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  “Your brother?” Tamsin queried.

  “I am Zeth.” The male bowed his head slightly and looked back at Jareth. “The castle is secured.”

  “He’s injured. He saved my life.” Tamsin’s voice shook with emotions. “Please help him.”

  “Zeth, is the king alive?” another masculine voice asked.

  “Yes,” Zeth answered as he squatted beside Tamsin, near Jareth. “His Ajena saved him.”

  A loud rumble of voices rose at the confirmation that their king was still alive and most of all, had been saved by his Ajena. Tamsin ignored the others and fastened her eyes on Jareth’s face as yet another male brought some sort of device and applied it to the terrible wound at his side. The device lit up and started to softly vibrate against Jareth’s skin. She recognized the type of machine—Jareth had used a similar one on her wrists.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Tamsin asked. “He lost so much blood.”

  “He lost a lot of life fluid, yes, but he is strong. He will live and make a full recovery.” Zeth squeezed her shoulder and smiled faintly, then turned his head to the other warriors. “Is the Zurlan ship captured?”

  Isov stepped in front of the group.

  “Speak, Captain Isov,” Zeth ordered.

  “Yes, Prince Zeth.” Isov nodded, a grim expression on his face. “The ship was blasted and all the rebels captured, except for Lord Creel himself.”

  “They almost killed our king and his Ajena. This is unacceptable. There will be no rest until we find the traitor and bring him to justice,” Zeth growled through clenched teeth.

  “The Vallerisc traitors will answer for their crimes. They endangered many females in their foolish attack, my new Ajena included. All the Great families have turned their backs on them. Let it be known there will be no mercy for any of them, or any Tellurian who dares support them from now on.”

  Everyone turned surprised faces at the sound of Jareth’s voice. He stared at his warriors, his face contorted with pain, but his eyes were steady, his mouth curled in a cruel scowl.

  “Send every available force to chase the Vallerisc traitors.” Jareth turned to Tamsin and she gasped at the fury she saw in him. “Bring my Ajena to the warriors’ wing and triple the guard.”

  Jareth’s gorgeous blue eyes shone as he stared intently at her.

  “I ordered you to save yourself,” Jareth said, his brows furrowed with emotion. “You disobeyed me. Why?”

  “What do you mean, why?” Tamsin leaned over him. “Would you have left me behind?”

  “Never,” Jareth growled. “It is my duty to protect you. I would have considered my life well spent if I died defending you.”

  “Well, I’m happy you’re not dead. Now let them treat you or you’ll die and I’ll have risked my hide for nothing.”

  “It is not the same. You are female, you have to follow my orders, especially when it comes to your safety.” Jareth’s eyes gleamed with fury. “Your disobedience is unacceptable.”

  “I saved your life and you’re angry at me?”

  Tamsin felt waves of shock travel through her at those words. Hot tears burned her eyelids and she bit her lip hard enough to feel pain in the hopes of preventing them from spilling down her cheeks. Her life had changed so much since meeting Jareth and becoming his Ajena. He was her center. She couldn’t even imagine her life without him. And yet still, with all they had lived together, he considered her weak, not someone worthy and unable to help him in his daily tasks.

  “I proved myself to you, over and over, but I’m still nothing more than just, just…” Tears burned her eyes and she wiped at them furiously. There was no way in hell she was going to let him see how much he hurt her. “A female. I’ll never be more than just a female to you! Well, guess what? I’m done! I’m done trying to prove myself.”

  There was a hard silence where Jareth’s blue gaze hung onto Tamsin’s. His handsome face was as still as a statue as he stared into her soul.

  “You are the bravest, most ferocious person I’ve ever met. You are more than worthy, my Tamsin.” Jareth’s blue eyes glowed with the intensity of his feelings. “You are my heart, you are my life. You never need to prove yourself to me.”

  “Jareth! I love you!” Tamsin rushed and threw her arms around Jareth’s neck, stopping when she saw him wince. “I’m so sorry. Your wound!”

  “I would suffer a thousand deaths to hold you near.” Jareth’s good arm encircled her waist and held her gently. “You saved my life, by disobeying me and standing by my side. Thank you.”

  Her lips sealed over his in a long, deep kiss that spanned a lifetime. He was going to live and they were both going to be fine and happy together forever. Never before had her life been filled with so many promises for a bright and happy future.

  Epilogue

  Tamsin bent over and a flow of vomit splashed in the toilet bowl. After a few more retches, she felt better. It was the third morning in a row that she had been sick. A slow, creeping sensation started in the pit of her belly.

  She mentally counted the days since she’d arrived on Havlan, and tried to remember the last time she had her womanly flow. Too long. It was a wonder she didn’t notice it but then so many things had happened. It was easy to forget things when they didn’t happen. Still, she couldn’t be sure. It could only be the stress. But somehow, she felt it deep inside, in a secret and ancient instinct. This was no stress. She was expecting a new life.

  “Are you sick?” Jareth rushed to her side. “I will alert medical right away.”

  “No!” Tamsin put a calming hand on Jareth’s arm. “I am fine. This isn’t something to be alarmed about.”

  Jareth frowned and stared into her eyes, confusion clear on his worried face. Tamsin smiled, and her hand slid all the way from his arm to his hand. She brought his hand to her belly and left it there. Jareth’s eyes followed her movement and his eyes grew huge. His mouth widened into the most blazing smile she had ever seen.

  “Are you sure?” His voice shook with emotion. “This would make me the happiest male on Havlan.”

  “I’m pretty sure but we’ll need to confirm with medical.”

  Jareth held his hand to Tamsin’s stomach for a while, then his touch started to change. She stared at his face, recognizing the signs of desire on his features. He pulled her to him slowly and tenderly but she pushed him away.

  “No, let me wash first,” Tamsin chuckled. “At least, let me brush my teeth.”

  “Excellent idea, a bath.”

  Jareth laughed and picked her up, then carried her to the large washing basin. Tamsin didn’t protest as she was stripped of her night robe. Staring into his handsome face, she reflected that while life had many a fight waiting for her, this wasn’t going to be one of them.

  About Mary Auclair

  Mary Auclair fancies stories showcasing characters with strong personalities and lots and lots of passion. She likes to writes everything from science fiction to fantasy, passing through paranormal and horror, but always with a quirky, sexy twist. She spends too many hours to count daydreaming about adventures and hot, steamy romances. When she’s not writing, she’s busy being a full time mom and wife, as well as caring for her many pets.

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  Tamsin’s Conquest

  ISBN 9781419995422

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  Tamsin’s Conquest Copyright © 2016 Mary Auclair

  Edited by Rebecca Fairfax

  Cover design by Kelly A. Martin

  Cover photography by Dean Drobot, Mariyana M, Venus Angel, Sergey Mironov, Pawel Michalowski, Madlen, and conrado

  Electronic book publication July 2016

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