Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 202

Chapter 202: *Censored for marital reasons*
Trace knew deep down that he was too weak to fully enjoy finally being alone with his wife, but the way that her lips immediately and enthusiastically pressed against his made him curse his atrophied muscles.

Apparently sensing her husband’s limitations, Anaisa pulled back slightly and snuggled against his chest. He rolled towards her, pulling her closer still.

His mind began working through the implications of the few words she had said; he already felt overwhelmed with information.

Ten days? And they were in her manor, which must mean that Sanders had been subdued, and the kingdom back in some form of balance. Was the princess all right? And Ewan? What about the other magic users?

Dozens of questions battled their way through his mind, all intermittently driven away by the softness of the woman pressed against him.

None of them seemed so important with her warm breath against his neck.

“I love you,” He whispered, and she lifted her head to look into his eyes. Her piercing blue gaze held intense emotion, and suddenly her palm slapped his chest with fervor.

“Then don’t ever do that to me again!” She snapped.

Trace laughed so suddenly that it turned into a coughing fit, and Anaisa helped him sit up until it subsided. He scooted until he was leaning against the elaborate headboard, and took a better look around the room.

“You grew up here?” He asked slowly. In visiting her dreams, he had seen the courtyard, but never inside. These furnishings were far more beautiful than he could ever afford, and this room alone was larger than the entire house on his farm.

“When you’re feeling better, I will show you around,” She promised. He remained silent a moment, and she spoke again, her voice smaller. “I’ll have to send word to your parents. They had to get back to look after the farms. They promised to keep ours safe until we came home.”

Trace’s eyes cut toward her in a pressing question, and she shrugged lightly.

“Unless you’d rather stay here,” She smiled. “Wherever you want to live, I will be content.”

“Are you sure?” He frowned. Could she truly give up this much luxury? “You would leave all this behind, for me?”

“Well,” Anaisa said thoughtfully, sitting up onto her knees and looking around, “I would very much like to take the bed with us, if you don’t mind. It has room for two people in it, after all…”

Her lips twitched with meaning, and he smiled in spite of himself.

“We’d have to build an entirely new house just to make room for this giant thing,” He warned.

“I–we–have money for that,” Anaisa swallowed. “If you care to spend it. My inheritance has been restored, on top of which the king generously rewarded us both for helping save the kingdom.”

“Did he?” Trace blinked. “I’ve missed a lot.”

“I’ll fill you in tomorrow,” Anaisa promised, snuggling up against him again. “For tonight, just hold me so I know you’re real.”

__

One Year Later

Anaisa laughed in delight as a nursemaid chased after the half-dressed toddler.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” The poor woman called after little Ewan.

“He’s grown so much!” Anaisa grinned at Sapphira.

“And fast.” The princess confided with a giggle. “Oh, Annie, thank you for coming all this way. And… for everything else.”

“It was our pleasure,” Trace held an arm around his wife. “This makes the most sense for everyone, and for the kingdom.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel like you’re being pushed out just because I’m getting married,” Sapphira winced.

“Ben is a good man, and the Advisory needs good men,” Trace assured her. “Neither Jin, nor I, feel terribly qualified to uphold the position of Count. Ben will do a better job.”

Trace also had little desire to live at the king’s beck and call, but Anaisa didn’t feel the need to out him on that particular point just now, as the baby in her arms began to fuss.

“Shhh, Daniel,” She hushed her newborn son. “A well-behaved child does not cry in the presence of a beautiful princess on her wedding day.”

“He’s too perfect,” Sapphira leaned closer to smile at the infant. “I love him to bits!”

“You’ll have little ones of your own before too long,” Anaisa winked. “Look at you, a bride!”

“I still can’t believe it,” Sapphira sighed, looking down at her dress. “It’s been a whirlwind. I’ve hardly been able to sleep for waiting!”

“If you’d told me, I might have tried to find someone to make sure you had good dreams before your big day,” Anaisa teased, and Trace cleared his throat. His power had only recently begun to return in small amounts, and he still felt a little self-conscious about it.

“My dreams have been perfectly wonderful without interference lately, thank you,” Sapphira smiled, then frowned. “With one exception. I do wish Denholm hadn’t escaped… but I’m sure he’s long gone, far away. All soldiers in the kingdom have orders to execute him on sight.”

“No sad thoughts today,” Anaisa placed a hand on the princess’s arm, and Sapphira nodded.

“Is it time for the ceremony yet?”

“Very nearly,” Anaisa smiled. The servants had already made the princess look like the loveliest vision anyone had ever known. Anaisa handed her son over to her husband. “Be good, Daniel. Mommy has to go be the Matron of Honor in a royal wedding, so you’d better not cry and mess it up!”

Trace took the infant, but stole a kiss that threatened to become far more than the peck that would be appropriate in public. Anaisa pulled away and made a face at him for his misbehavior, but he winked instead.

“I’ll see you afterward. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Anaisa answered automatically, but her heart was full.

As she watched him walk away to take his place amongst the royal guests, she turned her attention to the princess. The bride.

“You are beautiful. Ben will faint dead away at the sight of you,” She promised.

“I will be horribly disappointed if he doesn’t,” Sapphira giggled, gently hugging her friend without wrinkling either dress. “Any last minute marriage advice before the music starts?”

Anaisa’s brow crinkled in thought for a moment.

“Always think the best about each other’s motives. Remember you’re on the same team. And when a difficult moment presents itself, don’t think of it as a problem, but a chance to learn more about each other.”

“Well that all sounds rather dull,” Sapphira complained a bit cheekily. “Are you sure marriage is worth it?”

“Absolutely,” Anaisa smiled as her eyes drifted after the man who held her heart. “In every way.”