as he thought of the fulfillment in their meeting. She’d surprised him, giving of herself in a way he’d never expected. Or at least she had once her fears had been laid to rest.
A spark of anger threatened as he thought of the lies she must have been told by those she should have been able to trust to tell her about the wonders of a man and a woman. Never had he known a maiden to be so filled with fear. A tightening within his chest accompanied the pleasure he felt at having been the one to put her fears to rest. This tiny woman who carried his blood, would carry his children, had awakened a nurturing instinct within the warrior he’d never have believed himself capable of possessing. He’d begun to realize it well before their coupling, though after becoming one with her, it had bloomed full and strong. He knew now, enemy or no, he would protect her with all he had even to the point of giving up his life for hers should it ever come to that. In a few short days, days filled with frustration and change, a transition had occurred. She was becoming his life. Was that part of The Masters’ plan? Was that the true reason for the mixture and the marking?
He thought of his own father, gruff as he seemed. Yet he had not abandoned his chosen when she could not produce the required heir. To this day, she remained as one of the family, had taken part in the rearing of his children and the running of the household. Only now did Tahruk understand the look that still softened his father’s eyes when they fell upon her. The gruff old warrior had fallen in love with her. Tahruk looked at the beauty nestled in his arms. Could he do the same if she failed to conceive?
No. Duty be damned, he wanted her only. He would fight the Courts, flee with her if he must…
“My lord?” she whispered, running soft fingers over his deeply creased brow.
“Shhh.” He pulled her hand down, kissing the fingers that remained to play over his lips. Their touch tickled, deepening an already ignited need. Understanding brought forth a girlish giggle that made him smile, though the way she snuggled closer to him was all woman, leaving Tahruk little choice but to take what she was offering.
He wouldn’t mind waking like this every morning. No, that wouldn’t bother him at all.
Chapter 17
The young woman from Aleone weighed heavily on Daruh’s mind through the early hours of the morning. Shortly before noon, he pushed his paperwork aside deciding instead to pay another visit to Zanak Drille. He wanted to find out what the elder Sharanis had heard about the instability to the Northwest anyway. With Renaine’s match being one of the few that crossed kingdom lines, his chosen hailing from the now unsettled Corigan, if anyone knew what was happening, it would be him. A quick stop at Zanak before lunch at the castle would serve Daruh two-fold.
Daruh was shown into the main garden when he arrived at Zanak where he found Renaine hovering over several maps and correspondences laid out on a table not far from the roses Nema tended. Odd as it was, he couldn’t say he was overly surprised at Lady Neria’s absence.
“What brings you to our corner of the Centrehead, Daruh? And so soon after your last visit.” Renaine barely lifted his eyes from the scrolls before him when he spoke.
“Morning, Master.” Nema’s pleasant voice lifted in greeting as she walked toward the two men. “Should I ring for refreshments, my lord?” she asked Renaine.
Brows drawn, Renaine looked from Nema to Daruh then out toward the sundial in the center of the garden before shaking his head. “Perhaps Master Daruh would like to join us for lunch since we’re so close?”
Daruh studied the other man for a moment, wondering if he was truly being asked or told. He shrugged. “I had planned to take my meal at the castle, though this will give us more time to chat.” He glanced down at the maps in front of Renaine. “I was hopeful you might shed some light
A spark of anger threatened as he thought of the lies she must have been told by those she should have been able to trust to tell her about the wonders of a man and a woman. Never had he known a maiden to be so filled with fear. A tightening within his chest accompanied the pleasure he felt at having been the one to put her fears to rest. This tiny woman who carried his blood, would carry his children, had awakened a nurturing instinct within the warrior he’d never have believed himself capable of possessing. He’d begun to realize it well before their coupling, though after becoming one with her, it had bloomed full and strong. He knew now, enemy or no, he would protect her with all he had even to the point of giving up his life for hers should it ever come to that. In a few short days, days filled with frustration and change, a transition had occurred. She was becoming his life. Was that part of The Masters’ plan? Was that the true reason for the mixture and the marking?
He thought of his own father, gruff as he seemed. Yet he had not abandoned his chosen when she could not produce the required heir. To this day, she remained as one of the family, had taken part in the rearing of his children and the running of the household. Only now did Tahruk understand the look that still softened his father’s eyes when they fell upon her. The gruff old warrior had fallen in love with her. Tahruk looked at the beauty nestled in his arms. Could he do the same if she failed to conceive?
No. Duty be damned, he wanted her only. He would fight the Courts, flee with her if he must…
“My lord?” she whispered, running soft fingers over his deeply creased brow.
“Shhh.” He pulled her hand down, kissing the fingers that remained to play over his lips. Their touch tickled, deepening an already ignited need. Understanding brought forth a girlish giggle that made him smile, though the way she snuggled closer to him was all woman, leaving Tahruk little choice but to take what she was offering.
He wouldn’t mind waking like this every morning. No, that wouldn’t bother him at all.
Chapter 17
The young woman from Aleone weighed heavily on Daruh’s mind through the early hours of the morning. Shortly before noon, he pushed his paperwork aside deciding instead to pay another visit to Zanak Drille. He wanted to find out what the elder Sharanis had heard about the instability to the Northwest anyway. With Renaine’s match being one of the few that crossed kingdom lines, his chosen hailing from the now unsettled Corigan, if anyone knew what was happening, it would be him. A quick stop at Zanak before lunch at the castle would serve Daruh two-fold.
Daruh was shown into the main garden when he arrived at Zanak where he found Renaine hovering over several maps and correspondences laid out on a table not far from the roses Nema tended. Odd as it was, he couldn’t say he was overly surprised at Lady Neria’s absence.
“What brings you to our corner of the Centrehead, Daruh? And so soon after your last visit.” Renaine barely lifted his eyes from the scrolls before him when he spoke.
“Morning, Master.” Nema’s pleasant voice lifted in greeting as she walked toward the two men. “Should I ring for refreshments, my lord?” she asked Renaine.
Brows drawn, Renaine looked from Nema to Daruh then out toward the sundial in the center of the garden before shaking his head. “Perhaps Master Daruh would like to join us for lunch since we’re so close?”
Daruh studied the other man for a moment, wondering if he was truly being asked or told. He shrugged. “I had planned to take my meal at the castle, though this will give us more time to chat.” He glanced down at the maps in front of Renaine. “I was hopeful you might shed some light
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