by A. J. Cove
"She will.” Lin promised. “Her nose is just out of place because you stole such a prize right out from under her."
Doshi wailed, uncomforted.
* * * *
"Sit down, Doshi.” King Lagrin's countenance was stern. Doshi hesitated to face him. Somehow she knew he was now ready to discuss her disreputable behavior.
"Father, I can explain,” she rushed ahead.
"Can you? I don't think you can.” His voice remained calm, unlike the times he'd bellowed at Gabriella for her countless exploits. “I'm very disappointed in you."
Doshi crumbled before him. She sank down on her knees and buried her head in her father's lap, sobbing so hard she felt herself become sick.
"Little Doshi.” Her father's voice shook. “Don't, my dear. Please don't cry. It's over now. It's behind us."
The king pulled her onto his lap as he used to do when she was just a little girl. She curled against him feeling no older than when she'd fallen from a tree and scraped her knee. Only the king, never too busy with kingdom business, could make her feel better. Though she loved him no less now, he couldn't fix her broken heart. It had been weeks with no word from the new king. He didn't want her.
Finally, she sat up. “Father, I've been foolish all this time, holding out for something that didn't exist. I will marry the next man you bring to me without complaint."
Her father tipped up her chin to look into his eyes. “Without scalding the man half to death?"
"That was an accident,” she laughed, embarrassed.
"All right, my dear. We're agreed."
* * * *
Doshi stood at the beginning of the long aisle, in front of hundreds of guests come to see if the Invisible Rose would actually get married. She glanced at Gabriella, her maid-of-honor. They'd been on speaking terms for a few days now, though not close. Gabriella still called her Mouse, though both knew it no longer fit a woman who'd stolen her sister's fiancé. She shook her head clear of the memories and stepped forward down the aisle on the king's arm.
She avoided looking at her fiancé. His harsh face turned her stomach and she had the feeling that though the man smiled and had accepted the fact that everyone knew his wife was not coming to him a virgin, somehow he planned to make her pay for it. The look in his eyes during the wedding planning made her shiver with fear. Lin had protested loudly that Prince Kor, from a tiny impoverished kingdom, was reputed to be a man who liked to be too rough with his women.
Now she stood beside him, ready to say her vows. She knew she was making a mistake. Lin had protested, and she'd always been right about what was best for her. She'd never steered her wrong. Even this morning, Lin had assured her she'd help her get away to a safe place. Now, it was too late. The priest was reciting the ceremonial words.
"Princess Doshi, put your hand over Prince Kor's as a symbol of your promise to allow him to lead you, to support you for the rest of your life."
Her heart banged in her chest. Beads of moisture broke out on her lip and forehead. She swayed unsteadily as the bright room began to darken. And then a door at the back of the room crashed against the wall, snapping her to attention.
She turned to see Prince ... King Tarin stroll forward, regal in his robes and surrounded by guards and a chief advisor. She stared in disbelief, then glanced around the room as every guest stood and bowed or curtsied as he made his way toward her.
When he was standing only a foot from her, Doshi curtsied and her intended bowed.
"Your majesty,” she breathed.
"Doshi."
And then she collapsed. Doshi felt Tarin's arm about her waist as he lifted her against his chest. She heard Kor protest, but as far as she could tell before she completely succumbed, Tarin didn't release her or loosen his possessive hold.
* * * *
Doshi's eyes fluttered open to find she was lying on a couch in the small library she knew to be the priest's private office. Tarin stood over her. “Doshi."
"My king."
"Will you say my name?"
"It's disrespectful.” She trembled as he touched her hair. “You're a king now."
"I am still the man who loves you, Doshi."
"Oh.” The trembling increased. This could not be happening. It was a dream. She'd wake up and find herself lying next to Kor, with his ring on her finger. She glanced frantically around the room, waiting for the nightmare of reality.
"Doshi, why didn't you wait for me?"
"You left me,” she cried. “Without a word."
"I sent you roses, with a note of my intentions."
"They were from you? There was no note. I didn't know.” Her tears fell freely, mourning all the time wasted between them. She knew immediately it had to have been Gabriella who took the note, out of revenge.
He gathered her on his lap and stroked her back gently. “I have been tormented, my dove, knowing I put your life in danger. I knew my foolish cousin was trying to kill me, but I couldn't prove it. He didn't deserve to lead my people."
"My father was very disappointed in me."
Tarin shrugged. “He'll get over it the moment we supply him with grandchildren."
Doshi's face burned. “But Kor. He's already signed an agreement, has taken a large sum of money from my father to rebuild his kingdom."
Tarin waved a hand. “I will take care of it. Your job, honey, is to love me. Can you do that?"
She nuzzled closer to him. “I love you desperately, but are you sure, Tarin? Do you really love me? I'm clumsy and I knock over my drinks at the table. Sometimes I spill scalding tea on the guests."
A shout of laughter was his reply. “My angel, you were never clumsy with me. I will spend my life proving again and again that we are meant for each other, even if it takes forever."
She boldly slid a hand beneath her to stroke the king into hardness. She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips as she watched him. “I know of a few ways you could convince me, Tarin. Right now."
His eyes blazed. “Your wish is my command, my queen."
Epilogue
The queen curled against her husband as they watched their little ones at play. Four-year-old Kali tugged at her older brother's hair and then darted behind a chair. Little Tarin chased after her and Doshi shook her head at the antics of her darlings.
"Sometimes I worry about them, Tarin.” She moved to sit on her husband's lap. His arms encircled her without a thought.
"Why? They're fine.” He nuzzled her ear, teasing her with a dip inside now and then with the tip of his tongue. “Kali and Tarin are very close."
"I know they are, but still...” Doshi worried her bottom lip until the king eased it from between her teeth.
"Still?"
"Well.” Doshi twisted to face him to be sure she had his undivided attention. She put a hand out to cover a paper he had been studying. He looked up. “Tarin, have you noticed how Kali disappears sometimes?"
"She likes to play hide-n-seek, honey. It's a popular children's game. Stop worrying."
Doshi sighed. “I do worry. I never thought about what my father went through dealing with Gabriella and me. He must have been half out of his mind at times. They are so precious to me, Tarin. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to them."
Tarin gathered Doshi closer. “I know, honey. I feel the same way. Kali and Tarin have guards of their own and God knows how many nannies, plus Lin's watchful eyes. They will be fine. I promise."
Doshi finally settled down. “You're right, Tarin. With all of our eyes on them, what could happen?"
* * * *
Kali inched along behind her brother on bare toes. She pressed a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling out loud. She reached a hand out to tug his hair, but her hand traveled straight through her brother's body.
"No fair, LT! You're cheating!” Kali complained.
Her brother laughed, dancing around the nursery floor. “You're just mad because I can pass through walls and you can't!"
"Oh yeah? We
ll I can be invisible and you can't. Ha!” With that, Kali faded from view, frustrating her brother to the point of stomping out of the room without using the door.
No, their loving parents had nothing whatsoever to worry about.
The End
Author Bio
My mother tells me I opened books from the age of four and made up what I thought the story was about, though I couldn't read yet. From that time, I guess, I have been in love with books and reading.
After a period of reading Harlequin romances at the age of thirteen, I realized I wanted to be a writer. By eighteen, I wrote short stories, and in a fit of inspiration, typed out two full-length novels within a matter of weeks. I have no idea if any of it was good. My sister says so, but she happens to love me, so who knows. Anyway, the first magazine I sent my short story to rejected it and being overly sensitive I gave up writing for the next nineteen years.
Now that I'm thirty-seven, I'm getting back out there. My love of English has led me to pursue a degree in English and apparently I can weave a decent tale.
I enjoy writing most types of romance, including fantasy, science fiction, multi-racial, paranormal and contemporary. Please visit my site at www.ajcove.com and drop me an email. I enjoy hearing from my readers.
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