Mara had been insufferable. For days. Luckily Karigan had been too busy with paperwork, meetings, and new Rider problems to allow Mara much time to harass her. Not that Mara hadn't tried. Karigan sat, stiff and tired, bent over more papers at her small desk in her room. The lantern cast just enough light for her to see her mess of papers. She'd lost track of what time it was, but knew it was later than she wished it was.

There was soft knock at her door and when she heard the latch click her sighed. "Mara. I'm too busy. Until you give me a new a rider accountant, you don't get to bother me about Zachary."

A hand landed on her shoulder and Karigan spun in her chair, palming her small dagger as she moved. She had the knife against their neck before her eyes recognized Zachary standing still behind her.

"Gods!" she exclaimed and dropped her arm. "You can't do that!"

Zachary chuckled softly and eased the dagger from her hand. "I'm sorry, love."

Karigan sighed but couldn't stop the smile. Zachary set her dagger on her cluttered desk and sat on the edge of her bed.

"You've been ignoring my summons. I had to take matters into my own hands."

Karigan snorted and glanced at her desk, cover in papers, ledgers, notes and pens. "I've been busy. Mara is being far too picky in selecting someone to take over the accounts and I still feel like I'm behind in the Chief duties and all these new riders are just…" she threw her hand up in the air. "It's like I'm their mother trying to keep them all in line."

Zachary laughed at her and pulled her onto the bed next to him. "Come here."

"I don't have time," she protested weakly, but settled under his arm.

Zachary wrapped her arm around her and tucked her tight against his side. She felt him press his lips to her temple and she sunk further into his embrace. "You need to let yourself rest too."

Karigan turned into him and slipped an arm around his waist. "Hmm."

"So, what are you telling Mara?"

Karigan laughed and tucked her legs up onto the bed and curled into his side. "Nothing and its driving her absolutely mad."

"Ask her about Fastion. That should get her to leave you alone for a moment or two."

Karigan pulled back to look Zachary in the eye. "What!"

Zachary chuckled. "Only my intuition but I don't think I'm wrong."

"Oh my. I never thought I'd see that." Karigan laughed.

Zachary smiled and cupped her cheek. He ran his thumb along her cheek and Karigan's chuckle quieted down. She gripped his wrist and leaned into the soft touch.

"Missed you."

Karigan smiled and turned to kiss his palm. She nestled back against him and Zachary slipped his arm back around her waist. He moved his hand beneath her shirt and gently ran his fingers across her back. His fingers danced along her scars, some thicker than others, some raised, others just lines across her skin. She could feel most of his touches, but a lot of the scar tissue was numb to sensations.

"Does it bother you?" She asked softly.

"No. Does it bother you?"

Karigan hooked her arm around his neck. "I don't know. I have many scars. None as bad as those but…" she shrugged against him. "There are times I wish—"

Her words were stopped by Zachary pulling her back and pressing mouth against hers. He splayed his hand against her back and kissed her fiercely. Karigan answered his kiss and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Zachary half lifted her onto his lap and added his other hand to her back, pressing and touching as much of her skin as he could.

He finally pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. Karigan was out of breath and a little dizzy. Zachary rubbed and touched her scars, her thick worm scars, and pressed her close to his chest.

"Do not finish what you were going to say. If I could have spared you from what happened to you, all that has happened to you, I would but I would never change how you are now. You are beautiful. Do not think you are anything less than a queen."

Karigan ducked her head and buried into the crook of his neck. Tears pricked her eyes, but she pressed her eyes into his neck and didn't let them fall. She took a deep breath and pulled back enough to see his face. She smiled at him and ran her hand along his cheek. His beard was shorter than before. After returning this winter he'd kept it shorter than he used to.

She held his face between her hands and smiled at him, didn't know what to say. Karigan kissed him softly instead. "I like this. Shorter. It's a good change."

Zachary chuckled softly and pulled her back into a long, languid kiss. Soon it was teeth and tongues and roaming hands. Fingers moved across her ribs and upward. Karigan pulled back with a gasp. Heat coiled and settled deep in her. Her skin was hot and settled against Zachary, she knew he felt the same. Zachary leaned his head against hers, breathing fast.

"You should go," Karigan panted.

"Hmm. Give me a minute."

Karigan chuckled and buried her nose back in his neck. She took a deep breath and slowly rolled off him into her bed.

"I had something I wanted to tell you, but I was distracted."

Karigan laughed low in her throat and turned her head to look at him.

"I sent a summons to your father."

She sat up straighter. "Oh?"

Zachary smiled softly at her. "I asked that he and your aunts come to the castle so I might ask him permission."

"Permission?" Karigan gripped his hand. "Permission to…permission to marry me?"

"Yes."

Karigan smiled but then remembered her father, aunts, all of them would be here…talking to Zachary and her smile faded a little. "Prepare yourself."

He chuckled. "Oh, I remember when they were last here."

"When should they be here?"

"In a week or so. Pending any weather problems on the road."

"Oh." Karigan felt a jolt of shock. "That soon?"

Zachary laughed at the shock on her face. "Yes, sorry. You've been putting me off."

Karigan chuckled and pointed to the pile of forgotten paperwork on her desk. "Not all my fault."

He squeezed her hand and stood. "I will see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, I will try to step away for a moment."

Zachary kissed her on her forehead before slipping out into the dark hall. Karigan let out a long breath and sagged on her bed. She put a hand to her chest and her still pounding heart.

"Shit," she swore softly and pushed herself upright. Sleep wouldn't come now, no matter how hard she tried or how tired she was. She settled herself back at her desk, and after running her hand through her hair attempted to return to her paperwork.

Sorry for the long break! Between building a house, planning a wedding, running an etsy shop, and just normal work time has been short. I do have another chapter planned in my head though so bear with me!