Dark One Rising (26 page)

He stood to stop her. “Wait. Please, I meant no offense, Your Highness. It was a general compliment, nothing more.”

“I don’t need or want them, and I’m intelligent enough to understand what a man expects in return for those compliments. Despite what you or my father and brother think, I’m well read enough to know when things are not as they should be. I’ve been all over my father’s province and have seen what happens when someone has delusions of what their importance means.”

“Your fiancé does seem to be more trouble than anyone would have guessed.”

“He is NOT my fiancé!” She seethed. “He is a barbarian who thinks he can take what doesn’t belong to him, and that includes me. I’m no one’s property, least of all his.”

He had really angered her now, and it was really not his intention to do so. He suddenly felt guilty. “Please forgive me, Your Highness, I didn’t mean to make you so angry. I’m just as puzzled by his behavior as you are. You’re correct. You are no one’s property, and he has no rights to you if you don’t want him, treaty or no treaty. However, it confuses me as to why he would choose you. A girl like you would certainly make trouble for someone like him.”

“Very astute, Your Majesty. I certainly would.” Her arms were crossed over her chest.

She was indeed fiery. He smiled again, and, trying to lighten the mood, said, “So the talk about you is true as well?”

She did not answer.

He sighed. “Look, you’ll be here for some time I suspect, and I don’t want to start out our relationship this way. I in no way meant to imply anything. You can trust me, and I would like us to be friends.”

She glowered at him. “You should know, Your Majesty, that men and women cannot be friends without other things implied, especially men and women of nobility.”

“I’d like to believe otherwise. Apparently you are more jaded about relationships than I. With good reason, I suppose, in light of all that has happened. Give me some time to belay your doubts. I would like to prove that you and I
can
be friends, with no expectations of anything else. Sit back down, please. Let’s talk some more. I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”

She looked at him and pursed her lips, then decided it would be rude to turn her back on him just yet. He did offer his home and his protection after all, and Kevaan would want her to give him a chance. She would. For now. She sat back down. He smiled at her, his straight white teeth evident in the firelight against his tanned skin. His pale blue eyes regarded her with interest. He seated himself.

“I’m sorry I overreacted, Your Majesty. I’m just tired and sore from my trip.”

“I know. There’s no reason for you to apologize. It was I who was out of line.”

They were both quiet for a bit, then he said, “I’m sure in time we will learn what all of this trouble is about. For now, you are my guest. If there is anything, anything at all you require from me, don’t hesitate to ask.” He looked at her under his eyelashes now.

She was still not convinced that he wouldn’t be trouble for her later, but his laid back attitude and genuine smile calmed her for the time being. She didn’t fear that he would do anything to harm her, but she didn’t want any unwanted attention either, king or not. After another half hour of casual conversation, she started to nod off, her eyes heavy and her limbs stiff.

“Thank you for your hospitality and company, but I’m getting a bit tired now. It’s been a long and troubling ride. I think I would like to turn in.”

“Of course,” He stood up and went over to the window and pulled the cord. In a few minutes, a servant opened the door and came in, bowing.

“Please see that the princess finds her way to her quarters, and make sure she has all that she requires.”

He bowed again. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

She stood to follow him, and Dain said to her, “Good night, Princess. I hope you sleep well.”

She curtsied. “Thank you for the drink, Sire.” She turned to leave, but he stopped her.

“Princess.”

She turned to face him again. “Yes.”

“I really would feel honored if you’d call me Dain as my friends do. I sincerely hope we will be friends after all this is done.”

She looked at him for a time, then smiled warmly. “As you wish, Your Majesty. Dain it is.”

He nodded to her, and she followed the servant from the room. He sat back down in his chair and finished his drink.

***

She awoke in the morning with a warm sunbeam hitting her face, the sun streaming through a part in the heavy curtains. She had slept well, better than she had in days. The soft bed, and warm down filled spread, made her feel cozy and secure. She was still sore, and her head still throbbed a bit, but the comfort of the soft bed had allowed peaceful sleep. She sat up, yawned and stretched, the blankets falling down to her waist. She twisted her body, trying to loosen all the kinks that had bound her up in the last week. When she faced forward again, she suddenly noticed someone sitting in the large overstuffed chair to the left of the bed. She was startled and quickly pulled the covers back up to her chin, covering up the thin, see-through material of the shift she wore. When she recovered and found her voice, she glared at her intruder.

“What are you doing in here?”

The king was sitting in the chair haphazardly. He had one leg tossed over one arm, the other was on the floor. He was sitting back quite casually and was staring at her. He knew he shouldn’t be here. He knew he shouldn’t rile her, but her fervor the previous night intrigued him. Never had he met such a beautiful women with such a fiery temper. He couldn’t help himself.

“My castle. I go where I want, when I want.”

“And that gives you a right to intrude on a guest, while she’s sleeping, without even knocking?”

“I apologize for startling you. I was just sitting here trying to decide what I should do with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re in my house now, but I have no idea what I should do with you. I have a few ideas of course, but I doubt they would be looked upon as appropriate.”

She glared at him more now.

He flashed a dazzling smile. “I’m just kidding, Your Highness. You really ought to lighten up.” He swung his leg over the arm and placed it on the floor with the other. “You are perfectly safe here, and I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” he said bowing. “Breakfast is ready; I’m sure you’re hungry for more than cold rations.”

“Yes,” was all she said, glancing down at her nightgown, shifting on the bed uncomfortably. He was silent for a moment, looking at her, the sunlight streaming down on her curvy form. She was a beauty, with that there was no doubt. Her emerald colored eyes were mesmerizing and held captive, he would bet, anyone who looked too deeply within them. Her thick golden red curly hair, although cut short, was shiny, and her red full lips would make any man want to kiss them. He wanted to kiss them. Beautiful women were always his weakness, but this time it was more than that. He could understand why men were drawn to her, but he could also understand why they shied away when she opened her mouth. She was petulant and had a temper. She was too much to handle for most men, he gathered, but, he wasn’t most men.

He knew she was uneasy and didn’t want to further that feeling, so he smiled kindly. “I will leave so you can dress. I had my staff bring you some things.” He pointed to the wardrobe beside the washstand. “I believe you’ll find something more befitting a princess than riding pants and tunic in there.”

“I happen to like my riding pants and tunic.” She looked around the room, searching for them. “Where are they?”

“I sent them off to be cleaned. The dresses are only temporary. Once this is all over, you can go back to dressing how you please.”

He stood to leave. A servant came into the room and waited just inside the doorway until beckoned. “Bianca is here to help you.”

“I don’t need help. I’ve been dressing myself since I was four years old.”

“I don’t doubt that. I’ll bet you’ve been doing a lot of things by yourself since you were a youngster. It would explain a lot of things.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She crossed her arms over her chest again, the blanket falling and uncovering her once more. This time she didn’t notice, but he did. He casually looked her over again. The sunlight made the material of her gown see-through. He quickly looked away, feeling oddly embarrassed for himself. He shook it off.

He put up his hand in defense. “Again, I meant no offense, Your Highness. I was simply making an observation. I just meant that you’re perhaps one of the most independent women I’ve ever met.”

“Well, that’s the way it should be. The problem with women is, they depend too much on men.”

“Perhaps, but most women like to have a man who’s strong and who will protect them and their honor.”

She snorted. “Their honor? Men are hardly honorable when it comes to women. And most women are helpless and can’t even think for themselves much less protect themselves.”

“Yes, well, not everyone has a brother like yours who cares enough to teach them.”

“My father isn’t at all pleased with it.”

“And there lies the beginning to this little problem. Your independence puts you at a disadvantage with men, I would assume. That’s why you haven’t found one who will accept you the way you are, because who you are is not what they are used to.”

“Yes.”

“If men would try harder to be open minded, perhaps they would find many traits in you that are unique, which I’m sure are likeable. It’s too bad, but unfortunately, princess, you and I are much alike. We both struggle to be who we are. I can assure you, one day we will both find that one person who sees us for who we are, not what they want us to be. Not all men think in this manner, you know.”

She humphfed. “Men are men.”

He smiled now. “Someday I hope you find that you’re wrong. Your brother may not have gone about things the way others would expect, including and especially your father, but I think you’ll find out one day that what he did is what he should have done. All this trouble will turn out right.”

“How do you know that?”

“I believe in destiny.”

She was quiet now. He smiled again and she strangely almost melted from the dimples on his cheeks and the pale blue eyes that seemed to sparkle when he smiled.

“I’m sorry; I’m rambling. Bianca will be here
if
you need her. Breakfast is ready. Come down when you are.”

***

Dain and Alekzand’r were sitting at the table sipping drinks waiting for Melenthia to come down for breakfast. Alekzand’r was unusually quiet. Dain thought it would be fun to ruffle his feathers a bit.

“You do realize, Alek, that you’ve put me in quite a predicament.”

“How so, Your Majesty?”

“Melenthia.. she is.. well, she’s intoxicatingly beautiful.”

Alekzand’r just stared at him.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed, Alek.”

“Oh I’ve noticed, but I have also known her since she was a child, and she’s a handful.”

Dain just shrugged and waved it away. “Yes, yes, so you’ve said.”

“You’re wasting your time even thinking about it. She’ll have nothing to do with any man of noblility,” Alekzand’r added.

“Well, I’m not just any man.”

“Don’t go there, Dain. You’re playing with fire.”

“Oh, come on, you know me, Alek. I love the heat.”

“Please, Your Majesty, let it be.”

“Why are you so sensitive about this, Alek?”

“Because, as you are, Kevaan is my friend, and he’ll have my head if I allow anything to happen to get her upset. Also, I care about her, and I don’t want her to become one of your whims.”

“Don’t worry, Alek. I had an epiphany when Annikka left. I’ve vowed to change. I promise I’ll do nothing to upset her.”

“I hope not, because if she feels at all uncomfortable, she’ll leave. Then all of this will have been for nothing.”

“I won’t do anything to make her feel threatened. I’m just pointing out that it’ll be extremely difficult for me to focus. She definitely will be a distraction. I already find myself lost every time I look at her, especially in those eyes.”

“Try harder. After all, difficulty brings greater strength, Your Majesty.”

Dain smiled at his friend and sipped his drink.

***

Melenthia came into the dining room in a velvet dress which hung all the way to the ground and brushed the floor when she walked. It was a deep red, with belled sleeves, white lace around the edges of them and a low v-neck, which accentuated her womanly curves, and it buttoned up the back with delicate pearl buttons. The emerald color of her eyes were deeper against the red of her dress, and both Dain and Alekzand’r did a double take. When she approached, they rose to greet her. Dain walked over to her, took her hand in his, and kissed it.

“You’re breathtaking,” he breathed as he looked into her eyes. He noticed the flush in her cheeks, so he continued so as not to make her more uncomfortable. “Quite a difference from your attire yesterday.”