TheRedKing (26 page)

“Somehow I doubt you’ll ever be out of my mind,” he said in
a husky whisper. He caressed her cheek, his gaze on hers. “I have to go.”

She nodded and touched his face. “Goodbye, Hypatios.”

“Until next time, Mira.”

He turned and left the cottage. She didn’t follow him,
though he waited a moment after mounting Notus, hoping she would grace him with
one final glance. Finally he waved to Joshua and Edith, then headed out of the
forest.

* * * * *

Before heading to his father’s palace, Hypatios rode to the
border where the battle had taken place. Some Zaltanian troops still remained
there, as did troops from Lortia. The fighting had long ago ceased, but both
armies would maintain watchful presence throughout the winter.

Notus brought Hypatios to the area where Beauty was
hibernating. He called for her and listened for the soft echo of her voice. The
Zaltanian soldiers camping nearby didn’t approach him, but cast wary glances in
his direction.

Finally Beauty emerged from her underground tunnel, sluggish
and nearly frozen. Hypatios picked her up and placed her around his neck,
beneath his clothes, close to his skin to keep her warm. Her tongue tickled him
in greeting.

I’ve missed you.

“And I you,” Hypatios replied softly. “Thank you for
fighting beside me against the Lortian king.”

I will always fight beside you.

“You mustn’t endanger yourself like that again, Beauty.”

Life with you has always been about danger.

She was right.

Hypatios had immediately thought about Mira. The snake had
unknowingly reminded him that anyone he cared about, human or beast, would be
in peril. He had promised Mira he would return and he intended to keep that
promise, but then what?

He couldn’t think about it now. He was still recovering from
his injuries and had a long way to travel to reach his father’s palace. When he
arrived, he had no illusions about his father greeting him with open arms. In
his entire life, Hippolytos had never made a loving gesture toward his son. He
had always treated Hypatios as a man, as a tool, as a warlord and the future king
of Zaltana.

Hypatios bore no love for his father, but he was king and
until his death he would command Hypatios’s respect. One day, Hypatios would
have the throne and when that happened, there would be changes in Zaltana.

There was some honor and wisdom in the old ways, but also
waste and cruelty.

“One day, when you’re king, you can make Zaltana a better
place,” Cassandra often had said.

Hippolytos believed that Hypatios would bring about
Zaltanian domination of the Western Continent. Cassandra believed that if and
when that happened, he would improve their kingdom. Mira had suggested that the
way to improve was by ending the war between Zaltana and the remaining northern
kingdoms.

“You’re not what I expected,” Mira had said one night as
they sat talking by the fire. She had stared at him with a perplexed look that
made him wonder about himself. “I shouldn’t say this, but I once thought you
were a cruel, uncaring man. Now I know you’re not. You seem to care about your
people.”

Perhaps he did, but it was because of Cassandra and the
villagers he had grown up with. It was because of the seer who had cared for
him during the first three years of his life. It was because meeting someone
such as Mira reminded him that no matter how high and mighty a man might be, he
could fall and need a helping hand.

Much has happened to you since we last met.

Beauty nudged him from his thoughts.

It’s the woman,
Notus added.

What woman?

The one who saved his life.

Yes, I understand.
Beauty’s head slid over his chest.
The mention of her has his heart beating faster. I can feel it. Who is she?

“I’ll tell you on our way to the palace,” Hypatios said.

* * * * *

Except for a brief thaw early on, the winter was cold and
snowy. Once Areus started healing in earnest, keeping him from overexerting
himself was almost impossible, though Delia and the healers did their best.
Under Seth’s watchful eye, he resumed exercise after several weeks. Two months
after the battle, he returned to the training field on a daily basis.

His first day back, he returned to his chamber before
dinner.

Delia, who had taken to sharing his chamber, sat sewing by
the fire with Cosma.

A young male servant followed Areus to assist him in
removing his mail.

Areus’s brow furrowed and he looked distracted, his
expression stern. Though his face was rosy from the cold, his hair was damp
with sweat.

“Good evening, sir,” Delia said.

Areus grunted in reply, glancing at her from the corner of
his eye. He stood near the trunk at the foot of the bed while the servant
opened it for his armor. Areus removed his sword and placed it by his bedside.

Delia and Cosma exchanged glances. Even if they didn’t know
Areus’s moods all too well, they would have known something was bothering him.

The servant took his mail shirt and placed it in the trunk
while Areus removed the thick shirt beneath. The thinner linen one under that
was damp and molded to his lean body.

“Bring fresh water and a towel,” Areus told the servant who
was still tucking away the armor. “Now!” Areus’s voice was just shy of a
bellow.

The servant glanced up nervously and bowed. “Yes sir.”

“Let the kitchen know I’ll take my dinner here,” Areus said.

The youth, who had paused to listen to this next command, bowed
again.

“And get word to Captain Etor that our meeting will be
postponed until tomorrow morning.”

Again the young man paused. “Yes sir.”

“Go on then!” Areus growled.

“One moment please,” Delia interrupted, gazing archly at Areus,
then turning to the anxious servant. “Order a hot bath prepared here in the
king’s chamber.”

Areus’s brow furrowed again. “Delia, I don’t want a—”

“I would like one.”

The servant glanced nervously from queen to king.

Areus waved his hand and said curtly, “Fine. A bath for the queen.”

The boy hurried off.

“I’ll go as well.” Cosma rose from her chair and slipping
out of the room.

“Are you satisfied now?” Delia asked Areus. “You’ve chased
off your mother and snapped at that boy all because you overdid it on the
training field today. Whose fault is that?”

“Don’t chastise me, woman. Save that for your child.”

She folded her arms and gazed at him archly. “Sometimes I think
I already have a child.”

“Delia, it’s not the time for this.”

It wasn’t like Areus to lash out at others without
provocation. She didn’t doubt it had to do with being tired and perhaps a bit
rusty after two months’ absence from the training field.

“Come sit,” she said, motioning to Cosma’s empty chair.

“I don’t want to sit.” He marched to the window and stared
out, his expression stony.

Delia chuckled.

“What, pray tell, is so amusing?” He narrowed his eyes, his
mouth set in a grim line.

“I think I just got a glimpse of what you must have looked
like as a boy when you didn’t get your own way.”

“What? Delia, I’m not in the mood for banter tonight.”

Her smile faded, not because his expression no longer amused
her, but because she sensed that he was genuinely frustrated and not ready to
be teased out of his bad mood.

“Areus, your first day back on the field is bound to be
difficult.”

“It’s not that.” He waved his hand. “I’ve recovered from
battle wounds before.”

Now any remaining amusement faded from her entirely. She
should have realized it would take more than a rough day on the field to upset Areus
this much.

She approached and touched his arm. “What is it?”

“A spy reported back from Zaltana today. Hypatios is alive.
He returned to the palace weeks ago. The spy left as soon as Hypatios’s
presence was confirmed. Damn!” Areus’s teeth clenched and he slammed a fist
into his palm. “I’d hoped if his wounds hadn’t killed him, the fall in the
river had.”

Delia’s stomach tightened and she sighed deeply. She knew
that as long as Hypatios lived, he and Areus would seek to destroy each other.
It was no longer a matter of kingdom against kingdom, but man against man.

“You didn’t want to tell Cosma yet?”

Areus shook his head. “I want to calm myself first. He’s
still her son. I know she has feelings from him, though it’s hard to believe
that even a mother could love a creature such as him.”

Placing a hand to her stomach, Delia wondered about his
words. Was it possible for a mother to love her child, no matter what? Even if
he was worse than a beast? Even if he had tried to kill her other child? Delia
hoped it was something she would never experience firsthand.

Areus was still staring out the window. She stepped closer
to him and took his hand. He entwined his fingers with hers and squeezed
gently.

Someone tapped on the door and Delia called for the servants
to enter. Delia returned to the fire and sat, her thoughts spinning. Areus
remained at the window while they prepared the bath she had ordered. He stared
outside, though she knew his thoughts were far off.

When the bath was filled, Delia dismissed the servants.

“Come help with my buttons. It might give you something else
to think about for a moment.”

“Send for Echo.”

“There was a time when you said undressing me was the best
part, but I’m being selfish. It was your first day back on the field and you’re
probably too tired for anything except a hot soak and dinner.”

“I’m not that tired.”

Delia turned her back to conceal her smile. She knew that
would get his attention.

A moment later, she felt his fingers working the buttons and
she stepped away.

“No, Areus. I’ll send for Echo as you said. I didn’t mean to
be inconsiderate.”

“Come here.” He wrapped a long arm around her waist and
tugged her close. He swept her hair aside and kissed her nape, then whispered
in her ear, “Don’t take my mood to heart.”

“I thought you might be getting bored with me now that I’m with
child.”

“Bored with you?” He turned her to face him and she warmed
inside when she saw the glimmer of affection in his eyes and the faint smile
softening his stern mouth. “That could never happen. You’re beautiful with
child.”

Delia slid her arms around his neck and smiled. Standing on
her toes, she kissed him and he tightened his embrace. It didn’t matter that
his shirt was dirty and sweat-soaked from the field. He smelled of horse,
leather and manly musk. His lean, hard body felt so good against her. Delia
wanted him to fuck her so much that a quiver ran through her. Her nipples
tingled and her clit ached.

Since his return from Fernhill, they had shared a bed, slept
nestled close, but they hadn’t made love. Delia expected it was because his injuries
nagged him.

“Let’s get in the tub,” she murmured.

“If we do that, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you,”
he said, nuzzling her neck. “I’ve wanted you so much, Delia.”

“I want you too, Areus. I didn’t want you to feel that you
had to. I know your injuries—”

“My injuries are healed. I didn’t think you wanted to, being
with child and—”

Gazing into his eyes, Delia curled her fingers into his
hair. “That’s why you haven’t been making love to me? Oh Areus, I’ve wanted you
so much. You have no idea.”

“Is it safe for us to—”

“Yes. I asked the midwife as well as your mother and Alexa.
They’ve assured me that it won’t do any harm.”

“In that case, I should take that bath after all.” He turned
toward the tub, but Delia stepped in front of him and clung to his neck, smiling.
“I don’t believe I want to wait another second.”

“Delia, I’ve been on the field for most of the afternoon. I
must smell worse than my horse.”

Her smile broadened and she cupped the back of his neck,
kissing him hard. Her hand slid down to cup the bulge in the front of his
breeches. She kneaded him while her tongue thrust against his.

He groaned, swept her into his arms and carried her to the
bed. He placed her on it and rolled her onto her stomach so he could unbutton
her dress.

“What are you going to wear when you can’t fasten all these
hellish buttons?” he asked and she heard the grin in his voice.

“Wear a different type of gown, of course.”

“So you’re not opposed to a different type of gown? You
could have told me that before.”

“And ruin our fun?”

Areus chuckled and finished undressing her. When she was
naked, she sat up in bed and said, “Why don’t I return the favor now?”

She moved to the edge of the bed, grasped the bottom of his
shirt and pulled it up. He tugged it off the rest of the way and Delia gazed at
his magnificent body. She ran her hands over his lean chest, loving the warmth
of his hair-dusted flesh and the hardness of his muscles. Her fingertips
trailed over his sleek stomach, then she pushed his breeches over his narrow
hips and halfway down his hair-roughened thighs.

One leg was still marked with vicious pink scars from the
fight with Hypatios. She lightly touched those ridges and a pang of love and
gratitude shot through her when she recalled how gravely he had been injured,
but by the will of the Spirit he was still alive.

“Areus,” she murmured and rose to her knees to embrace him
tightly. Her soft breasts pressed against his hard chest and his strong arms
enfolded her.

He kissed her hair and caressed her shoulders. When she
finally drew back, he cupped her chin and bent to kiss her lips, then he
quickly shed the rest of his clothes.

Delia grasped his hands and tugged him onto the bed. Pressing
her onto her back, he stretched out beside her. He gazed into her eyes and
stroked her cheek. Ever so lightly he caressed her throat and collarbone, then he
cupped her breasts and kneaded gently while kissing her.