by S. L. Morgan
“Quiet,” Levi ordered as he heard a shuffling from the trees. Levi gripped his forehead and exhaled in frustration. “I must bring her back here. You are correct.”
“Why would you not vacation at your normal honeymoon spot?”
“We have Marian now. We have already celebrated our honeymoon. Our sole desire is to spend time with our daughter in peace at our home. Arrow will be leaving for his training soon, and Reece and I want nothing more than to settle down and stop running around.”
Harrison ran a hand through his hair. “Unless we want to be out here until long after our wedding ceremony will have transpired, we need to come up with an idea.”
The men continued to search for the next few hours, only to have all of their efforts return to them void.
“Looks like this shall be the first time that you have failed in one of your romantic gestures for Reece,” Harrison announced. “Please give this nonsense up, or I shall gladly leave you here.”
Levi turned, placed both hands on his hips, and glanced up at the canopy of trees above them. “I was certain we would come across him.”
“Maybe you need to make some vacation plans after all. I believe Reece would enjoy revisiting your honeymoon location anyway. Do not forget that I did interrupt your vacation last time to announce that your father was alive.”
Levi nodded as both men turned to leave the location. “Perhaps you are correct.”
“I am correct,” Harrison returned. “You have plenty of time to make plans to come back to this location at the exact time you did in the past. Until that time, enjoy your family in your new home after you are married again. Besides, that varmint is probably still in its mother’s womb.”
Levi laughed. “This has been a worthless excursion.”
“I could have saved us this entire day if you had not duped me into coming here.” Harrison clapped Levi on his shoulder. “Now, we have quite the journey to make to Sandari after we return to the palace. Let us focus on getting this celebration out of the way so we can enjoy the company of our wives and finally move forward with everything.”
They made it back to the palace that night, and in record time. The next morning, Levi was fully dressed and prepared to leave for Sandari. It had been too long since he had the luxury of Reece’s company, and he was anxious to be on his way to see her.
“Excuse me, sir?”
Levi eyed his butler. “Yes, Henry?”
“All of your items have been loaded into the carriage, and I am set to leave for the journey to Stavesworth Hall.” He handed Levi a sealed envelope. “I was instructed to give this to you before your departure.”
Levi took the unexpected note. “Thank you, Henry,” Levi said as he slipped his finger under the letter’s wax seal.
Levi,
We have successfully completed all of our plans for the ceremonial vows, but there is one item that is missing. I must ask that you retrieve a black gift box from the newly furnished study at your new home. It is a gift to you and Reece from your father and me, and it was mistakenly sent to your home instead of Stavesworth Hall. I apologize for delaying your departure, as I am certain you are as eager to see your beloved as she is to see you.
Thank you for your help, my son. I look forward to seeing you very soon.
All of my love,
Mother.
“How could a gift be accidentally sent to that house?” Levi mumbled.
He folded the letter, grabbed his greatcoat, and turned to Henry. “Please notify Harrison and Julian that I have a matter to attend to before I am able to depart. Tell them to ride ahead without me, and I will see them when I arrive in Sandari.”
Levi headed toward the stables, where Areion awaited him. On his stallion, he heeled his horse and wasted no time journeying to his and Reece’s new home.
Once he got to the manor, Levi hopped up the steps and swiftly marched through the large hall on the third floor. When he opened the door to his study, he froze in place; his eyes fixed upon the neatly framed portrait that hung above his fireplace.
“I decided I would give you this gift before our wedding,” Reece announced from behind. “Just in case something comes up again and I couldn’t personally surprise you with it, as I had planned before.”
Levi spun around and brought her into his arms. His lips found hers with urgency, satisfying his aching need to be with her again.
Reece gently laughed as she ended their kiss and ran her hands through his hair. “Finally,” she said with a smile. “I beat you in the surprise gift-giving department.”
Levi grinned as he studied her glittery eyes. “I did not realize it was a competition, my love.”
Reece arched a brow at him. “Do you like the portrait?”
“You know how much I adored the first one, so to have it back is astounding. How did you manage to recreate it so identically? You are even wearing the same dress as before.”
“I have my ways.” She reached her arms up and around his neck. “Although, most of those ways included Harrison and Lizzy’s help.”
Levi leaned down to kiss Reece’s enticing lips when he heard a familiar sound. His heart halted as Reece looked at him with confusion.
“Levi?” she said with concern. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Levi half-smiled as he let out a breath. He instantly gripped Reece’s hand and led her from the room.
“What are you doing?” Reece said as Levi led her down the hall past their bedroom.
He stopped before opening the door to one of the vacant rooms and faced Reece. “You are the treasure of my life, and it would appear as though I have a gift for you.”
He opened the door to what was previously Marian’s nursery, walked Reece into the empty room, and watched her expression change.
“My love, you are with child.”
Levi heard Reece’s heartbeat race to match the beating heart coming from her womb. Tears filled her eyes as she placed both hands over her stomach.
“Are you certain?”
Levi nodded and knelt to bring his ear to her stomach. The sound of their child’s heart beating in Reece’s womb was strong.
“Oh,” Levi stammered.
“Is something wrong?”
Levi stood and shook his head incredulously. “Please, forgive me. I was mistaken.”
“Mistaken?” she whispered as despondency replaced the joyful expression previously on her face.
“We are not expecting a child.” He exhaled. “We are expecting two children. Reece, two separate heartbeats are beating within your womb.”
Reece’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”
“I am most certainly not kidding.”
“I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe this. I surely wasn’t expecting this news! I am so excited that I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry.”
“My love for you grows stronger each day. To have you as my wife and the mother of my children is the greatest honor I have ever known. I can think of no greater joy than to expand our family at a time when we can finally live together in peace and harmony.” Levi’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I am blessed more than any man I have ever known.” He framed her face with his hands and brought his lips down to meet hers.
Levi cradled her in his arms and ended their kiss. “Speaking of blessings, how my mother has managed to refurnish our home while planning our wedding at the same time, I will never know. I wonder if she managed to finish the bedroom?” Levi asked suggestively.
“It just so happens that I personally assisted her in that department. It’s identical to how it was before.”
“If you were hoping to give me a proper tour of the room, perhaps we should delay our departure for Sandari?”
“Oh, Sandari is the last thing on my mind at the moment,” Reece said as she pulled him toward their bedchamber.
After indulging themselves in each other’s love, Levi placed a tender kiss on Reece’s nose, followed by a warm smile of u
tter contentment. Levi settled into the pillows and brought Reece into his arms. Reece stared out of their balcony windows while she ran her fingertips along Levi’s arm. Levi remained silent as he listened to the two heartbeats racing within her. The comfort and serenity of this moment were perfection.
“What would you say if I told you that I kind of feel like backing out of the traditional wedding ceremony?” she softly asked.
Levi pressed his lips into Reece’s hair. “I would admit that I feel the same; however, I believe that with all of the planning you ladies have been doing, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea.”
Levi felt Reece softly laugh. “It just seems so odd to do this again. I really loved our wedding, and part of me feels like doing this again kind of takes away from how special our true ceremony was. Maybe I am being ridiculous.”
“You are not being ridiculous, my love. I completely understand what you are conveying. We have been married for almost a year, so how about we treat this as though it is a ceremony to renew our vows?”
“I like that idea. How do you always know exactly what to say?” Reece twisted in his arms and ran her hands up Levi’s spine, forcing a jolt of electric energy throughout him. He jerked, prompting Reece to laugh aloud.
“My ticklish Guardian warrior!” she teased as she tried to continue her pursuit of his sides.
Unable to resist the unpleasant sensation, yet highly amused with his wife, Levi gripped her wrists, easily overpowering her and shifting her beneath him. With Reece’s hands pinned to the pillows above her head, she sighed in defeat.
“If there is one thing that I wish you could have forgotten after all this time,” he said breathlessly, “it would be your knowledge of one of my greatest weaknesses.”
“Oh? There are other weaknesses that I have yet to discover?”
Levi brought his lips to her chin. “You will always be my greatest weakness.”
“Then maybe I should take advantage of that instead.”
“I am afraid that if you play that card, we shall never make it to Sandari.” He stood from the bed and extended his arm to Reece. “Let us freshen up in a quick shower, and then we must leave for Stavesworth Hall.”
Reece followed Levi after he gathered their clothes into one arm and walked into their large vanity room. Once in the warm shower, Levi began lathering her body with his favorite scented body wash that she used.
He turned her to face him as he ran the sponge over her décolletage. “Please, tell me how you managed to arrive here?”
“The Imperial Guards rode alongside my carriage.”
Levi studied Reece’s amused expression. “Your carriage?”
“Yes.” She leaned her head back to rinse the soap from her hair. “Imagine my surprise when I accidentally discovered the carriage you had recreated for me.”
Levi stood there shaking his head.
All surprises thrown out of the window, he thought in defeat. “How did you come across that? It was not set to arrive until a day from now.”
Reece ran a finger down the center of his chest. “It came early, and your mother almost had a heart attack when she noticed that I was out front when it arrived. But you must believe me when I say that I was just as excited to see it as I was the day you first surprised me with it.”
He kissed her forehead. “At least I was able to surprise you, even though I was unaware I was doing so.”
They arrived at Stavesworth Hall as all of the guests began showing up to join in the early festivities before the wedding.
Levi gave a quick rap to the top of the carriage, prompting the driver and the Imperial Guards escorting them to come to a halt.
“Your Highness? Is there a problem?” a man asked as he approached the open carriage window.
Levi glanced around the area and studied all of the carriages offloading their passengers at the entrance of the massive estate.
“Mr. Sanger, please instruct the driver to bring us along the secluded route. I would prefer we enter through a more private location.”
“As you wish.”
“Not in the mood to deal with all of the guests, I presume?” Reece asked with a laugh.
Levi covered her hand with his. “We would be mobbed if we entered through the front, trust me.”
The carriage pulled to the side of the large barn that was situated next to the estate and came to a halt. Levi hopped out of the carriage and assisted Reece. He brought her arm into his as he turned to the chauffeur. “Please see to it that Areion is fed, watered, and brought into his stable.”
“Will there be anything else, Your Highness?”
“That will be all. Thank you, Mr. Jinks.”
Once inside the estate, Levi opted to bring Reece through the servant’s hidden passageways to her rooms. Upon entering her chambers, he drew her into an embrace and softly kissed her lips. As he withdrew, he brushed his finger over her nose.
“These last few days alone have been exquisite.”
Reece ran her hands along his back. “It kind of reminded me of when we were first married on our honeymoon.”
Levi studied Reece’s expression. “Would you prefer to take a vacation after our wedding celebration instead of returning home with Marian?”
“As wonderful as that sounds, all I want after we are officially husband and wife tomorrow is to have what we never got to thoroughly enjoy together.” She stepped back and took each of Levi’s hands into hers. “I want to go home and start living as a family with our daughter. We have not had enough time with Marian, and I crave her presence.”
“I am in wholehearted agreement.” Levi pressed his lips to her forehead. “Freshen up, and I will return to escort you down to the ballroom, where the guests are most likely anxiously awaiting your arrival.”
After one more kiss, Levi left Reece to prepare for the evening.
Levi walked out of his rooms once he had changed into his attire for the evening, and he made it his first priority to locate Harrison.
When he entered the atrium on the first floor, he turned toward the large hallways that led to the ballroom. Before entering, he was stopped when Isabelle Hamilton approached. The expression on her face was unreadable.
“Miss Hamilton,” Levi formally acknowledged her. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Levi, must you be so formal with me?” she responded with a kind smile. “Please, call me Isabelle, as you used to.”
As much as Levi wanted to be callous toward the woman because of her behavior in their previous timeline, he could not. She had not done anything to warrant any rude behavior on his part, so he tried his hardest to maintain his composure. “Very well, then, Isabelle. It is nice to see you this evening. Please, excuse me. I must locate Harrison.”
As Levi offered Isabelle a slight bow and started past her, the bend of his arm was caught by Isabelle unexpectedly. “Levi, would you grant me a few moments of your time?”
This had better not be headed where I think it is, Levi thought as he tried to calculate an excuse to dismiss himself from her presence.
“Perhaps another time would be more appropriate. I must speak with Harrison before I return to retrieve Miss Bryant for the evening.”
“It is about Tomas and me,” she said sheepishly as a tear slipped down her cheek.
This has got to be a joke, Levi thought in frustration. “What about Tomas? Is he sick?”
She extended her arm out. “Please. I only desire a moment of your time.”
Levi’s lips twisted in annoyance before he finally conceded. “Very well.”
Isabelle smiled and placed her hand on Levi’s arm as he escorted them to one of the libraries.
“I am in need of some fresh air. Might we venture to the back of the estate?”
“Fine. I believe my conversation with Harrison shall have to wait.”
As they exited the mansion, Levi looked for any location where they would not be secluded.
“I am running quite short on ti
me, so forgive my rudeness when I ask you to please make this quick. I will not keep Miss Bryant waiting.”
Isabelle dramatically turned from Levi and faced the oceanfront. “Tomas and I have decided we do not suit each other as we first believed we did.”
Levi was at a loss for words. Give me a break! “That is unfortunate. If that is all—”
“Levi!” Isabelle spun around, interrupting him. “There was a reason we ended our relationship, and it is the same reason I must speak with you.”
“I do not follow you,” he said as he shoved both hands into his pockets and glared down at Isabelle.
“Levi,” she stammered. “I met Miss Bryant while she was here. She is quite lovely and has a sweet demeanor about her.” Isabelle frowned. “However—”
“However?” Levi questioned. “Miss Hamilton, I believe this conversation is over. I am pleased to hear that you find Miss Bryant agreeable. That is all.”
Levi turned to leave when Isabelle grabbed his arm. “No!” she cried out desperately. “Do not marry her tomorrow. I beg you.”
Anger raged within Levi, and he stood unyielding, eyes drilling through Isabelle’s widened ones. “You, madam, are completely out of line.”
“Give me a chance, give us a chance again. You have only known Reece for a very short time. We have known each other for so much longer. Why would you marry a woman from Earth instead of a woman of your own kind that appreciates your position in this world?”
“You will honor my future wife by referring to her as Miss Bryant, and tomorrow after we are married, you will refer to her as Mrs. Oxley. I have nothing else to say to you.”
“I have never seen you treat anyone this way before. Do you despise me that greatly?”
“Harrison and I stopped a plot to destroy our kind through another woman’s jealousy of my affections for Miss Bryant; therefore, I have zero tolerance toward any being that takes issue with her in any way.”
“Can you not allow me closure of any kind?”
Levi’s forehead crinkled in frustration. “Closure? Between you and me?” Levi asked in utter disgust. “Should you not be more concerned about finding closure with Tomas?”
