Chapter Ten

" R ise and shine, Your Majesty!" Phillipa called while opening the curtains to let in the sunlight. Luckily the mountain behind them kept the worst of the shining rays from her windows this early in the morning.

Groaning, Liana rolled over in their cushioned bed and pulled the heavy blanket over her head. She and Damien did not in fact talk about her role in defeating the rebels. Damien refused to let her up from their bed until she was completely boneless. Then, he left for a few hours in the afternoon for some responsibility she hadn't bothered to listen to and when he returned, he insisted on supper in their quarters while avoiding their talk completely. He distracted her with games and dancing, and too much wine but she'd let him. She loved having him all too herself like that and cherished those moments.

"Phillipa, it is too early," Liana complained. She felt for Damien beside but sensed that he was already gone.

The older woman huffed. "It is an hour past sunrise."

"Precisely." Her soft reply was muffled beneath the blanket. Phillipa wouldn't let up though and wrangled her into a bath then into the dressing room where Liana picked out a soft, cream gown. Someone had returned her tiara yesterday after the incident, but she chose to wear a much smaller gold one with only three diamonds.

Phillipa secured a matching bracelet around her left wrist when she felt Damien approaching. She wasn't sure how her magic always knew but guessed that it had to do with that piece of magic she marked him with during their wedding ceremony.

"Good morning, my beautiful wife." He planted a quick kiss to her cheek in greeting. "Owen has returned with news on the farm. Are you ready? I will escort you to my office."

A bit shocked, Liana could only stare at him for long seconds. "Are you actually including me in rebel discussions? As in, you made Owen wait to give you the information so you could come get me?"

Brows furrowed and lips pulled down, those icy blue eyes of his glaring. "Do not act so surprised. I promised to include you. I am."

"You promised a discussion, but this is far better." Grinning, she took his arm. "Lead the way, Husband."

With a sigh, he led her on. His lack of a witty remark had her glancing out of the corner of her eye though. He looked well rested and fed. Shoulders weren't tensed, nor was his posture stiff.

"Are you alright, Damien?"

Clear eyes looked to her in question. "I am quite well. Why do you ask?"

"I'm not sure. You just seem off this morning."

He ran his free hand through his hair and down his neck before taking a deep breath. Their steps never faltered, and they descended the stairs toward his office. "I am feeling quite relaxed after our tryst yesterday, and your blood has me sated."

She hummed. "So, all it takes to tame your rabid vampire is a day of sex and blood?"

Faster than she could track, he had her up against the wall, a hand around her throat. His thumb brushed over her rapid pulse, a chuckle falling from his lips. "My vampire is feeling rabid again. Should I take you back to our bed?"

"Tempting," she said. "And while I would normally say yes, I am intrigued by what Owen may have found, so behave for now."

He pulled away, her magic going with him. They both looked down as the gold strands reached out to weave around him. Damien raised that damned brow, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Are you sure about that, temptress?"

Flushing, she pulled her magic back with force, the effort taking far too much. Unease flitted through her, but she shoved it away and focused on keeping her magic tightly wound. "Quite sure."

As she started down the stairs, he reached out to halt her. "What made you so worried just now?"

Forever the best at avoidance, she crossed her arms and looked over the railing to the opposite side of stairs. "I'm not sure what you mean."

He mimicked her pose and waited.

Eyes narrowed on him, she wanted to let her magic out to zap him. The fear of what it might do instead terrified her though. "Why are you so irritating?" she grumbled.

"Because I do not let you ignore your problems or feelings," he replied bluntly. "Now, talk."

"I hope you're not insinuating that you are a loquacious poet when it comes to your problems or feelings."

He let his arms drop, the tone of the conversation not so light anymore. "Not exactly. I saw you just now though. Something spooked you."

Liana hated that he saw her so easily. Hated it, but also loved it because she knew he would listen with an open heart and no judgment. Whatever it was, he would always be there for her. Taking the few steps that distanced them, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. His arms came around her, holding them together so easily.

"My magic. It went after you on its own. I didn't do that. There are moments when I think I've finally figured out how to control it, but then it does things like that, and I lose all hope."

His hand rubbed up and down her back. "Has your magic ever lashed out of control to hurt somebody?" That was a resounding yes. "Somebody that you loved?" he amended quickly.

"Well, no."

"I doubt it ever would, Liana. I believe your magic is an extension of you, just like all mage. Just like my vampiric side and a shifter's animal form are an extension of them. You may have been gifted by the Goddess, but that magic is still you and you would never harm anyone unless it was to defend yourself. Trust in yourself, trust in your magic."

She squeezed him tighter. "Why are you so irritating?" she repeated, her heart melting at his description. "So irritatingly smart, insightful, handsome, and perfect?"

Grinning down at her, his hands cupped her face. "As you once said, I'm old, and with age comes perfection. Or at least some wisdom."

Rolling her eyes, she dragged him down for a kiss. "Well, my wise, old vampire, thank you."

"You are most welcome." He leaned down, his lips resting against her ear as he said, "In the future, you may let your magic have free reign whenever it reaches for me. You know how much I love the feel of it."

She shoved out of his arms a blush stinging her cheeks. "Let's not start that again. We were supposed to be meeting Owen."

Laughing, he sped forward and hauled her over his shoulder. "When will you learn that we are the King and Queen? Everyone waits on us."

She rolled her eyes again as he sped them both to his office.

Liana was surprised to find the Council, Asher, Owen, Luciano and both his parents already present. Scattered about the room, they all stood and bowed when they entered. Doing her best not to feel flustered by her surprise, she took the seat behind Damien's desk which he led her to while he sat on the corner of it facing everyone.

"Owen, what did you find?" he asked, all traces of her Damien gone, King Ashwood now stood in his place.

"The farmhouse is occupied and not by the original family who vacated last year. The farm is still owned by a mage family who have since moved to the southern coast after the husband died, leaving the wife with two young children. They had a modest crop of berries, nothing large in scale. The farmhouse now appears to be a safehouse for the rebels. All night and day people came and went. None had any supplies or weapons, but they only ever traveled in pairs with their same breed. I'd estimate that at least twenty of them slept there."

"How can you be sure it is the rebels? Did you hear any plans or treasonous conversations?" Master Kinley asked.

"I could not hear. There must have been a privacy spell up. They were all of fighting age and looked too well cared for to be homeless. What other reason could they have to be there?" Owen answered.

"That is not nearly enough evidence to initiate a raid on the home. Are you sure the original owners have not returned? Those could be acquaintances coming for a visit," Lord Monet suggested.

"Acquaintances that arrived to welcome them home empty handed? They would have at least brought baskets of food or supplies," Eva reasoned.

Liana focused on Damien and spoke into his mind. "If only someone would have let me spy instead."

"And what would you have done?" He asked.

"I could have broken the spell and eavesdropped."

"You would have to get too close for that to be safe."

She barely refrained from rolling her eyes as she focused on the room around them and not Damien during their silent conversation. "You know as well as I do that there are listening spells. Any mage could do those. What they can't do, which I can, is listen through the privacy spell without breaking it so no one would be the wiser."

He turned, looking at her. " Truly? You think you could do that?"

She gave him the eyebrow. "You think I couldn't?"

"Touche." He stood from the desk and interrupted whoever spoke. "We will further investigate before any definitive action is taken. Once we have proof that these are separatists, we will plan for an attack."

"How will you be getting this proof?" Lord Kent questioned.

"That I will leave to my Queen. Her expertise in magic is invaluable in this situation. That is all," he declared, leaving no room for arguments. Magic sparked at his confident and supportive words. She went to stand beside him as the Council promptly left, his family remaining.

"What grand plan do you have for us, Liana?" Luciano started.

Put on the spot, she searched for an adequate answer. "I will accompany someone back to the farmhouse where I will be able to listen through their privacy shield, leaving it intact so they will never know we were there."

"I will go this time," Asher offered.

"I will as well," Damien interjected. "Liana doesn't leave this castle without me by her side anymore."

"What?" she snapped. There went all her confidence and support.

He tried to take her hand in his, but she yanked it away. Jaw clenching, he dropped his arm. "This is my compromise, Liana. If you want to help fight the rebels more directly, then I go with you."

She worried her bottom lip. "Damien, that's not a good idea. You'll just hover and annoy me. You'll also protect me over yourself which would distract me."

"Of course, I would. I am going to protect you."

Luciano cleared his throat, already standing by the drink cart where he poured himself a large glass of amber liquid. "Not to stoke the flames, however, the pair of you are no longer allowed to leave the castle together. With the state of the kingdom and the constant threat, one monarch must always be safely tucked away in the worst-case scenario that the other dies."

Damien let out a vicious growl which had Luciano chugging his goblet. Liana grabbed Damien's wrist and let her magic pummel him in an attempt to keep him calm.

"Although he has a point," Liana said, standing in front of Damien who now glared with murderous intent at his grandfather, "we both know it would be better for us to stay separated on excursions out of the castle. Neither of us can be trusted right now to not protect the other if danger should arise."

He growled again, his eyes finally clearing and returning to blue. "That need to protect you will never go away. Although, I can concede to the rationale that one of us must remain safe, as much as I despise that thought." He scrubbed his hands through his hair and sat back on his desk. "Liana will accompany Asher and Grandfather to the farmhouse. Father will lock me in the dungeons until you return."

Liana frowned. "That is not funny." Flashes of her own time locked in a cell threatened to bombard her. Magic surged in her veins with those memories, burning them away before she could get lost in them. With a deep breath, she pushed it all back down. "Let me change, then we can go."

Damien followed Liana back to their chambers. She walked into her dressing room to pick from the new items she requested. She grabbed the first pair of trousers she saw and a shirt. Instead of calling for Phillipa, he started unlacing her gown without a word. Liana didn't say anything either, her thoughts already focused on the mission to come.

She had faith her magic could do as she promised even if she'd never done it before. As the Goddess said, the only limit to what she could do was her imagination. That had proven accurate up to this point, so she'd see what happened when the pressure was on.

"I'm sorry, Liana. I didn't mean to be so flippant," Damien said, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"What?" she questioned, thinking she missed the first half of something he said.

"About the dungeon. I didn't think. I'm sorry for teasing about it."

She waved him off, letting the loosened gown fall to the floor. "It's fine. I did not appreciate the humor, but all is well."

"Then why are you so quiet?"

She did her best to ignore his gaze as she pulled off the thin chemise, leaving her in only her undergarments. She pulled the chest binding around and started hooking the corset-like garment up her front. Sliding into her shirt, then the pants, she explained "I was just thinking about the mission. I don't want to fail." She switched her slippers for riding boots.

"You won't," he declared. He bent to tie her other boot while she worked on the other. "All that I ask is that you stay vigilant and keep yourself alive. I don't want to live in the world without you."

Her fingers halted on the laces, his still flying with efficiency. "Damien, you have to stop thinking like that."

"Like what?"

"Like your life depends on mine. You have to live, no matter what."

He finished one boot then finished the other with vampiric speed. When he stood, he gave her a smile and a quick kiss, leaving her without a reply. "Good luck. Keep me updated if you can." He tapped his temple and she understood that he meant telepathically.

He was gone before she could blink. Blowing out a breath, she planted her hands on her hips. That vampire loved her blindly and without logic, a slightly terrifying notion when he was also the King of Triaedian. The stubborn male couldn't be reasoned with though. A secret part of her reveled in the fact he loved her so much. Another part of her was terrified of what he was capable of doing in the name of that love.