Smiling, she rose and went to pour a cup of wine, then brought it to him. He stared at her graceful movements and had to squelch the urge to pull her into his arms.
As much as he wanted to claim her, he was too ill for such at the moment.
That thought summoned an image of people taunting her, but he banished it.
He wasn’t a coward. He’d never been one.
Last night, he’d almost died and left her.
How stupid he’d been to think that would be the answer. But this world was filled with all kinds of monsters.
She needed protection, and how could he leave her to anyone else to protect?
Never again would he allow his fears to rule him.
He had fought for a brother he barely tolerated.
Fought for coin he didn’t care about.
Only a fool would refuse to fight for the woman who’d claimed his heart.
He knew that now.
No one would keep them apart.
Not even him or his stupidity.
And he’d crack the bones of the first person to ever bring the blush of shame to her cheeks. If he had to kill every person in this valley to keep her safe, then by hell he’d gladly do it.
She helped him up and tilted the cup to his lips.
The warm, spicy wine sated his thirst, but did nothing to appease the hunger in his loins.
No sooner had she removed the cup from his lips than he gently took her hand and pulled her close.
Closer still until he could kiss her sweet, parted lips and breathe in the rich, heady scent of her rose bath oil. She smiled against his lips. Delight shot through his entire body. His wife would never deny him. Never cringe at his touch.
Not his precious Ariel.
After a moment, she pulled away and gave a short laugh. “Milord, you must be careful lest you pull the stitches from your side.”
Valteri followed her gaze to his bare ribs, and saw the neat, even stitches that closed a wound. The thought of Eve being created from Adam’s rib came to his mind, and he grimaced. Though he was every bit as cursed as Adam, he could only hope that his mate would never be forced to bear the brunt of his own sin.
“How long have I slept?”
“Through the day and well into the night.”
He frowned. “A full day?”
“Aye.” She pulled a wooden platter of food from the chest and brought it over to him. “You have raged with a fever since mid-morning.”
Then it truly had all been a dream.
Yet it’d seemed so real. Soveryreal.
Valteri took a slice of cheese from the platter and carefully ate the sharp tangy bit. His head pounded needles of pain that darkened his sight, and as he wiped at his damp forehead, he noted the healing wounds there as well.
“How are you feeling?” Ariel refilled his cup.
