only last week that you were going on a trip to the other realm and you’re back so soon? There can be only one reason that I can think of and if I’m right, she’s gorgeous.”
“James, this is Amber. I met her having a problem with a man trying to rob her. I hit him with a low power stun and we’ve been together ever since. I want to marry her, James, and you’re the first to know. That is, I’ll marry her if she’ll still have me, knowing who I am, now.”
Amber looked at me with sparkling eyes. “I love you so much, Davie, that nothing will ever change my mind.”
James laughed, “I guess you have your answer, but she hasn’t met your mother yet. The mean old magic instructor, Aunt Alba! She’s upstairs, in case you want to see her now.”
I panicked. “James, please hide us! I’m not ready to see her until after I’ve talked to Father. He might be able to calm her down before she floats me to the middle of No Man’s Land.”
James grinned. “You know where the guest suite is? It's on the top floor to the left, across from my room. Go in the double doors. The bed there is just like mine so you’ll have plenty of room to play and the showers work. I’ll let you know when she’s gone. Star will be unhappy if you don’t come see her and all the kids before you run off again.”
I hugged James and with a little coaxing, Amber did, too. We went through the back door of the audience chamber and up the stairs to the living quarters. I opened the door to the guest suite and followed Amber in. The room was dark, since no guests were expected. I waved my hand and magically lit the candles and lamps. Amber gasped at the tiny display of magic and I laughed.
“Take off that pack, my love, and set it out of the way. I think it’s time that I prove all the stuff I said about magic wasn’t insanity. I promise that I’ll never hurt you, and I want you to trust me.”
Amber took off her pack and laid it on the couch, turned and faced me. “I love you and trust you, Davie. Show me something that will convince me.”
I lifted her off the floor and floated her under the canopy of the double king bed. With her floating three feet above the mattress, I flew across the room and hovered just below her. I lowered us both down until she was lying on top of me and I kissed her. She returned my kiss with a ferocity that almost frightened me. I knew that she believed every word that I’d said and didn’t want to lose me.
She rolled off me and said, “Prince Davie, why would you want to be with me? I’m sure that you could have your choice of any number of girls.”
“I’ve been around the girls at the wizard’s school all my life. They flirted and were quite friendly, but I wasn’t interested. When I met you, my heart jumped into my throat and I had to be with you. The thought of not being with you made me feel ill. I want you and you alone. If you decide that you want consorts, that can be discussed later. I know from my father’s stories that consorts aren’t a part of the lifestyle there, so that might deter that.”
She was puzzled. “What are consorts and why would I want them?”
I laughed, “Consorts are women who live with the Lord and Lady or Prince and Princess. To the female of the house, they are her friends, confidantes, and caregivers to the children. For the man of the house, they take care of him and any needs or desires that he may have, mainly physical desires. Maybe that will help you understand.”
“So if I had consorts, you’d be sleeping with other women and I would be expected to just accept that? What