Back in our room I lay anxiously in bed waiting for my husband to return to me. Thankfully it didn't take long before Mathew slid under the heavy down covers, silently as he climbed into bed. I searched for him in the dim light but he dodged my lips and began to kiss my body. "What's wrong? I asked as I felt his tongue on my chest, his teeth found one of my nipples and I gasped as he nibbled on it. "I thought you were tired," I teased, tangling my fingers in his soft, now flower scented hair.

"Forgive me. I need you right now," he mumbled against my chest as he kissed my stomach.

I knitted my brows together, surprised by his words. "I'm not complaining Love, but something is clearly wrong. I can feel it." I inhaled sharply as he traveled down my body with his lips and tongue. He raked his teeth over my hip point and I closed my eyes, rocking my hip towards him. "Please tell me."

"Later," he growled and took me in his mouth. I gasped and grasped his hair. I had no idea what had gotten into him, but something was different. The tension in his body and the purposeful nature of which he was assaulting me with his mouth was a new side of him.

He wrapped his arms around my thighs and pulled me down, closer to him. I bit my lip, shuddered at the sensation of his lips around me. Squirming underneath him. I pleaded for him to move faster, moaning his name but he ignored me. Until I finally surrendered to him. The difference was quite intense. Maybe he just needed to be close to me? Was his nightmares haunting him again? Whenever I was concerned about his mental health he brushed me off—claiming he was fine. But was he really?

We didn't need to speak about it now, I told myself, and shortly after the need for an explanation vanished as I climbed. I closed my eyes crying out as I found my release. I shuddered as he kissed my navel and slid back up my body and I pulled his face down to mine, catching his lips.

I dug my nails into his shoulders as he entered me. Maybe he just needed a distraction from everything? "Don't be gentle," I groaned in his ear. He obliged and I cursed under my breath.

He pressed his forehead to mine. Stopping me from hiding my face. "Let me see you," he breathed.

I felt him quicken and I was lost in him. I moaned his name and he growled back mine in return. As he found his release I collapsed into the bed. My body was spent. He rode out the waves, braced over me on his elbows as he caught his breath. The scent from him was intoxicating and once more I was lost in his eyes. I brushed his hair from his sticky forehead, watching the strained look on his face and reality hit me.

"Mathew?" I pleaded as he rolled over to his side.

"The elven spies brought news."

"Bad news I presume."

"Roland's army is marching for Faria."

"What!" I sat up straight and stared down at his tired face. His eyes were closed but I knew he was making plans already.

"I want you to stay here."

"I won't!" I felt tears burning behind my eyes and a feeling of desperation growing in my heart. Was that it? Was this his way to say goodbye? "Please don't ask that of me."

"Adrian," he mumbled softly as he opened his eyes to look at me. His hand reached out to my face but his gentle touch made everything worse.

"You promised! You promised to never leave me again!"

"You would be safe here," he argued, "we have no idea what we will be up against when we go home."

"Exactly! I can't let everyone fight for me while I stay here and wait for the news of your death!" I couldn't believe him. And I couldn't believe we were fighting about this. But then I calmed myself down, realizing he must be worried for his family. For his village and our home. I drew a deep breath and laid down beside him and snuggled in close. My cheek rested on him and my fingers played with the curls on his chest. "Tell me what the spies told you."

Mathew snarled, "they didn't. It was Ylyndar who came to me. Seems like the King and Queen dislikes having us here."

And even after knowing that he wanted me to stay? "So what did Ylyndar tell you?"

His hand moved to the top of my head, finding a string of hair to twirl around his fingers. It felt nice and calming. "He told me they've spotted soldiers walking in formation from Gera towards home," he began, "It's not all of them, but many."

"You think Roland is with them?"

"Yes."

I sighed. "You'll get your chance to kill him, love, but we can't let emotions guide us now. We need to be smart."

"What we need is a meeting with the elven fucking King!"

I nodded against his warm skin. "I'll arrange it in the morning. They can't ignore me forever."

My husband sighed and pulled me into a warm embrace. "I'm sorry my love. I won't ask you to stay. I'm just scared."

His words made me nauseous. If Mathew was scared things were bad. "We'll meet with the king tomorrow morning, and prepare to leave by lunchtime. Maybe Ylyndar knows a shortcut to Faria, or maybe we can borrow a few of their flying mounts?"

He pulled me in closer and I felt his breath in my hair. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"I'm sorry for my bad mood. But everyone seems to be working against us." He let out a long sigh. "I'm used to it. It's been like this my entire life. But when you invited me to your coronation I felt a breeze of change in the air. I believe you and your wish to unite our countries and create peace. I wanted it. I needed it. I saw it happen at one point. But now it's worse than ever."

My chest tightened. He was losing hope. "We can still have that future," I whispered. "It might take a bit longer to get there. But we will. And this is why you left Sam there in the first place. He will defend our home until we get there."

He nodded, "you're right. Sam knows what to do."

"And Kirigan will help him."

"I know, darling. But the numbers they're up against..."

"It won't matter! They will move through lycan forests and the soldiers will be taken down before they even reach the village."

Suddenly Mathew sat up straight. "You're right. But only if they know what's coming. We need to send them a message," he said and rushed to put on some clothes. "I need Ylyndar to send them a raven right away!"

I watched him sprint out of the door, listening as the sound of his footsteps faded. A mix of emotions rushed through me, but the strongest one would never leave me. I worried for him. He was not the carefree and happy man I fell in love with anymore. He was angry, irritable and lost in deep thoughts most of the time. I knew he was in pain. But I had no idea on how to help him.