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Now, though, she was pacing, and thinking, and wringing her hands, as a matter of fact. Distantly, she felt Alfie’s purr of inquiry through their bond, wondering why her mistress was distressed. Tessa forced her hands down to her sides and halted. Took a deep breath.
“You can do this,” she whispered to herself. “You can. And even if he is Erik’s nephew, he isn’t going to react the way that Erik would.”
She hadn’t been privy to what went on behind closed doors, but she knew that Oliver had faced quite the fight with his mate when it came to asserting himself as a drake-rider, a warrior, a valuable part of the war effort. It had started early on, while they were away for the disastrous Midwinter Festival, and been hastened by dangerous circumstances and necessity. But she knew that Erik had planted his heels and been a bear about the whole thing, stubborn and intractable, covering his fear and worry with anger and kingly bluster.
She could see Leif acting that way, especially now that he was…changed. But Rune was different. Gentler, more measured; he didn’t get possessive and jealous, wasn’t the sort to trample over her wishes. He would be worried, of course, but worry she could handle. Worry they could work through together, and she had no doubt that she could help him see the wisdom of her presence on the campaign.
Not to mention, she didn’t want to be separated from her husband so soon after their wedding.
Husband. The word still sent pleasant prickles all down her spine. It shocked her, at times, just thinking it:husband. Rune was herhusband. She smiled now, marveling at it all over again, which was completely silly. She’d come to Aeretoll for the express purpose of marrying, aligning her house with that of a royal, warrior family. She’d known from the day the letter arrived in Drakewell, word of Father and her brother’s death, that she would marry, and marry soon. She’d spent the entire journey north assuming she’d marryErik. That was impossible to imagine, now, but the acquisition of a husband had been certain.
Having it beRune, though…who was so handsome, and so kind, and so ridiculous, and eager, and devoted to her. That seemed too much like a fairy tale come true to be real, sometimes.
She was standing in the center of her rug, smiling like a fool, when a light rap sounded at her door, and it swung open before she could saycome in. She smoothed the front of her dress, and adopted what she hoped was a strong posture as the door creaked inward; donned a warm smile, greeting poised on the tip of her tongue.
But it wasn’t Rune’s familiar silhouette who filled the doorway.
Revna checked for her, said, “Oh, good,” and swept into the room in a swirl of woold skirts and a firm closing of the door.
Oh no, Tessa thought, heart leaping, because she’d spent all her time worrying about how she’d break the news to Rune, and hadn’t considered telling her new mother-in-law that she was planning to leave her here all alone.
Well, notalone. She had Bjorn, and she had her maids, and–
“I’m glad you’re here,” Revan said, in front of her now, because of course she’d charged across the room, despite her condition. She took both of Tessa’s hands in her own larger ones and squeezed. “Listen,” she said, hurried and businesslike, “Erik is on his way up. I’ve told Oliver to stall him a moment” – she made a face – “though I’m not sure what that will require. Perhaps I’ve bought myself more time than I need.” Curl of her lip, and shake of her head, before she gathered her thoughts again. “But I wanted a chance to warn you. You’ve not told Rune yet, have you?”
“Told him what?” Tessa asked, half bewildered, half panicked. How did Revna know? How could she possibly? Had Oliver blabbed? If he had, Tessa had more than a few embarrassing stories that perhaps Ollie’s beloved Erik ought to know about.
Revna sighed, fondly exasperated, smile touching her lips. “Have you told him that you’re going? That you’re to depart tomorrow with the rest of the campaign?”
Tessa failed to suppress a gasp.
Revna squeezed her hands. “Oh, darling, did you think I hadn’t guessed? How can Percy and that little demon Valgrind go scarpering off to war and leave Alfie behind? Of course she’s going – which means of course you’re going, too. Yes?”
She should have known Revna would correctly predict her plans. She swallowed, and jerked a nod. “Yes.”
“I thought so.”
Tessa braced herself for the inevitable lecture, flinching inside her dress, already gathering her arguments.
Revna laughed and said, “Darling, your face! What’s the matter?”
She could do this, Tessa reminded herself. Shecould. When she spoke, the words came out very formal, making it clear she’d been practicing. “I know that it will be dangerous, and that you won’t approve of–”
Revna laughed again, louder this time, blue eyes scrunching up as she smiled. “Oh, dear. No, no, you can save that for my brother. I don’t disapprove of anything.”
Tessa hadn’t expected that. “Youdon’t?”
“No. I’ve known from the first that you would go with them. How could you not?”
“I…” She was gobsmacked.
“Here.” Revna towed her over to the bed. “Let’s sit.”
They settled on the edge of the bed, and Revna turned loose of her, one hand settling on her expanding side. Before Tessa could ask if she was feeling well, Revna sighed. “I’d be going along too, if I wasn’t in this state.” She peered down at her belly and shook her head, as though marveling. “I still can’t believe…” Another headshake, and she straightened to give Tessa an encouraging smile. “But that’s neither here nor there. The point is, you’re going.”
Inexplicably, Tessa’s eyes filled with tears.
Revna rubbed her arm briskly, a bracing, maternal touch. “What’s wrong? Did you get yourself all worked up for an argument and now there’s nowhere for it to go?”
