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There was no evidence that Wallace had been there the night before. Giving his new wife a thorough tour of Brockburg Castle and its grounds, Galien had taken her to the place he spent the most time.

The wooded training yard. Apparently his father and his brothers had begun training here when they were young men. Using the trees to hone their sword skills, climbing them to evade “the enemy,” knowing they would be fighting fewer battles in a field than in the thicket, as they were now. It was the way of the borderers, and Galien had also been raised to come here each day.

“The wedding feast will begin at sundown,” his wife reminded him as he grabbed her hand, pulling Reina toward him. Aye, he’d wanted to show her all of Brockburg. But the real reason for this tour was precisely this. Since they had exchanged vows, the remainder of the morn had been spent accepting congratulations. He had been pulled from Reina’s side for too long. And while they would be seated next to each other that eve at the feast that would mark this occasion, the surprise nuptials of the chief’s eldest son, this particular piece of their wedding day would be theirs alone.

He’d wanted to kiss her this way since the one they shared earlier that morn. Reina quickly opened to him as his lips moved over hers, so accustomed as he was to her kisses by now. Yet Galien intended to become accustomed to much more of his wife.

His wife.

Although he had intended to save anything more than a few kisses for that eve, for their wedding night, Galien had an idea. He pulled away.

“Your smile.” Reina was hesitant with good reason. “What are you about, Galien?”

It would be cold. But thankfully, the day was warm, and he would keep her even warmer.

“Turn around,” he said. “I’ve an idea.”

She hesitated. “I can see that you do. But what, precisely, your idea is worries me, Galien.”

Even as she said it, Reina, as trusting of him as she’d been nearly from the start, turned to offer him her back. When she peeked, he admonished her. “Until you know it is time, do not look.”

“Know it is time? Precisely what does that mean?”

Instead of answering, he removed his boots. Backing away from her lest his wife hear his movement, Galien took off each and every item of clothing more quickly than he ever thought possible. Then, making his way to the riverbank, he did not hesitate. Instead, Galien climbed onto a rock and jumped where he knew the water was deep enough for him. Aye, it was cold. But it did not take long for him to become accustomed to it. By the time he did, swimming to the water’s edge, his wife had turned toward him and begun walking.

“Are you mad?” she asked. “We cannot return to the keep wet as if we, well, took a swim in the damn river?”

He was beginning to influence her, it seemed.

“We can, lass,” he assured her. “And will. Come, join me.”

Reina shook her head. “I cannot. They will see us—”

“None will see us,” he assured her. “Not here, nor when we return. I have a way to get us inside the walls unseen.”

Still, she hesitated. “’Tis cold, I assume.”

In response, Galien stood closer to the bank, exposing more of himself. He remembered keenly the first time his wife had seen him in the river. And he was not to be disappointed now. Her gaze turned appreciative.

“I will warm you,” he assured her. “We could share our first time this eve, in bed. As most couples do. But I think this is a more fitting beginning for us, do you not agree?”

Reina swallowed. “First time.”

Perhaps he wasn’t being clear enough. “The first time I slip inside you, Reina. Claim you. Make you mine, in truth. And give myself to you completely.”

By the time he finished speaking, Reina’s chest heaved. She began to undress. Watching him as she removed first her boots and then the side-tied kirtle, which she easily undid herself. He watched, mesmerized. Enthralled by this woman who had so boldly freed him. Followed him.

Trusted him.

By the time she was nude, except for her hose, Galien nearly jumped from the river to assist her. To assure himself her round breasts did, indeed, fill his hands as perfectly as he imagined. She stepped toward him, attempting to cover herself.

“There is naught to hide, Reina,” he assured her. “Step here,” he said, moving to a more shallow part of the river. It did not rush by as quickly as the other, so as she climbed in with him, squealing at the cold, he knew there was only one way for her to become accustomed to it.

Which was why he reached for his wife, wrapped his hands around her waist, and pulled her in with him. She toppled onto him, and Galien took advantage, bringing them both underwater. Reina emerged, sputtering and wiping her face with her hands.

He did not give her an opportunity to chastise him.