Chapter 9
AUREN
Ihand Vivienne my coin pouch, my fingers brushing hers. “Go inside and get us a room.” I don’t want her standing out here in the rain. “Order some food while I get Vaelen settled in the stables.”
She nods, clutching the pouch tightly as she steps into the tavern.
As I walk to the back with Vaelen, a stableboy rounds the corner and stops dead in his tracks, all the color draining from his face. “You there,” I call out. “I’d like accommodations for my wolf.”
“Stars above, he can’t stay here!” The boy blinks several times. “He’ll scare all the horses!”
“I assure you, he will not,” I reply calmly. “This isn’t just any wolf. This is a Dire wolf of Valethryn. He’s a member of the king’s guard,” I add for good measure.
As if to emphasize his very important status, Vaelen proudly puffs out his chest and tips up his chin, looking every bit as regal as the title I just gave him.
The boy gives me a dubious look. “You’re… sure he won’t try to eat the horses?”
I exchange a look with Vaelen who appears just as insulted at the insinuation as I am. “Of course not,” I reply. “He only eats venison.”
Before the stablehand can argue further, I hold out a few extra coins. “This is for your trouble and this”—I hand him another one—“is to see to it that he has fresh meat from the kitchens this evening.”
The boy quickly agrees. “He can have that stall there.”
I walk Vaelen to the stall and remove his saddle. Once I’m done, I stroke his neck and look him directly in the eye. “You should be nice and warm here for the evening.” I glance at the rather nervous looking horses in the nearby stalls. “No matter what, the horses aren’t your prey. Understand?”
He chuffs in response and shows me an image of him covered in shining armor with the royal sigil, and I laugh. “Yes, yes,” I chuckle. “You’re a member of the king’s guard and would never do something like that.”
Valen chuffs again, then lies down on the fresh hay.
“Sleep well, my friend. I’ll come for you in the morning.”
When I walk back to the inn, the moment I step through the door, heat rushes over me, along with the scent of ale, roasting meat, and damp wood. The first floor is a tavern. It’s crowded and lively, and the people here look rough.
When I’d traveled to this kingdom with my men, we’d camped in the woods along our journey. I chose an inn tonight because of Vivienne. She’s a princess, and a bit of a spoiled one at that. And I doubted she’d appreciate sleeping in a tent.
Now, I’m wondering if it would have been wiser to stick to the forest. Especially given all the attention my new bride seems to be attracting.
Vivienne stands across the room, speaking to the innkeeper. Her red hair catches the firelight, glowing like embers. The rain has dampened her tunic, the fabric clinging to her skin, molding to her curves in a way that draws the gaze of every man in the room.
My jaw tightens as a group of Dwarves turn in their seats, their bearded faces angled toward her, eyes dragging slowly over her form. A pair of human traders lean close, murmuring to one another as their attention lingers where it should not.
Something dark coils low in my chest.
She is mine.
A golden-haired male, next to the innkeeper, positions himself at the counter beside her. From his appearance, I assume he’s the innkeeper’s son. He leans in, smiling, far too close for my liking.
His face pales the moment I come up behind her and place myself between them, my gaze locking on his. A low growl builds in my throat in an unmistakable warning: Touch her, and I will end you.
He quickly backs off, and the other men in the room avert their gaze.
She is not for them to study. Not for them to want.
“Did you order our food?” I ask Vivienne, even as I level a dark glare at the male.
“Yes,” she replies.
The innkeeper’s son swallows hard. “It—it will be up shortly.”
Vivienne arches a brow, entirely unbothered. “Bring it to our rooms when it’s ready.”
He nods and practically flees to the kitchens.
I turn back to Vivienne. “You got more than one room?”
She lifts her chin, her smile sweet and entirely too smug. “I figured you wouldn’t want to sleep on the floor.”
My thoughts grind to a halt. I’d been looking forward to sharing a room with Vivienne, hoping that maybe tonight she’d let me sleep beside her. I just wanted to be near her.
But of course, she wouldn’t allow that. My fiery princess is still fighting this… fighting us.
I sigh heavily. “How generous of you, Vivienne.”
A subtle smirk curls her mouth. “I thought so too.”
My lips twitch despite my disappointment. She is very clever, and she thinks she’s won.
Little does she know, it only makes me even more determined to prove myself to her… to do whatever it takes to win her heart.