Again, she stirred, but only briefly, before nestling into her familiar surroundings and drifting back off to sleep. I placed a kiss to her forehead, inhaling hard to get one final draw of her sweet scent. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough, but it would have to fucking tide me over.
I stared down at her, memorizing her every curve, her every freckle. For just this moment, only the two of us knew what had happened between us and how things had changed. I savored that privacy, that secret; I cherished it, as I had for so long cherished the hours I’d spent watching her in secret. But soon, everything would change. The whole castle, the whole kingdom, would know she’d been taken and wedded in the old way.
Carrying our wedding sheet with me, I moved into her dressing room. Taking a hunting knife I’d given her, which she always kept on her dressing table, I sliced the sheet down the middle, being careful as I sliced through the bloodstained fabric to keep half the stain on each piece. Then, I went to the window, slowly unbolted the latch and carefully opened it, taking my time so as not to let the hinges squeak. Once the window was open wide, I unfurled one half of the sheet, straightening it out, and pinning the edge between window and frame.
I did the same out the door of her chambers, laying the sheet over the edge of the door frame, placing the bloodstain facing outward for passersby to see.
I made my way to her drawing table finding there a parchment and quill. Quickly, I wrote her a note.
My love. I must go secure our future. Do not be afraid, for I will return for you and our lives will begin. Be good. Obey the guards, I have entrusted you to them. Believe in us as I do and all will be well.
I’ve left my heart with you. I will be back for it soon. Trust in me.
M.
I placed the message under a pitcher of water on the table by the door, then glanced at the bed, savoring one last glimpse of her—my wife—before closing the door behind me.
From there, I didn’t waste one fucking second. I took a shortcut through the old priest’s hole and emerged in the guards’ quarters, where I pounded on Aidan’s door. I trusted this job to nobody but him.
There was no answer at first. So, I pounded again. “It’s me,” I growled.
He opened the door before he was even really awake, blinking away the sleep and running his hand through his hair.
“What the fuck time is it?” He peered at the narrow window at the end of the hall, then scratched his hair, still messy from being in bed. As he blinked himself into consciousness, he realized who was standing in front of him. “I mean, fuck. Sorry. Good morning, sir.”
“Never mind that. How’s your sister?”
He sniffed and rubbed his eyes. “She’s alright. Angry, mostly. Or maybe that’s just me.”
“I get it, man, I really do.” I clapped him on the shoulder, letting him know that his problems weren’t just his own. “Listen, I need you to watch Anika. Keep your best men on her. All the time.” I tightened my grip. “And I mean it. All the time. Whatever you have to do to keep her safe and keep her here, do it.”
He nodded. “Will do.”
“No hunting, no bullshit. I mean it. No negotiations. Restrain her if needed. You’ve got my permission.”
“Of course. But where the hell are you going at his hour?”
Explaining it all to him would take way too fucking long. As soon as he saw the sheets, he’d get it. I had to secure our future and there was no time to waste. “Doesn’t matter. Just watch her. Like she’s your own. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Aiden nodded, pulled on his pants, and went down toward the rooms that belonged to the other guards to wake them just as I’d woken him. And I headed for the stables, mounted my horse, and then took off at full speed, into the sunrise.
Chapter 13
Anika
A frantic, panicked knock at the door jolted me awake. With my heart racing, I shot straight up in bed, pawing the sheets around me to find Maksim.
But my surprise at the knock was only compounded by my confusion as I opened my eyes. Maksim wasn’t beside me and I wasn’t even in his bedroom. Now, I was in my room. I was sore all over, naked, and completely alone. The knocking resumed, more frantic than before. I flung back the covers to go answer it, but stopped dead as I looked down at my body. Pinkish streaks were all over my inner thighs. My virgin blood and Maksim’s seed mixed up together.