Page 79 of A Baron of Bonds
“Not just dawn,” she answered, running her hands up my chest to my neck. “I’ll see you at dusk, in the afternoon, allthrough the night. I’ll see you every day, every evening, and all the time in between.”
“Promise?” I brushed my thumb below her red lips.
“Promise,” she returned, lifting her head to reach me, her lips soft on mine, as we took our stolen moments once again, the world coming to a standstill.
“Alright. How are we doing this?”
Karus and I walked through the castle halls, leaving the conduits and faerie behind.
“Are we going in quiet, just there to listen and gather information? Should we address our situation and let them know how we plan to move forward training conduits? Do they know you’ve gathered more than usual? Do they know you’re training a male channeler?”
Her questions came quickly as she pulled me along with her, the skirts of her gown swishing over the carpeted halls, sliding around corners in a graceful ease.
I could do nothing but watch her.
She looked like a queen. A Baron in her own birthright, and I wished more than anything that she already was one. I wished that I could present her as a Baron of Felgren before the other leaders so that they understood her importance and power on the isle. I knew titles were important to all three of them.
She needed to pass the Baron trial first—after the conduit trials which she wanted to take.
I could not tell her the Baron trial was coming.
I could not warn her beforehand, or I would negate the outcome.
She stopped and faced me when I had not answered any of her questions.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Is this too much?” She gestured to her dress and her crown.
“No. This is a perfect representation of who you are in Felgren and what you mean to this isle.”
“Then what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something is wrong?”
She huffed and tilted her head, patting my chest. “I can feel you, remember? Something is nagging at you.”
I pulled her closer. She should always be this close. “It’s nothing. Just anxious to get home. You are beautiful, you are strong. You don’t need to be anything but you in this meeting. You tell as much or as little of your story as you wish. We will listen, we will answer their questions as we best see fit, and we will begin our journey home tomorrow.” I kissed her forehead and mumbled, “I just feel sorry for the channelers.”
She pulled back and grinned at me gloriously. “And why is that, Baron Revich?”
“Because once we arrive, they’ll have to go one more day—maybe two—without me.” I cupped her cheek, adjusting her golden floral crown slightly. “Because when we get home,”—I moved my mouth to her ear—“I plan to keep you.”
“This way, Baron and Karus of Felgren.”
The same guard who led us to the throne room had returned, finding us pulled close together in the brightly lit corridor.
Karus stiffened and I could feel from her that she did not want to move. Her hand gripped my arm and excitement breezed across her open neck in the form of goosebumps at my promise to love her when we returned home.
The guard cleared his throat when we had not moved to follow him, and I drew breath again, pulling away with difficulty.
Her cheeks flushed, and I kissed her temple before taking her hand in mine. I nodded to the guard in a silent acknowledgement that we would follow.
His eyes passed over our attire, Karus in her representation of the forest itself, and me in my Baron’s clothing.
Clairannia had commissioned a new shirt, pants, and vest, the cut of each somehow perfect for my height and build. The black silk vest was patterned with tiny leaves and the gold buttons were each embossed with a sun and moon together in an embrace. The amount of detail she had commissioned for both of us was perfection, and I’d find some way to make up to her for the ceremony she had missed.
We passed through the throne room, its thistled mosaic floor gleaming in the soft light of lit sconces. Our steps echoed across the empty hall as we were led through the doors on the opposite side, up another staircase, and finally to a room near the Queen’s study.
