Chapter 19
The early-morning sky peeks through the sheer curtains fluttering in the cool breeze. Faint voices of tired guests linger in the palace.
It takes me a moment to realize I’m not alone.
Soft dark fur lies across my chest. A wet nose tucks against my ear, with two black paws on my shoulders, and a tail wraps around my arm.
Little puffs of breath tickle my neck as Farren sleeps serenely.
A sob breaks out of me as I pull his body tighter to mine.
Contented vibrations reverberate through my chest and into my bones as he begins to make a purr-like noise of contentment.
“My love!” I whisper, scratching his ears.
His eyes blink open and he licks the tip of my nose.
“Oh, Farren.”
He purrs louder, but if he is here, that means…frantically, I look over at Leon sleeping next to me. He is shirtless in only a pair of low sleeping pants revealing a dark trail leading down, but my eyes go to the dried blood and angry scratches all over his arms.
“Did you do that?” I hiss at Farren, the sweetness of our reunion somewhat tainted at the red marks on Leon’s skin. “Did Leon save you?”
Farren continues to lick my nose before he’s had enough of my questions. He stretches and hops off me to find a new place to sleep at my feet.
“Good morning.” Leon smiles up at me, his hair tousled. His hands find their way to the tops of my bare thighs, rubbing gently up and down them. “Are you all right?”
“Leon. What? Me? Are you? Farren! The fire! You just left!”
Leon wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me onto his lap, straddling him.
I launch myself down onto him, our chests pressing together as our lips reunite.
My hands are on his jaw, his beard shadow rough on my palms. I pour out my utter appreciation that he would run out of the safety of the palace for my beloved fox.
Overwhelmed at his bravery, my tears falling on his cheek, and he pulls back.
“Hey, shh. It will be all right.” He strokes my hair and presses his lips to the top of my head with sweet kisses.
“Is it all gone?” I whisper, desperate for the answer but dreading his response as I look down at him.
Sympathy fills his eyes, and I know his next words will hurt. “I am so very sorry, Strawberries. It is.”
I nod silently before a new sob takes hold of me and I crumple on his chest. His arms are tight around me, rubbing my back over the soft fabric of my sleep dress.
“The forge still stands, though. Most of the building was made from stone, fire burning as bright as ever. Whatever magic kindles the flame has not gone out.” He kisses my head again.
I don’t move, so he lifts my head in his strong hands and looks me in the eye when he says again in a low voice, “Grayden will get what’s coming to him.
I promise you that. You can hold me to it. ”
I nod and we stare at each other. Farren has come back to join us, lying on the warm side I’ve left behind.
“Your fox is a bit of an asshole,” he says into my hair.
As I sit up to straddle him, laughter pours out of me with the tears still streaming down my face. “Oh, he is.”
Farren glances up at us.
“Well, you are!” I tease my sweet pet.
With a huff he closes his eyes, unbothered by our insults.
“Where was he?” I reach out and pet the little terror, and he lifts his head to accept my attention.
Leon is quiet for a moment before answering. “Two of Grayden’s men had him.”
I jolt. “WHAT?”
“They were soaked, had two washed-out torches, so they must have started the fire. Grayden wasn’t there, unfortunately. I would have loved for him to meet the end of my sword. I think Farren attacked the guards. One was holding a very bloody wrist, cursing at him, as they were leaving the cottage.”
“They were taking him back? But why?”
Leon can only shrug. “I’m not sure but I can guess.
Grayden is a hunter. His chambers are filled with his trophies spiked to the wall.
He had them shipped from Versairen for sport.
I imagine they were bringing Farren back as a gift for Grayden, maybe trying to get a little favor from their new king.
They had him tied up with rope. Foxes have never been seen in Adreania, he would have been quite the novelty. "
I reach over and pick up Farren, holding him in my arms, cradling him against me like I did when he was just a kit. He lays his head down on my arm and purrs again.
“What happened to Grayden’s guards?”
Leon is quiet, not making eye contact with me, nervously twisting the ring around his finger. After a long moment, he sighs and looks up at me. “I killed them.”
I stop petting Farren and stare at him. “You what?”
“I know how you feel about me murdering Grayden’s men, but I couldn’t leave them in a comatose state like the last ones.
They set your home on fire and were bringing your pet to be killed for sport.
They deserved it. It brought me immense pleasure to take them from this world.
All I could think about was what would have happened if you were there.
They would have dragged you back by your hair to Grayden.
Even without the crown, he gave you an order to come to him when he became king, and you fled.
We don’t know how he knew it was your cottage.
Don’t think for a moment they would have shown you the mercy they begged me for. Death was the price they had to pay.”
I do not know what to say to any of that. “But we can’t be sure it was me they were after…”
His fingers tighten on my thigh. “They burned down your home. Even if you weren’t the target, they were willing to kill whoever lived there.
One man’s death was fast. The other was…
slower and he was persuaded to speak freely about his intent.
They had orders to kidnap you. Apparently, when you didn’t show up, he sent soldiers to…
bring you to him, and someone revealed you do not live in Adreania.
They found your empty store, nothing there to make any jewelry.
No record of Arra existed. Or her husband and children.
We both are missing and have apparently been seen flirting at every bazaar for two years.
Grayden was told you actually live in the forest.”
“Who told him?”
“That he didn’t know. He was just given orders to find you and bring you back with whatever force was necessary.” That last part he speaks slowly, anger simmering in his words.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, not nearly enough.” I look on the floor next to the bed and see his green dress shirt from last night covered in blood.
The perfect night ended in bloodshed.
"Well, it wasn’t all for you,” he teases. “I do like the little guy. I think he might just like me, too.” His hand lifts from my thigh, reaching out to pet Farren, who snaps at his fingers. “Maybe the feeling isn’t mutual yet. Perhaps a few more slices of bacon are needed.”
We both laugh together, and it is as sweet as honey.
He turns his head and meets my lips. I kiss him like I’ve never kissed him before. I want to consume him, for us to be welded together forever.
For one agonizing moment I thought I lost both him and Farren. That Leon was about to leave my life as quickly as he entered it. I love him and the feeling is overwhelming.
I need to tell him how I feel.
To show him with my words and my body and I will not hold anything back from him.