Marcus gave her his lopsided smile as he undressed them both then laid her down on the bed.
“I love you,” she said as she met his pale purple gaze. “I-”
“You already married me. No getting out of it.” His lips found hers, and his strong hand skated down her back and teased back up the inside of her thighs, parting her.
She gasped as he stroked her, touching and teasing as his hard body pressed her into the bed. She gripped him, opening herself to him and offering him all he wanted.
“This time, I’m taking what I want,” he whispered as he eased into her. “And what I want more than anything is you.”
Her words disappeared into a moan as her body stretched to accommodate him, as he gathered her into his arms beneath him and plumbed her very core.
It felt so delicious, all his strength channeled to pleasure her. The molten desire stirred, then crashed through her as his strong hands touched, his lips tasted, and his body took.
She lost herself to the smooth rhythmic thrusts of his massive erection inside her. She gripped him as her pleasure heightened, growing with each touch, each passionate joining of their bodies.
His lips crushed against hers and with one final thrust he pushed them both over the edge, her whole body consumed by waves of pleasure as he filled her then collapsed against her. As their bodies lay intertwined, Brelynn closed her eyes and simply enjoyed being his wife.
Chapter 63
The sun was already well past the horizon when hunger forced Marcus and Brelynn downstairs.
“I see you’re keeping late mornings in your retirement,” a stern voice called from the drawing room.
“Aunt Matty,” Marcus beamed. He wrapped an arm around Brelynn and led her to a very formal room.
A woman sat perched in a high-backed chair with a tea service spread out before her. From her immaculately tailored gown of peacock velvet to her sapphire pin the size of a robin’s egg, everything about the woman screamed wealth, power, and privilege.
“This is your aunt?” Brelynn whispered in disbelief. Daughter of a viscount, indeed.
Sir Marcus nodded as he crossed the room and hugged the older woman.
His aunt’s façade cracked, and she hugged him back. “I was worried sick about you. Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?”
“I didn’t want you to stop me,” he said.
“Honest to a fault.”
He gave her his lopsided smile.
“You look much happier than when you left. Might it have something to do with the young woman standing in the doorway? I heard you’d married, and given that you’re waking up with her, I assume it’s true.”
“News travels fast,” Brelynn murmured as Sir Marcus took her hand.
“To me it does,” Lady Matilda assured her.
“Aunt Matty, this is my wife Brelynn,” Sir Marcus said. “Brelynn, this is my Aunt Matty, err, Lady Matilda Highland, Countess of Brighton.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Lady Matilda said and bowed her head.
“Your Grace?” Brelynn frowned and glanced up at Marcus.
He shrugged. “My father was given a ducal title to the lands he rescued from the necromancer.”
“And you to the lands you freed from the lich,” his aunt reminded him. “They stay united under you, but you’ll need at least two heirs.”
Marcus pulled a face.
Brelynn squeezed his hand. “I’m seeing why retirement didn’t agree with you.”
“As his duchess, you’ll be expected to help him with those lands and provide him the requisite heirs.”
“I’ll do all that I can. I want him to enjoy retirement.”
“Duke’s don’t get to retire,” Lady Matilda said.
Brelynn pulled Marcus’s arms around her so she was standing between him and his aunt. “They hire advisors and administrators, especially dukes that don’t lie. Ever. About anything.”
Tension crackled in the room as Brelynn met Lady Matilda’s stare and refused to back down. Finally, Lady Matilda nodded. “Marcus, get yourself and Lady Brelynn something to eat. You’ll both want more than tea and cakes for breakfast.”
Sir Marcus nodded as he filched a couple of cakes from the tray, kissed Brelynn on the cheek, and headed to the kitchen.
Brelynn watched him leave then turned to face his aunt. “What did you want to say to me that you don’t want him to hear?”
“More cynical than he is. That’s a positive. What do you know of his obligations?”
“Other than his duties as a Knight of Valor-”
“He’s retired.”
“He’ll always be a Knight. Anyway, he mentioned he had lands to oversee, but he never said he had a title or how extensive those lands were.”
“He’s modest.”
“That and he doesn’t think of himself as nobility.”
“He is,” Lady Matilda assured her. “As was my sister and his father.”
“He’ll always be a Knight of Valor first.”
“Marcus doesn’t understand the obligations his wealth and title entail.” Lady Matilda’s sharp gaze focused on Brelynn. “You didn’t marry him for that. Why did you marry him?”
“Because I love him.”
Lady Matilda narrowed her eyes. “Are you an Oskelesian sorceress?”
“I’m Tamarian now.”
“Is it true he married you in Roanoke?”
“You are well informed.” Brelynn told Lady Matilda all that had happened.
“You’re married in his eyes, if not the eyes of the law.” Lady Matilda pointed to an envelope on the table. “Formal marriage documents. Sign them.”
Brelynn was surprised, but she read the papers then signed them.
“You’re stuck with him now. The good and the bad.”
A soft smile curved Brelynn’s lips. “There’s a lot more good than bad. And I’ll take them both.”
“You are in love with him.” Lady Matilda let out her breath. “I recognize that wistful expression. Let’s just hope your eyes are open wider than my sister’s were.”
“The Twin’s Gift can also be a curse.”
“Which is why love marriages are so difficult. My sister learned that the hard way.”
“They’re more work,” Brelynn agreed. “But Marcus is worth it.”
Lady Matilda narrowed her eyes then sighed. “You’re not the empty-headed chit I worried he’d fall in love with, so I don’t suppose I have to warn you about the consequences of hurting him.”
“Sorceress, not succubus,” Brelynn said. “I want him to be happy, and I think I give him that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have married him.”
“He hasn’t reported in to the Dragon Church since arriving home. That says more than you realize.”
“He’s bound by duty, but he also loves you and Sir Leopold a great deal. I get that you’d have liked someone more suitable for him, but I hope you’ll come around to being okay with me.”
Lady Matilda met her gaze and smiled for the first time. “What I want is for my nephew to be happy. After all he’s done for Tamryn, all he’s sacrificed, he deserves that. He was happier this morning than I’ve seen him in a long time.”
Before Brelynn could say anything, Sir Marcus reentered the room with a tray piled high with food and Lucky at his heels.
“Uncle Leopold stopped over, too,” Marcus said as his uncle followed him into the room.
“Took your sweet time getting back to Aerius,” Sir Leopold said. “Ah, Lady Matilda, why am I not surprised to see you here?”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Visiting my nephew and his new bride. Nothing so unusual about that.”
“Wait, what?” Sir Leopold asked. “What is this crazy woman talking about?”
Sir Marcus put the tray down and explained the situation as they ate.
“I can free you from this idiot,” Sir Leopold said to Brelynn. “The gods know you could find someone with some sense in his head.”
&nb
sp; Sir Marcus slid an arm around her and glared at his uncle. Brelynn said nothing as she leaned against Marcus and smiled.
“Doesn’t look like she’s going to listen to you, so at least she has some sense in her head,” Lady Matilda snapped. “And here I thought you’d be claiming she was a succubus.”
“Nah, I saw Marcus heal her. Channeling the gods doesn’t work on a succubus, and he was already in love with her then. Had to be damn obvious if I noticed.”
“At least you didn’t interfere,” Lady Matilda said. “Now you can sign their formal marriage documents as a witness.”
Sir Leopold grunted, but he signed the documents and so did Marcus. Lady Matilda signed as well, then packed the papers away.
“With that done, perhaps we can start work on a nursery?” Lady Matilda raised her brows. “I am looking forward to grand nieces and nephews to spoil.”
“Don’t you start on them,” Sir Leopold warned. “He’s earned a rest, and I won’t see you ruin it for him. I’m more worried about you corrupting him than I am the Oskelesian sorceress.”
“Tamarian sorceress,” Lady Matilda corrected.
“Are they always like this?” Brelynn whispered.
Sir Marcus hugged her. “I ignore them when they are. They work it out.”
As Lady Matilda and Sir Leopold argued, a loud crash from the front door had servants scurrying and Sir Marcus and Sir Leopold on their feet.
A tall woman dressed in black armor stood in the doorway, sword and shield drawn. She wore a tabard the color of fresh blood, the same color as the thick braid that hung from her winged helmet.
Marcus slapped his hand over his heart, his armor shimmering into place, and he drew his sword as he squared off against the dark warrior.
“Champion Mara?” Brelynn asked.
“Brelynn!” Mara called out, but her amber eyes were fixed on Sir Marcus’s sword. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. What are you doing here? Why do you have your sword drawn?” Brelynn tried to walk toward her friend, but Sir Leopold caught her arm.
“Mara, from your stories?” Sir Marcus asked without glancing at Brelynn.
“Yes, the one who protected me. She’s the one that helped smuggle me out of Oskelez and knew someone trustworthy to get me past the swamps and to Eskara.”
Marcus nodded but didn’t lower his sword.
“Who or what is this Mara?” Sir Leopold asked as he pulled Brelynn back to him.
Mara’s haunting amber gaze glanced at Sir Leopold’s empty sword hand then slid back to Sir Marcus. “Brelynn has to leave Aerius. Now.”
“And go where?” Brelynn asked. “There’s no place safer. You said that yourself. It’s the reason I made that deal with Arch-Mage Ndrek.”
“I’d like to know how you got into Aerius while you’re explaining,” Sir Leopold said.
“Aerius isn’t the fortress you think,” Mara snapped. “Isn’t even the fortress I thought.”
“You’re free.” Brelynn tried to pull her arm away from Sir Leopold and failed. “Mokkar Calmont’s dead, but you have to know that already.”
“Which is why I’m here. Why I could finally come. But we have to leave. Now.”
“So you can lead her back to Korvar?” Sir Marcus asked.
“Shut up, Knight,” Mara snarled. “I’m here to protect her, to get her out of this flea-ridden city and away from Arch-Grimveldt Korvar.”
“You’re here to protect me when you could be off exploring the deserts of Qumaref or trying to find the lost city of Tanalear?” Brelynn asked.
Mara’s inhuman amber eyes flickered over to Brelynn before refocusing on Sir Marcus. “Arch-Grimveldt Korvar is in Tamryn, and he’s searching for you.”
Brelynn bit her lip and glanced at Marcus. “Is that possible?”
“I got in,” Mara reminded them.
“About that,” Sir Leopold said.
“I have no idea how much time we have, but if he finds you… We have to go.”
“Do you know what he wants with me? What he’s willing to give up Mokkar Calmont and Vokkun Kaiden for?” Brelynn asked.
“He needs you to extend his life.”
“There have to be other ways-”
“There aren’t. He’s been preparing you for this your entire life, and he doesn’t have time to start over. Uzakiel won’t wait much longer.”
“How do you know this?” Sir Marcus asked.
Mara ignored the Knight. “You know I’m right.”
Brelynn bit her lip and stared at the floor. “Why me?”
“Not sure, but he searched for you for a long time. Something about enough light to counter his darkness. And he made sure you were hidden but guarded so someone wouldn’t try to steal you from him. He has to have you. He’s beyond eating souls to extend his life.”
“Eating souls? Is that even possible?” Sir Marcus asked.
Brelynn shivered. “I heard the whispers, but I thought my power was too insignificant to be of any use to him.”
“Arch-Grimveldt Korvar needs something big to make Uzakiel happy,” Mara said. “It has to be blood. Korvar’s blood. But he’s not ready to die. Not yet.”
“Blood?” Sir Leopold asked. “Another lich in the making?”
“Long term, yes, but he needs a sacrifice for the Dark God now. Korvar needs a child that shares his blood. Necromancers aren’t known for fathering children with all the death magic flowing through them, so he had to spend years preparing someone.”
Brelynn recoiled. “He wants me to bear his child so he can sacrifice the child?”
“And you along with it. You share blood with the child, so it makes both sacrifices that much more powerful,” Mara said. “I couldn’t tell you before because Calmont forbid it, but I left those spell notes somewhere you would find them.”
“The rituals I discovered…”
“I didn’t tell you, not exactly, so I could circumvent Calmont’s orders.”
“A child of his blood… it’s why he had me in Mokkar Calmont’s household. Calmont preferred men,” Brelynn said. “I thought he wanted a virgin sacrifice.”
“He could get a virgin sacrifice elsewhere, but no other is prepared like you. No other who can bear his child. If he finds you-” Mara stopped herself. “He won’t find you. Not before Uzakiel takes what’s His from Arch-Grimveldt Korvar. We have to go. Now.”
“She’s my wife. I will protect her.”
“You’re what?” Mara glanced from Sir Marcus to Brelynn. “Lemme guess. You had to marry a Knight of Valor for Tamryn to give you asylum.”
“I married him because I love him.”
Disbelief pinched Mara’s brows, but she stepped back.
Brelynn tried to shrug off Sir Leopold again, but he only tightened his grip. “Do you know where Arch-Grimveldt Korvar is?”
“Last I saw him, he was near the Temple of Thalia. He needed another transfusion.”
“From the goddess of compassion, mercy, and light?” Sir Marcus asked.
“Thalia’s priests feed the poor, and the authorities tend not to notice a missing vagrant or two.”
Sir Leopold cursed.
Mara glanced from Sir Marcus back to Brelynn and grimaced. “What’s wrong with you, Brelynn? How could a self-respecting Oskelesian sorceress fall in love with a Knight of Valor?”
“Blame the Twins.”
“Damn Knights. I’ve never liked them,” Mara said. “You’re in love with him, really in love with him?”
Brelynn nodded.
“That changes things, though I’m not sure how,” Mara said.
“Let’s start by lowering our swords, shall we?” Lady Matilda said. “Then we can figure out how to get Brelynn to safety.”
Mara considered a moment then lowered her sword.
Sir Marcus did the same.
Chapter 64
“Now that we’re done measuring d-” Sir Leopold started, but Lady Matilda cut him off.
“This necromancer is somewhere in
the city, and he’s searching for Sir Marcus’s wife. Can the Knights of Valor help us?” Lady Matilda asked.
“Not much of a Dragon Church if they can’t,” Mara said.
Sir Leopold narrowed his eyes, but he pulled a slim vile from his pocket and sent for help.
“How did you find us?” Lady Matilda asked Mara.
“Through Ettore,” she motioned to Lucky, “but all the magic wards in the city made it harder to find him.”
“Do you think Korvar can track her even with the wards?” Lady Matilda asked.
“He controls a lot of magic. He’ll find her.”
“The safest place in the city is the Dragon Church,” Lady Matilda said. “Second safest is the palace. We need to escort her to one while the Knights of Valor find this necromancer.”
Marcus drew Brelynn close to him. She leaned back against his hard chest, accepting his comfort as she steadied her breathing. Arch-Grimveldt Korvar had followed her to Aerius. He was still searching for her, and now she knew why.
A shiver stole through her, and Marcus held her closer.
“Arch-Mage Ndrek freshened the wards on Marcus’s house,” Sir Leopold said. “Should buy us some time.”
Mara nodded. “Already has, or Arch-Grimveldt Korvar would’ve been here last night.”
“We leave when the Knights arrive to escort us,” Lady Matilda said.
“What then?” Brelynn asked.
“Once you’re safe, we find Korvar and end the threat,” Sir Marcus answered.
Brelynn stared into Marcus’s pale purple eyes. “You promised me no more dangerous quests. You’re retired, remember?”
He hugged her. “We can’t sit by and let a necromancer run amok in Tamryn.”
“I know,” she murmured as she pulled his arms tighter around herself. “But there are other Knights of Valor.”
“You’ll take my carriage,” Lady Matilda said. “It’ll offer more protection than horseback. Sir Leopold will see that Bastion is brought to the church should you need him.”
“I’ll help you destroy Arch-Grimveldt Korvar,” Mara said. “I know his weaknesses and where to strike.”
Knight of Valor: Knights of Valor Page 26
