“Ah, if you only knew how much I love you!” He took her in his arms and covered her face with kisses, then kissed her long and fully on the mouth. “Sweetheart! I love you so much, more than I can ever say. You are all I want, now or ever.” He drew back, a teasing look on his face. “There! Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Yes, and it is the same with me. I want only you.”
He eased his hold on her. “But there is still much I don’t understand. What is this about your half-brother?”
“ Oliver, the former steward, told me that my father had an illegitimate son, one he intended to name as his heir. I respect my father’s judgment, even if I don’t approve of his infidelity.” She frowned. “If only he can be found. . .”
“Then no one knows where he is?”
“Apparently not. I hope to be crowned soon, if no obstacles stand in the way. But I will reign as queen only until my half-brother is found.”
“And if he isn’t?”
“Oh, but he will be found!” She shook her head. “Of course, I have no idea how long that will take. Besides which, the Fomorian people will have to accept yet another monarch, a new king, once he returns to the capital. I will do my best to prepare my people for his arrival and coronation.”
“What if he doesn’t want to serve?”
“Surely he knows that my father intended to name him as heir. If he hadn’t wanted that honor, he would have refused.” She looked away, as if she could see into the future. “There was a time when I wanted to be queen of my country, more than anything in this world.” She smiled his way. “But now I know that titles and riches mean little, if I can’t have you. And no, I would never ask you to live in my country. You have an important position in your own.”
“Oh, my love, my dear love!” He pressed her to him again, whispering words in her ear, his hands moving across her back and down to her hips. “That you should love me that much!”
“I want only to be queen of your heart.” She smiled a little. “That sounds poetic, doesn’t it?”
“But you are queen of my heart, you are!”
She drew back and gazed at his face, those features she could never tire of seeing. “I’ll admit that I could easily find satisfaction in ruling my country, but that is nothing compared to loving you and knowing that you love me. And you will wait for me?”
“Never doubt it!”
“Let us hope it will be only a few months that you must wait.” She laughed with joy. “I should say ‘moonphases’ as you do in your country. So let us hope it is only a few moonphases before my half-brother is found. Then I will go to you.”
“May that day come soon.” He kissed her again with a passion so new, so wonderful, she thought she could die from wanting him. Her body pressed close to his, those strong arms binding her to him, she had never known such happiness. How she loved him, could never get enough of him.
She would count the days until she could go to him. Yet she feared she had a long time to wait.
Chapter Twenty-two
Eight moonphases later
“I thought this day would never come.” In her new gown of rose silk, Allegra clasped Rowan’s hand as they mingled among their guests. Their hand-fasting ceremony completed, she could scarcely believe she was his wife now, that she would live with him for the rest of her life, and love every minute of it. “Now that my half-brother is on the throne, I want only to be with you.” She shook her head. “What a long time it took us to find him and convince him it was safe to come to the capital.”
He drew her close. “Oh, the waiting was hard. Sometimes I almost gave up hope.” He smiled down at her. “If only I could kiss you now, but that will have to wait.” He winked. “Later, I’ll get as many kisses as I want.”
Her face warmed, and she turned to look at all the people in the vast hall. They had chosen to have their ceremony in the Hall of State building, a grand structure where so many people had gathered for their binding, Rowan’s friends and employees, a few of her childhood friends from Fomoria, and of course, Elsa.
She smiled and greeted everyone, her heart overflowing with happiness. Food and drink had been set out on tables, mead and elderberry wine, ham rolls, oat and raisin cakes spiced with cinnamon. Talk and laughter flowed around them as she took Rowan’s hand and introduced him to her friends from Fomoria.
Leaving her friends, she looked around the room, her gaze covering all the guests, over one-hundred, she felt sure, then turned back to him. “Didn’t you have a lady friend with light silvery hair?”
He thought for a moment. “Oh, Neala.” He looked at her quizzically. “How did you know about her?”
“You spent time with her at the queen’s party several moonphases ago. Don’t you remember?”
“Ah, yes. I invited her to our hand-fasting but obviously she didn’t come. She’s in Partholonia now, where her father is ambassador.” He grinned. “Jealous?”
“No, why should I be? You’re my husband now.” Her gaze covered the room again. “Oh, I see Elsa talking to an older gentleman. They look to be deep in conversation. Maybe something will come of it.”
“Rowan!” Donat Fand worked his way among the crowd and came forward to greet them. “Wishing you both much happiness.” His look settled on Rowan. “From what I hear, even as far away as I live, you’re managing the Ministry of State quite well.”
“Keeps me busy,” Rowan replied.
“And you have a lovely bride,” he said, turning to her. “Ah, madam, I recall the day you came to me, asking about this man of yours. I’m so glad everything worked out well for both of you.”
“As you see, but it’s been a long and difficult road.”
“Life is never easy, but now I mustn’t keeping you from your other guests,” he said, bidding them goodbye.
A short while later, the number of guests dwindled down to just a few, and soon, all the guests had left, first wishing them happiness and hopes of seeing them again.
“You got all of your belongings from your apartment?” he asked. Upon coming to Avador, she and Elsa had stayed at an apartment, and Elsa lived there still.
“Yes, the few possessions I already had, and of course, my new clothes that I bought here in the city. They’re in two bags that I left in your office.”
“Wait for me while I get them.”
She laughed. “As if I’m going anywhere.”
A few minutes later, he returned with the bags, light enough for him to carry both in one hand. Holding her hand, they walked out into the bright sunshine, the air still but redolent with the scent of roses and other flowers that bloomed here and there.
They passed other people along the way, men and women out for a stroll on this warm summer day, shoppers and businesspeople who swarmed the streets.
“Wait ‘til you see the house I bought for us,” he said as he guided her among the crowds. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to show it to you sooner, but everything happened so quickly after your arrival here. It came furnished, but you can change anything you want.”
She hesitated. “Can you–we–afford it?”
He squeezed her hand. “My darling, I’m not a pauper. I’ve been saving money over the years, and as Minister of State, I make a good salary.”
“I can hardly wait to see it. How far is it from here?” So many good things had happened since she’d come to Avador, as if life was making up for all the sorrows she had suffered.
“Just a short walk. You don’t mind walking, do you?”
“Not as long as I’m with you.”
They strolled along Aventina Way, where Talmora’s Temple stood, its spire reaching to the sky, and passed the Treasury of Knowledge and the hospital. Rowan pointed out all the sights to her, places she had only heard of from her previous stay near the capital. How different everything was from the capital of Fomoria.
Soon they reached a finer section of Moytura, where wealthy lawyers, merchants, and businessmen lived. Oaks and elm trees line
d both sides of the street, and the scent of sweet-smelling flowers blew their way as a breeze picked up. The sun was beginning to set, the air a bit cooler.
“Here we are.”
She stood outside and gazed at the house, a two-story residence of sandstone, its front windows reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Various bushes graced the front of the house, and a weeping willow stood in the center of a wide lawn.
“Ten rooms.” He grinned as they approached the front door. “Plenty of rooms for all the children we’ll have.”
Her face warmed again as he drew out a key from his tunic pocket and opened the door for her. “Just so you know, we do have servants, but they live in another part of the city. They
come here every morning and leave in the afternoon, all days except Sacred Day. So we have the house to ourselves,” he said as they stepped inside and he set her bags down. “How do you like it?”
She looked around at the spacious sitting room with its sofa and matching chairs. “Ah, this is lovely.”
“Not quite like a castle.”
“Oh, but castles are cold and drafty. This is much homier and nice.” A large dining room led off from the sitting room and a library off to the other side. The furniture appeared quite grand if different from what she was used to. But wonderful, just the same. Her heart was bursting with happiness. She wanted to dance, sing, tell her new husband how much she adored him and how much she loved all he had done for her. But she didn’t know where to start or how to tell him all that he meant to her. They had the rest of their lives ahead of them; plenty of time to tell him the many joys she held in her heart.
He stood behind her and drew her close, his hands cupping her breasts. “You can see the rest later. The bedroom is all I’m interested in now,” he said, kissing her shoulder. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Retrieving her bags and taking her hand, he led her upstairs and down a long hallway into a splendid bedroom with a large canopied bed and two tall chests. A chair occupied a far corner, and a large mirror hung on the wall between the chests.
He set her bags on the bed and eased her into his arms. He kissed her again and again, both of them hungry for each other. “Don’t make me wait long,” he murmured. “I’ve already waited too long.” After one more kiss, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
As she undressed and slipped into her new satin nightgown, she thought of all that had happened since first meeting Rowan, but more than anything, she thought of what was to come. How she loved him; how she wanted to please him. He was everything in life to her, past, present, and future. He was all she wanted, now or ever.
In only a short while, he knocked on the door and stepped inside, wearing only his trousers. She stared at his bare chest, his hard-muscled body. Her breathing came hard and fast.
“Sweetheart.” His hands on her shoulders, he looked down at her face. “You’re so beautiful, and I love you so. Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
She smiled, hoping to hide her nervousness. “Um, let me think. I suppose you have.”
“Then let me show you how much I love you.”
In no time at all, they lay in bed together, locked in each other’s arms. With his kisses, his fingers on her skin, his whispered love words in her ear, he brought her to the pinnacle of happiness. For long moments after, she held him close, returning his kisses and telling him she would love him for all time. “Until I die,” she whispered, kissing him again.
* * *
Several more moonphases later
“Time for me to leave now.” In their bedroom, Allegra watched Rowan as he packed his things for his journey to Fomoria. He would be gone for days, and she would miss him very much.
He took her in his arms. “I wish you could go with me,” he said, his look straying to her swollen belly.
“I wish I could, too. With our baby due in just three moonphases, it’s best that I don’t travel. Maybe later. Please give Gaspar my good wishes and tell this brother of mine that I hope I can visit him next year. In his last letter to me, he said things were going well in the country, and so far, peace has reigned between Fomoria and Elegia. He apparently followed my suggestion about a committee from each country working on a compromise concerning the gold mines.” She nodded. “He has governed firmly but justly.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting him. Too bad I couldn’t get away sooner, but too many other problems demanded my time at the Ministry.” He drew her close and kissed her on the forehead. “And of course, I hated to leave my wife.” He turned to go, but she touched his arm.
“One thing I wanted to tell you before you go. I just heard from Elsa yesterday. A retired wine merchant has proposed to her. They will wed soon.”
“Good. Are we invited to the hand-fasting?”
“I should hope so. Now, I know you want to be on your way. One more kiss, darling.”
He eased her to him, as close as her pregnancy would allow, and kissed her fully on the lips. His kiss aroused her as always; oh, she would never tire of this man of hers.
“Goodbye, sweetheart.” He grabbed his leather bag and walked out of the room and down the stairs. A few minutes later, she looked out from their bedroom window and saw him mounted on his horse, a mare he had recently purchased and kept in a stable he’d built on their property. As he always did, he looked up her way and waved. She returned the wave, missing him already but knowing she would be in his arms again before too long. She smiled to herself, recalling all the time they had spent together, especially their journey to the Otherworld and their return, riding on Grenalda the dragon’s back.
So much of their time together seemed like a dream. But it was all real and far better than a dream.
The End
Shirley Martin Avador Series
Published by Books We Love
Book 1 – Night Secrets
Book 2 – Night Shadows
Book 3 – Enchanted Cottage
Book 4 – Allegra’s Dream
About The Author
Born near Pittsburgh, Shirley Martin attended the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from ‘Pitt’, she taught school for one year, then obtained a position as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines. Based in Miami, she met her future husband there. After raising three sons, she devoted her time to writing, something she had always wanted to do.
With a vivid imagination and a love of storytelling, Shirley has always enjoyed writing. Her first published novel, Destined to Love, reflects her familiarity with western Pennsylvania, where she hails from, and her love of romance writing. From this historical romance, she blossomed out to other romance genres. One More Tomorrow is a vampire romance, one her publisher dubbed "a sizzling seller". With several fantasy novels and novellas, her writing should appeal to just about every reader of romance. Her books have been sold at Amazon and most major book stores and have garnered great reviews.
A widow, Shirley lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her two cats.
Note From The Publisher
We hope you have enjoyed your reading experience. Books We Love and the author would very much appreciate you returning to the online retailer where you purchased this book and leaving a review. Happy Reading Jamie and Jude
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