Chapter 4
From slave to king—it sounded right and just to Santiago.
He had wondered how the Lord could bring him so low and what purpose it could have.
But waking up in a palace, being tended to by a beautiful woman who happened to be a queen in need of a consort king—it made everything clearer.
Sometimes, it just took time and hindsight for the Lord’s plans to reveal themselves.
As chieftain and warlord of his own clan, he hadn’t been given a chance to fight the enemy that wiped them out.
Mother Nature did not care about spears, shields, or swords when she brought her wrath upon them.
And in their pain and grieving, slavers had descended in a surprise attack.
He assumed they had been pushed off course on their way to the City of Tents and found them to be an easy, unprepared target as they prayed over their dead.
But every dark night eventually became a sunrise with beautiful morning light. All one had to do was hold on and not lose hope or faith that one would be delivered from trials and hardship.
“If you are among the finalists, I will choose you.” She had said it with such conviction that Santiago believed her.
She was not a woman who dissembled. She wore her truths on her stunning face. Her body also told no lies. She wanted him like a woman who had found her mate.
And his body, the reason for his groan, recognized its soul’s other half.
As chieftain, he’d had many wives. None had survived the storm, nor had any of his children.
He had wondered at the cruelty, and now, he realized, there had been purpose to it.
He could never have stayed and started a new life in this land if any of his prior life still remained.
Instead, what was left of his clan had been aboard that boat, torn apart on the reef after he launched a mutiny against the captain.
Whoever lived now lived free. He believed what she’d told him, and with the knowledge that he had done all he could, Santiago let his head fall back against the pillow and closed his eyes. He needed rest if he was to win his queen.
“He was a clan chieftain and warlord?” Freen sounded impressed. “I suppose that makes sense. Many of the people from the ship have asked after him.”
Katarine wondered if they were his people. Darius did not know. He had already been on the boat before Santiago was brought on board.
“And he will compete for your hand?” Freen asked.
“I will choose him if he is among the finalists,” she said resolutely.
Katarine kept few secrets from her adviser, and she would not keep this from him.
“Are you sure, My Queen? You do not know this man or his people.”
“I am certain.”
“Then may he be favored with victory if you are so sure that he would be a noble king consort for you.”
She was surprised Freen had given his blessing so quickly.
She tilted her head to look at him. “You have no other objections?”
Freen shook his head. “The boy, Darius, said he saved him from the crew and their perversions. Any man who would risk his life to save a child has more honor than those suitors you turned away.”
“I thought you disapproved of my turning them away?”
Freen smiled softly at her. “I only hoped you would find a match before your time of peace ran out, My Queen. For your own sake and that of our people. And now, it seems, you have.”
“Has the contest been announced?”
“Yes, last eve.”
Part of Katarine wished it had not been so, but she knew it was for the best. Her people should also have a chance to participate.
Perhaps there was another she had overlooked.
Plus, this demonstrated her commitment to equality.
She was not above her people. She loved them as equals.
Any man who could complete the contest was worthy of being considered as a potential king.
“And how did they respond?”
“With vigor and enthusiasm, My Queen. Your captain of the guardsmen will participate, along with many warriors and tradesmen. It will be a fortnight to remember.”
Katarine’s heart fluttered. Her sons had asked last night if they would soon have a new father. Clearly, they had heard the news as well.
“I will give you a daughter. Many. And fine sons.” She remembered Santiago’s words.
She had two fine sons, but she would happily have more children. It was a blessing to bring life into this world, and the stronger the family, the stronger the community, and the stronger their people as a whole.
But she preferred to do so with a man she was at least partial to, and until Santiago of the Clan of Wind had come into her life, she had not met a single one who had given her even a flicker of interest. And now that she had been pressed beneath him, she could imagine taking no other man into her bed.
“I will not take you until we are wed,” he had said.
And while she knew that was the only option, part of her had decried such a decision as madness. It had taken all her royal breeding to ask to be let up from beneath him. If she were not who she was … but she was queen of Kataria, and she would be true to her nature.
Which meant she could only pray that the noblest man—he who was meant to be her husband—would win.
“My Queen?”
She looked back at Freen. “Yes?”
“You agree then?”
“Agree with what?”
“That it is appropriate to move our guest to the barracks with the others?”
“What guest?”
“Your chieftain, My Queen.”
At the word your, Katarine could not help but smile inwardly.
“No. He will stay where he is. He is still recovering. I will tend to him as long as needed.”
“My Queen …”
“Yes, Freen?”
He had been her mother’s adviser before her, and while she gave him deference, she was monarch, not he.
“If you are certain, My Queen.”
“Quite.”
“I will see to it that he is brought clothing,” Freen said as he cleared his throat. “As he seems to be lacking any.”
“Not quite yet, Freen. I have found that lack quite helpful in keeping him in bed and resting.”
Freen chuckled. “I bow to your wisdom, My Queen.” He smiled and left her chambers.
As soon as the door closed behind him, a voice came from behind her.
“And here I wondered, if you were keeping me naked on purpose to humble me or simply because you preferred me that way.”
Katarine spun around to see the door into her solarium cracked open and a very naked man standing at the opening.
And what a fine man he is.
Tall, broad, thickly muscled in the shoulders and chest. His ridged abdomen was that of a warrior.
“You heard that?”
He pushed the door open and stepped inside her chamber. Between his thick, muscular thighs, his heavy member swung free. “Every word, My Queen. Have you seen enough?”
When he said My Queen, shivers rippled up her spine. To her own shock, Katarine shook her head.
He grinned. “Come here, Katarine.”
“Why?”
“Because you want me to stay close.”
“I need to make sure you are fit to compete.”
“Why?” He put her question back to her.
“Because … I want you to win.”
“And why is that?”
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is all the answer I have.”
“You want me in your bed.”
She nodded. She wouldn’t lie to him about that.
“That’s a good enough reason for now.”
He glanced out the window as the setting sun dipped almost to the horizon. “Are you done with your duties for today?”
“Yes.”
“And your lady’s maid …”
“Will be here at any moment.”
“Send her away. I will tend to you myself.”
Katarine caught her breath. “What do you mean?”
The knock came at the door, and he stepped back into the solarium and out of sight.
“My Queen,” Lila said as she knocked a second time.
Katarine moved toward the door to her chamber. “Lila, I am fine this evening. I am in need of no assistance.”
“My Queen?” Lila sounded confused beyond the portal.
“I am tired. I am going straight to bed.”
“But your hair. Your clothes.”
“Will be fine. Enjoy your evening, Lila. I am lying down.”
“You are well, My Queen?”
“Perfect, just tired with all that has gone on.”
“Yes, My Queen. I understand.”
“Seek your own bed, Lila. You could use a good night’s rest.”
“Yes, My Queen. Good night.”
As soon as Lila said her goodbyes, Katarine threw the bolt and immediately caught her breath.
His hands were on her shoulders, covering the simple straps of her dress.
“Come, My Queen,” he whispered into her ear.
The heat from his body soaked through the silk of her day dress.
Her heart thundered as his heat warmed her skin.
“You will not—” she started.
“I already promised I will not take you until we are wed. I stand by my vow.”
Katarine didn’t know if it was his words or his husky, low voice that made her nipples peak, but she was going to be hard-pressed to hold him to his promise.
The feeling of this man’s hands on her skin was decadent. It had been years since she’d been touched like this. He carefully slid the thin straps down her arms and her dress began to fall away.
“Step out.”
Katarine was about to be as naked as he, and yet no embarrassment or shyness overtook her.
Why is this so easy and natural with him?
Katarine knew the answer.
Because it is meant to be.
She swallowed, finding her courage, and stepped out of her dress. He lifted the silk from the floor and carried it away. It took everything in Katarine to stand still and not turn her head to watch him. When he returned, it was to move her long braid from over her shoulder and bring it behind her.
With aching slowness, he unbraided her hair while she stood naked with her back to him.
“Your comb?”
“On the desk.”
This time, she turned and watched him walk. He was glorious. Like a sculpture carved by God and turned into flesh.
Every muscle was defined. Every inch of skin bronzed to perfection.
He lifted the comb from the desk, and she turned back.
“You can watch me all you want, My Queen.”
She bit her lip as she smiled. “Why is it when you say My Queen, it sounds so different from everyone else?”
“Because I mean it. You are mine.”
She shivered as his body heat once again radiated against her bare skin.
“And I care for what is mine,” he said as he picked up the first section of her hair and began to comb it gently from the end. Slowly, like the most exquisite torture, he combed through every strand of her hair until it floated around her like a cloud.
“Come,” he said quietly into her ear. “Your bed awaits.”
Katarine swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing not what was coming next. He had sworn he would not … but she did not want him to leave yet either.
It was inexplicable, how she responded to this man who should be a stranger to her. But being with him felt right, and following his lead was effortless.
“What kind of spell have you put me under?”
“No spell. You just feel it too.”
“What is happening to me?”
“To us, My Queen. It is not only you who feels this way.”
He held out his hand, and Katarine knew she had a choice. She could take it or not. But not taking his hand felt like the worst punishment she could deem for herself. It was no choice at all.
She curled her fingers around his, and he squeezed them in return.
He led her to her bed and pulled the coverlet halfway down and smoothed it.
Katarine sat and swung her legs onto the bed.
She expected him to cover her and perhaps kiss her good night, which felt somewhat like a disappointment.
But he didn’t disappoint.
Instead, he stood at her side, his emerald gaze glittering into hers.
“Permit me to worship you, My Queen.”
“What … what do you mean by that?”
His smile turned into a grin. “On my knees before you.”
Katarine still didn’t understand, but her body felt feverish with longing for his hands on her.
“Permission granted.” She did not even know what she was permitting, but she did not want him to leave and did not want to sleep in the least.
He crossed to the solarium door, and as she stared in confusion, he threw the bolt, locking them in her chamber.
Instead of fear, a tremor of anticipation shot through her as he crossed back to the bed. Now, his heavy shaft was thick and standing proud.
“Ignore that,” he said.
Katarine laughed. “How?”