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Cree disrobed, not saying a word and went to the bed to slip his arm behind Dawn’s back and ease her down to lie flat. He leaned over her, his chest grazing her breasts and his lips close to hers. “You forget, wife, that I obey no one, the years and my strength having provided me with the wisdom to be able to do so.”

Her arms shot up around his neck.

“You are in no condition to force me to remain here with you.”

Dawn sighed knowing that but hoping he understood how much she wanted him to sleep beside her as they always did.

Cree did not like the sorrow that flashed in her eyes, and he kissed her gently, and she returned the tender kiss.

“I will honor your request, wife,” he whispered and let her know how he felt, “for I cannot bear to sleep without you by my side. It is as if we are one and there is no purpose without you.”

Dawn patted her chest, letting him know she felt the same.

Cree kissed her quick. “But,” he said, slipping his arms carefully beneath her, “I am going to move you to my side of the bed so that I do not cause you pain when I lie against you.”

Dawn nodded and Cree eased her the short distance across the bed, then climbed in beside her to tuck himself against her.

She turned a frown on him once they were settled comfortably and she gestured.

“You forgot to ask me something?”

Dawn nodded and proceeded to ask the question that had been haunting her.

Cree grinned. “You want to know which king I pledged my support to?”

She nodded again, eager for him to tell her.

Cree laughed. “Both of them.”

Her face scrunched in confusion.

“I let them both believe I would support them in battle and convinced them it would be wiser no one knew, for then I would be more valuable to them if a battle did ensue.”

Dawn shrugged, worry in her eyes.

“You wonder what I would do if they battled,” Cree asked and explained after she nodded. “They bluster more than they will battle and if a battle were to come, it would be more of a skirmish that would finish before I even got a chance to reach the battlefield. Neither wants a war and neither wants to lose and no matter the outcome, each will claim victory. They have been at this for a while. It will end soon enough.”

Dawn smiled and mouthed,wise man.

“That I am,” Cree boasted, “and even wiser for falling in love with you. We sleep well tonight, Dawn, in our new home where we will make endless memories and make endless love and live a good life. And I will do whatever it takes to make it so.”

Dawn reached for her husband’s hand, locking her fingers tight with his and smiled.

“Aye, wife, together, the two of us, forever and always.”