"No, I want to explore you first."
And her princess did, using her mouth and fingers to touch what seemed like every inch of Renee's body. It was astonishing how something simple―like breath across her navel―could have liquid pooling between her legs. And then Adi parted Renee's thighs, sliding her hands along sensitive skin. Renee could not hold back her gasp. She felt like she was coming undone.
Adi explored all of Renee. Her mouth found Renee's very center and teased it to perfection. Renee writhed on the bed, wanting more, but not wanting to demand. Adi curled her fingers around Renee's hips, and rode the aftershocks of Renee's climax.
"Your turn." Renee flipped Adi expertly on the bed, straddling so that they touched at their most intimate places. "I want to hear you cry out, lovely."
That blush appeared everywhere. On Adi's cheeks, down her chest, even between the bounty of her breasts. Her nipples were bright pink and meant for suckling. Renee gave into temptation, delighting in how Adi squirmed and whimpered. She memorized each movement, hoping to hold this memory forever.
She used her hand to explore as she mouthed along Adi's skin, parting Adi's lips and diving within. Adi started to writhe on the bed, and she was so damn beautiful. Renee kissed her as she continued to ply her fingers, and delighted in hearing Adi cry out into her mouth.
"You." Adi whispered, wrapping her arms around Renee and holding her close.
"Give me a moment and we'll go again." Renee kissed salty sweet skin, knowing she had to take this gift while she had it. If there was only tonight, then she'd take it all.
Adi laughed, and the sound went straight to Renee's heart. Oh, it was far too late to start worrying about that.
*~*~*
"May I brush your hair?"
Adi looked up in surprise at the request. She'd gotten out her hairbrush after dressing that morning, wearing her own clothes once more. They had been delivered outside Renee's room along with breakfast.
Renee had dressed in her riding leathers again, and Adi found them much more becoming than the borrowed armor. How odd. When she'd first met Renee, she had wondered what kind of knight she'd be without shining plates of armor. She'd learned it was not armor that made the knight. "My hair?"
"Since the moment I first saw you without that silly veil, I could not stop thinking about it." Renee held out her hand for the brush.
Adi held still on the chair as Renee divided her hair into threes and began to stroke from scalp to end. She closed her eyes. It felt good. She hadn't had a maid in service since she'd entered the convent. But this wasn't anything like a maid preparing her hair. No, this was far more intimate. Almost, even more intimate than what they had shared last night. Anyone could fall in bed and give each other pleasure. But to take care with something simple like brushing her hair? Adi swallowed.
They'd said all they could on the topic last night. Renee knew where her duty lay. Adi had to make an alliance. She could never marry for love. She'd never wanted to more. What could they be together, if only she could choose for herself?
Renee finished and tied Adi's hair in a neat braid. "There."
"Thank you." She took the brush and ran her fingers through the rough bristles. Should she offer to brush Renee's in return? Adi didn't know.
"Come. We need to get back on the road. We're already a day behind." Renee clearly didn't expect anything in return. She was already set to leave with their newly acquired bag packed and ready to go.
If only the journey could last forever.
Chapter Seven
It rained the night before they reached Graymore Castle. Renee found a hunter's lean-to for them to take shelter in from the ravaging spring rain. This was the kind of storm that heralded in the bounty of the season, that brought alive golden flowers and crisp air.
Right now it made them wet and cranky when they should have been resting for the last leg of the trip. The people of Glendola had sent them off well-supplied for the journey, with plenty of food and spare clothing. They would not take any of the coin Adi offered them.
"Remember us," Merena had said before they left, and it made Renee wonder how much the wise woman knew. They only assumed no one had guessed Adi's true identity. Renee would be sure to mention the village to her own order. If one dragon had found them, there might be others lurking nearby.
"I hope it's dry tomorrow." Adi curled under a dark auburn blanket, one of their gifts. The night was chilly and the fire small.
Renee gave in and pulled Adi close, rubbing her hand down her arm and hopefully chasing the cold away. "What, you don't want to parade down the main street of Duodasham looking like a drowned rat?"
"I don't want to parade at all." Adi frowned. "I've gotten so used to being no one that I don't know how I can go back to being a princess."
Renee touched Adi's face, turning it her direction. "You've never been a no one. Even in that wimple and veil, everyone looked at you."
"And as I recall, it caused our inn to be set on fire."
"You may as well blame the sun for burning bright." Renee pressed their lips together, her heart heavy. This would be their last night together.
She'd remember this always.
*~*~*
Adi got her wish. They woke to bright sunshine, and plenty of time to dry out before making their way down the hills into the last part of their journey. The forest track met with the King's Road, and they followed the last of the travelers into Duodasham.
She'd hidden her hair beneath the veil once more. Adi refused to be paraded through the city like a prize of war. Her brother should know she'd returned before the people did. Family before obligation.
Duodasham had grown up around the outskirts of Castle Graymore. They city had been built in fits and starts, ever expanding, especially as the peace had continued. Merchants had an easy road to the sea―the Great Siena River flowed through the center of town. Adi had always thought the buildings looked like interlocking blocks―disturb one and the rest would fall into a pile of gray stone.
The great iron gates had been thrown open to welcome travelers to the festival and tourney. Adi rode beside Renee, as if they were any other pilgrims, making their way along the main track, which was filled with horses and carts, and merchants on the side of the road selling food or souvenirs. Adi hid her grin at someone selling "Princess Adelaide" dolls. The only thing she had in common with the wood creation was the blinding red hair.
The air smelled like cooking meat and horse manure. Adi wrinkled her nose, no longer used to the odor of a town filled with people. Nothing on their journey had prepared her for this crush of traffic, and as they forced their way through crowded stone streets, she missed the simple dirt track of the forest path.
As they passed the great square and made their way around the Rosemunde fountain, Renee grabbed a royal pageboy running through the streets―he must have been on a castle errand. She handed him a coin and sent him off with a message.
By the time they made it to Graymore castle, the gates had already been opened. An honor guard of King's Knights in gleaming armor awaited them. They stood at attention and performed the royal salute.
"All hail Princess Adelaide."
Adi felt her cheeks heat.
"Take off that damn veil," Renee whispered.
Adi pulled off the veil and shook out her hair, which flowed unbound down her back. They rode into the courtyard side by side. She inclined her head at the knights, acknowledging their honor. But the real treasure stood in the center of the courtyard. Her older brother, King Allande Rosemunde of Hedlund, who would always be Al to her.
She reined in her horse and slid off the saddle, unable to keep herself from going to him. Adi ran and embraced him, heedless of the many eyes on them. For once she just wanted to hug her brother like any sister would.
"Little Adi," he said fondly.
She pulled away and got a good look at him. His blue-green eyes still twinkled, though there were more lines at the corners than before. Even h
is blond hair had been marked by silver. She touched his cheek and smiled. "I'm home now."
"I admit, I was worried. You're a day late."
Renee slid off her horse and came forward. She gave the proper bow to Al and spoke with her head lowered. "We had a complication, sire. A dragon in the Glendola valley. All their birds had been sent looking for aid, so I could not dispatch one. "
Al stiffened. "I see you will have many tales to tell me, sister."
Adi took his hand and squeezed. "I'm here safely because of Knight Wyvern."
He nodded in Renee's direction. "Thank you for your service, Knight. You will find the sisters of your order awaiting your presence in the barracks."
"As you will, sire." Renee took the reins of her great warhorse and walked away.
Adi opened her mouth to call Renee back. But she couldn't. There was no reason now that Al had dismissed her. She watched Renee go and her heart ached with each step.
*~*~*
That was how it ended. A 'thank you for your service' from the king and then off she went. Renee gritted her teeth, trying to damp down the anger that swirled with her sorrow. Knights never needed more than thanks. She was honor-bound to provide the service asked of her.
Still. It felt odd to not have Adi at her side after a week on the road together. Renee closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. She knew damn well why. Her heart had gotten involved.
"Renee!" A familiar and welcome voice shouted as Renee approached the Wolf Knight barracks. Each Knight order had their own place in the outbuildings of Castle Graymore. The standard of Isaura―the wolf's head over the full moon―hung from above the gate.
Her squire, Chloe, ran to meet her.
Renee smiled. Chloe had grown―they tended to do that, at that age. But where she'd sent a child on ahead to the castle, a young woman she found to greet her.
"Squire, it is good to see you." Renee broke protocol and scooped Chloe up in a hug, taking her feet off the ground and twirling her. She tousled Chloe's dark curls and straightened her squire's tunic. "You must have been bored without me to run your drills."
"No, sir. Lady Ellmore has been keeping me in my paces."
"Patrice is here?" Renee had not seen her mentor in many moons. Patrice Ellmore had avoided the tourney for the past several years, instead spending her time patrolling the kingdom.
"Indeed." Patrice came out and took Fleetfoot's reins. "See to your mount, my former squire. I taught you better than that."
Renee bowed, but took no offense at the words. Instead the familiarity of them filled her with warmth. She'd come home to her sisters, and despite everything, she still had them. "Come, Chloe. Let's see to Fleetfoot's comfort."
After Fleetfoot was rubbed down and settled in the stable attached to the barracks, Renee sought out Patrice. She found her watching the younger knights practicing their forms in the main courtyard. Knights from other orders were there as well, and they teased each other, arguing about who'd take what prize from the tourney.
"I'm surprised to see you here," Renee said quietly.
Patrice sighed. "I sensed trouble coming with the return of the princess. We are celebrating fifty years of peace, but how long will that last?"
"You know of the issue with Kurm, then?" Renee pitched her voice low.
"It's been brewing too long without resolution. The king should know better." Patrice shook her head. "We may be needed sooner rather than later."
Renee bowed her head. "Unless the princess makes a marriage to ensure the peace."
Patrice snorted. "You're putting an awful lot on that girl. Even if she does marry into Kurm, the poor thing, they'd only use her as a hostage. No, mark my words, there will be war soon enough. They want the ocean, lass, and we stand between them and the golden continent."
Renee let out a sound, unable to hold in her anguish. Patrice turned and gave her an assessing look. "Oh, child. Did you grow too fond of your charge?"
"I did my duty." But Renee would not deny her heart.
Patrice shook her head. "Duty is one thing. It has little to do with how you feel."
"It doesn't matter."
"Doesn't it?"
Renee shrugged. What could she do? Odds were she'd never see Adi again, except from the field while Adi watched the tourney beside the king in the royal box. "We have a competition to prepare for."
Patrice continued to stare at her. "Hmm. Indeed we do."
Chapter Eight
Adi found it easier to return to palace life than she'd thought. It helped that her old nurse had been in her rooms to greet her. And that Al, wise older brother, had given her a different set of chambers in the opposite wing of the castle. There would be no reminders of that horrible night from the past.
Still, it had felt a bit odd when her maid―a very young girl, who had nervous hands and was afraid she'd break the strings―dressed her in a very fine dress made of pale blue silk, embroidered with silver thread. Adi had worn nothing but homespun wool for the past five years. The fabric felt peculiar against her skin, as did the flimsy slippers the maid laid out for her. Adi missed her hard-worn boots.
"You look like a queen." Al had come to escort her to dinner.
"A princess," she corrected, adjusting the circlet in her hair. Adi sighed at her reflection one last time before taking his arm. "Though I don't feel much like one."
"Handing the king's seal around for reparations? Ordering a knight to defeat a dragon? Which of those actions feels unlike a princess to you?" He teased her gently.
Despite his words, she could see the worry in his eyes. Adi squeezed his arm.
She found out the reason for his concern the moment they stepped into the dining room. They were announced, and the crowd around the long table stood to greet them. Adi recognized very few of the nobles, but she soon realized not all of the guests were from Hedlund.
Adi committed the names to memory as she'd been trained to do, bowing to the ambassador from Alcione. But it was the last guest that bothered her.
"Princess Adelaide," Al said, using the proper formal address. "Allow me to introduce you to Archduke Simeon of Kurm."
She swallowed down bile, but managed to make the proper bow of respect. The archduke took her hand and bowed before it, his lips brushing the fabric of her gloves. She was too well disciplined to react.
"I am most pleased to meet you, Princess Adelaide." He had hair so blond it was almost white, and eyes just as pale. He wasn't an ugly man, no, but Adi didn't necessarily trust what a man looked like on the outside. "I hope we have many opportunities to speak."
She murmured the proper response and followed Al to the head of the table, where she sat to his left. Only when they sat did the servants begin with the first course.
Adi had to remind herself to only taste a bit of each dish. There would be five courses in a formal dinner such as this. She sipped at the salty fish soup, missing the simplicity of the monastery's cuisine. What she wouldn't give for plain stew and bread right now!
She noticed that the archduke kept sneaking glances her way. Once she caught his eye and he smiled at her.
Adi turned to Al and smiled as if she had something amusing to say. "Did you invite that man here for me?"
"They are all candidates," Al murmured, though his face showed no signs of his words. "By the end of this tourney, we will have found you a spouse."
The food soured in Adi's belly.
"They will be at the ball tomorrow, to celebrate the start of the tourney. That will give you a chance to get to know some of them better."
"And do you have a preference for the archduke?" She couldn't keep the steel out of her voice.
"Adi, you know I want the best for you. I've done the best I could with selecting reasonable candidates. None of them are over forty, at least."
She sat back as the servants brought in the next course―a tender looking bit of game, covered in a bright glaze and garnished with fresh fruit. Adi picked up her fork, but her mind whi
rled furiously. The ball was her chance. She wouldn't have to be the kingdom's pawn.
Adi decided it was time to start acting like a princess.
*~*~*
"Renee!"
Renee heard Chloe's screeching from deep inside the barracks, where she had staked out a quiet spot to work on her weapons and armor. Though technically part of Chloe's duties, Renee found it soothing to polish and clean her own gear.
She stood and came out to the main hallway. "Squire?" Renee raised an eyebrow as Chloe came galloping toward her.
Chloe blushed. "Sorry. Knight Wyvern. There's a page here to see you. From the castle."
Her words drew the attention of the others, and soon Renee was surrounded by her sisters, including Patrice and her squire. The boy―who'd followed Chloe into the barracks proper―looked at all of them and paled.
Renee bit her lip and crouched down to his level. "You have something for me, Page?"
Could it be a message from Adi? If so, this was a very public way to go about sending it. Renee did not think her princess foolish enough to do something like this.
"An invitation, my lord." The boy held out a crisp envelope, marked with the king's violet seal.
Renee took the cream-colored paper and stood, staring at it. "An invitation?" She cracked open the wax and stared at the beautifully scripted golden letters.
"What does it say?" Chloe stood on her tiptoes to get a better look.
"There's a ball tonight. And I'm invited?" She looked at the boy, unable to believe this.
"Yes, Lord Knight. You are to be honored for your exploits in returning Princess Adelaide. May I have your answer to take back to the castle?"
Renee couldn't speak at first. She hadn't been invited to such a thing since before her knighthood, when she was still her father's youngest daughter. It was the kind of thing she'd put behind her in this new life.
"Of course, she will attend." Patrice spoke for her, glaring at Renee.
The boy looked at Renee for confirmation. She nodded. "Yes. Yes, I will attend."
"Bring the invitation." The boy bowed and turned away, the color coming back to his cheeks. Perhaps he'd feared a refusal.
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