A Beast's Tale

Chapter 69

We had a lot to talk about over that week at the chateau. Ivetta had accumulated a lot of questions in our time together, and she peppered me with them throughout the days and nights. We had quite a few discussions about the future, especially covering topics that had been too dangerous to broach prior to the wedding. She wasn't holding anything back. I was. Just because we were married didn't mean the danger to her was past. It was greater now than ever before, and it was more important to me than ever before that nothing should happen to her. She didn't need to know everything. I wanted her smiling and carefree, not worrying about the troop of my knights who were on guard a mere five miles from the chateau, patrolling the circumference twenty-four hours a day to ensure we would have a peaceful, safe honeymoon.

As we were, the dirty laundry was her biggest concern. I saw her casting disparaging glances at the growing piles in the corner, and although they annoyed me, too, I wasn't about to let her spend any part of our honeymoon doing laundry. But the solution was simple. Keep her distracted.

I wasn't having any trouble doing that.

The morning of our fifth day, I decided she was at risk of taking the sheets straight to the laundry room if she touched them, so I set about changing the bedding while she performed her morning toilette in the bathroom. I'd never done such menial work before, but I'd seen her do it hundreds of times, and I didn't have to worry about making the bed neatly. We just needed clean sheets. That was all.

Fortunately, the servants had stocked the master bedroom with a plentiful supply.

"Thanks for doing that."

I glanced up to see her leaning in the doorway, a small smile playing across her lips as she watched me.

"It's not hard," I replied dismissively.

"Are you insulting my abilities?" she asked teasingly.

"I'm complimenting mine."

"Then maybe you'd like to try making breakfast this morning."

I straightened up and smirked at her. "No."

She walked up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest as she hugged me. I returned the gesture, savoring the feel of her in my arms. She always fit there. From the first moment I embraced her, this had been where she belonged. Her place to my right in bed, her hand in mine, her small frame in my embrace - she filled in the gaps I hadn't known existed. Nothing was right without her anymore.

"Chevalier?" she asked.

"Yes?" I responded, stroking her long, silky hair.

"You're not allowed to die in an assassination attempt or some war."

"I don't intend to."

"Good. Because if I have to raise our children alone, I'm going to be very angry with you."

I chuckled. "Is that the only reason?"

"Well, I don't really like politics, but I'm not going to let a bunch of wizened court ministers rule Rhodolite when I'm still the queen."

"And?"

She pulled back to look up at me shyly. "And I don't think I can live without you anymore."

I knew I couldn't live without her anymore. She was my everything. I leaned in as she stood up on tiptoe, our lips meeting in the middle for a long kiss.

"What would you like for breakfast this morning?" she asked, settling back on her feet. "Eggs? Bacon? Toast?"

"Surprise me."