Brotherhood

Chapter 37

Geric studied Amy's profile as they walked, taking in her high cheekbones, her slender nose, the delicate waves of her hair. She had always been beautiful, but the magic that had transformed her into a wolf seemed to have given her a little extra confidence in her walk, a little more assurance in herself.

She caught him staring, her lips parting softly as she smiled. "What?"

"Nothing," he grinned, giving her a playful nudge. "Just admiring your beauty."

"Do you really find me so fascinating?" she asked dubiously, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks.

"You know I do," Geric replied, kissing her ear. "I always have."

Amy let out that little whining noise in the back of her throat. It was harder to make the sound with a human voice, but Geric's smile widened as he understood her perfectly. "I love you too, Princess."

As they walked back toward the palace, Amy became more and more withdrawn and Geric could sense fear rolling off her in waves. He held out a hand to stop her, drawing her into his chest.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly. "I can sense your fear."

Amy looked up at him, her amber eyes wide. "What if they don't accept me? The people? My family?"

Geric held her close, resting his chin on top of her head. "They will. It may take some time to get used to how things are now, but the people love you. And your family loves you. Your father would rather have seen you become a wolf than lose you, that's how much he cares for you."

Amy smiled, her mood lightening slightly. They approached the palace through a secret entrance, not wanting to make a scene but as they entered, her father and mother were waiting for them in the corridor.

"We heard you were coming," her father said, enveloping Amy in a hug. "How do you feel?"

"Better," Amy replied truthfully. "All thanks to Geric."

To Geric's surprise, the king bowed low to him, a mark of respect Geric had never in his wildest dreams imagined that the king would give him.

"Thank you for saving our daughter," he said as the queen hugged Amy. "And for helping save our kingdom."

Geric nodded, smiling slightly. He didn't want to interrupt this reunion, but there was something he needed to speak with the king about before he lost his nerve.

"Sire, may I speak with you for a moment in private?" he asked as Amy and her mother spoke quietly off to one side. King Merek nodded, leading Geric into his study and shutting the door.

"I think I can guess what this is about, but I want to hear what you have to say," the king said, sitting down and gesturing for Geric to do the same. Geric took the offered seat, looking Amy's father directly in the eyes. They were the same shade of brown that Amy's had been.

"Your Majesty, I love your daughter with all my heart," he began carefully. "She is brilliant and kind and funny and I believe she will make an excellent queen one day. I know that you don't like our plans to wed, but I hoped that by coming to you and asking for your permission I might change your mind."

King Merek stood up, pacing around his desk toward Geric. "You changed my mind the day you saved Amy's life," he said quietly, his eyes never leaving Geric's. "I could see how much the decision to turn her troubled you and that was when I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love her."

Geric was speechless as he watched the king, wondering briefly if this was real.

"My daughter is much wiser and less stubborn than her father," the king chuckled. "She's right, an alliance with the King of Wolves will bring some much needed peace to Colmar. But more important than that is an alliance with a man that she loves and that loves her in return. Nothing could make me happier than to see the two of you wed."

Geric grinned as King Merek had a servant bring two goblets of wine into the room. "A toast to your upcoming marriage! May it be a long and happy one."

Geric drank some of the wine, the smile never leaving his face. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

. . . . . . .

Afterward, Geric found Amy sitting on the steps to the kitchen in the shade of the tallest chimney as the light melted into sunset. She looked so peaceful, her long dark hair hanging loose over her shoulder and her amber eyes gazing at nothing, she took his breath away. He took a seat beside her, looking down at her with a smile in his eyes.

"I realized something today," he said mischievously, his eyes twinkling with humor. "I have been a scoundrel."

Amy looked up at him, a little startled by his words. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I never actually asked you to marry me properly," he replied, watching her expression for any change. A soft smile formed on Amy's lips as she raised her eyebrows incredulously.

"After all we've been through, that's what you're worried about?"

Geric breathed out a laugh, letting go of the breath he had been holding and grinned with relief. Amy couldn't help grinning back, and they laughed lightly at nothing. He looked down at her hand and turned it palm up, running his fingers over the creases and merging his fingers with hers. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed.

"I never imagined my life turning out this way," she whispered. "It's all so new and exciting and a little scary. I'm a little nervous to rule Colmar someday."

"Don't be," Geric said quietly. "You are exactly what the people of Colmar, and I, what we all need."

Amy squeezed his hand. "Am I really?"

"You are everything and more, Amy," he grinned, kissing her slowly, breathlessly. He still couldn't believe she was his. "And so, Princess Ameline Auclaire, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes." She smiled and laughed. "Yes, of course, yes."

Geric smiled slowly and broadly, humor lighting his eyes. "Good. Because I, Gericault Dunbroch, King of Wolves, declare right now that you're beautiful and you're perfect and I'll slay any man who tries to take you from my side. And now, Princess, may we seal the bargain with a kiss?"

She answered by leaning over and kissing him first. A spark kindled deep in his chest and he leaned in, framing her face between his hands. He felt sure as bones and deep as blood that he had found his place.

Their embrace was interrupted by the same young page clearing his throat. Amy looked down but Geric wasn't embarrassed at all. In fact, he felt his grin widening.

"The king would like an audience with you two if you aren't otherwise occupied."

Amy's blush deepened but Geric laughed and nodded. The page bade them follow, taking two steps for their every one like a short-legged dog. He stopped before the door to the throne room, his hand gesturing that they should enter.

"What's going on?" Amy asked, raising her eyebrows in question.

"You'll see."

The doors opened and there was a kind of silence in the room because no one spoke, but in that silence, Geric could hear one hundred hearts beating, one hundred mouths breathing, and could see one hundred hands that were fisted at the chest of the soldiers of the royal army, showing loyalty, their heads inclined respectfully.

"Captains," King Merek said commandingly. "Please welcome my daughter and her betrothed, Prince Gericault Dunbroch, hero of the battle of Minnings."

The soldiers hit their fists against their chests roaring their approval. Amy smiled, whispering to Geric, "I think this means my father approves of you."

"No," Geric said, kissing her knuckles. "I think this means he approves of us."