Our Lady's Revelations: Our Lady of Joy, #6

Our Lady’s Revelations

by

Valery Keith

Copyright ©2015, Valery Keith. All Rights Reserved.

Cover art Copyright ©2017, Jeff Keith

E-book ISBN: 978-1-944535-05-6

Print ISBN: 978-1-944535-12-4

Please visit www.ValeryKeith.com for more information.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Landmarks

Cover

Chapter One

Lira smiled at Rease as they walked in the gardens at Eastlake with her dog, Night.

While Lira lived there, Eastlake was actually her friend Hanna Davies’ family estate, where Lira’s entire extended family lived with Hanna, her younger brothers Oliver and Neville and her parents, Warren and Regina. Compared to Hanna’s rather tidy family, her own was huge, mismatched and entirely fluid, based on who showed up needing a safe haven and got along with them all. But it was quite a large group by now and having grown up as an only child with only one parent, she couldn’t be happier about it. Knowing that all these people were part of her life made it bearable to be Our Lady of Joy, an Emotion Conduit connected to the most beneficial emotions like love and empathy. Otherwise, since her emotions caused physical reactions in the people around her, it just felt rather like being naked in public, as if everyone could see all kinds of things about her that she never wanted to show anyone, let alone random strangers.

Plainly put, being a cultural icon sucked a lot of the time.

Well, at least until Rease was added to the scale, then it all tipped into the positive range. Yep, she thought as she glanced over at him, he was unquestioningly the best part of being Our Lady of Joy. He was her Guardian and Consort, titled as Our Lady’s Wolf and even better, her best friend. Not just that, but he was an awesome boyfriend on any scale, since he had rescued her after she had been kidnapped by a rival nation, hiding with the rest of her family in the same city in plain view for more than nine months until they could get to her. It hadn’t been easy for anyone, her especially and a lot had happened along the way, but in the end, it had all worked out.

Happiest of all, she and Rease both were now hardcore sex ninjas.

Since finally consummating her relationship with Rease was something that she had been waiting on for a span of time that felt almost as long as her entire life here, to say she was thrilled for even the most obvious reasons was an understatement. She had started drinking the tea they used here to prevent pregnancy when they had left for what had amounted to their summer vacation as they had traveled all over the Western Marches, so when they had arrived home, she had been more than ready to move things right along.

But the first thing she had done was get right back to her schedule of giving regular Blessings.

Blessings, the phenomenon in which she collected, intensified and then ultimately shared her feelings, were something she did regularly and happily here at Eastlake for all she gained in return. Her positive feelings blasted out to the populace both helped the people by overlaying their own moods with contentment, especially those prone to depression, and gave her privacy as well, since anyone covered by it was protected from feeling what she felt until it wore off days later. So once she had given a Blessing and knew that no one would have any idea of what she was up to, let alone respond by getting wild in the streets and scaring the horses, it was go-time. Reminding them both that her twentieth birthday had passed while they had been traveling so they hadn’t really been able to celebrate it properly, Lira suggested they have their own private birthday celebration now that they were home.

And so they had.

Lira, who had worried about a grand cosmic plan in which she died an elderly, barely-touched virgin, had finally beaten the odds completely. Better yet, she hadn’t stopped beating them since, because after all, anything worth doing was worth doing well. Run down in the streets tomorrow, she could at least die happy now, she thought with a quiet snicker.

I got my cake and ate it, too.

It was even tastier than I expected.

And then some.

In fact, she liked it so much that they hadn’t left their room for the last three days. It was only after Rease came back from getting food this morning to tell her that everyone was asking if she was well since they hadn’t seen her that she had agreed to leave the room. After the two of them had snickered a good deal, she had finally gotten dressed for the first time in days. Thinking of that now, Lira slanted a glance at Rease from under her lashes.

H’m.

Wonder if he’s thinking about the same thing I am?

Sure enough, he caught her.

I know that look, Princess, Rease teased. I predict more lost days. You’re merciless. At this rate, I’ll never make another year. I knew I should have resisted harder. He blinked at her in exaggerated misery. I think you’re just using me for my body. I feel cheap and disrespected.

Lira smacked him gently on the arm.

Keep complaining, pal, she said with a smirk. You can go down to the garrison and whine that you feel used because your girlfriend won’t stop pestering you for sex. See how much sympathy you get.

Rease snorted.

Not much, I’d wager, but I’d probably get a black eye, at the very least, he chuckled, tugging on the hand he held to pull her closer, his mouth dropping to her ear so that his whisper made her shiver. And you know I was only teasing. I love you. I am happier than I have ever been and all I want is for it to continue. For us to be like this forever.

Aww. He’s so sweet.

Delighted, Lira smiled at him.

That was a very good answer, she teased. Very diplomatic.

He rolled his eyes at her.

You’re very sassy today, he observed, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Well, I spent so much time lying down, she replied with a giggle, I’m terribly well-rested.

Then I’m obviously doing something wrong, he teased, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

Far from it.

No, I’ve done extensive research, she joked, and I’m certain you’re doing everything right.

He grinned at her, clearly pleased from his expression.

Glad to hear it, he replied.

Then he tugged her even closer and dropped his mouth to her ear, his tone low and soft, the slightest lilt of worry just barely evident.

And you’re happy with how things are with us now, Princess?

You have no idea.

Any more happy and my heart might explode one of these days.

I’m happier than I have ever been before, she said softly, feeling a blush stain her cheeks as she looked at him. Are you happy?

He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. She slid her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes as she hugged him back. He nosed her hair aside and settled his mouth to her ear.

I am very happy, he whispered, his tone wondrous, as if amazed by such a thing.

That’s all I ever wanted, she whispered back. I love you, Rease.

I love you, too, Lira, he whispered, kissing her softly on the cheek. Always.

He tightened his arms on her and Lira was content to simply stand there, hugging him back. Having lost both his parents while still a child and been sent to the garrison at ten because of his resulting violent temper, Rease had not had all the years of normal physical affection that a beloved child would have had, growing up surrounded by professional soldiers. As a result, he was now almost astonishingly affectionate with her, as if making up for all the love and attention he should have had as a child, so that she spent a great deal of time being hugged, kissed and many other lovely things, all of which she adored. She had no complaints at all, she thought as Rease lifted her slightly so that her legs dangled and rocked her gently, making a pleased humming noise she could feel through her chest more than she could even hear. After a moment, he put her down, took her hand and continued to walk, smiling at her as he did.

Well, I have no complaints about Rease, anyway. He’s wonderful.

It’s being Our Lady of Joy that sucks.

Indeed, Lira had found that being an Emotion Conduit rang all the bells on the suck-o-meter scale, rare as it was. Element Conduits, women who could control the elements of earth, air, fire and water, were what kept society functioning in this reality, unlike in the United States, where Lira had lived from an infant until seventeen. In this world, Conduits removed the risk of natural disasters and used their specific skill, called an affinity, to aid a variety of industries, such as farming, mining, trade and manufacture, providing excess and keeping the populace content. Seers, a much rarer type of Conduit with psychic skills, were used to advise leaders and monarchs about the best decisions to provide further stability and peace among nations.

As a result, outside of trade disputes and more localized conflicts, this world was without war.

Or at least it would be until Bridget Weymine, the former Lord High Commissioner of the Western Marches who had first stolen Lira from the house she had shared with her father and brought her to this reality, eventually came back to start the war predicted by this world’s Seers. Even still, knowing she was coming, they had not been idle. In fact, when she thought about it, Lira was feeling rather prepared to some degree, a state which was not natural to her but which she greatly appreciated.

Thomas, a former servant from the Manor and one of the smartest men she knew, was Our Lady’s Warlord, a title given to him to signify his role in creating an army to defend their country when the invasion came. As far as Lira could tell, he had done a wonderful job so far. He was routinely corresponding with the Order of Guardian Knights, the martial force of the country commonly known as the Order, to improve their shoreline and inland defenses. He had also been instrumental in helping her get them to agree to train the Western Marches Conduits for more than just benevolent service. On their summer vacation, they had traveled to the Academy, the national school for Conduits, and received approval from both the Academy and the Order to train suitable Conduits to work in teams on defensive and aggressive exercises in preparation for the invasion.

While Lira believed that it was a natural use of their affinities because she considered her own affinity as a weapon from her time in the Marches, she was the only one. Not culturally bound to the idea that these women would never raise their hands to another but instead were born to serve as all Conduits are, Lira thought they all ought to become bad-ass warrior women. That was not the most popular decision, she reflected now, but the fact that she wasn’t bound by the same cultural understanding as anyone else here was a given. Because of that, she would never really be a native, so there were two ways to handle that: vainly try to be something she was not or bust out all the stops as herself and share her unique world view whenever she could.

Lira being Lira, there was no question which course of action she chose.

She had finally learned that it was futile to try and pretend to be someone else, as it only ever made things worse. Unaware she even had an affinity, let alone that she was Our Lady of Joy until she was seventeen, Lira had plenty of years to think of herself as just Lira, a decent enough person who tried really hard to be good, but nothing special. So her adjustment here hadn’t always been the smoothest, she knew, but Rease and everyone else had been so kind as they had helped her that it had made everything so much easier than it would have otherwise been. She had learned a lot here, she reflected, and mostly about things that had nothing to do with being a Conduit. It was here that she had learned that a family can be made so strong through love and loyalty that blood-ties are not needed.

Most importantly, she had discovered that she needed to communicate her feelings to those who inspired them. As a result, she now spent most of her time telling people she loved them, Rease chief among them. And while there were times that she felt rather like a toddler for her excessively emotional comments, no one seemed to mind, everyone replying in kind that they loved her as well. So she had stopped worrying, reasoning that hearing I love you was a lot less likely to annoy people than many other, far cruder things she could say instead.

But really, she thought with a snicker, Rease was the only person to whom she wished to say those things. So for everyone else, she stuck to the G-rated version and they seemed happy enough, bright smiles breaking out each time she told anyone in her family how very much she appreciated them. While she knew everyone liked it, she also believed that kind of open, obvious support was crucial for Rease, so along the way, it had spilled over to encompass everyone.

Then, when she had been rescued from the kidnapping and had seen everyone again, she had been entirely without any sort of verbal filter after months of barely speaking to anyone outside of her head, so she had told everyone how she felt. And while she knew that a complete filter install, where she clawed back the most outrageous part of herself and locked it into a cupboard with tape over its mouth, was probably the proper thing to do, she had never bothered after Rease had told her how much easier it was for him now that she was so very forthright.

He loves me no matter what.

Thinking of that now, she walked through the garden with her dog and her boyfriend, content.

Rease smiled at Lira, swinging their conjoined hands gently as they walked.

Despite being rousted from their new favorite hobby, she appeared perfectly content, he thought with gratitude and no small measure of relief. Granted, he could hardly complain, even if she started sulking and refusing to leave their chamber now, as he heartily approved of her preoccupation, lucky recipient of her enthusiasm as he was. He did not regret having waited so long, because he felt like their relationship was much stronger for it in a way it would not be if he had broken his vow and rushed her into becoming lovers, especially after her time in the Marches. But he was certainly glad that she was finally his in the most elemental way. Even better, she was at least as enthusiastic as he was, if not more so, suggesting she felt exactly the same. So he was certain that this level of intimacy they now enjoyed also affected her deeply and profoundly far past the physical, just as it did him.

And it had been amazing to know that he truly was her Consort now in all ways, so that there was no room anywhere in her life for any man but him. Long conditioned to the idea of defending what was his, he could not deny the appeal of knowing she was entirely, completely his now in all the ways necessary to mark her as such to everyone, and as long as he continued to treat her with kindness and compassion, she always would be. While he had not always believed that, he did now, as much as they had been through together. Lira was his best friend, as he was hers, and as they sincerely liked and respected each other as individuals in addition to loving each other, he felt comfortable foretelling that he would always be her Wolf in all ways.

Thinking of that now, he looked over at her as they meandered through the garden.

She was looking off into the distance, a small, peaceful smile on her face, her hand loosely entwined with his own. She seemed completely content and far more relaxed than he had ever seen her since he had rescued her, he thought, feeling a sweet warmth at the knowledge. He had known she was looking forward to being back here and after all their time on the road, everyone had felt the same.

While he had been grateful for their travels, as it had allowed him to reconnect with his aunt and ensure that they would regularly correspond and even visit in the future, he too was glad to be home now, so he understood. But mostly, he was thrilled that Lira had greatly enjoyed their trip, as he had planned their entire itinerary with Thomas’ help, hoping for such a thing. She had been very fragile since he had brought her back from the Marches, he had known, so all he had hoped for was that she not become overwhelmed with the crowds and attention.

But she had done even better than he had hoped.

To his delight, she had been so entranced with seeing wide swaths of the country of her birth for the first time that she had barely noticed the people, captivated as she had been by the landscapes, the animals and the architecture. Whenever she had been uneasy, she simply had hidden behind him, Night and anyone else nearby until her nerves had steadied, staring at whatever or whomever it was with wide eyes as she waited to see what might happen next. Once she had calmed, she had always sidled up next to him and taken his hand with a small, rueful smile.

While he did not like to see her so timid, as she had not been so before her abduction, he also thought it a very understandable thing that she was now so cautious. He hated what it said about her confidence, but he was pleased that it was at least a response suited to her natural temperament, indicating that she was not so badly damaged as he had feared at points in her recovery. While he had been relieved for her sake, he personally didn’t care as much about that in some ways. It wouldn’t have mattered to him if she had been as horribly wounded as he had first feared or even worse, if she had come back completely mad as long as she still cared for him. Rease had never kidded himself that he was the epitome of normal, so he didn’t care if she was the person everyone thought she should be or not.

He only cared that she was his.

Forced into a wardrobe at the age of ten to listen to his widowed mother being beaten to death by a jealous suitor, Rease had learned early in life that he had to protect and defend what was his or he would lose it. So when he had first developed feelings for Lira, he had made a vow to both of them that he would not lose or fail her. He would die first, he believed with utter certainty, rather than have his life once more stolen from him.

So when Lira had been abducted and kept from him for more than nine months, it had been brutal. The wolf, the savage side of himself that had been born the same day he became an orphan, would never let Lira go unless she wished it. She had brought light and heat to the frigid wasteland of his heart. Her love had allowed the wolf to grow from the beast it had been and the boy, that part of him that had stopped growing when his mother died and he was suddenly alone and unloved, to heal and mature so that he was now only a year or two emotionally younger than his chronological age.

Now, all of Rease was united in one mission: safeguarding the girl he loved.

While Rease had grown and matured enough that he understood he no longer needed Lira to survive, he simply wanted her as a part of his life fiercely. She was the first person since his mother to love him unconditionally, to simply accept him as he was and try to adapt to it instead of punishing him for it, a level of compassion that Rease had not experienced since he had lost his family. As a result, not only had he fallen head over heels in love with her, but he had gained an essential peace in so many ways as well, finally feeling as if he had found his place in the world. With Lira and her family, he had discovered a space all his own where he was loved and appreciated, just as he was.

And for Rease, just as for most people, that had been everything.

Thinking of that as he was when they entered the house, it took him a moment to understand why Lira had suddenly stopped dead and darted behind him. Blinded by the late summer sun as his eyes adjusted to the suddenly dim foyer, he didn’t immediately see who was standing at the foot of the stairs. But once he did, he understood why she was now hiding.

Monifa.

Kayin’s sister, the Queen of Isura Okun’s eldest daughter and the girl who had drugged their food so that Lira could be abducted, was standing there. A half-dozen paces behind her was Jebseg, Rease’s second in command, whom he had given the task of watching her. Rease didn’t trust Monifa at all. The only reason that she was even here after they had found her being harassed as a barmaid was because Lira had started to cry when he had told her that they should leave Monifa to her much-deserved fate. Had Lira not turned those huge, teary eyes to him, warbling in that sad little voice that it could be her or Hanna or any of the ladies of their family here instead of Monifa, he would have ridden away and left Monifa there to rot, assuming Kayin or one of his Guard would help her if they did not.

But Lira would never have let that stand.

And while he knew that she disliked and was even frightened of Monifa for the role she had played in her abduction, Lira still had argued vehemently with him right in front of everyone. Her eyes had been wide and tortured as she had pointed out that they had to help Kayin’s sister and the child of the Queen and her consort Adisa, two people they all liked and admired. They had to, she had insisted, because it was the right thing to do and so it didn’t matter if Monifa deserved that level of compassion or not. It wasn’t always about whether or not the recipient of compassion deserved it, she had choked out, because right now they had a clear choice between right and wrong, and they needed to do the right thing for themselves just as much as for Monifa.

It had been brutal.

Tears in her eyes, Lira had looked only at him as she had pleaded with him to understand why the other girl had to come with them. Despite the fact that Rease would have been willing to bet a great deal of money on the fact that everyone but Kayin and perhaps Iranti agreed with him in wanting to leave that spiteful viper behind after all she had done, once Lira had spoken, none of them would even look at him. Kayin had said nothing to his sister, simply looking at her with an expression of tortured agony, his spine stiff and his eyes shining with misery as he had stood there rigidly, as if torn by dual loyalties. It had been the last bit of evidence that Rease had needed to tell him that he wasn’t going to win this argument, nor perhaps should he.

He had known where it was headed, so he had just resigned himself to it as best he could.

Despite his numerous misgivings, he had told Lira that he understood her worries and so they would not leave Monifa behind to be harassed and possibly harmed. While his words had been kind, his delivery had not been, as he had been unable to sound anything but annoyed as he had spoken, the words spitting out like acid. As he had spoken, he had seen Kayin’s posture change from the corner of his eye. All at once, Kayin had slumped right where he stood, his breath clearly rushing out of him in relief, even as he had remained silent. When Rease had looked at him, Kayin had given him a baldly grateful look, his eyes closing in obvious relief when Rease had grimly nodded, unable to stop the scowl as he did. No one else had been willing to even look at him.

But Rease had known what that meant.

They had all agreed with him that they would be best leaving Monifa far behind. But conversely, none of them could deny the inherent morality of Lira’s argument, especially in light of their fondness for Monifa’s family. If he wanted to fight Lira on this, then he was on his own to make the argument that she was wrong to suggest that they were morally obligated to help someone in obvious need regardless of circumstance, because none of them could.

Even the members of the Harvester’s Gang would not look at him, despite being hard men with an extensive criminal history, both as individuals and as an elite strike team. The group, comprised of Red, Mouse, Bull, Moose, Hawke and Badger, all of whom considered themselves Lira’s uncles, would not argue with Our Lady of Joy when she asked for mercy over justice, especially when she had been the victim, nor would they judge her for that request. Rease had caught Mouse’s eye and the man had shaken his head gently, as if warning him to think carefully about holding on to his anger.

So Rease had stood there, looking at the girl he loved as she had stared at him in genuine misery and worry, his grudging acceptance still clearly weighing heavily on her so that she had looked almost as upset as before he had agreed. She could not back down on this, her tortured expression had said, not even for him, but she deeply regretted it for her fears of how it might cause discord between them. As he had met her eyes, they had swept closed as her expression had suddenly contorted into one of genuine grief even as she had remained silent.

He had thought about how she might feel if, when confronted with something so important to her, he refused to be supportive because it made him uncomfortable or because he found it burdensome. He had run that idea out, thought about how that could very easily be an invisible line he would unknowingly cross, and how she could very easily come to see such a thing as indicative of a serious flaw in their relationship. Even worse, he had understood that she would not be wrong in thinking such a thing, as this mattered to her and in making that clear, she was asking for his support.

If he were to deny her that, he would clearly be revealed as a selfish hypocrite undeserving of her, as she always fully supported what was important to him, he had understood. As he had thought that, he had remembered again who she was and how she was drawn to the best of emotions, like love, compassion, empathy and forgiveness. She had never expected him to be anyone but who he was, he had realized with a burst of immense love, so he had to do the same. Even now.

Confronted with it like that all at once, Rease had given in gracefully.

He had pulled her close, murmuring that he loved her and he was so proud of her for always trying to take the high road and be the best person she could be. When she had sighed in obvious relief, embracing him even more tightly, whispering her thanks over and over into his ear along with her love, he had known that he had made the only decision he could have if he cared about her at all. So he had reassured her that he understood, cuddling her close for a time until she was once again smiling. When Thomas had gone to inform the innkeeper that he was losing his employee to Our Lady of Joy and as a result, they would require an additional room, Rease had pulled Jebseg aside for a discreet word.

He had put the other man on Monifa, telling him briefly what she had done so that Jebseg understood that her loyalty was far from assured and as a result, she would need to be watched carefully. Jebseg had nodded and given a cold smile that indicated anything worrisome would result in Monifa experiencing some kind of sudden fatal accident. Rease had smiled back at Jebseg, neither one of them needing words to understand that should such a tragedy occur, no one would shed a tear, especially not either of them.

Rease didn’t care about Monifa at all and actually disliked her, even as he made a point to try not disliking anyone. She had attempted to seduce him away from Lira and when that had not worked because he was not the sort of man to even consider such dishonorable behavior, she had poisoned their food, opening the unguarded palace to the arriving mercenaries, who might have chosen to do far more hideous things than just abduct someone. From what Kayin had told him, Monifa had been furious at her mother over being forbidden any further interactions with a much older married man. So she had decided that driving Our Lady of Joy from the country would be a good way to pay back her mother, apparently caring only for her revenge.

And that, above all, was why he disliked her so much.

Because that was the worst of it all in some way, Rease felt. It wasn’t even personally directed at either one of them. For what was the worst period of his life as an adult and an experience which had left permanent emotional scars on Lira, they were just collateral damage.

To Monifa, they were just the best tools for the job.

So to say that he disliked her was the kindest interpretation, he thought as he looked at her now across the foyer. When she noticed him glaring at her, she shrank back so profoundly that it was visible even across the room, her eyes widening. She turned to head back up the stairs and Jebseg was a few steps above her, a less than pleasant look on his face as he smiled at her.

As Rease watched, Monifa scuttled to the far side of the stair and darted past Jebseg, who pivoted on his heel to watch. He glanced at Rease, a pleased look on his face and Rease nodded vigorously at him. Jebseg smiled, a cold, flaring smile of satisfaction, then he took off up the stairs after her. Conscious of the fact that Lira had not moved from where she was pressed up against his back and he could feel her rapid breathing, he slid one arm around his back to touch her in reassurance. When he did, she tugged at his shirt so that he turned to hug her tightly. She cuddled into his arms, burying her face against his chest as though hiding.

She’s gone, he said quietly. And you don’t need to be afraid of her. I’ve assigned Jebseg to her. He won’t let her get away with anything.

What about when he’s training with you? she asked in worried whisper, her face still hidden.

When we go to the garrison, someone else from the gang will watch her, he whispered back reassuringly. She will never have the chance to hurt you again. Warren has spoken with the staff and they all know that she is not to be trusted. Once she has a few more days to settle, Thomas is going to speak with her to see if he can determine how great a risk she might be until we can ship her off to her parents. If he doesn’t feel comfortable after their discussion, then we’ll ask Iranti to look into it, but we’d prefer to avoid putting her in that position if we can. In the meantime, Monifa will find no allies here, Princess, not even if she goes looking for them.

Lira let out her breath all at once, a great, whooshing noise of relief.

I’m sorry, she whispered, her head still down. She looks as wimpy as I feel now, so I know I shouldn’t be afraid of her. Intellectually, I know it’s silly, but still, every time I look at her, it’s like I’m back there all over again, watching everyone collapse into their food.

She gave a convulsive shudder against him and he tightened his arms on her, nosing her hair aside to put his mouth at her ear.

That will not happen again, he whispered. You are safe here and you always will be. Nothing like that is ever going to happen to you again. We won’t let it.

I’m sorry I made you bring her here, Lira whispered, her voice guilty, and now I’m complaining.

Don’t be silly, he teased her. If you want to keep a poisonous snake as a pet, I just have to keep you from getting bitten.

Lira snorted, her head coming up as she smiled at him.

That’s a pretty accurate comparison, she teased. You put some thought into that.

I stayed up all night thinking of it, Rease joked back, smiling at her in delight.

Lira gave him a look.

Here it comes.

He was not disappointed. She stood on her tiptoes to reach his ear and when she spoke, her voice was that low, breathy tone he loved that she only ever used with him.

If you want to know what I think about at night, you should follow me, she whispered.

Then she bolted for the stairs, giggling madly all the way.

Rease stood there in the foyer, giving her a big lead as she raced up the stairs, Night right on her heels. When she reached the top, her laughter became even louder when she looked behind to see him obviously giving her time to outrun him. She paused there for a moment, a huge grin on her face, then she waved him on as she took off, her giggles filling the air with one of his absolutely favorite sounds.

So just as he had so many times since they first had met, Rease raced after her, smiling.

Jonas smiled at Dove as she poured him a cup of coffee now that they were home.

While he was glad to be back at Eastlake, he had loved traveling for a variety of reasons. For the first time in his life, he had walked the streets of Roancliff without the fear and worry that had accompanied his entire life there and had persisted when he had returned to reunite with his old contacts from his criminal years as the Harvester, an infamous assassin. Then, he had needed their help to rescue Lira when Bridget Weymine, Benjamin and Blake’s mother, had abducted her and brought her to this world. But this time, he had visited Roancliff for an entirely different reason than one that might see him hanged, as had always been the case until then.

Instead, this time he had gone to meet his grandchildren.

Cathy and Eddie were his son Benjamin’s children, conceived to hide his homosexuality from his mother and allow their mother, his friend Annika, access to the Weymine fortune to establish her own dress shop. She had since married her long-time beau, Hugh, and lived there with him and the children over her shop. So Jonas had spent days picking up his grandchildren and squiring them around Roancliff to parks and toy stores under his benevolent, paternal eye. Dove, who liked children as much as he did, was always with him, as was their adopted son Ibukun. As he had escorted their group around the city, he had rediscovered it as something far less sinister than he had remembered, softening the edges of his ugliest memories from his time there as a very different man.

Now, it was a huge, bustling city, filled with the most interesting things from puppet shows to candy vendors, and in seeing it through a child’s eyes, he had learned it anew, enjoying every moment of it. Having returned to find it vastly improved rather than lessened with the passage of years, he had discovered that his memories had settled even more peacefully within him as a result. He had found that more than anything, he had enjoyed escorting Dove and the children all about the city, playing the role of the devoted patriarch as he kept them safe and content. His time with Ibukun had brought it all back for him in the nicest of ways and now he was, according to the entire family, a wonderful grandfather, something he found odd but delightful. Since he hadn’t even hit fifty and would not for a few years yet, he had felt a little strange thinking of having grandchildren when he had first found out, though he had never let on such a thing to anyone but Dove.

Then he had met them.

And just like that, Jonas had liked being a grandfather. His fondness for the role had only increased when he found them to be sweet, polite children, obviously well cared for and greatly loved by their mother and stepfather. Knowing that these children did not need his help right now, he simply had enjoyed being with them and learning about them as little individuals, so that he now knew that Cathy was already following in her mother’s footsteps by designing clothes for her dolls, while Eddie, two years younger at only six, still loved toy soldiers. He had missed them more than he had thought he would once they had left Roancliff earlier this summer, but since then he had kept up a lively, age-appropriate correspondence with both of them, periodically adding to Eddie’s army and Cathy’s fabric selection with things he or Dove had found in town that they thought they might like.

But the best part of the trip had been the time he had spent with Dove.

That had been when he finally had understood how very much he loved her and wanted to be with her, because at any moment when he had needed something, whether company, consolation or conversation, he had turned to her to find it. And each time, he had felt like a better man for it. So while he had long known that he loved her, he had suddenly been seized with the idea that he wanted to preserve this, to make it official so that she was his as entirely as she could be.

So he had asked her to marry him.

He had understood as he did that marriage might be more than she wished to commit to for a variety of reasons, some of which might not even have anything to do with him. But to his delight, he did not have to wonder, as she had agreed with every bit of the joy that had compelled him to ask. And while he had fumbled it all, from his awkward proposal to his explanations of why it was so important to him, that hadn’t mattered to Dove.

Equally in love with him, she had accepted anyway, looking as happy as he had ever seen.

Now, he decided to tease her about it, because if he loved one thing the most about this relationship, it was how happy flirting with him made her. A victim of sexual violence as a teenager, Dove had overcome an enormous amount to become a happy, well-adjusted woman, but part of the way she had done so was by very carefully managing her romantic relationships. As a result, she had not had any truly sincere romantic interaction, either verbal or physical, in her life by the time he had met her, nor had she ever been in love.

As he had waited for her to learn that she could trust him, he had found that she loved when he flirted with her, giggling and blushing as if she were a young girl, unfamiliar as she found it in conjunction with their mutually sincere feelings for each other. That had made him realize how absent genuine attraction and romance had been in her life to date, so since then, he always flirted with her as much as he could, wanting to make up for all that she had missed. So now, as she handed him his coffee and gracefully settled next to him, he couldn’t resist teasing her, as it had become his absolutely most favorite pastime to date that he could recall.

So big doings now, he teased. You said yes, so I’m holding you to it.

Dove grinned at him, her expression openly flirtatious.

You better, she sassed back. I put all that time into training you. I’d hate to have to start all over. I’ve just gotten you where I want you, like a really well-broke horse. I can’t start with a colt now.

Jonas did his best not to laugh as he narrowed his eyes at her in mock offense.

If you call me a gelding, he said, shaking his finger at her, I withdraw my offer.

Never, she cried, leaning over to buss his cheek, giggles escaping, you stallion, you!

At that, Jonas lost his battle to pretend it wasn’t funny and just started laughing. He pulled her close, sliding his arm around her and settling her at his side. As he did, he noted again how grateful he was to be here with her and to know that they could sit together like this for the rest of their lives. But as if she had heard the sentimental tone of his thoughts and just had to interject her own favorite brand of humor, Dove eyed him for a moment before she spoke, her tone low and delighted.

So, feel like going for a ride?

Jebseg followed Monifa down the hall.

As he had promised the Wolf, he never let her out of his sight without knowing another would be there to watch her. In preparation, he had arranged for the continued care of Vachir, his golden eagle, by the falcon master at Eastlake’s mews so that his training did not suffer if he was unable to work with him. Vachir had spent all summer there and when Jebseg had returned, the bird had looked wonderful, so he was not worried for Vachir, as much as he was irritated that this girl took precedence over a loyal creature like his eagle.

In his mind, the bird was far more deserving of his time and attention.

Even still, as enraged as he had been to hear that this young woman was the cause of all Lira’s pain, he also had trouble tying the malicious, selfish actions he had heard about to the girl he stalked as if she were a game animal. This girl was not the bold, cruel seductress he had expected, though she was beautiful enough to be such, clearly. That, he could not deny. But despite her looks, the Monifa he observed was not unlike Lira herself in some ways: timid, quiet and easily worried. Still, he did not discount what the Wolf had told him, nor did he shirk his duty, even if that consisted largely of waiting for her attempts to venture out from the chamber she had been given.

Deception is in her nature.

I cannot trust that what I am seeing is the truth.

Her current demeanor was troubling, as she was obviously simply hiding the most despicable parts of herself now that she was so closely observed. And that did indeed describe how they handled her. The Wolf had obviously spoken to others besides himself about his concerns, as Jebseg had noticed them all, staff included, eyeing her with dislike and suspicion whenever she infrequently ventured out from her assigned chamber. Once she did, he was on her like Vachir on a lazy rabbit. To date, she had gone no farther than the courtyard and even that was for only a moment before she had raced back into her chamber as if pursued. Which was fine with him, because it really was just like that, at least as far as he was concerned.

She wasn’t going to get away with anything on his watch.

When he had first arrived to the group, he had come across the Marches from the fierce land of his people, Vachir on his arm, his brave little mare Namur eating up the miles with her smooth four-beat gait that allowed him to nap in the saddle. They had traveled for months, from the steppes across the Marches to the great water and then across to the Western Marches so that he could join Our Lady of Joy, born to it as he had been. The Seer of his people had known of his destiny before he was even born, naming him as their weapon to help Our Lady fight the dark.

As a result, he had been raised to think himself such. Until he had come into Lira’s family, that was all he had thought he would be for his brief time on this earth. He had come to her, he remembered now, certain that he would be the weapon foretold. Even more certain had been his belief that like all weapons, he would be loved only for his use until he was damaged past repair, then he would be discarded in death since he could not be reforged.

But what actually had happened had been something completely unexpected.

Instead of being relegated to the fringes as any anonymous soldier would be, he had been welcomed into her family, spending time with both Lira and the Wolf as friends. When they had traveled, they had planned a variety of activities so that something appealed to everyone. To his shock, he was no exception, a trip being planned to the country’s most esteemed sword-smith just for him.

He had been even more gratified by how it had all unfolded.

When they had arrived, they had swept in as a group and the smithy workers’ eyes had widened as one had scurried off to bring out the master sword-smith. They had browsed some of the exceptionally fine weapons on display for a few minutes, completely impressed with the workmanship, until the master sword-smith had come out. A short, thick older man with arms like tree trunks, he had smiled in absolute delight upon seeing all of them.

I can see I’m going to enjoy this! he had cried with a grin, setting the tone for their visit.

Surprisingly enough, at the man’s smile Lira herself had stepped forward, one arm linked with the Wolf’s and her free hand on Jebseg’s arm pulling him forward as she politely introduced herself by her first name and informed him that her brother was interested in some new weapons, gesturing at him. At the man’s startled glance between the two of them, as they were obviously not related by blood, Lira had given him a charming smile, murmuring that blood alone was not the only measure of family. No doubt influenced by the Blessing she had given earlier in the day and the obvious affluence of their group, the man had beamed in delight, assuring her that he would love to outfit her brother and anyone else in her family with suitable weapons.

As everyone else continued browsing and chatting among themselves, the sword-smith had pulled the three of them outside the smithy to the courtyard, where he had asked Jebseg show him his current weapons and how he used them, seeking to determine how he fought. When Jebseg had looked at the Wolf, he had known that the other man was as eager as he was for a little swordplay. So they had sparred for a time, but only after Lira had gone back into the smithy, claiming that she could not watch them swing sharp objects at each other without fretting, but she would send out everyone who could. Once she was inside, they had settled down to show off their skills for the sword-smith, both of them so feeling the loss of their daily training at Eastlake that they were wild for it.

As a result, the courtyard soon filled with everyone who appreciated good swordplay.

As he had sparred with Our Lady’s Wolf, showing off the skills he had worked diligently over an entire lifetime to acquire, he had been happier than he could ever remember being outside of his visit to the Academy. When they finally had called a draw, both of them soaked and gasping as they were from the speed of their match, the courtyard had erupted in cheers and applause as the sword-smith had shaken both their hands, telling them that he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. By then Lira had come back out and she had smiled when she saw them standing there, sweating and exhausted.

Jebseg, you didn’t break him, did you? she had teased even as she had walked around her Consort, clearly inspecting him just in case.

When she had reassured herself that he was fine, even as the Wolf had watched her with a fond smile, she had turned and smiled brilliantly at him, clearly grateful for his care.

I plan on keeping my Wolf forever, she had said happily, so thanks for playing nice.

While everyone in their group had just laughed and the Wolf had rolled his eyes with a grin, the sword-smith and his workers had immediately fallen silent, their jaws dropping.

"Her Wolf? the sword-smith had asked, his head swiveling to Lira and then the Wolf, then back again between them, his eyes huge. You’re Our Lady of Joy?"

I am, Lira had said, smiling shyly at him. And I’ve heard that you’re the best sword-smith in the country. So I’m very pleased to meet you. She had reached out and taken his unresistant hand between her two, shaking it gently before releasing it and jerking her thumb at the two of them. Not as pleased as these two, obviously, but as pleased as a non-stabby-type person can be.

As if that admission had turned the man from an admirer into a friend, he had stepped closer, his weathered face wreathed in a smile as he had chuckled in obvious appreciation of her joke. When Jebseg had looked at the other workers, they had all been smiling, clearly delighted to find their visitors were not just wealthy, but also influential and respected, their benevolent intentions obvious from their roles in the world. Amid much laughter and teasing, they had all filed back into the smithy, the Wolf and he last as they had rinsed off at the pump first.

Once inside, the sword-smith had outfitted him with a sword beyond his imagining.

Suited for a two-handed grip as he preferred, the sword was beautifully balanced, the cleanest lines crafted of the finest metal, so that it felt like an extension of his hands when he held it. After a few swings, he had declared that he had found his sword as Lira had cheered in delight and the Wolf had grinned, nodding his head in approval. He had left with more than a sword at their urging, finding several daggers that he was fond of as well, as had most everyone, some of them leaving sketches and notes with the understanding their goods would be shipped to Eastlake once made. When Jebseg had inquired about the exact cost of all these weapons, Lira had shushed him with the admonition that it was her gift to everyone so they were only to enjoy it.

But he was certain that the smithy had held quite a celebration when they had left.

All in all, the travel had been more fun than he would ever have expected, as was living here at Eastlake, where he was a free man for the first time in his life. He had learned that as well when they had traveled to the Academy. There, he had made friends with a Conduit named Daphne, whose idea of friendship had consisted of lounging naked in his bed for days, something he had greatly appreciated. When she had first begun flirting with him, he had found himself speaking to the Wolf and Lira about it, troubled as he had been by such a thing.

Raised to see himself as a weapon necessary and valued to the world far more than a man, he had not even been certain what was happening at first. No woman among his people would consider such a thing, known to all for his destiny as he was. From the time he had been old enough to understand, Jebseg had been forbidden from any romantic relationships with women, as the elders had feared that such a thing would distract him from his purpose in life.

After spending time with Daphne, Jebseg had realized that they were right to some degree.

But that didn’t appear to matter to Our Lady of Joy, who valued love above all. Only Lira’s rather dramatic demands that he find love and happiness while in her service had convinced him that it was not an abandonment of his duty to spend his time at the Academy in such a way. But otherwise, he could see how such knowledge might distract him, he noted as he focused on Monifa, still scuttling down the hall.

As he watched, Hanna and Blake came out of one of the rooms. Monifa stopped dead when she saw them, as they did upon first sight of her. While Blake looked at her with a polite, almost sympathetic expression, Hanna was not so friendly. Her face was twisted into an expression of pure loathing as she focused on Monifa, who kept her head down. When he looked back at Blake, the other man was watching Hanna with a small but delighted smile on his face, as if pleased by her obvious fury.

Monifa slunk past them, Hanna pivoting on her heels to watch her, reminding Jebseg of one of Our Lady’s exotic cats on the hunt. Ayodele most likely with that attitude, he thought. Jebseg was fond of them, finding the female of the pair, Ayodele, was a spirited, independent creature who was affectionate with few people outside of the Wolf, though Jebseg was slowly making inroads with her. Thinking of Ayodele and her fierceness, he smiled at Hanna, watching from the corner of his eye as Monifa gained her chamber and darted inside after a quick look at him.

As Hanna smiled back approvingly, he settled against the wall, watching Monifa’s door.

Blake glanced over at Hanna, who was clearly furious, as they left the house.

I do so love this part of being with her.

Sure you want to go for a walk right now, love? he gently teased. You look enraged. Lucky me.

As he had hoped, Hanna looked at him, her face softening as she took his arm.

I hate her, she murmured, the picture of polite discretion. Why can’t she just run off again?

Because I don’t think the first time worked out like she thought it would, Blake replied just as softly. I doubt she is in a hurry to repeat that experience.

Then she should go home, Hanna whispered back fiercely, her anger evident in her tone.

I doubt she is in a hurry to do that, either, he replied quietly as they crossed the courtyard towards the gardens. I would imagine that is a reckoning she could put off indefinitely in many ways.

Hanna snorted in obvious disgust as they headed for her garden. She had greatly missed her garden as they had traveled, Blake knew, so they had been spending each day since they were back working in it. The gardening staff had kept it up so nicely that there was actually very little to do, but that did not stop Hanna’s desire to putter about, he noticed. So they spent a great deal of time simply enjoying this space, watching the birds and bugs as they navigated her kingdom, their speed hurried by the slightest suggestion of fall in the air. Since he knew where he would be spending the coming winter and with whom, he found their behavior fascinating as he watched them with sympathetic eyes.

Having finally reached the understanding with Hanna that he loved her and wished to stay with her as long as that level of contentment continued for both of them, Blake greatly enjoyed those quiet, contemplative times when he could fully experience the peace that he always found in gardens now. Even better was that he could experience it with someone he loved. Despite being born a Weymine, the country’s most romantically wild family known for their animal appetites, Blake had never been in love before. He had enjoyed plenty of casual lovers, but he had never allowed himself to care for a woman, knowing full well that his mother would use that relationship against him. Rather than see someone he cared for harmed, Blake simply made sure to guard his heart and care for no one outside of his brother Benjamin and his horse Archer.

But then his mother had fled and he had come to Eastlake and met Hanna.

With her, he found it fascinating and wildly enjoyable to care so deeply about someone whom he could trust to always be fair and kind to him, as he would be to her. For the first time in his life, Blake felt completely loved, and he was determined to continue on this path by being as good to her as he could be, knowing that if he did not, he would lose her. And even more than that, he simply wanted to please her so that she understood how very important she was to him. He never wanted her to doubt that or have to go looking for appreciation elsewhere. He was astonished by the level of sentimentality and empathy he