Chapter 19

KNOT

The cabin felt lonelierthan ever. Sleep eluded me, and I often found myself sitting on the front porch in the middle of the night, staring at the moon and stars. I thought about Natalee every second of the day.

The rising sun peeked through the curtains in my bedroom, casting an orange glow across the floorboards. Morning already. I had remained awake the entire night.

I felt like a male gone mad. The only reason I’d come back to my claim was because I couldn’t bear to be in Faircross if I couldn’t be near Natalee.

She had refused me. Over and over again.

I scrubbed a hand down my unshaven face and got out of bed. If I visited her one last time, would she change her mind? Maybe she missed me. I had been absent from The Sweet Siren for six days now, and those six days felt like an eternity.

I walked onto the front porch and stared down the mountain. If I rode hard, I could make it to Natalee before midday. In a few short hours, I might hold her in my arms again.

“Gods, give me guidance,” I prayed, staring at the sky.

The traveling judge was probably still in Faircross. The man had been due yesterday and typically remained for two or three days each time he passed through. I’d been counting down the days until his arrival, still hoping Natalee would come to her senses and agree to become my wife.

She was perfect for me. And damn if it made me conceited, but I thought I was perfect for her. She’d responded to me like a flower bud unfurling its petals each time I’d taken her upstairs at The Sweet Siren. She enjoyed my roughness and I’d treasured the gift of her submission.

My cock hardened as images of all the naughtiness we’d enjoyed together sped through my mind.

If I brought her to the cabin, I could do whatever I wanted to her without fear of anyone hearing. I could pound into her long and hard until she screamed my name. I could take a paddle to her, or even make love to her on the front porch where I was standing now. I could hold her and love her and strive to bring her happiness.

Natalee. My sweet Natalee.

Before I realized what I was doing, I’d already ventured back into the house to start dressing for the day. I hurried to get my boots on and rushed outside to saddle Telrud.

I made the ride to town in about three and a half hours. A new record. It was as if Telrud sensed my urgency to reach Faircross. As I guided my trusted horse over the bridge that led into town, I passed two covered wagons and a group of miners riding down from the foothills. Some of them gawked at the sky as Dhomyss soared toward the southern edge of the island.

I deposited Telrud at the stables in the capable hands of a young groom named Carf. Rushing out into the street, I headed straight for The Sweet Siren. As I hurried down the road, I passed the sheriff and his wife, both of whom tried to wish me good morning, but I ran past them without more than a quick nod of acknowledgment.

Natalee. I had to find her.

I had to see her.

I had to convince her not to take the next stagecoach to Orsleann. Fuck, I didn’t even know what landmass in the Northern Isles she called home. If she left Faircross, tracking her down would be next to impossible.

My spirits darkened and my heart felt weighed down at the prospect of losing contact with Natalee. At the very least, I wished to say goodbye one last time and ensure her well-being. Nerves twisted in my stomach as I neared the tavern.

What would I find inside?

What if Natalee had decided to give the money back to me?

I’d ordered her not to entertain any customers upstairs, but what if she’d stubbornly decided to become a full-fledged siren? I would still want her, of course, but I suspected it would make her even more resistant to accept my offer of marriage.

I swallowed past the sickness rising in my throat and burst through the door of The Sweet Siren. At this hour, only a few patrons were seated at the bar. In the far corner, a winged fae male with a scarred face sat at a table smoking a cigar and nursing a double shot of whiskey. A siren with long black hair I didn’t know by name greeted me as I walked further inside, scanning the main room for some sign of the human female I loved.

“I’m here to see Natalee,” I told the woman. When she gave me a confused look, I clarified. “I mean Julianne. I’m here to see Julianne. I’m a friend of hers.”

“I’m sort of new here and I’m not sure if I should be telling you where she is, sir.” She moved toward the kitchen. “Madame Sage!”

The pretty madame exited the kitchen area holding a mug of coffee in her hands. When her eyes met with mine, she smiled and said, “Well, it’s about time. Tell me, Mr. Thazurok, do you really intend to make an honest woman of Natalee?”

“I do.” In my heart, we were already joined together. I’d told myself she had become my wife-in-truth the first time we’d lain together, but I hadn’t counted on her refusing my marriage proposal. “Is she here? I have to see her.”

Madame Sage nodded toward the door. “She stepped out a few minutes ago. Said she was going on a walk.”

I rushed back out into the early morning, coughing as a passing wagon kicked up a cloud of dust. Then I hurried in the direction of the bridge that led over Winding Dragon River. I had a strong suspicion where I might find Natalee.

Along the river, several young boys sat with fishing poles. I headed further down the bank to the secluded spot we’d chosen for our picnic, weeks ago before Natalee had gone to work at The Sweet Siren. Weeks ago, when I should have pushed my doubts aside and pursued her, courted her properly, and made her my wife before she ended up seeking refuge at the tavern.

Gods, what a fool I’d been to believe I wasn’t ready for a wife. I was more than ready, and my heart sang at the prospect of making her Mrs. Natalee Thazurok.

There. I spotted a petite female with gleaming auburn hair seated on a blanket, wearing a blue dress. It was the same dress she’d worn to our picnic. My pulse quickened as I reached her. She was staring at the rushing water and didn’t notice me at first. I stepped closer, and when my shadow fell over her, she finally looked up with a gasp.

Relief filled her eyes as she stared at me. “Knot?”

I sat next to her and took her hands in mine. “Marry me, Natalee. Marry me today.”

“Knot, I don’t think…”

“Listen to me. Just listen. We can stay in Faircross or leave town on the next stagecoach. Whatever you want. But there’s no good reason we should stay apart. Whatever my future holds, whether I’m meant to stay in Faircross, whether I’m meant to take up orating in a temple again here or somewhere else, or perhaps never at all, or have a simple life somewhere far away from here, I want that future to be with you. I love you, Natalee, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and making you happy. Everything else—all the worry you have for my reputation and yours—none of that matters as long as we’re together.

“If we try staying in Faircross, we can always leave if you don’t feel accepted here. I won’t see you hurt, Natalee. I want to fix all your hurts and keep you as mine. My sweet wife.” I stroked her hair behind her ears and then went back to holding her hands in mine. “Have I mentioned that I love you? Gods, I love you so much I can hardly breathe sometimes.”

She wiped away a lone tear that had trickled down her cheek. “Oh, Knot, I love you too.” She smiled.

“Then say yes. Say you’ll marry me.”

“All right.” Her smile widened and she laughed as more tears streamed down her face. “Yes, Knot Thazurok, I’ll marry you.”

A burst of joy filled my heart. I pulled her up and wrapped my arms around her small body, holding her tightly against my chest.

This was where she belonged. At my side and in my embrace.

I closed my eyes and thanked the gods she’d said yes. Finally. I had prayed hourly for this moment to come to pass. She probably didn’t even realize that meeting her had helped cool much of my anger toward the gods. She might not know it yet, but she was healing all my hurts, and I owed her everything in return.

When I pulled back to kiss her, she moaned sweetly against my mouth as I took command of the kiss and held her face as I explored and tasted her.

“Let’s get married right here. Right here beside the river,” I said. “I’ll go find the judge. He always stays at The Bluebird Inn. I’ll find him and meet you back here. If you want to bring some friends to bear witness to our union, I won’t object. Whoever you want. Everyone from The Sweet Siren if you wish it.”

She grinned up at me. “I’d like to keep it small. Maybe just Madame Sage and Floura. Well, Trevonn too. Oh, and Lottie. Are you inviting anyone?”

“If I run into the mayor or the sheriff, I’ll invite them. But I’m not going to waste too much time hunting them down. I can’t wait to make you my bride.” I briefly considered inviting my friend Parcos Glade, but considering the conversation Natalee had overheard, I quickly decided against it. I kissed my soon-to-be wife again. “Meet me back here in an hour?”

“I promise I won’t be late.” Her eyes shone bright with happiness.

We walked back to town together, holding hands and talking about the plans for the next few days. I wanted us to spend tonight at The Bluebird Inn, then leave tomorrow morning for my cabin. I whispered to her that I might not allow her to wear clothes for a week, and she blushed so adorably that it took all my self-control not to follow her into the tavern and have my way with her before our wedding ceremony.

We parted ways in the center of town after exchanging a quick kiss. Natalee headed for The Sweet Siren to find her friends, and I headed for The Bluebird Inn in search of the traveling judge.

As luck would have it, I found Judge Howler exiting the inn as he reached the steps.

“Judge. I’ve been looking for you.”

“Not now,” the portly human male said as he rushed down the steps. “I’m on my way to officiate a wedding ceremony.”

“Wait!”

The judge paused and looked at me over his shoulder. He gave a sigh and shook his head as if in exacerbation. “Let me guess. You need me to officiate a ceremony for you, too?”

“Are you free in an hour, Judge?”

“Yes, just tell me where to be. I tell you what, this town needs a priest in that temple, with all the weddings I end up performing during my trips here. I officiate more weddings than I hold trials.”

“Perhaps the town will have a priest one day soon,” I said. If I didn’t feel the calling to become the town priest, or Natalee remained averse to it, I would write to some of my friends in the Northern Isles and locate a priest for Faircross myself. “Judge, could you meet me and my bride down by the river? We’d like to get married as soon as possible.”

“I’ll be there.”