“What’s happened?” he rasps.
I smile but don’t respond as our bodies slowly sink down to the bed. Aaric doesn’t lie on me for another moment, as soon as we land, he rolls onto his back, taking me with him. I’m on his chest, looking into his eyes, unable to wipe the crazy smile from my face.
“That was awesome. Do you think we’ll do it every time?”
He chuckles, lifting his hand before he buries it in the back of my hair and tugs my head down. His lips touch mine, but he doesn’t deepen the kiss.
“We will try again, once we’ve rested, víf.”
“Okay,” I breathe.
“I love you, my fagr red-haired, fated brúõr.”
“I love you, Aaric. Thank you for finding me.”
Chapter Forty-Two
AARIC
Reaching out to Quest, I grin to myself when he answers, immediately. He sounds irritated and extremely aggravated. I ask him how things are going with Seeress, but he ignores my question and informs me that all is well with my babe. I already knew that answer, it grows within Liv, each day making his presence known.
We’ve almost arrived at Bunafi, if we should need your assistance?
There is a moment’s pause. You know that I will be at the ready if you should need me. Liv can contact me as well and I will aide her if needed.
I do not anticipate it, but I do not know much about this King Elias of Bunafi.
Quest is quiet for a moment, I think that he has left me as he so often does. But then his voice rings again in my ear. Your bride is strong, her magic is even stronger as your love grows, as your babe grows. She will not need my assistance.
Just the mere weakling, Aaric. I say with a chuckle. His deep voice rumbling in my head.
“Aaric, what are you smiling at?” Liv asks, swaying from side to side as she makes her way toward me.
“Just Quest. He senses your magic, he says it grows stronger as our bond grows, as the child grows,” I say, telling her everything.
There are no hiding things from Liv, not anymore, not ever again. This woman fated to me by the gods, I trust her more than I could trust another human.
Never had I imagined that I would trust a woman who is not my blood as wholly as I do now, wife or not. Liv has it not for any other reason than she earned it, every ounce of it.
“He’s gone now,” I rasp as she wraps her arms around my middle.
Lifting my arm, I slide it around her shoulders and curl her body closer to mine. “I brought my crown,” she whispers. “And my dagger and my money.”
“Do you think you’ll be in need of it?” I ask.
She hums, wrapping her hands around the side of Strïth, looking straight forward. “My crown? Absolutely, I’m a freaking queen,” she says, lifting her chin and looking down her nose.
I’m unable to hold in my laugh as she continues. “My dagger, perhaps, but really the handle is pretty, it matches my crown and it looks badass. My money, just because a girl should always have a little carrying change, that’s what my grandmother used to always say.”
I hum, pulling her closer to me as I touch my lips to the top of her head. “What you have is more than a little,” I inform her.
“Is it though? I mean, I am a queen.”
“You are indeed a queen.”
I have a small crew on this journey, there is no need for my finest warriors, as this is not a mission for war. This is for my wife to see her sister, to find out what is happening in their part of the prophecy and world.
“When will we get there?”
“Do you see that mountain?” I ask, lifting my hand and pointing forward.
Faraway in the distance there is a hazy mountain range, although I have never been to Bunafi, I have followed the map and know that this is the landscape that I am looking for.
“Though we will need to guide the ship around to the other side of the country, it will take about a week, but we are close,” I explain.
“Thank goodness,” she sighs.
“Are you already weary of traveling with your husband, then?” I ask.
She turns to me, tipping her head backward as her eyes look up into mine. “Never, Aaric. I love being with you and I love the sea, but it will be nice to be on solid ground. Plus, Sybilla. I need to see her, need to know that she is okay.”
“And you will, Liv. I will do everything in my power, always, to ensure that you have what you need at all times.”
“Have I told you that I love you, Aaric?” she asks.
Grinning, I dip my chin and touch my mouth to hers. I don’t respond to her question. She has told me that she loves me, every day, three times a day or more. I welcome her words every single time, too.
LIV
“Holy shit,” I gasp as the ship slowly glides into the dock.
Aaric is too busy running around giving orders from the helm of the ship. Even though watching him in his element is typically my favorite part of docking somewhere, I can’t look away from the sights in front of me.
The trees. From a distance I thought that it was just snow or something that made the mountains look blue. I was wrong, so wrong. It’s the trees, the leaves are freaking blue, bright assed blue.
The ship slips fairly easily and quickly into the dock, but it could take a year and I would still be standing awestruck at the sight in front of me. “Liv?” Aaric calls out.
Lifting my hand, I give him a small wave. A few moments later he is next to me, his hand wrapping around my waist.
“What has you so distracted, víf?” he asks.
I can’t look away, my gaze is still frozen at the sights in front of me. “The leaves are blue,” I gasp.
Though, I don’t know why it’s so surprising, we have hot pink sand and green water. Nothing should shock me when it comes to this place, but it does.
“Já, their landscape is different than Wolfjour Ail. I’m sure you will see many new things during our travels here.”
“I thought we were already here?” I ask, turning my head and tipping my face up to look at him. Aaric shakes his head a couple of times, his eyes focused on mine.
“We must travel into Aerilon, their capital city, that’s where his castle is.”
Sucking in a sharp breath, my eyes widen. “Castle,” I breathe.
Aaric chuckles. “Yes, I hear he has many castles in his lands,” he says so nonchalantly that I can’t help but gawk at him.
Narrowing my eyes, I lick my lips. “Where are your castles?” I ask, crossing my arms just beneath my chest.
Aaric’s lips twitch. “Would my dróttning like a castle?” he asks on a purr.
“Aaric,” I practically scold. His brows rise as he watches me, waiting for me to continue. “Every girl wants a castle, especially a queen,” I announce.
He dips his chin, his mouth touching mine. “Then a castle I shall build for my dróttning,” he rasps right before his tongue slides out and fills.
When he breaks our kiss, I melt toward him, my chest pressing against his as I look up into his pretty eyes. “You don’t have to, Aaric,” I mutter. “It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together. The húsgørd is perfectly fine.”