A knock at the door interrupted them. They pulled away from each other, and Alexander wiped at his eyes.
“Enter,” Faelen called out.
The door opened slowly to reveal Maxen. He stopped a few paces into the sitting room. “Am I interrupting? Meriall showed me the way here, but I can go…”
“No,” Alexander said. “Come in. I’ll give you two some time. I need to go find out what actually happened.”
“Oh, Alexander, I’m sorry.” Faelen hadn’t been thinking. No one had gone to tell Alexander and Elodie anything after the rest of them had gotten more information from Savarin. “I can tell you.”
Alexander shook his head. “It’s all right. Stay with Maxen. I’ll go see Philip and Amory and make a nuisance of myself.”
Faelen laughed, which had probably been Alexander’s intention. Alexander gave him an impish grin and disappeared out the door, shutting it behind him.
Maxen came closer and put his hands to Faelen’s arms, rubbing up and down gently. “All right?”
“Yes, we’ve made up.”
“I’m glad.”
“He’s an important part of my life, the other half of me. You’re going to see a lot of him, you know.”
“I know.” Maxen drew him closer. “I think we can get along, maybe even like each other when he begins to trust that I’m not going to hurt you.”
Faelen smiled and put his hands on Maxen’s chest, Maxen’s heartbeat strong and steady beneath his fingers. His own was racing; he shouldn’t feel so breakable. “I would like that. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. I’m sorry I blurted it out in front of…everyone.”
“I like that you did.” Faelen laughed, joy and relief filling him up inside. He went up on his toes and kissed Maxen, pouring his love, himself, into the kiss.
Several days later, Faelen was making himself as unobtrusive as possible next to Alexander in a corner of the princes’ study. More people than usual filled the room—Philip and Amory at their desks, Etan perching on a corner of one, Cathal with Flavian at his side, and Meriall and Elodie at the small table near Faelen. Vrai was present too. He’d swept into the palace that morning, dusty from travel, demanding to know what had happened. Apparently, the incident—as they’d all begun to call it—hadn’t passed him by. He’d spent his time as a cat hiding under a bed, unable to remember if he’d locked the bedchamber door. Most of the bluster had gone out of him once they explained and he learned he hadn’t been the only one affected.
Philip and Amory were meeting with Loriot and Savarin about the incident, and they’d asked everyone to attend, since it had affected them all. Faelen certainly wasn’t about to turn down the invitation.
“It was as I thought,” Savarin said. “The spells pulled on your Talents when they detected the intrusion in the barrier and forced the change. It shouldn’t have happened, but the spells and your Talents are tangled up together in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Lord Faelen felt something when I made the alterations to the spells. I probably should have seen that there was more at work then.”
Philip’s sharp gaze found Faelen in the corner. “Faelen?”
“I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I did sense something.” Faelen bit his lip. “Afterward, it seemed as if it was more difficult to change back, and I could feel the protection spells more, but I thought I was imagining it.”
“Faelen, why didn’t you tell us?” Amory asked, his tone as gentle as Philip’s gaze was sharp.
“I really did think it was all in my head. Because I was thinking so much about what Master Savarin did.” He looked around the room at everyone, wishing he could hide behind Alexander. “I’m sorry.”
“I’d like to speak with you in more detail about it, Lord Faelen,” Savarin said, a request that seemed more like an order.
“Of course, Master Savarin.”
“I apologize as well,” Savarin said. “I didn’t see the possibility, but I’ll be much more careful as I continue to study the spells.”
“I’m tempted to tell you to stop, but I know that isn’t an option.” Philip was quiet a moment and then turned to Loriot. “Captain, what can you tell us about the prisoner?”
Despite the unforeseen consequences, the protections had otherwise worked as Savarin intended, and the army had taken a man into custody.
“He has so far refused to talk, so we don’t know anything about him,” Loriot said, his frustration evident. “Lord Marcus is taking over the questioning.”
Philip frowned. None of them liked hearing that nothing had been learned about the prisoner or the potential danger he might present. “All right. Keep us informed.”
The meeting adjourned shortly after, and Faelen slipped away before anyone could corner him. He didn’t want to talk about his mistake; he was beating himself up over it enough as it was. What he wanted was Maxen, and luckily for him, Maxen had said he would come to the palace when he was done at his office.
Faelen met Tristan striding along the corridor in the opposite direction.
“Meeting over?” Tristan asked.
“Yes, but Etan was still there a moment ago.”
Tristan nodded. “I left Maxen in your rooms.”
Faelen had hoped that Tristan’s presence meant Maxen was there too. He hurried the rest of the way to his rooms and practically flung himself through the door. Maxen stood from where he’d been sitting on the couch, dropping a book to the cushions. “Faelen? Everything all right?”
He took a long breath and walked straight to Maxen. “It is now.”
Faelen lifted his face and was rewarded with the kiss he sought. Maxen wrapped him up in his arms in that gentle, reverent way he had that always made Faelen feel precious. That was unlike anything Faelen had ever experienced. For long moments, they kissed, just holding on to each other, and then Maxen pulled back and scooped Faelen up into his arms. Faelen let out something between a yelp and a laugh, his upset draining away in the joy of being with Maxen, the comfort of being in his arms.
Maxen carried him into his bedchamber, kicking the door shut, and laid him on the bed. He followed Faelen down, stretching out on top of him, propped up on his elbows. Faelen urged him closer, lifting arms and legs to cradle him and his face for a kiss. He couldn’t relax entirely into the kiss, though. His mind was spinning, turning, all around one single thought that had plagued him since he and Alexander spoke the night of the incident.
Faelen shivered as Maxen moved to kiss and nibble along his neck. He moaned and arched beneath Maxen, but he wouldn’t—couldn’t—be distracted. “Maxen?”
“Hmm?”
“Maxen. Marry me.”
Maxen lifted up. There was so much emotion swirling in his eyes, but then happiness washed through everything else. “Yes.”
Faelen could breathe again, and he was sure he wouldn’t be able to contain his joy; he was going to fly apart. But Maxen would hold him together. Faelen slid a hand behind Maxen’s neck and guided him down into a kiss. They were both still smiling as their lips met.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NineStar Press for giving Tournai a home, and to Elizabetta and everyone who worked on this book with me for helping to make it shine. As always, I am so grateful to my mom and to my dear friend Jena for their constant love and support (and in the case of Mom, her time sent proofreading!). I couldn’t do this without them. And always, I’m grateful for you, dear readers. I hope you enjoy your time in Tournai.
About the Author
Antonia Aquilante has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and, at the age of twelve, decided she would be a writer when she grew up. After many years and a few career detours, she has returned to that original plan. Her stories have changed over the years, but one thing has remained consistent—they all end in happily ever after.
She has a fondness for travel (and a long list of places she wants to visit and revisit), taking photos, family history, fabulous shoes, b
aking treats (which she shares with friends and family), and of course, reading. She usually has at least two books started at once and never goes anywhere without her Kindle. Though she is a convert to e-books, she still loves paper books the best, and there are a couple thousand of them residing in her home with her.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Antonia is living there again after years in Washington, DC and North Carolina for school and work. She enjoys being back in the Garden State but admits to being tempted every so often to run away from home and live in Italy.
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AntoniaAquilanteAuthor
Twitter: @antoniaquilante
Website: www.antoniaaquilante.com
Other books by this author
The Dragon’s Devotion
Also Available from NineStar Press
Connect with NineStar Press
Website: NineStarPress.com
Facebook: NineStarPress
Facebook Reader Group: NineStarNiche
Twitter: @ninestarpress
Tumblr: NineStarPress
The Merchant's Love Page 34
