by Cheree Alsop
Something must have shown on my face because Father reached out and smoothed the hair from my forehead. “What is it?” he asked gently.
“I'm afraid of bad dreams,” I admitted softly, the all-too-real images from the day crowding my mind.
Father smiled fondly, then looked up and nodded at someone behind me. “I'll leave you in good hands,” he said. He rose, ruffled my hair, then left with Rory, Landis, and King Fasred.
“Still having trouble with nightmares?” a familiar voice asked. A thrill of warmth ran through my veins at the sound.
I gathered my strength to roll over and look at Andric, but he set a hand on my shoulder. “Stay,” he said quietly. “You need to rest.” He walked around the cot and pulled another one close so that he could sit next to me.
He looked as awful as I felt. His cheeks were pale and sunken with dark circles around his eyes as though he hadn't slept in weeks. I suddenly remembered his father and tears came to my eyes.
Andric’s expression tightened with concern. “What is it?” he asked quickly.
“Your father,” I said, my voice tight.
Pain washed through his eyes and then vanished as swiftly as it appeared. He took one of my hands. “He's in a better place now. I wish I could have stopped him, but I couldn't.” His voice dropped lower. “It's not something I can deal with right now.”
I nodded as tears pooled on the blanket that served as a pillow under my head.
Andric gave me a gentle smile and reached over to wipe the tears away. He winced at the movement and gritted his teeth as though fighting back a gasp of pain. I sat up quickly and my head swam. “You need the healer,” I said.
Andric shook his head. “It's not that bad; I checked it already. I can wait.” He motioned for me to lie back down.
I shook my head. “Only if you do, too.”
He sighed, saw that I wouldn't give in, and nodded. “Alright, but I should be helping my people.”
I smiled at him and settled back down on my pillow. “Trust me, Andric. You have two Kings, two Crown Princes, several Captains, and enough soldiers to keep this place running for months. No one will begrudge you a bit of sleep after all you've done for them.”
Andric settled down on the other cot, then turned and watched me, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“What?” I finally asked with a slight blush.
He gave me one of his true smiles. It made him look younger, less exhausted, as though he didn't have any walls or pain. I wished I could see that smile on his face forever. “I was just thinking how lucky I was to have kidnapped you.”
I laughed, then winced at the sharp pain that responded. Andric reached out and I took his hand. “It's the other way around,” I told him. “I'm the one who was lucky to get kidnapped.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
I smiled but remembered not to laugh. “Pretty sure.”
He grinned again, his eyes closing with weariness. “As long as you’re sure,” he said, his voice soft.
I listened as his breathing settled into a steady rhythm. His grip loosened and his hand fell to rest on my cot. I put my hand over his. “I'm positive,” I whispered.
Chapter 30
It was a good thing the wedding was outside; they wouldn’t have been able to accommodate all of the people and animals otherwise. It felt like a dream to walk under trees strewn with flowers and ivy, lit with lavender scented candles and tied with white and yellow bows. The setting sun lit the clearing in hues of orange, pale pink, and gold. Dancers spun to the sweet chords of stringed instruments flowing across the meadow. Light peals of laughter were a sweet harmony to the calls of evening birds and the chirp of crickets beginning their songs to the night sky.
I breathed in, enjoying the heady scents of the candles mixed with the exotic flowers from Mother's greenhouses that had been spread along the table tops. Closing my eyes, I tried to hold the scene in my mind so that I could remember it forever.
“Waiting for someone?” a voice teased in my ear.
I spun with a wide smile. “Just you,” I said, putting my arms around Andric's neck. The movement pulled at my ribs and made me wince. I tried to hide it, but Andric's shrewd eyes took in everything.
“Still a bit sore from your triumphant battle?” he asked. He lowered my arms and brought me close to his chest.
I ran a finger lightly down his side and smothered a laugh when he, too, winced. “And you're not?” I teased.
He stepped back and grinned at me. “It's best to keep you at a distance. You're dangerous.”
I laughed, ignoring my ribs' protest. “Oh, I'm the dangerous one? You brought half the animals in Denbria.”
He gave a thoughtful smile. “You think they came for me? It's not my fault your calling them to our aid also implied some invitation for them to stay on. Half the Antorans are now bonded with some sort of animal.” His smile turned sly. “And I hear it's spreading.”
I turned to see where he indicated. Hawkmaster Ayd and Crown Princess Nyssa sat under a tree with half a dozen curious children around them. Rush stood on Ayd's glove while a young snow hawk waited on Nyssa's covered knee. She ran her fingers through the soft feathers on its head and it nuzzled her cheek gently. She laughed, then turned to Ayd. He kissed her soundly; the children whispered to each other and giggled.
“Well, they're not the only ones,” I told Andric. I pointed in the opposite direction and watched his eyes widen in surprise.
Mother and Father had finished dancing and were making their way to one of the many tables surrounding the clearing. Rory sat at the one they headed to, with Kaerdra at his side. Between them, a beautiful red and brown bobcat kitten toyed with a feather from Kaerdra's hat. Kaerdra laughed and picked up the kitten to cuddle it under her chin. Rory jumped in surprise, then bent down and caught a little red fox that had been playing under the table. The kitten wriggled free and jumped down. After a second of squirming, the fox was put down to join it.
“How do your parents feel about that?” Andric asked in surprise.
I shrugged and indicated for him to keep watching. The fox and kitten ran around the table and charged straight at Mother and Father. Father laughed when they circled his feet, their little growls of mock fury audible in the air. He bent down and caught one in each hand. “Now, now,” we heard him scold gently. “If your humans are going to get married, you'll have to learn to get along.”
Andric and I laughed, the surprise on his face now matching the shock on my own.
The scent of roses drifted to my nose and I thought of my handmaiden back at Antor. “How’s Kimber getting along?” I asked.
Andric grinned. “She runs the greenhouses like she owns them.” He laughed. “And thanks to your arrangement, she practically does.”
“She’s a good friend.”
He nodded. “And she’s good at what she does. I’ve never seen a girl who’s happier.”
I grinned. “I don’t know about that.”
He smiled down at me, his dark eyes aglow with the sunset. My heart skipped sideways in my chest at the warmth and happiness in them.
The notes of a familiar tune struck up. I smiled at the song we had danced to at the dinner for the Voises. The young Antoran King held out his arm. “Shall we?”
I nodded and accepted his escort to the center of the meadow. I could feel the weight of the mountain lion claw where it hung around my neck under the light gold dress.
“You still wear it, don't you?” Andric asked, guessing my thoughts.
I nodded and touched its shape under the fabric. “It means a lot to me.”
“Me, too,” he replied.
I frowned slightly as he spun me in a slow circle. “What do you mean?” I asked when I came back around to face him.
He stopped dancing. “Well,” he hesitated, then dropped his eyes to my fingers entwined with his. “That was the moment I realized I couldn't live without you.”
I stared at him, speechless.
He continued. “I almost lost you, then. It was my fault you'd been in danger, and I vowed to get you as far away from me as possible if you survived.” His brow creased.
“And?” I asked.
His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I realized after you left Antor that I also couldn't live with you so very far away, in possible danger from attacks, avalanches, or. . . .”
“Or?” I pressed, my heart quickening.
“Or other boys,” he admitted finally. My mouth dropped open and he reached up to close it with a gentle finger. “I might not deserve you, but I vow to try.”
My breath caught with the implications. I glanced back at Father and saw that he was watching us with an arm around Mother. He smiled at me.
“I've spoken to your father,” Andric continued, “And though he's not exactly thrilled about the idea, he only gave me two conditions.”
“What conditions?” I asked breathlessly.
He smiled, his deep brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “That you loved me, and. . . .” He sighed, and I could see the second condition wasn't to his liking, but he would accept it. “That I wait until you are at least eighteen to give you a chance to be sure.”
My heart dropped slightly, but I put my arms around Andric's shoulders anyway, heedless of the pain in my ribs. “I do love you,” I whispered in his ear. “I love you more than I've ever loved anyone or anything in my life. And I'll wait for you until I'm eighteen.”
Andric held out his hand and I gasped to see a beautiful silver ring on a finely wrought chain sitting on his palm. He smiled at me, the smile that chased away all thoughts of sadness, and all of the trials and tragedies we had been through. He was truly happy. “For you, my Kit.” He stepped behind me and clasped the chain around my neck.
I looked over to see satisfied smiles on Mother and Father’s faces. Rory stared at me while Kaerdra grinned; she leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He laughed and turned back to her, tickling her with the feather.
Andric took my hand and spun me gracefully to face him. I set my head against his chest and danced slowly to the music. “I'm very glad I kidnapped you,” he whispered quietly into my hair.
“I love you, my thief prince,” I replied.
He laughed and spun me again, his eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and two amazing twin sons who fill every day with light and laughter. She married her best friend, Michael, who changes lives each day in his Chiropractic clinic. Cheree is currently working as a free-lance writer and mother. She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, and rocking her twins while planning her next book. She is also an aspiring drummer and bass player for her husband’s garage band.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming.
