A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(100)

“No! You are very much needed here. And I respect you deeply. Please do not threaten to leave me. It terrifies me.”

She immediately felt guilty for saying the one thing she knew he feared most. He was not a man of many fears, but when it came to her he was full of them. Fear for her safety. Fear for her happiness. Fear he would never deserve her. He told her this constantly and it was unfair of her to use it against him.

“I won’t leave you,” she reassured him with dulcet sincerity. “I love you. My home is here now. With you and the child we have created. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I simply don’t want you to forget that I am a woman who can rule. My opinions and my actions can help you. Please use me to your advantage.”

“Then tell me what you would do…would you send troops to intercept him on his march toward us, leaving us vulnerable in the absence of protection, or would you wait for him to come to us and keep all of our soldiers protectively about us.”

“He should not be allowed to get close to Temple City. The city is made up of buildings most of which are only half built. They would provide little to no protection to the citizens and you have no city walls built as yet.”

“They are in the plans, but we have not yet had opportunity to begin them. The only protective walls we have are the ones around the temple itself, and even those are not finished. Besides, walls cannot keep out the attacks of his shamans.” He sighed, touching his forehead to hers. “We are of like mind on this. But I worry about leaving you here, as you pointed out, poorly protected in my absence.”

“Your absence?” she echoed, not liking the feeling of dread that was stealing over her.

“Yes. I intend to lead my army against my brother.”

Ariana felt a knife of cold dread and panic slice through her soul. “No! You cannot put yourself at risk! What if you should be killed or taken captive? What would become of us then? Your brother would not hesitate to—“

“I know. You see why I wanted you away from here? If you are in anonymous hiding he cannot find you. If something were to happen to me, you could then travel back to the safety of Capitol City in Saren lands. I know Jutsin and Mason would see you safe and one day, if you give birth to a son, they would help you to place him in his rightful throne.”

“And embroil the Sarens in a Kiltian war of supremacy? You think much of Jutsin and Mason.”

“I think they are honorable men who care for you a great deal. And I know you would care about my people and your son’s heritage. You would do everything to see him seated where he belongs, a true raji-mother.”

“Stop,” she whispered frantically, as if speaking the words aloud might make them come to pass. “Please don’t put yourself at risk. Send Lindo or one of your other trusted men. Stay safe with me here.”

“I wish I could,” he said regretfully. “But I cannot ask my men to do anything that I would not do for myself.”

“You did not fight in the wars! You sent others to—“

“I did fight in the wars,” he corrected her gently. “Every major battle had me at its head.”

She looked at him, aghast. “Please don’t do this,” she whispered frantically. “Please don’t leave me.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry. I will have Lindo with me at all times. He will have my back.”

“Take me with you! Don’t leave me here alone!”

“You will be with my mother. You will be protected.”

“Not adequately. You said so yourself. You will be taking troops with you, away from us. I would be safest with you!”

“Ariana,” he said softly. Scolding. “This is why I wanted to send you away from the temple. But you said you wished to stay.”

“I wished to stay with you. I did not know you would be leaving!”

“Come now, I have made up my mind. Let’s not argue about it any longer.”

Tears of frustration burned inside of her. She could tell by his resignation that he would not be swayed. She had grown used to seeing that stalwart obstinacy every time she tried to get him to relax in their bed and let his animal nature come out to play. In this he would not be moved, and for the same reason as that. To keep her ultimately protected.

“There must be something I can do to at least help you,” she said desperately. “Some way to protect you.”

“Protect our child. It will protect me to know you are both safe. Then my attention will not be torn between you and the battle ahead.”

She sniffed back her tears and lifted her chin. “Your child will be safe. I will protect it with everything I am. If anyone thinks to come closer I will rain fire down on their heads.”

He smiled grimly at that. “I hope it will not come to that. But I know you will not be an easy target. If my brother is wise he will steer clear of you.”

“Tell me…what of his wives and children?”

“He took his first wife and his son and heir with him, leaving the rest. I have had them under guard, but I will not punish them for being attached to my brother. It is not their fault that he decided to turn against me.”

“They are not to be trusted,” Ariana said with a frown.

“And you are not to go near them.”

“What can they do to me? No. As you said, it is not their fault your brother turned against you.”