Chapter 56
“Elena, I am in desperate need of a distraction. Would you like to join me as I make your shield?”
“Yes, King Harvey.”
King Harvey takes me to the entrance of the same room that he got burned in. When I pause at the front door, King Harvey steps in front of me and offers his hand to me.
“Elena. I will be careful. I promise you.”
“Please, King Harvey.” I urge as I take his hand and walk in beside him.
King Harvey pulls out the stone we found the wolf pup resting on under a table tucked in the corner.
He pulls out the sketch he drew for me and studies it.
“Do you still like this style, Elena? The massive oval with the spikes all around the perimeter?”
His finger traces the drawing of the shield and I nod.
“I like it, King Harvey.”
“Very well.”
King Harvey starts the fire for the lava pot with one small flame from his palm. He steps back quickly when the pot of lava begins to boil and bubble.
Doris steps in when she smells the lava boiling. “King Harvey, be careful. You do not want to harm yourself like last time!”
“Yes, Doris.” King Harvey replies with a polite grin.
Doris leaves with a hum and I take her place, keeping a watchful eye on my husband. King Harvey moves to the back of the room and pulls out a medium thick sheet piece of metal. Placing the stone on it, he traces out the metal to be twice the size of the stone and then heats up a small hammer.
Returning to the sheet metal, he hammers out the size a few times, then heats his hammer again.
“King Harvey?”
“Elena. I find myself constantly in an odd position with you. I desire to possess you and cradle you from all harm, including my own strength.”
“That explains the shield, King Harvey.” Unfortunately, I keep my distance from him as he picks up the shield with both hands and holds it above the lava pot. I don’t understand what it is for, until he places the shield down again and goes to the back to pull out the golden wolf that is his emblem. He heats the back of the wolf head up and then presses it to the malleable center of the shield.
The lava starts to roar with the intensity of the flames, and I shake my head. Behind his armor I see a black leather protective gear, and I walk by him to grab it and hand it to him.
“Elena?”
“This will keep you safe.” I press the gear to his chest, and he smirks.
“If the lava were not bubbling…” King Harvey whispers. “Our last night together was one of fast passion. We need more time.”
King Harvey puts the protective gear on and smiles at me gently.
I laugh. “Focus on my shield, dear. You will have all the time in the world with me once you finish, I promise.”
The grin that illuminates his face rivals the sun. “I will be sure to use that time, Elena.”
I wave him away to continue making the shield and he does, smiling all the way. We do need a place be intimate in peace. I don’t entirely know how I feel about my first time with my husband in a forest.
I never pictured my first time to be on the forest floor. Yet, I am not very unhappy with it. I am glad we bonded, and I helped relive some pain of King Harvey’s.
“Does it both you we mated in a forest?”
“It bothers me we are not making love now, Elena.” King Harvey chuckles as he strikes the oval shield with the hammer.
When he checks the shield after letting it cool for a moment, he decides to add another layer to the back of the shield.
He then goes to the back and gets a thick dark brown leather strip and hammers away at the top and bottom of it. An orange flame eats at the ends of the strip, softening it. King Harvey places it perfectly vertically down the middle of the shield and hammers it in place with a couple droplets of lava on either end.
“You are very talented.”
“You are very beautiful.” King Harvey replies with wink.
He fiddles with shield a bit more then picks it up by the strap and weighs it in one hand.
“This shield is very sturdy, Elena.” King Harvey hands it to me gingerly and I almost fall forward with the weight of it.
Instantly, King Harvey takes the shield from me with one hand again and looks lost.
He weighs it in one hand and curls it several times with no problem.
“King Harvey, it must weigh at least 20 pounds. We should have tested how much I can carry first.”
He exhales heavily. “I am a bit tired of messing up, Elena.” His weary voice fills my bones and I sink to the floor as he does and pull him into my chest.
Purposely, I press my chest to his face, and he laughs.
“I am glad my heartbeat can comfort you, King Harvey.”
He kisses my clothed chest and I shiver, keeping my eyes on the bubbling pot of lava. This is no place for loving making. I do still need a shield.
King Harvey stands up and helps me up. He places the shield in both my hands, and I hold onto it for less than a minute. Handing it back to him as my arms shake at the weight, I know this is only a shield for decoration.
I am glad he didn’t go through the trouble of making those pointed barbs for the perimeter of my shield.
“King Harvey, please do not worry. We will test how much I can carry and try again. This shield can be for you instead.”
King Harvey’s jaw jumps. “I am in no need of a shield, Elena. You need one in case of emergency. The world is going to be against you and I.”
“We do have time.” I soothe, running my hand across his chest.
He studies my face and for a moment he seems to be more relaxed.
“I wish I knew how much, my love.”
Pulling him into my chest I hold him, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. Resting entirely, he falls to his knees and holds me tightly.
“I trust in you, King Harvey. With my life.”
It is sudden when King Harvey unwraps himself from me and gets up. It is as if he is recalling something when he lifts the shield and stares at it.
“A stupid mistake.” King Harvey hisses, his fangs now touching his lower lip. He lifts the shield in his hands above his head and cracks it across his knee in one go and walks out of the room.
Shaking my head, I check the pot of lava and see it is barely bubbling because of the flame under it. It is silver.
I have no time to question that, I need to know why he just broke my shield.
I run off after him in confusion.
