Cursed by Darkness (Once Upon A Curse)

46. Juniper

FORTY-SIX

Juniper

J uniper went into the guest room assigned to her and Bodin. She collapsed onto the settee near the warm fire burning in the hearth. Bodin chuckled softly and moved to stand behind her. As he began kneading her shoulders, Iliana sat in an armchair with a groan.

“You’re really going to marry my brother?” Juniper asked.

“Apparently.” Her friend—future sister-in-law—slumped down in her seat, tilting her head to rest against the back. “I wouldn’t have agreed if Hugo had been the only option, but I hadn’t thought Delroy would step in like that. Honestly, I was hoping Rafe would.”

Juniper shook her head. Iliana was constantly commenting on how attractive she found Rafe. Honestly, Juniper could no longer tell if she meant it or if she was just teasing. It was why Iliana and Laurent had hit it off so well in the beginning. Though, where Laurent was open and bubbly, she was more subdued and serious, quieter.

At least, until Delroy was around. They brought out the worst in each other, it seemed. Juniper had no idea how this marriage would work when they couldn’t be in the same room for more than a few minutes without arguing. She knew the only reason they’d remained civil in the throne room earlier was because they hadn’t actually talked to one another.

King Dag presence might have also contributed.

Bodin moved to sit beside Juniper. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him with a contented sigh.

“It will be fine,” Iliana said. “Maybe it will be a marriage in name only. He can stay in Forosse for all I care.”

“And future heirs?” Bodin asked.

Iliana lifted her head, but her face paled. “I… will figure that out later.” She straightened her back and shoulders. “He’s not hideous, I suppose. So, if I can just get him not to talk, it would be… tolerable.”

Juniper pinched her lips, trying not to laugh. She failed when she met Iliana’s questioning gaze. “Del? Quiet? Should that day come, it will surely be a sign of the world ending.”

“Fair enough,” Iliana said with her own laugh. Sighing, she pushed to her feet. “All right, I’m going to go talk to my sister and leave you two to rest before dinner.” She headed toward the door but glanced over her shoulder. “And by rest, I mean practice for baby number two since you likely didn’t have privacy the entire trip here.”

“This is why you’re our favorite,” Bodin called after her as she made her way out to the hall.

They had stopped at multiple inns along the way, but between the thin walls and being surrounded by her brothers and father, it was difficult to be together. It had made things interesting though, trying to stay quiet, especially on the road, but they had made it work.

Crossing the lake on one of Gilarn’s ships was the only time they didn’t need to truly worry. Which was good because something about being pregnant made her want him more than ever.

Her favorite little tryst was when they’d stopped in a meadow to eat and stretch their legs, and she’d asked Bodin to go with her into the woods so she could relieve herself. Instead, he’d quickly taken her behind a tree.

There was also the time he’d insisted they had the carriage to themselves for the afternoon and he’d knelt before her, lifted her skirts, and made her come undone with only his tongue and fingers.

The memory alone was making her hot. Biting her lip, she turned toward her husband.

He smirked, as if reading her mind. “Here or the bed?”

“Bed,” she said with a grin.

She started to stand when he did, but instead, he scooped her into his arms. He carried her to the bed and set her on her feet beside it. In record speed, he had their clothes on the floor and her lying on the softest mattress she’d felt in weeks.

Closing her eyes, she curled up on her side and said, “Oh gods. I could just go to sleep right now.”

His lips brushed along the back of her neck then lower to her side and growing stomach. “Don’t you dare.”

She rolled over with a smile. He lifted himself to hover over her, careful not to put his weight on the baby. He kissed her, running his fingers along her curves. The bump was starting to get in the way though. Seeming to know what she was thinking once again, he pushed himself to sit with his back to the headboard, grabbed a blanket, then helped her move toward him. Sitting between his legs, facing away from him, she leaned against his chest and spread the blanket over them both. He wrapped an arm around her, putting one hand on her belly. The other played with her hair.

His fingers trailed across her stomach. It hadn’t seemed real until the bump appeared a few weeks ago. That was when Bodin’s panic set in. She’d reassured him over and over that she and the baby would be fine, but Bodin still worried. Understandably. She couldn’t imagine experiencing that sort of trauma. But she would continue trying to comfort him. It helped that she kept practicing with her magic and could now show him how capable she was of healing not only other people but herself. Physically seeing her do that seemed to ease his mind. Not to mention Richard would be close during the birth. If anything happened, he would be there to help with his Lumen power too.

Turning her head to hold his gaze, she let out a breath. “It’s hard to believe that less than half a year ago, I was living as a prisoner in my own home, scared of my magic, and utterly alone in the world.”

“I know,” he whispered, pressing his lips to the side of her head. “I wasn’t locked up, but I was trapped in darkness. I never thought I’d have a chance at happiness and love again. But you…” He cleared his throat. “You are my light, Juniper. You saved me in so many ways. More ways than I can ever explain.”

Juniper didn’t know how to express the countless ways he’d saved her too. She’d been born of light but lived in the shadows until he freed her from the invisible chains. Even if he did so inadvertently. They had both gone through so much, simply surviving long enough for them to be brought together.

Light.

Dark.

They balanced each other out. And they would continue to spread that unity throughout the realm as they helped it heal.

She wasn’t na?ve enough to think the fighting would end entirely. The war over the Valley of Stars had started and stopped too many times throughout history to believe they had finally finished it for good.

But for now, she would hold on to the hope that she and Bodin could bring their son or daughter into a more peaceful world. After all, the goddess herself had aided them. Their heir was blessed—of that, she had no doubt.

Which brought up the more concerning issue. They didn’t know if the baby would have magic. With both of them being so powerful, thanks to Ronna’s gifts, it was hard to believe it wouldn’t be passed down. But would the baby have Lumen or Noxian magic? For months, they’d been searching for any accounts of people being born with both, but they hadn’t found answers yet.

There was plenty of time for that though. They could deal with it if it became an issue in the future. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy this calm moment with Bodin and be grateful they would get that future at all.

“I love you, Bo.” She twisted enough to kiss her husband—the one she hadn’t wanted at first—and then turned to put her back to him once more.

His lips brushed the curve of her neck as his hand trailed down to her hip, her inner thigh, then lower. “I love you too, Juniper.”

He ignited the fire that blazed solely for him. As his fingers worked their own sort of magic, she gasped and slid her butt forward to lean back, giving him better access. Behind her, he hardened. She was already wet and didn’t want to wait. “More,” she said, straightening.

He chuckled, nipping at her ear. “So impatient.”

Turning around, she straddled his lap, raising up on her knees. He lined up with her entrance, and she lowered slowly. She moaned in delight as he filled her. Once their bodies were joined completely, she stilled.

Bodin stared at her with the sweetest smile, and Juniper traced the scars cutting through the side of his face. Releasing her leg, he cupped her cheek and kissed her slowly. As if they had all the time in the world. Because they did now. He broke away enough to meet her gaze with his dark eyes. Stroking the side of her face with his thumb, he whispered, “For the rest of my days, and an eternity after, I will be grateful you were brought into my life, my beautiful, selfless queen. I once promised your brother that you would be free with me, but I’m swearing to you now that I will do everything in my power to ensure you never feel trapped again. That I will do everything within my power, and then some, to make you happy.”

Gods above, she loved this man.

“Thank you.” She kissed him again and again, and then she decided it was time to lighten the mood. With a chuckle, she wiggled against him and said, “But please don’t talk about my brother while we’re like this.”

His laughter vibrated against her. He nipped at her earlobe again and wrapped a hand around the base of her neck. In her ear, he asked, “Must you always ruin my moments?”

“Yes.” Juniper grinned, reminded of similar words she’d spoken the night they’d finally consummated this marriage. She put her own hand over his, holding it in place, loving how he managed to take control without making her feel helpless. On the contrary, the way he worshiped her body made her feel like a goddess herself, full of power and grace. As she began moving, she said, “And it seems you’ll be stuck with me doing so for a long time. Because you love me.”

“Forever, Sunshine,” he whispered before showing her just how much he meant it.