“That’s true.” He could feel her eyes on him and looked over. “You became grand lord at twenty-two, my father said. That’s young.”

“Yes.” He let his breath out. “It’s not been easy.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled down at him. “I know.”

His heart beat faster at her touch. Sunlight filled his bedchambers, casting a warm glow across the room. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay here and spend the morning with Selene. To talk. To share their lives. To be a married couple. But there was much that needed his attention.

He sighed and sat up. “I wish I could stay with you this morning, but I’m afraid I have a lot to do today. Soon most of the ice will be gone and we’ll need to be ready to leave for Lux Casta. And the navy will need to be ready for when the empire moves.”

Selene gave him another smile. “I understand.”

Her look made his stomach turn inside out. “I would love for you to join me again tonight. Or every night if you want. I know most grand lords and ladies have separate rooms, but perhaps you would consider something different?”

He held his breath. Maybe it was too soon to ask.

Her smile widened. “I would like that.”

He felt like he had been hit upside the head with the blunt end of the sword, knocking his thoughts out of his head. “I-I will have Steward Bertram see to it that your belongings are brought to our room today.” Did he really just stammer? Like a youth? Then what he had said hit him.

Our room.

There was something right about those words. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be with Taegis or in my study.” On impulse, he leaned over and kissed her, savoring the feel of her lips. Reluctantly, he pulled away. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly, her eyes shining.

He stared at her, mesmerized. She was so beautiful. Never did he realize what they would become when they stood beside the Hyr River and said their vows.

Move, Damien, his mind demanded.

He mentally shook his head, rolled to his own side of the bed, and stood. Compared to the comfort and warmth in his room, he had no desire to head out and plan more strategies or talk to his naval personnel or prepare for a war. Why couldn’t things have remained peaceful? Then again, he would have never married Selene if the times had been peaceful. They probably would have never even met.

Life could be both bitter and sweet.

Damien headed outside into the frigid cold. He stood upon the cliff outside Northwind Castle and raised his hands, then began his usual morning routine of raising the waters and praying for his people.

His oiled cloak whipped around his boots as his hands grew cold inside his thick gloves. But he needed this. He needed this time to commune with the Light and to continue to strengthen his gift. He had grown used to the pull of both water-walls on his power, but he would be happy when he could take the sea barrier down when they left for Lux Casta.