The Love of the Wielder (The Wielders Book Two)

“You haven’t had any problems with Trackers since we left, have you?” Seb asked, one hand playing with Alec’s hair.

Seb had the day off and Alec was able to get away from the manor because his father was busy and Maren and Donovan only had eyes for each other since they got engaged the night before. So, Alec went to town to visit Seb. They had had a bit of fun and were enjoying lying in bed together talking.

Alec shook his head. “Thankfully not. And we should be fine now. A friend of mine from the Capitol decided to make an unexpected visit and assures me we won’t have anymore difficulties.”

Alec thought Donovan had looked excited about the prospect of fighting any Trackers who might come to the manor. Alec tried not to think too much about it. He was uncomfortable with violence, having spent much of his apprenticeship assisting in a free hospital in the city. He saw a lot of the results of violence. He did not like to think about his friend committing more of it.

“Does this friend of yours have magic powers?” Seb asked with a wink. He knew Alec was friends with Donovan.

Alec shrugged in a way that said Seb was right, but that Alec wasn’t going to confirm it.

“What’s his deal anyway?” Seb asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well...he quit the Selection so early. Everyone said...”

Alec shook his head. He knew there were several rumors about Donovan’s preferences, so did Donovan. Court was not a subtle place.

“He just didn’t like the Selection. I assure you, he likes women plenty,” Alec said. “He’s getting married soon.”

Seb laughed. “Lots of men who like men get married.”

That was true. Alec thought about Lord Braxton. He was as surprised as anyone when Braxton was caught with the driver, but he felt for the man. Alec hoped to avoid marrying a woman for as long as possible. Braxton, of course, might have felt differently since he was an eldest son and would’ve been expected to produce an heir. Alec was very glad to be a youngest son. It didn’t really matter if he produced an heir.

“Well, that’s not what’s happening in this case,” Alec said.

Seb shrugged and then started massaging Alec’s neck in a very pleasant way.

“You’re tense,” Seb said, digging his fingers into Alec’s neck muscles.

Alec sighed and closed his eyes. “The last several weeks have been a bit stressful.”

“Because of your father’s new wife?” Seb asked.

Alec laughed. “Yes and no. But in any case, it fell through. No one’s upset about it though. I can’t tell you about it but you’ll find out eventually.”

Seb chuckled. “Sounds like there’s an entertaining story there. I look forward to hearing about it.”

“Give it about two or three weeks. You’ll know it when you hear it,” Alec said, still chuckling.

“But you’ll be gone by then,” Seb said.

He would be. Alec had only arranged for his colleague who was substituting for him at the palace for another week and a half. He had already left a week early; it would be particularly unprofessional to delay his return.

“Probably, but I’ll be back to visit. You know I come out about twice a year or so,” Alec said.

Before Seb had gone to Clifton, he and Alec had seen each other off and on for nearly four years. It was only when Alec was home and if neither of them were seeing anyone else, but it amounted to a lot of times over the years.

“I was thinking,” Seb began in a tone that made Alec’s eyes fly open. “I could request a transfer to the Capitol. We could see each other a lot more often...Maybe even only each other.”

Alec sat up, surprised. “You’re serious?”

He had never thought of having that kind of relationship with Seb. Alec liked him and liked going to bed with him. But it sounded like Seb was proposing something Alec had rarely had: a romantic relationship.

Seb sat up as well. “Look, I won’t if you aren’t interested but...being away for so long...I didn’t just miss being with someone. I missed being with you.”

Alec was a bit stunned. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt. He didn’t let himself consciously develop romantic feelings for Seb. Their lives didn’t overlap enough for that to be an option.

But that could change, perhaps. And if Alec was being honest...

“I missed you too,” he said.

Seb smiled his perfect, crooked smile, and Alec’s heart melted a bit.

Seb tangled his fingers in Alec’s. “I don’t know what there is between us since we’ve never tried to figure that out...but I’d like to try.”

Alec had to admit he liked the idea of trying but he wasn’t sure. He didn’t want Seb to uproot his life for him and even if they were closer, it still would not be easy for them to be together.

One of the reasons Alec hadn’t had a romantic relationship for years was because it was so hard. Loving someone and having to hide it was painful. Alec had liked the less complicated relationships he’d taken to in the last few years. It was much easier.

But he also hadn’t had anyone ask him to be in a romantic relationship for a long time.

“Would you mind terribly if I took a few days to think about it?” Alec asked. “I’ll admit I hadn’t considered it before and I want to make sure I’m telling you what I can actually give you. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that sort of thing with someone and I don’t want to take it lightly.”

Seb shook his head. “I don’t mind. Take the time you need. I know I sprung this on you. I understand.”

Alec smiled and put his hand on the side of Seb’s face.

“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for telling me.”

Then he pulled Seb closer and kissed him.

“I don’t suppose you’ll let me try and convince you, my lord?” Seb asked with yet another beautiful crooked smile.

Alec smiled. “Well, if you insist.”

Once the unpleasantness with the sworn statements was completed, Maren and Donovan had a few days of leisure before her parents arrived. Mostly, they spent them doing as little as possible. They chatted with Alec and the Duke. They walked on the beach. Maren took long naps. And Donovan tried to figure out how to tell his parents what they were doing.

“There won’t be any way for you to sugarcoat it. You will have to just tell them,” Alec said.

Donovan and Maren were having tea on the terrace with him. It was a lovely terrace and the weather was delightful, and Donovan was very happy to be there with his two favorite people in the world.

“Probably,” Donovan said. “But should I tell them about Kieran first or second?”

They thought for a few moments.

“Well, you have a pretty good idea how they’ll react to your news, how will they react to you telling them about Kieran?” Maren asked.

Donovan thought for a few moments before answering.

“I’m hoping they react with something like shock and outrage,” he said.

“And is that the sort of mood they should be in when you tell them we got married?” Maren asked.

Donovan laughed. “No. Not at all. I suppose that’s decision is simple at least. I’ll have to give some thought to how to phrase everything.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Alec said.

“At least telling your parents will be easy enough. They’ll be happy won’t they?” Donovan asked Maren.

Maren cringed and she and Alec exchanged a look.

“Do you want to tell him or should I?” Alec asked her.

She laughed and gestured for him to confine.

“Donovan, do you happen to recall the last time Maren’s father laid eyes on you?” Alec asked.

Donovan thought. “Well, I suppose that would have been the Selection.”

Alec nodded gravely. “Mmhmm, and do you recall what happened in the Selection?”

Donovan rolled his eyes. “I do.”

“Do you recall how that appeared to someone without magic?” Maren asked.

Donovan grimaced, realizing their point. “Taking you into my household without your consent.”

Maren nodded smugly. “Well, and it was. But no one else had any reason to suspect that you might have an ulterior motive for taking me.”

“But surely you’ve written to them. They must know—“

“Donovan, they know nothing! How much do you think I could put in a letter? The most I ever said about you was that you were generally treating me well. I certainly didn’t tell them we’d fallen in love—if you’ll recall, by that point I was already committed to marrying someone else,” Maren explained.

Donovan sighed. “Alright, so perhaps you should tell them what’s happened before they know I’m here.”

Maren and Alec both nodded enthusiastically.

“You absolutely will not be meeting them until I’ve had a chance to explain. Likely they’ll think you’re just stealing me or something if you were there,” Maren said.

“They’ll be happy, though, won’t they? I mean...surely they’ll be pleased to see you be a princess,” Donovan said.

He was no expert on such things but did not think many parents would object to such a match.

Maren cringed. “You think the parents whose daughter is being persecuted by the Crown will be thrilled she’s becoming a part of it? No, I’m sorry, love. They’ll be very worried I’m choosing to live a public life. The last time they spoke to me I was planning on living out my days alone on a mountain. They’ll...need some time to get used to it, I think.”

Donovan had not thought of that at all. Suddenly he was feeling very nervous about the situation.

Maren seemed to sense his concern. “I do think they’ll come around when they see that we truly love each other and that we’re fully aware of the consequences. I’ll just need some time to explain things to them.”

“And a very large bottle of brandy,” Alec added.

“Yes. Brandy,” Maren agreed. “A lot of brandy.”

“On the positive side, Maren’s parents don’t have the authority to exile you,” Alec said, grinning.

“Thank you, Alec, very helpful,” Donovan deadpanned.

Maren intended to meet her parents in the drive, alone, and she would have, had they not arrived several hours before Maren expected them.

They had sent a telegram from Blackstone the day of the War Council saying they’d arrived and would be leaving for Worthingham in the morning. The Duke told her it was about the same distance to Blackstone as the Capitol so she assumed they’d arrive sometime after tea two days later. But apparently, they’d driven a few hours extra on the first day so they arrived before tea.

She had gone down to the beach with Alec and Donovan as a distraction after luncheon. They had had a great bit of fun and had gotten thoroughly sandy and more than a bit wet (part of the fun had been trying to see who could stand on the edge of the water the longest without getting wet, which had predictable results). After a time, Maren announced that she needed to get cleaned up before seeing her parents so the three of them went back to the house where they ran straight into Maren’s parents who had just arrived in the drive.

Bedraggled from a beach excursion was not how she hoped to greet her parents. However, her appearance rapidly became the least of anyone’s concern because before she could even say hello to either of her parents, her father recognized Donovan.

“You!” he shouted. “What are you doing here? How dare you show your face to me!”

Maren was very surprised. Her father was not the sort of man who lost his temper.

“Father, wait just a moment —“

“I ought to get my pistols!”

“Father! You cannot challenge the Prince to a duel!” Maren shouted, unable to believe she actually had to say that.

Her mother apparently had not known who her father was shouting about and suddenly went very pale and curtsied, which apparently annoyed her father.

“Helen! He doesn’t deserve an ounce of your respect!”

The only positive thing about the situation was that Donovan was apparently too surprised to take offense. It wasn’t every day people spoke to him that way.

“Father, really, just let me explain. This isn’t what it looks like —“

“Really, Maren? Because it looks like you were just cavorting on the beach with the man who stole you from my home and, and…I don’t know who that is!” he yelled, gesturing at Alec.

“Ah, this is Lord Alec, he is the Duke’s son and the Court Physician,” Maren said, choosing to ignore the first part of her father’s accusation.

Her father’s eyes blazed.

“Maren! Are you trying to ruin your engagement? Running off alone with two men! You are very lucky the Duke is not here to see you behave so wantonly,” he snarled.

Apparently, the implication that Maren had somehow slighted her own honor by running off alone with two men stirred Donovan out of his surprise.

“Now, see here —“

“Not helping!” she hissed at him.

And then, to make matters more interesting, the Duke arrived. Maren thought it likely someone on the staff had summoned him to diffuse the situation.

“Ah, my lord and my lady, I’m so glad to see you’ve arrived,” he said.

Fortunately, the necessity of greeting the Duke seemed to have taken Maren’s father’s temper down a few notches. Maren took the opportunity to come closer to her parents, as she no longer thought she might need to restrain Donovan. He, most helpfully, remained behind.

“I understand there’s something of a concern regarding my other guest,” he said quietly. “I want to assure you that there is nothing at all to be concerned about and there’s no risk whatsoever to your daughter’s future. I can promise you her well-being and reputation are both in very good hands.”

“Thank you, Jonathan, I think I’ll take my parents to my sitting room so we can…talk…alone,” Maren interjected before her parents could ask any questions about the “other guest.”

She thought the Duke’s intervention had diffused the situation but she also thought that would not last if she did not rapidly separate her father from Donovan.

“Of course, shall I have some tea sent to your rooms, perhaps with some brandy?” he suggested.

“That would be lovely, thank you,” she said.

She thought medicinal brandy was very much in order.

“And please make it known to the household that we do not wish to be interrupted. Should we need any assistance, we will ask for it,” she said, knowing the Duke would understand that by “household” she meant Donovan.

“Of course, I am sure the household will be available at your call,” he said with a bit of a wink at her.

She thought perhaps he was very amused by the commotion. Maren thought it would be more amusing once she was sure her father would not actually challenge Donovan to a duel.

“Thank you, Jonathan,” she said and then turned to her parents. “Mother, Father, let’s go inside.”

Somewhat dumbstruck, they followed her into the house. Maren led them through the halls to the Duchess’s Suite.

“Maren,” her mother whispered to her. “You mustn’t refer to His Grace by name, that’s terribly familiar!”

Of all the dozens of things Maren thought her mother might be concerned about, calling the Duke by name was not one of them.

“It’s fine, Mother, he invited me to do so roughly thirty seconds after I met him,” she said. “I suspect it’s a family trait, his son is also very lax about such things.”

She heard her father scoff behind her but chose to ignore it. Spending time alone with Alec and Donovan was so normal to her, she had forgotten how it might appear to someone else who only had a fraction of the relevant information.

Finally, they arrived at her suite and Maren showed them in. She thought it was a strong commentary on the seriousness of the situation that neither of them commented about the roses.

They sat down and she excused herself to clean up somewhat. Fortunately, by the time she returned, the tea tray had arrived and she very gratefully took a biscuit and a lemon wedge.

“I am sorry about that, I had intended to meet you in the drive myself but you arrived rather earlier than I expected,” Maren said, hoping that beginning with an apology would help.

It didn’t really.

“What were you doing with that man? His year is up, he has no business being with you!” her father cried.

Maren took a very deep, calming breath.

“I can explain and I will. But please do keep in mind what the Duke said regarding my future. I assure you that no matter what I am about to tell you, my future is secure.”

Her mother nodded, but her father only glared. She had never ever seen her father behave in such a way. But she supposed she had never had any sort of involvement with men that would provoke her father to be protective before.

“Ah, now, I’m going to tell you something and it’s going to sound like I’ve gone a bit mad, but, please, trust me.”

She took another deep breath. She was not at all sure what was the right thing to tell them first but figured it was good to at least steer the conversation away from being directly about Donovan.

“I’m pregnant,” she said.

They both looked shocked and baffled. She didn’t blame them.

“I assure you I was just as surprised as you are. But, Alec, the physician, confirmed it, twice.”

She did not think it would be helpful to bring up the magical confirmation she and Donovan had found.

“How?” her mother asked at the same time her father asked “Who is the father?”

“Ah…we don’t know the ‘how’ of it all. We suspect that — well, it doesn’t matter what we suspect but we’re sure and I should think the father would be rather obvious, it’s the Prince,” she said.

Apparently, her parents did not think it was obvious that Donovan had fathered her baby because they looked more shocked than she had expected. Possibly it was just the effect of saying the thing out loud.

“And the Duke is still going to marry you? Maren, does he know?” her mother asked, no doubt scandalized at the idea that she might be foisting someone else’s baby on the unsuspecting Duke.

“Ah, yes, he knows and no, he’s not going to marry me—“

“But he said—“ her father interrupted.

“He said my future was not in danger, and he was correct. My future is just no longer as the Duchess. The Prince and I will be getting married.”

“You most certainly will not!” her father shouted.

She had hoped that the part about marrying would help smooth over her parents objections to whom she would be marrying, but apparently not.

He leapt from his seat. “I will not give my consent for this and I will not sign a contract with that man and you are coming home with me!”

Maren took another very deep breath, trying to remain calm.

“Donovan and I love each other very much and we’re very happy with this arrangement,” she said.

“Love? Love! I raised you better than this! You love a man who used you as his own personal plaything? Was Court so sparkly and shiny that you lost all sense?”

It appeared her father had quite a lot of anger related to the Selection but his accusation had made her rather angry. She had done a very good job of remaining calm thus far and was frankly, a bit tired of it.

She stood up so she could look her father in the eye.

“You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and you have absolutely no idea what the last year has been like for me because you won’t stop shouting long enough to let me explain,” she snapped.

Because her father kept quiet, she continued, raising her voice to a shout, “And not that it’s any of your business, but I have been no one’s ‘plaything!’ The man you have been so hasty to malign swore me an oath to never touch me against my will, an oath that he has unfailingly fulfilled!”

She had thought that Donovan’s oath would impress upon her parents that he was an honorable man. Unfortunately, in light of her condition, her father took the wrong message away.

“What I’m hearing then is that you’re pregnant because you behaved like a common harlot!” he shouted.

“Robert!” her mother gasped, standing up herself.

The door then burst open and Donovan entered, shouting, “How dare you speak to her that way!” as he slammed the door closed behind him.

Maren pinched the bridge of her nose. She was furious at the both of them.

“Donovan! Leave!” she hissed.

“I will not leave you to be slandered!” Donovan snapped.

“I don’t care who you are, you do not speak to my daughter that way!” her father shouted.

Apparently, in his blinding anger, her father couldn’t decide if he was angry at her or if he wanted to protect her. Likely both.

“I am not the one who called her a harlot!”

“I’m not the one who made her that way!”

“ENOUGH!” Maren shouted, sending an orb of Light between the two men and had it explode in harmless sparks.

It had the desired effect of getting everyone’s attention.

“We are done having a shouting match about who loves me the most! You both do so let’s move on with our lives and talk about this like adults!” she said.

Donovan was surprised, but her parents were shocked.

Her father’s eyes were wide in horror and her mother held her hand over her mouth. She looked terrified.

“Maren, what have you done?” her mother whispered.

Both her parents kept nervously glancing at Donovan, who figured out the issue before she did.

“I have known what she is since the moment I saw her. If I intended to turn her in, I would have done it a long time ago,” he said in a tone of voice, Maren was grateful to note, was very calm.

Maren sighed. “I apologize for frightening you, I had forgotten you did not know that he knew,” she said in a tone that matched Donovan.

They both still looked terrified. She knew they didn’t quite believe Donovan and they were also still shocked that she had used her powers. She could only think of a handful of occasions they had ever seen her do it and most of those were accidental.

“It’s alright,” Maren said, still using a tone of voice she usually reserved for startled horses. “Why don’t we sit back down.”

Maren set the example by sitting down first but everyone else followed with Donovan sitting beside her across from her parents.

“Ah, perhaps you should explain,” Maren’s father suggested.

Maren nodded and was going to speak, starting with the Selection, but she found she was suddenly too exhausted and all the words she had carefully planned fled her mind.

She looked to Donovan and he nodded. He would do this for her. She felt a rush of affection for him.

He explained everything from the Selection until Maren had agreed to marry him. Maren chimed in as needed to explain things but Donovan told most everything. He shared more detail about just how awful Kieran was than Maren would have shared, but she wanted to protect her parents from the truth so they didn’t worry. Donovan wanted to make sure they understood exactly how much danger she was in.

They certainly understood by the time Donovan was finished. Maren’s mother was trying to hide the fact she was crying and her father was shocked.

“Maren... I—we...we had no idea. I am so sorry,” her father said.

“Well, I couldn’t exactly put it in a letter,” Maren said.

“Are you sure about this, dear?” her mother asked. “You’ll be in so much danger.”

“Well, I’m always in danger so, I might as well be happy,” Maren said. “And I’m in a lot less danger when we’re together,” she added, smiling at Donovan.

He took her hand in his, smiling back at her.

Her father sighed and cleared his throat. “I think I owe you both an apology. Maren, I’m very sorry for what I said in anger and…Your Highness, you took me by surprise, I am not typically one to anger, but —“

“I expect I owe you one as well,” Donovan said, waving away everything to do with the argument. “We can move on.”

Maren sighed, relieved.

“And you really aren’t…bothered by her…what she is?”

Maren gritted her teeth. She knew her father meant well but he had phrased his question rather tactlessly.

“Setting aside the fact that I’d be dead if she were any different,” he said and then looked at Maren before adding “What she is is extraordinary.”

Maren smiled and blushed. Donovan squeezed her hand.

“I remain concerned about this,” her father said. “But, I will consent to the marriage.”

Maren smiled at him.

“Thank you, Father. And do consider what you might like your grandchild to call you,” she said with a smile.

His face changed to cautious joy very quickly.

“Maren, you’re in so much danger, are you sure this is what you want?” her mother asked.

She nodded. “Very sure.”

She hadn’t noticed how much she had changed during her time at Court before seeing her parents. She had become bolder and more confident and she really liked that about herself. But her parents didn’t know that about her yet, so she thought she understood why they were so skeptical.

“You cannot ever let what just happened —“ her father gestured to the space where she had fired the orb of Light “— happen at Court.”

Maren flushed slightly. “Ah…that wasn’t an accident…I did that on purpose,” she said.

Her parents looked horrified.

Maren shrugged. “Everyone in the room knew and it did have the effect I intended of getting everyone to stop shouting at each other.”

Donovan seemed amused but her parents still seemed very uncomfortable.

“Ah…out of curiosity,” her mother said, “how does the Duke fit into all of this now?”

Maren chuckled. “Believe it or not he’s very pleased. He’s offered to help in a few different ways. Well, I mean he’s hosting the wedding so that should tell you what you need to know.”

Her mother looked surprised. “You’re getting married here and not at Court?”

“I can’t go back to Court. So, we’ll do the wedding here and then Donovan will go to Court to make the arrangements. I’ll stay here until things are settled.”

Her mother frowned, “When are you doing all of this?”

“As soon as possible. I’ve taken the liberty of beginning to draft the marriage contract, I hope you don’t mind, my lord,” Donovan said to her father who looked very surprised.

Maren thought it was possible he didn’t really believe Donovan would marry her until that moment.

“Ah…yes, that will be fine, Your Highness.”