A Fairy-Tail Marriage

Chapter 8

“Your brother?” Althea asked as they rode at a faster pace than earlier. “What’s going on?”

“My brother was incredibly unhappy that my mother chose me to take the throne. He disappeared after the decision was final, leaving the kingdom, as far as I or anyone else knew.” Braxton looked at her. “If he’s back, he has nefarious plans, I can assure you. Your meeting him will be ugly, I’m sure.”

“Do I have to meet him?” Althea asked, concerned.

“Yes,” Blake answered. “He’ll cause a ruckus until he does. Jonathan is best handled in a straightforward manner.”

“He’s angry Braxton married?” Althea was still confused.

Braxton answered. “He’s angry because I married a fairy. If he’d been chosen as king, he would have started another war with your people with the idea of obliterating the species completely.”

Althea’s lips pressed together. “I look forward to meeting this brother,” she said, her voice hard as iron.

Braxton smiled. He had not married a weak woman who would stand behind him and do as told. While he might regret that on occasion, he would not have her any other way. She was perfect for him, a balance he’d seen in her parents that he hoped they achieved as they continued to learn about each other.

When they reached the castle, servants rushed forward to take the horses to the stables. With a brief thank you, Braxton took his wife’s hand and strode into his castle with confidence. Blake and Cala followed.

Althea wished she had a moment to refresh herself after the long ride. She felt dirty and unpresentable, but this was not the time for niceties. The brother, Jonathan, would meet her as is.

Jonathan was in the hall close to Braxton’s office. He stared at the tapestry depicting the war between the werewolves and fairies, a sly smile on his face. When he heard their footsteps he turned, causing Braxton’s mouth to open in surprise. His face, which had once been handsome with its ice blue eyes and perfectly shaped nose, had been marred at some point. A huge scar extended from his right ear to his chin, giving the man a dangerous look.

Jonathan grinned wickedly at the group, but his eyes were on Braxton. He touched his scar. “Ah, little brother, you do not like my scar?”

Braxton gathered himself and smiled blandly at his brother. “Only that it mars the resemblance we share as brothers.”

Jonathan’s eyebrow raised at the reminder of family ties. “Brothers, yes.” His eyes moved to Althea, who did not flinch from his gaze. “And this must be your fairy wife.”

Althea stepped forward, her hand extended. “Hello, Jonathan. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last.”

“So you’ve heard of me, then?” He took her hand and held it longer than necessary.

“Of course.” Althea did not pull her hand away, though she felt a tremor of dismay. “Braxton tells me you’ve been gone for some time. I’d love to hear the stories of your adventures.”

Jonathan stared at her a moment, then threw back his head and barked a laugh. He looked at Braxton and finally released her hand. “She’s brave, though perhaps a little stupid.”

“Excuse me?” Althea asked, outrage in her countenance.

Braxton took her hand. “Refrain from expelling comments about my wife.”

“Of course,” Jonathan said, eyeing the pair with conniving eyes. He looked up at the tapestry. “Lovely, isn’t it?”

Braxton rolled his eyes. “Jonathan, you are not here to discuss the beauty, or lack thereof, of the tapestries. We’ve just come from a long journey an—”

“Yes, I heard. How wonderful to travel through the kingdom. I’m sure you saw nothing but happiness and glee at the prospect of this marriage and integration of werewolves and fairies.” His voice was grating, harsh, and had she been alone with him, Althea would have been terrified despite the words he used.

“As I was saying, we need to freshen up. I’ll have Chef prepare dinner for the five of us. Seven good for you?” Braxton continued.

“Seven is fine, brother,” Jonathan replied. “I’ll be in my old chambers. I assume they are still mine?”

“No one has been in there for any purpose other than cleaning since you left,” Braxton informed him. He took Althea’s hand and led her away. “We’ll see you at seven.”

Jonathan marched off in the other direction, and Althea felt the tension leave her body as well as Braxton’s once they were away from his brother. “Wow,” she murmured to him as they walked. “Your brother is a piece of work.”

“That’s diplomatic,” Braxton laughed quietly. “You held your ground. I’m proud of you. There are men who cower from him because he looked at them.”

“I was terrified! But he wasn’t going to see it,” Althea told him. “And he won’t ever see it.”

Braxton nodded. Yes, he had been given the wife he needed. She would balance him, she would defend him, and she would care for him. She would stand with him. When they reached her door, he took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. Cala had entered her room, and Blake walked past them to his without a word.

“Althea, thank you,” Braxton murmured into her hair.

“For what?”

“For being the kind of woman I need by my side,” Braxton said quietly. “I know we’re going to argue. We wouldn’t be normal if we didn’t. But the longer I know you, the more I realize that you are the right woman to help me rule this kingdom.”

Althea stared into his eyes, her words stolen by his declaration. It wasn’t of love, but it was close, and her heart swelled with love. She kissed him soundly on the lips, and the kiss deepened. He pressed her up against her door, his hands moving up and down her body. Neither cared that they were in the hallway and might be seen. Her hands were in his hair, holding him to her. She wanted him, now, but they didn’t have the time.

She pulled away, panting as the desire to jerk him into her room tried to win over her sense of duty. “Braxton, as much as I want you right now, we don’t have time. But we’re going to finish this little scene later.”

Braxton smiled. “That’s what I mean about balance. Because I don’t care if we’re late to dinner.” He kissed her neck and tried to convince her with little murmurs of what he would to do her if they went to her room together.

Althea giggled and shied away from him, opening her door and stepping inside. When he tried to follow, she put a hand on his chest. “Now, King Braxton, go to your room and get dressed. I promise, we’ll finish this tonight. And it will be so worth the wait.”

Braxton growled at her. “Woman, you kill me.” He winked at her and turned to walk down the hallway, adjusting himself as he did so.

Althea giggled when she closed the door, then hurried to draw a bath so she would be presentable at dinner. She thought about locking the door between her room and Braxton’s but decided against it. That door should never be locked.