Page 4 of Clash of Kingdoms

“Five hundred and thirteen years ago.”

Surprise moved onto her face. She couldn’t understand time the way I could. To her, that may as well have been forever. For me, it felt like a couple of decades. “And it still hurts…?”

I could feel her unease, feel the roar of jealousy that my heart had ever belonged to another. I knew I would feel the same way, that Ethan’s unrequited obsession was enough to piss me off. But I wouldn’t lie to her. “It’ll always hurt.”

She paused, my words causing her pain in several different ways. “So…you were married?”

“No.”

“Were you?—”

“I’m here with you, baby. Leave my past where it belongs—in the past.”

Her eyes flicked away.

“Don’t pull away from me.” My hand grabbed her chin and forced her stare back on me. “I want you here with me—always.” I kissed her, kissed her hard on the mouth, showing her the depth of my love because my words weren’t enough. I might have loved another woman in my life, but she’d been gone a long time, and now my heart was occupied by a single woman, a single name.

Her kiss was hesitant in the beginning, but it turned fiery within seconds, her hand in my hair, her thigh squeezing my side.

I rolled her onto her back and buried myself inside her like I hadn’t already made love to her twice. But that was how much I wanted this woman—always.

A knock sounded on the door.

It was the middle of the night. The fire was almost extinguished. The candles had burned out. I’d been dead asleep a second ago, but I was on my feet with my sword in my hand instantly.

Harlow jerked up and gave a quiet yelp in surprise.

“What is it?” I said through the closed door.

“Riders approach the gate,” the guard said. “Queen Rolfe has been notified.”

“How many?” I asked.

“Four.”

I quickly dressed and donned my armor and weapons.

Harlow threw on whatever she could find. “Who are the riders?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could it be them?”

“They don’t strike me as the diplomatic type.” I walked out, and she followed me, wearing a sweater and trousers, her hair a mess from the hours of rolling around in the sheets.

I made it to the great room, Queen Rolfe already there, dressed in armor like she was ready for battle.

“The guards said they’re unable to identify the riders because of the snow.”

I glanced out the window and saw it falling, so much of it that it was difficult to make out the torches in the distance. “I’ll go to the gate,” I said. “I’ll report back what I discover.”

“I’m not staying here,” Queen Rolfe said. “If someone enters my gates in times of war, I want to know who it is.”

“I think that’s unwise?—”

“Your job is to protect me,” she snapped. “So when I go down there, you protect me.” She turned away. “Let’s go.”

Harlow watched her mother walk away before she turned back to me. “Now you know where I get it from.”