by Madison Faye
She turned back. “Oren, I can’t just stay—”
“Yes,” I growled, sliding from the bed and striding towards her. “Yes, you can.”
I slid an arm around her, pulling her into me, and when our lips came together, she melted against me.
“You’re saying with me, gorgeous,” I murmured. “Don’t think for a second I’m ever letting you out of my arms.”
CHAPTER 11
ALESSIA
AT SOME POINT in the early hours of the morning as it was barely getting light out, I awoke. I turned in his arms, my eyes teasing over Oren’s sleeping face, and there wasn’t a power on earth that could’ve stopped the smile that spread over my lips.
God this was perfect. Just being here with him, and in his arms? Perfection. I leaned down, lightly kissing his chest. Oren stirred, but he kept sleeping, his breath coming slow and even a I snuggled against him.
This wasn’t just lust. This wasn’t just something wild and fun and physical. And that almost scared me. Or rather, I knew it should have scared me. Somehow though, it didn’t. Somehow, knowing how real this was, and how hard I was falling didn’t freak me out, because I knew in my heart what I felt. And that alone was a pretty weird mix of emotions.
I was falling for—
I paused my thoughts, smiling to myself as I shook my head.
Falling? No. I’d fallen for Oren, and hard. Even before what we’d done the night before, I was head over heels for him. But giving that part of me to him, and experiencing that for the first time, with him as well? Well, that had sealed my fate of being completely in love with this man.
My thoughts suddenly soured.
Here I was lying in the arms of a man who made my heart soar and my body ache for more, who held me so perfectly, and kissed me like I was his last breath of air, and who looked at me like he never wanted to take his eyes off of me. And soon—very soon, probably—I was going to be forced to marry a different man. A man who couldn’t have been any more different than Oren.
I scowled, burrowing against him as I tried to shake those thoughts away. But I knew pretending it wasn’t happening wasn’t going to change anything. I was going to marry Brian. It was a given—at least, if I wanted to stay queen of my kingdom or lead in any real capacity.
My mind drifted to wicked thoughts, of hiring Oren as my own captain of the guard, to have back at my palace to have close to me. I imagined running into his arms in the dark secret of night—of this torrid and passionate affair I’d have with him after I was forced to marry Brian.
And yet, that soured in my mind too. It felt cheap, and dirty, and not in a good way. Keeping what we had as this secret affair was not what I wanted. I wanted to scream it from the highest tower of my palace, for the whole world to know that I was madly in love with this big, rough, incredible man. And screw it if he wasn’t royal.
I stewed like that another minute or so before my eyes swiveled to the clock on his bedside table, and I groaned.
Shit. I needed to get back to my own room before the whole palace was up and I was spotted scampering through the halls in a silk robe like this blaring neon sign that was blinking “walk of shame! Someone got laid!”
I turned to Oren again, not wanting to wake him, but kissing his lips again softly. He stirred, and I kissed him once more before I groaned and slid from the bed. I dressed quickly—with what little clothes I had. My panties were a ruined, shredded mess on the floor, and I blushed fiercely, grinning at the memory. I pulled my bra on though and wrapped the robe around myself. At the door, I turned to watch him sleep once more before with a small sigh, I slid out the door to his quarters and closed it gently behind me.
I made it maybe thirty whole steps before I rounded a corner and stepped right into my Uncle.
I shrieked, jumping out of my skin and jumping a foot back from him as my hands went to my mouth.
“Alessia!”
He blinked in shock, shaking his head.
“Sorry to have startled you.” He smiled, bringing a hand up to rake his jaw and push his fingers through his silvered hair. His kind but strong eyes twinkled as he smiled at me.
“I didn’t think anyone else was up at this hour.”
I smiled, tugging my robe around myself.
“I—I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.”
Uncle Nolan said nothing, his eyes searching mine, like he was looking for something else that I was doing my damnedest to hide.
“Interesting wing of the palace to be strolling,” he said with a small smile.
I knew was blushing, but I swallowed, hoping to God that it would go away.
“Look, Alessia, I know this whole thing…” he sighed, folding his arms over his broad chest.
“I know this isn’t how you imagined things might go—getting married to King Brian and all of it to appease the royal council.”
“Yeah, well…” I looked at my hands. “It’s not.”
“I know, and I want you to know that I think you’re the strongest woman I know for doing it.”
I smiled wryly. “Thanks, Uncle Nolan.”
“I say that as your advisor, too. Not just an Uncle who cares for his niece. I know this isn’t ideal, and I wish there was another way.”
He grinned and leaned close. “You do know I picked Brian for a reason, right?”
I arched a brow at him.
“I wasn’t going to get some macho asshole who was going to look at marrying you as his means to seize power in Danesland or usurp your rightful place as regent, sweetheart. I found a man who’d fulfill the role he needed to fill, and let you be the queen you are.” He shrugged. “And besides, it may just be that Brian stays in Seyvette anyways. After all, he’s marrying you for basically the same reasons. He needs a bride to assume his father’s throne.”
I sighed dramatically. “And they say romance is dead.”
Uncle Nolan chuckled.
“As it happens, I think there’s a pretty good chance that you two rarely even see each other after the wedding. After all, you’ll be leading in Danesland, and Brian will be needed in Seyvette.” He winked at me. “Think you’ll be okay with long-distance?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I think I’ll survive.”
Nolan chuckled again before he put a hand on my arm.
“I know he’s not who you want. In fact, I’m guessing I have a pretty good of who you do want.”
I blushed, shaking my head. “No, there’s no-one—”
“Alessia.”
He smiled wryly at me.
“I’m not blind, and I’m not just a royal advisor because I was lucky enough to have a brother and then a niece on the throne.”
I blushed deeply, looking down.
“You’re a queen, Alessia,” he said softly, squeezing my arm gently. “And that means sacrifice. And sometimes, that means you won’t have what it is you truly want.” He sighed. “Or who.”
“Uncle, there’s really no—”
“Be they other kings, or princes or…” he arched a brow. “Or perhaps royal guard captains.”
I blushed furiously, avoiding his gaze.
“I know it’s a big ask, but you need to forget him, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I know that’s shitty, but I know you know it’s for the good of the kingdom.”
I shook my head. “Brian is…”
“You’ll learn to know him,” my Uncle said quietly. “Plenty of people don’t know each other long before marriage. I mean look at your friend Emilia, or Queen Vi.” He smiled. “I didn’t know your aunt until the day before we—”
“Uncle Nolan, you’re divorced.”
I shot him a look and he grinned, raking his jaw with his fingers.
“Well, that’s beside the point.”
I rolled my eyes. “Look, I know you’re trying to help—”
“I am, Alessia.”
He sighed. “Years from now? After the council is yours and things are running smoothly? We can talk about what happens. But for now, and for the
foreseeable future?”
He smiled thinly.
“It has to be Brian.”
I said nothing as I looked away, glancing out the window of the hallway we were standing in to look out over the lake.
“I’m going to go find some coffee,” Uncle Nolan said, patting my shoulder. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
He started to walk away, before suddenly, I frowned as I turned back to him.
“Uncle?”
Nolan turned. “Yeah?”
“What are you doing on this side of the palace? Your rooms are down the hall from mine on the other side.”
This side of the estate housed not just the lavish library and one of the two ballrooms, as well as Oren’s quarters. But it was also where half the guest suites were, where Brian and the Princess Simone were staying. And seeing as no one else was even awake yet…
Nolan shrugged, a practiced smile creeping over his face.
…Too practiced. Practiced to the point of being suspicious, really.
“Just needed a walk,” he said evenly, his eyes locked on mine before he turned and headed off around a corner.
Well that was weird.
I turned to look out the window again, taking a deep breath before I began to head back to my own quarters. I needed coffee too. And a shower. And answers to problems I wasn’t so sure even existed.
CHAPTER 12
OREN
SHE WAS GONE when I woke. Fuck did that piss me off.
Not at her, just pissed that she wasn’t still wrapped in my arms. Because sleeping with her against me? Well, that may have been the best sleep of my life, ever. And when I awoke hard and wanting her, only to find her half of the bed cold and empty, a cloud drifted over me. And despite all that had happened the night before, I was reminded of some glaring truths:
Alessia and I were of two very different worlds. Hers was one of royalty, and of ruling an entire kingdom. Mine was merely serving a kingdom. Hers involved marrying a man for political reasons—a man who didn’t deserve her, and who could never please her as she deserved.
A man who wasn’t me.
I growled as I stormed to the bathroom, showering and shaving quickly and joylessly before I dressed and headed out. I’d barely gone ten feet before I rounded a corner and slammed into a familiar face.
“Hey, man!”
Isaac stumbled—over his feet and his words—as he blinked quickly and smiled at me.
“What are you, uh, what are you doing here?”
I arched a brow. “Here at the summer palace? My job, Isaac.”
He chuckled a sort of forced laugh. “No, I mean over here by the royal guest suites.”
I frowned, turning and nodding with my chin. “That’s my room, right there.”
“Right, right.” Isaac nodded, his eyes darting all over the place.
…Something was up.
“Isaac,” I growled lowly, watching as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
“What are you doing over here.”
“Patrol.”
It was a quick answer. A way too quick answer.
“Isaac…” I muttered again. “Tell me.”
My friend chuckled another forced laugh. “It’s nothing, Oren. Just looking around, making sure things are tight over here.”
I glared at him, watching him squirm under my gaze.
“Oren, seriously. It’s nothing.”
My brow furrowed as I sniffed the air, and my eyes narrowed at him.
“You have perfume on you.”
He stiffened. “I do not.”
I folded my arms across my chest and nodded down the hall in the direction he’d come in.
“King-apparent Brian and Princess Simone’s quarters are that way.”
My brow ached sharply.
“Isaac.”
“Oren—”
“Have you been where you shouldn’t?” I growled dangerously. Did I feel like a hypocrite giving Isaac the dress-down for possibly fraternizing with Princess Simone after I’d spent the night making Queen Alessia come for me? Yes, but that didn’t stop me from grilling him. Alessia and I were one thing. But one of my lieutenants fooling around with a visiting princess was another issue.
“Oren, it’s seriously nothing you need to worry—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
Isaac looked at me with a confused look. “Why not.”
“Because when you tell me it’s ‘nothing I need to worry about,’ I pretty much assume it’s some shit I definitely need to worry about.”
He chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. “Let’s forget about it, okay?”
“Let’s not, and you come clean with what the fuck you’re up to,” I muttered back.
Isaac looked away, shaking his head.
“It’s best if you don’t know.”
“I sincerely doubt that,” I growled.
“Trust me on this one?”
My friend turned back to me, a fierceness in his eyes. “Trust me, Oren. For now, let’s just drop it.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Fine.”
“Besides,” Isaac nodded at me. “Mr. Pot Kettle. You want to give me shit about some mistaken theory that you smell perfume on me?”
“I do smell perfume on you, jackass.”
He grinned.
“Yeah? Well let’s play that off the fucking hickey on your neck.”
Shit.
Isaac snorted a laugh as my hand went to my neck, where I swear I could almost feel the imprints of Alessia’s teeth when she’d nipped me as I made her cry out in pleasure.
“You got any more ‘pot kettle’ words of wisdom for me there, boss?”
“Fuck off,” I muttered as Isaac barked out another laugh before he grinned at me.
“It’s from who I assume it is?”
I said nothing, looking away out the big arched window at the lake.
“She’s a queen, Oren.”
My jaw tightened.
“Oren—”
“I know,” I growled.
“And she’s going to be getting married. And not to you.”
“Drop it,” I muttered, turning back to him. “Look, just drop—”
“Highness!”
Isaac clicked his heals together sharply, bowing low. I frowned, whirling, and when my eyes landed on King Brian, my jaw clenched.
“Your highness,” I said lowly, nodding low instead of bowing.
“Captain.” Brian clasped his small hands together, smiling thinly through that wispy beard. He looked past me at Isaac, and I caught the faintest hint of a small smile before his look hardened and his eyes flicked to mine.
“I need your men to prepare and secure the grounds for a few more guests, arriving later today.”
My brows raised. This was news to me, and considering I was the ranking officer in charge of the palace and the security detail, this was definitely a new development.
“Highness, I wasn’t aware that we were expecting—”
“I’ve just invited them, ten minutes ago.”
I nodded curtly. “And how many should we be expecting?”
“Another of my advisors, three members of my royal council, as well as my family’s priest.”
I frowned, but I nodded. “Consider it done, highness. I’ll have the staff prepare their quarters, and my men will double our perimeter just in case—”
“The rose gardens, out by the lake,” Brian said, cutting me off. “They’re secure enough, I presume?”
My frown deepened and I shot a quick look to an equally confused looking Isaac.
“They are, highness.” I cleared my throat. “For what, may I ask?”
Brian smiled, his lips curling as his eyes locked right on me.
“For my wedding, Captain.”
That’s about when the floor dropped the fuck out from under me.
Brian’s smile widened, his eyes not even blinking as he held my gaze.
“To Queen Alessia, of course.”
/> “Today,” I growled lowly, my hand tightening to a fist. “Your highness, I was told this weekend was for you and the Queen to get to know one anoth—”
“And I’ve gotten to know her just fine, which is why I’m moving the timeline up, immediately.”
He clapped his hands together again, turning to Isaac as I stood there numb.
“Lieutenant, I’d like a word with your captain. Alone.”
Isaac cleared his throat, shooting me another look before he bowed stiffly.
“Your highness,” he murmured, eyeing Brian curiously before he glanced at me once more, turned on his heel, and walked away. I stood there in silence with the king-apparent until he was out of sight.
“This is happening, Captain,” Brian said, his voice thin and icy.
“My men will do a sweep of the—”
“Captain.”
There was a sharpness in his voice, and my eyes flicked to his to see a coldness there, along with a thin smile.
“I am quite aware of your…” he cleared his throat. “Your entanglement with my bride-to-be, Captain,” he hissed.
I could have denied it, but the hell with that. The hell with cow tailing to this little asshole. Instead, I said nothing, standing my full height and towering over Brian, my face blank.
He chuckled.
“I’m not intimidated by your size, Captain. Know this: I am marrying the Queen, today. And not you, nor anyone, is going to stop that.”
“And if she doesn’t want to marry you, highness,” I growled lowly, my voice laced with steel.
Brian shook his head.
“Oh, but she does, Captain. Maybe not for the reasons some might marry, but she does. For her kingdom, which I know damn well comes first for her.”
My jaw tightened, my eyes blazing as I stared down the King-apparent.
“Do not try anything today, Captain. No sabotage, no bullshit, no heroics. I’m willing to overlook the fact that I am quite sure you spent the night in Alessia’s room last night, but if you do try and stop this today, there is no limit to what I’ll do with that information. I’m quite sure it would be grounds for dismissal from Rian’s palace, at the least. I believe I could even press charges, considering that’s my bride you were with.”
“Press charges?” My scowl deepened. “She isn’t your property, you know.”