Dragon's Heart (29 page)

Heat rose in her cheeks and through her chest. She glanced up at him and whispered, “What can I say but as my prince wishes.”

“I hope it is also my princess’s desire.”

“It is most definitely your princess’s desire.”

Killian picked up the empty plate and set it on the floor before turning back to Serena. She was right beside him, drawing him close to her and pressing her lips to his. The kiss evolved as her hands slipped down his torso to his waistband. His hands slid up her body, underneath the too large shirt. Killian caressed her, eliciting soft moans as he inched the garment up. She pulled back from the kiss and threw her head back. Killian reached behind her neck and tugged her down to him, kissing and nipping at the exposed line of her throat.

Serena pushed away from him, her hands in the center of his chest. Their burning gazes met, and a wave of heat washed over her. “I love you, my prince.”

Killian chuckled, joy dancing in his eyes, a genuine, carefree smile curling his lips. “And I, you, my princess,” he whispered against her neck, “because I intend to have you writhing beneath me before this day is over.”

A shiver of desire ran through Serena’s entire body. Before she had the chance to respond, Killian captured her lips in a passionate kiss and began making good on his promise.

Bronwynn walked through the forest, listening to the creatures around them and the thumping of Ryan’s boots beside her. She knew by the heaviness in his step and the occasionally grumbled curse that he still didn’t agree with the decision to leave their friends alone in the cottage. He knew there were both human and Dragon Fey warriors guarding the future monarchs, but it did little to assuage his concerns. Bronwynn approached the cottage, making her way to the back door, where she’d left Serena. She worked the key in the lock, being as quiet as possible, and pausing for a moment, listening for voices before she pushed the door open and took one step into the cottage. Smiling, she retreated and let Ryan see what she had. Killian and Serena were asleep in the bed wrapped in each other’s arms. When he’d seen enough, he stepped back and closed the door without making a sound.

“So, do you think we need to lock it again?” Bronwynn asked, her lavender eyes teasing.

“It would appear they’ve worked out their differences.”

“Do you think we should tell them the doors aren’t locked anymore?”

“Let their royal selves figure it out,” Ryan teased as his hand brushed across the Dragon Fey’s hand. A faint current ran through his fingers and up his arm.

Bronwynn smiled, stopped and turned to face the human guard. “Would you care to spar with me once we arrive at camp, Captain?”

“I believe it would be an excellent use of our time, Lady Bronwynn.” He smiled, knowing she would present an interesting challenge. He’d watched the Dragon Fey spar and was eager to test his mettle against one of them.

Later that afternoon, Serena knelt beside the small stream that ran through the forest close to the lodge. She splashed water on her face and combed her hands through her hair, wetting it. Killian watched, unable to take his eyes off her. He stood and cleared his throat.
I should have told her about this when she was sharing her secrets. I got caught up in the idea that I might be rid of my wife. I need to tell her because it might be a complication.
“Serena?”

She turned to face him, dappled sunlight playing over the lines of her face, the question sparkling in her eyes. “Yes, my love?”

“I have something I should have told you about earlier.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, kicking the grass with the toe of his boot.

“What is it?” she asked.

He rubbed his hands together and tried to find the right words. “I’ve lain with Katia.”

“She’s your wife.” Serena frowned, not understanding. “I wouldn’t have expected less.”

Killian shook his head. “No.” He took a deep breath and stared at his hands. “It was before we married.” He let out a shaky breath. “The night I received your letter.”

Pain lanced Serena’s heart. She had known Killian would have bedded his wife on their wedding night, but to hear the confirmation from his own lips and to learn it had happened before the marriage… it hurt. The night he’d received her letter. She was the cause. “How did it happen?” Her lips formed the question. Breath gave it voice, but the instant it left her mouth, she wanted to snatch it back.

“During a celebration feast. One of about a hundred that were thrown between the announcement and the marriage. I got drunk.” He inhaled deeply and said, “Very drunk. It doesn’t excuse what I did or change the fact that I did it.” He seemed to close in on himself as though he needed protection from something Serena couldn’t see. “It is done, and I cannot take it back. I can only beg for your understanding.”

“Killian.” She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, focusing on his eyes. “Did you force yourself on Katia?”

His eyes went wide with a mix of disbelief and anger flashing in their cobalt depths. “Gods, no. I assure you she was
quite
willing. Eager, to be exact. I only had to make one slight overture and she…” His words trailed off leaving a heavy silence hanging between them.

He couldn’t breathe. His vision swam in and out of focus while her face contorted into something out of one of his nightmares.

Her arms snaked around him, and he heard her whispering endearments as every wall and defense he put up around his heart fell away. She told him it was all right, and everything would be fine. Serena whispered her undying love for him. There would never be anyone else for her. She told him she loved him because of the man he was and the man he was trying to become. But, above all, she said she understood and would be there for him… no matter what. She held him as his mother had, as his grandmother and father never had. She let him fall apart, knowing she would be there to help him pick up the pieces.

K
illian woke some time later
, his body sore with the scents of grass and Serena flooding his nostrils. He kept his eyes closed and took a few slow, deep breaths, enjoying the way her fingers slid through his hair and over his scalp. She was absently humming a tune.

“Welcome back, my prince,” Serena murmured and kissed his forehead, her lap shifting a little under his head as she moved.

He pushed himself into a sitting position. “I-I’m sorry I shouldn’t have… I should be stronger.”

“Killian.”

Unable to disobey the note of command he heard in her voice, he stared.

She leaned in and gave him a proper kiss, one that left his mind spinning and short of breath. “You do not have to be strong all of the time.” She brushed her fingers over his forehead. “You can let me be the strong one sometimes.”

“I’d almost forgotten what it was really like to have someone to talk to. Without you…”

“You can talk to Ryan.”

“I know, but it is not the same. He is not you and well,” he said after a slight pause, “he is—”

“A man?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.

Killian chuckled. “Yes.” He took her hands in his. “Will you come back to Haven?”

Pain screwed up her face, and she frowned. “Killian, you know why that’s difficult.”

“For today, lie to me. Lie and tell me that everything is going to work out, and we will find a way to be together, for however long our lives last.”

“We will find a way to be together, and we will spend the rest of our days together, facing whatever challenges come our way,” she finished with a frown.

“What is it?”

“There’s one challenge we must face immediately.”

“Another one?” He sighed. “Can we have a few hours without a challenge?”

“I thought we had several of those last night and again this morning,” Serena teased.

“Why, I do believe you have a point, my lady.” Killian reached up and pulled her down on top of him. She shifted position, so she was lying on the blanket beside him. He drew her close for a lingering kiss.

When the embrace ended, Serena shook her head and stood, offering Killian her hand.

He accepted her help in standing. “What is it?”

“We have got to do something about this, my prince.” She ran her fingers over the short stubbly beard gracing his jaw line. “It is scratchy and makes for less pleasant kisses.”

Killian shook his head. “I’m sorry, love, there are no mirrors. I cannot shave without one.”

She took his hand and led him back to their cozy hideaway. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Enough to let me near your neck with a blade?” Serena asked as he opened the door and stepped aside, waiting until she walked in before him.

Killian caught her around the waist, pushed the door closed and held her tight against him. “Enough to trust you to give me a shave without a nick.” He brushed a light, scratchy kiss on her lips before stepping back and stripping off his shirt. “I am at your mercy, my princess.”

Serena smiled. “Hmm, you at my mercy. I like the sound of that.” She ran her hands up his torso and up to his shoulders. “Where is your kit?”

“In my saddle bags.”

“Sit.” She pointed to one of the chairs around the table and went to the small wardrobe to retrieve the necessary tools.

Killian sat, and she started to work. First checking the edge of his blade. Finding it wanting, she retrieved the whetstone from her own saddlebags and placed it on the table beside the blade.

As Serena went through the motions of preparation, Killian studied her as though he’d never seen her before. She moved with the careful, controlled grace of a born fighter. He took note of changes so small that only someone who knew her well would notice. Missing the sound of her voice and curious to know more about the family she had found, he asked, “What was your family like?”

She paused in her sharpening of his blade, checked the edge again, choosing to remain silent, her thumb scraping the edge of the blade a few too many times.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to or don’t remember. It’s just you sounded as if you wanted to share when you talked about them earlier.”

She continued her task, staying silent for a few more seconds. “My mother, Ellesandra, had beautiful red hair, the color of dark blood rubies, and eyes like mine. She was a diplomat, a peacemaker, and sang the most soothing lullabies.” Serena finished sharpening the blade and focused on the soap, using a stiff bristled, round brush to work up a thick lather in the small earthenware bowl.

“My father was Rafe.” She glanced back at Killian and smiled. “You have similar features. Black hair like a raven’s wing in the sun. Blue eyes, brighter than yours. He was a warrior. The best among the Dragon Fey. Caring for his children and those of the clan. Fair with his men. He started teaching his four-year-old daughter how to use a short sword because she cried when her youngest brother told her it wasn’t proper for little princesses.” Serena paused while pulling the kettle of hot water from the fire and pouring it into a large metal basin, a linen towel sitting on the bottom.

“Dalton was the first born. Under human and fey tradition, he would have been king.” She picked up the towel and squeezed the water out of it before wrapping it around Killian’s face. “However, by Dragon Fey tradition, he would only inherit if no daughter was born. He was a young man of twenty-six when I came along. He loved helping me get into trouble. Gave me an old pair of his trousers and a shirt because I hated dresses. He was father’s second in command.” She paused and got a faraway look in her eyes. “I remember a girl he was sweet on and she on him. There was talk of a mating ceremony, but I don’t know what happened to her after his death.” She pulled the cooling towel from his face and set is back in the bowl.

“The twins, Baylenn and Sloane, were two peas in the pod. Mother always said that from the moment of their birth they wouldn’t be separated. Both of them took after father, for the most part. Though, each had one green and one blue eye, that were opposite each other. Bay’s green on the left and Sloane’s on the right. They were twenty-four and my guards on the night of the attack.” She picked up the mug of shaving lather and started working it over his face with the brush.