“You know what I mean.”
Thaddeus nodded. “I do, and the answer is still magic.” He cast a glance around the anteroom and wrinkled his nose. “This won’t do.”
Rori had no time to prepare for the weightless sensationof the sift before she stared up at Thaddeus as he laid her in her bed at Cael’s and climbed in beside her. She crooned as he drew her into the familiar cradle of his arms, the security she had yearned to experience swelling with satiation.
“Promise me you won’t leave me again,” Rori murmured. “Promise me this isn’t temporary.”
“Nay, ’tis not temporary, beloved. ’Tis for as long as we live our natural lives.”
“How did you escape?”
His fingers curled in her hair, his leisurely strokes calming.
“I didn’t escape. I handed myself over after I destroyed Grison’s hideaway and, reluctantly, allowed Dagda the honor of killing his two High Fae traitors. The plan I proposed to Shaye was constructed in such a manner that it would protect him and his family from association with housing me and protect you and my brother from further attacks. Shaye took it upon himself to plead on my behalf for a pardon that same eve before you were abducted. He did not go into detail aboutwhathe pleaded, just that he made his case and Dagda agreed to strike the execution order.
“Then you were taken, and I changed the plans. ’Tis why Shaye had been rather frustrated. He feared I’d act out in such a manner that his plea would be wasted effort. Aye, I destroyed the entire hideaway. Did away with Grison’s men, but left Grison and Cecir for Dagda, as ’twas Dagda’s order. Alas, I surrendered myself and suffered punishment for my crimes, of which I’ll spare you the details. I still bear scars on my back in slow stages of healing from iron poisoning, but they’ll be well soon enough.”
“Iron?” Instinctively, she played her fingers over his back. She felt them now, the welts and bumps, raised lines and rough edges of healing wounds. Thaddeus captured her hand,brought it forward to kiss her fingertips, then lowered her palm to his chest.
“I’ll heal, love.”
“I know, but…” She sighed. “He just…let you go?”
“Dagda is a fair King,storín. He does not care for excessive punishment, but I deserved death for what I did. Though my sentence was lightened, I still suffered tremendous punishment. Dagda asked for a blood bond, one where I would swear loyalty to him as King, and promise to do him no harm. I agreed,beforehe confided that he had pardoned my execution. Upon release to Shaye for healing?—”
“Shaye knew you were alive?!” Rori screeched, pushing herself up while staring down at him. Thaddeus’s brow furrowed. “He was here three days ago, when I found out about the baby, and never once said you werealive!”
Thaddeus cupped the back of her neck and pulled her down, tucking her in his arm. “Time moves different here, remember? A couple of days there would be a few weeks here. So, although you have been suffering for months, ’tis only been about a week in Faery.”
Rori huffed. “I should’ve stayed in Faery, then.”
“Mayhap.” He rested a kiss to her head. “Alas, Dagda placed one last restriction on me. I shall not have the freedom to travel to Faery without escort or his personal invitation.”
“He exiled you?” She tilted her head and gazed up into her Faery man. She’d expected to find a hint of sadness, being forced out of the realms he had known all his life.
“In a way, aye.” He smiled, tracing her brow. “I’m content with his ruling because I’ve been given a second chance to mend all my wrongdoings. And I have you.” He tipped her chin and placed a gentle kiss to her mouth. “Rori, naught matters in all the realms if you are not by my side. I would gladly give up Faery for you. I’d relinquish my powersand magic for you. I’d become the closest thing to a mortal, as long as I have you here. In my arms, in my life. The Goddess gave me the perfect woman to be myanamcara, and I want for no other than the woman lying in my arms right now. The woman who will carry and care for our child.”
“The curse? On your magic?
Thaddeus smiled. “It reversed with Cecir’s death.”
“You sure you won’t miss Faery?”
Thaddeus shook his head. “Not a bit, if I have you.”
Rori slipped her hand up to his nape, rolling him onto his back as she leaned over him. “Then you owe me a blood bond, Faery man.”
The wicked grin that melted his smile teased her libido awake. “’Tis unbreakable,storín.”
In the palm of his hand, the familiar ornate dagger appeared. Rori took the hilt and slid it from the sheath, a resonant hum of power licking up her arm.
“Dagda returned your blade?”
“My dagger was forged with my blood. ’Tis an extension of my person, and belongs with me, for in the wrong hands, it can be my demise.” He traced her jaw with a single finger, his voice dropping to a sensual husk. “Be certain of your decision.”
She tilted the dagger, admiring the gleaming silver blade. She lowered her eyes to Thaddeus, whose pupils widened and eyes smoldered as he watched her with his blade. “Areyoucertain of your decision?”
“You would have had a blood bond a long time ago if I had any hope of a pardon. You have naught to worry about.”
