The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride (The Dead Lands, #1; Mail-Order Brides, #4)

by Kati Wilde

And this story begins, as many stories do, with a lonely warrior wandering through a fortress guarded by mighty walls that are as thick and as hard as the walls around his heart.

that is all a tale is, words woven together in hopes of making magic. It matters not if you believe in such things. You must only believe this— Love is magic, too.

From his left approached a scurrying figure in red silken robes and cap. Lord Minam, his royal chamberlain, scurried everywhere—as a mouse did. Or as a thief did. Kael admired both thieves and mice. More than any other class of man or animal, they were likely to survive a calamity.

“Does he intend to use his magics to shrink me to the size of a flea? I warn you now, he will fail. I will be the size of a pig, at least.”

A man of your past cannot be content with a woman who easily submits. You surely long for a woman who must be conquered.”

A man of his past knew that a body could be conquered—but that a heart must be won.

he was surprised, because she had not adhered to the current fashion, and her beauty was not only in her features but the way she looked upon him, proud and fearless.

No enchantment could bind a heart to another, yet she was already weaving a spell around his.

We must endure something we don’t want in order to secure something we do.”

What is magic but an unseen force that works change upon the world? That is what kindness does. I have not known much of it myself but I have seen its power many times.”

people are too careful with the others—with love and kindness,” Anja mused. “They are afraid it won’t be returned in equal measure. Or afraid they will be the only one giving. Or afraid it will be unwanted. For it is not kindness to force your heart upon someone who doesn’t want it, just as it is cruel to force a touch upon someone who doesn’t desire it.”

Lips that he would have given up a kingdom to kiss. Four kingdoms. And sought new kingdoms to conquer and give away, so he might always have another taste.

You are not a monster; you are a man who makes certain that what needs to be done is done. You are simply very…thorough.” Undisputedly so. “I will place that on my seal beside my other names,” he said dryly. “‘Kael the Thorough.’ Not a gut left intact, not a limb left unhacked.” She nodded primly. “Not a skull left uncracked.”

A breath passed, then she giggled, and Kael’s own laughter roared out across the fen, shaking him so hard that he had to grasp the saddlehorn and wrap his arm tighter around Anja so they didn’t tumble to the ground. Her fingers clasped his wrist as she bent forward, her body quaking and her ribs expanding as she gasped for air, then lost every breath to another bout of laughter.

“Love gives the most. But it also takes the most.”

Without you, Anja, I have nothing.”

“You have another name that we did not use in the pledging: Anja the Virgin. And while you are still she, my wife, I will be Kael the Gentle and Slow.” She laughed breathlessly. “I just want you to be Kael the Thorough, and rend my maidenhead with your sword.” His amusement joined hers, and he shook against her. “I promise you I will do that.”