Chapter 39 - Nora
Nora
How had Nick done this alone for so long? Fuck, I was losing my mind as I sat in the king’s office, yet again. Barely more than a week without him, and twice I’d debated hiring a stand-in. Was that a thing? Could I pay someone to handle the insidiously tedious tasks I didn’t want to?
I’d ask Ricks, but I was fairly certain it would give him a heart attack, and admittedly, I needed him too much. Fortunately, I’d discovered the occasional hum and nod encouraged Ricks to chat and chat until he circled back around and sorted everything out himself.
His interest in next year's decorative perennials greatly exceeded mine, so I opted for allowing him to make the decisions. If Melody were here, she’d contribute.
My heart strained under the weight of how much I missed her.
With she and Nick gone, I had thrown myself into the work I knew would make a difference.
Truthfully, a lot had been accomplished.
I’d volunteered at the soup kitchen, personally ensured the shelters for the homeless were as equipped as they needed to be, and dropped in on a Magic Supporters meeting.
I arranged for the surrounding cities to compile supplies to ship to our new settlement, paying double the price and unabashedly praising the suppliers for their hospitality and gratitude.
Compliments from a queen do a lot for bragging rights in social circles. A small step, but a crucial one to help transition our people into becoming more accepting of magic. I temporarily tuned back in to Ricks’ ramblings, about to offer my timely agreeable nod when a man appeared in the doorway.
Not just any man. A gorgeous blond. “Nicholas!” My chest emptied itself of all air, and in the most unladylike fashion full of urgency, I flung myself from my chair.
It groaned and skidded against the floor with such force I wouldn’t be surprised if the legs splintered.
However, all decorum went out the window when it came to my husband.
Slamming my body into his, he caught me with strong arms. We didn’t have to speak to voice our love, the strength in which we held one another spoke volumes.
The unease that had impregnated itself in me since he left finally fell away, and I sighed against his firm chest. I pulled back, noticing that Mira and Dante stood behind him.
“Oh, and we have guests. How are things settling? Did everyone find shelter? Were there enough supplies?” My curiosity swarmed like a hive of bees.
Nicholas pried his gaze from me to address the counselors around the table. “I’m afraid I must borrow my wife. Please take note of all the unfinished topics today and we’ll be sure to address them tomorrow.”
I missed the feel of his hand pressed against my lower back as he guided me from the room. When my heart recovered from swooning over his return, I realized something was off. The four of us walked down the hall and he led us to the dining room.
Addressing the soldiers posted outside the door, Nicholas said, “An immediate situation calls for you downstairs. Please report to the guards at the door, and remain until you are fetched.”
They bowed and took leave.
We all funneled into the grand room, and Nick wasted no time striding across the vast space to shut the doors on the other side. The floor to ceiling doors groaned behind me, and Dante closed the others.
“What’s going on?” I asked, marching up to Nicholas. He gestured toward the table, and we all wordlessly took our seats.
“King Nicholas was attacked,” Dante said.
I whirled to look at my husband, who sat with his elbows on the table, resting his chin against his closed fist. The fact that at least one hand wasn’t presently touching some part of me spoke volumes.
“What happened?” I ground out the question through gritted teeth, my eyes raking over every inch of his body.
Nicholas sighed. “Strong opinions exist about the refugees from Argora Vale. As we feared, some are so opposed to the idea that they wanted to make a statement.” He shifted in his seat, having a hard time making eye contact.
“Nick,” I barked, forcing him to look at me. When he did, those ocean eyes met mine filled with apology. My hand found its way to his, grasping it hard. There may have been a scowl painted across my face, but a tear trailed down my cheek, fear rising over what he struggled to say.
“I’m so sorry, Nora. I made a stupid mistake. I let my guard down, and I left myself vulnerable, and they almost took me away from you.” His words broke as his eyes welled with tears.
My heart shattered, and I lunged, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him close.
“But you’re here, you’re here,” I whispered through the soft sobs that I tried to control.
His fingers pressed into my shoulder blade and my hip, our chests compressed tightly enough that it was almost hard to breathe. Still, neither of us let go.
The heartbeat I felt pounding in his chest was essentially my own. If his were to ever stop, mine would wither and die. “Tell me everything,” I encouraged while pulling back, running my hands over the back of his head with sweet abandon.
Ignoring our guests at the table, I didn’t release my hold on my husband the entire time he relayed the story.
It somehow ebbed the fear, holding him in a way that reminded me the worst hadn’t come to pass while he told me about being drugged, tied, and hidden away in some ramshackle shed.
About there being a group of unknown numbers who felt strongly enough about ostracizing magic wielders that they were willing to kill him to make a statement.
To attempt a coup based on hatred and unjustified fear.
Dante explained that he’d followed the scent of blood to discover Nick, and had identified one of the members.
After carrying Nick back to their inn, they cared for him until he woke.
He was able to heal himself after the iron chains were removed.
Nick was convinced they chained him with iron to be symbolic, since we hadn’t revealed the fact that he had magic to the public yet.
Unfortunately, Dante discovered the entire convoy Nick traveled with had been murdered, poisoned by tainted meat.
“I suspect we would have heard talks of an immediate uprising in Point Hollow had Dante not retrieved me.” Nicholas passed a glance of gratitude toward Dante.
“I know I have offered my thanks, but I cannot tell you what it means that you allowed me to see my wife again. I know our past has been…a unique one.” He shared a glance with Mira.
“And I sincerely hope you’ll allow me to repay you in some way. ”
“Don’t hesitate to ask,” I added. There was no price I wouldn’t pay for Nick’s life.
“Thank you, Your Majesties,” Mira said, her arm folded around Dante’s. I hadn’t known them for long, but Nick had filled me in on Mira’s time here previously. Fate must have had her hand in it all, because now Mira and Dante were essentially the rulers of Argora Vale, despite not having a kingdom.
Dante didn’t address our statements, he simply returned to the matter at hand. “They probably shit themselves when they discovered that shed empty. My best guess is they’re laying low until they figure out who found him.”
I maintained a deadly grip on my husband, but directed my question to Dante. “You said you discovered one of their identities. Who.” Not a question, a demand from a queen that dripped with cold resolution.
“A butcher in the town. We brought him back with us.”
I snapped my gaze to Nicholas. “He’s here?” My fingers burned. The only ointment to remedy the feeling was the touch of cold steel from my daggers.
“Dante stalked him in his beast form and dragged him out of his shop. We bound and gagged him, and I paid a local for their covered wagon. Thought it best to avoid hiring any local guardsmen, in case, you know,” Nicholas said, shrugging a shoulder.
Smart. We attempted cleaning up the army in our immediate vicinity, but who knew where loyalties remained for those guardsmen separated from the castle.
“When I got to Waterview, I instructed a dozen guards to take him to the cells,” Nick said.
I probably burned as hot as the fire in the hearth across from us. “He’s within castle walls.” My words came out near sizzling. I made to leave, but Nicholas tugged me back, pinning me in place.
“I already have some highly trained people who are skilled in getting answers interrogating him. If we can even get one name, we’ll make strides in ascertaining the spear heads of this campaign.”
“It’s not a campaign, it’s a gods damned terrorist group,” I seethed.
“They don’t know I’m alive, or that I’ve made it back here. We left under the cover of night, immediately after snatching the butcher. They’ll be confused and scrambling. Since they murdered my convoy, there will be no reports of royalty traveling back. We have all the advantage right now.”
“What next?” I did my best to even my tone, though I remained volcanic, ready to erupt. There was a gleam in his eye, one that told me he’d formed a plan.
“I want to keep my presence quiet. I’ve already instructed those who’ve seen me return to remain stationed on prison duty for the next twelve hours. They won’t have the chance to alert anyone else until then. But whether he breaks and gives us any viable information or not, I think it’s time.”
His eyes sparkled with question, searching for my approval. Firmly, I held his gaze. “It’s always been your decision. I support you.”
A gagging sound stole my attention, and I turned to see Mira with her hand over her mouth.
“I’m so sorry. It’s not you.” Another gag, this time deeper. Dante reached for one of the bowls decorating the table and dumped out the potpourri and flower arrangement before placing it in front of her. She hurled.
“I’ll have the cooks bring something.” Nick pressed a kiss to my cheek before setting me on my chair, then he got up and exited the room.