“Will you stay with me every night?”
“Yes.”
His kiss is warm and affectionate, matching the way it feels to be in his arms.
“Let’s draw a bath. I’ll massage you and wash your hair. I want you to wake up feeling good.”
“I can’t imagine feeling better than I do now.”
“That’s a challenge I intend to take on.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
—
FIORA
Soft knocking on my bedroom door stirs me awake. Matheas is already out of bed, putting his soldier uniform on.
“It’s too early. Make them go away.”
“I will.”
Fully clothed, he enters his code to unlock the door.
“Good Morning, Matheas,” my Grand Nina sing-songs.
“Morning, Nina.”
“I see you two have been cozy.”
Matheas chuckles, pink flushing his cheeks.
“Her purity is intact.”
“I’m sure it is. I came to warn you both that Belore is meeting with your father now, trying to negotiate a marriage with you, Fiora.”
Bolting up, I hold the blanket above my chest.
“Father is refusing, isn’t he?”
“He is, but Belore is being insistent and not accepting the refusal.”
“I should join them. Make my stance known.”
“I advise against it,” Matheas instructs. “It’s best you stay away from him. You showing up can instigate him to fight harder.”
“Just like a child scorned, they disobey out of spite.”
“Exactly,” Matheas agrees with Nina.
“Fine, I’ll prepare for the maze race, but I warn you both. If given the opportunity, one-on-one, I’m making it clear to him, there’ll never be a marriage between us.”
“There won’t be any one-on-ones if I have a say.”
“You do, and I’ll follow your suggestion, for now,” I tell him.
Nina’s light cerulean eyes fill with warmth as she looks at us both. “You two do well together. It brings me relief knowing you’ll always be by her side to protect her.”
In his deep pool of blue is the gaze of a man who holds his secrets close. “She’ll always be mine to protect.”
Nina’s mouth creeps into a tilted smile as she looks at him staring at me. “That’s something we both know to be true.” Tapping her soul band, she reminds us of the time. “I’ll send your staff up to prepare you for today’s trials.”
“All I need is a tray of food and Ria to do my hair and makeup. I can handle the rest.”
With a huff, she throws up her hands. “If only she’d listen to me as well as she listens to you, Matheas.”
With a chuckle, he moves to her side, looping his hand through her arm, escorting her to the door.
“Let’s be thankful she has a mind of her own. A good Queen needs to be independent and able to fend for herself.”
“Such a wise young man, you are.” Patting his arm, she raises onto the tips of her toes to kiss him on the cheek. Angling toward her, he eases the effort of her short legs. Leaving us, the automated door slides shut behind her.
Matheas returns to the bed, removing his shirt as he climbs atop me.
“We have time before your breakfast arrives. Before then, I want to have mine.”
Lowering the blanket, he uncovers my naked frame, spreading my thighs apart.
***
Ria, having already put my hair into a French braid left moments ago. With the maze trial countdown happening in minutes, Matheas slips a blade into the hidden sheath in my pants, then another into the sheath of my leather top.
“Without knowing what the racers plans are, be prepared for anything. Their efforts will probably be physical combat or to push you in a direction you become lost. Don’t let them.”
“I won’t,” I assure him.
Grabbing a pair of open-fingered, leather gloves, I take the lead out of the preparation room to the entrance room. Inside the entrance room, I pull the leather gloves on and secure the wrist strap. Raising one of my hands to his lips, Matheas kisses my fingertips.
“See you after.”
With his departure, I have nothing but the countdown to watch. I wait, and above the door, the light flashes green. The view of the crowd is blocked by wooden walls too high for me to see over, but I have no doubt the stadium viewers can see me fine as the seats they occupy are higher in the stadium than the top of these walls. One thing I can see is a large digital clock suspended above the maze, and below that, my own live image. The clock is counting down from an hour.
Moving forward carefully, I reach an intersection in the shape of a Y. Looking down the paths, I try to determine the direction to go, but at this point, it’s a guessing game. Taking the right path, I turn right again and I’m immediately brought to a dead end. Returning to the intersection, I take the left path this time. I’m brought to several more intersections with the same situation, dead ends where I have to return to the second path.
Having not seen any other racers yet, I assume each of us entered different entrances at once, or at least I had my own separate entrance. With this thought, I hear the sound of feet quickly pounding the ground behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I have seconds to duck. A short, muscular woman lunges forward. With her momentum forcing her, she rolls over my back and lands on the ground. I prepare myself for a fight and take my stance, feet apart and fists protecting my face.
She swings first, aiming for my face. Knocking her outstretched arm into the air, I punch back, clipping her jaw. Taking a couple of steps back, she bounces on her feet, recovering quickly. Lunging forward, her voice bellows in the air as she puts force into plowing into me, knocking us both on the ground. With her straddling me, I grab her shirt, pulling her toward me. She tries to scoot back, but I raise a leg, wrapping it around her neck while using my arms and hands to block her strikes. Squeezing my leg hard, drool seeps from the corners of her mouth. Her eyes bulge as she struggles for breath.
“Yield, now,” I order.
The blonde woman’s hand goes into the air, giving the signal of surrender.
Releasing my hold around her neck, she sucks in air. Touching her shoulder, I check on her condition before leaving her.
“You good?”
With a reassuring nod, she touches her hand to her throat. On my feet, I give her one last fleeting glance as I continue farther into the maze. Coming to another intersection, the walls change from wood to glass and mirrors. My senses automatically heighten because of my own movement in the reflections. It’s a strategic move, an effort to rattle my nerves. Movement in my periphery warns me there is someone passing along the wall parallel to mine.
Keeping close to the wall, I look up at the monitor and see her limber body on the other side. Within seconds she’s out of the camera’s view. With the time ticking down, I continue on, remembering what directions I’ve already taken. Several steps forward, a figure erupts from an empty panel to my left where glass was supposed to be. Her weight and speed crash us both into the glass to my right, cracking it.
With a hand to my elbow, I grimace from the pain throbbing there, but I don’t have time to work through it. Her leg is already sweeping my knees, knocking me on my ass. With a thud, I look up at an expression of delight. She’s thrilled to have surprised and taken down the warrior Princess. With my boot flying toward her, I kick her in the lower back, and she howls from the blunt force of it. With another kick, I slam my boot into her knee. It buckles to the right, and she drops to the ground, her eyes pinched closed in pain.
“Yield!” I demand.
With a shaky hand in the air, she gives the signal.
Rubbing the pain from my elbow, I glance up at the clock and see my time ticking away. Leaving the glass and mirror walls, I wander into wooden walls again. The first one has a ladder along the wall, and I take the advantage to get a good view of my landscape. Checking the monitor, I don’t see an
yone on the other side of the wall. Taking the rungs with sturdy feet, I rise to the top. Viewing the landscape, I see the exit and begin memorizing the paths to get there. Hearing a whistle of a laser gun, I whip my head in the direction of its sound just as it sears my arm, in the exact place that was slammed into the glass wall. Jumping to the ground from the top of the wall, I hiss in a breath from my seared flesh.
“Shit!”
I need to remember going forward House Cindora is clever and ruthless. Which brings me to the thought that Luther may not be as soft and boring as I thought. Moving forward, I see more ladders on the walls. They’re meant to give me an advantage to get farther along the maze paths, but now I know what the cost is. Looking up at the clock, concern tickles my gut. With how much I saw left of the maze, taking a couple ladders isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. With a deep breath, I ascend the ladder nearest to me and as soon as I come close to the top, I move fast, taking a leap off the top and over. The blast of a laser gun singes the bottom of my pant leg, but otherwise, I’m fine.
Taking several more paths, I decide it’s time to take another ladder. Doing so, I look up at the monitor to check the other side, and this time, there’s someone there. Continuing on, I search for another wall with a ladder. When I find it, I check the monitor, seeing it’s clear on the other side. Climbing it, I do the same as before, thrusting myself into the air and over the wall. A laser sears my ankle, and I curse as I land on my feet. Taking a few deep breaths, I work through the pain as I watch the time quickly counting down on the monitor, leaving me with little time left. Bringing my wrist within view, I click the button on my soul band and call Matheas.
“What’s wrong?”
“Remind me to give Luther a beating after this.”
“I’ll do it for you,” he seethes.
“The crowd is eerily silent.”
“You have them on the edge of their seats.”
“How much farther am I from the end?”
“About a mile.”
“All right, be ready to catch me at the end.”
“Fiora?”
Clicking the button, I disconnect.
Launching into a sprint, I do my best to remember the directions, only miscalculating twice. Finding another ladder, I climb without hesitation. Launching into the air, I take a laser in my side. Dropping to the ground, I roll, easing the pressure off my ankle and spit into the sand beneath me. Pain throbs in my entire side, making me wince when I stand. Pushing my body forward, I keep a steady pace running.
When I notice the walls ahead of me are changing to metal walls, I slow. Walking past the first wall, a blast of flames releases behind me. A warning shot. Letting me know what’s to come ahead. Running is now a much riskier option. Looking up at the digital clock, I curse. Ten minutes left to go. Running is the only option.
Keeping alert, I pick up the pace. Another blast releases behind me so close, the heat licks my skin. Ahead of me, I recognize the sound of another blast about to release. Lunging forward on all fours, I slide under it. With sand in my face, I brush it off and keep running. The wind-up sound of another flame blaster whines from the wall. This one is low, blasting out and forcing my reflexes to launch me into the air. I come crashing down on the other side, rolling in the sand, but free of any burns.
Breath labored, I push my fatigued body into a run once more. The clock above is ticking down the last three minutes. Exhausted, my lungs burn with overexertion, but I can’t stop. I’m so close. The whining noise is ahead of me, but I don’t slow. Flames, scorching red hot, sample my skin, leaving behind its memory in the form of merciless pain. With tears threatening to dribble down my cheeks, I breathe hard through my nose and exhale through my mouth. Seeing the end in sight, I pump my legs as fast as they’ll go, dodge one last flame blast as it screams behind me. Just outside the exit, I see the flag and behind it, Matheas. Seeing him gives me the energy boost I need. Ignoring the ache of my tired muscles, I sprint toward the flag, leap, and rip it from its pole. Body flying through the air, I come crashing down in Matheas’s waiting arms. The digital clock buzzes, and the sound of the crowd is a distant drone in my ears. Matheas lifts my body in his arms, holding me close to his chest.
“You did it, Fi.”
“Take me to the healing chamber,” I murmur. “I hurt too much to care.”
Inside the vertical booth, I grimace as the laser touches my wounded skin, reminding me of each injury. When it’s over, I step out, my body so sore Matheas has to help me to the bathtub. Placing my body in it, I let the healing liquids in the water and the pain relief injection work away my remaining aches. Laying my head back, I relax, closing my eyes. The lightest touch of lips brush mine. Opening my eyes, I see Matheas staring at me with a mixture of concern and adoration.
“That trial pushed you to your limits.”
“I’m afraid of what the Fire and Water trial will require me to do. It’s only a few hours from now.”
“After seeing you today, I believe you’ll pass whatever it is. You didn’t let pain or fear stop you from reaching your goal. The other trials were mere games. Today, you showed your real strength. You will again tonight.”
Touching his hand, I slide my fingers under his, holding them tight.
“Seeing you at the end, it helped me get there. I love you.”
Touching my cheek, he caresses it with his thumb.
“And I you. Tonight, I’ll take my time showing you that love.”
“Will you show me some of it now?”
“Without question.”
Rolling his sleeve up, he reaches below the water, finding my center. Mouth to mouth, he increases my arousal as his fingers massage my clit, easing away the last of my pain.
A knock outside the healing chamber door withdraws his hand from me. With a wink, he dries his arm on my nearby towel and lowers his sleeve. Leaving my side, he answers the door. My father’s voice distantly carries into the chamber.
“Is she all right?”
“She is. Completely healed. She’s soaking in the healing tub.”
My father lets out the breath he was holding.
“That trial was violent. Too violent,” he complains.
“Don’t let House Cindora know you feel that way.”
“I wouldn’t, son. As a King, I know better than to do such things. Our House can’t be seen as weak. I’ll see you both at the lunch tent. I wanted to ensure she’s well.”
“See you there soon, Your Highness.”
Returning to me, Matheas gathers a towel as I’m stepping out of the tub. With a drop of his gaze, he admires my naked body. Kissing my cheek, he hugs the soft towel around me, warming me with his own body.
“Only one more and the trials are over.”
“Thankfully.”
Putting my head to his, I rest comfortably in the safety and protection of his arms.
***
With a strapless gold dress falling to my feet, I gather the fabric in my hand as I step into the tent. By the time the fabric touches the ground, I’m surrounded by the Royal families.
“That will be a trial spoken about for years to come,” Luther says aloud, pulling me away from the crowd. Putting hands on both sides of my shoulders, he rubs them. “House Cindora is beyond honored you completed our trial with such skill and fervor.”
“Thank you for such a challenging trial. It was my honor to complete it,” I reply humbly.
Looping his hand through my arm, he stands next to me proudly. His mother, as tall and as fair-haired as him, steps forward, handing us both a glass of wine.
“To Fiora,” Luther starts. “A Princess as radiant as a precious stone. As fearless as a warrior. Who delights with her talents and charms with her character. You’re a woman worthy of love and respect. The kind I would be blessed to give…if you choose me.”
Ending his speech, he presses his soft lips to my cheek.
Behind us, a gathered group of onlookers burst out in applause and cheers. In f
ront of us, the Royal families have expressions filled with mixed emotions, the gazes of the other suitors shooting daggers in Luther’s direction.
“To Fiora and Luther!” Luther’s father says to the crowd.
Behind a glass of wine, my father’s humored smile tilts his mouth. Everyone takes a drink, and beyond my glass, I seek out Matheas. He’s standing to the right of the crowd, by the entrance where he can see threats from both sides. His eyes are not on us though but something behind me. When his back straightens and his eyes narrow, I glance over my shoulder to see what is causing him tension.
Belore’s deadly gaze at my back crawls across my skin, alerting my senses to his looming presence. Entering the tent, he boldly steps up to me. Taking my hand, he kisses the top of it. The way his emerald eyes undress me churns nausea in my stomach.
“Princess,” the word rolls off his tongue like a snake’s, eerily slipping from its mouth. “You’re a magnificent woman.” Lowering my hand, I swiftly bring it back to my side. “Will you walk with me? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you beneficial to both our territories.”
With a quick glance at my father, his lip curls in anger. Giving him a silent, Please stay calm, I can handle this, I return my attention to Belore.
“It must be brief, Prince Belore. Our meal will surely be here at any moment.”
“Of course.”
With his gesture for me to leave the tent with him, I step out, leading the way. Joining my side, he walks alongside me, much closer than is customary. Without having to look, I know there’s multiple arms men with a view on me from several directions.
“Are you enjoying the trials so far?”
“I am. You’ve amazed me with your strength and skills.”
“You’re too kind.”
Looking at his side profile, his devilish smirk pulls at his lips.
“I’m not only here to support your trials. I’m here because I’ll soon be King of Iowan and will need to take a Queen. You and I are two very similar people. We’re both born to lead, both strong warriors, and both enjoy a challenge. I see you as a woman who matches me. Who could handle the man I am. However, it’s not only myself I’m thinking of, but of our territories as well. Our lands are connected on one entire boundary. Combined, our joined territories could dominate trade and have an army fiercer than the Free territory.” Stopping at a vendor booth, we face one another. “Together, you and I would be unbeatable and fiercely powerful.”
Claimed Royalty: (Crowned and Claimed Series, Book 1) Page 9