LITMIR.BIZ

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and Melenthia embraced her. “Come, Your Highness, let’s get you out of these dusty clothes. I have something all picked out for you. I think you’ll like it. I know His Majesty will.”

      They went up the stairs and left her companions with Emerick to settle themselves in as well. As anxious as she was to see Dain and be in his arms once again, she was relieved he hadn’t been home. She knew he would see a difference in her, and although she wanted to believe he wouldn’t be disappointed, she wanted to make herself as lovely as possible to hide the changes she had and make his heart beat faster at the sight of her. She laughed inside. She couldn’t believe that she actually wanted to be in a dress, with her hair pulled up and her face made up. My, she really had changed. She never thought she would ever feel like this. They went into her rooms and began the ritual.

      ***

      A couple of hours later, Melenthia came downstairs, bathed and dressed. She had on a cream colored silk dress with a gold velvet corset, freshwater pearls lining the low neckline and along the point of the sleeves on the top of her hands. She wore the necklace he had given her, with earrings that matched, Dallen’s necklace in safe keeping under her pillow. When she entered the hall, there were only a couple of people present: Tomaz, Sol and another man whom she had never seen before. He was a head taller than Dain and quite handsome, with jet black longish hair. He was wearing black woolen hosen and a rich maroon colored velvet doublet buttoned up the front and velvet ankle boots. He wore a sword at his waist in a scabbard, and he was talking with Sol.

      When she entered the room, the man gazed in her direction and stopped talking. He looked at her, smiling with all his straight white teeth and it lit up his entire face. The way he smiled reminded her of Dain, which gave her stomach a lurch at the longing she had to see him. He was not present, so she assumed he still had not returned. The young man looked at Sol, who nodded and motioned him forward. When they reached her, Sol introduced them.

      “This is Lord Ruan de Gracy, Melenthia. He is the Earl of Hallmar, and His Majesty’s cousin.”

      The man bowed low and took her hand gently in his own, kissing her knuckles as he gazed into her eyes. When he stood erect again, he continued to gaze at her, evidently mesmerized, then spoke, “He was right. Your eyes are extraordinary.”

      She looked to Sol confused, then back to Ruan. “Who?”

      “My cousin, lady. He said they were mesmerizing, and he didn’t exaggerate. They truly are.” She blushed a bit, a small heat rising through her ears. He snapped out of his stupor and regained his refined composure. “Forgive me, lady, for my lack of tact. He just spoke of you in such fine detail that I feel I already know you.”

      She smiled at him then. “Hmm, well he never mentioned you.”

      He was taken aback, then laughed heartily out loud. “I’m sure not. I doubt he wanted the competition.”

      Now she laughed, finally feeling less anxious. A servant brought her a glass of wine, and she sipped it as she talked to Ruan. He was quite charming and quick witted, and she was growing quite fond of him even in the few minutes that she had been with him. He was quite a rogue. He willingly told her of their childhood escapades and how Emerick had the insurmountable chore of trying to keep them reined in and raise them as well behaved men, which, he admitted, was almost a failure.

      She had been sitting in the hall for about twenty minutes, and he was telling her another story of them as boys, when he suddenly stopped talking and glanced toward the door. She looked confused at his pause then noticed no one else in the room was talking anymore either. She turned and saw Dain standing in the doorway. She stood from her chair and started to approach him. He made no moves toward her so she stopped, wondering if he was unhappy to see her. He was not smiling. He just stared at her. She decided to go to him instead and face whatever emotions he was feeling. She got to his side, stood in front of him and reached up to touch his face. It was obvious that he had just come in, his riding clothes were dusty, and his woolen leggings were wet from the rain. The guards must have informed him that she had returned.

      He put his hand on top of hers, looking at her face, gazing into her eyes. He seemed to be reassuring himself she was no figment he was seeing, but flesh. A look of relief and deep emotion came over him, and he grabbed her in a strong embrace, holding on tight, smelling her hair and feeling her warm soft cheek against his. The hug was killing her side, her bruised ribs screaming in protest, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to ruin the moment, the moment that she had longed for for months.

      When he finally let go, a tear was running down her face. He kissed her. Long and hard and passionately right in front of everyone in the room. He didn’t care who was watching or what they thought about this open display of emotion and love. He never wanted her out of his sight again. He was not the same while she was away, and he never wanted to feel lost again.

      When he finally parted he was overcome with emotion, and his voice quavered ever so slightly. “Melenthia, I missed you. I can’t even begin to tell you how very happy I am to see you again and to have you back in my arms. I’m so relieved to see you safe. I never want to be apart from you again.”

      “I missed you too, Dain. Thoughts of you and the memory of your face kept me going in hard times. I, too, am glad to be home.”

      It took what felt like hours to compose himself enough to turn his attention away and acknowledge everyone else in the room. He took her by the hand and led her to the table, patting his cousin on the back as he went. After he was settled, her at his side, the others took seats at the table as well. Ruan smiled slyly at his cousin and in jest said, “I have been happily filling your beauty in on all of our wild escapades as boys and all the trouble we caused for Emerick.”

      “I should’ve known.” He turned to Melenthia. “There are things that my dear cousin will always exaggerate on, you must understand. I cannot confirm or deny anything he has told you unless I know what it is that’s been said.”

      She smiled at him, but looked at Ruan. “Rogues will always have secrets, I’m sure, but I’ll take what has been revealed and make my own assessment on whether it might be true or not. They were grand stories nonetheless.”

      “Hmmm. I’m not sure if I want to know what over-exaggerations he has come up with after all. I’ll allow you to have secrets together, and I won’t press you about them. Obviously you have gotten under my cousin’s skin just as you did Emericks all those months ago. You just seem to have that gift, and I love you more for it.”

      She blushed slightly as he gazed deep into her eyes. She was anxious for the time when they would be able to be alone. There was so much to tell him. She doubted she would have the strength to tell him all the tales tonight though, for the reunion in each other’s arms would be too hard to resist.

      They ate dinner and talked into the evening, then Dain excused himself and Melenthia, sneaking off to be by themselves for the rest of the night. She waited for him in his rooms while he bathed, then as the door opened and he strode in, blond hair still damp, she ran into his arms. He held her tight again, the searing pain in her ribs forgotten for the passion in her heart. He kissed her eyes and neck. He pulled her away from him for just a moment or two to look her over. He didn’t seem disappointed at what he saw, but she could tell he saw something different.

      “Tell me what you’re thinking, Dain. Am I that different?”

      “No. I knew there would be differences in you when you returned. There wouldn’t be any way for you to leave for that long and train and not be different, physically or mentally. But what I see is still the most beautiful and sensuous woman I have ever laid eyes on. I love you more now than when you left. I didn’t think I’d make it without you in my arms. I missed your laugh and your fervor. I missed your smile and the joy I see every time you see something that pleases you. You exude your happiness from every pore, and I’m addicted to you.”

      “I was afraid you would find me different in a way that was unpleasing to you.”

      “Never, Melenthia. You are my life now. I sense and see a difference but it only makes me feel more passion for you and

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