by Eve Redmayne
“Grayweather,” Braum said into Jessica’s ear as they approached the towering kingdom built into the cliff-side. His eyes swept over her as she took in the impressive sight that was his home and wondered just what she thought of it. As gray as its name suggested, and honed from pure granite, the kingdom stood across a gaping chasm, accessible only by drawbridge. He also wondered what she’d do if he grabbed that little earlobe of hers… with his teeth.
The sentinels, stationed atop the massive peaks overlooking the path, acknowledged their approach with blasts from various horns. He tightened his arms around her waist as the men at the gate eyed Jessica with open curiosity. Such a gesture indicated clearly enough that she wasn’t a prisoner but was with him. Braum guessed that the men hadn’t heard of the events in Britarre yet. Jessica stiffened in his lap and eyed his men, not understanding.
A large wooden drawbridge creaked down over the chasm to reveal the village, a main street with slate and timber shops lining the road. As they crossed, he looked down either side of the plunging abyss and silently praised his ancestors. They’d chosen their home well.
Long shadows stretched across the town, over the cobblestone streets, and along the edges of metal shingles lining pitched roofs, as the sun set behind the distant mountains. Several alleyways jutted off from the main thoroughfare, leading to houses stacked high. And above it all, cliffs loomed thousands of feet into the air.
As their group rode through town, Jessica met every curious stare, back stiff. He grinned. She was brave, he’d give her that.
Men tended to livestock and women gossiped as they removed the last of the laundry from the lines then folded it neatly into baskets. Everyone stopped what they were doing and either bowed or curtsied as Braum rode passed.
Patrons spilled from the taverns onto the street, and raucous laughter filled the otherwise quiet night. Braum and his men finally stopped before a set of enormous wooden gates that led to the keep’s courtyard, waiting as they were opened from the inside. Hinges squeaked as the two sides parted.
No sooner had Braum brought the horse to a stop when his father stormed out of the heavy wooden doors of the keep’s entrance. “What were you thinking!” he bellowed. “Antagonizing the elven prince in front of the assembly! You’d better have made nice or I will sweep your sorry are from one end of the keep to the other!”
“It’s good to see you too, Da,” Braum said and dismounted. When he reached up to help Jessica down, his father’s eyes followed.
“What in blazes have you done?” Brindle demanded, drawing all eyes to the two of them.
“Leave it be,” Braum said, eyeing the soldiers standing guard, his men dismounting behind him, and the servants as they hurried out of the keep in the king’s wake.
“‘Leave it be,’ he said?” Brindle bellowed to nobody in particular. The servants studied the ground. The knights fidgeted with their bedrolls and other supplies. “Leave it be?” The elder dwarf ran a ham-sized hand through his shoulder-length gray hair.
Braum stiffened as his father closed the distance to him. Two enormous hands grabbed Braum’s shirt in either first. When Brindle moved to throw him to the ground, Braum whirled and brought his fists up to defend himself. After absorbing several of his father’s blows with his chest, arms, and abdomen, Braum gritted his teeth and spared a glance sideways. Too many eyes. With a grunt of effort, he shoved his father, bringing Brindle forcefully to the ground. Half atop him, Braum socked him in the jaw as hard as he could.
“Enough!” a woman yelled from the doorway.
Brindle fought back, his fist glancing Braum’s jaw.
Braum rose from his knees and spat blood on the ground.
Jessica stood several feet away, hand over her mouth, with what could only be call concern gleaming in her eyes. Her brows drew together as she studied his split lip.
“My mother, Bessy,” Braum said for Jessica’s benefit, breathing heavily. His mother was as short as she was round—a plump hen of a woman with graying blonde hair and golden eyes.
Bessy stepped between her husband and son. “Are you quite finished?” She glared at the two men. Neither moved. “Explain yourself.” Her golden eyes bore into Braum’s. He felt nothing so much as a small child under his mother’s scrutiny.
“Of course,” he bit out, “in private.” Peering sideways at Jessica, he ran a hand through his hair, then stopped—realizing it was the same gesture his father had made moments before.
The queen shook her head, sending two long braids bouncing. “If you’re going to act uncivilized, then you can be reprimanded here for all to listen.”
Only wanting some discretion, he reached out a hand to his father. “Sorry, Da.”
Brindle scratched his mutton-chop whiskers and mumbled an apology back.
Seeming satisfied, the lady of the house broke into a grin. “Better,” she declared, then strode towards Jessica.
“I’m Bessy, Queen Stoneforge, and you are?” She arched a brow.
Jessica turned crimson, eyeing Braum before saying, “Jessica Brown of Utah… Earth.” She dipped and managed an awkward curtsy.
“Mm-hmm,” was all Bessy said, then headed into the keep with Brindle close on her heels.
“Let’s go.” A frown deepened the crease between his brows as Braum took Jessica by the elbow and stepped in line behind his parents. There was an earful in store for him. He’d committed a crime against a sovereign ally—simple as that. And blast it, didn’t have a good explanation for why.
“What’s going on?” Jessica whispered, gray eyes wide as they entered the massive fortress.
“An accounting,” he said grimly and led her to a small parlor.
Bessy sat on a plush, goldenrod sofa—near to overflowing with cushions—and a small, black dog leaped onto her lap. Brindle stood off to the side, eyes hard as the pair entered.
Without an invitation to sit, Braum and Jessica stood. Silence hung thickly in the air.
“Return her,” Bessy said, not deigning to look their way.
“Not going to happen,” Braum answered at once.
“A wedding then, is it?” Bessy responded. “I’m sure we wouldn’t want to go to war with allies over less than a bride, now would we?”
All color faded from Jessica’s cheeks.
“Mum,” Braum started, “it’s not like that.” He hadn’t expected this, but it made sense. Of course, his mother would expect him to marry the woman he’d kidnapped. Why else take her? He shot Jessica a look and his scowl softened. Why not, indeed.
It was inconceivable for him to purposely endanger their kingdom, except, that’s exactly what he’d done. All because of this woman. What he felt towards Jessica was fierce and something he couldn’t yet explain, but marry her?
“It seems to me that’s exactly what it’s like.” Bessy patted the dog. The creature made pleased, snuffling noises. “The circumstances are less than ideal,” she scrutinized Jessica, “but we shall make do. The child has manners, at least.” Then almost as an afterthought, she said, “And I’m not offended by her presence as I thought I might be amongst a human. The silly thing even attempted a curtsy.” She gave Brindle an amused smirk.
Jessica flushed.
“If the girl stays, she will be your wife. It’s about time, too,” Bessy said before she stood and approached Jessica—a warm smile brightening her weathered face. “Child, welcome to the family.”
Jessica wobbled on her feet, and Braum feared she might faint. Then she spoke, and all fears vanished as her words came out strong. “I’m not going to marry him, I’m going home.”
“Home? Does she mean Earth?” Brindle bellowed, able to speak now that Bessy had had her say. “She’s not simple, is she, boy? She does know we don’t go for that nonsense, right?”
“No, Da, she isn’t simple,” Braum growled and tightened his grip on Jessica’s elbow. “She needs a moment. It hasn’t been the easiest couple of days for her.”
“Right, we’ll see you at
dinner, then.” Bessy said, hand on the door. “Take her to the blue room. I’ll have some things sent up.” She nodded at Brindle and the two exited the parlor together, followed on their heels by the ball of fluff.
“What the hell was that?” Jessica asked, eyes ablaze.
“Do you always sound so ladylike?” Reluctantly, Braum turned to face her.
“Do you always go around kidnapping women you don’t even like?” she demanded, voice rising.
“Only if the mood strikes,” he said, tone laced with humor. On a more serious note, he added, fists clenched, “I do like you, Jessica. I couldn’t let that elf put his hands on you.”
“What?” She backed up. “What happens to me isn’t up to you. It’s my life. My choice.” Then as though registering the latter of what he said, she blinked. “What do you mean… ‘like’?”
“Blast it, Jessica,” his voice softened, “it’s hard for me to explain what’s happening.” He began to pace, his big body out of place in his mother’s feminine parlor. “But do you not feel something, too?” His own words gave him pause, and he stopped to consider her stormy eyes. He wasn’t the type of man to talk about feelings.
“Look,” she began to pace herself, “I can’t explain what happened. I’m normally not the sort of girl who jumps into bed with just any guy. I mean, to be honest, I’m a bit of a prude when it comes to that sort of thing. I’d just been kidnapped to marry the elven prince, of all people, because of some stupid infertility crisis and there you were. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“Jessica,” he pulled her close, enjoying the feel of her name on his tongue. With a finger, he nudged her chin up and forced her to look into his eyes. “I knew with every fiber of my being that I couldn’t let you wed Wycliffe. I want you.”
“Says the man—excuse me, dwarf—”
“Man is fine,” he interjected.
Without missing a beat, she continued, “—who went out of his way to insult the human back at the council meeting.” Her voice caught, and he winced. “I’m beneath a prince’s rank, remember?” She pressed, “A shame upon anyone who marries me.”
“What was I supposed to say?” His voice thickened. “You can’t wed her because I want her?” He dragged a hand through his hair, tousling the waves. “My family would’ve been laughed out of the assembly. Luckily, I managed to steal you away. That shows you how little Wycliffe cared—he didn’t even bother to guard you himself or send his own men to protect you. That never would’ve happened were I in his place.”
She sank to her knees on the carpet, and he couldn’t help but notice how her hands trembled. She tried to hide it, though, by clasping them together. “How am I supposed to believe a word you say?” Her voice sounded small, so he knelt beside her. “Even if I wanted to, you’re too inconsistent. One moment you’re insulting me and the next you’re… protective.” She looked up and a dark tress tumbled over her cheek. “Can you see why I’m confused?”
“Let’s figure it out together.” He brushed back the brown lock. “I’m just as confused as you. I think I started a war over a woman I’d just met, for god’s sake!”
A thin smile spread, and she let out a broken laugh. “Yeah, who does that?”
Relief flooded him, and he swept her into his arms, relishing her softness. Somehow, he knew he’d make the same decision to take her again. “Together, then?”
“I don’t have much choice, do I?” She sounded unconvinced, but her voice grew stronger as she looked him squarely in the eyes. “But I’m not going to marry you.”
“What?” Braum’s frown deepened. “We must wed, otherwise the elves can take you back.” He hadn’t even considered marrying her until his mother suggested it, but now it seemed the perfect solution. He’d get her in his bed and thwart the fuckwit, Wycliffe, all at the same time. But why was she reluctant to marry him now, when she hadn’t when she’d thought him the elf?
“I meant, get to know me, take me on a date, maybe, and allow me to figure things out.” She shrugged. “I was in shock before, going along with marrying a stranger, but I’m myself now.”
“Oh,” his shoulders relaxed, “you want me to woo you?”
Jessica giggled. “Oh yes, I want to be wooed.” Her laughter grew in volume until it bordered on hysteria. She wiped a lone tear away. “Who even says ‘woo’, anymore?”
His body unfolded in one fluid motion as he stood. He didn’t see what was so funny and ‘woo’ was a perfectly adequate word. “Enough!”
Hiccups replaced her laughter, and she eyed him warily.
After helping her up, he grasped her shoulders. “I will court you.” The words struck fear in his heart. It’d been ages since he’d sought a lady’s companionship. Bloody hell. Not since he’d been a teen, wet behind the ears.
Twisting her skirt in her hands, she nodded. “Okay then, it seems I’ve gotten myself involved with a guy who’s… a dwarven prince.” She smiled ruefully and swayed. “Won’t my friends back home be impressed.”
Not wanting her to collapse, he pulled her close. He didn’t understand her but figured that’s what he got for falling for a human. Given the circumstances, she was handling things well. “Let’s get you to your room.”
With her arm tucked in his, he led her through the castle, trying to put her at ease. As they strode, he talked about his people and their way of life—how dwarves initially lived deep in the mountains and developed mining and the art of metallurgy.
“How are dwarves and elves different from humans?” she asked. “As far as I can tell, dwarves especially, look pretty much identical to humans.”
He paused a moment to consider. He’d never thought about it, he was a dwarf, the strongest and most powerful of the races.
“I guess you have to go back to our history.” He straightened a battle-axe hanging on the wall. “Our existence started as fae. From there we eventually became the other races. The fae possessed magic. I don’t know much about it, just that it was natural to them. They had the ability to fly, effect changes, and manipulate the elements without needing to chant and such. Witches also have natural magic, but it doesn’t come as easily for them. They must cast spells, make potions, and other such nonsense. Elves don’t have inborn magic, but they have magicians who dabble in illusions and the more basic potions. Plus, they have those gruesome, pointy ears—inbreeding probably.”
Jessica laughed, which brought a half-smile to his face. The sound soothed his nerves.
“Dwarves don’t typically have inborn magic either, but we do recite fae spells in the odd ceremony, and occasionally you’ll find a dwarf magician, but it’s rare. As a people, we’re highly skeptical of magic. I guess you’d say we’re the race that’s closest to humans in that regard. We believe in hard work, perseverance, and not relying on some power to do what we can for ourselves.”
Fingers hitched in his belt, he stopped and leaned against the stone wall. “But now that I think on it a bit, we do have something akin to magic, dwarves have amazing eyesight. We can see well in the dark. I always assumed it was because of thousands of years spent in the belly of mountains, but maybe it’s our own magic and we just never considered it thus. Maybe that’s enough to keep us at peace with the fae.” He shrugged. “There are other races, but the point is, humans rejected all magic and were banished to a mirror realm… Earth.”
“But how can an entire race of people just be banished?” Jessica asked, twirling a lock of brown hair around a finger.
He leaned toward her, delighted she was so tall. Unusually large himself, he normally towered over both men and women. The fact she stood nearly to his shoulders was a pleasant surprise; a simple kiss didn’t strain his back. When she frowned, he got around to answering her question. “The fae couldn’t abide humankind’s non-beliefs so they went to war and won. As punishment, they created a magical prison, Earth. But at the same time, the fae grew so paranoid and reclusive they used their magic to create a barrier around themselves, too.”
&nb
sp; When she shook her head, he nodded in understanding. “It’s all very confusing, but that’s magic for you.”
They walked up a flight of winding stairs and exited on the second story. He opened a heavy door and bowed his head. “Your room… Jessica.” His tongue lingered over her name.
Red suffused her cheeks at the longing in his voice.
The room was already made up with the windows open to air it out. A small bed sat in the center, its blue coverlet turned down to reveal snowy white sheets.
“I’ll leave you to get ready for dinner.” He backed into the empty hallway then paused. When she didn’t move, he closed the distance between them and drew her into his arms just inside the doorframe. Despite the frantic horse-ride, she smelled like a field of honeysuckle. After a moment, he lifted her chin with a finger and lowered his lips to hers. She moaned softly into his mouth, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Her body shifted, as his hands roved over her back. How could he make her fall in love with him, so they could wed as soon as possible? The elves must know he’d taken her. The only way to keep her here—to keep her with him—would be if they wed. Not to mention, every time he saw her, all the blood rushed from his head. He wasn’t going to last very long with her lush body near. Needing to feel her close, he tightened his grip, restraining the urge to grind his erection against her.
Bollocks! He was out of control. This wasn’t something he understood, this immediate and unrelenting desire for a woman. He’d had his share of non-committal beddings. Hell, as the crown prince, women were always throwing themselves at him, but his feelings for Jessica went beyond his scope of understanding.
Unable to look away from her eyes—cloudy with desire—he knew if ever there was a woman ready for a stiff bedding, it was she. But he couldn’t do anything about it. Not yet. Not now when the plan was to make her his wife. He had to woo this woman first, damn it.
With an effort of restraint, he leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on her lips. But the bedroom door creaked wide, and a whistle pierced the silence. They jerked apart.
