Wow, Ressa thought. It’s very beautiful. And heavy too. The stories don’t do you justice enough.
The Red Diamond weighed a good two pounds, which was far heavier than it looked. Ressa was so taken by the jewel she could just have just on the spot and admired it. But she knew she could not dally as that could mean possible apprehension.
Removing the spyglass from the bodice of her dress, Ressa let it fall among the pile of treasures. Then she placed the Red Diamond close to her chest and walked out of the room in the same way she’d come.
As she stepped out of the door that brought her out from the stretch of the corridor leading to the treasure room, Ressa’s heart leapt. The sounds of growling and talking men filled the halls. They weren’t there yet, but it was just a matter of time before they realized what was going on. Ressa couldn’t go out the same way she’d come; she had to go through the castle and fast. She was left with only one choice—escape through Cavel’s private chambers.
Swiftly she moved through the dark halls, careful not to clack her boot heels on the ground. Not that it was any use. Once the wolves caught her scent she knew it was just a matter of time before they'd come for her.
She’d already made it past the halls of Cavel’s chambers when she was stopped by his familiar voice.
“Come to see me, have you?”
Ressa's heart thumped in her chest and her breath caught in her lungs. Still she did her best to put on a smile. She turned to find him hanging out the doors to his private chamber. She affected a smile as she walked towards him. Cavel took Ressa’s hand and planted a gentle kiss on it.
Typical Cavel. Always keeping up the appearance of a gentleman, Ressa thought.
“Come in,” Cavel said. “Let’s talk. You must be nervous.”
Without a word, Ressa followed him in.
As she walked in, Cavel placed his hands on her neck from behind. Ressa flinched.
“You’re tense,” he said, beginning to rub his palms over her neck. “You don’t need to be nervous.
“I don’t bite unless you want me to,” he whispered in Ressa’s ear.
Ressa was angry, yet scared. Cavel was so close.
“Let me get a better look at you,” he said, turning her around.
He placed his hands on Ressa’s shoulder and began to slide them down. Her heart pumped faster. She was scared that the diamond would fall off. She had to do something.
“Not yet, my lord,” Ressa said, her voice quivering. “This will be worth waiting for till I’m your bride, trust me.”
“Of course,” Cavel said, stepping back like someone who had been stung.
Ressa’s frantic heartbeat slowed.
“Well”, Cavel said after a while, “if you’re going to be my bride, we can at least seal it with a kiss.”
He fixated his eyes on her.
“I’m sure a kiss won’t hurt,” he said as he came closer, his lips spreading in his characteristic charming smile.
Ressa stood still, riveted by his blue-eyed gaze. He slipped his hand into her hair then pressed his lips on hers. Gently, he parted Ressa’s lips then slid his tongue inside. Ressa felt a prickly sensation in her head like ants were eating up her senses. She didn’t fight him although she wanted to. Keep up appearances, Ressa, she thought, trying to put herself at ease, but in moments she lost all control and let go. She’d never kissed someone before. She gave in to Cavel’s passion and kissed him back, and, just then, the moment was interrupted.
The chamber doors swung open. Ezra and a group of guards walked in. In Ezra’s hand was a crossbow without an arrow.
Ressa calmly extricated herself from Cavel’s arm and stared at Ezra’s angry face. She felt exposed and ashamed. She was at a loss as to what Ezra was furious about.
Has he figured what I’ve done? she asked herself. Or is he furious because I was kissing Cavel?
She spent a few seconds trying to look away from Ezra’s stare but was unable to until Ezra averted his gaze.
“There’s an intruder in the grounds,” Ezra told Cavel. “We found this”—he stretched the crossbow forward—“outside the entrance to your private entrance.”
“Should we set up a hunt?” Ezra asked.
“No,” Cavel replied. “Not now, not today. My wedding’s just around the corner, after all.”
As Cavel spoke, Ressa became aware that he didn’t want Ezra poking around for fear that he would discover the plans he’d made with Wort.
He’s your target, after all, Ressa told Cavel in her mind.
“Very well then. I’ll leave you and your … fiancée”—he looked at Ressa—“alone.”
Ezra’s words speared Ressa’s heart. He was cold and angry. And she couldn’t help feeling that she deserved it.
“Excuse me,” she said, excusing herself from Cavel’s chambers, sliding past Ezra and his men.
Once she was out the door, she felt for where she’d hidden the diamond close to her chest and breathed with relief. It was still there. Now she had to make it back to her chambers and get prepared for the wedding—the wedding she didn’t plan on attending.
Chapter Sixteen
Ezra gathered his best men to scour the area around the castle walls where the crossbow was found.
Wort followed lazily behind them with Alabaster on his leash.
“Has your pet found anything yet?” Ezra yelled across the hill.
“No captain. Nothing new to report,” he replied.
Ezra marched up to Wort and sized him up suspiciously. “You mean to tell me your beast with two heads cannot find a single scent anywhere on this hill?”
Wort offered him a sardonic smile. “Well, he found one.”
“And?”
“It was that of the prince and his future bride-to-be. Funnily enough, it leads straight through to the prince's private chambers. Nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps the happy couple wanted to squeeze in some alone time before the big night.” Wort smirked and shrugged.
Ezra's face reddened in embarrassment and a bit of anger. He turned away from Wort and walked off to address the rest of his team. “Keep searching! If we have an intruder among us we will find them!” he yelled.
***
“What is the meaning of this nonsense?” Prince Cavel yelled at the message a royal guardsman handed him. He had brought a message from Wort Folly that Ezra was searching the palace grounds for the owner of the crossbow.
“Wait here,” Cavel said and withdrew into his chamber, shutting the door firmly behind him.
“Come back to me, my prince.”
The woman who spoke was lying stark naked on the bed. She bit her lips and winked at him.
Cavel smiled and walked up to her. “I have a matter to attend to, my sweet lady; I’ll be back in a moment.”
The woman pouted. “Just when I had you alone to myself,” she said.
Cavel felt a twitch and grinned. “I’ll be back soon.”
He threw on a vest and left the room. The guard who had brought the news fell in behind him. His guardsmen posted just outside his door also fell in.
“Take me to them,” Cavel told the guards.
The men hurried ahead of the group, leading the way out of the palace.
“Hasten up,” Cavel snapped at them, “I intend to reach the grounds in the daytime.”
The sarcasm stung and brought a frown to the guard's face, but he wiped it off quickly. There was no point in getting angry with the spoiled prince. It would do him no good. He walked faster instead, going down the corridor to the stairs. He took the steps two at a time and soon was on the ground level of the keep with the group still following.
“Where is my horse?” Cavel asked.
Two of his guards ran off to get the horses. While the group waited for them, the prince began to pace. It was as if he was walking on hot bricks. He was impatient to get to Ezra as soon as possible.
“Are the horses drowning in the high sea?” he grumbled. “What is taking them so long?”
The stable was just next to the keep, to the left. In a moment the guards returned, leading the prince’s horse. It was a great stallion; its white mane swayed in the breeze giving off a majestic appearance.
Cavel walked up to the horse and took a moment to pat its head and whisper to it. “Come here, big boy,” he said. “It’s been a while, huh?”
He stepped on the stirrup and got on the horse. The guard handed him the reins immediately.
“Lead on,” Cavel told the messenger.
The guard had left Wort Folly at the entrance with the two-headed wolf growling and snarling at him. By now the search party had to be on the other side, up the hills, looking through the grass and checking by the curtain walls of the castle.
He turned in that direction.
The group trotted fast around the keep, the library, and the great hall. Soon they were on the lush green grounds close by the curtain wall of the castle. They went up the small hill covered in a thick carpet of grass. His cousin and his men were there going over every inch of the grounds with keen eyes.
The fool. Why is he sniffing about? Cavel wondered. Sometimes Ezra was a little too dedicated to his work for his good.
“Cousin!” he called out. “A word.”
Ezra stopped and looked up to see him. He rolled his eyes and marched up to Cavel.
Cavel placed a hand on his shoulder. “You were told to put this silly charade to rest. My guests will be arriving in a few short hours. I will not have two-headed wolves meet them at the door.”
“Do you not value the safety of this kingdom?” Ezra asked him. “Would you risk your father's life for the sake of merriment?”
Cavel’s eyes narrowed. “Merriment? Ezra, this is not simply some mere party. This is my wedding day,” he said.
Ezra dropped his voice and his eyes. “You are right. My apologies, my prince. Of course I know what this day means to you, but Father could be under attack.”
“And you will do what you always do, keep him safe. I do not doubt that.” Cavel paused and a mischievous glint stole into his eyes. “But tell me, Ezra, is this really about keeping Father safe or is this some sort of plan to try to stop my wedding from happening?”
Ezra’s shock was written all over his face. “Never! I would never betray my family as I know you would never betray me.”
“Good then; let's let this matter alone until the end of the wedding. It's time to celebrate after all.”
“But the crossbow—”
“Has been found and no sane enemy would go ahead with an attack when his plans have been discovered. But that is if there really is an enemy waiting to attack, or even if there is really any crossbow.”
“If my men say they found a crossbow on the grounds then there was one,” Ezra said.
“Ezra, come now. I know you're an untrusting man, but I assure you there is nothing to worry about. My spies have told me so. It could have just been one of your men dropping it during their rounds.”
“And if it wasn't?” Ezra asked.
The prince’s eyes flashed with anger, but he tamped it down and forced a smile to his face instead and patted his cousin’s shoulder. “Then you will protect us. I know the great Ezra Thorn would never let anything happen to his king.” He turned to look at Ezra’s men still busy at work. “Now please, let all this go. You are way too tense. Please find an hour or two to relax before the ceremony.”
Ezra nodded in agreement.
“Good. Now please, as a wedding present for me, call off this silly search and head inside to get ready,” Cavel said.
Ezra nodded again and Cavel tugged at his reins to get his horse to turn around to make his way back to his chamber. He was impatient to get back to the pleasures he had left behind there.
Ezra watched Cavel and his horsemen trot away back to the stables leaving him and his men alone.
“Men! The search is over,” he commanded.
The three stopped what they were doing immediately and walked up to him.
“Are you sure you want to call off the search?” Wesley said.
“I am.”
“Is this the great Ezra Thorn or Prince Cavel talking?” Wesley asked.
“You are dismissed,” Ezra growled at his men and they walked away without a word. He knew that they burned with questions, but each of them trusted and respected him enough never to think of questioning his commands.
He sighed. He was still not satisfied. Stopping this search would mean that he would be ill at ease all through the wedding. The guards would be doubled and the men would be instructed to stay on alert throughout the ceremony.
He turned and walked over the grounds to the spot where he and Ressa had spoken on the hill. The memory of that day was still fresh in his mind, just like it was yesterday. He squinted and looked up at the sun. It was already on the road to its home. Soon the blue spring moon would take its place.
Ezra couldn't help but think that this day had come too soon. Ressa would soon be the future queen of Markenia, a title for a woman he knew he would never hold in his arms again. But did she want to be? He was surprised when the thought popped up in his head. He knew Cavel would be all smiles at the wedding that night, but he wasn't so sure about Ressa. He could have sworn that there was sadness in her eyes every time he saw her with Cavel.
Sadness or not Ezra knew he had to let her go. She was already beyond his reach anyway. He just had to accept that, but why was it so hard?
Chapter Seventeen
Ressa stood near the open window watching the servants flow in and out of the castle gates like little worker ants. She watched as they collected boxes of fresh flowers, barrels of wine, and fruits from the many carriages that lined the road to the servants’ entrance.
She hated that she had let this charade go on this long. It was time to end it and free her father from slavery. Unfortunately, her disappearance from the castle would break the king’s heart. Worse still, his view of her would change drastically when he found out that the diamond had left with her.
She shook her head defiantly. “It doesn’t matter,” she said aloud. Her father was the most important thing. So what if the king treated her like a daughter? He wasn't her biological father. He wasn't her priority, nor was he her problem. So then why did it hurt her so much to think about the poor king and his frail health? He adored her and now she was going to break his heart.
Ressa did her best to swallow down her pain and hold in her tears when Ida walked through the door.
“Look at all the fuss,” Ida gushed. “It's all for you, a grand bride. What a ceremony this will be and a ceremony as grand as this deserves the best,” she said with pride, watching her team move swiftly and gracefully back into the castle.
A wedding that will never be, Ressa thought.
She hated herself for not getting the Red Diamond sooner. It would have ensured the king would not be attached to her. But none of that mattered now. It was finally in her hand. She had made it past the guards, into the castle treasury and claimed her reward. She had done it. She had reached the first part of her goal and now it was time to say goodbye to this life, her newfound friends, the king she adored, and her Golden Boy.
“Golden boy?” Ressa whispered, clinging closer to the window. “Ida, is that Ezra Thorn out there?”
“Yes, child. Haven't you heard?”
“What?”
“Lord Thorn may have foiled an attempted assassination plot on the king. The word is that he found the weapon the intruder tried to smuggle into the castle.”
Fear arrowed through Ressa and she shuddered slightly. She stood at the window stone-faced. “How is he so sure it was an assassination attempt?”
“Dear girl, no one brings a crossbow into a castle for nothing.”
The crossbow. Ressa choked on the thought. How on earth could she be so careless as to forget it? What of Odis, Ida's husband? Had he been careful enough to smuggle it out of the armory without anyone seeing?
“Wha
t have I done?” Ressa whispered.
“What is that, dear girl?”
“Nothing. I just hope Ezra is smart enough to piece together the truth in time.”
“Oh, he's smart enough. This kingdom can't tell you how many times he's saved the king's life. He's got a knack for finding the guilty party. Come away from the window, child. It's time for your fitting,” Ida said
Ressa took one last look at Ezra before turning away from the window. “Ida, call the maids. It's time to dress for my wedding,” she said.
“Impatient are we now?” Ida said and threw back her head to laugh a burst of deep throaty laughter before turning towards the door to get the maids.
***
“What a beauty you are,” Ida said, staring at Ressa in her red gown.
“I don't know. It's an odd color for a wedding gown, don't you think?” Iris said. “Normally the bride is dressed all in ivory with gold or silver embellishments.”
“Hush now, Iris, not every bride must be a traditional one. Besides, you’re barely eighteen; what on earth could you possibly know about weddings today?” Ida said.
“Well, I think she is beautiful,” Raven said, pulling out a narrow diamond tiara from the royal jewelry box.
“No thank you,” Ressa said, refusing the crown. She was already dealing with enough guilt because of the Red Diamond she had stolen. The last thing she wanted was to rush off into the night with additional stolen jewels. Besides, she knew most of the crowns and tiaras belonged to the late Queen Alaura and she would never want to hurt the king by taking it. There was no justification for stealing it.
As Ressa’s maids pulled, yanked, and plucked at her hair, her mind wandered through thoughts and images of Ezra. She’d seen the look in his eyes the night before and it scared her. She couldn't help but wonder, Has that look always been there and if so how could I be so stupid not to see it? She didn’t know why it took her so much time to notice him.
Maybe, it’s for the best, she thought.
Moreover, she would be boarding Slade Storm’s ship in some hours and would be leaving this life behind. And if Ezra began having feelings for her the way she began having feelings for him then it would hamper her plans.
Rose and Thorn: Possession of The King (Book 1) (A Collection of Roses) Page 9