New Beginnings

Chapter 19

Kissing Rollo was incredible. I could feel the surprise on his lips when they met mine. He didn't pull away though. Instead he deepened the kiss instantly and pulled me closer with one hand at the back of my neck and the other on my back. My arms found their way up and around his neck. We fit together perfectly.

I was breathless when Rollo pulled away from my lips. He didn't release me from his arms instead he rested his forehead against mine. A big smile was plastered on his face my expression was a mirror of his. I noticed that he was breathing heavily as well, it wasn't just me. I wondered if there was any way that I affected him the same way that he affected me. Surely he must know the way I was beginning to feel about him, I couldn't tell how he felt about me. His mask was a difficult one to read.

"That was unwise" he said without his smile faltering. And I nodded against his forehead because I knew why. Grey was here and we were out in the open where anyone who was walking by could have seen what we had just done. I felt a blush rush up to my cheeks at the idea that anyone could have witnessed our first kiss "But I don't care." He said "I should be able to kiss my wife wherever and whenever I want to."

I smiled at him because I didn't care either. It was nice to be referred to as his wife. It was a new title to me. I had only ever been called a daughter or a healer. Hearing Rollo refer to me as his wife felt good like he was acknowledging me and my position like he had finally accepted me. Rollo's acceptance made me feel completely safe I knew that he would protect me against anything that could come after me.

The only thing that I was afraid of was Grey but being here with Rollo made me feel safe. Grey didn't have power over me anymore I was protected with Rollo here. Rollo kissed me lightly on the forehead then pulled away from me with one arm lingering across my shoulders holding me comfortably next to him. We walked side by side into his house.

What we didn't know was that we had been watched, Grey had seen us. She had been on her way to confront Rollo about never coming to get her. She had been on her way to give Rollo a piece of her mind for choosing someone else instead of her. For backing out of the betrothal agreement that was grounds for war.

Grey wanted to remind Rollo that any act of war between their people was on him. If war came to pass Rollo would be the one to blame because of his foolish behavior of choosing a different woman over her.

When Grey first discovered that Rollo was gone she had wanted to kill him, but then she learned about his secret wife and she wanted to torture him. Killing Anna would accomplish this quite easily. When the house came into view from between the trees Grey could see Rollo and Anna walking side by side. Then she saw them kiss. That should have been her kiss. She should be the one laughing and talking with Rollo. She should have been his wife. She should be the one kissing him out in broad daylight where anyone could see, only a wife could do that. Kissing that girl out in the open was almost the same thing as declaring it from the roof tops. Grey felt something that she had never experienced before. She felt jealousy. And she was angry. That poor little excuse of a girl was hardly anything to be jealous of. Grey was a hardened warrior. Strong and fierce. That girl was nothing compared to Grey. She couldn't understand why she was jealous, but she was.

In the instant that their lips met a red hot rage burned Grey. In that instant she knew there was a war on its way. Before Grey could ever leave Rollo's home, blood would be spilt.

Grey thought it more appropriate that Anna should die. Then Rollo would be just as alone as Grey was. He deserved to feel abandoned and forgotten. He deserved to feel the pain and loneliness that Grey felt. It would be more appropriate that Anna died. That way Rollo could feel the sting of betrayal knowing that a potential ally had killed his wife. He would feel failure because he couldn't protect her, not completely.

He would turn to Grey when Anna was gone. Grey would have what she wanted in the end. She always got what she wanted.