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Part 30

 

Walking through her gardens, Samantha stopped to smell the new fall flowers.  Sounds of horses racing across the fields caught her attention and she looked up to see the lords and several of their guests returning from their hunt.  A smile lit her face watching them.  Her lords were no longer feared by all who came in contact with them.  Instead, stories spread quickly of their generosity and how they were such gracious hosts.  In the seven months since her marriage to Howard, there had been countless parties, most lasting for several days. There were also the hunts, like today, where there would be a feast afterwards.  All the nobles wanted to try their hand at the game in the Black Forest and her lords were more than accommodating. 

 

“My lady,” spoke her maid startling Samantha.  “My apologies, my lady.  I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

 

“It’s alright, Mary.  What did you want?”

 

“You should be resting,” scolded the older lady.  “And you should have a wrap.  It is chilly out here.”

 

“You sound like Lord Kevin,” frowned Samantha.  “I’m fine.  Did you need anything in particular?”

 

“Cook would like to know how many to expect for the mid-day meal.”

 

Looking towards the stables, Samantha said, “It appears the hunt is over so there should be about twenty.”

 

“Very good, my lady.  I will let Cook know.”

 

As Mary left her alone once more, Samantha felt a sharp kick and she put her hand on her belly.  That’s when it happened…a vision came to her and she shivered.

 

“Samantha?”

 

Opening her eyes and turning towards the voice, she saw Kevin standing before her holding the reigns of his horse.  “How was your hunt?”

 

“Very successful.  We’ll have a feast tonight!”  Taking his cape off, Kevin wrapped it around her as he asked, “What did you see?”

 

Trying to smile as she took his hand, she said, “The birth of your son.  It will happen very soon.”

 

Kevin’s emerald eyes danced with joy.  “How soon?”  Then he saw something he wasn’t sure he liked.  “What’s wrong?  What else did you see?"

 

"His birth is going to bring an attempt to gain the powers of the Source," answered Samantha cautiously.
 

"How?" Kevin knew she was holding back and wanted to be fully prepared for what might happen.


She hesitated, not wanting to cause Kevin more concern that would make him even more protective. "They will try to take our son."


"But if Howard, Alex, and I are together, we can protect him…and you, can’t we?"


After Samantha had destroyed her father and gained his powers, she had immediately taken steps to prevent another demon from trying to take them and becoming all powerful. She’d written a spell to divide her newly acquired powers between the three lords and making sure that if one of them were vanquished, the powers would be lost forever. The only drawback to the spell was the three lords had to be together in order to vanquish a demon.


Seeing Kevin’s fear, she stepped closer to him, taking her hand from his and placing both on his sides. She had to stand on her toes to place a gentle kiss on his lips. "As long as I have the three of you, I will be perfectly safe, as will our son. Now, take me for a ride, my lord. It’s been forever since I’ve ridden."


"And it’s going to be even longer before you ride again, my lady, because I will NOT take that risk," laughed Kevin as she pouted and he placed a finger on her lips. "What I WILL do is escort you back to the manor where I will make sure you go to your chambers to REST."


Samantha was undaunted by Kevin’s desire to have her resting and she knew how to get what she wanted from him. Smiling sweetly and casting her eyes seductively up at him, she tried again, "A walk to the lake with my lord would be just as nice."


“I’m not going to win, am I?” frowned Kevin.

 

“No but I promise, I’ll rest this afternoon while you and the other gentlemen are smoking cigars and drinking brandy whilst you brag about how BIG the stag was you killed last hunt,” teased Samantha.

 

“One question,” said Kevin as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “How soon will our son be born?”

 

“Would tonight be too soon?”

 

“Not at all, my love,” sighed Kevin as he hugged her to him. 

 

With the horse following behind the two, the couple made their way through the gardens towards the lake talking about the impending birth of their son.

 

Part 31            Index