Saving the King (A King's Tale Book 1)

by Leilani Love

  Bryan listened to the woman above him sleeping soundly. Her breath was even, telling him that she was in a deep sleep and wasn’t presently plagued by nightmares. He hated that she was troubled in dreams, but until she awoke, he couldn’t think of how to help her.

  Bryan’s mind wandered for a bit before he finally fell asleep. His dreams were haunted by the mysterious woman in his bed who had appeared so suddenly in his life.

  The sound of the baby making little happy noises woke him up. He rolled to the side to see Snow leaning over the baby, tickling him with his fur. He smiled, out of all the wolves during the day, the big male appeared to be bored with the baby. It was nice to see the old guy more interested than he appeared. After a minute, Snow took a step back and gave him a look that made him laugh out loud.

  “Too bad, old dog, I saw you playing with the baby,” Bryan said, as he got up to check on the little lad. He patted Snow on the head before picking up the baby, “What do you think, Snow? Does he look like an Arthur?”

  He fed and changed the baby before laying him on the floor, on the rug. Arthur was an easy baby with the help of the wolves who often seemed to like to lie next to him. Snow, pretending indifference, walked to the corner of the room to lie down. “You’re already caught, Snow. You can lay with him.”

  Snow huffed and put his head on his paws. When he laughed, he noticed how Arthur was startled by the noise. He had so many questions about Arthur. There was a cut on his hand that, even though he thought the baby was young, was totally healed and a mark on his backside. It reminded Bryan of a brand marking, but that was ridiculous, right? Branding a baby was barbaric, and if that was the case, did the woman in his bed steal him from the men he had saved them from.

  They had gotten into a bit of a routine. After he fed and changed the baby, he put him on the rug and watched him. Besides crying, the baby had a few sounds that he interpreted to mean the baby was happy. He didn’t stay awake very long, and he ate often. Bryan smiled down at him thinking that if the baby kept eating like he was, he would grow up quickly.

  When Arthur started to fuss, he picked him back up and walked him around the room, until he felt him fall back to sleep. Taking him back to the room, he laid him in his bed. Since he wasn’t sure how long they were going to be here, he started making a bed for him. The wood already cut, Bryan spent the little bit of time he had carving everything in the living room. Bryan had a small farm for his food, and animals, but traded mostly in furs and his woodworking. The bed would be finished in a day, two, max, if the woman or infant needed his attention more than normal.

  He sighed, glancing at the door to his room. The woman in his bed was beautiful, and he had a hard time believing that she, or the baby, would not be missed. She was stunning and based on her soft skin and fine clothes, she was a highborn lady. That came with another set of problems. If he got caught with her in his bed, her reputation would be ruined. He would have dressed her, but with the continued baths and making sure her needs were met, it was just easier not to worry about putting something on and off.

  It had been more than ten days since he’d brought her home, and Bryan was just starting to think he was about to lose her when her fever finally broke. She hadn’t awoken yet, but when he found her covered in sweat, he gave her a warm bath. A sigh of relief escaped him, as he glanced down at the baby in his arms. “Arthur, the little lass is going to pull through.”

  The baby made a noise, and he laughed, “I’m happy about that too.”

  Arthur was strong, and the two of them had formed a bond of sorts. He seemed to understand that Bryan had no idea what to do with him, besides feeding and changing him. He helped his mother and his sister with his nephew but never for a full day. The rest of his baby experience came from the animals he had raised. Besides his three horses, he had several pigs, cows and goats. He didn’t count the chickens, since he never really did anything with them after they had hatched.

  Bryan knew it was best to feed the baby before he even attempted to take care of the woman in his bed. As good as Arthur was, he definitely didn’t appreciate having his breakfast pushed back. When Arthur scrunched up his face letting him know he was going to express his unhappiness with the situation, Bryan chuckled. “I got you some fresh milk this morning, no need to throw a fit.”

  He didn’t want to leave her alone but knew better than to wait. As he sat in the chair feeding him the milk, Bryan thought about the baby in his arms. Every day, he seemed to get just a bit stronger. He wondered how long it would be until he started holding his own head up or trying to walk. An image of him trying to chase the wolves around made him smile. “I have a funny feeling you’re going to be a handful when you get bigger.”

  The wolves had left this morning to go on a hunt and the house felt empty. It had been snowing for a few days and the wolves were eager to go out for a run, making the house feel quieter than normal. The baby fed, he took him with him into the room.

  As he laid Arthur in the bed, Bryan smiled. “Soon we will find your parents. They must be worried about you.”

  Bryan had brought in a basin of water and a cloth earlier before the baby had demanded his attention. There was something compelling about the woman in his bed. The few times she had opened her eyes, she had been in the middle of a nightmare, and he couldn’t make sense of what she had been trying to say. She seemed to be mad at Merlin and frightened of the demon men who were chasing her. She had asked him about the baby several times, even asking if he was an angel sent to protect them. Bryan had chuckled thinking his sister would have laughed at hearing him being called an angel.

  A hand reached out and grabbed his as her clear, golden-brown eyes opened and met his for the first time. “Where is Arthur? Is he safe?”

  Chapter 5

  Katrina awoke to find herself staring into a pair of dark brown eyes. She knew she didn’t know him, but she recognized his face. His long, dark hair hung just past his shoulders. Even though he needed a shave, she couldn’t deny how handsome he was. He had a strong jawline and full lips that looked like they were meant for sin.

  His lips curved into a smile and she blushed, wondering if he’d read her thoughts. “You’re finally awake, lass.”

  She tried to sit up, her body shaking. When the cold air hit her chest, Katrina glanced down to realize she was naked. Panic overtook her, as she used the blanket to try and cover herself. “Who are you? Where are my clothes?” she asked him, as a panicky feeling began to overtake her.

  The man took a small step back and put his hand up. She had a funny feeling he meant to be comforting. “Easy, lass you’re safe. I found you and the little one out in the snow. Do you remember being attacked in the woods?”

  Katrina nodded and whispered, “I remember. Where’s Arthur? Where’s the baby?”

  She watched him move and noticed a small bed close to hers. She watched as he reached into the bed and picked up the baby. Letting out a sigh of relief, she forgot about her modesty and reached out her arms to hold him. The man smiled putting Arthur in her arms. “He is a good lad. Only really fusses when he wants something.”

  Katrina held him close, as she kept an eye on the man. The room was dark but warm. She noticed that the room had its own fireplace. The bed was big and stuffed with feathers, but his clothes were plain. A simple linen work shirt and a pair of leather britches. He wasn’t poor, but he definitely was not a lord.

  “Thank you for taking care of him,” she said watching the baby in his arms. “How long have we been here?”

  “Ten days,” the man told her. She took note of the way he watched her. “Why were those men attacking you?”

  Katrina looked away from Arthur and up at the man. She didn’t know for sure, but she had a funny feeling those were Morgana’s men. “I don’t know.”

  He raised one eyebrow at her. Her cheeks heated up and she looked away. “Thank you for helping us. We were going to Camelot. I appreciate all your help, but I need to get him back.”

&
nbsp; “Arthur’s parents are in Camelot?”

  She nodded touching Arthur’s cheek and he made a soft sound. “His parents left before me. I need to get him back to them.”

  He nodded, and she got the feeling that he didn’t totally believe her. “Your body is probably weak from the fever. You will need a few days before you can travel. I’m going to make you some stronger broth than what I’ve been giving you. I wouldn’t get up just yet.”

  Katrina nodded, adjusting the blankets again. “Thank you.”

  She watched him start to walk out of the room and called out, stopping him. “What is your name?”

  “Bryan,” he said over his shoulder.

  Katrina watched him walk out of the room. He was a big man. She noticed his doorway was taller than most, so he wouldn’t have to stoop down. The baby moved in her arms, and she smiled down at him. “Hello, my little prince,” Katrina said.

  When Katrina was tasked with taking the baby, she’d felt annoyed. She was one of the Queen’s personal ladies in waiting. A close friend to the Queen shouldn’t have to do menial tasks like running an errand, but when she’d awoken and thought she’d lost the baby… Katrina had never felt so panicked. There was a sense of relief when Bryan had picked up the baby, and she saw that he was safe.

  “Has Bryan been taking good care of you?” When the baby squirmed in her arms, she carefully put him down next to her. Despite being asleep for a few days she, realized she was tired. She turned on her side and watched as Arthur made little faces and cooing noises.

  The smell of beef hit her, and she felt her stomach grumble. As she put her head back down on her pillow, she found herself hoping she could keep her eyes open long enough to eat. With her hand on the baby, she started to feel her eyes close as sleep pulled her under.

  Not sure how long she’d slept, Katrina awoke to find herself alone in the bed. Arthur was no longer lying near her. She could hear the soft sound of breathing near her. She moved over to the edge and looked down to see Bryan lying atop a pile of furs.

  Without his questioning gaze, she was able to study him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his long, dark hair had just the hint of a curl to it that made her want to touch it. Besides being tall, he was also muscular. The fire in the room gave her just enough light that she could trace his muscles. His blanket was low on his hips, and her eyes followed the muscle on his stomach all the way down.

  His chest wasn’t the first naked one she had ever seen, but it was the only one she couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away from. Katrina fought the urge to reach down and touch him before some movement caught her eye making her jump and forcing her gaze back up to his face. His eyes were open and staring at her. Her entire face felt hot as he smiled up at her. “You look hungry, lass. Can I get you something to eat?”

  Katrina started to shake her head when her stomach grumbled at the thought of something inside it. With only the light from the fire, she was sure he couldn’t know what she had been thinking about. He chuckled softly, and when he stood up, she found herself a little disappointed that he was wearing a pair of soft leather pants that were unlaced and hung low on his waist.

  She pretended to busy herself, as she adjusted herself in bed. She tried to sit up and was surprised when he gently slid his arm under her back to help her up. He adjusted the pillows, so she could sit up on her own and lean on them. Katrina held the blanket up making sure she stayed covered, even as she realized he had seen her naked.

  “Thank you,” Katrina whispered, as she noticed the faint shadow of hair growth on his strong jawline.

  Bryan turned to look at her, his face so close to hers that she had to fight the urge to reach out and touch his cheek. He was handsome enough, that if she had seen him inside the castle, she would have noticed him. She would never have talked to him though. As the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, he would have never been allowed close to her.

  “What’s your name, lass?” Bryan asked, as he straightened up.

  Katrina opened her mouth to tell him it was Lady Armstrong, when she realized she didn’t really know who he was. Was he indeed her rescuer? “Katrina,” she said, deciding at this point, telling him her first name wouldn’t put them in any more danger.

  “Katrina,” he repeated with a smile.

  Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. He left her then, to think about her reaction to him. The house was quiet. She could hear him moving around in the other room. In a few minutes, he came back with a big wooden bowl in his hands.

  When she reached out to grab the bowl, he shook his head. “No, let me. You’re still very weak.”

  Realizing he was right, she nodded. She watched as he gathered a spoonful. “I kept it over a low fire. It is warm but not hot,” he said, as he brought the spoon to her mouth.

  Katrina opened her mouth dutifully feeling like a small child. She couldn’t even remember the last time she hadn’t fed herself. It smelled wonderful, and when he fed her that first spoonful, she was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. She moaned softly, smiling at him. “It’s delicious.”

  He sent her a small smile and continued feeding her. The room was so quiet that the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth was the only sound in the room. Katrina kept from staring at his bare chest and instead examined the room. The bed was big, several trunks were lining the wall. She was surprised to see there was even a window, with glass. Glass was expensive, which made her even more curious about the man feeding her.

  Despite how hungry she was, she was full after just a few bites. When he raised another spoonful, she shook her head. “No, thank you. I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

  He nodded putting down the spoon. “You ate more tonight than you have been,” Bryan said with a look of understanding.

  She nodded, realizing she needed to relieve herself. “I umm…” she stammered a bit unsure how to ask. She didn’t want to think about the fact that this man had been taking care of all of her needs for the last ten days.

  Bryan frowned before a look crossed his face. “Let me grab you one of my shirts, and I will help you.”

  Bryan went to one of the drawers lining the walls, and after a bit of searching brought her a shirt. It was a simple white shirt and after he handed it to her, he turned around to let her put it on. She could smell him on it. He smelled woodsy and manly.

  After she was covered, she cleared her throat to let him know she was finished. Bryan reached out to help her up and hold her steady, as she felt her legs shake under her. Her legs felt weak, yet they firmly held her up, so she took a step to test her strength. Bryan’s arm around her waist was the only thing that kept her from falling.

  “Lean on me,” Bryan said close to her ear. “Your legs aren’t yet strong enough, but soon.”

  He carried her out of the bedroom and into the main room. The house was open and clean. When he got to a door, he helped her open it, and it led to a bathroom. He handed her a candle to give her light and after he left to give her privacy, she used the wall to help keep from falling.

  When she was finished, she leaned against the wall next to the door and opened it. With her legs shaking, she took a step forward only to feel them quiver and almost give out. A pair of strong hands wrapped around her, pulling her close.

  “Easy now,” Katrina heard him say, his face so close to hers she could feel his breath on her ear.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, feeling like she had been saying that a lot to him.

  “Let’s get you back in bed and in the morning, we can try walking again, and you can tell me more about why those men were trying to attack you.”

  Katrina didn’t say anything, as he helped her back to the bed. She felt bad when he lay back on the floor beneath her. Her eyes closed, as her body felt tired from the short little walk. As she fell asleep, she tried to figure out what she was going to tell him tomorrow morning.

  Chapter 6

  Bryan awoke to the sound of Katrina’s light breathing and Ar
thur making little noises from his bed. His furs were nice to sleep on when he was outside, but in his house, he preferred the feather bed he had made for himself. Standing up, stretching the tight muscles in his back, he walked over to the little one and gave him a smile, “So, what this morning? You decided to let us sleep in by not waking everyone up with your scream, huh?

  When Arthur made a face, he chuckled picking him up, “Don’t get all mad and start screaming now. It was nice of you to not wake everyone up with your cries.”

  Changing the cloth covering him first, Bryan kept up a steady chatter to keep the baby quiet before he fed him. Once the baby was changed, he sat on the chair feeding him from the bladder. He watched Arthur for a few minutes, as he hungrily sucked down his milk as if he hadn’t been fed in days, not just a few hours.

  “You act as if you haven’t eaten in days, little one. It has not been that long, I promise you.” Bryan knew that it was common for most babies to wake up several times throughout the night and was pleasantly surprised that Arthur woke up just once to feed.

  A sound from the room caused Bryan to look up to see Katrina standing just outside the doorway, her hand on the wall as if she didn’t quite trust herself to walk on her own. When he started to stand, she shook her head. “No. Take care of him, I’m okay.”

  Katrina took a few more steps keeping a hold on the wall. Bryan noticed a light sheen of sweat on her as she took a break, her breath coming in hard little pants. When Arthur was done eating, he laid him on the fur in the middle of the floor before walking to Katrina.