Blood Ward

Chapter 38

It didn't take long for me tofall asleep after Anders crawled up next to me and laid his head downon my stomach. I slept late the next morning, relishing in theextremely comfortable feather bed and Anders' warm breath on myskin. Valkyrie came calling earlier than I had hoped and I got upreluctantly and slipped on the nightgown to answer the door. "I'mnot interrupting?" she asked.

"No, by all means, take mypillow," Anders said sarcastically. Apparently Val didn't hearthe joking lilt in his tone because she blushed.

"I'll come back," she said,starting to back up.

I grabbed her arm. "He'skidding," I said, smiling. I pulled her into the room.

Anders and I were so used tobeing comfortable together in front of our friends that we went rightback to lying in the bed like we were before she came. He rubbed hishand over my stomach slowly as I settled my head on the pillow andran fingers through his hair. "Are you sure I'm notinterrupting?" she asked.

"Grab a seat," I saidpointing to the chair near the fireplace. "Darling, do you mind?"

Anders raised his free hand andgestured to the dying embers which blazed back to life. "Oh my,"Val gasped as Anders settled back down.

"What's going on, Val?" Iasked, drawing her attention back to me from the flames.

"Oh, I wanted to invite you tobreakfast," she said.

I groaned. "It's too early."

"Way too early," Andersagreed.

"Ana," she scolded. "Youshould not be skipping meals."

"Don't worry. I'll make upfor it at dinner," I said, laughing.

"She will," Anders agreed,patting my stomach. "You should see her pack it in anymore."

"Plus, I always feel a bitnauseous when I first wake up, I explained.

After trying to argue a bit more,Val finally gave up, leaving me and Anders to enjoy our morning."Were you really like that before?" he asked.

I snickered. "When it wasexpected of me."

Val kept up with her fussing forthe full two weeks we spent there. I was so glad to march with thearmy that I woke up near dawn and dressed and armed myself as asecurity blanket.

"I'm not giving her a chanceto put me in a sodding dress," I said when Anders questioned meabout my eagerness.

"Out with the frills and inwith the knives," he smirked, sliding a finger across the flowingfabric of my new shirt.

We started our march around noon.Brian had given me 200 men and informed me that neither myself norhis men were under each other's command. That was fine by me.