Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon Read Free Page A

you when we are done,’ Dare replied, thinking absurdly that she wanted privacy so there would be no witnesses when she slaughtered him.
    Both m an and elf obeyed and left the room.
    ‘ If this is about where I left my boots again, I swear that affairs of state occupied my mind and I forgot…’ Dare started to apologise before Arianne closed the distance between them and silenced him with a kiss.
    Caught by surprise, he stared at her with puzzlement for a moment before the pleasure of it made him slide his arms around her waist and kiss her back with equal affection. She was the love of his life, and being king would not mean as much if she were not at his side. Her love had given him the strength to take back his kingdom, to save his people and be the man he was today. If he became a great king it was because she had made him so.
    ‘ I am confused,’ he finally admitted when they parted.
    ‘ Of course you are,’ she said smiling, ‘I come here on an entirely new matter. However, now that you have made mention of it, is it so hard to put them away?’ 
    ‘ You are teasing me,’ he retorted, a brow cocked over one eye in playful accusation.
    ‘Yes I am,’ she confessed smirking.
    Dare pulled her to him and kissed her again, glad to see that she was in a better mood than she had been during the past few days. In truth, his desire for self preservation was superseded by his love for her, and so he worried what could have bothered her so greatly that she was lashing out so uncharacteristically. Arianne’s nature was playful and spirited but she was never biting in her manner. Her behaviour of late had been a new experience for him.
    Yet all it took was a kiss to fall in love with her all over again.
    Her effect on him was always the same. Since the very first moment he laid eyes upon her at Lylea’s court, Dare was lost. She was a vision of loveliness that almost made him forget everything he came to say during that first audience with Lylea. Like her mother, who was known for her deep mahogany hair, Arianne took after her, possessing the same hair that shimmered when she wore it long. It framed her oval face with its high cheek bones, full lips and eyes so brown—it was how Dare imagined the earth to be, rich and full of life. Her skin like all elven ladies was pale but to his eyes it was almost luminescent. She did not seemed quite real, like something that had wandered out of a dream. Watching her that first time, his heart pounded in his chest like he was a boy.
    To this day, Dare never understood why she loved him enough to give up immortality.
    ‘ And what can the king do for his queen today?’ he asked, considerably more at ease.
    ‘ I came to apologize for how I have been these past few weeks,’ Arianne admitted first and foremost. ‘I know I have been difficult.’
    That was an understatement but he wisely chose to remain silent.
    ‘What troubled you my love?’ he asked, grateful that at last she was talking to him about this. They always shared everything, and not knowing the reason for her foul mood had provoked his worst fears about their relationship. ‘I was starting to fear that you might have regretted the choice to give up your immortality for me.’
    Arianne stared at him with disbelief at the mere suggestion.
    ‘ Fool,’ she snapped and slapped him on the arm for still harbouring such foolish insecurities. Did he still not grasp even now, that he was her life?  ‘You men can be so frightfully wrong at times.’ Arianne chided.
    ‘ I warn you lady,’ he returned playfully ‘Striking the king is a mortal offense.’
    ‘ I will take my chances,’ she snorted dismissively. ‘I will tell you this once more but if I have to do it again, I will call upon all the powers at my disposal to show you my displeasure. I love you and I always will. Were I was immortal or not, you are my soul-mate. If one life time with you is all there is, I will never regret it. You hold my heart, king. Be