Being a bride is a state of mind, not of body.
Ian, Count of Charteris, is happiest when he is working his land with his tenants. Court life and travel hold no appeal for him. Nevertheless, he escorts his widowed sister on a diplomatic mission to the isolated Shadow Valley. Rumor has it that those people have discovered a miraculous medicine that Moorcondia is anxious to trade for. Boredom transforms into fascination at the sight of a beautiful creature who welcomes him to the Valley.
Calan is an orphan raised by his powerful aunt. He has learned the craft of healing but cares little for politics, preferring a life outdoors. As the first of his people to see the Moorcondians, he is surprised by how virile Ian is. Here is someone who can introduce him to the pleasure to be had between two men.
The personal becomes the political as undercurrents of distrust and intrigue impede the possibility of a treaty. It is up to Ian and Calan to forge the path forward before their fairytale turns into a nightmare.
Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of public sex, attempted murder, and the death of a secondary character.
General Release Date: 3rd October 2023
“When are we going to be there, Mama?”
Ian, Count of Charteris, smiled at his niece’s plaintive question. He’d lost track of how many times she’d asked since their journey had begun a few days back. He flashed a smile at his sister. “Yes, when are we going to be there, Mama?”
Isabeau gave him her usual steely stare. Although she was the younger of them by a couple of years, she had adopted their mother’s stern demeanor early in life. She turned her head toward her daughter, for whom she offered a gentler expression. “I believe we crossed the border into Shadow Valley moments ago. It shouldn’t be long now until we reach our destination, but if I get that question one more time, Amalie, I shall send you to ride with your nurse.”
Amalie rolled her eyes at Ian before saying, “Yes, Mama.”
“Good.” Isabeau returned her attention to Ian. “And I will take no more nonsense from you, brother. You’re the one who volunteered to come on this diplomatic mission. If you’re bored already, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
“As if I would ever let my widowed sister and niece travel on their own to a foreign land with no treaty in place.”
Isabeau pursed her lips. “We’re not helpless, Ian, and the king has sent plenty of stout soldiers to protect us.”
That was true. They were being accompanied by a few dozen of the king’s finest, including two women who nearly dwarfed him in size, to be personal protectors of his sister and niece. He couldn’t fault the security, yet there had been no question he would come once he’d heard news of his sister’s appointment as special envoy. It was a proud accomplishment for Isabeau, he knew, but it didn’t change the fact that the people living in Shadow Valley were unknown to them, and he’d be damned if he went about his merry way while the only two relatives he had left headed into possible danger.
Not wanting to worry his niece in particular, he effected a casual attitude. “Think of this as you doing me a favor, getting me out into the world and broadening my horizons.”
Isabeau snorted, an unladylike sound that reminded him she was still the bold girl who’d followed him into all the mischief he’d made in their childhood and not just the staid matron that she’d become since marriage. “As if you’ve ever wanted to venture beyond the Charteris lands. I thought you’d break out into hives when you came to court to ask the king’s permission to accompany me.”
Ian didn’t bother to correct his sister’s impression of how his meeting with the king had gone. ‘Asking’ was not exactly how he’d characterize what he’d said to the man. There had never been any question as to his coming along. He looked out of the nearest window of the carriage at the rolling valley beyond the thicket of trees lining the road. “This is hardly the same as being in the city. I quite like what I can see so far. Shadow Valley reminds me a bit of home, truth be told.”
“It is lovely,” his sister agreed. “But I know how much you like getting your hands dirty, and there will be none of that physical labor for you here. As my escort, you will be expected to act as a courtier. Be prepared for the tedium of long meals and mindless chatter.”
Ian sighed. “I am.” He would hate every minute of the diplomatic dance, but their father had instilled in him his duty to his female relatives. And because he loved these two females more than his own life, escorting them was no hardship.
Isabeau made a noise that indicated how little she believed his reassurance. Then her face lit up. “I suppose it’s possible you might finally find your bride here. A marriage would do wonders for a treaty, as well.”
Ian didn’t bother to sugar-coat his thoughts on that topic. “Not going to happen, sister dear. I don’t know how many more times I can tell you that I’m not going to marry—ever.”
“Oh, such nonsense! Really, Ian, you hold a noble title and have a duty to produce an heir.”
“I already have one.” He winked at Amalie, who listened avidly at their conversation. If nothing else, it broke up the tedium.
Isabeau patted her daughter’s hand. “Amalie already has the Truehart estate from her late father. Charteris and the title should go to a child of yours.”
This was an old topic of conversation and one that he had little appetite to continue. He stretched his legs as best he could in search of a more comfortable position instead of arguing the point. Carriages were not made for large men. While his sister and niece shared one of the squabs with room to spare, the one he occupied across from them felt like a slightly soft instrument of torture. He would have made the journey on horseback but for his need to stick close to his cherished relatives. If danger made its way past the outriders, he would be the last defense. Gazing at the lushness of the country they entered, it was hard to believe that anything bad happened here. Everything was bright and colorful, with the sun shining down to bathe it all in ethereal light. As a man who reveled in being outdoors, he thought he might find this trip enjoyable after all.
“Mama, I need a break, please.” This was Amalie’s delicate way of saying she needed to pee.
Truth be told, so did Ian. It would be a nice opportunity to stretch his legs, as well. The journey might be drawing to a close, but he knew their destination to the seat of Shadow Valley’s ruling council was a way past the border. He rapped on the roof of the carriage to signal the drivers to stop. A few moments later, they did. Ian waited until the lead soldier shouted orders for his men to fan out to keep watch before opening the carriage door. He stepped out first, nearly groaning with relief, before handing his sister down. She stood to one side, shaking out her voluminous skirt as he lifted Amalie by her waist to set her beside her mother. The child was ten now, and it was disconcerting to notice how much she was heading into womanhood already. She bobbed a curtsy in thanks before her nurse came up from the carriage behind them to take her by the hand. His sister’s maid was close on the woman’s heels to serve her mistress’ needs.
Ian scanned the area for any sign of danger before saying, “I’ll be nearby if you need me.”
Isabeau waved him off before turning to join Amalie and the other women. Ian walked in the opposite direction to find a private spot to relieve himself. Beyond a stand of trees, he came upon a lovely lake with crystal-clear blue water and a small outcrop of rocks across the way. He took a deep breath of the clean, sweet-smelling air as he undid his laces to release his dick and turned his face into the heat of the sun. Shadow Valley was poorly named if this bit of it was representative of the whole country. A movement by the rocks caught his attention. He had his sword out of its scabbard in an instant. In the next one, he relaxed as someone came into view. No, not someone, a vision of beauty that overtook the landscape around them.
Ian had grown up on tales of woodland folk—fairies…beautiful creatures who flitted about the natural part of the world that they called home. For one wild moment, he thought they had been more than mere stories, that such otherworldly beings really did exist. It was a fanciful thought but not surprising, given the pale, slender boy with long, golden hair standing gloriously naked on top of the rocks. Even at a distance, his beauty was arresting, and he might have been mistaken for a girl if not for his obvious maleness on display. With amazing grace, the boy lifted his arms and dove into the water.
Ian followed the arc of movement with his gaze, then moved for a closer look when the boy didn’t immediately come back up. Something bright flashed under the water before breaking through to the surface with a splash. As Ian stood by the bank, staring like a fool, the pretty boy shook his head and dragged his wet hair away from his face with his fingers. He treaded water and grinned at Ian. His gaze flicked downward, and his grin grew wider.
It took Ian a moment to realize he’d forgotten to resheath his sword and do up his laces. In its unconfined state, his dick had no trouble standing, hard and eager, signaling the instant desire he had felt at the first sight of this water nymph. He carefully put away his sword so that he didn’t accidentally castrate himself. But when he grabbed his cock to stuff it back into his trousers, the boy gave a cheeky wave before diving back under. The sight of a slick, small rump hovering above the surface before submerging had Ian coming with a surprised grunt. He’d been careful not to tend to this need during the journey out of respect for his sister. His dick had been unable to behave itself in the face of such bold temptation, however. His seed spilled on the ground, leaving him nearly dizzy with the force of it.
He stood staring long after the tremors of his climax had subsided and his dick softened enough to be confined back behind his laces where it belonged. Like some sappy young man, he longed for another glimpse of the boy. It wasn’t until he heard his sister’s voice calling to him and cutting through the fog of desire that he pulled himself together and headed back to the road. Still, he couldn’t resist a glance over his shoulder. There was nothing to see except the nature around him. It was almost as if he’d imagined the whole encounter.
Except he hadn’t.
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