I don’t mean the words, naturally. I couldn't care less if I ever see these people again, let alone talk to them.
They dip their chins, then thankfully turn around and walk away from me. My gaze shifts to Jeremiah, who is staring at their retreating forms, then he flicks his gaze to meet mine.
“Take me to him. I must speak to him immediately.”
Jeremiah shakes his head once. “It’s bad luck to see him before you’re wed, do you not have such a custom?”
I snort. “We do, but I don’t really care. This isn’t about luck, this is about life and death.”
His eyes widen, then he clears his throat. “Tongues will wag if you’re seen down there, come and wait for him in his room. I will bring him to you.”
Jeremiah ushers me across the hall to Colt’s room. I haven’t been in here since that first night I arrived, and I don’t remember many details from then. The door closes behind me and I take a moment to inhale deeply. The entire space smells like Colt. It’s woodsy and musky, it’s perfection.
Looking around the salon, I smile at the sight of the little things that are left out. There is a small table with a game of chess, that I assume he plays with Ernest. There is a larger table with a decanter of whiskey and a glass.
Walking over to the doorway, I peek inside and practically swoon at the sight of his bed. It’s unmade, he has some clothes strewn about and there is even a book on his nightstand. The sound of the door opening causes me to spin around and there he is, right in front of me, Colt.
“You needed to see me, urgently?” he asks, his lips turned down in a frown.
I’m a bit taken aback that he doesn’t seem pleased to see me at all, not even in all of my wedding finery. Shaking those thoughts away, I close the distance between us, but still stay a couple feet away, not touching him freely the way that I wish I could.
“I do,” I say with a nod. He watches me, obviously a bit impatient at the fact that I’m not rambling and telling him everything all at once. “Those people, the Assembly?” I ask.
“How did you know about them?” he snaps.
“They came to my room to meet me, I cut that meeting off because I accidentally found myself listening to a conversation just a few moments before they were knocking on my door.”
“Birdie?”
“The group looking to overthrow you will be here tonight. They said that the reception would be bloody.”
His body jerks and then he reaches out, wrapping his hand around my waist before he tugs me against his chest. As much as I want to rest my cheek against him, I don’t. Instead, I tilt my head back and look up into his eyes.
“Nothing will happen. I will protect you, darlin’.”
I could lie to him, but I don’t have a reason to. Lifting my hand between us, I cup his bearded jaw and slide my thumb across his bottom lip.
“I know that you will, Colt.”
COLT
The last thing that I want to do is leave Birdie’s side. Walking away from her, I jerk my chin toward Jeremiah. I instruct him to gather the rest of her personal guard, then make sure that they have eyes on her every second until the wedding.
Reaching out to the lions, I instruct them to be ready. They agree that they will head in closer to camp and lie in wait for what is to come. I send them many thanks as I make my way out to the stables.
Reaching out to Arion, I gnash my bottom teeth together as I wait for him to allow our link to open.
I need you, Arion.
How?
Birdie.
The subject is simple. This is not a personal request, not truly. This is about Birdie. This is about keeping her safe and in return, keeping our world protected from the fallout of a failed prophecy, Arion knows this just as much as I do.
A war is being brought to my door. I need her protected.
Admitting it, that I may not be the one able to protect her, makes me feel weak. However, I’m also not naïve enough to think that I am able to protect her against all enemies without help. I will not allow another woman, my woman, to be harmed.
You know that I will do this.
I thank him and ask him to keep guard outside of the stables in case he needs to quickly swoop in and take her to safety. He makes a whinny noise and jerks his head around a couple of times and with that I turn and leave, heading toward the wedding ceremony site.
There are a few people gathered and sitting on the provided barrels that I had brought out from the barn for last-minute seating. The officiant is ready, his gaze surveying the crowd. My eyes search for a particular person and when I see him, my lips twitch into a small smile before I swiftly walk over to him.
“Where is it?” I demand.
He jerks his chin behind him. “It’s out on my trailer.” He turns and I follow behind him, quickly.
When we approach, I see the item that I requested. A gift for my bride. I don’t touch it, unsure of how it works and not wishing to break it before she’s even seen it.
“Follow me, I know where I want it.” He doesn’t say anything, but I can hear him moving behind me.
We walk into the house and head straight upstairs. Jeremiah and the rest of the men are standing guard at Birdie’s door when I arrive. I can hear the man behind me huffing and puffing as he attempts to catch his breath from the climb up the stairs.
Turning to Jeremiah, I jerk my chin. “Is she inside her own quarters?” I ask on a whisper.
He nods his head and my
