Rolling over, I pulled the blankets a little tighter around me. "Good morning," I whispered as Nikolai's eyes fluttered open beside me.

His yawn was replaced by a smile as he reached out his arms and pulled me close. "Good morning," he whispered in my ear.

Sighing in contentment, I leaned back against him. My eyes traveled to the large window overlooking the ocean. We had spent the past week celebrating our union at a villa in Ocean Edge that I had not known belonged to me until we were in the carriage the day after our wedding. After a few minutes, I felt Nikolai start to move and soon the warmth his body provided left. Groaning, I rolled over to find him sitting up and stretching. "Can't we stay just a little longer?" I asked.

He shook his head as he slid from the bed. "I would love to. However, if we don't return home on time I was informed that the Dragons would be sent to retrieve you... I on the other hand may or may not be making the return trip if that is the case," he said. I laughed and then my eyes grew wide as he jumped back onto the bed reaching out, grabbing me with one arm, and tickling me with the other. "You find my possible death humorous?" he asked as he continued to tickle me.

I shrieked as he hit a more sensitive spot. "No! Not your death!" I said wiggling free. "Just that after all these years you are still afraid of my brothers," I said, leaping from the bed as he came after me again.

"If anything they have become more frightening the more I get to know them and see their true strength," he said, staying on his hands and knees as he watched me walk around the bed.

I smirked, walking over, placing my hands on the bed and leaning towards him. "I promise to protect you from the big bad dragons," I said, leaning in and kissing him softly. "Let's get dressed and have one more walk along the ocean before making the return trip," I requested, turning away from my husband and preparing for the day.

"For how much you complained about not wanting to leave you sure are antsy to be home," Nikolai said as I watched out the carriage window.

I turned to him with a smile on my face. "While in Ocean Edge it was just you and I and I could have lived with that. However, we have been traveling for a few days now. It's given me time to be excited to be back home," I said, sliding my hand into his. "To start our life in Jarrow together!" I whispered, leaning in and kissing his cheek.

"Well, we still have a few more hours until we arrive," he said, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

In the comfort of his arms I fell asleep. It wasn't until the carriage came to a stop that I slowly woke. "We're home?" I asked. Nikolai nodded. I sat up and looked out the window, slight confusion crossing my face. "This is the compound," I said. My eyes grew wide as it hit. "We're staying here until I'm done?" I asked. He nodded again and I threw my arms around him. "Thank you!" I said. It had been hard to give up living at the compound. I had settled on the idea that when we arrived back home that we would be at the castle. Little did I know that Nikolai had been talking with a few behind my back.

"Now, let's get out of this carriage. I've had enough of it," he said, quickly exiting the carriage and helping me down.

"They're home!" a voice rang out. Within moments we were swarmed by my dragon brothers.

"Move aside! Favorite brother coming through," Alakay's voice called from the back of the crowd. Soon he, and the rest of my brothers, were standing in front of us. A grin on Alakay's face. "I am your favorite aren't I?" he asked.

Smiling, I shook my head. "How could I make that decision when I have so many great brothers?" I asked.

"It's simple. They all voted to let you get married, but keep Nik at the castle until after your apprenticeship. I, however, fought for you to be together," he said.

Raising an eyebrow, I crossed my arms. "If I recall it was you who countless times yelled at Nik to get out of the compound when he'd walk me home," I argued.

Alakay waved a hand. "That was before you were married. Things are different now. I have to start being nice to you so I become the "favorite uncle"," he smirked, glancing down at my stomach.

My eyes widened as the dragons laughed. I heard Nikolai chuckle behind me and smacked his stomach. Then turned to glare at Alakay. "We haven't been married more than a week! I still have training to complete. We are not having a child yet!" I cried.

"Right, twins it is. I mean it does run in the family. That way things will be easier. You'll only have to go through pregnancy once to get the same amount," Alakay shot back.

"I can't even!" I said, throwing my arms up in the air. I hear a femine laughter from the back. Shoving my way through I found Chloe standing beside Erik who was holding Elias. "At least you still love me," I said, throwing my arms around my sister.

She laughed hugging me back. "Of course I still love you," she said.

"She might love you more if you give Elias a playmate or two," Erik said from beside her.

I didn't even bother to use words just turned my glare on Erik. The tension eased as I felt Nikolai take my hand. "Come on, I believe Chloe had a little help with our new living area," he said, guiding me into the house that we would call home until I finished my training.

It took a few days to adjust to all the change. Although, I had not moved having Nikolai now living on the compound changed things. Alakay no longer came barging into our room to wake us up, but banged on the door until he got Nikolai to wake me. During the day, Nikolai would often join in bits of training, but still had duties at the castle that he was to get done. To have someone to curl up with at the end of a hard day made training just a little easier.

Our eyes and ears were still open to reports of La Fray, but nothing had come. Morr-El had opted to stay in Jarrow for a little while longer in order to continue the mending of relations between our two nations. Although, more often than not, he was found spending his time with Isabella. Soon life fell back into a routine. I would spend the majority of my time training and then when not training, I would be at the castle working alongside my advisors learning the ropes of ruling as queen with Nikolai by my side.

"Tomorrow marks a month," Nikolai said as we sat on the floor in front of the fire in our house. Elias lay in front of us while Erik and Chloe sat on a couch across the room.

I smiled, turning my attention to him. "A month of marriage, it hardly feels like it's been two days," I said, leaning against his chest.

"Aw, young love," Erik said, wrapping his arm around Chloe who laughed lightly. "I hope you don't have big plans for tomorrow. We have a long day of training," he said.

Chloe turned to him and smacked his shoulder. "Young love! Let them have a bit together. Orion let you have the morning and well into the afternoon when the two of us reached this point," she said.

Grinning, I looked up at Nikolai. "Sometimes it's nice to have your sister married to your general," I whispered causing him to laugh.

Erik smiled down at his wife. "Fine, you win. You two can have until after lunch to celebrate," he said. "Does that set well with you?" he asked Chloe. She nodded with a smug smile.

"And you thought I was the devious one!" I said, causing the whole room to laugh.

The following morning Nikolai and I ate breakfast with the rest, but then quickly packed a lunch and headed out to spend time together. "I don't think I've ever been to this island as much as I have since I met you," Nikolai said his arms wrapped around me as we sat on the island where he had proposed.

"It's one of the few places we can't be spied on or snuck up on by my brothers. It's like our only little fortress," I grinned.

Laughing, Nikolai nodded his head. "They do seem to want to know that you are well taken care of," he said.

Rolling my eyes, I looked up at him. "Is that what you call over protectiveness?" I asked.

"They are just looking out for their little sister. I hope that if we are blessed with a son and daughter that our son will do the same," he said.

"Chancellor," I said, looking at the glimmering water. Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "When we have a boy, I want to name him Chancellor."

"That's not a family name. Where did that come from?" Nikolai asked.

Biting my lip, I pushed away from Nikolai so I could turn and face him. "Henry Chancellor was my father's best friend. He was like an uncle to Chloe and I. His son, however, was my sworn enemy since childhood. We couldn't stand each other. Looking back, it was because we cared about each other, but didn't know how to show it. On the night of La Fray's attack we made amends, he was one of the few that made it long enough for me to comfort. I want to honor his family," I said.

Nikolai nodded, reaching out and taking my hands in his. "Then it's decided our first son will be Chancellor. What about for a girl?" he asked.

I sucked in my lips as I thought. "I'm not sure. We have time," I said.

We stayed on the island until a few hours after lunch. Both not wanting to get into the boat, but knowing we had little choice. I leaned back against the boat as Nikolai rowed us to shore; a smile resting on my lips. "Life is good," I said, earning a smiling nod from Nikolai.

Once the boat was tied we began our walk back to the compound. We were hardly to the end of the dock when a few masked men jumped from the trees. Before we could draw weapons, a bag was pulled over my head. I struggled in their grasp, but there were too many. "Nikolai!" I cried out as I was roughly shoved forward, my arms bound to my side.