by D. R. Grady
“Stuart offers advice to many and it’s good counsel. At least what I’ve heard.”
Lajos had not seen this side of the man, but knowing he was as intent on protecting Stefana as Lajos himself, made him far more inclined toward the man.
“He will protect both Raene and Stefana with his life.” Vidar’s uncanny echo of his own thoughts resolved him to trust the man.
“You trust him.”
“With my life, and more so, with that of my wife.” No firmer vow than that.
Lajos’ hand relaxed on the hilt of his sword. It hadn’t cramped yet, but he’d maintained a death-grip on the handle long enough his muscles offered warning signs.
He followed Vidar back into the library where Stefana and Raene worked. They had conducted at least one meeting while he was away. Ah, so that’s why Stuart had been slightly behind them earlier. He had been meeting with the two women when Lajos returned.
Stefana scribbled something on the parchment in front of her, but she did spare him a small smile. A mannerly, friendly gesture, nothing more, yet it escalated through him with the intensity of a bonfire.
Her friendly expression left him reeling internally, so that he dropped into the chair provided for him and grappled with retaining control of himself. His accelerating heart did not intend to cooperate, neither did his heaving lungs, but he was Aasguard and now he called upon those skills to force his body into compliance.
This should never have happened.
A small, warm hand covered his shoulder. “Lajos, whatever is wrong?” Stefana’s voice came as though through a tunnel.
He lurched to his feet and grabbed her, propelling her into the closet along the back wall. Unnecessary as Raene had slipped into Vidar’s office with him when they returned, and she was probably still smooching her husband.
Still, he didn’t want to be interrupted. Slamming the door behind them, he gazed into the face staring at him with consternation.
“Are you all right?” Concern radiated from her very being.
“No, I’m not.”
Her gasp pierced him.
When she made to inquire, he tumbled her into his arms and covered her lips with his. For a heart-stopping moment she stiffened, but then her entire body relaxed, and she sank against him. Her hand clutched his shoulder, and her lips softened.
He wrapped her closer, holding her the way a man holds a woman. Never in his life had he done so. But the time was right.
This woman was supposed to be in his arms. She was supposed to be kissing him back.
She is a maiden.
The voice of reason protested with increasing volume in the back of his mind and when the warning finally penetrated, he reluctantly released Stefana. No apology sprang to his lips, however.
He could not apologize for that kiss.
“What was that?”
“Ever since coming to this land, you have made me think thoughts I have never harbored. Not in centuries of living.”
Her swallow was audible in the small room. When she looked at him, her large, dark eyes provided liquid pools of quicksand. They shimmered, enticing him to step inside.
“You have done the same to me.” She whirled away from him. Her spine formed a straight line. “I am a maiden. I should not have these thoughts.”
That tiny admission, which he suspected cost her much, raised his spirits. “I have likely entertained the same ones.”
She swung around to face him once more and trepidation lined her shoulders and mouth. “I will not be forced to marry.”
Her fists clenched at her sides.
“Why do you feel I will force you to marry me?” He wasn’t offended because he couldn’t figure out where her thought patterns led. Her emotions jumbled together in a chaotic pattern.
He concurred.
“I am a maiden, and I’ve only been attracted to one other male before. He is set to wed a friend soon. Then I met you and what I feel for you is far different than what I ever felt for him.”
Lajos couldn’t not reach out to stroke her dewy cheek. “Imagine living for millennia and never being attracted to someone. Then meeting the most beautiful maiden in any land. I don’t know what to do with this or you, Stefana. I have nothing to offer you.”
“I am the acting princess of this land. Obviously, I need protection.”
“I can offer that. But I’m not a king. Or even a prince. You deserve a man who is worthy of you.”
One delicate eyebrow rose. The gesture as graceful as the lady herself. Everything Stefana did captivated him. Her grace was innate, she didn’t summon or affect it.
“You are aware you are also of royal lineage? More so than myself?”
Denial lanced through him. “I am not royalty.”
Her sigh didn’t contain any weariness, but plenty of exasperation. “Raene grew weary of Vidar bowing to her. She felt a great warrior such as him should not bow to a young woman. When she researched Aasguard warriors, she learned one requirement for the training is that you must be of royal heritage.”
His eyebrows snapped together. “What does that mean?”
“You must carry the blood of the royals, although you needn’t be legitimate, but you must be royal in order to be Aasguard.”
This he had not known. “Are you certain?”
“Raene researched this thoroughly. She then sent Vidar to many of the same places. Aern apparently read the same information, and he verified this. It is true.” Stefana’s eyebrow arched again. “Therefore, you are more royal than I myself.”
He didn’t snort, but the sentiment was there. “Only Raene is more royal than you, Stefana. Everything about you bespeaks royalty.”
The urge to kiss her again overwhelmed him. He gave in. Again.
Her lips clung to his, as though the same need fueled her. When they parted, both breathed too hard and her eyes shimmered.
“We should not.” She didn’t sound convinced.
“Stefana, where are you?” A note of panic threaded Raene’s voice from the other side of the door.
Stefana seized a packet of notepads then opened the barrier. “In here, Raene. What size of notepad did you say you required?”
Raene padded to the open doorway and described what she wanted. Stefana set the packet she held back on the shelf and selected a different size. “This one?”
Unlike Raene, her lips weren’t swollen, and her hair remained in place, as their kisses had been chaste. Although he felt anything but.
Admiring the curve of Stefana’s back and her aplomb, he settled back to further observe her. Her high color was the only indication she had nearly been caught in a clinch with him.
Not that Raene would be scandalized by their admiration for each other.
If anyone in the land would, she definitely understood what was happening between them.
At least someone did.
What am I doing?
Stefana handed the parchment to Raene, trying in vain to quell her galloping heart. She had just kissed Lajos. Twice.
Maidens did no such thing. Unless they preferred to be married out of hand. While Raene and Vidar made marriage look appealing, she still wasn’t certain.
Her heart refused to calm, but she resisted the urge to press a hand to her chest. That would give her away to both of her companions and she couldn’t provide an explanation right now.
Maybe never would.
She followed Raene out of the closet, aware of Lajos on her heels. She could tell he was frustrated by the interruption while she was so grateful, she might burst into tears.
That would never do.
Being married out of hand ranked as her worst fear.
She wished to choose her own husband. Not have him chosen for her.
Although being married to Lajos would not be a hardship, the problem was he was so much man, far too masculine. All of him amazing and overwhelming.
She wasn’t woman enough for his potent maleness.
Lajos the Swift was wo
rthy to be a king. Worthy of the fortune he no doubt had acquired through the years.
She might be the princess, but this was a new responsibility to her.
A knock at the library door provided another welcome distraction.
A butler entered the doorway. “Your majesty, you have visitors.” His intonation and manner were so correct, Raene and Stefana exchanged glances.
“Thank you, William.” Raene strode to Vidar’s door and informed him.
They left the library together, with the king escorting the queen down the hallway and into the royal foyer. Lajos offered his arm to Stefana, in proper courtly behavior.
She accepted and they followed their monarchs into the foyer.
Awaiting them were the King and Princess of Oxland. “Rialta,” Raene said with pleasure and stepped up to hug the other woman. Stefana right behind her.
“Hello Raene and Stefana.” Rialta greeted them with a tight squeeze, then stepped back so her brother could also greet them.
Eduard, the King of Oxland, had married a couple of years ago, and was by far one of their most handsome, charismatic neighbors. His wife was a sweet, quiet creature who shared his charm and good manners.
“Where is Queen Lacey?” Stefana peered at the king.
Rialta’s smile could have lit the entire castle. She didn’t say anything but allowed her brother to answer.
“Lacey is with child. She elected to remain home, as traveling is difficult for her these days.”
“Oh Eduard, congratulations.” She and Raene both hugged him.
Raene drew Vidar forward. “This is my husband, Vidar the Loyal. Vidar, this is the King of Oxland, Eduard, and his sister, Princess Rialta.”
The two men shook hands, and both relaxed. Vidar drew Lajos forward. “My brother, Lajos the Swift.”
“You are the warrior who defeated Ostard?”
Lajos inclined his head. “I retrieved Stefana after he kidnapped her.”
Eduard winced. “In the process though, you killed him, not the dragon?”
“Correct.”
The manner in which their neighboring king asked the question raised her hackles. “What does that signify, Eduard?”
“Let us reconvene to the drawing room.” Raene’s decree reminded them they stood in the middle of the vast foyer and could be overheard by any who might be skulking about.
Olga, for instance. Who Stefana fortunately no longer had for a maid, but who seemed to lurk about the castle.
Raene and Vidar led the way, and as soon as they were seated, refreshment arrived. Stuart must have been within eavesdropping distance.
It didn’t take Raene long to dispense with the beverages and small tidbits on the various plates. She leaned back and fixed Eduard with steely blue eyes.
“Eduard, you worded your question to Lajos in a way that makes me believe you are up to something.”
“I’m not.” He didn’t even appear chagrined. “Although it has been called to my attention, as my kingdom also borders Ostard’s, that there are problems there.”
“There have been for a long while.” Raene didn’t remove her gaze from their guest. Neither did Stefana or the two Aasguard warriors.
Rialta seemed the only person not focused on their conversation. She drank her tea with every sign of enjoyment and nibbled a dainty cake, but she didn’t appear to hang on her brother’s words.
Then again, she wouldn’t as she likely knew what was to happen.
Stefana’s stomach muscles clenched.
“I worded my question to Lajos the way I did because if he defeated Ostard, and that’s the story coming from his court, then Lajos is the new king of Ostard.”
Stefana dropped her tea cup. She managed to keep it from splashing her gown but burned her hand in the process. Eyes wide on her bodyguard she snapped her mouth shut only through sheer force of will.
Then Eduard turned to her. “Ostard has been telling the court and the people that you are their rightful queen. They live in such terrible circumstances that they’ve latched onto the hope of a new queen. All believe you are their queen now. They won’t accept another woman.”
Chapter 9
His first concern was healing Stefana’s burn. Lajos tapped the nearest crystal panel, aware Stefana had gone into shock.
He couldn’t process this new information right now. Not until someone treated Stefana’s burn.
No one had mentioned that by killing the previous king, he would then be made the king.
“That can’t be.” Stefana’s voice was so unlike her own, he hurried back to her side. She swayed and her face paled to the point of translucence. He gathered her into his arms, as her entire body shook. The burn on her hand glowed an angry red.
When a footman entered the room at their summons, Lajos had a list of items he asked for. The footman left and in moments, a healer arrived.
This one wasn’t so young any longer. It heartened him to witness her obvious skill. She clicked her tongue over Stefana’s hand then quickly cleaned and tended the wound after ushering him and Stefana to a nearby settee.
Raene poured another cup of tea, a strong one, and she heavily sweetened the beverage before commanding Stefana to drink it. The healer added several dried herbs to the tea before pressing it on Stefana. Stefana drank, but likely only due to shock. Color returned to her cheeks and she blinked before turning to stare up at him.
Eduard, in the manner of a king, took charge. “You killed Ostard, and we’re all thankful you did so. He was a problem many of us understood we needed to somehow rectify.”
“The man was crazy.” Vidar’s summation of the former king rang true.
“Yes. Unfortunately, that tendency runs through his entire line.”
“There aren’t any more Ostards left.” The king’s sister said this as she drained her tea cup.
“No, there are no more left.” Oxland didn’t sound upset by this. “That means the Land of Ostard is now without an Ostard to run the country.”
“So they actually have a chance to succeed now,” Raene mused.
“They do. With their new king and queen.” Their guest turned toward him and Stefana and Lajos’ heart dropped.
“I don’t know anything about being a king.”
“And I’ve only just come into my duties as a princess.”
“We shall all aid you, as many of the neighbors have heard that Ostard was killed by an Aasguard warrior. Ostard Land is in dire distress and it requires superior rulers. The law of that land is that if challenged, and defeated, the winner of the battle will rule.” Oxland pointed toward him. “That is you.”
Stefana’s hand clenched his thigh in a near painful vice, but he didn’t complain. He understood.
“These people are dying. They have no hope.” Oxland’s face shuttered. “At least they didn’t until Ostard kidnapped Stefana and her Aasguard warrior bodyguard defeated him. Now their chances of survival have improved.”
His own grip tightened on Stefana. “Give us some time to process and discuss this.”
Stefana’s clutch on his thigh didn’t abate.
“I swore to Stefana after my mother died that she would not be forced to marry.” Raene’s anxiety echoed in her voice and body language.
“Of course you did. I heard that decree.” Oxland wasn’t unsympathetic. “However, all of this had already begun. Stefana will need to make some decisions.”
“I’m not unopposed to marrying Lajos.” Stefana’s voice wavered, but it remained strong enough that everyone heard her. “We’ve shared a connection from the start.”
He tugged her closer. “It’s suddenly not marriage we’re concerned about.”
She nodded. Their eyes met, and he read everything he felt there.
“Running a country that has been so poverty stricken and forgotten means you will need to abolish all the former laws and ways. It is your opportunity to start fresh.” Vidar stroked his chin, eyes narrowed.
“Yes. Lajos, you and Stefana ca
n make your own way. You will simply do what is best for the people.” Oxland’s gaze remained direct and steady. “You are their only hope.”
Stefana’s hand clenched on his thigh. He clasped his over hers, protecting it. Wanting to shield her from this. They didn’t fear marriage. He guessed they had both entertained the notion that they would eventually wed. He surely had.
Lajos would have never kissed her had he not been thinking in terms of permanence. She wouldn’t have allowed him the liberty if she hadn’t also been contemplating the same thoughts.
Marriage right now felt far too soon. Yet it sank to the least of their worries.
“It will be a challenge, but again, all of us,” Raene used an encompassing hand to indicate herself, Vidar, and Oxland, “will assist you in anything you need.”
Oxland supported her statement with a definitive nod. “We will. I have some ideas for you on how to make the nation prosper again.”
“As do I.” Stefana stroked her hand up and down his thigh. She had to be unaware of what she did, but then it wasn’t so strange. A betrothed woman enjoyed far more privileges. A maiden would never be permitted such freedom and it appeared Stefana had passed from maiden into fiancée in the space of seconds.
“This isn’t how I intended to propose to Stefana. Or how I envisioned our lives together.”
She straightened to peer into his eyes. “Yes.”
The room fell completely silent as their gazes met and meshed. So many answers beckoned, shimmering in those luminous onyx orbs, but he’d require a lifetime to discover them all. His breath caught as he slid a hand under her chin and tugged her close for another kiss.
This one was sweeter and more glorious than their previous efforts.
“So does this mean you’re engaged?” Princess Rialta’s voice held an abundance of mischief. At least it sounded so to him.
He reluctantly left Stefana’s lips, who mock scowled at the other woman. “You ruined a moment.”
“Yes. A very romantic one. But at this point, you’ve got work to do.” The princess’s face fell. “A lot of it.”
“If I’m the queen in another land, who will take over my duties as the princess here?” Stefana’s teeth worried her lower lip. He wanted to protest.
