CHAPTER XXII
A TASTE OF WOODLANDS
I woke the next morning just before dawn with Keane still sleeping at my side. The two of us fell into bed promptly after the Ancient departed, quickly realizing just how exhausted we were.
I had wanted to sleep in and visit Gail when her shop opened, curious to see how business was going and if she could add me to the never-ending list of clients she was bound to have.
I also wanted to ask if she had the time to create something new, something special I could wear to Keane’s coronation that was now less than a fortnight away.
Keane smiled from behind my hair last night when I asked to visit her, pulling me close to his body under the sheets and promising that he would make the request personally.
We wouldn’t have time to sleep in and stick around in Gaumond, and instead needed to head out early so that we could get back to everything waiting for us in Bardot.
Per usual, my body and limbs were thrown over Keane’s when I woke, his own hand resting gently over my arm and holding it to his chest. I casually lift that arm off his body now, careful not to wake him, and move my leg farther across his own as I push myself over him and to the edge of the bed.
I spot Stormfall sleeping high in the pine above us when I land on the ground, the Bird of Ash looking so serene with his wings tucked into himself.
The sight makes me smile as I make my way to the bathing chamber, my sights set on taking a quick bath before we depart, though not knowing if any water will be available.
Thankfully, the tub is filled to the brim, and I make a silent note to ask Keane how that magic works.
I lower my aching body into the large black granite tub, letting the hot water relax against my sore muscles.
Every part of me is tense from our ride, not to mention the area between my legs that is sensitive from last night.
I sigh and let the hot water do its work, closing my eyes to the early morning as I dip my head under and think of the days ahead.
So much is set to happen.
Keane’s coronation. Our trip to Woodlands. Our travel to Livyatan at some point. More Ancients waking from their sleep… whatever Hirovale has planned for the Old World.
So much is set to change.
My thoughts roam to the Ancient of Death and Exploration in deep consideration, thinking of our brief conversation with him last night.
It was the first time Hirovale was completely forthcoming.
He was open in his answers, thoughtful in his answers, and gave Keane and I information that better helped us understand the Leviathans and the Ancient they coveted.
I understood now why Hiro was so tense when he arrived.
He truly was nervous about his sister being awake, about the power that she would provide the Leviathans.
He aimed to warn us, to warn Keane, and while I suspected that their thoughts were more fixated on the battle to come, I was more concerned with the price that it took to wake her.
My heart has been weighing heavy with a deep anguish for the humans of Livyatan since the news last night.
I knew the Leviathans were evil, had suspected from the night in the Bulwark Plains when I met Yiannis and his small crew.
But nothing could prepare me for the resounding knowledge that they had indeed resumed their sacrifice of human lives, young and innocent human lives.
The time for rumors were over, and the knowledge of the truth was beyond devastating.
I wonder if Prince Isham will still be in Castle Bardot when we return? Do I talk to him? Asses the truth? Or do I just plunge my dagger straight into his heart?
Hah.
That would certainly have Keane rethinking his desire to have me as his Queen.
Queen...
My full body sighs in the water, the implication of the word still foreign and causing anxiety within my whole being.
What did I know of being a Queen? How could anyone possibly expect that of me? What did I expect of me?
I frown.
Perhaps it’s time to have an honest conversation with myself.
The thought of being Queen or Princess never once crossed my mind since meeting Keane, but it makes sense now.
Keane and I are going to be together for the rest of our lives, that much was made clear last night by both our words and our bodies.
And while I had never thought on the status of my title with Keane, I knew I had to start now.
Because I also knew that I wouldn’t sit around idle and let him Lord about.
I knew I didn’t want to be just his wife or the woman who bared his children.
I did want both of those things, desperately, but the very being of me was too curious to let only those simple desires consume my life.
I wanted to learn all I could about Woodlands Court and help the humans there.
I wanted to engage myself in the Old World and protect the children who were being harmed.
I wanted to be active, not sit idle and content.
Keane knew that and said so last night. He’s always known.
He also knew that he would make me his wife, his queen. And although I wasn’t sure if I would make a good queen or not, I did know that I would fight my hardest to be worthy of the title.
The biggest question, then, came down to whether or not the Lords and people of Disce would accept a human woman without title.
Keane was expected to make a strategic marriage for the Kingdom, just as Zander did when he wed the Queen.
It’s the same expectation that’s set for Troy, Desmond and Elena as well…
the royal children are meant to marry for alliance, not emotion.
Would Disce fight against us? Would the Lords of this Kingdom and Keane’s advisors demand that he take another, more suitable Lady? Would he give in to that? And if so, where would that leave us?
The thought consumes and worries me as I step out of the tub. I wrap myself in a towel and feel the heavy crease marks of a frown settle perfectly into my brows, scowling as I walk back into the room.
“What’s wrong?” Keane sits up swiftly from his large black bed, noticing my features.
I shake my head and attempt a small smile, “just lost in my own thoughts.”
Keane moves with his Discerni speed, covering the space between us before I even finish my sentence. His brown eyes peer down at me as he moves both of his hands to my waist, pulling me towards him.
“Talk to me.”
“There’s no use worrying about it now,” I give him another small smile, bringing my hands to face as I let my fingers run through his brown hair.
And there really isn’t.
I’m working myself into my own anxiety for events and discussions that may not even come to pass. What use will worrying do for me now? Why add to Keane’s stress with so much else already calling for his full attention?
Keane nods, but his eyes still hold mine in question.
“You’ll tell me when you’re ready? I don’t want there to be any lost communication between you and I.”
Dear Ancients, what did I do to deserve this man?
“I will,” I smile, tugging on his hair playfully.
Keane grins and grips my waist above the towel, leaning his head down to the crook of my neck.
“You smell good, Alexis. You smell like you.”
I laugh as he brings one of his hands up to my shoulder, pushing my wet hair behind my back and breathing me in again.
“I left the bar of soap in the chamber,” I smile at his wandering nose, “it can remain here. I’ll pick up some more when we get back to Bardot.”
Keane grins and kisses my collarbone gently, his lips tasting my scent. My body gives a slight shiver under his touch as the cool morning breeze billows in from the balcony and open sky above.
“Keane…” I run my hands through his hair and turn my head to the side, feeling his lips make their way down my neck.
“Hmm?” he murmurs.
His tongue darts out softly, pushing against his bruise as I shiver again. I pull away from his lips and hold his hair with a small tug, catching his brown eyes in curiosity.
“How was there water in the tub this morning?” I ask.
Keane chuckles at my question and stands up straight to look down at me, both of his hands now trailing up my body to the sides of my breasts.
“The tub uses summoning to fill up at dawn whenever I am present,” he says simply, grinning when both of his hands skim against the curves of my breasts.
“Yes, I figured that. But how?”
His grin grows even wider when he takes my nipples in a small pinch through the towel.
“Summoning, Alexis,” he replies easily again.
“Obviously,” I give a small gasp as the full of his hands cup me, “but how does it work? We have to call for water in Bardot and I thought Disce only dealt with the elemental earth? How is the water summoned here?”
Keane squeezes my breasts sensually, his gaze fixating on his hands on my chest.
“Keane,” I shake my head in exasperation and look down with him. His lips smirk as we both watch his fingers teasing my nipples until they’re hard peaks.
“Disce does deal with the elemental earth, Alexis,” he nods, tugging again as I shift in my stance, my body heating, “just as Pyre has fire, Livyatan water, and Aireal used to command air.”
I nod and feel some of my wet hair moving forward with the tilt of my head, landing in front of my face.
The ends are dripping just above my breasts, the damp strands catching Keane’s hands before he squeezes me fully.
He releases one of my breasts and reaches for the strands, holding the wet hair between his fingers as he continues.
“There are instances in which you will find summoners in your Kingdom that can command two of the elements. Barnes is one of them. He can command the wood of the earth and create undying fire. The Discerni woman we have at the castle is another. She magics and commands the tubs here, filling them with water when we are present.”