Page 27 of War King's Treasure

“Bolton took advantage of Theo’s size, sending him into situations he didn’t think he’d survive. Probably at our father’s suggestion. The fact Theo always returned enraged him. He saw the way the others looked at Theo with a bit of hero worship. Still, he sent Theo out, again and again. That was his way of trying to break my brother.”

“And you? How did he try to break you?” Nori forced the question out.

“He started sending me with Theo. I think he hoped I’d either die or be the cause of my brother dying.”

The way Gavin said it sent a shiver over her, but he didn’t seem to notice it this time. She wondered if that was all he’d share, but after another long moment, he continued.

“I kept returning with Theo. Battle after battle, we survived. I’d met Crispin and Conrad and maneuvered things until they were forced to join us along with several men my brother had formed a friendship with. All of them are still with us.”

“When did you decide to leave Bolton and his training?” she asked.

“We were sent to join a battle on the border of the Dread Lands. It was a set up. One we weren’t meant to walk away from. At that point, we’d had enough battles near or in the Dread Lands that we’d already spoken of leaving and seeing what we could build there. None of us were willing to allow the bastard who’d tortured us to live. We returned long enough to kill Bolton and any of the men who stood with him then burned his keep until only the charred skeleton remained. Jamie, Marcus, and Geoffrey were already trying to tame things along the border of the Dread Lands, but there was plenty of land left for others. We headed deeper into the Dread Lands and claimed some of it as our own. Theo met Miles and a group of warriors with him and ended up taking Miles as his second.”

“Cris and Con stayed with you.”

“They did. I refused to choose between them, so they both became my seconds. We helped Theo gain control of his lands then decided to forge farther. I made my home on the coast. It’s beautiful, with white sandy beaches and water for as far as the eye can see. We had trouble with marauders trying to attack from the sea for a bit, but those have tapered off since I sent back the last ship with a crew of two and a warning.”

“I can’t wait to see our home,” she murmured, glancing up at him.

“I need you to understand I won’t bend when it comes to your protection,” Gavin warned, gripping her hips and helping her turn until she straddled his thighs, facing him. “I won’t compromise. I’ve killed to protect my people and the lands we’ve claimed. There’s no limit to what I’ll do when it comes to you.”

She nodded, unsure what he wanted her to say.

“When Buckingham is brought in, he will die by my hand. I won’t allow his actions, or those of any men who stand with him, to go unpunished.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“You won’t ask me to spare him?”

“I’ll never ask you to be anything less than the War King you are,” she vowed. “I trust you.” She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.

“I’ll never make you regret that,” he swore then took her mouth again. She felt his hardness against her and rose to her knees in preparation to sheath him. He stopped her, though, gripping her hips and lifting her as he stood. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, as he stepped from the wooden tub and took her to the bed.

“I need you,” he whispered as he bore her down, sliding easily between her thighs and thrusting deep.

“Yes!” she agreed, rising to meet each thrust, running her fingers and tongue over every inch of him she could reach. His mouth slid across hers, teeth tugging at her bottom lip before nipping bites scattered across her jaw as he moved to her ear.

“You make me feel alive,” he whispered. “I may never be worthy of a queen like you, but I promise I’ll spend every moment of the rest of our lives striving to.”

“You’re the man I never knew I needed,” she fired back. “The man I’m falling in love with.”

With a groan, he took her mouth again, his lovemaking desperate as if he needed her like he needed air to breathe. She understood. She needed him with the same ferocity. They crested the tide together, flew, and when she crashed back down, he was there, wrapping her in his arms, holding her tightly with an unspoken promise that he’d never let her go.

Chapter Twelve

A sharp knock on the door brought Gavin out of the peace he’d found in his queen’s arms. He wasn’t sure how long he’d lain there, holding her, watching her breathe, her body still aglow with the pleasure they’d shared. Reluctantly, he climbed to his feet, tugging on his leathers before quickly heading to the door. He wasn’t surprised to see Con standing there.

“Cris is back. They finally caught up to Buckingham and the men with him. They brought the survivors back with them,” Con said.

“Buckingham?” He was the one Gavin wanted to get his hands on the most.

“He’s been taken to the dungeon with the others. Cris is there now.”

Gavin glanced back at his wife. He could have lost her. The terror that had filled him at that realization had nearly brought him to his knees. It had also driven home how much she’d come to mean to him. She’d told him she was falling in love with him, but he was certain he’d already taken that tumble.

“Let me finish dressing.” Gavin left the door open while he grabbed his boots and weapons.

“Is she okay?” Con asked, nodding toward the bed.

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