Penny.
Warmund sighed as he fiddled with the device in his hands. He wished he knew what to say to get her to see things from his perspective. He understood where she was coming from; familiarity was comfortable, and she was afraid of change. He couldn’t help but think that even if he was able to spark her magic, she might refuse to open a portal.
At the same time, though, she slept nestled against his side every night. Sometimes she cried from sheer exhaustion. When he comforted her, she never pushed him away. Several times they’d ended up having sex. Those times made his flames burn hotter, bracing him against the eventual burnout. She always seemed to want to tell him something but never could do it. Maybe she just wanted to convince him to let the past be the past and simply knew he didn’t want to hear it.
Other times, though, she was positively bubbly. Such as when she came home triumphantly wheeling a monstrous stroller that was as wide as a car.
“Room for all four of them,” she crowed when he asked what it was. “Now we can go on proper walks! Help me get them in. The babies have been cooped up long enough.”
Warmund smiled, not about to argue with that, and helped her buckle them in. The four babies didn’t look impressed with being restrained like that, but Warmund had to laugh at the sight of them. Warmth spread in his chest as he wrapped an arm around Penny’s waist.
“You know, sometimes I think there’s no way I could have this many babies at once permanently.” He kissed the top of her head. “But other times, I think… It’s nice.”
Penny peered up at him, chewing her lip. Her eyes were bright with hope; he recognized that look. Dread hit his stomach, making him pull away, even as she opened her mouth and started to speak. “Then are you thinking about giving up your idea of going back?”
“No.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Warmund…”
“Does Katrina,” he didn’t like the name on his tongue but used it anyway, “have siblings?”
Penny’s shoulders slumped.
“There. You see? That means that we’re not the parents she grew up with. So, we have to—"
“You’re all about changing time. If you can’t see that this might—"
The door burst open. Warmund whirled, raising his fists, while Penny let out a strangled shout of surprise. His eyes widened when the man who strode in sneered at them both. It was the leader of the assassins, only older; dark hair was peppered with grey, and lines creased the corners of his eyes.
“How did you,” Warmund started, then stopped when the assassin lifted a gun. With his flames so low, a gunshot might end up killing him.
“My mission was to end the royal family,” the assassin rasped. “And I have dedicated my life to that cause. You would have survived, Prince Warmund. But now? Now I’m going to kill you, too. And when I return to Byrelmore, I will kill your father, and then the dragons will all burn in their own flames!”
Warmund’s heart seized. At that moment, he didn’t care about anything else—he couldn’t let his father be killed. He launched himself forward, even as the gun went off. A whistle burned in his ears, then the shattering of a window told him that the bullet had missed. He grabbed the assassin’s wrist, twisting sharply. The gun dropped and went off again. Warmund punched the man in the stomach, then whipped him around and threw him across the room. Penny screamed.
“Get the children out,” Warmund shouted to her. He leapt across the room, kicking the assassin in the face. The babies all screamed, but he forced himself to block out the noise.
The assassin drew a knife and slashed at him. Warmund jumped out of the way. He reached to snatch the assassin’s wrist again, but the assassin rolled. He was still limber for an old man and was easily able to dodge Warmund’s second attack. The assassin rolled to his feet and crouched, panting, as they faced off. Warmund didn’t take his eyes off him, even as the thought that the assassin might not be alone flitted through his mind.
Had he sent Penny out just for her to be captured and killed by more assassins?
The one he faced spat out a mouthful of blood and swung his knife again. “When I’m finished with you, I’m going to kill your mage-mate. She’ll scream before she dies. And then your children and your sister will die. I’ll burn their bodies like the trash they are and—"
Warmund didn’t listen to another word. With a howl, he flung himself across the room. He knocked the assassin’s hand aside and punched him in the face. He twisted the man’s wrist, snapping it, and the knife clattered to the floor. Warmund threw him to the floor and punched him in the face and ribs, over and over. A lifetime of pain and agony fueled him, his fires burning hotter and hotter.
“You won’t hurt them,” he screamed at the assassin. “I won’t let you hurt them! You’ve done enough. Why? Why did you do this? All these years! All these years it was my fault!” He stopped punching the assassin and grabbed him by the collar, shaking him hard. “I loved my sister more than anything. And it was my fault that she was taken. I tried so hard to save her and I couldn’t. For centuries I lived hoping she was alive and thinking she was dead. Then, when I found her again, what would I do? Nothing!”
The assassin stared up at him. Blood gushed from his broken nose. Confusion and pain shone from his eyes. Warmund didn’t care.
“I gave up everything for the chance to get her back. Do you understand me? I gave up my position, my wealth. My father!” Tears burned his eyes even as he fought them. “I betrayed my father on the slim chance that I might get her back. And for what? It was for nothing. I lost my father for nothing. He can’t ever forgive me, I can’t ever forgive myself. I just want my family back!”
The assassin didn’t answer; not that Warmund expected him to. He panted, staring down at his enemy and seeing his own face in the stranger’s visage. And it made so much sense. All this pain, all this agony. It wasn’t just because of Wildref. It wasn’t just because he failed her.
He wanted to undo his actions. He wanted to be able to go home. He wanted his father back.
The assassin started to laugh. “Who knew? The dark prince is nothing more than a weakling.”
Warmund snarled. “How did you get here? You planned to get back to Byrelmore—how? What do you have that can open a portal again?”
The assassin spat at him. Warmund growled and lifted his fist again. The assassin’s hand shot out. It clutched around the knife and slashed out. Warmund reeled back, crying out as the blade missed his throat by half an inch. Then the blade twirled, facing down. Warmund cried out and reached to stop him, but he was too slow. Even as his hand closed around the hilt, the assassin plunged the knife into his own neck.
He was dead in seconds.
Warmund released the body. He let out a pained, frustrated howl. The assassin’s dead eyes stared at him triumphantly.
“No!” Warmund shouted. “I need answers!”
He grabbed the body and shook it roughly. As he did so, something fell from the assassin’s pocket; the device that Warmund himself had made. It was old and scuffed but clearly the same one. His heart jumped to his throat as he snatched it up; the thrum of magic was still strong and alive in it. He held his breath as he gazed down at the device.
“Yes,” he breathed.
Leaving the body behind, Warmund tore from the abandoned house. He was covered in blood but paid that no attention as he tore after Penny. He could see her, struggling with the heavy stroller, several blocks away. Warmund’s heart was as light as air as he raced after her, his legs pumping hard.
“Penny,” he called when he was close enough.
She turned, and even from this distance he saw the relief on her face. She waited for him, and when he caught up, he grabbed her in his arms and pressed a firm kiss to her mouth. She clung to his shirt, whimpering as she returned the kiss deeply and passionately.
When he broke the kiss, he held up the device triumphantly. “I found our way back. All we have to do is activate this and it’ll take us back to Byrelmo
re.”
Penny’s eyes widened. He moved to kiss her again, but this time she stepped back. She held up a hand, staring at the device. Then her gaze slid back to his face and her lips pressed tight. “Warmund, we have to talk.”
Chapter Fourteen
Penny
With a dead body in the abandoned house, there wasn’t really anything for Penny to do but bring Warmund back to her family home. Entering the building made her shiver. All the memories she had of this place. It made her stomach cramp, remembering how she used to think the way her parents raised her was normal. But there wasn’t anything normal about it. She understood that now, and even the good memories were tainted by the knowledge that her life could have been so much happier.
Still, it was a safe space for them to talk. She got the babies settled while Warmund showered. When he was done, Lisa and Mark were happily drinking from their bottles, Alex was sleeping and Wildref was content just being held.
“I remember that old building burning down around this time,” she told him, not looking at him. “So, it won’t be that difficult to cover up our having been there. I remember the body being found, too…”
Warmund nodded, then settled in the chair opposite her. “But there was something you wanted to talk about.”
She sucked in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. After everything they had been through together, she could tell him now. Before this, she wasn’t so sure about him. Didn’t know what sort of man he really was behind those hard walls. Didn’t know if he was the kind to be gentle or if those bad boy vibes she got from him were all he had. But these last few days had been… so amazing. It felt odd even thinking that, but it was true. He was so gentle and sweet. So good with the children. He was like a baby whisperer, able to get them to quiet from crying when Penny didn’t have any clue why they were so upset.
“You have to understand something,” she said slowly, looking at her twisted hands. “My childhood wasn’t that great. I had good times, of course, but when push came to shove, it wasn’t good. My parents were so strict, so constricting. My father saw things his way and refused to see from any other perspective.”
Warmund reached for her hand. “I’m sorry that you had to go through that.”
“Which is why I need you to listen to me.” She turned her hand to twine her fingers through his. “And I need you to be honest with me. Why are you so determined to change things? Wildref—Katrina grew up healthy and happy. She had parents who loved her, who helped her flourish. She loves her parents. She loved her childhood. I know that you love her, and I know she’d grow up loved by Indulf, but can you say she’d be happy? With the pressure of being the queen one day, knowing that there are people who want her dead?”
Warmund flinched. He looked away, breathing out a shaky breath. “It was my fault that she was taken in the first place. I failed to protect her.”
“But you did protect her.” Penny released his hand and gently passed the baby into his arms. “Look at her. Does this look like a baby that hasn’t been protected?”
Warmund stared down at his infant sister and didn’t speak.
“Look… I know it hurts that you weren’t able to see her grow up. You loved her and took care of her. If that happened with any of my babies…” Her throat closed up, and she had to take a moment to clear it. “But if I knew they were happy in that life, I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t take that away from them.”
Warmund closed his eyes and bowed his head. “… I betrayed my father.”
Penny reached out for him.
“I betrayed him. I was so determined to get Wildref back that I betrayed him. He was right to banish me… he should have had me executed. I committed treason. He could have died. Now… people keep telling me that he wants me to come home, but how can he?” He looked up at her, tears on his face. “How can he want a traitor son? I’m useless to him, he can never trust me. We can never be father and son again.”
“Yes, you can.” Penny squeezed his hand. “Listen. Indulf does want you to come home. People wouldn’t be telling you that if it wasn’t true. He loves you. He can forgive you because that’s what fathers do… and you’ll know that soon enough.”
Warmund blinked at his tears and gave her a confused look.
Penny sucked in a deep breath. Her hands were starting to shake, but she forced that aside. Whatever Warmund decided to do next, he needed to know all the facts. “You’re a father, too,” she murmured. “Alex is your son. Remember, we met at a bar and I had my car outside and we went out there and we got it on and then the cops came and—”
“Oh.” Warmund’s eyes widened. “Oh! I… I forgot about that… There were so many—”
He cut himself off and Penny flinched, but it didn’t surprise her. She chewed her lip as she stared worriedly at him. “He’s your son.”
“How… how long have you known?”
Penny shrugged uneasily. “Shortly after we arrived in Byrelmore.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t know if you’d believe me,” Penny said in a rush. Warmund hadn’t taken his hand away and she clung to it, hoping that it meant he would forgive her for keeping such a huge secret from him. The warmth of his hand in hers gave her strength, and she continued. “I thought that if I told you, you’d think I was just trying to convince you to give up your mission. But I’m not. It’s true, Alex is your son.”
Warmund’s head turned, staring at the sleeping baby.
“If you change things, really change them, then what happens to him? You’ll have no reason to ever go to Earth, and he’ll never be born. Please. Please. I know it hurts you, but it’ll hurt so many more people if you insist on changing everything. We don’t know what will happen. So many happy couples will never meet. Their children will never be born.”
I’d never meet you. And I’m starting to think you’re the only person for me. She could have laughed at that. Starting? No. She was so far in over her head that she couldn’t breathe. If he left her now, it would wreck her. She’d never thought she needed a man… but she needed him.
“I didn’t tell you,” she continued, “because I didn’t know what sort of man you really were. I wanted to trust you and believe that you wouldn’t let anything happen to us. But everything you were doing—”
“Was putting your life, your future in jeopardy.” Warmund’s voice was pained. His expression twisted in internal conflict as he looked between Wildref and Alex. “I put all of your futures in jeopardy. It’s just like when I decided to rebel. I wasn’t thinking about the consequences of my actions. I was just feeling my own pain and doing what I thought I needed to do to ease that.”
Penny held her breath. Did that mean that she had finally gotten through to him?
His eyes closed briefly and when he opened them again, the depth of his pain took her breath away. “I had forgotten that there was genuine kindness in this world. I forgot that it wasn’t all about me. I’m sorry, Penny. I’m sorry for pulling you and the children into this. And I’m sorry…”
He wasn’t going to listen. He was going to go ahead with his plans, regardless of the outcome.
“I’m sorry I put your future in jeopardy.” He took a shuddering breath and held Wildref closer to his chest. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t able to save your mother. I’m sorry that I did all of this… and in the end, it’s not going to change anything. But I can’t… God, as much as I wish I could, I can’t. Not now. I can’t take away the future. I can’t…”
Relief washed over Penny, and she let out a choked sob. She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around him. She held him tight as his body trembled. She couldn’t imagine how difficult this choice must be for him.
“When we get back…” Warmund’s voice shook. “Will you come with me to face my father?”
“Yes,” Penny promised without hesitation. “Of course, I will. You’re not alone anymore.”
Warmund shifted Wildref so he could hold her with
one arm and put his other arm around Penny’s waist. He pulled her in close as he gazed up at her face. “And you aren’t, either. From here on out, I’ll be with you. Every step of the way.”
The promise made a lump rise in her throat. Penny swallowed hard and nodded. She hugged him tight as she kissed him. Now, all there was to do was to find Katrina’s parents… they’d be waiting for her, whether they knew it yet or not.
Chapter Fifteen
Warmund
It took them a month to track down the parents that Katrina had grown up with. They were older than Warmund had realized, but what he saw while watching them was positive. The connection and love between them were clear to see. That in itself was enough to quiet almost all the doubts he had left. Still, going through all the motions to officially give Wildref up to become Katrina hurt.
He held his precious sister tight in his arms while Penny walked with him toward the house. The couple was already waiting for them. This was it. This was him giving up his sister to a life of financial hardship and normalcy, instead of having everything she needed, a princess with a kingdom at her feet. His steps dragged. It went against everything he had been working toward for the past few centuries of his life. Penny put a hand on his arm, bolstering him. It went against everything, yes, except for one thing.
He wanted Wildref to grow up with what she deserved. And she deserved a life that was full of happiness. This was that life.
All the papers were signed. The adoption agency worker was in the car, waiting with the other three babies. Penny and Warmund had requested to do this on their own. His heart ached with every step he took. When he glanced at Penny, he saw tears on her face as well.
“This is the right thing to do,” he murmured, more to himself than her.
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