The King & His Queen (Pict King Series Book 3) Read online

  Verity gave her sister a tight hug, then stepped away. “You are upset and rightfully so. I will speak with Anin.” Verity smiled widely. “You are right. All will be well.”

  Hemera watched her sister hurry off happier than when she had arrived. It was always good to see her happy. She had done as much as she could to keep her sister safe while they were captives of the Northmen. As the years passed she had planned and waited for the time they would make their escape. The moment Verity had told her about her visions of Wrath, Hemera knew the time was right.

  Verity was free and safe now. Unfortunately, Hemera never would be.

  She looked around, making sure no one was in sight, and hurried into the wooded area that stretched a distance behind her dwelling. She needed the comfort of the forest beyond the stronghold fence. That was where she would find the peace she so desperately sought.

  It took her no time to escape the confines of the stronghold and enter the welcoming peace of the woods. A chilly, gentle wind had the tree branches swaying, sounding like a soft whisper to Hemera. There was little crunch beneath her feet as she walked, the ground still damp from the snow that had dissipated the day after it had fallen. Red squirrels scampered around the tree trunks, chasing after one another in play. Birds took flight from tree to tree, calling out in their distinct voices. Mating time was not far off and some of the birds’ plumage would begin to change in preparation.

  Hemera had missed her time here in the forest. It was not that the Northmen’s forest had not welcomed her, but here, on Pict soil, was where memories of her mother were the strongest.

  She followed the now familiar path toward a spot she had discovered shortly after settling in her dwelling that had become her favorite place to go when she needed comfort. Whenever she stepped into the secluded area, she immediately felt the forest embrace her.

  Like Talon’s arms had done when she rode on his horse with him.

  The thought brought her to such an abrupt halt that she almost stumbled. She did not need such intimate thoughts about Talon—the King—yet he would not leave her mind. He seemed to have taken root there and no matter how many times she tried to pluck him out, he returned.

  She hurried off. He was one of the reasons she had sought the peace and solitude of the woods. Here her thoughts were clearer. Here was where things made more sense to her. Here was where she felt cared for the most.

  A few more steps and she would be there. She stopped abruptly again when she saw that the squirrels suddenly halted their play and she caught sight of a grouse scurrying off to take flight. Something had disturbed the calm in the forest.

  Before she could turn, a familiar, demanding voice shouted at her.

  “What are you doing here alone?”

  Hemera turned to see the King headed toward her with quick strides. He wore his usual ill-temper on his handsome face. Black-hide coverings were fastened at his broad shoulders and covered the front of his long, dark shirt that fell to well above his knees. His legs were wrapped in the same black-hide and the hilt of his sword could be seen behind his shoulder, where it was strapped to his back.

  His tongue was curt when he stopped in front of her. “Answer me!”

  She saw no reason to lie to him. “I wanted some time in the woods alone.”

  He leaned a bit closer to her. “Did I not make myself clear that you were not to come here alone?”

  “You always make yourself clear.”

  He threw his hands in the air. “Yet you fail to listen to me.”

  “You walk the woods alone.”

  “That is different.”

  Hemera shrugged. “How is it different?”

  “You dare question me?” Talon was pleased when she drew her head back quickly and her eyes widened as if startled. Finally, she comprehended that she had erred.

  “As I have said before, how can I not question something that makes no sense?”

  That she was more shocked and believed he had failed to understand her had him shaking his head and leaning in closer to warn. “You do not question the King.”

  Hemera’s eyes caught on his lips as they gave potent power to each of his words, but she barely heard them. It was his lips as moist and powerful as they had been when he had kissed her that she was drawn to. A sudden tingle washed over her, raising the flesh on her skin.

  With his temper short and seeing her staring as if she paid no heed to him at all, he demanded. “Do you understand me, Hemera?”

  With a slight cock of her head and scrunch of her brow, Hemera asked, “Why did you kiss me?”

  He had asked the same of himself repeatedly and had failed to answer as he did now.

  “Your silence tells me you do not know why.”

  Her tone did not accuse, it was more curious and that annoyed Talon all the more. “We will not discuss this.” He turned and took a quick step away from her, then turned just as quickly around, pointing a finger at her. “And do not ask me why.”

  “Then tell me why you have ordered a husband to be found for me?”

  So the wagging tongues had reached her and yet she spoke with curiosity and not a bit of anger, which annoyed Talon even more. “You need someone to look after you.”

  She sighed, his words proving tiresome. “You waste your time. I will not wed.”

  Her response should have angered him, but instead he felt a sense of relief and that disturbed him even more. That she should not want to wed would leave her free and that could prove troublesome. He had to make her understand that marriage was the best thing for her, though again he questioned if it was best for her or more so for him.

  “You will have a choice of a few men,” he offered, thinking it might appease her.

  She laughed softly. “It makes no difference. I will not wed.”

  Wind captured her laughter and swirled it around him like a gentle hug before carrying it off in a whisper. The slight shiver it sent through him had him realizing that there was something he needed to make clear and she needed to understand. Strong in demeanor and tone, he said, “I am King and my word is law.”

  Her blank stare made him wonder if she had understood anything he had said. She caught him unware when she turned and walked away from him, paying him no mind, and he followed after her, annoyed that he did so. He was King and he followed after no one.

  She sat on a tree trunk that had toppled over from decay and now lay prone on the ground. His tongue was ready to give her a good whipping for far too many transgressions, starting with walking away from him without permission and sitting when he stood. Seeing her eyes focused on the distance, staring at what, he did not know, he held his tongue and lowered himself down beside her.

  Her brow scrunched, as it often did when it seemed as if she was not there. He wondered where her mind took her at those moments. Expressionless or not, nothing distracted from her beauty. She even wore a frown well and her untamed red hair was much like her, it did as it pleased.

  Would she be untamed and wild when mating? She had been untamed in his dream. He cursed silently and turned his head away, annoyed at his thought. He could not and would not join with her. It would not be proper.

  Hemera turned to him, forcing him to turn as well. “Who did you meet in the forest?”

  “I met no one.” Angry he had answered her, he snapped. “Do not question me.”

  “You did not have to respond, though why else would you be in the woods alone without your personal guards? That reminds me, it was not one of your personal guards that I saw in the woods that day.”

  “How did you reach that assumption in such a short time?” he asked surprised and a bit concerned that she should realize his reason for being in the woods alone.

  She had been eager to tell him what she had discovered and without thinking, she reached out and gripped his arm. “I have been watching your personal guards the last three days, the way they walk, the pace of their gait. None match the person I saw in the woods. Someone must have snatched a clo
ak, without one of your guards knowing it, and used it to disguise himself.”

  That she should have the presence of mind to follow his guards around and study them made Talon wonder if Hemera was not as slow as everyone believed her to be...different perhaps, but slow?

  “The problem is that your personal guards leave their cloaks where anyone could snatch them up and if they are left elsewhere your guards take no notice when retrieving them.”

  “How would you know that?” He shook his head. “Did you snatch my guards’ cloaks and leave them elsewhere for them to find?”

  She gave his arm a slight squeeze as her face lit in a smile. “I did. Tilden was the only one who scratched his head and looked about when he found his cloak a short distance from where he had left it. The others guards snatched their cloaks up and paid no thought to where they had found them.” She frowned. “Wrath is not going to be pleased when you tell him this.”

  “You have not mentioned this to him?” he asked, trying to ignore the light touch of her hand on him and finding it difficult. There was something different about the way she touched him, almost as if it was the most natural thing for her to do, and he had no wont to stop her.

  “It is not my place.”

  How was it she understood that and not that she was to obey him?

  Her smile returned and she squeezed his arm again. “I intend to keep an eye on all and see if I can spot a familiarity in someone’s gait and of course to see if anyone disturbs the woods with their threatening presence.”

  “I forbid you to do anything more about the incident in the woods and I forbid you to come to these woods alone,” Talon decreed. “If I or anyone else catches you here alone, I will see you locked away until you obey me.” Talon was surprised when she shut her eyes and lowered her head to rest on his shoulder.

  “Please do not do that to me, Talon. I was kept a prisoner far too long. I need the freedom and comfort of the woods to survive. Please understand. Please do not take this from me.”

  Her soft plea felt like a piercing sword to his chest, splitting him in two. He had given no thought to her time with the Northmen or what they had done to her and his anger flared.

  He took hold of her chin and forced her head off his shoulder to look up at him. “What did the Northmen do to you?”

  “I will not speak of it.”

  “You will tell me,” he demanded, his anger mounting.

  “No, Talon, I will not tell you,” she said softly.

  Her warm, sweet breath whispered across his lips like a tender kiss, teasing the spark of passion that forever burned in him. That mattered not. He could not let it. He would have his answer. Before he could speak, she did.

  “I do not want to relive the pain.” She slipped her chin out of his hand and once again laid her head on his shoulder, turning her face into the crook of his neck. She felt safe there, protected, as she had the other day when on his horse with him. She had not felt this protected in—she could not remember when. And it was so wonderful to feel that safe again.

  Talon’s arm went around her, tucking her against him. She needed comfort and he would not deny her. It was odd sitting there in the quiet of the forest simply holding her. He never simply sat and held a woman. His time alone with a woman was spent mating, rarely anything else. Yet at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold and comfort her.

  He brought his hand up to gently stroke her neck and he felt her body sigh against his. “One day, Hemera, you will tell me.”

  “Aye, Talon, one day I will tell you,” she agreed quietly.

  Aye, she would. He would see that she did, but for now he would simply hold her.

  After a few moments, Hemera slipped out of his arms. “You will be missed if you do not return soon.”

  Talon stood and extended his hand. “You will return with me and you will cease looking for the traitor in the forest.”

  Hemera bounced up, ignoring his hand. “It is said you are a fair King, are you not?”

  “I believe I am,” he said proudly.

  “I won the wager,” she reminded with a grin and a playful poke to his chest.

  He almost swore aloud, having forgotten about it, and he was a man of his word. “You will be careful,” he said grudgingly. “And you will report any findings only to me. No one else is to know what you are up to.”

  She laughed softly. “You do not want anyone to know you lost the wager, do you?”

  He grabbed hold of her hand and began walking. “You will show me where you sneak out of the stronghold.”

  “Only if you show me where you sneak out.”

  Talon stopped abruptly. “You are tempting fate.”

  Shh,” she whispered with a finger near her lips, “fate will hear you.”

  Talon leaned in close to her. “Fate follows my command.”

  She smiled. “Then we have nothing to worry about. Our fate is secured.”

  A bird call followed by a second one had Talon turning his head to listen. Two more followed.

  “Your friends search for you,” Hemera said and seeing the question on his face explained. “Their bird calls are skillful, but miss the true melody, but that serves you well for then you can distinguish their calls from the true sound.” She wet her lips with her tongue and mimicked the sharp call.

  Talon waited to hear Wrath and Paine respond, but there was only silence.

  “They cannot recognize the true sound.” She nodded. “Call to them. You will see. They will answer you.”

  Talon turned and mimicked the bird, though after hearing Hemera, he caught the difference in the call as he did. One call followed another and Talon turned, expecting to see Hemera grinning or hear her soft laughter.

  But she was gone.

  Chapter 7

  Hemera made her way back to her dwelling and after adding more wood to the fire pit, she laid on her sleeping pallet, her thoughts heavy on Talon—the King. She needed to remind herself of that again and again. He was King and she really should not have touched him the way she had, and yet it had been instinctive. Laying her hand on his arm, resting her head on his shoulder seemed as natural to her as the breaths she took.

  It was odd, so very odd, that she should feel comfortable enough to be so familiar with him. She had even enjoyed sitting in the woods with him, so much so, that she had not wanted to leave his side. She had wanted to remain there with him...until their time together had been interrupted.

  Even now, she wished they were still together, talking, sitting close, just the two of them. She shook her head. There were more important things for her to dwell on then such nonsense like how the King himself had managed to escape the confines of the stronghold without anyone knowing.

  One thing she had learned was that men in power always had secret escape routes to use when all else failed them, though she doubted that was what Talon had intended for his secret route. He was not a king who would desert his people. He would die fighting alongside them. No, the intended purpose of his secret exit from the stronghold was much like hers. It allowed him to escape and be alone for a while or to meet with someone he wanted no one to know about.

  But who was he meeting with and why?

  Secrets could cause more problems than they were worth and yet sometimes secrets proved necessary. It was a lesson she had learned well.

  Hemera rolled off her sleeping pallet and onto her feet. She would not waste time in thought. She had things to do. Besides trying to discover the identity of the traitor in the stronghold, she intended to prepare a patch of land for seedlings that she planned to collect from the forest. She intended to also plant various seedlings around the dwelling so that the whole area would burst with abundance of color and fragrance from planting time through to harvest.

  She left her dwelling, her mind finally off Talon, though not his familiar woodsy scent. It lingered on her garments, tickling at her nose and her senses. Would he never leave her?

  Did she want him to?

 
; The startling thought had Hemera hurrying off to get her planting tools. Busy hands would still a busy mind, as her mum had once told her and, at the moment, she would prefer a still mind.

  Hemera got to work digging and by the time she heard her sister shouting her name, she looked to see that she had finished turning over the soil on half of the garden. She was pleased with her efforts and smiled, pointing out her accomplishment to her sister as Verity approached.

  “Look what I have done,” Hemera said with pride. “I will have a fine garden to plant my seedlings.” Hemera frowned when she saw that Verity was not smiling. “What is wrong?”

  “You will not be here to harvest the crop. By then you will be residing with your new husband.”

  Hemera dismissed her words with a reminder. “I told you, I will not wed.”

  “This place is too far removed from other dwellings for you to make this your home. You need to be closer to other people,” —Verity reached out and laid a hand on her sister’s arm— “closer to me.”

  “I am not that far from you and we see each other often. Besides, Wrath takes up much of your time as it should be.” Hemera patted her hand. “Regardless of what others expect of you, Verity, it is not necessary for you to look after me.”

  “You looked after me, protecting me from the Northmen, making my lot with them easier.”

  Memories Hemera preferred not to stir had her saying, “Not easy enough.”

  “Not true,” Verity insisted. “Memories of our time with the Northmen have haunted me of late and I recall how you would ask me how I fared when we were granted permission to visit and how any problems I had would disappear soon afterwards. You knew all that went on with me, yet I know little of what went on with you at the hands of our captives.”

  “It is no good to dwell on the past. It is now, this moment we share, that matters most.”

  “Aye, it is,” Verity agreed, “and it is about you this time. I want you to be happy.”

  Hemera smiled. “I am happy more than you know, Verity.”

  “How can you be happy in a place of such suffering?” Verity asked with a nod at the larger dwelling not far from them. “Brutal suffering went on there.”