Chapter 27

At last, Alanna and Jonathan left the reception to retire to their rooms. They began to undress in the open, with the door firmly bolted. Even though Jonathan was not king yet, they were living in the king and queen's chambers. It was more private, and in the coming days before the coronation, privacy was key.

Jonathan finished before Alanna. She wore only a corset, breast band, loincloth, and a thin silk underskirt. He walked over to her and fingered the gold pregnancy charm.

"Are you going to take this off?" he asked, voice at a normal volume but gently caressing her. Suddenly, Alanna's mind jumped to the desert:

"Alanna?" he asked as she prepared for the night. "Do you still wear that charm Mistress Cooper gave you to keep from getting pregnant?"

She showed it to him, hanging half-hidden on the same chain the suspended her ember-stone. "I never go without it."


"I trust you'll leave it off once we're married," he said with a yawn.

I don't want to have children just yet! she realized in a panic. Controlling her emotions, she replied dryly, "We're not married yet, my prince."

He chuckled sleepily. "Of course not, my beautiful Lioness. Come to bed." (Pages 172-173 WWRLAM)

Jonathan didn't know what she saw, but her eyes flashed. She turned away from him without giving an answer. He took a step closer and wrapped his arms around Alanna's waist, pulling her back firmly into his chest. He rested his chin in the space where her neck slid gently into her shoulder.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he asked quietly. Alanna rested her head on Jonathan's and stroked his hand. "If this is going to work, we can't have secrets." She turned in his hold, scarcely clothed body pressed tightly to Jonathan's naked one. She looked up into his eyes and down again. She put on hand to his hair and toyed with it as she spoke.

"I was imaging one day. In the desert-" she was cut off by cool fingertips pressed to her lips. She turned her gaze up and met Jon's eyes. They were serious.

"Don't speak of the desert, Alanna," he told her. "That has passed. We learn from our mistakes and grow stronger because of them. We'll look back on it as a terrible time, but we have to live with what happened."

"Spoken like a true king," Alanna said, voice light but eyes serious. "Anyway. I would like to not have children for a few years yet. But, I'll understand if you want me to take it off for tonight." Jonathan smiled and stroked her hair.

"Tonight, let's leave it off. You can put it back on tomorrow until you are ready to have our children. I don't want to worry about anything tonight, Alanna. I just want to have you as my own." Alanna smiled up at him, eyes glistening.

"I've been yours, Jonathan. I've been yours since the beginning."

Author's Note- Three chapters to go, then there will be a sequel. REVIEW.