Drakkar couldn’t stop his blink at this news for he knew Tor, very well, they were friends, he held him in high regard and Drakkar knew Tor detested his wife regardless of the fact she was destined for him, it was written in the sky at each of their births by the She-God of their land. They’d been married for some time, Drakkar was even at their wedding, and Tor’s wife was exceptionally beautiful but visibly cold and nothing about her manner would be something that attracted Tor. They had spent just enough time together to consummate the union and lived separate lives since with Tor not keen to change that.

“We were, as you may not have known,” Aurora continued, “scheduled to journey to Hawkvale for Prince Noctorno’s brother’s wedding but we had to cancel due to the situation with Finnie and then the imminent executions. We have heard since that, for reasons I do not know, that wedding has been postponed but in the meantime, Noctorno has reconciled with his wife and installed her in his castle in Bellebryn.”

“Interesting,” Drakkar muttered.

“Indeed,” Aurora replied. “And it is known he is actively working on siring an heir to Bellebryn and Hawkvale.”

Drakkar grinned and Aurora’s lips again twitched.

Then Drakkar’s grin faded and he asked, “Is it known if he is happy?”

She shook her head but said, “It is known that Princess Cora is much changed and she is the talk of Bellebryn and Hawkvale, enough for that talk to make it here. They are calling her Cora, the Gracious.”

Drakkar found that difficult to believe. She had been known as Cora, the Exquisite for her beauty. During his brief meeting with her at her wedding to his friend, however, she was far from gracious.

“So, I suppose the answer to your question is, yes,” Aurora carried on. “It is said he is greatly taken with her… finally.”

Drakkar nodded.

Aurora kept speaking. “It is also known that you are actively working on siring an heir.”

Drakkar’s grin came back but Aurora simply regarded him closely.

“Is there aught to report with that?” she asked.

“Not yet but soon, my queen, I hope Finnie and I will have good news.”

Her eyes softened and her lips tipped up before she shared on a whisper, “I watch her with your boy, Skylar. She will make a good mother, my new son.”

“Yes,” Drakkar stated, “she will.”

She lifted a hand and touched his arm lightly before dropping it and saying softly, “I await your good news.”

“And I look forward to imparting it,” Drakkar returned softly and at that, the door flew open and Finnie rushed in, cheeks flushed, eyes bright, smile firm on her face.

She skidded to a halt several steps in, shared her smile with both of them then her eyes fixed on her mother and she cried, “Let’s… go… skating!”

Bloody hell, his bride hadn’t even taken off her cloak from riding obstacles on her new horse and she was ready to go off on her next escapade.

He studied her bright eyes and pink cheeks, thinking, By the gods, I love this woman.

Then he crossed his arms on his chest and stated, “Before you’re off to break your ankle, wife, your husband will take a kiss.”

She moved to him swiftly, replying, “I’m not going to break my ankle, Frey.”

“Sprain it then,” he returned as she made it to him, curled her fingers around his forearm and leaned her body into his.

“Not that either,” she retorted.

“Gods, don’t give yourself delirium by falling on your head,” he implored and she giggled and got up on her toes.

“I’ll not be doing that either. I’m a good skater,” she informed him.

“And you’ve done this before?” he asked.

“Yes, twice, with my parents when I was young,” she answered.

“You’re not young anymore, Finnie,” he pointed out.

“Well, I’m not gray, blind, crippled and doddering, either,” she shot back and he grinned.

Then he murmured, “Kiss,” and bent his head to hers to assist her. She accepted his offer, pressing her mouth to his and opening hers before they touched tongues and when they did, Drakkar not only tasted her, he felt the beauty of her taste right down to his blood.

He lifted his head and whispered, “Have fun, wee one.”

She smiled up at him and whispered back, “I will, handsome husband. I always do.”

Yes, that was his wee Finnie, she always did.

Then she squeezed his arm, turned to her mother, wrapped her hands around her mother’s arm and guided her out of the room, their heads bent together.

Frey looked to Gunner, Max and Thad as they stood just outside the door and jerked his chin to them. They nodded and followed Finnie and Aurora.

Then he pulled in a deep breath, let it out and went to find Ruben who would procure a trusted messenger and send off to Balthazar with this latest news and further instruction.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Glow of the Adela Tree

“Wee one, wake,” I heard Frey whisper in my ear, his big hand warm on my hip, my eyes slowly opened and I saw darkness cut with only weak candlelight.

I rolled to my back to see he was out of bed but sitting on the side of it fully clothed and I felt my body go instantly tight.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

“Nothing, my love,” his hand, now at my belly, pressed lightly, “I’ve a message from the Elves. I thought you’d wish to accompany me.”

I stared at him only a second before I was out of bed faster than lightning.

I was rummaging through the wardrobe when I heard Frey say, “I’ll take this as a yes.”

“Totally,” I told the wardrobe then felt his hands at my hips, his lips touch my shoulder and then they came to my ear.

“I’ll saddle Tyr and bring him ‘round front. I’ll meet you there when you’re ready.”

I nodded at the wardrobe and pulled out a cream woolen dress.

Frey left the room. I dressed as fast as I could considering how many clothes I needed to wear and how difficult the underwear was to strap on. Then I pulled on a cream wool cloak with a curly-furred collar, a cream knit cap that fit snug and bunched all my hair out at the sides and cream leather gloves and dashed out into the hall.

As it was the dead of night and no footmen were around, it took a bit of effort to get the front doors of the Keep opened and then closed again but when I did, I turned and saw Frey was waiting for me at the foot of the steps with Thad, Orion and Ruben.