CHAPTER XIV #6
Keane’s hands move swiftly to my wrists, pulling them off him and to the side of my body as the ground below us rumbles with a new force.
“Oh I understand, Alexis,” his brown eyes are burning into mine, taking a strong step forward so that he’s looming over me. “I understand that your desire is one born to preserve the man that you love.”
“Yes,” I admit without shame.
“But I also understand that you’re selfish,” he shakes his head, hands moving my wrists behind my back, “and give no thought as to the man I will become without you.”
“I am selfish,” my voice is heavy. “I will forgo my own life so that yours can be saved, so that the being of who you are will remain the same. The day will come when you have to live without me, Keane. We both know it. But I will rest peacefully knowing that you lived the rest of your years as the man I know. As the man that I am in love with.”
“That man will destroy anyone who attempts to take you,” he vows, lips dipping towards mine in anger.
“I know it.”
“He will slaughter scores of men for lifting a single finger in help,” his hands release my wrists, palms moving roughly up the backs of my arms.
“I know that too,” I grip his waist hard.
“And he would burn Woodlands to the ground to find you,” he breathes heavily. “Livyatan too.”
My heart is pounding in my chest, lips brushing against his as I whisper forcefully, “I would expect nothing less.”
“You are pure trouble, Alexis,” he scowls, voice holding no affection behind it, just saying the words as the truth.
“You’re frustrating,” his hands move aggressively up my shoulders to find the back of my head.
“You’re shocking,” his fingers grip my hair hard, pulling my head back swiftly so that I’m tilted up to him.
“But most of all, you’re the woman I love. The woman I respect...”
His eyes hold mine in conflicted anger. “Only you would make me revere you even more after hearing you talk of ending your life.”
My fingers dig hard into his waist just as he tugs rougher against my hair.
“I hear you, Alexis, and I understand your words… but I will never let that happen.”
Fuck, his eyes are burning.
“You will never be taken from me. Ever. This scenario of yours will never take place. Release the thought from your mind, now and forever.”
“I’m not suicidal, Keane,” I whisper, “this is just me thinking of a last resort. Of a choice I could make should the worst happen. Trust me when I say that if I ever was taken-”
“-It won’t happen.”
“I know,” I run my hands up his back. “I know, Keane. But if it did, I need you to know that I will fight. I will wait for you as long as possible because I know that you will fight, too. But if you ever lose the upper hand, if things become desperate enough to make you even consider bending a knee, then I will take that choice from you.”
“Ancients, Alexis,” he groans, lips falling swiftly on mine.
His hands in my hair pull me violently towards those lips, tongue darting into my mouth in a new and raw possession.
I kiss him back with every ounce of my own fire, tongue reaching for the man that I know will never change, not for me.
Because not all love is selfless or unconditional.
I fell in love with the Warrior Prince who is sure in his being, who is strong and unwavering, who will protect what he knows is right.
And I will continue to love that man, as he is.
We promised our best to each other under the Shadow Oak, and anything less would be an insult to that vow.
Keane will never lose himself for me, and our burning embrace is a promise and understanding of that to each other.
Holis and Canon were apprised of everything. Everything.
They were already aware of our previous travel to Red Falls and what came from it, as Holis was at my side when it took place and Keane explained to his First Guard the moment he took him on in Bardot.
They were reminded of the prophecy again, of Hirovale’s words and our upcoming travel to Livyatan to find Rivian’s addition.
Both of their glances fell on me during that portion of the conversation, no doubt reminding themselves of the summoning that I was already starting to use as a response to that prophecy.
The King also spoke to them over dinner on Woodlands, of the new faction that was discovered through Alyson and Esme and how it correlated to everything that has happened in the past seven days.
Elena listened in quietly when Keane spoke of the Argents, only adding a single shake of her head when her brother inquired if she had heard of them.
The men were also told of the reasoning behind the King’s decree and of his personal changes that were coming Disce, truly keeping no secrets from our First Guards.
They were to know every single detail of our lives down from our sleeping habits to each enemy that was made along the way.
They were to be provided their own residences in the same hall as Keane and Desmond’s when we arrived in Gaumond, always remaining a single door away from us both, never far.
We drank well into the night, embracing the new foursome that would come between us all.
Holis was to take his oath formally the moment we got back to the capitol, and then we’d celebrate both him and Canon in the proper tradition as those from the Court of Warriors do.
It was something to look forward to, to get back to, and I couldn’t wait to join the men as we embraced the new court as our own.
Things between Keane and I thawed drastically once he heard me out.
There was a deep understanding now between the two of us as we made our way back to the room.
His hand was holding mine fiercely, pulling me through the door with a playful tug so we could find ourselves again before the night ended.
The Ancient is here, Stormfall flies off my shoulder to the balcony doors. He’s meeting with Sianoa now. He’s requested my presence.
I follow him and peer out of the sheer grey curtains, eyeing the large steps and pillars of the temple with a sigh. One more conversation to go.
“Storm says Hiro is with his sister now,” I tell Keane, unlocking the balcony doors.
He wants me to tell you that Nolan is nearly awake.
Okay, Storm, I give him a small smile. Tap on the door when you’re back. Or just meet us at the stables at dawn.
Goodnight, Alexis, he takes off into the dark night.
Goodnight, I reply to his retreating back.
“Hirovale told Storm that the Ancient Nolan will be awake soon,” I close the door and turn back to Keane.
“Good,” he replies with a nod, standing at the foot of the bed as he works on his boots. I eye him quietly, watching the back of his tall and broad figure reflecting off the large mirror behind him. My smirk is wide as I walk towards him, stopping at the corner of the bed.
“I’d like one of these in your room in Gaumond,” I point mischievously to the glass. Keane’s eyes turn playful, extending his arms to me with a grin. “Our room, Alexis.”
I bite my lip before falling into his embrace, letting him hold me to his front as he turns us around to the mirror. We both watch his hands move slowly to my hips.
“Our room,” I nod quietly, sinking back into his chest with a heavy sigh. “Gaumond has been in my thoughts a lot recently…”
“We’re nearly there,” Keane leans his head on my shoulder.
I let his full presence consume me, missing it too much for the full day.
I swear I smell the smokey air of Gaumond on his clothes, the scent forever engrained in his skin.
I close my eyes as his lips fall gently on my jaw, kissing me in a soft embrace before they move more forcefully to my neck.
I take a deep inhale of the pine and sharp spice of him, one that almost always reminds me of a hint of whiskey.
“I miss Marybeth’s Tavern,” I open my eyes with a sigh. Keane’s strong hands move up my body, his lips smiling against my neck.
“I miss the castle and all of the endless halls and staircases. I miss every single rise that’s littered with purposeful and smiling faces. I miss the pepper in the air…”
Keane groans softly, hands moving to cover my breasts as he gives them a soft squeeze.
“I miss the smell of burning wood at every corner and the pine of the thick forests surrounding the city. I miss your court and the debauchery of the night. It’s too still here. Too proper.”
“It is,” his teeth skate over my neck.
“But most of all, I miss our Shadow Oak…”
Keane’s eyes flick to mine in the mirror as I give him a small smile.
“Don’t hate me if I choose to spend a few nights there the moment we arrive. I’ll camp out under its limbs and the moons with Millie and a good book. I’ve wanted to do nothing more since we left.”
The ground below our feet begins to shake as Keane pulls me hard into his chest.
“Ancients, Alexis,” he looks at me in longing and desire, “I need to get you home.”
“Yes,” I reach for his hands on my chest and grip them tightly, “but you are also my home.”
The normal traveling crew is all standing at the stables at dawn. Keane and Canon are with us as well, with the King leading us into a completely different side path from the one that took me to Arens.
Both Holis and Alanna find a small clearing in the woods and set up targets for their archery practice.
Keane quietly approaches Mana and his kedge, drawing his own staff from the earth as he gives our Discerni friend a challenging grin.
Canon decides to go through his own basic training, though the King promises the guard that he’s next.
Cal, Stormfall and I find a nice nook not too far off from the rest of the group while Golem stands somewhere in the shadows, watching over us all.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it Alex?” Cal grins at me, brown eyes twinkling as he pulls his hair back in a knot.
“Too long of a while,” I nod with my own smile, “but we’ll have the next few mornings to get back to normal. I’ll have the next few mornings.”