Chapter 74 - Walking In The Woods

Delaney felt anxious as she ate dinner with Vincent that evening. The rain had stopped although the skies were still dark with clouds so it might not last.

Vincent had a mischievous smirk on his face which had hardly wavered since he'd told her his plans to take her into the woods with him. He knew she was worried but he had no worry himself.

"You'll bring your sword?" she asked nervously as they were finishing up their meal.

"I will my Love," he smiled before taking a gulp of wine.

Delaney nodded and looked down but a few moments later looked back up, "And your bow? Will you bring it too in case?"

Vincent chuckled, "I will bring it too if you'd like."

"Thank you," she sighed as her plates were cleared, "Are you sure you don't want to allow some of the men to go with us?"

He sat back in his seat now and laughed out loud, "My Lady do you truly feel I won't be able to protect you? I'm insulted."

Delaney knew he was teasing her but she blushed and looked at her hands, "No. I know you can protect me. But I'm terrified of something happening to you."

He reached across the table and took her hand in his, smiling encouragingly. "Don't worry about me. I promise you we'll be fine. Now try to trust me."

Delaney waited while Vincent talked to their butler before leaving him in charge of the house for the evening.

She looked down at her white dress and again considered going to change, not feeling it suitable for a traipse through a forest after a rainy day. Vincent had insisted it would be fine though so she resisted the urge.

Finally finished, Vincent walked to her, his eyes alight with his excitement. He looked so happy Delaney couldn't help but smile a little too.

He took her hand and they left their home, walking out in the direction of the stables. Delaney was hopeful that they might be riding horses but instead, Vincent led her past the building, to the edge of the wood behind.

Delaney slowed, causing Vincent to slow until they stopped. She bit her lip as she stared into the trees where she could see nothing but hear a symphony of unnerving noises.

Looking at her husband though, he nearly took her breath away. Standing so tall and handsome with his sword slung low on his hip and his bow and quiver on his back. He looked powerful and dangerous and he was all hers.

"I want to kiss you terribly," she admitted to him, blushing, "But I'm afraid if I started I wouldn't be able to stop and I'd never see your surprise."

Vincent chuckled, the sound rumbling from his chest. "I'd like nothing more than to spend all my nights kissing you, my love. But tonight I have something I want you to see first. I promise it will be worth the sacrifice."

He turned then and headed into the forest, pulling her along behind him.

Walking through the woods at night, Delaney pushed herself to make sure she stayed close to Vincent. If anything happened to the two of them, she wouldn't know where to run to get back to their home. She wouldn't be able to protect herself either.

Walking behind her husband and studying him however she was struck by just how completely capable he was.

Vincent walked through the trees, a catlike predator, with his steps light and perfectly placed, barely making a sound or disturbing his surroundings. She watched his green eyes scanning for signs of the danger she likely wouldn't even recognize.

One of his hands held hers and the other hovered over the short blade he had strapped to his thigh, ready to throw it if need be.

Delaney wondered if she had been underestimating him when he went out hunting with Miles and Harris. Seeing him now she felt quite confident he would be able to kill a bear with his brother or even on his own.

They had walked for some time when they came to a stream with high waters from the days' rain. Vincent turned to look back at her with a smirk, his eyes sparkling. Delaney took a step back from him, eyeing him in distrust as his smile grew.

"I'm not going in that water. It's going to be freezing!"

Vincent chuckled and pulled the hand he still held.

"No! Vincent no!" Delaney squealed, fighting to get away from him but he was much stronger. He got her to his chest and then, to her surprise, he scooped her up into his arms.

She gasped and threw her arms around his neck as he walked into the stream. By the time he reached the middle, the water was up to his waist and her skirt that hung down was soaked.

When he stepped out and eased her to the ground, her dress was heavy with water and she laughed at the drenched state of her husband. His eyes twinkled with his amusement and he moved forward, holding his arms out to her.

"Oh no you stay back," she laughed, "I have no interest in trudging through the forest in a water-laden dress."

Vincent laughed, "Alright well I'll settle for a kiss then."

Delaney looked at him with a smirk and eyes filled with distrust, "Maybe once you've dried off a bit."

"Oh come wife," he wiggled his eyebrows, "Just one kiss for your husband."

"You're going to get me wet," she cried, dodging him when he reached for her.

"You're already wet," he laughed, catching her around her waist and pulling her into his chest.

Delaney squealed but he caught her chin and pressed his lips to hers in a deep kiss. She went from fighting to get away from him, to letting herself melt against his chest. When he, at last, broke away, her head was spinning and she rested it against his shoulder.

Vincent chuckled and pulled her closer, to give her one tight hug before letting her go and taking her hand in his again to lead her onward.

Delaney watched him as he shifted back into the protector, serious again save for the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. She felt her heart flutter watching him.

They walked on with only the light of the full moon to light their path. The trees were starting to get denser leaving less and less light able to filter through. She didn't know how her husband could tell where he was going.

Just before Delaney was going to question if they were lost, Vincent slowed and gestured for her not to speak. He crept forward, his eyes now quickly flickering all over the area in front of them.

Delaney began to feel uneasy the longer they crept along, not knowing what was going on. She wondered if there was some threat he was watching for that she didn't understand.

He came to a halt in front of her and she saw his smile grow. He turned to her and slipped his hand from hers, gesturing for her to stay there. She opened her mouth to ask why but he quickly shook his head.

Vincent smiled at her before he turned back and began slowly walking forward without her. Delaney watched how he moved, slinking through the forest in his black breeches and shirt as if he was a panther.

He was laser-focused on something and she looked past him, trying to spy what it was. It was so dark though and the trees so close it was hard to see very far.

Vincent continued on and Delaney felt her heart began to beat faster and faster as he blended into the darkness until she could no longer make him out. Her breaths started to come quicker and quicker.

"Vincent," she whispered, feeling her panic begin to rise. Why had he left her alone?

Heart beating so fast she thought it might break free of her chest, she slowly began to move forward, eyes wide as she tried to locate her husband in the darkness.

Far away in the distance, she heard the faintest sound of a wolf howling. A gentle rumble of thunder sounded above her in the clouds.

Her panic was starting to shift into fear and her hands and legs trembled as she moved onward towards a place where it looked like the trees were thinning. How could Vincent have left her behind?

Suddenly something caught her eye and she slowed, squinting to try to see what it was.

There was a clearing ahead and she saw a dark shape moving in it. Within a few moments, she recognized it as her husband, and relief washed over her. At least he was now close enough that if she screamed he could save her.

What was he doing though?

As quietly as she could manage, she moved on, closer to the clearing. There was one large tree trunk she couldn't see past so when she came to it, she moved to peek around it.

Looking around the large tree she could finally see the clearing in full. As soon as she did, she felt as if her heart had stopped.

There stood Vincent, dark and handsome, smiling happily. Before him though stood the thing that had shocked Delaney.

Her husband was touching and talking quietly to one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.

A unicorn.