Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(149)

He stopped when Achilles put a hand to his shoulder as Apollo would pass him.

“We now live with many unknowns,” his cousin said softly. “For you, Maddie, your children, one less unknown, an important one, the solidity of your family, would be beneficial. Especially for Maddie as this is something she’s never known. She’s adapting to a land that’s very strange to her and doing it well.” His lips quirked. “She’s adapting to you and doing that well also. But with all that has occurred from Vasterhague to Brunskar, she is quite aware of the dangers lurking. She has lived long with dangers lurking, cousin. A foundation such as this, I can only assume, would go a long way to making her feel safe during troubled times.”

Apollo raised his brows. “But a month ago you felt this was moving too fast. Now you’re advising I speed things up?”

“But a month ago you had essentially just met. Now, I’ve seen her smile at you. I’ve seen you make her laugh. I’ve seen her do the same for you. I’ve seen how she is with Élan. She does not hide in the slightest that she feels deeply for you, cousin. For your children. You have all lost a great deal. It’s a beautiful thing, watching you become found.”

At his words, words he liked, Apollo sighed.

Then he shared, “She knows I wish to wed her, Lees. It’s she who wishes to understand herself better before she allows this to happen.”

Achilles dropped his hand from Apollo’s shoulder as his brows shot together.

“How can a person not understand oneself?”

“I’ve no bloody clue,” Apollo replied, shaking his head. “She’s explained it. It made sense at the time. Or more accurately, what made sense was the emotion she felt behind the words she said which didn’t make sense. However, they did to her and she meant them a great deal. What I took from that is that she needs time. I’m giving it to her.”

“This is uncharacteristic of you, cousin,” Achilles remarked.

Apollo held his gaze when he replied firmly, “I’m a man falling in love. We do many things that are uncharacteristic.”

He watched surprise suffuse his cousin’s features before warmth overtook them.

“This makes me happy,” he said quietly.

Apollo smiled at him. “It does me as well.”

Achilles smiled back. “Obviously.”

Apollo did not reply so Achilles spoke on.

“Now, I will cease causing a delay so you can see to important matters.”

“Why do I not think you’re referring to me speaking to Frey?”

“Because nothing is more important than the pursuit of happiness.”

Yet another thing Apollo could not argue.

However, they had one other matter to discuss and it unfortunately took them out of discussions about the pursuit of happiness.

“An important thing of note that the witch shared with me is that she has not been able to find my twin from the other world.”

The warmth fled Achilles face and his eyes turned sharp.

“That does not seem to be good tidings, Lo,” he noted.

“I don’t believe it is. Neither does Valentine, who is speculating that he’s in this world, veiled by our enemy, but brought here in order to do ill.”

“If we remain in Lunwyn, with Frey here, the dragons and elves at his command, Lavinia and the green witch both providing their skills, they could be seeking non-magical means to bring harm to Maddie and the other women.”

“Precisely,” Apollo agreed. “And this other me has proved irrevocably he has no issue with bringing harm to Maddie and thus any woman.”

“I will increase the guard on the dower house and her,” Achilles declared.

“Also on Loretta, Meeta and Cristiana. They mean much to Maddie. If our enemy could get to them, they could be used to cause Madeleine harm.”

“Done,” Achilles stated. “I’ll see to this before I join you and Frey.”

Apollo lifted his chin.

Achilles nodded, and finally they moved to the doors.

* * * * *

An hour later, Apollo walked into his study, where he’d been told Maddie had gone to await him to take her to lunch with his children.

He found she was indeed there, standing at the side of his window, for some reason peering around the opened curtains as if she was using them to hide.

Whatever she was watching had her full attention. He knew this because she did not sense his presence and thus turn to greet him.

As he approached, he took her in wearing her dress that was nearly the color of the deep green of Valentine’s. But hers was knit, covering her from its rolled neck that went up to her jaw and down to the tips of her boots. Her extraordinary hair was mostly down, but the front and sides had been pulled away from her face and arranged in soft curls at the back of her head. The dress hugged her upper body magnificently, down to her waist where it flared into the skirt. But even the skirt clung to her figure, specifically her h*ps and arse, and it did this in alluring ways that brought to mind the fact that he needed to order a mirror to be installed in his bedroom.

Or hers should she elect to remain in the dower house for longer.

They could move it to his when she moved in.

But he wanted her to watch herself as he was taking her arse, something he greatly enjoyed but enjoyed more as she’d clearly enjoyed it.