Love's Call (22 page)

Avril sucked in an audible breath and crushed her eyes shut.

They had their hands joined, sitting in a semi-circle on the floor of Avril’s guest room. Lucan had explained he needed room to work, and he needed them all touching.

His gut told him to make Lucan stop whatever was doing, but when Avril squeezed his hand as if she’d read his mind, Roduch made himself relax. He loosened his shoulders and sat taller.

After minutes that felt like hours, Lucan opened his eyes. The lad sucked in air, his narrow chest rising and falling. “I sense…”

“Go on,” Roduch urged. He and Avril exchanged a glance and he looked back at the young knighted mage.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Avril’s voice was a squeak.

Roduch’s stomach flipped and he looked into her green eyes, then at the lad for the third time. They both had dark hair, green eyes. The two could be siblings.

“No magic in Roduch,” Lucan said. “No
magical
reason for him to have been having visions of you, Avril. Let alone for turns, like he did.”

He released each of their hands, but Avril didn’t separate herself from Roduch.

“I probed until my head spun.” Searching for magic—and understanding it—were what the lad did best. “It doesn’t matter how far I tried to delve. I see yours. Not his.”

“It was hard to look at you,” Avril whispered.

Lucan cringed. “I know. The more I use, the brighter I get. Your aura is the same way; your skin just doesn’t glow like mine. Or Tristan’s when he heals.”

“My aura glows?”

“Aye, anyone who can read auras would have no problem seeing it. It would brighten and change colors depending on what you’re doing with your magic and how you
feel
about it.”

Surprise dominated her expression “You know a lot about magic.”

The lad blushed. “Cera’s cousin Avery is a magic scholar, as well as a mage. We study old magic books together via an open-window spell. We can see each other through any flat surface to have a lesson, even though he’s in Tarvis. He’s helping me learn about my powers.”

“Lord Lenore is a good man,” Roduch said.

Lucan smiled and nodded, but looked back at Avril. “Don’t worry, it’s not abnormal that you can’t see your own aura, even in a mirror, though Blessed Spirit knows you have strong magic.”

It was Avril’s turn to blush. She scooted closer to Roduch, and he disengaged their hands and threw his arm around her slender shoulders. She was leery of her magic. His gut told him she was rarely seen for being herself. Her parents had practically
sold
her to her former husband for her magic.

“What about me?” Roduch asked.

“I wouldn’t know the reason, logically or magically, but maybe
her
magic was the cause. Somehow, Avril was projecting her gift onto you, even though you were far away geographically, and even though she hadn’t a clue she was doing so. I’ll talk to Avery tonight and see what he thinks, but it’s the only thing that makes even the smallest bit of sense to me.”

Avril locked eyes with him, but Roduch didn’t have a word to say on the matter. Silence descended.

Lucan cocked his head to one side, deep in thought. “This is proof.”

“Proof of what?” Avril asked.

“Fate is real. The Blessed Spirit guides us, even if we don’t always know the reasons.”

The lad grinned, and when Avril’s mouth turned up in a shy smile, Roduch’s heart sped up.

“Fate,” he whispered.

“I believe we’re not supposed to understand everything. If we did,
faith
would be affected,” Lucan whispered. His expression clouded. “We have to have faith, or we won’t survive.”

Roduch squeezed the lad’s forearm. No doubt he was thinking of that bastard Varthan. “Thank you, Lucan.”

Green eyes wide, the lad nodded. “Anytime, Roduch.”

“You’re a good man, Sir Lucan,” Avril said.

Lucan reddened to the tips of his ears, but his smile could have split his face.

“Thank you for restoring
my
faith,” she whispered.

Roduch smiled at them both. “Just what I wanted to hear.”

****

Ansley’s laughter made him smile, until he came closer and spotted who she was laughing and talking with near the personal guard’s table in the great hall.

A wave of jealousy hit him in the chest. He wanted to smash Alasdair’s face in.

The tall, dark-haired man was the eldest of the twelve of his men, at thirty turns old. Alasdair was handsome, women gravitated to him. It didn’t matter that the knight was exceedingly loyal to Leargan.

Ansley was his,
damn it.

It was no secret they were betrothed, so why was Alasdair talking to her?

Jolting in his boots, Leargan shook his head.

What’s wrong with you?

Ansley would never betray him with another man; he knew it as sure as he knew how to breathe. And for that matter, Alasdair wouldn’t touch another man’s woman. He might be loose with his favors, but never with an attached woman, even if
she
pursued him.

His longtime friend saw him first, over Ansley’s red head, inclining his head. “Captain.”

Leargan ordered himself to relax and pushed away the urge to snatch Ansley tight to his side. “Morning Alas. Ansley.” Her name came harsher than he’d intended.

Ansley turned, giving him a brilliant smile that said she wasn’t bothered by his bark, or she’d missed it.

He blew out a breath when Alasdair winked.

“Morning,” Ansley said. She was at his side in seconds.

He craved touching her, as if he hadn’t left her bed less than an hour ago. Leargan dropped a kiss on her cheek, throwing an arm around her shoulders. He resisted the urge to gather her to him take her mouth properly.

How could he
need
Ansley so much? He’d taken her no less than three times during the night.

“Alasdair was just telling me some stories about when you were little.” Ansley grinned.

Alasdair had been raised as a foster child at Castle Rowan in Terraquist, as had Leargan and several of the other members of his guard. He was seven turns Leargan’s senior, but they’d spent a great deal of time together growing up.

Leargan could only imagine what he’d told Ansley. Most of the things they’d done together involved mischief. Some of which should never be uttered. Ever.

He met Alas’s dancing blue eyes. “Please don’t tell me you told her about the stables.”

Alasdair burst out laughing, but shook his head. “I’d almost forgotten about that.”

“What happened at the stables?” Ansley asked.

“Never mind, love.” Leargan bit back a groan. He’d walked right into that.

“Oh, come now, Captain. She’ll be your wife; she needs to know
all
about you.” Alasdair beamed.

“Yes, Captain. I
need
to know.” Ansley tugged on his arm, meeting his eyes. The smile on her full mouth took his breath away.

Leargan cleared his throat and glanced at his friend. “Well, what
did
you tell her?”

“I told her about the time we got caught peeping in the servant lasses’ bath house.”

“Ah!” Leargan chuckled. “I took the fall for you and a few older ones, if you recall. I was only ten turns old. I didn’t even know what I was looking at.”

“Oh no. It may well have been my idea, but you were there all the way, Captain.”

Leargan laughed again, and Ansley broke out into a fit of giggles.

“The king himself tanned my hide that time,” he admitted, wincing. “But I was still mostly innocent.”

Alasdair made a weak protest, but laughed. “I suppose you’ll accuse me of corrupting you. Introducing you to women at far too young an age?”

“Corrupting me?” Leargan asked. “I’ve never thought about it that way.”

His fellow knight winked.

A time in a tavern—no—many times in
many
taverns, danced into Leargan’s mind. Perhaps, Alasdair
had
tried to corrupt him. Especially when he’d taken him to that place in Terraquist Main at five and ten to
become a man.

His betrothed did
not
need to know about any of that.

“Well, I guess that’s good.” Alasdair grinned. “I’d hate for any of that to come back on me now.”

“I’m very….curious, Leargan,” Ansley said.

He met her eyes. “Then you’ll just have to wonder, my love.”

Alasdair laughed. “That, Mistress Ansley, is our dear captain exercising discretion.”

“You are correct.” Leargan bowed, winking at his redhead. “The better part of valor, or so they say.”

She giggled, her eyes dancing. “I suppose there’s always later, Alasdair.”

The tall knight nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to disappoint my captain’s bride.” Alasdair made a show of bowing and pressed a kiss into her knuckles.

Ansley threw her head back and laughed again, her cheeks pink.

Leargan swallowed hard.

She was so gorgeous.

Their eyes locked. Alasdair, the great hall and the voices surrounding them faded. There was only his betrothed and her teal eyes. Leargan needed to kiss her. Hold her. Take her to his room. Or her room.
Where
mattered not; he just needed her
now
.

“It was nice talking to you, Mistress Fraser.” Alasdair’s voice destroyed the moment and Leargan jumped in his boots.

Her long, red plait swung over her shoulder as Ansley shot a glance to his friend. “Just Ansley, Alasdair, please. And it was my pleasure. I’ll find you later for more Leargan stories. I very much enjoyed them.”

Leargan growled. “I’ll order him to keep his mouth shut.”

“I
have
heard women are more attracted to mystery men.” Alas’s words were wrapped in laughter.

“That depends on the man,” Ansley shot back.

His heart picked up speed as Leargan watched her banter with his friend. Not that he’d seen her speak with them all, but his men had quickly accepted her
and
her place at his side. She fit in well at Greenwald as a whole. It was right.
Perfect
.

They hadn’t discussed it yet, but after they married, Leargan wouldn’t force her to leave the King’s Riders unless she wanted to. He’d even bid the king to let her stay in Greenwald. Surely King Nathal wouldn’t make her remain living in Terraquist.

But being away from him…on the road, on a long message run?

Ali would protect her of course, but even the thought of missing her made Leargan ache. On the other hand, it could be prudent to have an official king’s messenger nearby. He should run the idea by King Nathal.

“Well, I shall see you on the fighting grounds, Captain,” Alasdair said, inclining his head.

“Aye.” Leargan nodded.

“Ansley, it was a pleasure.” His friend and fellow knight bowed to his betrothed.

“Likewise,” Ansley said, grinning. She shot a look to Leargan. “Later,” she whispered loudly.

Alas chuckled but said nothing as he turned on his heel to go.

“What a catch he’ll be for someone.” Ansley grinned.

Leargan snorted.

Alas with only one woman?
If she only knew.

“He’s trouble.” He took her hand and entwined their fingers, as they too, headed out of the great hall.

“I hope you’re really not bothered by him sharing stories with me,” Ansley said.

“No, no, love.” They paused in the corridor, and he cupped her face.

“Good, because I very much enjoyed learning about you as a lad.”

Leargan smiled. “I really should go.” He pulled her into his arms.

Ansley leaned up to brush her lips against his.

He bit back a groan. The touch wasn’t enough.

Niall could run things for a while, couldn’t he?

Roduch and Lucan were going to be arriving late, anyway. The big knight had told him the lad was going to probe Avril’s magic.

“Then go.” Her voice grounded him, and Leargan chided himself for irresponsibility. “I’ll meet you for midday meal?”

“I’d like that.” Unable to help himself, he leaned down for a quick kiss.

Ansley moved her lips under his.

He slipped his tongue into her mouth without thought, falling into her as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him harder.

Their tongues danced and dueled, and Leargan moaned, his breeches already unbearably tight.

A voice reminded him he had duties to attend to.

He tore his mouth from hers, panting against her full breasts.

His betrothed’s breath was just as ragged as she rested her forehead against his. Her gorgeous face was flushed pink, her lips kiss-swollen.

He swallowed a groan, his arousal pulsing.

“Go with your men,” Ansley breathed.

“Aye, I’ve got to. But we’ll finish this later.”

“At midday?” Delicate brow arched, she pulled back, a smile playing at her lips.

“You’re determined to kill me, aren’t you?”

Giggling, she pressed a hard fast kiss to his lips. “No, Captain.” Her plait danced around her shoulders as she shook her head. “Have a good morning.” Ansley hugged him tight.

“You, as well, love.”

She grinned again, and then her expression sobered. “I know you’re training, but be careful, all right?”

“Always.”

“Well, Cera’s waiting for me in the Duchess Solar…”

“Go.” Leargan reluctantly released her. But he did get to watch her hips sway as she headed down the corridor.

His stomached flipped when she threw a smile over her shoulder.

Chapter Twenty-one

Ansley watched Cera grin at the tiny infant in her arms and couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips, too.

He was absolutely beautiful. Dark red curls clung around his tapered ears, and his eyes were as blue as his father’s. He had Cera’s finger in his little fist as he snuggled close to her breast.

Fallon had hollered something fierce when his mother changed his diaper, but nursing had quieted him.

Cera had just smiled and cooed at him, whispering words of love. Calm and endearing, she showered him with kisses and nestled him close.

Ansley had never seen her tough-always-in-charge-friend like she was with her son. Cera had matured and grown, maybe even softened a bit.

She was already a wonderful mother. The duchess’s gray eyes shone every time she gazed at the baby.