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Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Saying goodbye to my parents was sad and in tears. It just happened very suddenly that I now had a man and moved in with him. Sonia and Lanett didn't look at me. Father would not fire Lanett as she and Sonia were of the same heart. And I thought that was okay. After all, I wasn't home anyway. My heart bled at the thought.

I rode after Avan, hoping he wouldn't tell. I didn't know why that would have been so bad. But I'd rather he never noticed that calibrated side of me...

"We'll be there in the morning." Avan turned his head slightly towards me. "When we ride through the night."

"In order." I couldn't get my mother's warning out of my head. Show your husband a little more submissive than you do to us. It's for your own good.

Avan reined in his horse until we rode side by side. "If you want to sleep, I'll take your reins."

"No thanks, I can handle that." I forced myself to smile, after all he hadn't done anything to me. On the contrary, I had never judged him so affectionately. Again and again his strong hands fell on my body and how I liked them. I knew he was being so gentle with me for my sake. After all, it hadn't been his duty.

"Are you sure?" He returned my smile weakly. "Have you ever ridden for so long?"

"I was out and about a lot with my father. When he was appraising something outside, for example."

"Very impressive."

So we rode all night. It was exhausting and nerve wracking, but it was worth it. At dawn I recognized the castle gate at the end of the forest in front of the stone walls. My heart started pounding. I would live here with my husband from now on. I was too tired to think about it.

"Finally at home." grumbled Avan harshly.

He pushed his white horse a little to get there faster. As soon as we rode through the gate, he jumped off and nodded to a man who was standing between two guards. I dismounted as well, trying not to buckle right away. They felt like pudding on my legs.

"This is Ben, my brother." Avan whispered, handing his hair sleepily. "I'll introduce him to you another time."

I followed Avan into the courtyard, the sun shone on the light dusty floor. Two little boys chased another into a barn, servants stopped and waved happily to Avan.

"Avan!" A tall, fair-haired man came out of the smithy.

"Eric." Avan murmured and passed our reins to him. "This is Bea."

Eric's dark blue eyes looked at me in shock before he began to beam broadly. "I'm his brother, glad to finally meet you."

He had brothers? Just as I was about to say something, Avan interrupted him. "We rode all night. Can you tell Brenda to bring food to the room?"

Eric nodded. "Kora! Go back to the kitchen and make Avan something to eat!"

The three little boys from just before stuck their heads out of the stable. "avi!"

I giggled wearily. avi? My white knight? Avan raised a hand in greeting, but started to walk on. However, the boys came running exuberantly.

Two almost identical looking boys stopped in front of Avan and beamed up at him. The seemingly older of the three scratched his head nervously as Avan looked at him sternly.

"Are you free today?"

"Er... Well, not quite."

Ava sighed. "I won't help you again this time. Now you are totally at Brenda's mercy."

The boy turned pale. "I'm dead..."

One of the identical looking boys suddenly jumped at Avan's chest and clutched his shoulders. "Did you bring us candy, Avi?"

"No, was- what the hell is that on your face, Taran?"

The boy had a bruise on his eye

Eric laughed mockingly. "Arin and he got into a fight."

Taran pouted. "He just attacked me!"

Avan looked past Taran to the other boys, presumably Arin. He had a small crust of blood on his upper lip. "He doesn't look like that..."

Arin smiled darkly. "I told you not to mess with me."

Taran stiffened. "Oh yes?"

Avan rolled his eyes and put Taran back down. "Eric..."

"It's okay..." Eric grinned and patted Avan's shoulder. "You just go."

Avan grabbed my hand and dragged me past the children to the bridge. "Those were my brothers."

"You're wild, aren't you?" I was really taken aback. Any more brothers? However, I don't think it would ever get boring.

Avan sighed and pulled me up a few flights of stairs into a tower. When he pushed open the door there, I recognized a huge bed with a canopy. In front of it was a chest, three large windows lined the entire wall and a washbasin made of heavy dark wood was right next to the door.

"Are you a prince?" I stammered and staggered into the room. He was nice and cool.

"To my father I was..." Avan's sudden sad tone surprised me. I had completely forgotten that his father had just passed away...

What should I say to comfort him? Should I hug him?

"Kora will bring us something to eat. Do you want to wait for it or sleep?" Suddenly everything was fine again. Of course it wasn't, but I couldn't really force him to talk to me.

"I guess I'm too tired to eat." I undid my braid and shook out my hair. Did it feel good... to get rid of that tight braid.

When I looked up again, Avan was already undressed and yawning heartily. My whole face was glowing. terrible. I was terrible!

Only in my shirt I lay down next to Avan. He stared at my shirt disapprovingly. Oh no, I wouldn't sleep naked!

So that he couldn't say anything, I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended to have fallen asleep. I hated myself for being such a wimp. Actually, I was like a son to my father. That's why I was always able to give myself really hard without any problems. However, Avan had a terrible impact on me. I was acting like Sonia...

A strong arm slipped across my waist and pulled me to Avan's strong chest. I stiffened for a moment, but when I felt Avan falling asleep against his chest, I was able to relax myself and eventually fall asleep...

I rode after Avan, hoping he wouldn't tell. I didn't know why that would have been so bad. But I'd rather he never noticed that calibrated side of me...

"We'll be there in the morning." Avan turned his head slightly towards me. "When we ride through the night."

"In order." I couldn't get my mother's warning out of my head. Show your husband a little more submissive than you do to us. It's for your own good.

Avan reined in his horse until we rode side by side. "If you want to sleep, I'll take your reins."

"Are you sure?" He returned my smile weakly. "Have you ever ridden for so long?"

"I was out and about a lot with my father. When he was appraising something outside, for example."

"Very impressive."

"Finally at home." grumbled Avan harshly.

"This is Ben, my brother." Avan whispered, handing his hair sleepily. "I'll introduce him to you another time."

I followed Avan into the courtyard, the sun shone on the light dusty floor. Two little boys chased another into a barn, servants stopped and waved happily to Avan.

"Avan!" A tall, fair-haired man came out of the smithy.

"Eric." Avan murmured and passed our reins to him. "This is Bea."

Eric's dark blue eyes looked at me in shock before he began to beam broadly. "I'm his brother, glad to finally meet you."

He had brothers? Just as I was about to say something, Avan interrupted him. "We rode all night. Can you tell Brenda to bring food to the room?"

Eric nodded. "Kora! Go back to the kitchen and make Avan something to eat!"

The three little boys from just before stuck their heads out of the stable. "avi!"

I giggled wearily. avi? My white knight? Avan raised a hand in greeting, but started to walk on. However, the boys came running exuberantly.

Two almost identical looking boys stopped in front of Avan and beamed up at him. The seemingly older of the three scratched his head nervously as Avan looked at him sternly.

"Are you free today?"

"Er... Well, not quite."

Ava sighed. "I won't help you again this time. Now you are totally at Brenda's mercy."

The boy turned pale. "I'm dead..."

One of the identical looking boys suddenly jumped at Avan's chest and clutched his shoulders. "Did you bring us candy, Avi?"

"No, was- what the hell is that on your face, Taran?"

The boy had a bruise on his eye

Eric laughed mockingly. "Arin and he got into a fight."

Taran pouted. "He just attacked me!"

Avan looked past Taran to the other boys, presumably Arin. He had a small crust of blood on his upper lip. "He doesn't look like that..."

Arin smiled darkly. "I told you not to mess with me."

Taran stiffened. "Oh yes?"

Avan rolled his eyes and put Taran back down. "Eric..."

"It's okay..." Eric grinned and patted Avan's shoulder. "You just go."

Avan grabbed my hand and dragged me past the children to the bridge. "Those were my brothers."

"You're wild, aren't you?" I was really taken aback. Any more brothers? However, I don't think it would ever get boring.

"Are you a prince?" I stammered and staggered into the room. He was nice and cool.

"To my father I was..." Avan's sudden sad tone surprised me. I had completely forgotten that his father had just passed away...

What should I say to comfort him? Should I hug him?

"Kora will bring us something to eat. Do you want to wait for it or sleep?" Suddenly everything was fine again. Of course it wasn't, but I couldn't really force him to talk to me.

"I guess I'm too tired to eat." I undid my braid and shook out my hair. Did it feel good... to get rid of that tight braid.

When I looked up again, Avan was already undressed and yawning heartily. My whole face was glowing. terrible. I was terrible!

Only in my shirt I lay down next to Avan. He stared at my shirt disapprovingly. Oh no, I wouldn't sleep naked!

It felt like I fell asleep before I was woken up again. First you shook me slightly and then more and more energetically.

"Bea..." mumbled an unfamiliar child's voice. "Bea, I brought you food."

"I don't care..." I tried to hide under the sheet, but I bumped my head into someone else's and I woke up wide awake in an instant.

Kora was standing by the bed and had brought me a sandwich and a mug of milk.

"It's not much, but lunch is coming soon." When he smiled slightly, I saw how red one half of his face was. I didn't think he had looked like that before. Had Avan done that?

Ava! Didn't I just crash into him? I pulled the sheet away, only to find Taran next to me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Taran giggled and stretched out beside me. "I'm hiding from Avan's advisors. They're looking for you too, by the way."

Me? My goodness, I wasn't really awake yet... "And why are you hiding here?"

"Because we really shouldn't be here. They never assume we're here!"

Kora nodded silently and went to the door. "Come on, Taran. We're hiding with Eric, like Arin."

Taran looked at me shyly. "Please don't tell Avan I was here. I didn't know you were still here."

"So you didn't even notice me?"

"Yes... but I didn't think that would bother you."

Kora grabbed Taran's arm and pulled him off the bed. "You know, Taran is always looking for affection..."

Taran smiled and shrugged and waved at me while Kora pushed him out the door. Now I was alone. But why? Where was Avan? Why were his advisers looking for me?

I decided I didn't care for the moment. Now only my hunger counted...

After the bread I didn't feel quite as bad as when I got up. So I decided to get up and find Avan.

The castle was huge. Two times larger than my parents'. The three little boys shared a floor with a library. The Knights' Hall had a table with benches and tapestries. In the great hall there were small stone steps that led to the basement kitchen, where lunch was being prepared.

I recognized a chef who yelled harshly at Kora and immediately flinched. No, that was none of my business. I recognized another staircase in towers. A servant explained to me that each of the other Campbell brothers lived in their own tower. Just not the three little ones.

Unfortunately, I hadn't quite figured out how many brothers Avan now had. But I was sure - that would change soon.

I followed stairs into a wing where apparently only workrooms and various important documents were stowed away behind locks. At the very back, behind a wide red double door, I finally found him.

Avan sat leaning back in a chair in his white shirt with baggy sleeves. He had unbuttoned the top buttons and his hair was already disheveled from running his fingers through it so many times.

A bald man with a white beard and a light blue coat talked to him and often waved his hand in the air. "Aren't you listening, Avan!? Your father would never want that!"

"My father is dead." Avan growled. His voice sounded bitter. It wasn't that long ago.

The bald man nodded sadly. "God have mercy on Henry's soul."

"And he told me he trusted me. And I want Kora placed under Ben's command."

"That will raise unnecessary expenses!"

"None of your business." Avan's voice dropped menacingly. He ran his fingers through his hair again. I kinda liked how angry he was. Even if a whole skin spread over my body. He seemed so dangerous...

"I know that expression. Even your father gave up the conversation if you had that attitude!"

Avan looked up at me so suddenly and purposefully that I jumped. Damn, was he mine all along? "I want to be alone with my wife now."

The bald guy stared at me like I was a golden calf. "You! Do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you!?"

"Now you've found me." I replied, deliberately unimpressed. At the same time, Avan's command that he wanted to be alone with me made me very uneasy.

I walked through Avan's bright study until I stopped in front of his desk. His eyes locked on me like I was a rare wildcat...

"Would you have time to talk to me tonight? We should clear something up."

Avan looked up. "Goes."

Without another word, the man turned and disappeared out the door. As soon as it clicked, Avan rose with a sigh and came around the table towards me.

"Nice that you came here soon." He whispered and stood very close in front of me. "Because I don't want you to meet these men alone."

"Understand." I got hotter and hotter. Those wide sleeves gave him a pirate-like appearance.

Avan didn't take long to see through me. He put his hands on my waist and fixed. "Did I create a monster there?"

"I do not know what you mean." It probably didn't sound so convincing when I looked at him like he was all I needed... Like a lovesick devil...

Avan cocked his head charmingly and ran his hands up to my butt and held me there against him. I felt my face glow again. When would this finally stop!?

"Aren't you hungry, my lady?"

I would always wear pants from now on. Because then I felt Avan far more clearly than through two skirts. "I'm starving..."

As soon as I said the sentence, he sat me down on his desk and kissed me. Some small, unimportant voice told me not to make it easy for him. But why not?

"I can't allow that."

"Avan..." His hands were first on my hips, then went to my breasts and then back between my thighs.

Avan motioned me further down the flagstones and peeked around the corner. "Thank God we're alone!"

He huffed and grabbed a chicken thigh from a plate. After our lovemaking, lunch was over and the table cleared, so Avan suggested we fend for ourselves. However, we kept quiet. Avan's little brothers were after him.

I didn't quite get it anyway. i hated my sister Why did they love Avan so much? I didn't know that side of him. But she interested me burning. Every side of him...

The kitchen was wonderful. A wide table stood in the middle of the room. A sack of flour, plates with ready meals, fruit and two wine jugs stood on it. Work tables lined three walls and a stone oven lined one wall. I would give anything to cook here!

"Come here, eat." Avan waved me onto the worktable next to him. He looked so good under the sunshine pouring in through the small window. "Would you like chicken?"

I shook my head to concentrate. He had taken complete possession of me! I absentmindedly grabbed an apple and nibbled on it. Avan glared at me disapprovingly but didn't say a word.

"avan?" I choked down the apple. "What does the bald guy want from me?"

Avan stared at me blankly for a moment. Then he burst out laughing and put a hand on his forehead. "Baldhead!? Oh darling, if you only knew...!"

Treasure? My cheeks glowed. No more tomatoes, that's not normal anymore! "I don't know his name."

"It's unimportant." His dimple appeared and he came towards me. He grabbed a plate as he passed and handed it to me. "I don't know what he wants from you. But he certainly doesn't want to welcome you. So stay away from him."

"Sure if you say so." I didn't want to come off as submissive as my mother did to my father, but Avan didn't give me a chance. It was like a law of nature.

Avan grinned and bowed his head down to me. "Eat this."

"No." His grin widened.

Avan shook his head almost imperceptibly and just lowered his lips to mine when a blood-curdling bang echoed through the hallways.

I jerked away from Bea. "What was that?" she stuttered.

I took her hand and led her upstairs to the Great Hall. Brenda was standing by the blackboard with her back to me. She screamed and waved her arms. Beside her, water spilled from a ball.

"-no use!" she screamed. Her plump arms flailed in the air, her thin greasy hair was messy and her dress was soaked with sweat.

As we got closer, I heard a bitter whimper and my blood began to boil in my veins. kora I felt my whole body tense and my jaw begin to grind.

"I'm sorry." he whimpered bitterly.

"Does it!? You'll get two new buckets right away!"

That fat quail! I stepped between the two and hid my little brother behind me, who immediately grabbed my shirt. Bea was a little behind me. Tonight we have wild boar for dinner...

Brenda's bulging face twisted in annoyance. "Not you again."

I couldn't wait to get rid of this woman! "It's me, yes. What's that supposed to mean?"

"Get out of here Avan, it's none of your business."

"My brother is none of my business?" I remembered how many times my mother scolded me for overturning tables and smashing chairs in anger. So I tried to stay calm. "You have no right to hit him, Brenda."

"Your father gave it to me as lord of this castle." She smiled confidently and raised her eyebrows.

"He's dead and the castle is mine now. Just like my brothers and every servant who works here, so you too!"

Now she was angry again. I've always hated this woman. She was always rude and unable to deal well with her apprentices. Many a young girl has been broken here and sent home in shame. When my father put Kora under the cook, it was clear how this had to end. Again and again my brothers and I had to protect Kora from her.

"What you say doesn't count! Kora is my apprentice and dropped both buckets! He deserved the slap."

I would change that. Soon... "You get your goddamn water yourself."

I grabbed Kora's arm and pulled him outside with me. Bea followed us and had no problem keeping up with us. Ben recognized Kora from afar and immediately came running. The little one immediately hid his face on Ben's stomach.

Ben lost his indifferent expression and got pissed off. "It can't go on like this, Avan."

"I'm doing what I can. But right now I have to make sure they don't take Arin away."

Ben cursed heavily and absently scratched Kora's head. "You have to get rid of those pigs."

Oh no!? I didn't even know that. I would have preferred to have had a fit. "What am I supposed to do? I can't just fire her, I have to find a loophole first."

"They're going to take the reins out of your hands, Avan."

"I won't allow that." My gaze automatically twitched to Bea. She watched the whole thing with an excited expression. "Never."

Kora looked at me, his brown eyes red from crying. "Please don't let me go there again. She'll kill me for the excitement."

"No, you go with Ben." Bea stared at Kora. "What is?"

"Nothing, I feel sorry for him." She shrugged casually, but I knew there had to be more. But I left it at that.

Kora stared at Ben sadly. "Arin won't be sent away, will he? He's our baby!"

Ben ignored the question and nodded to Bea and me. "We'll ride to the guard post, I have something to do there."

"Allright, see you later." We watched them both until they were gone. Then I asked my questions.

Bea's long, black hair blew slightly in the wind and her breasts strained the white man's blouse. Her tight pants and high boots. God, I wanted her again, badly...

"What do you think?"

Bea swallowed and took a deep breath. I liked your confidence. It drove me crazy over and over again.

"May I go into the kitchen?"

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