by Jeanne Hardt
He faced Jonah. “Do you, Jonah of Padrida, bind yourself to Princess Allana, now and forevermore?”
“I do.” He swallowed hard and wiped a tear from his eye.
The sight touched deep into Olivia’s heart.
Sebastian gazed lovingly at his sister. “And do you, Princess Allana, bind yourself to Jonah of Padrida, now and forevermore?”
“Most assuredly so.” She turned her head and looked at Jonah with boundless love.
“Their vows have been spoken before God and all of you as witnesses. Jonah, do you have a token to seal your love?”
He produced a ring from the pocket of his tunic. “Queen Helen in her graciousness offered this to us.”
Sebastian stood a little taller. “Place it on the fourth finger of Allana’s left hand, and there it shall remain forever.”
Jonah’s entire arm trembled as he slid the gold ring into place.
Sebastian raised both of his hands high. “Only in death shall their bond be broken!”
“Only in death!” the crowd repeated, then cheered as Jonah took Allana into his arms and kissed her.
The musicians immediately began to play. Gaiety and laughter rose into the air.
Jonah picked Allana up from the ground and spun her in a circle, and soon everyone was dancing around them.
Sebastian made his way to Olivia and pulled her close. “Dance with me.”
“Gladly.”
He twirled her around twice, then drew her against him once more. As she was spinning, she caught sight of Korvin. “Sebastian, you will be happy to know, Korvin is dancing with Adrianna, and they seem to be quite enamored with one another.”
Sebastian’s posture straightened. “Truly?”
“Look behind you.”
He circled her around and discovered Korvin and Adrianna fumbling their footwork and laughing at one another.
Sebastian chuckled. “I pity the girl’s bruised toes, but I am pleased he finally put his eyes elsewhere. It would seem the discussion I had with him took root. A good thing.”
“Were you harsh with him?”
“Harsh?” While still swaying with the music, his head drew back. “I was firm, but not cruel in any way. He admitted his infatuation with you and begged me to accept his apology. He claims it was not his intent to care for you in such a manner, but he could not help himself.” Sebastian lifted his chin toward the young couple. “I understand how easily any man’s heart can be captured by you. You are one of kind, Olivia.”
She stopped moving, drew him close, and kissed him. “As are you.”
His eyes darted around them, then narrowed into playful slits. “Should the queen be displaying such public affection?”
“I am queen, I can do as I desire.” She grinned, then instantly sobered. “I fear I see one somber face.”
“Who?”
She put her lips close to Sebastian’s ear. “Mathar is miserable.” Slowly, she began swaying with him to the music again. “Will we ever manage to make things right with him?” She oftentimes wondered if it would have been less cruel to kill him than to keep him in Padrida and separated from his family.
“Severin is his friend and is helping him adjust. But we cannot expect him to be joyful, when he has lost everything.”
“No one knows that better than you and I.” She cuddled into him. “At least we have hope.”
“Perhaps I need to lend my aid. I can give Mathar something more to do than wallow in his losses.”
She lifted her head and looked into his face. “Would you make him a farmer?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Working the land has certainly helped me.”
“I am a married man!” Jonah’s shout interrupted their discussion.
Everyone laughed, except Mathar. He hung his head and walked from the celebration.
Olivia had given him freedom in the realm, because she believed he posed no danger. Fortunately, Severin followed him. Though not a threat to her people, Mathar could do harm to himself.
“For today,” Sebastian said, “cast aside your worries and celebrate.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “We may soon have more in which to rejoice.”
He tipped his head to one side and questioned with his eyes.
“My woman’s time is late,” she whispered.
His face turned white, he dropped to his knees, and he hugged her tighter than ever.
Grinning, she raked her fingers through his thick hair. “I believe you just frightened your mother.”
He slowly got up, but did not relinquish her. “I am overwhelmed—in a good way.”
“No child can replace the one we lost, yet it will bring us new joy. I am confident Padrida will rapidly grow, and that in itself will pose a new problem. Our resources are limited and—”
“Hush.” He pressed his fingers to her lips. “We are celebrating, remember?”
She nodded into his hand.
The festivity carried on late into the night, and as the full moon rose above them, she said a silent prayer of thanks.
God was with them always, but his magnificence radiated in the light of the giant orb.
As hard as it was to do, she cast aside her worries.
If God wanted Padrida to flourish and grow, she could not stop it from happening. His plan was greater than her own.
She needed only to trust.
Chapter 27
“Look at her, Dristan!” Mirella laughed and pointed at Nara. “Her legs are no longer shaky.”
Donovan watched his daughter walk across the forest floor as if it was second-nature. Though merely a year old, she managed over the sticks and rocks just as she might cross a smooth floor.
“I rarely complain about my affliction,” Coreen said, “but at moments like this, I wish I could see her.”
Donovan sat beside her on their favorite log and put his arm around her. “She is beautiful and walks with grace, in a chubby-legged-baby sort of way.”
Coreen laughed. A sound he had grown to love as much as her.
Their year together had had its share of trials. Mostly caused by Roderick. But he spent time away now and then—off in the forest by himself doing only God knew what—and it made life in the cave less stressful. When Coreen had informed him he could no longer have her, he had grumbled for days.
Nara bent down and picked up a stick, then tossed it into the air, giggling.
Mirella scooped her up, then grimaced. “She has soiled herself again. I hope soon, she will know to relieve herself somewhere other than in her clothing.” She headed for the cave. “I will tend her and return shortly.”
“Thank you, Mirella.” Donovan patted Coreen’s leg. “That is something you should be grateful you do not have to see.”
Again, Coreen laughed. “You seem excessively cheerful today, Dristan.”
“How can I not be happy, when surrounded by those I love?” He took her face in his hands and tenderly kissed her.
Twigs snapped in the distance.
Donovan rose from the log and craned his neck, trying to see what had made the sound.
“It is probably Roderick,” Coreen said. “However, if it troubles you, go and see for yourself.”
“He claimed he was gathering wood, but he has been gone for hours.” He peered down at her. “I would feel better knowing for certain.”
“Then go. I will wait here for your return.”
He kissed her again, then headed in the direction of the sound.
As stealthily as he could, he crept through the thicket of trees, then released a relieved breath. A large buck walked with its head high, breaking twigs beneath its feet. A shame he did not have his bow. They would all appreciate some tasty venison.
“Oh!” Coreen’s painful shriek sent Donovan’s heart racing.
He spun around and raced back to her. She lay sideways on the log, and from the corner of his eye, he caught the tail of a serpent slinking back into the underbrush.
Coreen moaned in
agony and reached downward.
Mirella flew from the cave, carrying a half-dressed Nara. “What happened?” The horror in her eyes matched the pain and fear stretching to every part of Donovan’s being.
“Bring my knife!” he barked at the girl.
She scrambled back inside and within moments returned with the blade.
Coreen openly cried, magnifying his agony.
Mirella covered her mouth and gaped at the large bite mark on Coreen’s calf. “No…” she violently shook her head.
“It burns!” Coreen sobbed.
Donovan made two small cuts across the bite and attempted to suck out the venom, but her leg had already started to swell, and her crying likely pumped her blood faster, speeding up the effects of the poison.
Nara reached out to her. “Eenie!”
Mirella brought her closer and the baby placed her hands on Coreen’s face. Instantly Nara wailed. A cry like she had never released before, as if she felt Coreen’s pain.
Coreen panted harder and faster.
Donovan fought back tears, trying to be strong for her.
He gazed heavenward.
Why?
“Dristan,” Coreen reached for him. “Hold me.”
Knowing he could do nothing more for her, he moved up beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I love you. Please, stay with me!” He rocked with her back and forth, helpless and afraid.
Nara’s hand rested atop Coreen’s head, and though they both cried, something else was taking place.
“She has made me warm,” Coreen rasped, “I am no longer hurting.” She trembled. “Never forget…I love you all.”
Her body violently shook, then completely stilled. No more breath passed her lips.
“No!” Donovan wailed. “It is not fair! Why her?” He held her limp body against him and sobbed.
Mirella put her arms around both of them, and Nara lay in the middle of them all. His child who never cried, mourned along with them.
God had forsaken him.
Each day was a drudgery. Donovan woke every morning, did what he must to simply sustain himself, and went to bed as morose as when he arose.
Mirella’s beaming smile had vanished, though a glimmer appeared when she tended Nara. As for Nara, she continued to grow, walk, and talk. Just a few words here and there, but even her accomplishments seemed diminished without Coreen to share them.
They had buried her not far from the cave and covered the mounded dirt with stones and seedlings. If all went as planned, eventually flowers would bloom over her decaying body. Something beautiful to remind him of the incredible woman lying beneath.
Roderick had recently returned from one of his ventures. No more pleasant than before he had left. He complained about everything and gave little regard to Coreen’s passing. As usual, he had set out to gather wood and had been gone for hours.
Because Mirella was not feeling well, Donovan took Nara so she could rest. He sat with his little girl beside Coreen’s grave and tried to remember the good times they had shared. He treasured thoughts of her smile and her laughter.
Nara brought him a small round rock and pressed it into his palm. “Eenie.” She pointed at the mound.
“You want me to put this on her grave?”
The child nodded.
How she comprehended the idea of a grave, he was not certain. Perhaps she just saw the mound of rocks and wanted to add more. Whatever her reasoning, he kissed the stone and set it atop the others.
Nara flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Pa-pa.”
Mirella had been referring to him as her Papa, and Nara quickly picked up the term. He could not deny, he loved to hear the word spoken from Nara’s tiny mouth. So much time had passed, he had nearly forgotten the way in which he had acquired her. His world had changed since then, as well as his intentions for her.
He would love her, but could never be her lover.
“No!”
Not again…
Mirella’s scream sent him scrambling to his feet. He lifted Nara into his arms and ran for the cave.
“Get off me!” Mirella struggled on the bed, fighting Roderick. She kicked and hit, and he merely chuckled.
Donovan put Nara on the floor and lunged for the man, whose trousers were around his ankles.
“I need this!” Roderick yelled and punched Donovan in the face. “Go out and leave me with the girl!”
“Never!” Donovan yanked him off the bed and threw him against the cave wall.
He struggled to get on his feet again, then fumbled with his trousers. “She is no maid! What will it hurt for me to take my pleasure?”
“I told you from the start, she is not to be touched!”
“She is old enough now! Have you not given her a go yourself?”
Donovan grabbed the neck of his tunic and hoisted him to his feet. “I have not laid a hand on her.” He vigorously shook the man. “You will leave at once and never return!”
Roderick’s eyes shot fire. He grabbed a knife from the table and plunged it toward Donovan. Donovan twisted just in time to avoid the blade. He wrenched it from Roderick’s grasp and they fell to the ground, tumbling back and forth.
“Dristan!” Mirella cried.
“She adores you,” Roderick sneered. “Every woman loves you, yet they do not know you as I do!”
Donovan rolled him onto his back and plunged the knife into his chest.
Roderick grunted and tried to push Donovan off him. “You can silence me, but the truth will one day be known.”
Donovan turned the knife and drove it even deeper.
Roderick spit blood, scowled, and eventually went limp. All the while, Donovan stayed atop him until certain the man was dead.
Mirella jumped to her feet and picked up Nara, then sat with her on the edge of the bed, trembling. After several moments of holding her, Mirella calmed.
“He was an evil man,” she said. “I did not want him to have me.”
“Nor did I.” Donovan stood and sat beside her. He put his arm around her, drew her in close, and kissed the top of her head. “You are safe now.”
She cuddled against him, and sweet Nara did the same.
“My girls,” he said. “I will always protect you.”
Mirella looked up into his eyes with the same kind of love he had felt from Coreen. “I know I cannot replace Coreen, but I will never leave you.”
He stared at her—so young, though growing older every day. His mind raced in a million different directions. What he had thought was his life had taken a dramatic twist.
He had always claimed time to be his friend. The years ahead would no doubt bring forth many unplanned circumstances.
They were free from Roderick’s hatefulness and disgusting ways, and once Donovan buried him, he would happily forget the man ever existed.
Though the pain of Coreen’s absence would remain strong for a great while, Mirella eased him. She had always been the light in his darkness, and he believed Coreen had felt the same way about her.
Perhaps he had been mistaken, and God had not forsaken him.
Instead, He chose to guide him down an unexpected path.
Books by Jeanne Hardt
The River Romance Series:
Marked
Tainted
Forgotten
From the Ashes of Atlanta
A Golden Life
The Southern Secrets Saga:
Deceptions
Consequences
Desires
Incivilities
Revelations
Misconceptions
Redemption
He’s in My Dreams
The Smoky Mountain Secrets Saga:
Whispers from the Cove
Hushed into Silence
Murmurs in the Mountains
Rumors of the Renegade
Shrouded Thrones Series:
Island in the Forest
Mountain of Masks
Bane of Black Wood
> Sins of Basilia
Regenerates
For more information about Jeanne’s books, check out the links below:
www.facebook.com/JEANNEHARDTAUTHOR
www.jeannehardt.com
www.amazon.com/author/jeannehardt
www.goodreads.com/jeannehardt
