Page 13 of The Thief’s Lord (Catkin Trilogy #3)

“Everyone,” grinned Granny Bren.

“Erlin!”

“It’s actually Dorset,” I said, announcing Dorset’s and my arrival in the breakfast room where all of my family had gathered.

Or most of them. A few were absent; a good portion were present.

Too many for my liking. Glancing over at Dorset, I noticed that there was a rather dazed look on his face.

No doubt the Night Blade thief felt overwhelmed at the wave of chatter and shouting that washed over us.

“Dorset,” my sister Kaleigh said, rising to give us both a warm hug. “How nice!”

Nice? My eyebrow twitched. Nice? After I announced they never knew his real name before?

Before I could say anything, however, a small wave of arms and legs rolled toward us as the next generation of Wrights began to maul my legs and tug on Dorset’s arms. Robin, Rhenn, Bella, Yenna, Oren, and Little Harold.

The youngest Wrights were all there. Still at the table, the older Richard, being fifteen winters, stared at his siblings, Robin and Rhenn, as well as his cousins with disfavor.

I snorted, knowing from the telling gleam in his eye, that Richard was intensely curious about Dorset.

“I want Dorset to sit by me,” Bella shouted, dragging hard on Dorset’s arm, tighter than any shackle I’d laid on him.

“Noooo…” wailed Yenna. “I neber me-met Dorsey!”

Struggling through the crowd of kits around him, I put my hand on Dorset’s shoulder and tried to give them all a dark glower.

None were cowed. Instead, they clung to me as well.

In the end, my brother-in-law, Thomas, took the head of the table where I usually sat, while Dorset and I were forcibly installed along one side, flanked by a pair of kits each.

Their parents—my siblings and in-laws—gazed at Dorset and me indulgently.

“Where did you go, Dorset?” asked Rhenn curiously. “Father said you were in the woods.”

“Your uncle Gareth took me hunting at his cabin,” Dorset replied diplomatically.

“Hunting!” Richard shot me a scathing look. His black ears flattened as his gold eyes flashed. “Why couldn’t I go as well?”

“Richard,” his father said mildly. “I’m sure Uncle Gareth had his reasons.”

“What did you hunt?”

“Did you catch any fish?”

“Was the marsh very cold?”

“Did Uncle Gareth run away on a horse to marry you?”

The last question from Bella caught Dorset off guard. He swung to stare at me wide-eyed.

“What?” He asked.

“Everyone’s been caught up in the story of Princess Erellia,” I explained with an eye roll. “I’m not about to sweep anyone up into my saddle and rush over the border with them.”

“Why not?” asked Bella, looking up at me in disappointment.

“Why would I take Dorset to the border when I could just bring him here?” I pointed out.

“Oh.”

No sooner had my answer left my lips than I saw my mistake. A few of the adults snorted and chuckled. The older kits were looking a little too thoughtful for my liking. To make matters worse, Dorset’s cheeks pinked with a shy color, which also made my stomach flip-flop like a caught fish. Gods.

“So, you brought Dorset back here,” Bella said, parsing through my words and taking it where I had hoped she wouldn’t. “And so you’re going to marry him here?”

“No marriage,” I said firmly.

Not yet, anyway. The stray thought surprised me. I glanced over at Dorset and nearly matched his blush with my own. Bella’s ears flattened.

“It’s alright, Bella,” Dorset said with a small smile. “Try this honey. It’s so sweet! I love it!”

“Baywaters has the best honey ’cause the flowers are prettiest,” Bella said.

“Well, not just that,” Rhenn said, “but she’s sort of right. If Dorset wants to eat Baywaters honey all the time, he ought to stay.”

Even the boys are matchmaking now , I groaned internally.

“Perhaps I should,” agreed Dorset, throwing oil on the fire with a small, yet devilish, smile. “I would love to stay here at Baywaters.”

“I want you to stay too. Then, we can go on another adventure together,” Rhenn agreed.

“By the river!” Bella shouted.

“The ribber!” Yenna and Little Harry echoed with glee.

After seeing Dorset relaxing with my nieces and nephews, I wished that I could go alone to the capital.

Dorset had to go with me for a variety of reasons, my family’s safety being one of them.

Nevertheless, I sensed that Dorset was happy despite the overwhelming nature of my family.

Most of my partners had struggled to handle the noise that accumulated with a litter of Wrights, but Dorset appeared to fit right in.

I wasn’t the only one to notice it either.

After breakfast, Granny Bren commandeered Dorset, seating him on a stool by her feet and giving him the task of holding her yarn as she finished a stretch of knitting.

The two talked about Dorset’s childhood home, his parents, and his travels around Sumarene.

She didn’t press for details about his recent work, nor how I had found him.

In turn, Dorset asked her questions, and I was forced to hear mind-numbing tales of my early kithood.

The stories had Dorset laughing though. The sound of his light voice ringing through my hall, filled my heart with regret and warmth both.

I wished yet again that he could remain, but I had to leave, and so did he.

Two days later, Dorset and I seated ourselves in the carriage I had chosen for our trip to the capital.

The covered carriage would protect us against the spring rains and also hopefully keep my captive’s identity a mystery for a little while longer.

Dorset peered out of the carriage window as he huddled on his side of the brown leather seat.

There was a depressed swoop to his thin shoulders.

I suppressed a sigh and gazed wistfully at the long curling strands of his red hair.

Outside, there were shouts as all of the children, barely held back by their parents, jumped up and down and waved.

I took the opportunity to move closer to Dorset so that I could also peer out from behind him and wave at my large family.

The coach driver cried, “Hup! Hup!” Then, with a jolt, the carriage began to move forward.

The Wrights shouted invitations to Dorset to return soon.

Dorset smiled and waved back. When we had disappeared around the bend, he eased back, suddenly bumping into me.

“Oh. S-Sorry,” he said, avoiding my gaze.

Was he upset? I wanted to put my arm around him, but I wondered if that was what he really wanted right now. Instead, I sat close to him, allowing my shoulder to brush against him in time with the sway of the carriage.

“They really liked you,” I noted. “Unlike… some of my other—“ I stopped. The last thing Dorset needed to hear right now was about my past lovers.

“You think so?” Dorset’s voice sounded more tremulous than usual. His fingers twisted around each other, and his ears now sank low into his curls.

“I know so. In fact, I bet they’re missing you already.”

“I’ll miss them too.” Dorset huffed a short deprecating laugh. “It’s strange, but for some reason… Baywaters felt almost like…” He trailed off and then finally ended after a long moment in a whispered confession. “Home.”

“The doors of Baywaters will always be open to you,” I said softly, laying my fingers over his in silent comfort. “One day, we will return. I promise.”

This was a vow I would fight to hold true. Lightly spoken, but deeply felt. These words burned themselves on my soul as deep as the promise I had given to my parents—and to my king.