by Vivian Wood
“What if I fail?”
Nodding to Alayna and Ria, he gestures for them to leave. Once out, he lifts my chin, gently pulling me to him. With his kiss, my body relaxes, and I forget the multitude of thoughts rushing through my mind. Raising on my toes, I move in closer, wanting more. Pulling away, he brushes his hand over my cheek, caressing me as he stares into my eyes.
“What was that for?”
“To distract you and calm you. You need your head clear to think about battle strategies.”
“I’m not sure that helped. Now I’m thinking how much I want you to kiss me again.”
Licking his lips, his cheeks swell with his smile.
“You’re a dangerous beauty.”
“Have I ever told you, you have a way with words?”
“A few times. It’s part of my charm.”
“It is. All right. I need to put my boots on and go out there. Wish me luck, I’m going to need it.”
Sitting on a chair, I tie the laces and stand, visibly ready for battle, but inside, I’m anxious. Picking up a hair band from the vanity, I pull my loose hair into a ponytail. A few dainty flowers fall to the floor as I whip my hair through the band.
“I’ll be able to walk you to the weapons room and to the door leading to the stadium, then you’re on your own.”
“Good, I want you with me as long as you can be.”
“You’re far too nervous.”
“A lot is riding on my success. I’ll be viewed as a weak monarch if I don’t win.”
“You’re an Anaukin warrior Princess. It’s in your blood to be strong and lead. I have complete faith in you. It’s the other guy I’m worried about.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “That was a good pep talk. Let’s go.”
Through the corridor, monitors reveal the outside stadium. A few additions have been added, changing the terrain into a battle zone equipped with walls, barricades, rocks, and more.
“What happens to the soldier I beat?”
“He gets drunk and lays with a lot of women to make up for the blow to his ego. By the next day, he’s in enough pain from his hangover, he doesn’t remember the embarrassment, and no one mentions it, ever. Not unless they want to spend the night in a healing chamber.”
“That’s something we’ve never spoken about.”
“What?”
“The women you’ve laid with.”
“It’s not something I’ve wanted to share with you.”
“Have there been many?”
“We can talk about the subject later tonight when you’re resting.”
Arriving at the weapons room, our mastery of weapons, Alic, ushers me inside.
“Princess Fiora, that was a great speech. We’re all eager to see what you have in store for us during your House’s premiere trial. Your potential opponents have selected their weapons. Would you like to know what they chose?”
“No, it’s better I don’t.”
“All right, Princess. Two weapons, your choice.”
Eyes roaming over the weapons showcased on the walls and tables, I find a shortsword and slide it into the sheath sewn into my pants. Matheas watches me with interest when I don’t take the second one. Walking around the room, I find the trident laser gun and lift it off the table.
“My choices are complete.”
“Excellent. May your trials be successful, Princess. I’ll be cheering you on from the stands.”
“Thank you, Alic.”
Looking to Matheas, I await what he has to say.
“I expected two blades or two guns. Good choice taking one of each.”
“Best to have short and long range.”
“It is.”
Leaving the room, we follow the corridor farther down toward the entry room. Stepping inside, Tether, my father’s right hand, holds a bag out for me.
“Reach in and find out who your potential opponent is, Princess.”
Nerves bunching in my chest, I slowly lower my hand into the bag. Finding a piece of paper, I pull it out and look at the writing on it.
“Sederick,” I say aloud.
Matheas seems to breathe a breath of relief it wasn’t Demerick. With Tether holding out a second bag, I reach inside. Pulling out another piece of paper, I read the names aloud,
“Carla and Rose.”
“Which opponent do you choose, Princess?”
“I choose Sederick.”
With a smile revealing his approval of my decision, he closes the bag and steps to the unit on the wall. Pressing the monitor, he speaks into a speaker for the stadium to hear.
“Princess Fiora has selected Sederick as her opponent.”
Through the walls, I can hear the cheers and foot stomps from the stadium.
“From here,” he points to the door behind him, “you enter the stadium. You and Sederick will be released into the stadium at the same time in different areas. Good luck, Princess.”
Matheas takes my free hand, raises it to his lips and kisses it.
“I’ll be in the Royal tent during your fight. I’ll return to the preparation room as soon as you’re finished.”
Both men leave the room, and I await the light above the door to the stadium to turn green. When it does, I take a breath and step forward. The automated door slides open to a cacophony of sounds and scents. Our Anaukin cake is popular, sweet with sugar, and very aromatic. The scent is heavy in the air. Stomps of feet and chants are a chorus around me, increasing the adrenaline rushing through me.
Attention switching to the battlefield, I observe my terrain and search for a vantage point that offers cover and a good view. Spotting one, I bolt for it, moving between boulders for cover. A laser beam contacts my leg. I feel the heat of it burn through my pants, but thankfully it doesn’t reach my skin. Peering out from behind a boulder, I catch a glimpse of Sederick ducking behind a wooden wall. It was enough for me to see he’s carrying a blaster laser gun with a dual equipped scope laser for narrowing in on small targets. Our weapons have been modified to lower the intensity. Our battles aren’t life or death, and I’m thankful. Otherwise, his blaster could burn a hole right through me.
With him behind the wooden wall, I take the opportunity to move through the boulders in his direction. After two, I duck, stay hidden, wait, then move again. Then another two, keeping to a pattern. On the third, I switch my pattern, move once more and see the laser shoot toward the boulder I would’ve hidden behind had I stuck to the pattern. I knew he’d catch the pattern and expect me to follow it, but Matheas is an incredible trainer and taught me how to fool my assailant.
Whipping around the boulder, I press my trigger and blast three lasers at Sederick. One hits him in the leg, burning his pants and the top layer of his skin. Trained to take an increased amount of pain, he grimaces and shoots back. The laser beam of his gun contacts my side, and I hiss in a breath from the pain, quickly hiding behind the boulder. Taking two breaths, I collect myself, then get on the move, knowing he’ll head right for me.
Continuing in the direction of my vantage point, I run fast and hard, rolling under the wooden platform. Stairs underneath give me access to the four walls above. Setting my gun on the edge of the wall facing the direction I believe Sederick to be, I quickly find him moving behind the boulders, coming toward my vantage point. Pulling the trigger, I release three beams in his direction. The advantage of the trident laser gun is for moving targets. At least one beam has a good chance of making contact and one does. His movement slows, and he buckles, touching his stomach.
Above me, the heat of the sun is making my protective jacket uncomfortable. It’s a risk to remove it, but with it on, I’ll overheat. Removing it, I lay it up against the wall to fake my presence once I’m gone from the wooden platform. Checking to see where Sederick is, I see him racing toward the platform. Going down the stairs isn’t an option, he’d catch me at the bottom. Moving to the opposite wall, I climb atop the edge of the wall and jump. When I land, I bend my knees, go down, and roll, all
eviating the pressure on my body. On my back, I aim the gun in Sederick’s direction and blast.
Sederick dodges the beams by jumping to the stairs. A beam comes toward me, and I roll away from it. Sand bursts into the air, making a cloud from his blast. He’s no longer playing nice. Up and on my feet, I run toward the wooden wall where I first saw him. The heat of a laser scorches my back and I drop to my knees. That’s my fault for taking my jacket off. Matheas will have something to say about that, I know it.
Spitting into the sand, I try to stand, but the pain is still debilitating. Laying on my back, I aim the gun toward Sederick. Dropping to the ground, he dodges my beams. Lowering it further, I hit his shoulder and see the anger form on his face. Aiming his gun at me, he rises to his feet.
“If you shoot, I shoot, Princess, and my gun is much more painful as you’ve already tasted.”
“I can’t argue that.”
Lowering mine, I place it next to me. Sederick kicks it out of reach.
“I’m sorry for defeating my future Queen. You battled well today. Everyone will be proud.”
“You’re right, they will be.”
Sweeping my leg, I knock his leg out from under him, and he drops to the ground, gun flying through the air. Leaping on top of him, I pull the blade from my sheath and hold it against his throat.
“Never assume you’ve won before the battle is over. Surrender now and I won’t punish you later.”
With thick brown hair and our shared cerulean blue eyes, he looks up at me, a grin pulling at his thin lips. “You truly are a woman fit to rule.”
Sederick raises his arm, giving the signal of surrender.
CHAPTER TWO
FIORA
Returning to my preparation room, I hear voices just above a whisper and stop when I recognize them. Matheas and Alayna are inside arguing.
“Did I mean anything to you?”
“This isn’t the time to discuss this.” Tone harsh, Matheas’s heavy footsteps move across the room.
“When will it be time? You’ve avoided me long enough. I want to know. Do I mean anything to you?”
“Alayna, I’m sorry, I don’t care for you the way you want me to.”
“Did you think of her when you laid with me?” Her tone cuts sharp with anger. “Tell me the truth.”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I was, wasn’t I? A substitute for the woman you truly want.”
Matheas is silent. Standing completely still, I remain outside, nervously awaiting his answer.
“It doesn’t matter how much I try, there’s no one I care for more than her.”
“You’ll never be able to have her.”
“I know. Your reminder isn’t needed.”
Gut tightening, I limp away to the healing chamber before either discover me. Mixed emotions tumble through my stomach. Things are changing. Too much, too fast. What I want and what I have to do are becoming a daily battle. Every woman in Anauka I see, I look at with envy. They’re free to do and go as they please while I live in a royal cage, my choices and my freedom limited.
In the healing chamber, I remove all my clothing. A hole in my top indicates how bad the burn on my back is. In front of a full figure mirror, I twist my body and discover the red, blistering flesh. Stepping into the vertical healing booth, I hold my breath at the familiar pinch of the therapeutic medicine and pain relief injected into my arm. Next, the sting of the laser scans my body, finding the open wounds, sealing them. Any flesh wounds too thin to be sealed are coated with a cream that once heated forms to your body like new skin. Stepping out, my body is completely healed on the outside, but inside my muscles are sore.
Preparing a bath, I light several candles and lower the switch on the wall, turning down all lights. Leaning back in the tub, I relax in the soothing water. The door behind me opens, and Nina enters. She sweeps the room, her mouth lowering into a frown.
“Where’s Matheas?”
“He’ll be here any moment.”
“You were a true warrior today. You should be proud.”
“It’s a game, Nina. A game for entertainment and to prove I’m strong enough to lead.”
“What’s wrong, darling?”
“Everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything is changing. I’m changing.”
“You know you can speak with me about anything, don’t you?”
“I do, but right now, I’m not sure what to say. I’m feeling too much.”
“I understand. The trials, becoming Queen, it’s a lot for a woman to take in, but you’re not alone. You have me and Matheas to share your burdens with.”
When I say nothing, she continues.
“I’ll leave you to relax, but don’t be long. The Royal families and ours will be waiting for you to attend dinner. Everyone is eager to see you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there soon.”
Nina walks toward the exit, but I stop her.
“Nina, one more thing.”
“Yes, darling?”
“I’m removing Alayna from my staff. Tell father, please.”
“Of course, darling. I’ll tell him.”
As soon as the door closes, it opens again. The familiar sound of Matheas’s boots cross the floor.
“The shot to your back must’ve been worse than I thought since you came straight here.”
Lowering next to the tub, he tilts his head, worry in his eyes.
“I did come to the preparation room.”
With movement of his Adam’s apple, he swallows, revealing his uneasiness.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.”
“Do you want to talk about what you heard?”
“There’s no need to explain. I’ve known for years you’ve laid with women.”
“It was something we never talked about. Today you asked about it. What changed?”
“For the first time, I feel jealous.”
“Fi—”
“Did you mean it? That you want me? That you care for me more than any other woman?”
Waving his hand over the tub switch, the water drains. Taking my hand, he raises me out of the water. Collecting a towel nearby, he helps me out, then wraps it around me, keeping his arms in place, holding me close to him. Hand to my cheek, he brushes my wet hair away from my face.
“Yes. I tried, Fi, I tried to give others a chance, but I couldn’t force what I didn’t feel for them. I knew I couldn’t have you either. I hate not being able to have you. I hate the idea of any son from a Royal family touching you, lying with you. It should be me and only me.”
“How long have you felt this way?”
“Too long.” With the candlelight dancing in his eyes, I see the intensity, the longing. “When you asked me to kiss you today, you broke me open. You crushed the remaining willpower I had. I don’t know if I can stop myself from kissing you daily.”
“Then don’t. I want you to kiss me. I want to feel your touch.”
“What you’re asking is dangerous. The way my body reacts to seeing you naked, being close to you, touching you would be agony for me. I’d give anything to lay with you.”
“There are other ways to have me without taking my purity.”
“Fi, what are you saying?” Eyes wide, his gaze dances from my eyes to my lips and back.
“You can have me, just not my purity. Not until I’m crowned.”
A low rumble escapes his chest.
“I wish we’d had this conversation long ago.”
“The way I’m feeling, the way I see things, it’s different now. I know what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Running his thumb across my lips, he stares down at me. In his eyes, I see a change, a mixture of relief and desire. Dropping the towel, my bare chest presses against his uniform shirt.
“As your Princess, I’m officially ordering you to only give yourself to me.”
Leaning dow
n, he sucks at my neck, nibbles, then kisses it. I inhale a breath at the arousing sensation rushing down my body.
“I accept, willingly.”
Touching me between my legs, my breath escapes me when his fingers find my wetness and caress against my opening.
“Matheas…”
Sliding a finger in, I squeeze my legs together, surprised by the invasion only to relax as he moves in and out. The pleasure forming steals my breath, and I grip him as it increases.
“Don’t stop. It feels amazing.”
“I have to, Fi. You have a dinner to host, remember?”
“Don’t tease me like this. I want more.”
“I’ll give you more tonight. I’ll stay the night with you.”
Withdrawing his hand leaves me aching for his touch. Claiming his mouth, I ravage his lips, desire ripping through me in waves. Pulling back, his breath is heavy.
“It’s a damn good thing I have to take you to dinner.”
Nibbling my lip, I look up at him, my cheeks warm.
“Everything between now and tonight is an agonizing obstacle. I’m ready to learn everything you have to show me.”
Placing both hands on the side of my face, he rests his head against mine.
“Truer words have never been spoken. I’m ready to show you as much as you want to be shown. Fi…”
“Yes?”
“Please get dressed before your father’s men come looking for you and find me claiming the King’s daughter.”
Placing one last kiss on his lips, I turn away from him. Running his hand down my arm, he squeezes my hand before letting go.
“There is no woman as mesmerizing as you, Fiora. Not even close.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I notice the way he’s staring at me, no longer hiding how he truly feels, what he really wants. Watching me from a distance, his smile is lascivious, and I can’t help smiling back, winking at him as I slide my dinner dress on.
Coming up to me, he brushes my hair over my shoulder and clasps the dress at my neck. A strong hand caresses down my shoulder and rests at my waist. Holding my back to his front, he turns my face to meet his, kissing me deeply.
“That’s to hold on to until I can kiss you again.”