A Kiss of Fire: A Kiss of Magic Book 2 (27 page)

“I discovered he was indeed plotting against me. He was responsible for the attack on us that day when we were riding. He was also responsible for setting Mordol on you. I will never forgive him for either…but especially not for the danger he put you in. It seems he realized that you were going to be my wife and would soon breed my children. He wanted to cut off the possibility before it even happened. Were it up to him he would have me alone and childless for the remainder of my rule…and then see to that rule meeting an abrupt end.”

“I am sorry. I know what a betrayal that must have been.”

“It was. He spoke out against me often, but I never thought him capable of such treachery.”

“And where is he now?”

“I wish I could say I know. He has fled and is on the run, always a step ahead of my guard who follows him.”

“Then who have you left in charge of everything while you are here chasing after me?”

“My mother.”

“Is she safe with your brother running around loose?”

“I have the temple well-guarded. I have brought troops into Temple City. Even if he could drum up an army for himself, he dares not attack her directly. It is more likely he will try and discover where I am and make an attempt on me.”

“And does he know where you are?”

“I am certain he has spies. Men like Mordol whom I think I can trust only to find them duplicitous. I have had Lindo doing interviews with those closest to me, making certain they are worthy of trust. As a Jadoc, Mordol was not easily read…not even by Lindo. It was far too easy for him to slip by unnoticed.”

“I don’t like the idea of your brother knowing where you are when you are not protected well. You should not have come with so few men.”

“Any more than what I have and you would have seen me as a threat. I did not want to appear aggressive.”

“Perhaps not. Can your men be trusted?”

“Lindo says they can. It would take a rigorously trained mind to deceive Lindo now that he is looking for betrayal.”

“You should not be here while your brother runs loose. You should have waited until he was caught.”

“That could take months. Perhaps even years. He has men and resources, people who are loyal to the idea of him becoming raja. I will have to watch closely lest he raise a decent enough army to cause trouble.”

“You cannot watch him from here,” she said anxiously.

“It would take him far longer to drum up an army than it will take for me to win you to my side.”

This remark sobered her. She frowned. “You should not have come all the same.”

“Are you not happy to see me then? I thought you missed me.”

“Oh I missed you terribly,” she breathed, combing loving fingers through his hair. “And it eases my heart to see you here beside me. But I would not have you or your people endangered because of me.”

“They would be in danger without you, for their ruler would die of a broken heart and that would leave them in the hands of my treacherous brother and his overbred line.”

“You cannot die of a broken heart,” she said. “And you would not allow your feelings to get in the way of your rule.”

“Wouldn’t I? Look at all I have done just to follow my heart. Look at all the risks I have taken just for the chance to have you. I am not at my best as a ruler when it comes to being denied you.”

This was a very sobering thought to the ruler inside of Ariana. “No one should come between you and your people.”

This made him frown and he sat up away from her, running a hand through the hair her fingers had so recently mussed. He looked away from her as his jaw tightened.

“Does this mean you will put your people above your desire for me yet again?”

“I cannot ignore the needs of my people,” she said. “However…in this case…I will follow my heart.”

“Even if it leads you back to Kilt?”

“Even then,” she whispered, sitting up and reaching for him. She wrapped her arms around his brawny shoulders and hugged him to herself. “There is a solution to this. I simply need to make Mason and Jutsin aware of my feelings on the matter. But I had hoped to give them time to get used to the idea of you paying me court first.”

“Very well. I will give you the time you need. But I am warning you, Ariana. I will not leave without you.”

She should be offended by his highhanded remark, but she was not. Instead she found herself thrilled by it. He was determined to fight for her, whatever the cost to himself or his country. There was something incredibly flattering in that. And it spoke of his devotion to her. To them.

“I love you,” she said softly against his ear. She was trying to reassure him. “I don’t want you to go without me.”

His breath caught and he looked at her.

“Are you saying…you’ll give all of this up and come be with me? That you think you can be happy doing so?”

“I am saying we will find a solution that allows me to be with you. What it is I don’t know yet. But we will figure it out.”

He reached for the back of her head and pulled her in to kiss her wildly. He dragged her across his lap, cradling her in his arms as he continued to kiss her as deeply as he dared.

This time, when he took her, it was with determined purpose and attention to the very tiniest detail. He marked her, spoiled her for any other man. She couldn’t imagine ever wanting anyone else this strongly. She couldn’t imagine ever being in anyone else’s arms ever again.

He was hers, she was his. And now, nothing could keep them apart.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sin was living in the same building as Ariana, staying in the diplomats’ quarters at the opposite end of the capitol building. But he may as well have been living in Ariana’s quarters, for he slept there every night, in her bed, after making love to her as thoroughly as he possibly could. If there were any lingering effects of his injuries, she certainly could not find them.

The public sentiment over their courtship was strangely mixed. Ariana had thought they would be dead set against it, practically revolting in the streets, but Mason handled the press adroitly, making certain all news reported in the gossip papers reflected a feeling of intrigue and excitement over the match. It was no easy task, since Sin had been responsible for the war that had taken so many Saren lives. Of course there were those who spit on anything having to do with the Kiltians or Kilt, but time would heal the worst of the wounds inflicted. To Sin’s surprise Ariana stuck to her guns when faced with any negativity from her people. Instead of trying to please them, for a change she pleased herself first and then dealt with the fallout from it afterward.

They made their courtship quite public. She refused to hide with him behind capitol building walls. She brought him out to see every corner of her city. They ate publicly. They walked the slushy streets together. They were not foolish however. There was always a contingent of guards with them and Lindo attended them and kept his mind open to any possible threats.

It was two weeks later when she called Mason and Jutsin into one of the meeting rooms, Sin and Lindo standing to one side of the room as she had Mason and Jutsin take seats. She did not sit herself. She was too anxious.

“I need your help,” she said, clasping and unclasping her fingers nervously.

“We will always do anything to help you,” Jutsin said amicably.

“I wish to live in Kilt with Sin, and I need a way to resolve that with my role as a leader for the people.”

She had expected an explosive response, though she had hoped they had adjusted to the possibility of just such an outcome after these weeks of seeing her and Sin together. They had made no secret of their feelings for one another. One only need look at them together and they would realize what their feelings were.

Her co-rulers surprised her, however, by taking the news seemingly in stride.

“Do you mean to give up your place as triumvir?” Mason asked, his tone slow and serious.

“I…I was hoping it might be possible for me to somehow maintain my role as triumvir in spite of being so far away.”

“That does not seem practical,” Mason persisted. “It takes a week and a half to trade messages by fast horse. We cannot wait so long to act on many occasions.”

“I have faith that on most matters you and Jutsin will be more than capable of ruling without me. I trust your judgment in all things. However, on matters of great import that do not require a quick response…I would have my say.”

“Ariana, you are trying to hold on to your place here and trying to hold on to Sin at the same time. That is not possible,” Jutsin said. “We need a third who can be here, who can help us make decisions quickly. If you go with Sin you will be helping him rule his people. You cannot rule both countries. It is not possible for anyone to manage such a feat.”

“But…but my loyalties would lie here,” she said anxiously.

“Your loyalties should lie with your husband and his people. But we will take comfort in the fact that you would never forget us. That we would always remain friends.”

Tears leapt to Ariana’s eyes. “But if I leave, who will you choose for your third? I will still own property and the third largest army of all Saren. I will not ever give up my holdings. They will eventually go to one of my children.”

“Normally we would choose your immediate heir to take your place, but we all know Gretha is not a good choice. So we will find the leader of the fourth largest army in Saren lands and we will offer him or her the position of triumvir.”

“You mean Kinsella Apin,” Ariana said. She had already suspected this was a possibility and had researched just who the most likely person would be to replace her. But she had so wanted to maintain her rule. Now that she was realizing she had to give it all up, there was a hole left in her heart and her chest ached.

“Do you know her?” Jutsin asked.

“I know of her,” Ariana said.

“I know her,” Mason said. “She is a woman of great substance. She is a cunning woman and knows how to command a great deal of men. She was a great leader of our forces during the war. She knows how to wield power and does so equitably. Yes…she is a good choice.”

A part of Ariana was saddened by how easily she could be replaced.

“But she will never hold a candle to you,” Mason said.

Arian felt her heart tumble over in her chest. The gruff Mason was not one to hand out compliments lightly, so she took his words very much to heart. It made her feel marginally better.

“So that’s it then? You’ll simply leave us?” Jutsin said, a frown on his lips and sadness in his eyes.

“There is nothing simple about it,” Ariana assured him, moving over to him and combing affectionate fingers through his hair. She brushed her fingertips along his square jaw. “But I must follow my heart.”

“And what assurances have we that he will treat you well?” Jutsin asked.

“I have faith in him. He is not the barbarian we all mistook him for. He was merely a man acting desperately for the desperate situation of his people. I hope one day everyone will be able to understand and forgive him for that.”

“That is asking a great deal of people,” Mason said.

“I know. And I don’t expect it to happen overnight. But perhaps this marriage will go a long way to repairing that.”

“Now you say marriage…but I know for a fact that you won’t be considered married to him until you’ve produced an heir. I won’t have you disrespected or made to be some sort of baby producer.”

“Producing children are a part of any marriage,” Sin said. “I will take as many or as few as she wishes to give me. And though she may not be considered my wife in the eyes of my culture until she has given me a son, she will forever be a wife to my heart and no others will come in her wake. You have my word on this. She will become my raji one day, I have all the faith in the world in that.”

“Perhaps sooner than expected,” Ariana said, a pink blush diffusing across her cheeks.

Sin paled before her very eyes. He reached out and steadied himself against the back of one of the chairs surrounding the table.

“What are you saying?” he demanded hoarsely. “Are you
breeding
?”

She wrinkled her nose. “You make it sound like a horse.”

“But we’ve been…” He hesitated and looked at Jutsin and Mason. “But we’ve been making love.”

“Yes. That’s how I got this way,” Ariana said, amusement tinging her voice.

“Yes but…we’ve been…” Again he glanced at the two men in the room who were looking on with avid interest. “Quite vigorous,” he said on an exhale. “Is that not dangerous?”

Ariana burst out in a fit of giggles. He frowned in consternation. “I do not think this is funny,” he said with pique. “This is the health and well-being of you and my child we are discussing.”

Ariana tried to be appear somber, but she failed miserably. “Of course,” she agreed. “But it will not hurt the child to be,” –this time
she
glanced at Jutsin and Mason—“vigorous.”

“How do you know this?” Sin demanded of her. “You could be wrong. I would never forgive myself if something—“

“My love, if it will make you feel better we will discuss it with a doctor or a midwife.”

Sin’s eyes softened and he stepped up to her. He pulled her into his arms and touched her face with tender fingers.

“Say that again,” he commanded her.

She didn’t need to ask what he meant. “My love,” she said.

He sighed and bent his head to kiss her mouth slowly.

“Well, I don’t know about you Mason, but I’m convinced,” Jutsin said with amusement.

“I’m beginning to see my way clear to letting her go,” Mason agreed. “But never forget what a treasure she is. If you do, then you will have us on your doorstep.”

“You have no need to worry,” Sin said, caressing her face once more. “She will be treated like the queen she is. And my child will have everything it could ever desire.”

“I think that if it is a boy it should inherit all of your lands and titles,” Ariana said. “And if it is a girl then it will inherit all of mine.”

“That sounds very reasonable,” Jutsin said. “And she will be next in line for triumvir.”

“We will make sure Kinsella knows her title as triumvir is only to be until such time as you produce and raise that heir.”

“This is true,” Jutsin said. “You control the third largest portion of this country. It belongs to you and yours by birthright. But have a care that you do not leave us any time soon for we will not stomach Gretha as your heir.”

“I will remove her from succession as soon as I am able. But have no fear, I am in no rush to leave you,” Ariana said.

“Childbirth can be a dangerous thing for a woman,” Mason pointed out.

“I will care for her as if she were the most precious of things…for to me she is. She will not die.”

“He has said it will be so and woe to anyone who says, thinks or does otherwise. God himself should tremble,” Ariana said with humor lighting her eyes.

“I do not like to speak of your death. It chills my heart,” Sin said.

“Then we will speak of it no more.”

Sin hesitated a moment before saying, “Are you certain this is what you want to do? I would not want you, in later years, to blame me for taking away your birthright.”

She took hold of his hands in hers and squeezed them. “My place is with you now. I can offer you so much as your raji. I am not giving anything up rather I am just changing countries. You will hear my voice in your government quite loudly I assure you. As long as you promise me my position there, then I am content.”

“And then so am I,” Sin said, bending his head to kiss her. “So am I. At last.”

“I would have you wed in the Saren tradition before you go,” Mason said firmly. “I know it will not hold in your laws, but if you want her heirs to have rights to her property then you must make it official under our laws.”

“Only if it is done quickly,” Sin said. “We must travel home as soon as possible. I will not have her making the journey late while she is advancing in pregnancy.”

“I think that can be arranged. It will have to be something of a to-do. The people will want an extravagant wedding. I will have it made as publicly and positively as we can manage. It will go a long way to soothing hostile feelings,” Mason said.

They discussed the plans for the wedding.

They were married only two weeks later. Sin was anxious to get back to his country. Missives from his mother said that all was well, but there had been no further sign of his brother. The quiet disturbed Sin.

The wedding was large, the minister long-winded. Ariana’s troops guarded the proceedings with prodigious care. There were no uprisings against the marriage that she was made aware of.

The newlyweds only remained another night before heading out by horse and by carriage. Sin refused to allow her to ride horseback for the journey back…so she and Mariah were once again riding in a carriage to Kilt. Only this carriage was infinitely more comfortable.

When they reached the Kiltian borders there was heavy snowfall on the ground and no way for a carriage to pass. So they purchased a sleigh from an obliging innkeeper and she and Mariah rode side by side, tucked beneath blankets, with Sin driving the horses.

Ariana was relieved when the temple finally came within sight. She was tired, her body ached, and she had begun to grow more frequently dizzy and nauseated. There was no question that she was pregnant…if indeed there had been doubts about it before this.

As they pulled up to the temple, Fatima hurried out to meet them.

“I am so glad you are back,” she greeted her son. “I have news of your brother. He has gathered a small army of loyal followers and is coming this way. He heard you were not here and seeks to take over the temple before you return. Clearly his spies are not as good as he thinks they are or they would have known you were due back any day.”

“We made good time on the sleigh.” Sin reached to pull Ariana from amidst the lap robes and set her on her feet before his mother. “Mother, Ariana will be raji soon. In a few months’ time I may have my heir.”

“Oh my son! I am so glad for you!” She reached to kiss her son’s cheek and then took Ariana in her arms. “Welcome, daughter. I have missed you.”

“And I you,” Ariana said with a smile. “Your calm wisdom is a balm for a troubled soul.”

“And is your soul troubled?”

“It is in turmoil. There is much to be done and I hope I am not overwhelmed by it all.”

“I have faith that you will rise to the challenge. If you can make my son happy, then you can do anything.”