RAFE

My horse kicked up dust as we rode, flying across the wastelands. The Sanctum was within our sights and once again I felt that familiar burning in my heart. Lia. I would be seeing her soon. It had been five months since we had last laid eyes upon each other, the longest stretch of time we'd ever been apart. While council meetings and kingdom duties kept us both busy, my responsibilities these last few months had reached an all time high.

First there was the discovery of a traitor amongst my highest governors. It was almost four years after Lia united Morrigan and Dalbreck to fight and ultimately win against the Komizar, but even still traitors lurked in the shadows, biding their time and working against me. It had taken a while, rounding up his network of spies and supporters, holding trials and executions. And even after all the business was concluded, the kingdom was too unstable to leave. Sven suggested a kingdom-wide tour to quell fears of unrest, and though I knew that meant it would be a very long time before I could travel to Venda, I agreed it was what Dalbreck needed.

So Sven, Orrin, Tavish and a company of my finest soldiers traveled the countryside with me, meeting with villagers to discuss their concerns. We made our way around the country, through cities and villages. Although my heart ached every week that passed without word from Lia, I couldn't deny that I enjoyed myself. Talking with my people, hearing their loyalty to me and their trust gave me such confidence. After three months the tour was completed and we were back in the capital city. I enjoyed my bed and the niceties of being home for all of a day before I sent a Valsprey to Venda – finally I was free to go to her.

I smiled to myself as the Sanctum came closer in to view. Though the Valsprey were the fastest method of communication, I had left immediately after I had sent the message to Lia, telling her I was coming. We had trained falcons to be able to deliver messages from Dalbreck to Venda, but I knew her response must just now be arriving at the palace. I grinned – my arrival would be a surprise. I couldn't wait to see the look on her face as I strode in and swept her into my arms.

It had been far too long.

LIA

I sighed with relief as I sank lower into the tub. I had been out riding all day to various vagabond camps and villages on the outskirts of the city, speaking with my people. Though the first year of organizing and rebuilding both the physical and political infrastructure of the new Venda was tiring, we had all worked so hard and given everything we had. Recently, I almost regretted we had done our job so well. Venda now operated like a well-oiled machine. Poverty decreased, trade increased, every day I saw fewer and fewer beggars on the street. Venda was thriving. Even our council meetings were efficient – rarely were there any serious arguments on laws or decrees that were proposed and often our meetings were concluded within three hours.

I grabbed a bar of thannis soap and scrubbed at my dirt caked hands and neck. The sun was going down and soon it would be time for dinner. I finished with the bath and stood carefully, reaching for the towel resting on the stool beside the tub. After I had dried myself and dressed in the evening dress that had been laid out for me, I studied my complexion in the mirror. I looked well – as well as I ever had before. Even when I was still a girl, playing with swords outside with my brothers and avoiding and outsmarting the Lord Scholar, I had been restricted, told my opinion wasn't valued, that I should stand straight, stay silent and only speak when spoken too. The six months I had spent in Terravin I was fairly happy, but I was constantly looking over my back. And during the year in which I was captured, dragged across the wastelands, almost forced to marry the Komizar, escaped from the Sanctum I now called home, and defeated the Komizar on the field of battle, I was so weak from malnourishment and constant injuries.

But now, looking at myself, I saw color in my angled cheeks and brightness in my eyes. I saw too the fullness of my breasts and hips, starved no longer. I braided my hair in a loose braid down my back, so that the claw and vine on my shoulder were visible around my red dress. The dress fanned out beautifully at the bottom while still hugging my waist. Rafe come quickly, I thought to myself, imagining him standing behind me, hands around my waist. The message from his Valsprey had arrived yesterday morning. Pauline had come into the main hall at breakfast, waving it above her head. Though she was all the way at the back of the hall, I recognized the blue seal from my seat up at the head table. My heart stilled a beat – was he finally coming or had something gone wrong?

It had been five months since I had last seen him. That time, I had traveled to Dalbreck with Pauline, Kaden and Griz. We had been welcomed with a three day long celebration honoring Dalbreck and Morrighan's triumph over the Komizar three years before. The moment we had arrived Rafe had come forward, swept me off my horse, and carried me inside, not putting me down until we were in his quarters. I was disheveled and caked in dust and dirt, and he was more than willing to help me rid myself of the grime from the journey.

I smiled to myself, remembering just how pleasant those short two weeks had been. Rafe and I corresponded every day, but it was hard being so far away from each other. Rafe made it up to me every time though, and I made it up to him. The first time I had visited Rafe in Dalbreck after becoming queen, I'm sure it was quite a scandal for Dalbreck courtiers and servants at the palace when the Queen of the Vendans disappeared into their king's chamber, not to reappear until two days later. But if anyone opposed our relationship, they never voiced it. My mother would not have approved and I'm sure they all knew by now back in Morrighan, but Rafe and I did not care. We were both monarchs in our own right and things like imprisonment and wars made one less rigid on silly things like reputation.

I left my chambers, straightening my dress as I walked down the stone stairs into the Sanctum. Most everyone was already seated. I noted that everyone else also looked well in general – we fed, well clothed, and in high spirits. As I entered, everyone stood and the loud noise of conversations fell to a low hush. I stood in front of my seat, raising the plate of bones as I said the remembrances. I had modified the traditional Vendan and Morrighese remembrances to compliment each other and draw truth from the original texts. Conversation returned as I sat down and the food was laid out.

"Pauline tells me your received a message from Dalbreck yesterday," said Kaden, seated on my right with baby Rhys in his lap.

"Have you sent a response back yet?" Pauline asked from her chair next to Kaden.

"Of course, I told him to come whenever he likes. I returned his message yesterday afternoon." I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice but Kaden and Pauline knew better.

"Well of course we'll all be glad to see him," Pauline noted, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "If only to keep you in a good mood."

Kaden smiled at her, feeding a small piece of meet to Rhys. Rhys was already three and a half years old and had only ever known Kaden as his father. It had been slow for Pauline and Kaden, but eventually trust and love came and they were married about a year after the war. Pauline was pregnant again and nearing her time to give birth. She moaned every day that their child would come out a fighter, something that gave Kaden great pride. So hard kicked the baby in her womb.

"I'm always in a good mood," I said, taking a sip of wine. Kaden turned his head to look at me and Pauline raised her eyebrows. "Okay, I'm often in a good mood. I just have grown complacent recently. We're making such progress but at the same time it feels as though I'm doing nothing at all."

Kaden grinned. "You would think having had a lifetime of drama, you would appreciate a little normalcy."

I scowled at him. "I can appreciate normalcy. I just can't sit still. I need a new project or something."

"I might have something for you," interjected Griz on my left. "I've just received word from our General that our troops are performing very nicely. Perhaps you'd like to come with me tomorrow to inspect them."

"That might take you out of your funk," Pauline suggested, feeding Rhys some vegetables.

"I am not in a funk!" I declared as Kaden and Griz both chuckled. "However," I added, smiling a little sheepishly. "Perhaps a visit to our troops is overdue."

Griz nodded, "I will tell the general to expect our Queen tomorrow."

The rest of the dinner passed by as it often did. Pauline retired early, bringing Rhys with her. Kaden and I squabbled over who would win at tonight's card game. I had lost spectacularly the night before, my mind having been occupied with thoughts of Rafe.

Rafe. How I missed him. I had done my best to conceal my excitement but inside my heart was soaring. He would be coming. I had sent my reply yesterday afternoon, he could be here as early as next week, maybe sooner.

Plates were cleared a way and we all stood to push tables to the side to make room for card tables to be set up on the floor of the great hall. I conversed briefly with Griz about the state of our troops when a commotion rose from the very back of the hall. Raising my eyebrow, I turned to my number 2, but Kaden was already striding to the entrance. He disappeared for a few minutes. I concluded my conversation with Griz and looked up alarmed as Kaden came striding back into the hallway.

"Your Majesty, we have guests this evening." Kaden's voice rang loud and clear through the great hall.

"Guests," I said, puzzled. I didn't think we were expecting anyone, but perhaps I had forgotten about some governor that was coming to visit. "What manner of guests?"

And then, as strong, tall and confident as I had last seen him, Rafe rounded the corner, Sven, Orrin, and Tavish right behind him. One look at his handsome face and my heart skipped a beat. Skipped several beats. He was here.

RAFE

I knew the minute she laid eyes on me that we were a welcome surprise. I wanted nothing more than to race ahead to the head table, scoop her up in my arms and carry her to a bed, but restrained myself, walking slowly and greeting familiar faces in the crowd as conversation returned to the hall.

"Good to see you Rafe," Kaden said, shaking my hand and walking with me through the crowd. Where once our relationship had been awkward, now there was no uneasiness between us. In Dalbreck, we often received messages from Lia's right hand man and we had formed a sort of friendship over the years. Kaden was a happy as I'd never seen him before. I knew he and Pauline were well and expecting a child very soon, and I couldn't be happier for them.

"Very good to see you too Kaden. How's it going here in Venda?"
"Ah as well as one can expect," Kaden said, his eyes flicking up to the head table where Lia still stood. "It's been a while since you last visited. This will do her a great deal of good, you know."

"I think it will do me a great deal of good as well, Kaden." I smiled up a Lia, halfway to the table. Her expression was still frozen in shock but as I smiled at her, it melted. A look of pure joy and relief flooded her face and I realized I had never seen her looking so beautiful. How I ever had thought I could marry someone else and be anyone else's but hers I didn't' know.

Lia had walked slowly around to the front table and I stopped a few feet away from her. The crowd once again hushed to a low murmur, waiting to see what would happen.

"Well?" I asked, looking down at her. "Aren't you happy to see me? Because I'm sure as hell happy to see you."

A laugh escaped her and that sound was my undoing. In a heartbeat I had closed the distance between us and suddenly I was holding her like I'd never held her before. One hand circling her waist, the other up her back and into her hair, she tucked her chin into my shoulder and we clutched each other tightly. Still in the air, she pulled back, her lips parting.

"I-" she began. I bent my head and pressed my lips to hers. I felt her surprise and then she met mine with equal fervor. I felt a heat pool low in my gut and suddenly kingdoms disappeared, duties disappeared and we were just Rafe and Lia. After a few moments she pulled away for air and looked around. I hadn't noticed but the crowd was whooping and cheering. She blushed and looked up at me. I put her down, smiling down at her beautiful face. Without a backward glance, she offered me her hand. I took it and she led me away from the hall.

LIA

I didn't make it far. Rafe had visited often enough, he knew where my chambers were. The minute we were out of sight of the people in the great hall and the door to the stairs had closed behind us, he scooped me up and began taking the stairs two at a time. I shrieked with laughter, clutching him tightly, knowing he would never drop me. He had once carried my broken body for twelve miles, so strong and deep was his love for me.

Then he was shoving the door open and tossing me onto my bed. I rose up on my elbows laughing and he laughed too, locking the door and striding towards me. He stopped at the edge of the bed and his eyes grew dark and serious. I paused, searching his face. My dress had ridden up to my thighs and a strap had fallen off my shoulders when he threw me onto the bed. Some of my hair had escaped from my loose braid and tendrils curled wildly about my face, neck and back. I gave him a questioning look but he just stared at me. Starting at my legs, working up my thighs, my waist, my breasts and neck and finally meeting my eyes again he just stared at me.

"Rafe?" I asked, questioningly.

At my voice he inhaled sharply, and his dark eyes calmed. At the edge of the bed, he shifted to stand in between my legs and I sat up so that my head was level with his chest, only inches between us. As his hands came up to cradle my face, his head bent to kiss my hair and he mumbled something.

"Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?" He asked me, stroking my cheek with his thumb and nuzzling his nose into my hair, breathing in deep. I closed my eyes. "Missed the sound of your voice, the kiss of your lips, the feel of your body close to mine."

I let out a shuddering breath. "Yes," I said simply. "Oh Rafe, I've missed you."

He brought one hand down to my neck, tilting my chin up to look at him. He grinned down at me and said softly, "I'm here now Lia. I'm here."

With those words I suddenly realized how hot I was. My skin felt like it was on fire, like my blood was molten lava coursing through my veins. Not breaking his gaze, I reached forward and undid his belt, pulling the leather strap through his pants and discarding it on the ground. He groaned as I began to undo his vest and his fingers met mine, helping me with the clasps. Then his shirt was unbuttoned and his chest was bared to me. I stood up from the bed, forcing him to take a step back and pressed my palms to his chest, just feeling him.

As I did, his fingers immediately went to the laces at the back of my dress, expertly undoing the knot at the bottom and dragging his fingers hurriedly through the crossing laces. His hands at my hips he turned me around to gain better access and I heard his growl of satisfaction as the strings gave way to his hands. He pulled the sides of the dress apart, baring my back with my claw and vine markings to him and brought his lips to my spine. I gasped, but he held me tightly around my middle, one arm crossing up between my breasts to clasp my shoulder. He breathed in again and again as he kissed me, working his way down my spine. One hand pulled the straps of my chemise down and off my shoulders and suddenly I was naked, my dress and chemise pooling around my feet.

I tried twisting in his arms, but his grip tightened, refusing me. He continued kissing so slowly and tenderly down my spine, murmuring things against my back. I shivered at the feel of his cool lips against my blazing skin, but I was impatient. I tried twisting again, to no avail. "Rafe," I said, surprised to hear my voice throaty and full of desire. "I need to feel you," I whispered. He turned me around and lowered his head to mine. Our lips met in a frenzy, giving and taking and fighting to taste each other. My arms wrapped around his neck and, hands cupping my backside, he pulled my body close to his so that I could feel him solid against me. I realized he still had his pants on – that wouldn't do. I lowered my hands to unbutton them, but he denied me again. I whimpered, but he shushed me.

"Shh," he hushed against my lips. "All in good time." His lips left mine and I whimpered again, craving the taste of him, but then I gasped. He'd sunk to his knees and put his mouth on my breast. I threw my head back, groaning at the sparks that went off in my chest. His tongue and teeth sucked and teased my nipple until it was peaked and aching for him. My fingers curled into hair, my eyes closed savoring the feeling. He turned his attention to my other breast and I felt desire begin to swirl and pool low within me.

"Rafe," I said, his name a prayer on my lips. I was beginning to lose myself in him, everything that I needed was here in this room with me and I never wanted to leave. His lips left my breast and for a moment he looked up, grinning so satisfied at me. Then he began kissing my abdomen, whispering, Beautiful, Perfect, So Strong, I love you, and I never wanted him to stop. He kissed a path down my thigh and then to the inside of it. I was shaking with apprehension, my eyes closed, hands still in his hair both to remain connected to him and to keep my balance. He was kissing higher and higher up the inside of my thigh until –

"Ahh-," I gasped as his lips found my center. I could have sworn I felt him smile in triumph against me, but all thoughts left me as he began kissing, licking, biting and sucking me with such precision. My legs were shaking, my breaths were coming in stilted gasps. "Rafe," I moaned, unable to communicate with him. I wanted him to stop, I wanted him to keep going. I didn't know what I wanted. Rafe wasn't deterred. He removed a hand that had been pressed against my backside, pinning his mouth to me and his finger came to meet his tongue. His efforts only increased as I felt tension coiling tighter and tighter within me.

My knees buckled and I fell backward onto the bed. Rafe just grabbed my hips, pulled me to the edge of the bed toward his mouth and kept egging me on with fingers and his tongue as if this new position suited him just fine. I was moaning in earnest now and I couldn't help the indecent noises escaping my lips. He always knew how to break me in the most exquisite ways and I was so close. Finally, the tension broke and I was saying his name over and over again as fireworks erupted behind my closed eye lids and my legs shook uncontrollably. Even then he still didn't stop until I was completely still and once again feeling heat beginning to pool low in my belly.

He got off his knees, standing once again between my legs and stared down at me once more. His hair was so beautifully disheveled, color flooded his face and he had a wild look in his eyes. "Do you know how often I have imagined you? Just now as you are, naked before me," he said unashamedly. I felt myself blush, knowing how exposed I was to him. "Did you think of me while you were alone at night and missing me?" he asked. I swallowed and nodded. I sat up again and pulled him closer to me, kissing him all over his stomach. My fingers found his pants and I looked up, a brow raised as I unbuttoned them. Where before he had refused me, now he held my gaze with a captivating stare, hands resting at his sides. I didn't need to look, my fingers had a mind of their own as I undid his pants and pushed them down, down until they too rested on the ground on top of my dress and chemise.

Without breaking eye contact, I brought a hand up to guide him into my mouth. It was my turn. His eyes widened at my brazenness and then his pupils dilated as I began working him as he had worked me. My body sparked to life once more at the taste of him, the taste I had missed so dearly. He closed his eyes and groaned, tilting his head toward the heavens. "What are you doing to me, Lia?" he breathed. I focused now on the task at hand, I wanted to ruin him as he had ruined me. I pulled him closer to me, one hand splaying against his backside as I forced him deeper. As he had added his fingers, I added a hand to help me and his shaking, uneven breaths gave me confidence. As I increased my rhythm, tears pricked my eyes and I opened them to look up at him. He must have felt my chin tilt up to him because he met my gaze. Something broke in him, looking down at me on my knees before him and my lips around him and he let go of any restraint he had been holding back. His fingers wove into my hair and began pushing my head to meet the thrust of his hips. I delighted in the lack of control and we stared at each other, his lips parted as he held nothing back. I wanted more, I wanted to finish him but just as I thought he might at last lose control, he pushed me off him. He lifted me under my arms off the floor and tossed me on the bed again as if I were weightless. He prowled over me, a domineering look in his eye, as if he were a predator and I his prey. A knee nudged my legs apart. He was inches from me now and I closed my eyes and raised my head to kiss him as he—

"No Lia," he said, stopping my kiss. My body was liquid underneath him, my legs spread and ready for him but he halted. "I want to watch you. I want to see the look on your face. Keep your eyes open," he commanded. I did as he asked and then he leaned forward and entered me. I winced as he slowly slid in, and he looked down at me with a sort of wonder in his eyes. He kept pressing in and in, deeper and deeper and my wincing faded replaced with a soft groan as he stretched and filled me completely, my eyelids fluttering. "Eyes open," he growled and I obliged. "Good girl," he said tenderly, still pushing into me. "That's it." When at last he stilled within me, he brought a swift kiss to my lips. "Tell me you're mine," he whispered, lightly kissing my forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks. "Tell me Lia."

"I-," I began, my voice catching in my throat. "I'm yours." He pulled out slightly and thrust in slowly. I groaned. "Whose?" he asked again, kissing my ear and I shuddered. "I'm yours, Rafe. Only yours." For you. Only for you. Forever more. I saw recognition dawn in his eyes as he once again slowly, tantalizingly pulled out and pushed in again.

"Your mine," he whispered against my neck. A slight pause. "And I'm yours."

And then it began. His thrusts weren't slow anymore. His kisses weren't gentle. His hips moved with a punishing force and his lips claimed mine, drowning my screams of pleasure. My nails scratched down his back as he relentlessly gave all of himself to me. This time the coiling in my belly was so much stronger in intensity. He captured my wrists in one of his hands and brought them above my head. Then his other hand caught the back of my knee and brought it up higher on the bed so that my pelvis was tilted up and he plunged in deeper. On that first thrust I felt him hit a spot so deep within me and the sensation was so earth shattering it threatened to finish me right then. Rafe knew it too. "Not yet, Lia. I'm not done with you yet." I whimpered again, disbelieving of the words he spoke so easily that wrestled such sounds from me.

He withdrew from me only to flip me over so that I was on my hands and knees. I felt a sharp sting on my backside from a slap and had no time to reconcile the pain and the pleasure before he spread my legs and pushed into me. My back arched and I moaned so loudly Rafe covered my mouth. A hand in my hair pulled me to come up on my knees so that my back was to his front, even as he remained inside me. The hand not still covering my mouth toyed with my breast and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. "Shh stay quiet, my love." As if he wished to make this impossible for me, he moved the hand at my breast to in between my legs. I sobbed into his hand as he stroked me, as raw and oversensitized as I was. "I know, I know," he soothed. He relented, pushing me down on to my hands again, grasped my hips, and thrust into me furiously. By now I had no other recourse than to just take what he gave me. I thought for sure he would tire after twice I shattered around him, but his stamina was unmatched. I finally felt him begin to waver and I seized on the opportunity. I crouched low but then twisted, forcing him on to his back. He groaned as I hovered over him and then crashed onto him over and over again, his hands at my hips to help our rhythm. When at last I knew we were both so close, I leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "I love you." And that was all it took. He pumped into me four or five more times before he shuddered and whispered my name aloud like a prayer. I collapsed on to him, my cheek resting on his chest, my head tucked neatly under his chin. For a few moments, all that could be heard was our heavy breathing as his chest heaved up and down and I my vision began to clear.