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Two Hearts One Voice
Ratings:
85 pages1 hour
Summary
They are at war, fearing for each other, struggling with the upbringing of their children and the survival of their country. They are kings.
With the future of the throne secured, Rin and Merin still have little time to rejoice for their children or the unity of their kingdoms. Stuck in the middle of a battlefield, their lives prove to be once again at risk, and Rin heads out on a long journey home with his heirs, leaving Merin to lead their army.
Rin receives his rightful title of king from the Kari council and for once feels as if he belongs on the throne without Merin there to guide him. Missing his husband, he raises their children the best he can, but there's no end to the war in sight and, after months of futile conflicts, Rin thinks he sees Merin cut down in battle.
Distraught and with no patience for his council, Rin threatens the Riki, making even his own men fear him. Can Rin cope alone without the love of his life and still win the war, or will his sorrow mark the end of his reign?
Publisher: Pride PublishingReleased: Jun 2, 2015ISBN: 9781784305734Format: book
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Two Hearts One Voice - Valentina Heart
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A Totally Bound Publication
Two Hearts One Voice
ISBN # 978-1-78430-573-4
©Copyright Valentina Heart 2015
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2015
Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 1.
Mending the Rift
TWO HEARTS ONE VOICE
Valentina Heart
Book three in the Mending the Rift series
They are at war, fearing for each other, struggling with the upbringing of their children and the survival of their country. They are kings.
With the future of the throne secured, Rin and Merin still have little time to rejoice for their children or the unity of their kingdoms. Stuck in the middle of a battlefield, their lives prove to be once again at risk, and Rin heads out on a long journey home with his heirs, leaving Merin to lead their army.
Rin receives his rightful title of king from the Kari council and for once feels as if he belongs on the throne without Merin there to guide him. Missing his husband, he raises their children the best he can, but there’s no end to the war in sight and, after months of futile conflicts, Rin thinks he sees Merin cut down in battle.
Distraught and with no patience for his council, Rin threatens the Riki, making even his own men fear him. Can Rin cope alone without the love of his life and still win the war, or will his sorrow mark the end of his reign?
Dedication
Thanks to all my fans who have patiently waited for the third book. I hope it meets your expectations.
Chapter One
Giving birth had been a terrifying experience. Honestly, no words could ever explain the terror and the pain, the premature doubts of not being as good of a parent as your children deserve. Just the impossibility of ensuring their survival was defeating enough. It was best not to speak of everything else that accompanied the trauma.
Still, while my every insecurity had a base in reality, the first sight of my babies, the very realization that I was the one to bring them all to life was marked with immense pride and gratitude. They were there because Merin and I had made sure of it, because I had protected them in my body and because the two of us were calm and composed enough to keep our wits about us and control our magic to the very end.
All the pain, from the very birth to that of our situation before, when every member of our kingdom had had a say in our happiness, and when too many had plotted against us despite not always acting on it, was worth it. I had brought life into this world and nothing could compare with the happiness tingling deep in my chest.
Merin was away from us most of the day, as was usual since we’d come to the battlefield. His wrappings were again bloody as he came to us at night tired and weary. But there was a kind of radiating happiness to him now, a certain dose of satisfaction that lit up his face as he saw us cocooned around each other, his sons cooing restlessly and his daughter fussing as she most often did. He was a content father but also a proud king.
Five days had passed. My wounds had healed and my chest had turned into one big sore. Tender to the touch, it made feeding even more difficult as I hissed each time my children’s heads pressed against me. The healers kept persuading me the little ones would be teething in a matter of days and my body would return to normal, but it seemed closer to an empty promise than reality.
Rin.
Merin opened the tent flap and looked at me. It’s time.
I sighed, gazing at my children, who were finally sleeping, and made peace with my fate. Kneeling on the bedding, I motioned for Merin to come closer, picked up our daughter and placed her in the crook of his arm. She started squirming right away, her cute little face wrinkling in the beginning of a cry, something Merin was becoming familiar with. Right away, he started rocking her, humming softly under his breath, but his eyes were filled with pure panic. It was generally the rule, if one started crying, all of them had to have their say.
The king’s pet reacted, as spoiled as she already seemed to be, calming down and gripping at his wrappings with her iron fist. I should know, the last time she caught at my hair I was left without a whole lock and had barely untangled the rest from between her fingers. The situation came with a valuable lesson, teaching me to allow my helper to braid my hair and braid the braids until there was none left within reach.
Absentmindedly, I rubbed at the naked spot on my skull before reaching for our oldest son and placing him in Merin’s other arm. The one solid sleeper of the four didn’t even stir and, holding a breath, Merin stood waiting for me.
I picked up the twins, taking one of them in each arm, already skilled in the position since it was the only way they allowed themselves to be fed. There was always at least some part of the twins’ bodies touching, and the healers were again full of impressions and reasons for it, things I only skeptically believed.
None of the twins I’d ever heard of were connected on that level and it made me uneasy. They were excruciatingly hungry at the same time, filled their waste wrappings simultaneously and woke up with one synchronized cry. It left me stressing about their future, the judgment of the public, the court. I worried too much.
As we headed toward the entrance, the helpers moved the tent flaps out of the way, allowing us to exit our temporary quarters with no more than a slight bow of the head. The light blinded me for the first few moments and I stood still, waiting to adjust, holding my children tightly.
The crowd gathered in front of us was almost overwhelming. People I’d seen during the long months at the front lines, some that were stationed at the far ends of the borders had still managed to reach us for the ceremony. They all looked expectant, pleased and, in some cases, I would dare say, proud. Their future rulers had arrived and they would have the rare privilege of witnessing a naming ceremony, something usually held in court in front of a selected few.
Merin’s voice was surprisingly loud when he spoke. It carried over the gathered soldiers, and the children in my arms stirred before cuddling closer and continuing with their dreams.
This was a year of trials, losses and wins. Every hard-earned success was tainted by the color of failure, leaving us but a hope of eventual victory, the will to prevail against our enemies, and it hardened our road toward a prosperous future.
He took a moment to compose himself before the words spilled forth once more. I had a vision of our nations united, led by righteous leaders and rich with worthy people. We made that happen. You are the best of the great ones who carry our country on your backs while your future leaders are barely able to cause mischief.
He cracked a smile.
I was pleased to see the smirks on the soldiers’ faces.
I trust they will live up to my words and be worthy of such a kingdom. We are on a good track toward the fulfillment of that dream and today marks another simple victory on the route toward a satisfied nation.
Merin steeled his back in front of our troops, his armor glistening under the weak sunrays. The men looked at us with visible pride, their swords pressed against their chests, the hilts cradled between their breasts as they waited to hear the names of their future kings.
Merin’s words drifted down the lines with a new strength that held the pure happiness he felt. With pride, I show you our firstborn, Prince Orinin Erassa of the royal lines Darrben and Ceelorie, our light in this time of darkness, a future leader worthy of our nation.
I walked up front just as Merin took one step back and lifted the child cradled in my right arm. "The first twin, a fighter, Prince Shonej Erassa of the royal lines Darrben and Ceelorie with whom we will soar above our troubles and sneak
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