by Kate Keir
The crowd chanted our names as we walked, hand in hand, through the waiting people to the outside of the castle so all of the gathered well-wishers could greet their new monarchs. Thousands of people were there, and they threw flowers and confetti toward us as we tried to speak to as many of them as possible, thanking them for coming. Finally, after what seemed hours, we attended our wedding feast and ate and drank with all of our friends and family. My mother couldn’t stop crying, and my brother flirted shamelessly with all of the young maids. It was a perfect, perfect day.
As the hour grew later, and we watched our guests dancing and drinking and celebrating our day with us, I sensed his eyes on me from his seat beside me. He leaned into me and purred, “I once told you that when you said yes to me, I would show you no mercy.” I felt a flicker of heat in my belly as he spoke, and I held his gaze, unblinking. He stood then, holding out his hand to me. I took it and allowed him to lead me through the revellers and away from all of the noise and merriment. As we approached his chamber doors, I realised that they were my doors now too.
Inside, the familiarity overwhelmed me for a second, and I closed my eyes, feeling like I was home. He came to me instantly and placed both hands on either side of my face. “Are you happy, little goddess?” he asked me.
I didn’t voice my reply. Instead, I threw myself at him and pressed my mouth to his with a hard urgency, wrapping my arms around his neck.
His eyes widened a little in surprise, but he wasted no time in returning my kiss. His hands came to the lacings of my gown, and he tore it to pieces as he ripped the cords away. My fingers found his tunic, and the lacings of his trousers, and I pulled at them until they fell away from his body. We were both entirely naked by the time we reached the bed and fell on to the covers.
He was kissing me everywhere then, pressing his lips all over my body. His mouth found the wetness between my thighs, and he nuzzled and kissed at me while I writhed on the bed, moaning in pleasure. He stopped for a brief moment, throwing back his head and looking at me in wonder as he said, “I am truly married to a goddess.”
I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his body on top of me with my legs around his waist. “I want you, Odyn. I need you,” I whispered to him, and as I felt him push inside me, I howled with the ecstasy and the rightness of the moment.
“No mercy.” He pulled himself back and then plunged inside me over and over again.
Afterward, we lay in the darkness together, entwined in each others arms. The castle had finally fallen silent as the last of the revellers had become victim to the free-flowing wine and long since gone to bed. He kissed me for what felt like the thousandth time, and I kissed him back. My body cried out for the need of him, as though I couldn’t ever get enough of him. He laughed at me and wrapped me tightly in his arms. “Easy, little goddess. We have forever. I’m never going to leave your side again.” I pressed my face into his chest and inhaled deeply of his scent. I had never felt so happy or safe in my entire life, and I knew that from then on, no one could ever take him away from me.
Four months later
The birdsong rippled through the forest as I knelt before my father’s grave. I never failed to smile at the excess of life to be found here among the headstones. This time I had brought flowers with me and had laid them at the bottom of the marker that read Geryn Chyme. I had come to tell him everything that had happened since the end of the war. I told him of my wedding and of how much I loved my husband. I also told him that Haydyn was a blacksmith in the castle forges now, and his skill was renowned throughout Ankh Shdaar.
My mother had decided not to return to Lyte Harbour and was instead enjoying an early retirement at Castle Kytara. Although she did like to help out in the kitchens when the cooks were baking. Bernhardt had become a good friend to her over the last few months, and they spent hours walking through the gardens together. Much as I had done myself when I first arrived. I didn’t have a great deal of time for that any longer, though. My days were spent trying to help as many of the people affected by the war as possible.
All of the boys from Faryn’s army had been offered employment in the Capital, and many of them had taken advantage of the offer. We had also tried to help families who had lost their loved ones, by providing them with financial help wherever possible until they could establish farms and livelihoods once more. We had had great successes, and we were positive that we could return Ankh Shdaar back to the way it once was with a little time and care.
I leaned forward and laid a kiss on top of my father’s headstone. “Goodbye, Papa. I will come back again soon, I promise.” Then I stood up and traced my way through the headstones until I reached the newer graves. I didn’t hesitate until I found the stone I wanted. As I lowered myself to my knees before it, I felt tears come to my eyes, and I leaned and kissed the stone as I began. “Hello, Astarin.” I sat for a moment and just thought of him, my eyes closed. I could almost hear him say the words. ‘Hello, sweetheart.’ Back to me.
“I am sorry it’s taken me so long to visit.” I felt my tears fall from my eyes and start to roll down my cheeks. “I knew it would be painful to come, but it was selfish of me to wait.” I reached out and laid my fingers over his name on the marker as I continued. “I told Odyn everything. He knows, Astarin. He knows about…” I trailed off as the tears overwhelmed me. But a sudden sound behind me made me pause and glance back over my shoulder. Odyn walked to me and went to his knees behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his hands protectively on my swollen belly.
He picked up where I left off. “I know about the child, Ast. She was as gracious as only a goddess can be, and she told me before she agreed to become my wife.” He nestled his head into the crook of my neck as he spoke. Comforting me and letting me know how much he loved me. Then he continued. “I will love your son as much as I love his mother, Ast, and he will grow up alongside my own sons when they come along.” He stopped and smiled at me, and I smiled back at him. I loved him even more in that moment.
“We will tell him of his father, the hero General Astarin Roeseer. He will know that you were the man who finished the war and brought peace to Ankh Shdaar, and he will be the proudest boy in the kingdom for knowing it. He will always know that he is the piece of you that was left behind so that we didn’t have to miss you quite so much.” He gently pressed his hands against my stomach and kissed my neck before he finished. “I love you, brother, and so does Nyssa. We will always remember you. May the Goddess watch over you, Ast.”
After he finished, he sat behind me, holding me to him as I silently sent a prayer to Shyara for Astarin and for his child I carried within me. I prayed for a long and happy life for all of us. For Odyn and myself, and all of the people we loved. As I sat quietly, in the presence of the two men who meant so much to me, I suddenly caught sight of a white dove fluttering onto one of the tree branches above us, and I knew then my child would be born into a time of happiness and plenty. I knew in one way or another, all three of us had at last found our peace.
THE END
To my first ever beta girl. Fran. You gave me insight and support (so much support) and your feedback helped me to get it just how it needed to be. How you do this with 2 boys, 2 cats and 2 dogs while the hubby is away I’ll never know. Thank you for everything xx
J.L Ostle, what a talented and beautiful lady you are. The generosity and kindness you showed me when I came to ask you just how you did it was unreal. Every time I had a wobble I could Facebook our group and I knew I’d get the boost I needed to go on. My gratitude is eternal xx
PS If you haven’t read the awesome books Jenna writes, then you are missing out. You really should check out what she does.
My editor Lia Fairchild. I had really started to lose hope after waiting so long for a great editor to come along. Then, there you were. You have taught me so much and I am sorry for how much work my initial crappy manuscript was for you. Any errors still remaining in this book are 100
% mine and not Lia’s.
To my hubby. I am so sorry that you have been a ‘writers widow’ over these last few months. I really don’t know how you put up with my shit but you do and I love you for it (well I tolerate you anyway) xx
