Page 75 of A Touch of Royalty

He’d dreaded the hunt before he’d wed. But now there was nothing more to fear. He had his Emryn and the matchmaking mamas could look elsewhere for husbands for their daughters.

It wouldn’t stop them all, but it would forbid the greater number from making fools of themselves.

Emryn rode by his side, with Brutus trotting along by her side and her guard in their wake. Usually he wouldn’t have brought them, but they were in the woods and there were too many avenues of approach.

It made him feel better to have more eyes for Emryn’s safety.

They were with the court the better part of the day, having luncheon at a massive tent that had been pitched in a clearing in the forest. It was in the same place every year and Cas and Emryn held court since they were the crown’s representatives today.

It was a smile and nod sort of day, and it would have been much less enjoyable without Emryn.

She was also smiling and nodding, but every once in a while, she would catch his eye and cross hers. It never failed to make him smile.

When they finally headed back to the palace, as the sun was setting its toe on the horizon, Cas was exhausted, but that tiredness was warring with his need to pin his wife to the wall of the stable and make love to her.

He waited in the stable until all of the other horses had been taken care of. Until Emryn emerged from Beauty’s stall with hay in her hair and a curry comb in one hand. She liked to care for her own horse after a ride and Cas had shown her how.

“Emryn, come with me,” he said, the words echoing in the empty stable. “I want to show you something.”

“Is the something-” She grinned at him. “Show me whatever you like, Cas.”

“Minx.” he grinned back, reaching for her hand and leading her into one of the tack rooms. There was a convenient saddle on a stand and he sat her on it while he burrowed under her skirts.

There was rather more hay in their hair when they were done and they were beyond late for supper with the court. But then, they had spent all day with the court and the last thing Cas wanted was more time with the ninnies.

He took Emryn by the hand, leading her back to the palace.

They sat in their sitting room over bowls of Cook’s favorite soup and talked. About everything and nothing and plans for the future.

It was a delightful evening, calm and sweet, and as Cas drifted off to sleep, he smiled. He had what he wanted out of life and if the Mother willed it, someday, he would have a child.

49

DARK

There was something wrong with the air. Emryn shot out of sleep, looking into a pair of very unfamiliar eyes. She couldn’t gather the breath to scream before something sharp like a cruel word, or a slicing light came to rest at her throat.

“Breathe wrong and he dies.” There was a voice in her ear. “Come quietly and he lives.”

Emryn nodded. She wouldn’t let them hurt Cas and her guards were right outside the door.

She got up, setting her bare feet on the floor and staggering when whoever had her shoved her toward the rear door.

But that was where Brutus slept.

The dog was up in an instant, wanting to play before Emryn watched him figure out that she was in trouble, and then he changed. Into the guard dog that he descended from.

His bark shook the windows, like a cymbal clash or thunder and he leaped at the man holding her as Cas ran into the room with a sword in his hands.

Emryn felt the knife slice her throat as the assailant was shoved down and away from her by Brutus’ weight. And thenthere was a tearing sound, and a horrid gurgle and the wet sound of blood flowing from a wound.

Emryn connected the arteries. She needed light, and that was the only way her jumbled brain could think to get it.

She threw her wings out, shredding the nightgown she was wearing and throwing light up the walls. Sunlight, starlight, and she nearly vomited when she saw what Brutus had done.

He’d torn the man’s throat out and was sitting next to the corpse like he was waiting for a treat.

“Good lad, Brutus,” Cas said in a shaking voice, stepping over the corpse to get to Emryn. “Are-” He saw the cut on her throat. “You need a healer, Emryn.”

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