“If he wants to claim her, then he will answer for that claim himself.”
Tarin’s eyes narrow. “You intend to challenge him.”
I nod. “Trial by combat—a claim-forfeit challenge, bound by law. No armies. No war. No needless bloodshed.”
“You cannot be serious.” He shakes his head. “You’d be risking everything.”
“I would spare this kingdom from war. If I win, she is free of the bargain.”
He frowns. “And if you fall?”
“Then, the bargain is considered fulfilled. My life replaces the claim he has on her.” I reach forward and rest a hand on his shoulder. “You would rule in my stead. I only ask that you watch over her… make sure she’s safe and happy. Will you do that?”
“Of course.” Worry flickers across his face. “But surely there’s another way.”
I shake my head. “I will not send our warriors to fight in a war when I can prevent it by fighting myself.”
“This is reckless, Auren. Surely, the Goblin King must relinquish his claim. She’syour mate. You’ve already claimed her.”
His words stop me short and I look down at my hands. “She… has not yet agreed to be mine.”
“What?”
“When we wed, she thought I was a common soldier.” Guilt fills me anew as I explain. “She only discovered I’m the king after the Ogre attack in Caer Aetheryn. Understandably, she’s upset. And… we’ve not quite worked out where that leaves us.”
I close my eyes briefly. I can still see her face. The way she looked at me. Like something had been taken from her that could not be returned.
“I was afraid of losing her,” I say, forcing the words out slowly. “And I waited too long to tell her who I was.” The words taste bitter in my mouth. “And now… I must convince her to forgive me.”
“What will you do?” Tarin asks.
I exhale slowly. “I will spend whatever remains of my life earning back what I broke. And I will never give up, because I cannot imagine my life without her.”
He tilts his head. “For what it’s worth, I believe she loves you.”
I frown. “Why do you say that?”
“Because it’s obvious to anyone who’s paying attention,” he says simply. “I’ve only just met her, but I can see the way she looks at you. She risked herself to rescue you, when she could have just saved herself. I don’t believe she would have done that if her heart had already turned from yours.”
His certainty makes hope spark within, but I force myself to push it back down. Before I worry about anything else, I need to make sure she’s safe from the Goblin King’s claim. “I sent a raven to the Goblin King from Caer Aetheryn, telling him he cannot have her. I’ll send another tomorrow, challenging him to trial by combat. I need to resolve the bargain,” I tell him. “Even if she doesn’t still want me, I want her to be free.”
Tarin looks at me. “You should tell her your plan before you send the message.”
Sighing heavily, I run a hand through my hair. “She’s selfless, brave, and stubborn. If I tell her, I wouldn’t doubt she’d take matters into her own hands, sacrificing herself to protect me.”
I clench my jaw. “But I don’t want to keep it from her either. Not after everything else…” My voice trails off. “I need to thinkon how to break it to her.” I lift my gaze back to my brother. “In the meantime, I might be sharing your room if she insists upon her own space.”
He arches a brow. “Well, then might I suggest a bath? You smell like dirt from your travels.”
I bark out a laugh as a memory of Vivienne telling me something similar, the first time she saw me, resurfaces. “Very well.”
Tomorrow morning, I’ll send a raven to the Goblin King. I’ll inform Vivienne after it’s done. Because I know if I tell her beforehand, she’ll try to stop me. She may even go as far as putting herself in danger, and I would sooner die than allow any harm to come to her.
CHAPTER 44
VIVIENNE
By the time the healer lifts her hands from my ribs, I realize I’ve taken three full breaths without flinching. I draw in another, slower this time, waiting for the sharp bite of pain that has followed me for days. Thankfully, it doesn’t come.
