stingy with answers.
“As soon as we know what we’re
facing,” was the quick reply. And then
Varian was stopping before the
castle’s entrance and lifting her from
the stallion. He swung down beside
her and took her arm. “Come. I’ll take
you to your chambers.”
Isolde forced her feet to move
forward as she stole sideways glances
at Varian. He was hiding something
from her. As soon as she entered the
castle, she noticed that a few of the
servants were still up and about and
murmurs of ‘princess’ went up among
them. She heard a few whispers
concerning her hair but refused to let
them bother her. It would grow back.
Before her door, Varian paused and
looked down at her. He surveyed the
hallway briefly. “There are warriors
surrounding the castle and guards
making rounds on each floor. Two
guards will be placed outside of your
door. You have nothing to fear. No
one will take you from m—from
here.”
She nodded quickly and touched his
arm when he turned to move away.
“Will you ride out soon?” she asked
softly.
Varian’s
eyes
narrowed.
“Whenever Vulcan is ready.”
She blushed and leaned into him,
pushing up a few inches. “Come to
me before you take your bed.”
Without allowing a response, she
slipped into her chambers and closed
the door silently behind her.
***
Varian was left staring at the brown
oak, his eyes gradually darkening. Did
a princess—no, did Isolde just
proposition him? He shook his head
and headed for the staircase. He
needed to discuss important matters
with Vulcan before he gave his body
the much-needed rest it deserved.
Even as he told himself that Isolde
was shaken, that she was an innocent
who didn’t understand the meaning of
inviting a man to her bed chambers so
late in the night, he was already
making a mental note to himself to be
there after his talk with his brother.
***
He wasn’t coming.
Isolde snuggled further into the thin
sheet that covered her body. She was
tired but had refused her body rest in
order to have a few moments alone
with Varian. At least two hours had to
have passed since she told him to
meet her, and there was still no sign of
him.
What did you expect?
The insecure
part of her roared her ugly head. Ever
since that redheaded hybrid had cut
her hair, she’d felt ugly. Not that
she’d ever prided herself on being a
beauty, that was Mathilda’s title, but
at least she had her hair, the long red
tresses she’d inherited from her
mother. Now, she didn’t even have
that. It was no wonder Varian now
looked at her differently.
He still finds you beautiful,
the
confident part of her rebutted. Isolde
nodded and looked toward her door.
Really? So why is he not here? He
does not want you anymore, replied
the ugly voice and Isolde shook her
head to clear it.
She closed her eyes, dismissed all
thoughts, and relaxed against the soft
bedding.
She was home and that was all that
mattered.
***
Varian did not say a word as he
approached the two warriors who
stood guard before Isolde’s door.
They nodded and stepped aside. He
entered the room, which was sparsely
lit by the dying fire at the hearth.
Closing the door behind him, he
crossed over to the bed and looked
down at her. She was sleeping, safe
under his protection once more.
Moving over to the fireplace, he
grabbed a few blocks of wood and
threw them onto the fire. The fire
blazed higher and Varian turned away
from the heat, staring back to the bed
where Isolde lay. She hadn’t stirred,
but he thought a soft sigh escaped her
lips. He walked over and looked down
at her. Her long eyelashes fanned her
silken cheek, and although her lips
were relaxed, she looked like she’d
fallen asleep with something or
someone on her mind.
Leaning down, he lightly traced her
lower lip with his finger, drawing his
hand back slightly as she shifted
against him.
The range of emotions that had gone
through him when he’d found out she
was missing had been unlike anything
he’d felt before. He’d wanted to take
her across his knee for disobeying him
and leaving the castle without guards,
but he’d wanted the men who’d taken
her more, those who had dared to lay
hands on her. He felt hot rage pulse
through his body and took a few
minutes to savor it before he viciously
pushed it away and latched onto his
control. Having his uncanny knack to
so efficiently control his emotions was
what made Varian a formidable ally
and a relentless enemy. He allowed
his breathing to even, his face to relax.
“Varian.” It was a whisper, a soft
call to him. He felt the control of his
emotions slip as he focused on her
face. She was still asleep. Was she
dreaming of him? He remained where
he was, still, listening for any other
sounds that would leave her lips.
“No—not my hair—stop—
stop
!”
she suddenly murmured in protest,
tossing her head against the soft
pillows. His hand touched her cheek,
caressing back and forth, even as he
felt like snapping the necks of those
who’d cut her hair. Tomorrow, after
she was rested, he would find out
who’d dared to do this to her.
Her eyes opened briefly, and for the
briefest of moments, she stared up at
him.
“Stay,” she said sleepily, blinking up
at him. “Don’t leave. Stay.”
Varian considered that request.
Could he stay in the same room with
Isolde and not take her? He doubted
it. He was preparing to say something
to excuse himself when her hand
suddenly grasped his, as it rested on
her cheek.
“I feel safer when you’re with me.”
Releasing a sigh, he nodded and
straightened himself, gently detangling
her small hand from his. He removed
his boots and gave her his back as he
pulled the tunic from his body. Varian
usually slept in the nude but he had
never had such a bed companion
before. If he removed anything else,
there would be no sleeping in that
bed, and Isolde would hate him in the
morning. As he considered that, he
heard a soft shifting of the bed, and
turned to face her.
Isolde had moved to the other side,
and was smiling at him. Varian had
seen her smile numerous times, but
never at him. Sliding under the covers,
he placed both arms under his head
and stared up at the ceiling. The bed
shifted as Isolde moved closer to him,
placing her head onto his shoulder,
and her spooning into his side. Varian,
as tense as ever, and growing hard in
the very place that ached from the
first moment he’d lain eyes on her,
considered leaving for his chambers.
He heard her breathing even and
noticed that her face was relaxed, a
small smile lingered against the rose
red of her lips.
With a sigh, he stretched out his arm
and pulled her closer to him. Her
breasts brushed against him and he
stifled the urge to groan. Closing his
eyes, Varian prayed for sleep,
knowing it would not come for a long
while.
***
Sulan
Jarel Shadid, Prince of Sulan and
heir to the Sulanese throne, stared at
the woman before him with something
akin to awe. He had seen many
beautiful
women,
of
different
backgrounds
and
from
different
kingdoms, but none struck him as she
did. She’d said nothing and was not
dressed befitting her station, but
anyone who looked at Jaisyn of
Lytheria, knew she was a royalty. He
was glad he had ridden out to meet
her, against Dax’s wishes, but he and
his father had agreed it was only
appropriate that he should accompany
the Lytherian queen into Sulan. Jarel
did not understand why she was so
undressed, but Dax had explained
she’d been disguised in order to leave
Morden. Satisfied with that answer,
he’d commanded his brother to
introduce him to the queen.
She was been sitting on a log, her
elbows on her knees, as she stared
into the fire. It cast an illusion with her
eyes, making them burn before his
gaze. Against his own wishes, Dax
introduced them. Jaisyn barely spared
him a glance before she’d gone back
to staring at the flames. Dax excused
her behavior, saying she was tired, but
Jarel sensed something more was
wrong. Jaisyn of Lytheria did not fit
the profile of a woman happy to be
away from a brutal husband. She did
not seem sad, either. Cold, but not
sad.
Jarel took a seat beside her and
dismissed Dax. His brother seemed
intent on staying until Jarel raised his
voice and gave the command a second
time. Jarel had long distrusted Dax.
For all purposes, he did not consider
him a brother. Azarius’s guilt kept him
from
seeing
what
Jarel
easy
deciphered: that Dax was evil, with no
conscience. Azarius had pledged to
support Kegan after hearing of the
wrongdoings of the Northern king. If
Jarel were to find out anything to
discredit the story Kegan and Dax had
given them, the Sulanese would not
fight.
“It is a good night, is it not?” As
Jarel spoke, the queen tilted her head
slightly, startling him with the intensity
of her gaze as it swung to him.
“The nights have been nothing but
good thus far,” was the cool reply.
Jarel nodded and said immediately,
“Do not worry, Jaisyn of Lytheria.
The Sulanese will fight for your
cause.”
Her eyebrows crinkled and then, as
if she found that highly amusing, she
chortled. “My cause? The Sulanese
fight for no cause of mine.”
Before he could ask what she
meant, Dax returned with a platter of
fruits, which he offered to the queen.
Their eyes met and something silent
was conveyed.
Jarel asked Jaisyn a few more
questions,
and
after
receiving
noncommittal
responses,
moved
away. Something was not right. As he
made his way into his tent, he vowed
he would find out what it was.
***
Jaisyn had not seen her husband for
more than a fortnight, but he’d been
with her in her dreams. Her eyes
would close and she would see
Vulcan towering over her, his eyes full
of desire for her and a wicked grin on
his beautiful lips, as he became willing
teacher and she eager student in his
arms. It was for those reasons she
welcomed sleep each night. She’d
tried to escape from Dax’s clutches
twice already, but after the second
time, he’d promised not to hurt just
her, but the baby she carried. She had
not told him but with her constant
sickness, it was only time before he
figured it out. For the sake of her
child, she’d given up trying to escape.
As soon as she entered Sulan, for she
now knew that was their destination,
she would make her escape and travel
west to Mitherie. Tarbin would keep
her safe from the Sulanese until her
husband arrived.
Sleep was slowly overtaking her,
and she felt herself drift into that land
where Vulcan waited, when a soft