still felt like she was carrying a stone under her ribs. “You didn’t come back… after last time.” She looked down, her courage fading fast, but she knew she had to say this. “I need to apologize to you for what I said, about not treating the humans at the Delradon hospital.”
“You were rightfully angry.” Aldric lifted her chin and she was sucked into the depths of his silver eyes. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am that your grandfather died, and how sorry I am that Tallie had to suffer for so long.”
“You didn’t know.” That was all that mattered in the end. Aldric hadn’t known and, more importantly, he hadn’t been at the source of the human suffering. Greed had been the culprit, pushing the Delradon doctors to keep the money Aldric sent them instead of using it to cure desperate people. “Tallie is safe, and here, thanks to you. That’s all that matters now.”
“No, it’s not.” Aldric’s voice became low and husky. His hand slid to her back, and she was pulled in to him. His warmth radiated through his clothes, warming her much better than the heating crystals ever could. “You matter.”
Endora’s heart beat faster. She closed her eyes. Those words, how she’d longed for them, yet she knew they were a mirage, they were just what her imagination wanted to hear.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to say that.” The words left shards of glass on her tongue. “You don’t have to pretend. You have done more than you had to for me, for my daughter. I’m in your debt. It’s none of my business who you spend your time with. You can have lovers. I won’t interfere.”
She pulled away and Aldric’s hands let go of her. This simple fact sent a shock-wave of hurt down the fabric of her soul. She had been right, then.
“A lover?” His eyes lost their former passion and his entire body grew stiff, his face a mask of hard, cold lines. “Why would you think that I am unfaithful to you?”
“This room,” she said, glancing quickly around. “You’re not here often, are you? Only a man who has another place to go would have a place like this.”
Aldric swallowed and looked around. His face was shadowed with something akin to grief. “I guess not.” He turned his back to her and took a step toward the middle of the room. “But I can guarantee you, Endora, that I do not have a lover. Once a Draekon finds his Draekarra, no other woman holds interest for him.”
Endora bit her lip. Her blood was rushing through her veins, drowning out the sounds of the eternal whispers of the castle. Her brain refused to process the words. She watched his straight, stiff back, his shoulders straining under some unseen burden. She tried to swallow but her mouth was dry and her throat was closed.
She took the first step without realizing it.
Soon, so soon, she was standing right behind him, in this cold room where he was like a dark sun. She gravitated toward him, pulled in by the scorching heat radiating from his body. Her hand closed on his arm and Aldric turned his head sideways. She stared at the angular, hard lines of his profile. So much strength. So much pain.
No man had ever stirred feelings quite like this inside her.
“You don’t have a lover, then?”
Aldric turned, facing her straight on. His arms encircled her waist, flattening her against his chest. “As soon as you walked into my life, there was no other woman for me.”
Endora opened her mouth to answer but she was cut short by Aldric’s kiss. His mouth covered hers as his hands pulled her against him, and she was surrounded by his heat. He held her close with a passion that spoke of hidden need and desperation, his mouth taking possession of her feverishly, his lips massaging hers, crushing her in a delicious surrender.
She moaned under him and it made him wilder. His tongue pushed between her teeth to invade her mouth and, as the kiss deepened, became a claim of its own to all of her.
Finally, out of breath, she broke away. “Aldric! You’re burning.” She trailed her hand up to cup his cheek.
“Rhyl is giving me back his life-force and making up for all the energy I lost. It makes me run hot.”
He was staring at her mouth as if he couldn’t wait to take possession of it again. The mere thought spread a warm need between her legs as her body answered his desire. Her brain was fogged over by her passion for him, and she craved his touch. Not wanting to lose time talking, she nodded her understanding and her hand slid into his hair. Aldric lowered his head and she closed her eyes.
“I can’t get enough of you,” she whispered against his lips.
Aldric’s mouth brushed hers, his breath so hot it made her shiver with a deep, pulsing want. Her mind whirled and lost its bearing.
What had she been about to say?
I love you.
That’s what she had been about to tell him. And it would have been true.
“You are my life, Endora Papineau. Never doubt it.”
His hot, hard lips closed on hers, claiming her in ways words couldn’t.
Time was suspended between them. It felt so right, so good.
There was a kn
ock at the door.
“Yes.” Aldric’s tone left no mystery as to his irritation.
Walfrey pushed open the door, his eyes cast down in an almost comical expression of total embarrassment.
“This had better be worth it.” Aldric’s thumb rubbed Endora’s lower back, spreading tiny flashes of arousal over her flesh. “I’m preparing to show the Lady Endora the rest of my private apartments.”
“Yes, Lord Aldric.” Walfrey’s downcast eyes grew wider. “I am so sorry to interrupt, but we do have a situation that requires your immediate attention.”
“Has there been another attack?” Aldric’s voice was immediately alert and sober, without any trace of the passion from before.
“No, my Lord.” Walfrey glanced at Endora, and something in his eyes made a long shiver travel across her spine. “There is a man, a human man. He is asking for the Lady Endora.”
“Send him away.” Aldric straightened, and his arms left her. “Whatever the Lady Endora owed him in her past life, pay him. She is free of it now that she is my Draekarra.”
“Lord,” Walfrey trembled under Aldric’s cold stare, but he kept going, “that man says he is Lady Endora’s husband.”
Chapter 16
She stood two paces behind Aldric, watching his profile as he glared at the human man in front of him. Aldric’s face was as expressionless as marble but Endora saw the fine lines of tension running tight along his skin, from his jaw to the base of his neck, where his jugular pulsed in a steady, fast pace.
In front of Aldric stood a human man of unremarkable height, his slim body clad in a brown leather coat, his thick, dark blond hair slick from melted snow.
Wilmer.
After more than a decade, Tallie’s father was back.
Words flowed between the men, strained and meaningless. It didn’t matter what they said. She already knew everything there was to say about her failed relationship with the man who’d left her behind with her unborn child to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. The man who wouldn’t acknowledge her letters, not even when she pleaded for the life of the daughter he’d never met.