they disappear. Turning to look at my girls, my eye catches Katrina’s profile.
She has a single tear falling down her cheek. Her gaze is focused on one rider and one rider only. Stepping closer to her, I link my arm with hers.
“They will be okay,” I whisper.
“He kissed me last night,” she admits with a wheeze.
“And?” I chance asking.
“Just a goodbye kiss, but it felt like a farewell forever kiss. I didn’t care for it,” she murmurs.
Tugging her a bit closer to my side, I slip my arm from hers and wrap it around her small waist instead.
“Maybe this will give him some time to think. If he wants you, he will stop at nothing to have you, Katrina. He will move mountains for you.”
“I’m afraid that even if he wanted me, he would not even try for fear that he could not keep me.”
“Even that will not stop a man in love.”
I know that I am right. Elias does not know if he will keep me, if I am going to stay in this world or not. Yet, he wasted no time taking me to bed, marrying me—I place my hand against my belly—and knocking me up. My lips twitch into a small smile. I know that I should be terrified, and I am, but I’m also excited.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ELIAS
Camp is set up just across the border into Llyne. My troops arrived yesterday and now I’m here with my closest men. We make our way toward the largest tent, knowing without a doubt that it is mine.
Rowan, Henry, Lief, Asher, Frederick, and Merek all have smaller tents surrounding mine so that they are close when I am in need of counsel.
“Merek,” I call out as I dismount from Storm before tossing my reins to a boy who is waiting patiently to assist me.
Dipping my chin to the squire, I push the tent flaps back and walk into my new home away from home. My lips tip up into a smile as I look around the space.
I’ve never fought as a king before, I’m used to being a warrior, sleeping on the hard ground, sometimes in the gods forsaken mud wet and cold.
Mayhap it is good to be king after all.
“You demanded my attendance,” Merek grunts from behind me.
Spinning around, I lift my lips to my cousin. “You figure out your dilemma with the young maiden?”
He shakes his head once. “None to be had, Elias. I said my goodbyes and when we return, I’ll ask that you arrange a marriage for me. It’s time.”
My entire body stills at his words. Time. Is it time? Arching a brow, my eyes rake over my cousin.
His eyes are sunken, the skin beneath them bruised purple as though he hasn’t been sleeping. He’s also lost a bit of weight on his large frame, not noticeably so to anyone else, but he has stood by my side since childhood and I know him as well as I know myself.
“You are in love with her. Just admit it and be done with this,” I offer.
He shakes his head once. “I will marry the way I have always been meant to. I will marry for a political alliance for the country of Bunafi. I may not be a prince, but I do have a royal title and I will do what I can to serve my country in all ways.”
“While making yourself miserable?” I ask.
His lips curl as he lets out a snort. “Misery is the way of royal life, is it not?”
“I used to think so.”
“You are lucky to not only be fated, but you’ve also fallen in love with your bride. We know that is not normally the way of things. I hope that I can fall in love with my bride as well.”
He doesn’t say anything else, instead he turns on his booted heels and marches out of my tent. With a frown, I stare at the flaps that he exited through for a long moment. He may not be part of the prophecy as I am, but I have the power to give my cousin the happiness that he deserves.
Merek is a true warrior. He has given his life to me, to the crown and to Bunafi. If a warrior does not deserve the bride of his choosing, then who does? I make a decision, one that I will not tell him of. I need to know for certain whether he truly wants the maid or if it is a case of wanting what