news.”
“And I look forward to imparting it,” Drakkar returned softly and at that, the door flew open and Finnie rushed in, cheeks flushed, eyes bright, smile firm on her face.
She skidded to a halt several steps in, shared her smile with both of them then her eyes fixed on her mother and she cried, “Let’s… go… skating!”
Bloody hell, his bride hadn’t even taken off her cloak from riding obstacles on her new horse and she was ready to go off on her next escapade.
He studied her bright eyes and pink cheeks, thinking, By the gods, I love this woman.
Then he crossed his arms on his chest and stated, “Before you’re off to break your ankle, wife, your husband will take a kiss.”
She moved to him swiftly, replying, “I’m not going to break my ankle, Frey.”
“Sprain it then,” he returned as she made it to him, curled her fingers around his forearm and leaned her body into his.
“Not that either,” she retorted.
“Gods, don’t give yourself delirium by falling on your head,” he implored and she giggled and got up on her toes.
“I’ll not be doing that either. I’m a good skater,” she informed him.
“And you’ve done this before?” he asked.
“Yes, twice, with my parents when I was young,” she answered.
“You’re not young anymore, Finnie,” he pointed out.
“Well, I’m not gray, blind, crippled and doddering, either,” she shot back and he grinned.
Then he murmured, “Kiss,” and bent his head to hers to assist her. She accepted his offer, pressing her mouth to his and opening hers before they touched tongues and when they did, Drakkar not only tasted her, he felt the beauty of her taste right down to his blood.
He lifted his head and whispered, “Have fun, wee one.”
She smiled up at him and whispered back, “I will, handsome husband. I always do.”
Yes, that was his wee Finnie, she always did.
Then she squeezed his arm, turned to her mother, wrapped her hands around her mother’s arm and guided her out of the room, their heads bent together.
Frey looked to Gunner, Max and Thad as they stood just outside the door and jerked his chin to them. They nodded and followed Finnie and Aurora.
Then he pulled in a deep breath, let it out and went to find Ruben who would procure a trusted messenger and send off to Balthazar with this latest news and further instruction.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Glow of the Adela Tree
“Wee one, wake,” I heard Frey whisper in my ear, his big hand warm on my hip, my eyes slowly opened and I saw darkness cut with only weak candlelight.
I rolled to my back to see he was out of bed but sitting on the side of it fully clothed and I felt my body go instantly tight.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
“Nothing, my love,” his hand, now at my belly, pressed lightly, “I’ve a message from the Elves. I thought you’d wish to accompany me.”
I stared at him only a second before I was out of bed faster than lightning.
I was rummaging through the wardrobe when I heard Frey say, “I’ll take this as a yes.”
“Totally,” I told the wardrobe then felt his hands at my hips, his lips touch my shoulder and then they came to my ear.
“I’ll saddle Tyr and bring him ‘round front. I’ll meet you there when you’re ready.”
I nodded at the wardrobe and pulled out a cream woolen dress.
Frey left the room. I dressed as fast as I could considering how many clothes I needed to wear and how difficult the underwear was to strap on. Then I pulled on a cream wool cloak with a curly-furred collar, a cream knit cap that fit snug and bunched all my hair out at the sides and cream leather gloves and dashed out into the hall.
As it was the dead of night and no footmen were around, it took a bit of effort to get the front doors of the Keep opened and then closed again but when I did, I turned and saw Frey was waiting for me at the foot of the steps with Thad, Orion and Ruben.
I rushed down the steps straight to Frey with only quick smiles at the guys and the moment I was close enough, he bent to the side in the saddle, his arm curved around me and he lifted me up in front of him. I settled my ass in his groin as his arm tightened around my ribs, he leaned us both forward, touched his heels to Tyr’s flanks and shouted, “Yah!”
And off we went to visit the elves.
* * * * *
We rode well out of Snowdon and well into a forest because Frey told me the elfin messengers would come to him but whatever message there was to be delivered would be delivered at an adela tree.
So, bonus, I was going to get to see an adela tree.
As we raced through the forest, I was seeing I needed way more practice on Caspia as Frey and his men snaked at a full gallop through the trees, sometimes coming so close I could feel the wind as we whizzed by them and all the boys, as far as I could tell, did this without hesitation using nothing but instinct.
It was super cool.
I saw it before we hit it, the opaque mist that looked like dense, glittering fog that shrouded the dark trees and I noticed we were heading right to it. But as we got close, Ruben, Thad and Orion pulled back and the minute we penetrated the mist, the men were left behind.
“What –?” I started, twisting and looking around Frey to see the hazy figures of the men on their mounts quickly receding.
“The mist is created by the elves, wee one,” Frey told me and I looked up at him. “Only I can penetrate it… and you as you’re with me.”
Wow. Cool.
I looked forward, my heart beating that familiar excited beat, my blood singing through my veins and this only increased when I saw the beginnings of a golden glow that pierced the fog. It increased as we rode into the glow, becoming brighter and more intense until we were suddenly there.
The adela tree.
And it was magnificent.
Not tall, it’s thin, twirly-ended branches rising direct from the earth for the tree had no trunk. Even though it wasn’t tall, it was wide; its thousands of thin branches growing up and out. And its bark glittered bright and golden, lighting the large clearing around it almost like it was daylight, except it was cooler, more fan-freaking- tastic daylight.
And if that wasn’t awesome enough, with an ice blue flash and a bright white spark, mini elves were appearing from what seemed like straight out of the earth at the base of the tree’s stump. Once they formed, they immediately turned, touched a glittering branch and grew to the size of a normal human right… in front… of my eyes.
Unbelievably cool.
As I watched, Frey halted Tyr at the outer edge of the clearing and dismounted, pulling me down and setting me on my feet beside Tyr.
“Stay here, Finnie, yes?” he said quietly, I tore my eyes away from the elves, now numbering six with more flashes and sparks coming from the tree, all of the elves regarding us with ice blue eyes filled with curiosity under
