by M. K. Dawn
“Alaina? Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?”
I shake my head. “No.” Not physically, but my heart is crushed once again.
“Why are you crying?” He comes back to the bed and sits next to me. With his thumb, he wipes the tears off my cheeks. “Please tell me.”
“I shouldn't have thrown myself at you like that.”
“Look at me.” Our eyes meet and the anger I thought I saw earlier is no longer there. “What just happened has never happened to me before.”
“You’re a vir-”
“No. I have been with other women before. But it's never been like that before. I lost all control. I'm the one that should be sorry. Dammit. If Henry finds out, I could be executed. That's what I came in here to tell you. That's why we have to stay away from each other. There is so much riding on your marriage with him. And I hate it. You saw what Kakos is capable of. Without Henry’s army, we can't beat him. And they won't help us unless you marry him. It's not fair to ask this of you. Maybe once you get your memories back, it will all be better, this will fade and you can live a happy life with Henry. If it doesn't, I will leave.”
“No. I couldn't handle it if you left.” Again, I know the big girl panties must be pulled up, if for the only reason being that I cannot bear to see him executed. Henry would do it. I saw the hate that he holds for Brady this morning. “This never happened. We will never speak of it again. We will stay away from each other. If that's what it takes to keep you safe, then that is what we will do.”
He leans his forehead into mine. There is a vulnerability to him I’ve yet to see. I doubt most people have ever seen it. I relish in the thought that I’m so lucky to see him this way.
He brushes his lips against my cheek. “I’ll never forget.”
***
The walk to Henry’s tent is awkward. My body still feels flushed from Brady’s touch; his words still linger in my ears. It doesn't help that I keep randomly bumping into him. “Sorry. I really do know how to walk in a straight line. I don't know what’s the matter with me.”
“Must be my magnetic personality.”
“Oh, hardy-har-har.”
We stop outside his door and face one another. “Nick should be here in just a minute. After lunch, you’ll have a few hours to kill before the feast tonight. Nick can take you wherever you want to go, just please stay with him. Eric has a protection incantation around camp, so it’s safe. But I would feel better knowing you were with him. So… you doing okay?”
No, I’m not. I just made out with a guy I like and now I’m going to have lunch with a guy I can’t stand. It isn’t fair. But the thought of Brady being executed because of his feelings for me make my choice clear. “I’ll be fine. It’s just …”
“I know, Princess. But it's the only way. I have complete faith that you can do this. Henry loves to talk. Just keep the subject light and the answers short and you will be fine. Here comes Nick, only a few minutes late.”
“Hey, I was here ten minutes ago, but saw you two engrossed in some serious chit chat and thought I would be a gentleman and give you some privacy,” Nick says.
“How very sweet and considerate of you.” I roll my eyes as Nick beams, not seeming to catch, or choosing to ignore, the sarcastic undertone in my words.
“Alaina and I were just talking about her lunch with Henry. I was giving her some pointers.”
“Just smile and nod and you’ll be fine,” Nick says. This just gets better and better. I want to scream that there is no way I can love, let alone like, a man like this. But I know it's important, so I do as they suggest; smile and nod. “Perfect! You’re a fast learner!”
I open my mouth ready to chew him out when Henry walks out. “My love! There you are. I was just about to send my guards out to look for you.” I fight the urge to shudder at his chosen term of endearment. “Brady, I didn't expect to see you here.”
“I have been keeping an eye out for Alaina while Nick had lunch with his wife. I was just leaving.”
“Good, good. Nick, you are dismissed as well. My guards can take it from here. She is in good hands.”
Brady’s face goes stone cold. “Your Highness, as we have discussed on multiple occasions, one of Alaina’s warriors is to be with her at all times. It’s our job. The closer we get to your castle, the more dangerous it becomes. Wright will know that is where we are heading and will try to get to her no matter the consequences.”
“As I have told you, Warrior, if you want to keep my future wife safe, get your men out there and put an end to this war once and for all.”
“You know that is impossible with Kardia’s army alone. If you want the war to end, allow your army to fight with us now.”
“As soon as Alaina and I are married, my army is yours to command, as the agreement has always stated. Now if you'll excuse us, our lunch is getting cold.” He holds his arm out to me. “Shall we go in?”
I want to slap his arm down and tell him where he can go, but the look Brady gives me reminds me that I need to play nice. So, I smile as sweetly as I can and take his arm. “Nick, please stay close.” He straightens and bows.
“Alaina, really, that is not necessary. As I said, my guards are quite capable…”
I hold my hand up to stop him. What is his deal? “Henry, it may not be necessary, but it’s what I wish. They are my warriors and I wish them to stay near. My encounter with Kakos was terrifying. The more able men around, the better. That is unless you don’t care about my well-being as much as you say you do.”
The shock on his face is priceless. “Forgive me, you are right, of course. Even in knowing that my guards are more than capable of protecting you, I have forgotten your wishes in this all. If your warriors are what you need to feel safe, then one will be with you at all times. I will as much as command it.”
“Thank you.” He needs to step off his high horse. Shouldn't I be able to command something and have people do it? Unless the king has more authority than the queen?
“Yes, thank you, Your Highness,” Brady grinds out the words. Turning to me, he adds, “Princess, if you need anything, don't hesitate to send Nick to get me at once.”
“That won't be necessary, Brady. You’re dismissed. I'm sure you have more important things to do than babysit. After all, the camp is not going to move itself,” Henry speaks for me.
I half-expect Brady to hit him. But instead, bows his head and walks away.
“Some people just need to learn their place; don't you agree? After you, my love.” Henry heads for the door of his tent.
I turn back just in time to see Brady smashing his fist through a wooden target. Did Henry forget that warriors have superb hearing? One look at his face tells me he didn't.
Henry holds out my chair as I sit down at the obscenely large table. Two places settings have been set out. Fresh flowers - an assortment of daisies - are used as the center pieces. Lit candles line the center of the table, adding an excess of heat to what is already becoming a hot day. There is no way this set up is needed way out here in the middle of nowhere.
Henry sits at the opposite end, as he did last night, which is going to make conversation difficult. He claps his hands and two people come out with platters of food and set them in the empty spots between the candles and flowers. The aroma of roast, potatoes, and carrots make my mouth water. The basket of bread is full and steaming. There is enough food here for everyone to have seconds if the table was full. This can't just be for us, can it?
“Are we expecting others?” I reach for a roll, but the server shakes her head ever so slightly. As I retreat, she grabs my plate and fills it like I’m a child. The second server does the same for Henry. This really irks me. How could she possibly know my gravy to potatoes ratio? I push my annoyance aside and focus on Henry.
“No. Why do you ask?” He seems to genuinely not understand.
“It's just, there is a lot of food here. More than enough for just the two of us.”
He laughs. “Not t
o worry. The leftovers will not go to waste. It will be taken to the dogs when we are done.” I didn't think he could surprise me anymore with his self-righteous privileged attitude, but I was wrong. There are starving people in Africa, for crying out loud! Okay, that may not be relevant here, but for all I know, there are starving people in Nysa, too.
Brady’s voice pops into my head, reminding me that I can do this. “I see.”
Henry smiles. I fight the urge to throw my roll at him. I bet from here I could hit him in the face.
As we eat, Henry blabs on about Gods know what. I nod and smile just like Nick said to, but mentally I practice my roll curve ball.
When that gets old, I force my mind to focus on more important things. Henry’s blatant dislike for Brady weighs heavy on me. It makes no sense. I know Brady told me to stick to light subjects, and boy, was the food conversation light, but I have to know. “What’s the deal with you and Brady?”
He looks at me like I just interrupted some great story. To be fair, I may have, but I wasn't paying attention. “It’s nothing, really. It happened a long time ago.”
“It had to have been pretty bad if you still don't like him.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
Henry smile is genuine as he relaxes in his chair. “He stole my girlfriend.” His face flushes and I can't help but laugh. In this moment, he seems normal. Almost likable. “We were thirteen. She was my first girlfriend.” He stops abruptly, giving me a wide-eyed look like he just spilled some deep dark secret. “Sorry, I shouldn't be telling you this. It’s inappropriate.”
“Why? Is it not allowed?”
“When two children are betrothed, they are allowed to date other people, if they choose, until they both reach nineteen. And you and I did not get along as children, so dating other people didn't seem like such a bad idea.”
“So, if you weren’t doing anything wrong, you can tell me. Anyway, I was, what, nine? That would be weird if you were looking at me as anything other than a child.”
“True.” He sighs, contemplating whether or not to tell me the story. I wait. His eyes meet mine once again as he flashes me his best Prince Charming smile. “Growing up, my father insisted that I learn how to fight. We were on an extended visit to your kingdom, so I was training with the other kids who were in line to become warriors. My girlfriend at the time came to watch. Then, to my dismay, I was chosen to be sparring partners with Brady. His father was the leader of the warriors and chances were good he would win the tournament and be slated to take his spot when his father stepped down. I was a scrawny kid who hadn't even hit puberty yet, facing the youngest of the greatest line of warriors Nysian has ever seen. It didn't end well. A couple of swings, he had laid me out flat on my back with a bloody nose. The look on her face said it all, she was ashamed of me. I tried to talk to her after training but she wanted nothing to do with me. A few days later I caught her and Brady making out in a dark corner of the castle.”
There was a sadness to his voice that hurt my heart. Maybe I had been too quick to judge him. I kind of felt bad for the guy. “That’s so sad.”
“I know. How dare she choose a warrior over me? I mean, what could he have given her that I couldn't? I may have been small, but with me, she was dating a prince!” He waves his hand, annoyed at the thought. “Anyway, it doesn't matter. She was a commoner and way below my standards.”
The warm fuzzy feelings I just felt dissipates. He hated Brady just because a girl liked him more? Pompous ass. Then it hits me. What would he do if he discovered his bride-to-be’s feelings? I'm sure he didn't consider a princess below his standards. I need to get out of here.
“Well, this has been nice, but I should go.” Run away screaming is more like it.
“What? Why? I thought we could spend time getting to know each other today, before the feast.”
I jump out of my chair. No way was that going to happen. “That sounds lovely and all, but I’m exhausted. I didn't sleep well, being in a new place, you see. I was hoping to rest before tonight. I want to be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, just an expression in the human realm. It means to be fully awake.” I head towards the door.
He meets me midway, grabs me by the waist and pulls my body flush with his. “Please stay. I have been waiting for you for such a very long time. We should spend the time we have before we get back to my castle really getting to know each other.” He runs a finger down my cheek and I shudder, not from attraction, but from something else I can’t explain.
I pull away and to my surprise, he doesn't resist. “And when will that be?”
“We should reach my castle in less than two weeks. The crowning ceremony will take place a week after that, during the full moon. Then the queen and I will marry during the next full moon, as is tradition.”
The last sentence strikes me as odd. Why not say ‘we’ will marry instead of ‘the queen and I’? My Gods, this lunch has taken a weird turn, I don't even know what to say to him. “Sounds good.” Lame, I know, but I can’t think of anything else. I take another step back towards the door. “Nick!”
He appears in an instant. “My lady?”
“I’m ready to go back to my tent now.” Henry looks at me like a predator ready to pounce its prey. “Thank you for the enlightening lunch, Prince Henry. I will see you tonight.”
“I look forward to it, my love.”
***
Halfway to my tent, the urge to throw up hits. I rush behind the closest tree just in time to see my lunch reappear. Nick is sweet enough to hold my hair while I empty the contents of my stomach. When I’m done, we head back towards my tent in silence. The camp is buzzing with activity. People bow as we pass.
The sun is hot on my skin, but I hardly notice. I walk, dazed, unable to comprehend it all. I try to control my breathing, fighting back the panic attack that scratches the surface. It’s too much. Not only am I going to be queen in a few weeks, I’m going to be married shortly after that? The queen thing I can come to terms with, but marrying him, not a chance in hell. This can’t be happening. I want to go home, start college, and hang out at the mall with my friends. I don't want any of this.
Nick holds open the door for me as I brush past him. “Alaina, are you okay?”
“Just leave me alone, please.”
He opens his mouth as to argue but thinks twice about it. “I’m right outside if you need me.”
When he is gone, I collapse on the bed and sob.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brady
After a semi-satisfying workout, I peel off my gloves, grab a water bottle and head for the benches at the far end of the training room. My muscles ache and sweat drips from my head, still, the workout did little to ease my nerves. All I can think about is Alaina. Her eyes, her lips, her tongue. The way her body moved in perfect sync with mine. Her alone with Henry is enough to drive a man insane. And the funny thing is, I did it all to myself.
After my conversation with Shae, I headed to Alaina’s tent determined to break things off. What did I do? Like a freaking dumbass, I laid on the bed, asked her to join me, confessed my darkest feelings, then dry humped her to the verge of orgasm. What the hell is wrong with me? I have more self-control than this, at least I did, before this damn woman came into my life.
The look she gave me when I told her I was going to be away for a while nearly broke me. I should have left, but instead, I opened my mouth, allowing the words I swore I would never say to come spilling out. Then she was in my arms, our bodies intertwining in such perfect sync that I couldn't stop. No - not couldn't - worse than that, I didn't want to stop. It was the best, most pleasurable moment of my life, and we didn't even take our clothes off. But it’s what happened after she orgasmed that brought me back to my senses. It felt like a jolt of electricity penetrated deep into my soul. A sensation so powerful, it caused me to jump off the bed without thinking.
&nb
sp; My knee-jerk reaction had her believing I didn't want her, when the truth was, if she hadn’t started it, I would have. Her tears broke my heart. Her willingness to do whatever it took to keep me safe made it soar. Leaving her with Henry took every ounce of willpower I could collect. Breaking my hand on the wooden target kept me from breaking his face after his little comment. Thank the Gods I heal quick, though it would have been faster if I had my freaking orb. Son of a bitch knew I could hear him. But what he didn't know was that it wasn't the ‘learn my place’ comment but the ‘my love’ endearment that had me seeing red. It was like nails on a chalkboard.
So, I came to the training room, pumped up, looking for a fight. The soldiers sparring must have seen the murderous look in my eyes. They fled and I was left alone with nothing to hit but the punching bag. My right hand - which had started to heal - was still tender but felt more sprained than broken. Either way, I didn't care, I just needed to hit something.
An hour of punching, kicking and pretty much beating the shit out of the bag, and still, I sit here on the bench, pumped full of raging testosterone. In the past, when training didn't work, sex had always been my trusty backup remedy for this kind of pent-up energy. Of course, this time, sex - or lack thereof - is part of the reason I’m in this mess. Something’s going to have to give before I lose my shit.
As if reading my mind, Nikki walks out of the locker room dressed in her skin-tight training uniform, like the one Alaina had on this morning, only with more skin exposed. She bites the corner of her lower lip and drags her teeth across it.
“Brady,” she purrs, sashaying towards me. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I went to your tent last night to welcome you back, but you weren't there.”