Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

She smiled, joy filling her heart, and she gave him a quick kiss. “You are sure?”

His own joy caused him to tease. “I must have a moment to reconsider, for you can be stubborn at times.”

She kissed him again before continuing. “And you are demanding.”

He feigned shock. “Me demanding? Never!” His teasing turned to loving and he gazed in her blue eyes. “I demand but one thing of you.”

“Tell me,” she murmured.

He tightened his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. “I demand you love me forever, for that is how long I shall love you.”

They kissed slowly and lovingly, and when their lips parted, they rested cheek to cheek.

Reena took a moment to gather her thoughts, and after carefully considering her decision, she spoke up. “There is something I ask, not demand, of you.”

Her serious tone had him paying close attention. “Tell me.”

“I have thought much on love of late, and I realize the enormous responsibility that comes with it. It cannot be taken for granted or expressed on a whim. Love is born in the heart and soul of two people and it is to be cherished, nourished and protected. I love you with all my heart and I wish to love you forever—” She paused. “But the love I speak of is the love I wish to give to my husband.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?” he asked with a grin.

She eased away from him and held her chin up high, ready to defend herself. “Do you wish to marry me?”

He eased her to him. “Since forever.”

Her heart thudded in her chest and her stomach quivered. “Truly?”

“Truly,” he said and nibbled at her lips.

“It matters not that I am your mapmaker?”

“It matters not to you that I am the Legend?”

She giggled softly. “Why would that matter?”

He shrugged. “Why would it matter that I wed my mapmaker? We wed because we love. What better reason?”

She cuddled close to him. “This day ends in much joy. I would have never thought it so.”

“This day will end in much more joy,” he teased and nuzzled her neck.

She playfully pushed at his chest. “We are not yet wed.”

“The heavens heard us confess our love; we are bonded, you and I, and nothing, absolutely nothing, will keep us apart.”

His words sounded like a proclamation for all to hear and with no objections allowed.

The crunch of leaves and steady footsteps caught their attention, and Reena attempted to move away, but his strong hands held firm to her waist.

Philip, one of Magnus’s men, stepped out of the woods and looked to Magnus, unmoved by the intimacy of his lord and his mapmaker. “All is set, I sleep now until my shift.”

Magnus nodded, and the man took the rolled bedding tucked beneath his arm and spread it on the ground not far from the fire. He turned his back to them to sleep.

“We are as good as wed, Reena,” Magnus whispered and moved her so that they could stretch out beside each other, placing Reena closer to the fire’s heat. He cuddled against her back and draped a possessive arm over her.

She felt the length of him, and the heat of his body penetrated her slowly and steadily, unlike the rush of heat from the fire’s flames. She rested her hand on his arm, glad that they’d made their love known to each other, glad that they would wed and eager for her husband’s touch.

Life was good, so very good, and she was grateful, and she fell asleep with happiness filling her heart.

It dawned sunny, the air less chilled. After a quick morning meal the small group was off for a day of mapping. They stopped at a section of land thick with trees. Magnus stood talking with Philip, while Reena was busy surveying the area. It was soon evident that she did not have a good view for mapping, and she turned in a slow circle to determine the best position.

After several slow turns, she tilted her head back, staring up at the tall tree not far from her. “Perfect.”

She fashioned a satchel of cloth from her shawl to carry her sketching items and draped it around her neck to rest to the side. She then proceeded to grab at the lower branch of the tree and pull herself up.

Magnus caught her antics out of the corner of his eye and turned to watch her attempt to hoist herself up on the branch. Her feet swung wildly and her small hands looked as though they could barely hold onto the thick branch. She was going nowhere and tiring herself out fast, but she persisted.

He walked over to her. “Whatever are you doing?”

After a huff and puff or two she managed to answer. “Need a better view.”

He shook his head and with ease hoisted himself up onto the branch from where she dangled.