Page 80 of The Rat King
I grimaced at the memory. It was true. The thought of her seeing me in that form had made my skin crawl and my pride gutter. “You’re right. Before, when I made you watch me transform, I had been resentful of you and my brother. I wanted you, and I was angry that I couldn’t have you, so I was an asshole. But that day, for some reason I was just so eager to share something with you, and I didn’t want you to see me as a monster.”
“I’m yours now. What are you going to do about it?” she asked.
I chuckled and leaned down to scoop her into my arms. When I sat back down on the bench her legs were straddling me to wear her knees were on either side of my hips, and I leaned back against the cool stone. She rested her head on my chest, and I put my arms around her.
Just feeling her peaceful breathing against me was more than I deserved.
“I’ve missed you,” she said.
I kissed the top of her head and smoothed out her loose curls. “I’ve missed you, too, Avery.”
“It’s not over, is it?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably, like she had more to say.
“It is,” I said, squeezing her tighter.
“What about Samara? You’ll continue to visit her weekly for the rest of her life?”
Sighing, I rubbed soothing strokes up and down her back. “She lost, and she knows it. I will visit her weekly until I can figure out another solution.” She wiggled in my lap, and I could tell something had her unsettled.
I tilted her chin up to me so I could see her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I just feel like she’s this looming threat that’s out there. From what you said, she’s unpredictable, and I have a feeling she will not let this be.” Worry lines creased her forehead, and I wanted to take away the stress the thought of my mother caused her.
“You have a feeling?” I asked her.
Fishing around in her pocket, she held up a folded piece of stationary I recognized immediately as the familiar dread at any mention of my mother stabbed through me.
“Well, a feeling and this showed up on your vanity a few days ago. I read it,” she said, as she handed it to me, and I felt my brows narrow. As a flash of fear darted through her eyes, I unclenched my jaw, took the paper and flipped it open, holding it out to the side to read the contents which I did without a word.
“Nigh,” she said, a nervous edge to her sweet voice. “Are you upset I read it?”
“No, I’m upset that her meddling has upset you.”
“I don’t think she’s going to let us live out our lives in peace and this is just the first of it. I’ve been wracking my brain for some way to get out of it. I’ve got nothing aside from cancelling the entire thing.” Her shoulders slumped as she spoke and my hands went to their sides to sooth her.
“We’re not cancelling. This celebration is important to me and my kingdom. I’m introducing the woman who loves me enough to break a curse to my people. This is symbolic, and they need to see you in a new light,” I said, knowing we both were fully aware of what I was referring to without needing to mention it. “We will stand together to close a messy chapter in our history, and I’m not letting that woman stop me,” I said with finality.
“But, shouldn’t we respond?” she asked, before worrying her lower lip between her teeth.
I held the paper to the side away from us, and with a thought it burst into blue flames in my palm. Avery, still in my lap, jumped which positioned her hands on my chest and her body angling nearer to mine which I took advantage of by pulling her closer. I grinned and she said, “I take that as a no.”
“That’s right. She does not get our time or our worry. And if she tries something, we’ll be ready. I’ll have the Council of Warlocks ward Ravsted. We’ll be safe.”
She gave me an unsteady smile. I decided the best course of action was to change the subject and put that minor disturbance behind us. “You and Jetta seem to be getting along better,” I said, and she huffed as I placed a gentle kiss on her jaw.
“I was ready to smack you for bringing a gorgeous woman at first, but you’re right. I do like her.” She gave me a bashful grin. I stole the two inches between our mouths and kissed it off her lips.
“I’m sorry I had to leave so suddenly,” I said. “I have to go again before dinner, but I needed to see you.”
“Will you always be gone so much?” she asked, and my heart pinched.
“No. I have another of Xavier’s messes to sort out this afternoon. My brother actually deeded the same plot of land to two different landowners if you can believe it. At some point, they must end.” I leaned in and nibbled up her delicate neck causing a little shiver, but she continued her questioning determined.
“After the reception, will you take me with you?” she asked. That question I’d been waiting for. Dreading.
If I took her, she would see the sometimes-heavy hand that was required to rule this magic-filled land. But she knew who she married, and she hadn’t backed down from it. I should give her more credit. She was, after all, straddling me unabashedly in the garden where anyone could walk up on us.
I moved back so I could look at her and there was no mistaking the lazy, lust filled expression in her eyes. I needed to hurry up and give her this, so I could add the rose garden to the list of places I’d taken my wife. “There will be times when you are needed here, but yes, I will take you when I can,” I said.
