“So am I. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I was serious when I said Ineed your help ruling the country. I want to reestablish thegovernment as my father did, by setting up a governing council.”
“You want to discuss thattonight?” Erling groaned. “Can it wait until morning?”
“Samrat Condor could attack atany time!”
“Kori, you can’t keep goingconstantly. You’ll wear yourself out.”
“I guess you’re right. Youneed rest as well.”
“I promise we’ll discusswhatever you want tomorrow.”
“Erling, you really upset mewhen you said our relationship is a mistake.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’tthinking clearly. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’ddecided you didn’t want to marry me. I love you so much.” Hemoved up further on the bed and stretched out, feeling his energydraining away. He should have stayed in bed.
“You okay?”
“I’m kinda out of it. I tooka couple pain pills before coming here. They make me groggy andcrabby. I’ve been short-tempered and irritable all day.”
“Uncharacteristically crabby.You’re usually pretty easygoing.” She cuddled up and put her armaround him. “You really should give your body a chance to heal.”She touched his check. “Your face is still badly bruised. Thoseguards on Flo Shah must have really laid into you.” She kissed eachbruise on his face.
He gazed at her and felt a floodof warmth flow through him. “You’re so beautiful. When I saw youin that negligee, you took my breath away. I should have kept mymouth shut and thanked my lucky stars that you agreed to marry me.”
“No, you did the right thing.You needed to share your concerns. We have to be able to talk aboutwhat’s bothering us.”
“I could have done it with moregrace.” She kissed his lips. He rolled onto his side, wincing inpain, then drew her close and returned the kiss. The kiss deepenedand Erling slid his hand onto her breast, feeling its fullnessthrough the thin, silky fabric. Her breathing quickened and it sentan answering response through him. He slid his hand down her side. Hewanted to do much more, but reluctantly removed his hand. Kori was avirgin and might not be ready to make love. Besides, he wasrecovering from a sword wound. “I’d better head back to my room.”
“Stay a moment longer. It’sbeen an upsetting day. I thought Zanton was going to kill you when Iawoke and saw his sword at your throat.”
“I was afraid he’d kill usboth.” He drew her close and held her. She was his safe harbor as afurious storm swirled around him.
A burning pain in Erling’s sidewoke him. The sun shone on his face and Koriann was nestled in hisarms. He shifted his position, trying to find a more comfortableposition on the bed. Koriann opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Goodmorning, love,” he said. He leaned forward and kissed her. “Wemust have fallen asleep.”
“We were both tired.” Shesnuggled closer.
The door opened and Chandrawalked in. “Excuse me, Your Highness,” she stammered. “I didn’tknow you weren’t alone.” She quickly left.
“Oh no,” Koriann moaned.
“Maybe you’d better catch herand tell her not to say anything.”
“Good idea.” She left theroom.
Erling closed his eyes. His sidecontinued to ache and he felt nauseated. When Koriann returned, heasked, “How did it go?”
“Chandra can be trusted not togossip, but she’s more than a servant. She made it abundantly clearthat she didn’t approve. I’d feel more comfortable if weannounced our engagement.”
“How soon do you want thewedding?”
“I don’t know. It’s goingto take some planning. Invitations were already sent out for mywedding to Zanton.”
“Cancel that wedding and we’llhave a small ceremony with close friends at dawn like Toe and Michdid.”
“I guess that makes the mostsense. I’d rather have a wedding that was more a spiritual unionthan a social occasion. I have to go to a meeting this morning. Doyou want to come?”
“No, I’m not feeling well. Doyou mind if I stay here and sleep for awhile?”
“Of course not. After themeeting, I’ll bring you breakfast.” Koriann began to dress.
“I wish I could attend. I hatebeing confined to bed with the threat of an invasion hanging overus.”
“The most important thing foryou to do is recover.” She kissed him. “See you later. I loveyou.”
“I love you, too.”
Erling lay in bed, wishing he hadmore pain pills as the searing pain in his side escalated. Afterawhile he heard the door click open and turned to see Onolyn peeringinto the royal bedchamber. “Did I wake you?”
“No, come in.” He smiled,delighted to see her. She looked younger than her twenty years withher girlish face, long legs, and tall, slim build.
“Queen Koriann said I’d findyou here. I wanted to see you before I left for the mission toHaklute.” She hugged him. “I would have come to see youyesterday, but between the briefing on the mission and you being inrecovery, I never got a chance.” Her brow wrinkled with concern.“You look worse than I expected from what Zac told me.”
“I need my pain medication. Canyou get my bottle of pills? It’s in my room on the dresser.”
“I’ll be right back.”
After she left, he wondered whyhe felt so terrible. He’d been wounded before, but never felt likethis. Perhaps the wound was infected. He’d ask Onolyn to send forDr. Tenzing.
Onolyn returned and gave him twopills. He swallowed them with water, hoping they’d take effectquickly. His strength seemed to be draining away, but he had to talkto Onolyn.
“Do you want me to go?” sheasked.
He clasped her hand. “No, don’tgo. Onolyn, I don’t like you and Zac going to Haklute alone. It’sa dangerous mission. It would be better if I went with you.” Hegazed fondly at her pretty face, framed by short, strawberry-blondhair. They’d spent a lot of time together during the past year.He’d been her flight instructor at a Coalition outpost, she’dbeen on his team during the mission to overthrow General Bhandar, andmore recently they fought together in the war on Tismus.
“Zac is reckless,” Erlingsaid in a weak voice. “He’s a good pilot, but young andinexperienced. Furthermore, he hasn’t had enough training for thistype of mission. You’ll have to help him.”
“Don’t worry. Hendoraformulated a good plan. Just get better. Your hand’s hot andsweaty.” She frowned
