To Beguile a Beast (Legend of the Four Soldiers #3)(90)

“But—” she started, intending to tease him further.

He laid his mouth against hers, stopping the words in a long kiss.

When next he raised his head, she gazed up at his dear face dreamily and whispered, “What have you got behind your back?”

Alistair propped himself on one elbow beside her. “Two gifts, one small, one a little larger. Which would you like first?”

“The small one.”

He held out his fist and opened it to reveal a lemon. “Actually, this is a gift that comes with a condition.”

She swallowed, remembering when last they’d used a lemon to prevent conception. “What is that?”

“You may have it only if you wish it.” He raised his gaze to hers, and she saw a hesitant hope there. “I’m quite happy to continue as we are, with just Abigail and Jamie, for as little or as long as you want. But if you wish to forgo this”—he rolled the lemon between his fingers—“that would make me very happy as well.”

Silly tears flooded her eyes. “I think, then, that I prefer we use this lemon for lemonade.”

He didn’t reply, but the ardent kiss he pressed on her was eloquent. The prospect of having a shared child sometime in the future delighted him as well.

When she could catch her breath, Helen said, “And the other gift?”

“More of an offering, really.” He brought a bunch of wildflowers out from behind his back. “At least they’re not wilted this time.”

“I adore wilted flowers,” she said.

“I am a lucky man to have such an easily pleased wife.” He sobered. “I would like to give you a wedding present soon. Perhaps a necklace or a new dress or a special book. Think about it and let me know what you’d like.”

She’d been the mistress of a duke. She’d had jewels and gowns showered upon her once, and they hadn’t brought her happiness. Now she knew better.

Helen reached up and traced the scars on his cheek. “There’s only one thing I want.”

He turned his head to kiss her fingers. “And what is that?”

“You,” she whispered before he lowered himself to her. “Only you.”

Epilogue

Princess Sympathy lifted her eyes to the sky and saw that she had failed. Soon she would join her champion in a stony sleep. Despairing, she wrapped her arms about Truth Teller’s cold stone waist and kissed his frozen lips.

And then a strange thing happened.

Color and warmth rushed over Truth Teller’s gray face. His limbs turned to flesh and blood, and his mighty chest heaved, drawing breath.

“No!” cried the sorcerer, and raised his hands to bespell both Truth Teller and the princess.

But a crowd of swallows suddenly appeared and swarmed about his head, diving at his eyes and plucking at his hair. Truth Teller drew his sword and with one swing, cut the sorcerer’s head from his body.

At this, the swallows suddenly dropped to the ground and became men and women who bowed before Truth Teller. Long ago they had been servants of the castle before the sorcerer had stolen it from a prince and bespelled them. At the same time, the statues of knights and warriors turned once again into living men, for they had once been fellows who had tried and failed to rescue the princess. They dropped to their knees as one man and pledged to make Truth Teller their lord and master.

Truth Teller thanked the servants of the castle and the knights most solemnly, and then he turned to the princess. He looked into her eyes and said, “I have a castle, servants, and men now, where before I had only the clothes on my back. But I would renounce them all to hold your heart, for I love you.”

Princess Sympathy smiled and placed her palm against Truth Teller’s warm cheek. “There is no need to renounce your newfound wealth. You already have my heart and have held it since that day you gave me the sorcerer’s ring and wanted nothing in return.”

And she kissed him.