A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(98)

“How do you know this?” Sin demanded of her. “You could be wrong. I would never forgive myself if something—“

“My love, if it will make you feel better we will discuss it with a doctor or a midwife.”

Sin’s eyes softened and he stepped up to her. He pulled her into his arms and touched her face with tender fingers.

“Say that again,” he commanded her.

She didn’t need to ask what he meant. “My love,” she said.

He sighed and bent his head to kiss her mouth slowly.

“Well, I don’t know about you Mason, but I’m convinced,” Jutsin said with amusement.

“I’m beginning to see my way clear to letting her go,” Mason agreed. “But never forget what a treasure she is. If you do, then you will have us on your doorstep.”

“You have no need to worry,” Sin said, caressing her face once more. “She will be treated like the queen she is. And my child will have everything it could ever desire.”

“I think that if it is a boy it should inherit all of your lands and titles,” Ariana said. “And if it is a girl then it will inherit all of mine.”

“That sounds very reasonable,” Jutsin said. “And she will be next in line for triumvir.”

“We will make sure Kinsella knows her title as triumvir is only to be until such time as you produce and raise that heir.”

“This is true,” Jutsin said. “You control the third largest portion of this country. It belongs to you and yours by birthright. But have a care that you do not leave us any time soon for we will not stomach Gretha as your heir.”

“I will remove her from succession as soon as I am able. But have no fear, I am in no rush to leave you,” Ariana said.

“Childbirth can be a dangerous thing for a woman,” Mason pointed out.

“I will care for her as if she were the most precious of things…for to me she is. She will not die.”

“He has said it will be so and woe to anyone who says, thinks or does otherwise. God himself should tremble,” Ariana said with humor lighting her eyes.

“I do not like to speak of your death. It chills my heart,” Sin said.

“Then we will speak of it no more.”

Sin hesitated a moment before saying, “Are you certain this is what you want to do? I would not want you, in later years, to blame me for taking away your birthright.”

She took hold of his hands in hers and squeezed them. “My place is with you now. I can offer you so much as your raji. I am not giving anything up rather I am just changing countries. You will hear my voice in your government quite loudly I assure you. As long as you promise me my position there, then I am content.”

“And then so am I,” Sin said, bending his head to kiss her. “So am I. At last.”

“I would have you wed in the Saren tradition before you go,” Mason said firmly. “I know it will not hold in your laws, but if you want her heirs to have rights to her property then you must make it official under our laws.”

“Only if it is done quickly,” Sin said. “We must travel home as soon as possible. I will not have her making the journey late while she is advancing in pregnancy.”

“I think that can be arranged. It will have to be something of a to-do. The people will want an extravagant wedding. I will have it made as publicly and positively as we can manage. It will go a long way to soothing hostile feelings,” Mason said.

They discussed the plans for the wedding.





They were married only two weeks later. Sin was anxious to get back to his country. Missives from his mother said that all was well, but there had been no further sign of his brother. The quiet disturbed Sin.

The wedding was large, the minister long-winded. Ariana’s troops guarded the proceedings with prodigious care. There were no uprisings against the marriage that she was made aware of.

The newlyweds only remained another night before heading out by horse and by carriage. Sin refused to allow her to ride horseback for the journey back…so she and Mariah were once again riding in a carriage to Kilt. Only this carriage was infinitely more comfortable.

When they reached the Kiltian borders there was heavy snowfall on the ground and no way for a carriage to pass. So they purchased a sleigh from an obliging innkeeper and she and Mariah rode side by side, tucked beneath blankets, with Sin driving the horses.

Ariana was relieved when the temple finally came within sight. She was tired, her body ached, and she had begun to grow more frequently dizzy and nauseated. There was no question that she was pregnant…if indeed there had been doubts about it before this.

As they pulled up to the temple, Fatima hurried out to meet them.

“I am so glad you are back,” she greeted her son. “I have news of your brother. He has gathered a small army of loyal followers and is coming this way. He heard you were not here and seeks to take over the temple before you return. Clearly his spies are not as good as he thinks they are or they would have known you were due back any day.”

“We made good time on the sleigh.” Sin reached to pull Ariana from amidst the lap robes and set her on her feet before his mother. “Mother, Ariana will be raji soon. In a few months’ time I may have my heir.”

“Oh my son! I am so glad for you!” She reached to kiss her son’s cheek and then took Ariana in her arms. “Welcome, daughter. I have missed you.”