Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

least, have him thinking beyond what was clearly a done deal in his mind.
    Barret was getting tired of her disobedience and while he loved his wife; finding her adventurous spirit endearing, Barret was the Lord of this land. He deserved to be treated as such, and that seemed to be something that he needed to remind those closest to him. The people who lived here depended on him to keep them safe. A trustworthy man was far more valuable than his gold.
    “This is beyond securing our borders from those who mean us ill will. Perhaps with the faithful friends and support, this can create for our people opportunities to expand our reach.” Barret took both of her hands in his and kissed the point where their hands met, mimicking the gesture performed at their wedding so many years ago. “The Kingdom of Braykith lays to the west, and our borders do not come into direct contact. Claiming our allegiance gives them the upper hand here, but it also gives us extended reach. Some of those smaller regions could be added to our survival.” Barret paused for just a second as he thought about his plans. Thea was too struck by this shift in the conversation to add much of anything. “Given the perfect opportunities, we could start to establish an actual empire.”
    Thea had never seen her husband quite like this before. He was ambitious in other ways that had always appealed to her. Barret’s concerns seemed close to home and creating a secure passage for those they were in contact with. Never did she image him as some tycoon. The look in his eyes was critical to her, and she wanted to shrink back from him as he spoke. Sounding more crazed with every word he uttered, Thea was stuck as he clutched her hands tight under his own. She had assumed he was content with their little place in the sun.
    “If Evangeline leaves us, she will be forever lost to us.” Thea couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself, the baby taking what was her natural reaction to the situation and forcing her to become someone far more extreme. Loss of control was common for pregnant women, but Thea had tried her best to keep these outbursts away from her husband. This news though had been a rather difficult thing to hear.
    “Yes Thea, she will be lost to us just as you are lost to your home.” Barret shook his head at himself but did not say anything to Thea. He had been warned during her first pregnancy of the ways a baby can control her emotions. Barret was sure that half of this was caused by the baby she was now carrying. “Do you feel lost Thea? Or found?” He tried to lighten her spirits by recalling the very elements that had brought them together.
    “You were discovered by me, worshipped and adored by me. You were given to me and never did I ever imagine I could deserve such a gift and yet here you are.” He moved in slowly as his spoke, voice lower and finally his forehead was pressed against hers as he accommodated for their growing child between them. “You bloomed here Thea, just as Eva will bloom with her husband.”
    It was hard to remain resentful when he held her like this. The intensity between them which had started when they were so young had never drifted even after years together. Barret was a loyal husband and even in her current state, all he said was entirely correct. Thea knew the day would come when Evangeline would indeed be married. Thea had been hopeful that her daughter’s courtship would be one based on companionship and a shared vision of the future. Instead, it seemed that her love would be forced by the hands of politics and circumstance.
    Finally, she closed her eyes and gave into the tension that had taken over her body. It had started with her hands but had quickly spread. Only Barret could force her to react in such extremes. While only moments ago she had been afraid of him, she also trusted and loved her husband. Thea needed to hold onto that now as she gave in the fight.
    Barret gently released the breath he didn’t