Wicked Flames of Desire

by Lily Thomas

  Daerrin was focused on adjusting his stirrups when Elizabeth rushed up beside him. He paused in his work to bow. He might be good friends with Stryme and Elizabeth, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t show the proper respect to his queen.

  “Oh please, Daerrin!” She waved a hand at him as she rolled her eyes. “You and I are too good of friends for you to be bowing to me.” Elizabeth criticized.

  Daerrin smiled. His friendship with his queen was one he treasured.

  “You’re leaving so soon? You only just arrived. What does Roxanne think about this?”

  “I’m sure it is of no concern to her. If anything, she is probably thrilled by the idea of me dying on the border.” Although he wasn’t so sure about that. Last night he had joked with her about it, and Roxanne had gone eerily quiet. Could it be possible that his little human was scared for his safety?

  He hoped so.

  “Then she didn’t tell you?” Elizabeth whispered under her breath, but he caught what she said.

  “Tell me what?” He zeroed in on Elizabeth.

  “She… doesn’t wish you dead.” Elizabeth sent him a weak smile and pointed in the direction of Roxanne.

  Daerrin turned to find her standing near the entrance of the great hall. He couldn’t read her expression it was so neutral.

  “Will you not say goodbye to her?” Elizabeth coaxed.

  Daerrin wasn’t sure about saying goodbye. If he said goodbye, it would signal her importance to him. Then again, while he’d been at the border all he’d thought of was her. He’d wished for nothing more than to be in her presence once more, and now that he was here he feared its pull.

  Perhaps it was time he admitted his enemy had won. General Johnston’s daughter had wormed her way into Daerrin’s heart. If she hadn’t been here waiting at the fire giant castle, he would never have been the one to come for new supplies. He would have just sent another soldier in his place, but he wanted to see her again. Had wanted to be with her and have her in his arms.

  “Be ready to leave when I get back.” He called out to his men. He hugged Elizabeth gently and then strode over to Roxanne. He wasn’t going to leave her without saying goodbye. It had just taken Elizabeth to knock some sense into his thick skull.

  He stopped short. Where was she? Daerrin blinked in confusion. Hadn’t he just seen her standing by the great hall entrance?

  She had left and was nowhere to be seen. He ground his teeth. He had to be going, but he wished to let her know how much she meant to him.

  Turning on his heel, he headed back to his warhorse and mounted up.

  “What about saying goodbye?” Elizabeth cried out.

  “I don’t have time to go searching for her.” He would just have to wait until he came back to the castle again. Jabbing his heels into the horse’s sides, he left the castle behind.

  Chapter 16

  Roxanne watched from a window as Daerrin rode out of the castle courtyard with his men. Tears pricked at her eyes as her heart felt like it was breaking in two.

  She had no idea how long she stood there staring out the window watching the comings and goings of the fire giants below.

  “There you are,” Elizabeth announced from behind her. She peered over Roxanne’s shoulder. When she noticed the wetness of Roxanne’s eyes, she tried to reassure her. “I’m sure Daerrin will be back as soon as possible and unharmed. There is no need to worry about him fighting on the border. That’s a man that can handle a lot.”

  Roxanne nodded as she turned her head slightly away from Elizabeth. She knew Elizabeth had well-meaning intentions, but she was afraid she might burst into tears at any moment. Her life had become too confusing for her to bear. Not to mention, she had no idea what to do with all these emotions flooding her. Her life had been so straightforward until this moment.

  And now she was pregnant and in love with a fire giant, which probably wasn’t helping with her emotions.

  “I wish to return home.” Roxanne blurted.

  Silence greeted her rushed statement.

  “Will you help me?” Roxanne asked, still refusing to look in Elizabeth’s direction. She wanted to turn and cry and use her tears to effect Elizabeth, but she couldn’t stoop that low.

  “But what about the child? Do you believe it will be accepted by humans?”

  Roxanne heard the rustle of fabric as Elizabeth took a seat in one of the chairs within the room. Finally, she turned around to face Elizabeth. Her watery eyes had returned to normal, and she was able to face Elizabeth without any embarrassment about her uncontrollable emotions.

  “I won’t know until I return to my people, but I must return. I have a father who needs to know I am safe.” And questions to get answered.

  “Could you not just send a note?”

  “My father would never believe a note. Only my presence in front of him would assure him of my safety.”

  “You could leave after the child is born.” Elizabeth tried. Her sapphire eyes were soft with concern.

  “The birth is months away. I couldn’t wait that long. It’s better I travel now while riding isn’t a burden.” Roxanne reasoned.

  “Can I not convince you otherwise?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I need to leave Elizabeth, and you’re the only one who can help me. I don’t want to ask you to do something you’re uncomfortable with. Please say no, if you don’t wish to help me, but I will return home.” Roxanne wasn’t trying to make a threat, but she couldn’t go on with her life when she still had so many unanswered questions.

  Elizabeth pursed her lips in thought, as she looked Roxanne up and down. “I just hope you don’t come to regret this decision.” She sighed as she shook her head. “I probably shouldn’t, but I will help you because I was in your situation once, and I needed to get home to realize I didn’t belong there anymore.”

  Roxanne gave a relieved smile as she sank into a chair. She was going home.

  “I make no promises, but I will do my best. The decision will have to be made by Stryme.” Elizabeth rose from her seat. “Try to relax for now. I don’t want you to stress out too much in your condition.”

  A week passed, and Elizabeth and Roxanne were finally able to convince Stryme to speak with them about her leaving.

  Roxanne was amazed by how ferocious Elizabeth could be when she had a terrifying fire giant king as her husband. Roxanne would have never argued so fiercely with such a tall and well-built man, but Stryme seemed more scared of his wife than Elizabeth was of him.

  “We should allow her to go home.”

  Stryme growled.

  “No, you don’t. Don’t you dare start growling at me.” Elizabeth placed her hands on her hips and glared at her husband.

  “We shouldn’t intrude on Daerrin’s revenge, and Daerrin should be present for such a discussion.”

  “He kidnapped a woman!” Elizabeth grumbled. “Must be a trait with you fire giants.”

  Stryme’s mouth fell in a flat line. “Daerrin was the one to take her, and he should be the one to decide what should be done with her.”

  “He won’t let her go. That’s why he captured her.”

  Roxanne felt like she should jump in instead of standing awkwardly by the solar door, but Elizabeth seemed to be doing a good job. And if Stryme were about to listen to anyone it would be his wife and not some human he didn’t know very well.

  “It’s not our place to interfere.”

  “Excuse me?!” Elizabeth blustered. “Not our place? You are king, and I am queen! This is our kingdom! Everything is our business.”

  Stryme glowered at his wife.

  “Are you going to stress me out while I’m in this condition?” Elizabeth rubbed her stomach.

  Everyone in the room knew it was the trump card.

  Stryme folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you so eager to release her?”

  Elizabeth glanced over at her and then focused back on Stryme. “Because I was in her position once and you let me go… we should do the same for
her. This way she can figure out where she wants to be.”

  Stryme pursed his lips. “And that’s the only reason?”

  “Truly.”

  Roxanne’s condition never came up, and that was probably for the best. If Stryme knew she was carrying Daerrin’s child there was a higher probability, he would keep her at the castle until Daerrin returned.

  In the end, he caved when Elizabeth kept pressuring him to let Roxanne leave, to both the women’s relief.

  “We will get the horses ready for her return then.”

  “So soon?” Roxanne asked.

  “Before I change my mind,” Stryme growled.

  Both Elizabeth’s and her mouth snapped shut as they hopped to it.

  Roxanne walked out of the great hall and into the courtyard. She felt some easiness return to her as she saw all the horses readied for her. She was finally going home.

  “You can still change your mind about leaving,” Elizabeth told her as she stepped up to a horse.

  “Thank you for what you’ve done, but I must return to my father.”

  “If you ever change your mind, I’ll make a place for you here. In case you find your father less receptive to your child than you thought he would be or you don’t like the answers you receive.”

  “I will keep that in mind,” Roxanne promised, and she meant it.

  She took one last look around the courtyard, and some regret filled her that she hadn’t shared the news with Daerrin. She wanted to know his reaction to hearing she was with child. Why? She had no idea. There was a part of her heart that wanted to stay here with him, but another and stronger part that wanted to return home and see her father.

  She might have some feelings for him, but he didn’t have any for her. She was just his way to get revenge against her father. Absolutely nothing more.

  Once she was mounted up, she turned to Elizabeth. “Thank you again.”

  “Have a safe journey.”

  With one last smile, Roxanne waved goodbye as she left with a couple of fire giants to guide her back to her home.

  It hadn’t taken Daerrin long to realize he’d made a horrible mistake, about a week after leaving Roxanne, more or less. He should have said goodbye to her before he left. She probably thought she was nothing more than a tool for his driving revenge, but she’d be wrong.

  It’d taken him some time to realize it, but he wanted more time with her, about a lifetime of time. As he fought on the border, all he thought about was wrapping her in his arms. He wanted her.

  His family might roll in their graves at what he was thinking, but then again, they would probably just want him to be happy. And happy was one thing he hadn’t been, not until Roxanne walked into his life. Troublesome as she might be, she lightened his heart and made things interesting.

  His time away from her had straightened him out. He was done with seeing death and war. He wanted more to his life, and she was the type of person who’d bring zest into his life.

  He’d be sure to rectify the situation the moment he arrived back at the castle, which wouldn’t be much longer. He’d already left the border, and within an hour he was dismounting in the castle courtyard.

  Were there flitters in his stomach?

  Imagine that, a feared fire giant general getting anxious before telling a human female how he felt about her. It was laughable with its absurdity.

  Daerrin took the stairs two at a time, dashed through the great hall, and then took more stairs two at a time. He burst through Roxanne’s chamber door only to find it empty.

  Returning to the great hall in a rush his eyes sought out Roxanne among the crowd. Where was she? His heart hammered away in his chest from his nervousness and excitement.

  Then his search changed to Elizabeth. She might know where he could find Roxanne, so he didn’t have to turn the entire castle upside down and waste more time.

  It didn’t take long to find the queen of the fire giants. Elizabeth stood with some fire giant females, talking and having a good time.

  “May I have a moment of your time?” He asked, his voice a bit breathless from dashing all over the place.

  “Daerrin! I didn’t know we were expecting you back.” Elizabeth startled and stared at him with wide blue eyes.

  Was it just him or was Elizabeth a little jumpy?

  “I haven’t been able to find Roxanne, and I hoped you would know where she is.”

  “She isn’t in the castle.”

  Daerrin’s brow furrowed. “Is that a question or a statement?”

  Elizabeth squirmed a bit under his intense gaze.

  “Where is she? In town?” Daerrin wished Elizabeth would just give Roxanne’s location instead of telling him where she wasn’t. This would go so much quicker.

  Elizabeth twisted her hands together in agitation. “She left.”

  “Where?” Daerrin was growing a bit exasperated.

  “Back to her people.”

  It took a moment for his mind to register her words. Then he felt his heart crumble just as his head felt like it might just burst with anger. “What do you mean she left?” He growled down at her.

  “Take a step back.” Stryme stepped up beside his wife his voice whipping out. “I was the one who allowed her to leave, Daerrin.”

  “Why would you let her go? I thought out of everyone you would understand.” He just stared at Stryme like he was a complete stranger.

  Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow. “Not everything is about you, Daerrin. We had to take Roxanne’s feelings into consideration. She had her reasons for wanting to leave, and you got some revenge against her father. I can only imagine the distress he must have felt at the loss of his daughter.”

  He held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear any more of this.”

  She left because she either didn’t have any feelings for him or because she thought he could care less about her. He just wished he knew which one it was. Would he ever know? Not unless he found her again.

  He was going to search her down, even if he had to travel through human lands to do it. But first, he’d have to get Stryme’s permission

  “She left for a good reason,” Elizabeth spoke up again.

  Daerrin just grunted at her.

  Heaving a sigh Elizabeth explained more. “She left because…” She looked over at Stryme. “She is with child. Your child. She needed to be somewhere near family and support. She didn’t feel safe here, and she wasn’t sure how you’d react to the news.”

  “Child?” Daerrin and Stryme said at the same time.

  “Sorry I didn’t tell you.” Elizabeth placed a hand on Stryme’s arm.

  Stryme growled. “That would have changed my decision, Elizabeth.”

  “I know.” She winced. “That’s the reason we didn’t tell you about her condition.” She turned back to Daerrin. “She is carrying your child, Daerrin.”

  “Why wouldn’t she tell me about this?” Daerrin felt the news knock him down. A child. His child. He never even thought about their nights together culminating in a child, but he should have.

  “She didn’t feel safe here,” Elizabeth explained again. “If a mother doesn’t feel safe, she’ll get desperate, and none of us would want her to flee on her own. This way she left with guards to protect her until she reaches the border.”

  “Maybe it’s best she left then,” Daerrin growled.

  “You don’t mean that.” Elizabeth criticized.

  “Of course I do.”

  Elizabeth folded her arms in front of her chest. “Don’t be dimwitted. You two love each other, and it’s about time you both faced the facts. You both get so dewy-eyed whenever the other walks into the room. You need to go and find her because I’m certain she’ll come to her senses, as I did.”

  Daerrin glanced over to where Stryme nodded his head in reluctant agreement. Was he going to get Roxanne? Yes, he was.

  Roxanne couldn’t believe she was home. It seemed so unreal to her. She watched as the fire giant warriors turned around at the edg
e of the forest and melted back into the forest.

  Roxanne just stayed on her horse watching the castle in front of her. It wasn’t a grand castle, just a castle for defensive purposes, but it was home. Her heart skittered in her chest. She’d been gone for so long, and she was sure people believed her dead.

  Taking a deep breath, she pressed her heels into the sides of the horse. The horse slowly took them closer to the castle.

  Once she was a polite distance away, she stopped the horse. The gates were closed, and she waited patiently for the guard towers to notice her, which wasn’t long.

  Calls were raised, and the gate was slowly raised to allow her entrance. She pushed the horse forward. She swallowed, her throat closing up a bit. She was coming home to the same border castle where Daerrin had abducted her, but she was coming home pregnant. There was a trickle of fear of how her father would react to such news.

  After entering the castle walls, men rushed up to her horse. One grabbed her reins, and the other helped her off her horse.

  “Where have you come from?” The man asked as her feet touched the ground.

  “I am General Johnston’s daughter.”

  The man’s eyes widened. “We will show you to a room then.”

  He escorted her to the castle doors, and then a servant showed her up to a room where she was presented with a decent set of dresses and a warm bath.

  “When can I see my father?”

  “Once you’ve cleaned and dressed.” The servant smiled at her. “I will assist you.”

  “No!” Roxanne cleared her throat. “I mean, I can do it. Wait outside, thank you.”

  Roxanne stared into a mirror as she heard the click of the door behind her close shut. She didn’t want the servant in the room. Although her condition wasn’t noticeable in clothing, she was afraid the maid might notice it when she was naked.

  She stripped off her clothing in a rush and dashed to her bath in a flurry. Her stomach had such a flutter of butterflies. Her father would be glad to see her, but distressed with her condition. She was sure of it. But he loved her, and she hoped that love would transfer to her child. It would be his first and only grandchild.