Blood Revenge

Chapter 27

I sent Stephanie off the next daywith one of my younger messengers. They were gone four days beforereturning with the others. Julius apologized fiercely for lettingSteph escape and I waved it off. "Apparently she takes after me."

"How fared the battle?"Beriima asked, interrupting our conversation. I noticed she was notcarrying her son, when even I held Dante at 8 years old, resting onmy hip and hugging my neck.

My eyes narrowed. "I killed theprince. His troops backed down."

Val approached as I spoke,rocking Christian. "So it's true? Keifer is dead?"

"You're a widow," Iconfirmed. "It's time you returned to your home and set thingsright."

"If Brian is still ill..."she worried.

"You'll figure it out. If youbecome queen, you can do as you please. Marrywho you please," I stressed, glancing at West.

She smiled as he approached andput a hand on her back. "Thank you, Ana, for everything."

"We owe ye a debt," Westconfirmed.

"There is one thing you can dofor me," I said. "Then we'll be even."

"Name it," Val agreed.

I explained my plan for Steph'spunishment and West said, "O' course we'll take 'er."

"Thank you," I said, lettingDante slide off my hip and giving my back a rest. He still clung tomy leg.

Beri had long since wandered off,realizing I wasn't going to give her details about the battle and Ispotted her arguing with Stefan as he bobbed up and down, rocking acrying Henry. Her side of the argument was muffled as she growled athim through gritted teeth, but his words were clear and sharp, makingpublic a conversation that should have been private. "I can'tbelieve you! I've been missing you and Henry since you left,awaiting your return, then when you finally get back, you climb offthe carriage, shove our son at me and march off to talk battlestrategy with Ana!"

Again her voice was muffled soall I caught were a few words. "I've... I don't... I'm notmade... loving you..."

"Well if I'm such a burden,maybe you shouldn't bother. You don't care about me or our sonanymore," Stefan growled.

"I never cared about ourson," she admitted loudly. "I'm sorry I ever bore him. Isacrificed my life to please you and now I realize that was amistake."

"You're heartless," hesnapped.

She slapped him hard across theface, the sound whipping across the open field, "Beriima," Daerongrabbed her. "Not while he's holding the boy."

She scowled. "I'm sorry,"Stefan grimaced, trying to soothe Henry who was wailing at the top ofhis lungs. "You're not heartless. It's just who you are. I knewthat when we first realized our feelings."

"I remember that day," shewhispered softly. I heard only because Stefan had quieted Henry. Hewas staring warily at her. "You thanked me for taking care of youwhile you adjusted."

He smiled. "And you told me itwas because you wanted to save yourself the embarrassment oftraveling with a bumbling oaf."

"I came to you later, mystomach in knots and said I had lied," she confessed.

"You looked so nervous, Icouldn't help but smile as you told me about how you'd feltbefore I'd been turned and before I'd died, how it had killed youto loose the arrows that ended me." He was smiling for both ofthem.

"Then you kissed me," shewhispered touching her lips as if reliving the moment.

He stepped closer to her. "Willwe ever be truly happy?" he asked.