“Not that kind,” Fenris said dryly, not taking the bait. “Anyway, Director Toring found out that I was in jail, and he took pity on me and sprung me. Believe it or not, he actually took me out to dinner, then told me that my parents were in town and that I should visit them.” He shook his head. “I still have to go and see them. I have to admit that I’m not entirely looking forward to that visit, since they believe me to be my own son.”
“They came here first, and I was sorry I could not help them,” Iannis said. “They will eventually find out that you have resurfaced. Better that you go and see them in person than having them find out from a third party.”
“I’m so glad that Garrett bought the story,” I said, relieved. “He seemed convinced when I spun it, but that was months ago and I wasn’t sure how he’d react if he ever saw you again. I tried to make you sound like a poor victim of your parents’ indiscretion, brought up by your old great-uncle in that remote country house of his, and hidden away behind the library sofas whenever he had a visitor. I told him you grew up in that library, which explained your love of books and scholarship, and why you were so different from other shifters.”
“It’s a bit insulting how readily he and my parents believed your story,” Fenris said with a frown. “I would never have treated any child of mine like that, shifter or no. But never mind all that,” he added with a smile. “I am very happy you did this. Now that I am engaged to Mina, it means that the two of us should be able to live openly together. And my interest in ancient magical lore and my knowledge of Loranian no longer need to be hidden. I can even practice magic to some extent.”
“And wear robes, if you want to,” Iannis said. “That old great-uncle could have apprenticed you.”
“I wish that you’d brought your Mina with you,” I lamented. “I really want to meet her. She smells nice, Fenris—like lavender and sunshine. I bet she’s one of those sweet and gentle types.”
Fenris grinned. “She is, but she does have a fiery side if provoked. She is very excited about meeting the both of you, although she is a bit nervous.”
“She won’t have any need to be,” Iannis assured him. “We’ll make her feel right at home. I don’t know that we’ll have much time for social affairs before our wedding, what with everything going on, but we’ll have to get together before you two leave.”
“Leave?” I demanded. “You’re not going back to whatever cave you’ve been hiding in, are you, Fenris?”
“Not permanently,” Fenris admitted, “but Mina and I do need to settle our affairs in Watawis—that’s where I ended up. We are thinking of moving back out to Canalo, but it will likely be nearby, and not within Solantha itself. Mina is very fond of the beach. And speaking of traveling, where in Recca did you two disappear off to? I heard that you might have gone to Manuc, but nobody knew for sure. What was so important that you had to leave at a crucial time like this?”
“It’s a long story,” Iannis said as I grimaced. The last thing I wanted to do was recount those painful experiences, not when the memories were still so fresh. “I’ll have to tell you the details when I have more time, but in short, we had trouble with some of my Tua relatives. They were not pleased with my choice of a bride and would not be ignored on the matter.”
I snorted. “That’s the understatement of the year,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Thankfully we managed to escape, and just in time, too. There’s still so much to be done.” I sighed, flopping back down onto the couch. I was so tired…
“I should go and find Mina,” Fenris said, noting the way I slumped against Iannis. “You two look like you need to rest.”
“All right,” I said sleepily. “You said you were staying at the Marwale, right?”
“Yes,” he said.
“That’s much too far away,” Iannis protested. “You and your friends must come stay here in the palace tonight. It’s getting late for such a long drive.”
“I agree,” I said before Fenris could argue. “I’ll have a suite readied for you and will tell the staff to expect you. Tell Com I said hi, and that I’ll come see him when I’m alive again.”
Alone at last, I snuggled with Iannis on the couch. “Can we just sleep here?” I mumbled into his chest. “I don’t wanna move.”
“We’ll be waking up with aching backs if we do,” he said, scooping me into his arms. “I see no need for that when we have a big bed waiting for us.”
I wrapped my arms around Iannis’s neck and closed my eyes as he carried me to the bedroom. A few moments later, he set me down on the mattress, and I groaned in relief—it was the softest surface I’d lain on in days. “I am never taking this for granted again,” I moaned as Iannis rummaged through a chest of drawers nearby. “Never.”
Iannis pulled out a crystal bottle filled with gold liquid and filled two small glasses. “Drink this,” he said, handing one to me. “It’s a restorative potion for rest and relaxation. I take it when I know I’m only going to manage a couple hours of sleep, and it makes me feel like I’ve had eight.” He downed the contents of his own glass. “We cannot afford the luxury of resting very long, but I’ll make it up to you on our honeymoon.”
“Sounds good to me.” I took a swig, then shimmied out of my clothes and burrowed beneath the blankets with Iannis. As he folded his strong arms around me, I immediately began to drift off. Soon we would be married, and this bed would be ours, not just his.
Take that, Ta’sradala, I thought sleepily as I drifted off. She might be a bitter old bitch, but Iannis and I were stronger than all the malice in her ancient, blackened heart.
21
The week following our return was a crazy whirlwind of activity. I met Mina, who was very likable and a perfect match for Fenris, and instantly decided to help organize her and Fenris’s wedding. It seemed best not to wait, as my shifter senses told me she might already be expecting their first child—or cub, as the case might be. Whichever they got, I had no doubt Fenris would be a wonderful father.
“Why do you think Fenris fell in love now, after going so long without female companionship?” I asked Iannis as we were riding in the carriage to yet another reception. “Do you think he was waiting for Mina all this time?”
“They fit together well,” Iannis said, “but I think it just was time for him. When he was a Chief Mage he hid behind his position, duties, and scholarship, and his parents’ nagging to find a wife probably had exactly the contrary effect. Then, while he lived here with us, being a fugitive who had to hide his true nature would have been an obstacle. I suppose that being all alone, thrown upon his own resources, made him reevaluate what he truly wanted in life—and lo and behold, there it was, right within reach.”
“Very lucky for him,” I said, “and for Mina too.”
“Now, of course, our case is very different,” Iannis said. “I was waiting for you, obviously, all those centuries, though without being aware of it. It took me a little while to realize what a treasure had fallen into my lap.”
“I forgive you,” I said with a wink, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Since you eventually came to your senses.”