“No, he doesn’t,” he agreed. “But I am not the one destined to lead our people to a greater war than even our ancestors could fathom. You are. And as such, I need your word. Swear to me, Balandria.”
Her stern gaze weakened, and he could see the clench in her jaw. “I swear,” she finally said.
He pulled the necklace off his head and started to place it over her neck, but she shook her head and pushed his hands back.
“You are not dead yet,” she told him. “You are still my king. Until this life rips you from me, you will keep the honor of this stone.”
She closed his hand around the stone, and then he pulled her into his chest, hugging her close.
“I couldn’t have asked for better than you,” he whispered in her hair. He pulled back and cupped her face in his hand. “I have no doubts that you’ll be the greatest of us.”
He could see the apprehension in her dark eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head.
“Get some rest,” he told her. “We have a long week ahead of us. You’ll need to learn the in’s and out’s of the meetings, the castle, handling the guards. But, your first job, tomorrow, will be to get to know the Prince and Princess. I have a feeling you’ll need them as allies soon.”
“What will you do?” she asked.
Draven began walking backwards away. “Enjoy my time with her while we have it.”
He’d nearly reached the door when he heard Balandria call out for him again. He paused at the threshold and looked back at him over his shoulder. Her arms were hugged around her chest, a cautious look in her gaze.
“Is she worth it?” she asked.
He swallowed hard as Aydra’s face filled his mind, the warmth, security, and love he felt when he was with her radiated through his core.
“Only her.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
EACH TIME SHE woke in his arms, she settled into it instead of rising. And each time her morning started with his hardened length pressing against her backside, she surrendered to the ravenous moments, relishing the way he held her firmly against him. He would be gone in a few days, and she wanted to savor him.
Draven left Aydra’s bed before the sun rose to go to Balandria. He had plans for her, wanting to show her around, let her get to know the rest of the Council. Aydra offered Lex to him to help her get adjusted to things. She wasn’t sure why Draven had decided to suddenly bring Balandria into the mix of things, but she wasn’t about to argue or push him for reasons.
She trusted him.
Whatever he was thinking, she knew it was for the better of their kingdoms, for both their people.
Rain pelted the windowsill when Aydra finally rose. She smiled at the sight of it and pulled on her riding clothes, along with her cloak.
“Ah, should have known,” Lex mused as she stepped inside Aydra’s bedroom. “Shall I tell your lover where you’re off to?”
Aydra smiled as she opened the grand window in her room and stepped onto the windowsill. “Please do.”
Her eyes closed, and she pulled for the core of the Aenean Orel. And then she fell into the air out of her window.
Great golden feathers flashed in her sightline as the air consumed her. But the Orel was faster, and the immense four-legged golden eagle swooped beneath her falling body mere feet from the ground and rocketed them into the air.
Her falling figure out of her window made Draven’s heart stop.
But he watched as the Orel’s great eagle body sweept beneath her and dove back up into the clouds, and then his breath returned.
Dorian clapped his hand on Draven’s shoulder. “Yeah, she does that.”
Draven felt a smile rise on his lips as he shook his head. “Where do they go?”
“Ah… Cliffs usually. Not sure exactly where though. Lex knows. You’ll have to ask her,” Dorian replied.
“Get out of here,” Nyssa interjected then. She was smiling at him when Draven met her gaze, and she nodded her head towards the door. “Balandria is in better hands learning from us than she is hearing it from you. We will take care of her.” Nyssa wrapped an arm into Balandria’s and she nodded towards the door again. “Go. Be with her.”
Draven’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t think you approved.”
Nyssa tucked her hair behind her ear and her smile widened. “I didn’t. But… I’ve never seen my sister with such a happiness in her core. True happiness. She loves you. I cannot stand in the way of that.”
Draven’s heart skipped at the word, and he swallowed hard. “She what?” he managed in a crack of a voice.
Nyssa’s face paled. “Oh shit,” she managed. “Oh, fucking curses. She hasn’t told you.”
His heart was in his throat, and he felt his breaths shortening. “She hasn’t, no.”
Dorian’s chuckle filled his ears, and he clapped Draven on his shoulder again. “Go get her.”
Draven left them soon after and made his way through the castle looking for Lex. He found her leaving Aydra’s room, her head shaking as she closed the door.
She grinned upon seeing him. “Forest King,” she mused, her arms crossing over her chest. “She’s not here.”
“No, I saw her jump from a window,” he said with raised brows.
Lex laughed fondly. “My Queen has many activities that allow her heart to pump at a greater pace than it ever should. Tempting death by hoping the Orel will catch her is one of them.”
“Where did she go?”
“Follow the shore south for an hour on horse. You’ll find a great hill and trail leading to the top there, and that is where you will find her. At the
