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Quinlan felt disoriented as he slid his arm around Batya’s waist then moved with her to stand before Queen Rosamunde. Seth joined him on his left and for that he was grateful. If the vampire had positioned himself next to Batya, the battle would have started all over again.
“Mastyr Quinlan, your troll brigade must remain behind for two weeks to enjoy a period of revelry with our maidens.” She shifted to meet Seth’s gaze. “Your force as well, Mastyr Seth.”
Quinlan frowned. “May I ask why?”
But Batya whispered. “The town needs an infusion of what only these Guardsmen can give.”
“Your blood rose has spoken correctly. We need new seed in our population, so let your troops know that they may give freely, without need of protection.”
Quinlan couldn’t help but smile. How many times, over the decades, had he been required to negotiate parents-rights issues because of accidental pregnancy. “Are you saying this would be without repercussion should children be born of this arrangement?”
“You have my word.”
He couldn’t help but glance at Seth. If Ethan had been next to him, he would have exchanged a wink with him. But Seth was cut from a different sort of cloth. “With all due reverence, my queen, I want your command in writing.”
Queen Rosamunde lifted a hand. “You shall have it, of course. These modern times require written contracts. And you, mastyr Seth, may remain as well or return to Walvashorr. The prophecies were not specific to you except that you would arrive to support the Mastyr of Grochaire. I have no specific command for you.”
“Very good, my Queen.”
She shifted to meet Quinlan’s gaze. “As for you and Batya, you are both commanded to leave within the hour. You must return to your worlds to continue your good work as you see fit, but I must warn you that trouble awaits you and that you must find a way to compromise and to work together if you are to survive.”
“You refer to Margetta?”
She glanced upward as though mentally reviewing earlier notes-to-self. Finally, she returned her gaze to Quinlan. “I’m not sure, but please take care to tend to one another diligently.”
Quinlan met Batya’s gaze. When she nodded to him, he spoke for them of both. “We will.”
Batya took a small step forward. “And what of Lorelei?”
“She will remain here and I will teach her how to withstand her mother’s various powers.”
“You can do that?”
Rosamunde lifted a brow. “I will ignore that you’ve questioned my abilities.”
“I’m sorry,” Batya added hastily. “But from the time that Margetta made an appearance, I became convinced that she was the most powerful woman in all nine realms.”
Rosamunde drew a deep breath. “I can see that you’re a good friend to Lorelei and though what I’ll teach her won’t be absolute, it will be more protection than she’s ever known. Then she will begin her own journey.” Her gaze skated in Seth’s direction for a brief moment, then back to Batya and Quinlan. “That is all I have to say.”
“I’ll want to speak to my brigade.” Quinlan wouldn’t leave without addressing his troops. “And my men will have their dead to remember.”
“Of course. And you will find Henry at the Troll’s Delight.” She smiled. “The shutters are a very pretty pink. You can’t miss it.”
* * * * * * * * *
Batya hugged Lorelei and wished her well. The fae-shifter-wraith, part vampire, had already spent time in Rosamunde’s company, knew of the queen’s commands, and remained quietly in her suite, also by the queen’s orders. Lorelei didn’t seem to be minding at all.
“I feel hopeful for the first times in decades.”
Batya tried to comprehend what Lorelei’s life had been like. Her own appeared so mild and uninteresting compared to a life lived on the run. Batya had been hounded by Margetta for three days and it was already wearing on her nerves. What had a lifetime of pursuit been like for Lorelei?
“Come visit the gallery when you can.”
“Of course I will, but what will you do if Margetta and those wraith-pairs come after you and Quinlan?”
“She won’t have a reason now.”
“My mother is vindictive. Remember, she wanted me dead rather than let me live my own life.”
Batya tried not to think about that, about what could happen now that Lorelei lived behind the safety of Ferrenden Peace’s veil of mist and she and Quinlan would soon return to their respective worlds.
“We’ll be all right. Don’t worry about us.”
Lorelei smiled. “I won’t. You guys are amazing. Just, be patient with him, Batya. I think he might be a keeper.”
“I’ll try. I just never expected all of this, or any of it really.” She didn’t explain about her blood rose status. She hardly knew what to do with the information herself, nonetheless try to explain it to someone else.
Lorelei hugged her good-bye and Batya returned to her room to change out of the gown and to remove her braids. She really wasn’t used to the formal look.
Just as she finished packing her satchel, Quinlan returned to the rooms smiling.
“What?”
He shook his head, hands planted on his hips. “Nothing.”
“Okay, now you have to tell me.”
“I just saw Henry and he had an arm around two women and more love-bites than I’d seen in maybe my whole life, right here.” He skated two fingers up his neck.
“Something tells me some of the women around here have been love-starved for a long time.”
A cheering sounded from the window. Batya crossed and glanced down. In the distance, she saw the troll brigade and what was probably Seth’s force celebrating. When drums started up, and lights went on all over the town, she was pretty sure this occasion would be celebrated in two realms and one kingdom for a long time to come.
Quinlan joined her by the window, sliding his arms around her from behind, holding her tight. “Wish we didn’t have to leave.” He nuzzled her neck. “I’d love a repeat performance of last night.”
The thought of all that they’d done together, especially the thrilling cl**ax with his vibrations flooding her body, made her body grow weak as she leaned into him. He kissed her neck several times then sucked on the vein. She bloomed beneath his touch, his words, his lips.
“We have to go. The queen said we did. But when we get to Lebanon, you can share my bed.”
