WHEN THE WITCHING hour passed, she stayed with him. But she knew the time grew short. If they were as others, she mused, they could remain like this, wrapped warm in her cloak, and sleep until dawn broke.
But they were not as others.
“I have much to tell you,” she began.
He only drew her closer to his side. “You’re a witch. I know. I’m bewitched. And grateful.”
“I’ve cast no spell on you, Thane.”
He smiled and continued to study the stars. “You are the spell.”
“We are the spell.” She shifted so she could look down at his face. “I’ll explain. You are a hero to me.”
He looked away from her and started to move.
“A man who would put all he wanted, all he needed, aside to protect others? The greatest of warriors. But that time is ending.” She took his hand, brought it to her lips. “Will you stand beside me? Will you pledge me your sword?”
“Aurora, I will pledge you my life. But I won’t lift a sword knowing the act will bring another down on my sister. My mother. Or some poor innocent. They hanged my friend, and he was but six seasons. His only crime was in following me.”
“I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I know.” And the other. “No harm will come to your family, or to any in your stead.” She reached out, picked up her dagger, and drew it across her palm. “I swear it, on my blood.”
He gripped her hand. “Aurora—”
“She is my sister now. She is my mother now. You are my husband now.”
Emotion stormed across his face. “You would take me this way? I’m nothing.”
“You’re the bravest man I know, and you’re mine. You are the most honorable, and the most true. Will you take me?”
The world, Thane thought, could change in one magic hour. “I’ll get you away to safety. I know how it can be done, with Kern’s help—”
“I go nowhere.”
“To the Valley of Secrets, through the Realm of Magicks,” he continued, ignoring her protest. “My sister is safe there, and so will you be.”
“Your sister? Leia lives?”
Fury flashed onto his face. “He would have sold her, like a mare. Bartered her like a whore. She was but sixteen. With Kern’s help, she was taken from the castle and away, and her cloak left torn and bloodied deep in the woods. She lives, and I will owe Kern and his kind all of my days. But she is lost to me, and I can’t risk getting word of her to my mother, to give her even that much comfort.”
Not a ghost, Aurora realized, but a memory. Shielded and safe—and apart. She touched her fingers to his cheeks. “What did it cost you?” she murmured.
“Kern asked for no payment.”
“No—what did Lorcan and Owen take from you? What scars do you bear from their anger at the loss of so valuable a possession to them? So many times, when we came to each other in visions, I saw your sadness. But you would never tell me.”
“You would always bring me joy. Beloved.”
“They whipped you in her stead. Laid the lash on your back because they couldn’t lay it on hers. I can see it now, and that you reached through the pain, beyond it, because your sister was saved.”
“Don’t look.” He gripped her hands when her smoky eyes went dark with vision. “There’s no pain here now. And there will be none. Kern will help me get you away. You, and my mother and sister, your women. Then I’ll find the rebels, and come back to deal with Lorcan and his whelp.”
“You won’t have to look far for the rebels. They’re on their way even now. Your mother and your sister will be safe. I’ve sworn it. But I stay, and I fight.” She laid her hands on his shoulders to stem his protest, and looked deep into his eyes. “A queen does not sit in safety while others win the world.”
She got to her feet. “I am Aurora, daughter of Gwynn and Rhys. I am the Lady of the Light. I am the True One, and my time has come. Will you stand with me, Thane the Valiant, and pledge me your sword?”
There was a light around her as she spoke, as gold as sunlight and stronger than the witch fire she’d conjured. For a moment it seemed a crown of stars sat sparkling on her head, and their brilliance was blinding.
He had to struggle to find his voice, but he knelt. “My lady. I never believed in you, and still I knew you from my first breath. All that I have, all that I am is yours. I would die for you.”
“No.” She dropped to her knees to take his face in her hands. “You must live for me. And for the child we made tonight.” She took his hand and pressed it to her belly.
“You can’t know—”
“I do. I do know.” Her face, her voice, were radiant. “You gave me a child tonight, and he will be king, and rule this world after us. He will be more than either of us, more still than the sum of us. We must win it back for him, and for our people. We will take from Lorcan, in blood if we must, what he took in blood. But you must live for me, Thane. Swear it.”
“I swear it.” In all of his memory he’d lived with nothing. Now in one night he was given the world. “A son?”
“For the first. We will make others.” With a laugh, she threw her arms around him. “They will be happy, and so well loved. And they will serve, Thane.” She drew back. “Serve the world as well as rule it. This can be. I begin to see so much of what can be. I needed you to clear my vision.”
“How many come? What are their arms?”
“Now you think like a soldier.” Satisfied, she sat on the ground. “I’ll know more soon. Here, at midnight the night after next, we meet Gwayne. He is my hawk, and he brings the forces. Two of mine are held now in the dungeon. One is as dear as a brother to me. They must be freed, but not until the night of the masque. I pray they live to see that night, and they are not to be sacrificed.”
“I can get them out. I know the tunnels and underground better than any. There are others held there who would stand with you.”
“What do you need?”
“One good man and his sword would be enough.”
“You shall have him. This must be done, and quietly, in the hour before the masque. The wounded, or those too weak to fight, must be taken through the tunnels and away. Men will die, Thane. There will be no choice. But I want no man’s blood spilled carelessly. Some would swear allegiance if given the opportunity. From what I’ve seen, not all who serve Lorcan do so with a full heart.”
“Some serve only in fear of their lives or the lives of their loved ones.” He shrugged when she studied him. “Men often speak their mind around horses. And minions.”
“You are no one’s minion.”
“I’ve been less than that.” His hand curled into a fist. “By the blood, for the first time since childhood I know what it is to want, more than to live, to stretch out of this skin and be. I would have served you,” he said quietly. “I have seen you wear the Crown of Stars, and I would have served you in anything you asked, servant to queen. But to have loved you, as a man loves a woman, has changed everything. I can never go back.”
“Only for a short time. My wolf will conceal his fangs only for a short time. I must go now. When we move, Thane, we must move quickly.” She went willingly into his arms, held close. “We’ll have all of our lives for the rest.”
And for the rest, he thought, as he let her go, she and the child would be protected at any and all costs.
Hoping to avoid Owen for the day, Aurora made plans to go into the city and there measure the feeling among the people—and the strategy of attack and defense. It was difficult to deny herself a trip to the stables and even a fleeting moment with Thane, but she sent Rohan to order the carriage, as was fitting for a lady of her station.
“Soon there will be no more need for pretense. Or the wait,” she added and touched Cyra’s shoulder. “The prisoners will be freed, and the wounded among them taken safely into the forest. I promise you.”
“He suffers, Aurora. My Eton suffers. I could barely stand to see him so. Many held there don’t even know their crime, and some are driven mad by the dark and the starvation.”
“It won’t be dark much longer. Men held there have fathers or sons or brothers. They’ll fight with me. I saw the dragon in the sky last night, and the red stars.” She laid a hand on her belly. “I’ve seen what can be.”
She hooked her arm with Cyra’s and started across the courtyard. And heard the clash of armor as guards snapped to attention.
The heat of battle flashed in her blood even as she bowed her head and curtsied to the man who called himself king.
“Majesty.”
He took her hand to bring her to her feet, and didn’t release it. “A pretty light on a gloomy morning.”
“You are too kind, sire. But even a dank day in such a place is a joy.”
“And do you ride out again today?”
“I go into the city, with your permission, my lord, in hopes to find something appropriate for the masque. I don’t wish to dishonor you or the prince by arriving at such a spectacle in my country garb.”
“You go unescorted, lady?”
“I have my men, sir, and my women.” She fluttered up at him. “Will I not be safe enough?”
He chucked her under the chin and made her spine freeze. “Beauty is never safe enough. Do you not seek the company of the prince?”
“Always, my lord. But . . .” She offered a slow, sidelong smile. “I fear he may become bored with me if I am too accessible. Do you not think that a man desires a woman more when she is just out of reach?”
“You’re a clever one, aren’t you?”
“A clever mind is a valuable tool to a woman. As is amiability, so if you prefer I forgo this venture and wait upon Prince Owen’s pleasure, I will do so.” She glanced over as Rohan brought her carriage into the courtyard. “Shall I send it away again, sire?”
“Go, and enjoy. I look forward to seeing what catches your eye in the shops.” He helped her into the carriage, and was obviously pleased when she peeked out the window and sent him one last smile.
“He makes my skin crawl,” Aurora said as she flopped back against the seat.
“He would have you for himself if he could.” Rhiann nodded wisely. “There’s a look in a man’s eye when he imagines such things. Having you for his son is his next choice.”
“What he’ll have is my sword at his throat. And a happy day that will be. How much have we left to spend?” she demanded.
Rhiann carefully counted out the coins in her purse, and had Aurora blowing out a breath.
“I hate to waste it on foolishness, but I have to make a showing. Lorcan will expect it now.”
“You can be very particular,” Cyra said, and worked up a smile. “Turning up your nose at the offerings, sniffing at materials, waving away baubles.”
“I suppose. I’d rather be inside the taverns listening to the talk, but we’ll leave that to Rohan.” She glanced out the window of the carriage, and her heart ached at the sight of children begging for food. She thought of the taxes levied, all the coins stored inside the palace.
“I have an idea, something that might distract Lorcan and help our army move into the forest unnoticed. Chaos,” she declared, “is another kind of weapon.”
Furious, Owen stalked into the stables. He’d wanted Aurora, but she was off—with no word to him—to the city. He’d planned another ride, with a picnic by the river. And a seduction.
If he were to choose her, and his mind was nearly made up, he expected her to be available at his whim. It was best she learned that now.
There were others with more beauty, others with more generous attributes. If she refused to come to heel, he would take one of them as queen, and make the intriguing Aurora a consort.
He pushed his way into a stall where Thane was wrapping a foreleg for the mount of one of the soldiers.
“Saddle my horse.”
Thane kept his head lowered as he continued to wrap the leg. “Yes, my lord.”
“Now, you worthless nit.” He struck out, slapping Thane in the face with the back of his hand.
Thane took the blow, and though he knew it was foolish, he checked his grip on the halter so that the frightened horse shied and canted, driving Owen into the wall of the stall.
“You’ll pay for that, you ham-handed bastard.”
There was enough satisfaction in watching Owen go white as bone and scramble out of the stall to take all the sting out of the next blow. “A thousand pardons, my lord prince.”
“I’ll deal with you later. Get my horse, and be quick about it.”
As Owen strode out of the stables, Thane grinned and wiped the blood from his mouth.
“The mount’s wasted on him.” Thane turned and saw Kern leading the already saddled horse from its stall. “A lame one-eyed donkey would be wasted on him.”
Thane ran a hand over the gleaming neck of Owen’s stallion. “If the gods are with me, and I live, I will have this horse as my own. Thank you for saddling him.”
“A simple matter, in a complicated time.”
“You knew who she was. Who she is.”
“The True One shines.”
“She does.” Thane rested his brow on the stallion’s neck. “I have such love for her. Fierce and frightening love. I’ll do what needs to be done, Kern, but I ask you, whatever you’ve given me over the years, to give it now to my family. I can go into any battle, take any risk, if I know they’re protected.”
“You’ve stood as their shield long enough. I’ll stand for you when the time comes.”
“Then I’ll be ready.” He led the horse out, and stood meekly at its head while Owen berated him.
“I’ll be ready,” he repeated and watched Owen spur the mount and ride off.
The sky stayed dim, but no rain fell. Aurora watched the dark clouds and prayed that the storm brewing would hold while her men marched toward the city. She used her time there to study the fortifications, to watch the changing of the guard under the guise of wandering among the shops.
The wares were rich, and the people starving.
“There is talk,” Rohan told her as she stood by as if to supervise the loading of her goods into the carriage, “of portents. The dragon flew in the sky last night, and the stars bled.”
“And what do the people make of these portents?”
“Some fear it’s the end of the world, some hope it’s the beginning.”
“They’re both right.”
“But those who dare speak of hope do so in whispers. More were dragged from their homes in the night and charged with treason. There are murmurs, Aurora, that Lorcan will use the masque for some dark purpose, that he plans some sorcery.”
“He has no such powers.”
“It’s said he has sought them.” Rohan glanced left, right, to be certain they weren’t overheard. “That he has courted the dark. Sacrifices. Human sacrifices to draw power from blood.”
“Superstitious mutterings. But we won’t ignore them.” She climbed into the carriage and rode back to the castle with her mind circling a hundred thoughts.
There was a time for warriors, and a time for witches. When the hour was late, Aurora stirred her power. She called the hawk, and ten of his fellows. Then twenty, then a hundred. And more, until the sky teemed with them. Standing in her window, she raised the wind and, lifting her arms, threw her power into it.
Hawks screamed, circled, dove. Guards and courtiers rushed to the courtyard and the gardens, to the city, to the walls. There were cries of fear, shouts of wonder.
The great birds flew into the castle, through window and door, and sent servants scurrying under chair and bed. The beat of wings, the call of hawk, filled the air as in a golden mass they streaked into the treasury, plucking coins in their talons, streaming out again to drop them like rich rain on the city.
With cries of wonder and delight, men, women, and children rushed out of their homes and hovels to gather the bounty. When the call to arms came, many of the soldiers were as busy as the townspeople stuffing coins into pocket and purse. Before order could be restored, the cry of hawks was an echo, the beat of wings a memory.
The streets of the city glittered with coins.
An early payment, Aurora thought, watching the chaos below her window. The rest would come, very soon.
There was talk of little else the next day. Some blamed the strange raid on faeries, or witchcraft. It was said that the king’s rage was black. Soldiers posted proclamations warning that any citizen found with coins would forfeit a hand.
Still, there was not a single coin left on the streets, and for the first time Aurora heard more laughter than woe when she listened to the city.
The confusion had kept her out of Lorcan’s and Owen’s way through the day, and given her time to have young Rhys slither into the dungeons with food for the prisoners while the guards gossiped.
But the time for giving food and coin to those in need was over, and the time for war was nearly upon her.
Distracted, she hurried toward her chamber to make final preparations for meeting Gwayne, and she didn’t see Owen lurking. He had her back to the wall and his hand at her throat. She was already reaching for her dagger before caution had her fisting her hand and struggling to turn the battle light in her eye to fear.
“My lord. You frighten me.”
“What game do you play?”
She shivered and turned her lips up in a tremulous smile. “Many, sir, and well. What have I done to displease you?”
“I did not give you leave to fritter off. Two days have passed, and you have not sought my company. I did not give you leave to travel into the city yesterday.”
“No, my lord, but your father, the king, did so. I only sought the shops in hope that I might find something to please you for the ball. We have nothing so fine in the west as in the City of Stars. Please, my lord.” She touched her hand to his. “You’re hurting me.”
“I’ve made it clear that I favor you. If you don’t wish me to turn my eye toward another, take care, Aurora.”
“Your favor, my lord, is all I could wish, but your passions unnerve me. I’m only a maid.”
“I can make you more.” He pushed his hand between her legs. “And less.”
“Would you treat me so?” She wished for tears, willed them into her eyes as rage spewed through her. “Like a doxy to be fondled in doorways? Do you show your favor by dishonoring me?”
“I take what I wish. When I wish.”
“My lady!” Rhiann screamed in shock and rushed down the corridor with Cyra at her heels.
Aurora broke away, to fall sobbing into Rhiann’s arms and let herself be carried away into her chamber.
The minute the door was shut and secured, she stood dry-eyed. “Speak of this to no one,” she ordered. “No one.” She looked at the hand she held close to her side, and the dagger in it. “The prince of pigs has no idea how close he came to being gutted. I will not dine tonight. Send word that Lady Aurora is indisposed.”
She sat and picked up a quill. “I have work.”