Emalynn POV

In a dream…

I was running from all of them. From the mountain lion, the centipede, the saber tooth bears, the bandits, the mercenaries, the ugly dark elf, and the giant frost dragon. I tumbled through every battle all over again. Every time I nearly lost Rory. No matter what form she faced them in, she nearly died. It is always a hair from death. I felt myself consumed by fear and doubt. It was the same weight that crushed me when Myrra didn’t see me. She didn’t know me.

Now, I am running down the Road to Elves alone. No one was around in any direction. A thunderstorm was brewing behind me. The temperature dropped, and the chill was eating at my bones. My voice called out in vain. I was helpless to the snow, wind, and thunder beating me. I fell to the ground, unable to move. Shivering as I felt my last breath leave my body, a ray of heat broke through the storm. It was sunlight, cutting through the darkness.

Waking up…

“Ugh!” My voice sounded rough. “Someone turn off the damn sun.”

Sunlight slapped me in the face, and I needed to find a new place to shine. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by red strands of yarn. Never mind, it’s just Rory’s insane hair. Why was she in my bed though? Blinking made my head feel like it might split in half from pain. Try as I might I couldn’t recall what I could have done to provoke such sinister pains this early in the morning. There was even a metallic aftertaste in my mouth that made me want to puke. Am I sick? Did all that food the brute and I cooked last night do this to me?

“Would you stop fidgeting, Ema? Either get up or go back to bed,” Ro demanded. She was grumpy this morning.

I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head roared fiercely against that plan. My stomach demanded that I visit the bathroom. “Ro, can you help me to the bathroom? I feel sick.”

“Well, no shit,” Ro huffed as she made her way out of bed. I realized we were in her room not mine. “Alcohol does that to you. Welcome to hangover town, Ema. The next twelvish hours are going to suck for you.” She got me on my feet and guided me to the toilet where I proceeded to vomit everything.

When I finally finished, she handed me a wet rag. “So, this is what a hangover feels like. Is it because of the alcohol that I can’t remember anything after making dinner last night?”

Ro gave me a hearty chuckle. “Yep. It will come back to you though, and when it does, it’s your fault for drinking without me.” She left me in the bathroom and got herself ready for the day.

I wonder what she meant when she said it was my fault. Standing up from the bathroom floor was difficult. I made my way to my room, so I could at least change my clothes. This green dress needed a good wash after last night. There were drips of dried blood on my dress. Shit. Checking the mirror, I didn’t see any cuts or wounds anywhere. Just a few love bites from making out with my brute. A warm feeling flowed through me, and I had a sudden need to see him.

One quick shower and grooming session later, I was dressed in my black shorts, tan tunic, and black light armor. After all the traveling Ro and I have done, I only had one casual outfit that I wore yesterday. Besides, I wanted to be prepared for whatever today might bring. My desire to find Braxton was growing with each passing moment until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I raced out of my room to find my brute. Huh… When did I decide he was officially mine? Our courtship just started, Ema. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Leaving my room, I instantly knew he was close, so I jumped off the banister of the second story and glided into his lap. His hands were around me, pulling me close to his chest. Braxton was happy to see me though I seem to have surprised him. My headache was there in the back of my mind, but I was too focused on my giant orc. Shit, he is a giant next to me. That means all of him must be a giant. I don’t know if I will be able to handle it if we mate each other! I am such a small person.

“Woah! Slow down, Emera. You are like twenty steps ahead of me with size panicking.” Braxton reassured me.

I went to let my head rest on his chest when I realized I didn’t say anything out loud about my freak out over his gigantic…body. “How did you know?” I pulled away from him to study his face. He looked exhausted. Braxton had dark circles under his eyes and his complexion was lighter green than usual. That’s when I felt his heavy exhaustion slam into me like he had been fighting a losing battle all night.

“It’s a long story, little archer,” Braxton sighed.

I was about to question him further when Silas brought breakfast to us on the couch. Silas looked ragged himself, and I got the distinct feeling I was missing something. Something big happened last night, and it was locked away in my memory by a splitting hangover headache. Rory appeared from the back door with some kindling for the fire someone had started early this morning. She looked tired like her body was sluggish. No one wanted to tell me what I was missing until Silas and Rory took their places on the other sofa.

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“Okay. We’re all here. Someone want to tell me what’s going on?” I tried to say it nicely, but I was annoyed by their reluctance to say anything to me.

Braxton cleared his throat, causing me to focus on him. “You’ve been asleep for three days.”

“What?” My confusion displayed on my face. “No, Rory said I had a hangover from alcohol which means we were drinking last. Remember? A little liquid courage to celebrate our news.”

“Yes, well, you shared your news that night in a big display of affection. Then, you had a bad reaction to being drunk and vomited all over the villa while you were shifting from one form to the other. You used so much mana that you were out cold for three days.” Silas explained.

That’s why they were being so serious. I caused a chaotic mess and worried them all half to death right afterward. Three days, huh? Rory must have had me locked in her room the whole time although none of this explains how Braxton knew what I was thinking about.

“We’re getting to that,” he answered like it was normal.

I pinched his cheeks in retaliation, but he just shoved a piece of toast in my mouth. My stomach rumbled with hunger as I swallowed the toast in a hurry. He fed me more and told me just to listen for a bit. I let my hunger win over any ideas of protest as I continued to munch on my breakfast.

“So,” Rory began. “Your grand declaration of courtship happened while you were both plastered and making out according to Braxton.” Braxton nodded along and I had no reason to doubt him.

“Did you walk in on us doing something?” I asked, impulsively.

Silas shook his head. “No, we arrived after you both drunkenly made your declaration.”

I was confused again. Did I mate with Braxton and forget about it? I felt my cheeks begin to burn at that thought.

“No, you bit me, Emera.” Braxton was embarrassed at his words.

“We are having a serious discussion over a love bite? Did I bite too hard or something?” My voice was failing me. I was embarrassed, confused, and way too uncomfortable for this conversation. At least, the blood on my dress makes sense now.

“Ema, you marked Braxton as your mate that night, which is why he can hear your thoughts. Your magic has bonded you two together just like my parents were.” Rory was blunt. “The mark seems to be permanent, meaning you two were fated for each other. In a way, you married Braxton through magic while you were drunk.”

Well, that hit me like a ton of bricks. “I…I marked you?” I looked up at Braxton’s compassionate eyes. He wasn’t upset. In fact, I could only feel exhaustion and joy coming from him.

“You did,” he smiled. He moved the collar of his tunic where my bite had taken root. Inside the bite was a bow and arrow tattooed image.

“The image… Was it created from my magic?” I asked no one in particular, but someone answered yes. The mark entranced me as I ran my finger over it causing Braxton to shudder in…delight?

“Easy, little archer. It’s very sensitive, especially to your touch.” Braxton nearly moaned as I pulled my hand away.

His exhaustion seemed to increase the longer we talked. “Okay. You can hear my thoughts, and I can sense your feelings. Will I ever get to hear your thoughts too?” I pouted at not getting to hear his thoughts.

Rory chuckled, “Yeah, but you will have to mate first.”

My body froze as my brain processed her words. Cheeks were red. My ears dropped behind my head, and I buried my nose in Braxton’s chest. Luckily, he moved the breakfast to the side table, so I didn’t knock anything over. His scent washed over me and calmed my mind. Without thinking, I let my hands slip under his shirt for more direct contact. If I could bury myself in his embrace, I would never come up for air. He held me tightly and yawned.

“Why are you so tired?” I finally asked because his exhaustion was starting to overwhelm me.

Braxton winced at my question. “We discovered that I could read your mind while you were out. For three days, you have been moving from one nightmare to another. I was experiencing it with you. All of it.”

He felt it all. Heard every word that I cried. My nightmare had taken over his mind and spilled all of my secrets in a matter of days. Braxton would know my real name. Where I came from. All the training I endured to get where I am now. What was there left to tell him?

“Emera, I don’t know all of that,” he whispered to me. “Although I suspected you might be using an alias.” He cupped my cheek. “You can tell me things when you're ready. It seems we have forever anyway.”

Rory coughed to get my attention. “As cute as that was, we need to make plans to leave soon. We only have two weeks until you guys will need to be locked away somewhere safe.”

“Why?” I asked over my shoulder.

“Your animal instincts will take over to complete the bond…” she trailed off.

“Oh,” Braxton and I said together.

“What about the pirate thing?” Braxton wondered, but he kept his eyes on me.

“Rosewyn and I took care of that while Emera was ruining the villa. Captain Boom was arrested, and the slaves freed.” Silas made it sound like it was a business matter he handled easily.

Suddenly, a white owl flew in from the kitchen window. It was the same owl Rory and I saw Silas using to communicate with the queen. It had a message tied with a red ribbon around its leg. Silas opened the message, and his face became grim. It must be bad news.

“The ‘Red Lady’ is wanted for crimes against merchants from the Kingdom of Solis. They demand Queen Amory and Prince Silas hand over the rogue assassin immediately. In response, the queen has summoned all of us to the Court of Desfyra at our earliest convenience. She warns us that bounty hunters have entered Desfyra in search of the famous ‘Red Lady’.” Silas read the rest of the message quietly.

“Then, we need to get on a boat today to get us to Desfyra the day after tomorrow,” Braxton suggested.

“You can’t go anywhere in your condition, Braxton,” I argued.

“We don’t have a choice. Staying here puts the whole city in danger. Besides, I can sleep on the boat if you’re with me, Emera.” He was too good at persuading me to agree to shit.

“Fine,” I huffed.

“Let’s get moving,” Rory encouraged as she zoomed up the stairs.

It will work. I know Rory and Silas will defend Braxton to their last breath, but I had a sinking feeling we were headed for more challenges in Desfyra than when we were on the run through Gleaca. Politics were getting involved in our lives. Elias, Myrra, and Leah always warned us against getting involved with politics if we wanted a free life. I wonder how worried I should be about answering the queen’s summons. Getting off the sofa, I noticed Braxton was sound asleep. His dreams were giving me warm feelings. Grinning, I gave him a small kiss and went upstairs to pack. “Once bitten and twice smitten, brute.”