A rush of something empowered and bold came over me. I believed his words. Along with that was the combination of his touch, the calloused roughness from hands well used. The warmth that serenaded my jaw. The searing heat of his stare. Those turquoise eyes had been haunting me since the moment we’d parted that day. It all collided in a symphony that broke my restraint or care for decency.
I lunged.
Somehow, he was ready.
Our lips pressed against each other, and I straddled his waist, mindful of his bandaged leg. His hands roved over my back as I cupped his face and unleashed my restrained desires on him. These ravenous urges yearned for what only he could satiate.
The men that’d courted me previously had status and gentlemanly intentions. Marriage. Children. Financial security for my family. I’d been prepared to accept that life. Play my role, as Nora so diligently played hers for all our sakes. But the tides of fate had changed, removing that burden from me. For the first time in my life, I could go after whatIwanted. What mademehappy. And right now, with this gorgeous man’s tongue sensually invading my mouth, my fingers raking through his loose curls, I’d found what I wanted, and seized it.
10
Nicholas
My thoughts whirled, counting every second until Nora returned while trying to balance the very affairs that’d hindered me from going with her. With Sebastian Druller potentially martyred, we couldn’t waste any time establishing new order. Instead of a single person being responsible for reporting military updates to the Highcrest Council, the division was now spread across three carefully vetted, equally ranking commanders.
My wife, in her infinite wisdom, chose soldiers who had family that were magically blessed. She’d combed through records and visited households, gauging temperament and acceptance. Many were eager to converse with their new queen and confide that they had magic in their families once Nora shared about her sister.
We’d decided not to announce my magical ability, at least not until the new arrivals from Argora Vale settled. Highcrest would be forced to adopt this newfound wave of magical acceptance,but gaining a sense of the natural reception of refugees seemed pertinent.
First, welcome foreign magic wielders with open arms. Second, announce that magic sits upon the throne. Third, strategically place them throughout the kingdom based on skill sets.
Already predicting backlash from humans without magic, complaints about fairness and equity, there would be a set tax for the magically blessed once they earned more than the median liveable wage. Those taxes would then be collected and used to aid all of Highcrest. A way every single person could benefit from working together in unity.
Ricks worked through his apprehension quicker than I would have thought. Now, he contributed to the meetings with eager zest and zeal—mostly after he saw the proposed financial disbursement plan. Regardless, I was happy he’d gotten on board with magical integration.
Each new commander held authority over different geographical divisions. Of the three new figureheads, Commander Francesca had been appointed jurisdiction over the towns ready to receive the Argora Vale refugees. Her immediate family possessed multiple magic wielders, making her Nora’s first pick. The commander may have looked more fitting as a delinquent pirate on the seas with dark hair shorn against the sides of her head, and a tattoo of a mermaid snaking up her neck, but she possessed an air of authority that warranted respect. And after seeing the young commander’s excitement for this change, for this entire movement, all my worries vanished.
Gods, my wife was clever. I’d been blindsided by the stuffy opinions of the former ruling style, but Nora saw right through the bullshit. Reprimanding myself over how I almost let things play out became a daily ritual. I couldn’t imagine anyone elseby my side, ruling and leading with such fervor and care for the people.
I’d never let myself dream I could find this kind of happiness, and now counted every day as a gift. Though, it did make moments like waiting with bated breath for the return of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, semi-torturous. If I had a death wish, I would have insisted on sending another delegate in her place. But of course, in all of Nora’s wisdom, and stubbornness, she’d convinced me how foolish that would be.
I definitely had a weak spot for letting that woman put me in my place.
My fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk until Marco slammed his hand over mine. The guards around the room stiffened, hands moving to the weapons at their side. If Marco caught the action, he didn’t let it deter him.
“You could lose a hand for touching a king in such a manner,” I joked, waving off the high-strung guards to return to their positions.
“Oh, I think I would have lost quite a bit more if that were the case. How’s your shoulder doing, by the way?”
I wanted to wipe that cocky smirk off his face, but instead rolled my still tender shoulder. “It’s fine,” I grumbled.
He knew I was lying, and that smirk remained. Marco had taken it upon himself to give me ample opportunity to practice my healing magic. Today’s lesson was to dislocate my shoulder, and wait the couple hours it took to properly dissect the pain points that emerged. Then, I was to send my magic from the bottom up and repair the internal damage. I wasn’t entirely convinced he hadn’t made up that bullshit just to have me willingly walk around with a dislocated shoulder.
I couldn’t even gloat that I’d broken his nose, because the bastard repaired it within seconds. He assured me I could attain that level of skill if I trained as he had. So I endured this meeting,my shoulder aching, mercifully also serving as a distraction from checking the castle gates below the window every two minutes.
Finally, the meeting ended when the mid-afternoon sun lit up the castle. I strode to my quarters to heal my arm in private. Rounding the corner, I was met with smiles attempting to be contained by the two guardsmen posted there. It gave me pause, but I wanted to fix this damn arm, so I walked past without engaging. When I opened the door to my bedroom, I saw my wife, wearing a nearly see-through shift that she’d pulled up on one side, exposing her entire thigh as she leaned against the bed.
“Hello, my king,” she said in a seductive tone that caressed my ears like velvet.
Armor shuffled outside, and I realized the guards had most likely been instructed to leave once I’d returned. I slammed the doors behind me, shoulder be damned. It could fucking fall off and I would worry about it later.
First, I had to ravage my queen.
We lay in bed, a mess of naked limbs and heaving chests. “Gods I missed you.” I kissed my incredulously attractive wife on the forehead before pulling her closer. It strained my shoulder, and I must have groaned because she sat upright and looked me over.
“What’s wrong?” Those beautiful brown eyes scoured my body for any physical signs.
“Marco dislocated my shoulder. I came back here to heal it.”
