AYLETH

Etan led her out of the little cottage and it felt like she walked naked across the small green lawn towards the stable. Everything within her recoiled at the idea of looking at the two men when they reached the little building. Etan squeezed her hand as they rounded the hedge and he opened the gate, ushering her through, his eyes on her until the space opened up and the two men became visible.

Borsche was squatted, frying in a large skillet over a small fire in the dirt stableyard, while Falek saddled the horses.

They both called gentle greetings, but Ayleth kept her eyes down and held Etan's arm.

She was mortified. They knew. They knew. They knew what she'd been doing and who she'd been doing it with. They understood these things and could picture it, and—

"Good morning, Sires," Borsche called, grinning and cheeky. "You best get over here and eat something. You'll need your strength for the trip ahead."

"Borsche," Etan said sharply.

"What? We have to travel today."

Ayleth felt her cheeks blaze. "Thank you for cooking for us," she forced herself to say. "I am hungry."

Etan choked and Borsche's lips twitched. Ayleth frowned. What had she said? She was scrambling suddenly—somehow a part of this club, a part of this world, and yet still not. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration, and she wanted to weep with childish embarrassment.

But Etan rubbed her back and opened a hand towards the bucket's Borsche had turned over for them to use as seats next to the fire.

Ayleth was grateful that her riding dress was a handsome rust. It wouldn't show the dirt as quickly. But before she could even reach the fire, a shadow loomed at her right, and Falek's voice, low and quiet, appeared at her ear. "May I speak with you a moment, Ayleth?"

She wanted to hide her face, but when Etan caught her eye, silently offering to step between them, she shook her head. She knew what Falek wanted to speak of and she would rather get it done and over with. It wasn't going to become less mortifying by the passing of time.

So she shook her head at Etan and turned to her Knight Defender, who stood next to her, hand on his sword and slightly pale. His eyes were puffy and shadowed as if he hadn't slept, and she suddenly worried there was something more pressing than his queries after her night.

"Yes, of course," she said. Falek only nodded and turned, his cape flaring behind him as he stalked towards the other side of the stable, to take her out of the sight of the men. Wait, no. Not just men. Her husband. She was walking out of sight of her husband and his man.

The thought made her heart flutter.

When Falek made it into the shadows of the building he turned and waited for her, the little muscles at the back of his jaw twitching as he watched her approach.

Before she'd even spoken, he met her eyes, his own tight and narrowed with concern. "Are you well, Ayleth?"

She put a hand to his arm, her cheeks blooming again, but touched by his obvious concern. "I am very well, Falek. Truly. I didn't only say that for your benefit."

He blew out a breath, his hand flexing on his sword hilt. "But are you well… in your heart?" he asked quietly. "Does he honor you?" He wouldn't meet her eyes.

She had to blink back tears. She put a hand to his arm that felt like steel under his sleeve and squeezed it, smiling. "Yes, he does. And you honor me, Falek. Thank you. I… your devotion is a gift to me that I did not expect. I am so grateful that you're coming on this journey with me."

He nodded, but still didn't meet her eyes, and her throat pinched. "Are you… ashamed of me, for the rush of this? For taking him without the proper traditions and—"

"What? No! Of course not, Ayleth. I am relieved that we were able to bring you two together under God's hand, and with the full support of the law. I only… I only fear that we still know so little of him. It is a test of his character how he came to you last night. But it is on the only test. I will be watching him, Ayleth. Should there ever be need… I remain your sword arm."

"Thank you, Falek. And thank you for not fighting this."

"I wished to, honestly. But it is clear to me that the Father brought you together, and that your vision for the future is the right one. I can only pray now that your husband proves true in his heart. These will be difficult times."

Ayleth took a deep breath, nodding. "I will need your help with my parents."

"Unless they remove me by force, I will not leave your side, Ayleth."

"Thank you." Her voice went too high and she had to swallow to clear her throat. "I will not lie, Falek, I am frightened."

"We are all frightened except for the clown," Falek said dryly. "I swear the man has balls of steel."

"No, he only pretends them to cover for his fear." The deep voice came from behind them and Ayleth turned to find Etan peering around the corner of the stable, his eyes flipping between her and Falek. When she looked at him, he met her gaze, questioning.

Ayleth almost laughed. They were both so busy worrying about her in the hands of the other, than neither of them was seeing how similarly true their hearts were.

"Etan, come here, please," she said.

He stepped out, striding towards them, one hand on his sword, eyes fixed on Falek like a predator on prey.

She would have sighed with frustration, but he looked so strong and certain, her stomach flipped. When he reached her he put a hand to her back, but his eyes never left Falek's.

"Is there a problem?" he asked quietly, warning.

"No," she smiled. "No problem at all."

Falek, too, was staring, poised and ready. Ayleth sighed.

"Falek, please look closely. This is Etan. He is my husband. He cherishes me and… treats me with a tenderness that reminds me of you when I stuck in fear after being hurt by those men."

"Those men that were sent by his father," Falek growled.

Etan's jaw went tight. "I grieve that. No innocent will ever share that experience under my rule," he vowed.

Falek stared a moment, then nodded.

"Etan," Ayleth said shyly, "This is Falek. He has been at my side since I was a child. He has sworn fealty to me above the throne. And he cares about my wellbeing with a selflessness that steals my breath."

Etan nodded and his throat bobbed. She put a hand to his arm, then to Falek's and they both looked at her. "Both of you are… both of you love me in ways that I do not deserve, but that I adore. And I would ask you to see each other as allies. Know that we are in this together. And I trust you both—for different ways and reasons. But you do not need to be wary of each other. I trust you both utterly. And I want you to trust each other."

Their eyes snapped to each other and she felt them both tense. For a moment she feared she had created a conflict, but instead, Etan tilted his head.

"Your love for her, is it…" he trailed off as if he struggled to find the words. But Falek appeared to know what he was asking.

"She is family to me. A sister. A precious sister. I will not see her harmed."

Etan nodded. "She is my wife, and I will not let the world touch her. It must come through me first."

Falek nodded and the two regarded each other silently for a moment. Then Falek raised his hand to offer it in the clasp of the warrior.

Ayleth held her breath.

"I measured you true when Ayleth spoke of you," Falek said quietly, through his teeth. "I have struggled to release her to you only because I am… unaccustomed to trusting her to another man's hands and heart. But she says she is cherished, and I know you have the strength to hold her."

"Thank you," Etan replied, clasping his arm. "She speaks of you as a brother—a trusted brother. I am grateful to you for keeping her safe all these years. If you will accept it, you will always have a place with us as her trusted protector. I cannot know what will occur in the coming days, but whatever power I retain, whatever influence I hold, I offer to your benefit. You are welcome with us. Always."

Falek blinked and Ayleth wanted to cry.

"Thank you, Sire," Falek said hoarsely. "I pray it will never be necessary to choose, but should it be, I will always choose her."

"And me as well," Etan said. "And I will end any man who would attempt to thwart her." Then he smiled a wicked smile that made Ayleth go cold and shivery at the same time, it was so predatory.

So, when Falek chuckled and returned it in kind, and they shook their clasped arms, Ayleth shook her head, uncertain whether she'd just guaranteed her rule, or created an unholy alliance that the world should fear.

"Now that you've both finished beating your chests," she said dryly, "can we eat? I'm starving."

Falek's smile fell of his face like it had never been there, and Etan looked smug, though he stifled his smile. Shaking Falek's arm one more time, he turned and ushered Ayleth forward. "The ladies always get to go first," he said quietly, cutting a glance a Falek, that Ayleth didn't understand.

Falek harumphed, but followed them without comment.