"I agree to the blood tithe, make it happen. However, I will swear fealty to Apollo, but not to the king should he wish to command my army. I will swear fealty to the Apollon Prince's bodyguard, as she will be leading it. No one else, no other. Only her. Stipulate that in the damned contract." The king rubbed his chin and assessed us. My mouth dried, and everything about my time in Viridis Aurum had been full of surprises, so much that exhaustion was cracking on the surfaces of my body.
"Interesting bargain. That of which, I can make happen. The King of Apollo won't be thoroughly impressed or pleased, but otherwise, it is a deal I am willing to agree upon. I’ll have the royal advisor draw up the contract." The prince seemed calmernow but still in full business mode. With his posture tight and upright.
"Then it's a deal. To celebrate, stay the night. Let us hold a feast in honour of Viridis Aurum being commanded by the Apollon Prince's guard." The King displayed a slight smirk, he looked as though he had won... and yet, I could not understand how this man could have possibly won with a deal like that.
"We accept your generosity with open hands," the prince answered.
"Serena will show you and your companions to your rooms and... I will have someone deliver your fire blades," the king said and relief coursed through me. With the mention of her name, the heathen made her way to us from the big doors.
"This way, my Prince." She crooned.
"Before you leave, guard. Your name?" the king called out to me from above.
I stilled and looked up into his eyes. "Morana," I answered softly, but with that vampyre hearing, he had heard it right and clear. It was the first time the king had shown such emotion as his eyes narrowed.
"Morana... I see," he answered with equal softness. He then disappeared into smoke. He was gone.
"The meeting is over; it is time for you to get ready for the celebration," Serena excitedly spoke to the prince who was not interested, because his attention was on me, seemingly trying to figure out what had just happened. I was too exhausted to think more of it, as I myself was confused and trying to solve a puzzle with no answers available.
Chapter 23
A Dance With The Count
Serena left me in an amber-lit room. And by left, I mean she wanted me out of her sight while she led the Prince to his room. I would have been mildly annoyed, but I was in need of a proper bath.
It had been years since I had stayed in a room so extravagant. It was a mix of cream with velvet purple drapes and duvets. It made me feel at ease as I inhaled the scent of the room. Sweet, comforting, and a hint of rose. It reminded me of someone in my past, however, if I thought too much into it, I may not leave this room in one piece.
It was oddly homey for a room used for guests only. I went into the bathing chambers and dropped a ton of floral scentedsalts into the marble tub while it filled with water, not caring for what I smelled like as long as I stopped smelling like horses, ash, and blood. I undressed with difficulty. It was easy to put Lorian's clothes on, however, with sweat clinging onto me, it was much harder to get off. Once it was discarded, my body begged me to step into the tub. I hissed when my foot touched the hot water. Had it been so long since having a warm bath? My body being so acclimatised to the cold water of the rivers and lakes arena warriors were succumbed to. I dunked myself in and started scrubbing, even picking at the dirt under my nails, careful not to wash away my red hair dye. After doing the chore of getting myself cleaned, I drained and refilled the tub. Settling in and closing my eyes. Enjoying a few moments of peace and silence in my mind. Unfortunately, my mind was not kind to me. My thoughts drifted to the dream I had last night. With the waterfall, the crystal water... and that man. How he had spoken to me, like he had known me all his life, how he hadtouchedme.My body shivered in the warm bath, tensing as if I was in that dream again. I opened my eyes in shock, trying to sway my thoughts elsewhere. Yet no matter what I thought of, it kept drifting there. The way my body had felt with this man... My hand travelled down my chest on its own accord. Cupping the parts of my body that the man had touched... Where he slowly made his way down my thighs, to the ache that now pulsed with need. My mind tried to configure the face of the mystery man. My fingers caressed and teased—
THUD. THUD.THUD.
I lurched forward in shock, my heart pounding in embarrassment. Loud raps on my door echoed through the bathing chamber. I snatched the plum coloured silk robe from the dressing door and threw it on, tying the front and stepped to open the room door slowly with a sharp hair pin I had just swiped. Peering at whom was outside.
"There you are, tell me have—" The prince’s words were cut off as he took me in. The prince stood there in all his glory with a blood red tunic adorned.Striking as ever.He suddenly breathed in—his eyes illuminated. He blinked it away and then slowly, dangerously smirked at me.
"And pray tell, Mor, what were you doing in there?" My whole body flushed red, warmth spreading from my chest to my face.
"What?" I squeaked. There is no way he could smell...that.He stepped closer, his height towering over me. It was only now that I seemed to acknowledge his height, how his neck had craned down to take a good look at me.
"Tell me, pretty warrior—" His voice so silky with his bedroom eyes.
"Do you need help finishing what you started in there?" He breathed in the scent more deeply this time. I was a mute, licking my lips and staring back into his eyes. The same eyes I sometimes feared, the eyes I couldn't look away from. He leaned forward, only a breath away as his finger caressed the droplet on my cheek from my wet hair cascading down my shoulders in waves. I leaned closer, my nose now touching his. My thoughts a mess and my body becoming heated. The fae blood within him was already doing its work by entrancing me—it would not have been necessary, he was a gorgeous man. His palm softly... so delicately held my cheek and brought me close to his lips.I never knew he could be so gentle. So slow... and soft...A sudden sharp laugh echoed from the corridors and I broke away from the trance his fae aura had put me in. The prince seemingly still in a daze in front of me.
"I'm sure whatever you are offering, Your Highness, Serena will be more than happy to receive it. It seems you two already have that kind ofchemistry," I snapped and tightened my robe.
The prince's eyes widened for a mere second, and then there was that mask he always wore. A teasing smile formed. "Are you jealous, Mor?" He chuckled.
I huffed. "Why would I be? You have a betrothed anyways. Now tell me, why are you here?" The prince looked as if he was trying to choose his words carefully.
"It’s best to talk once you are fully clothed. I will see you in the ballroom. For now, as mentioned by you, Serena needs my services more." He put his hands casually in his pockets and left. I slammed the door shut, hoping he heard my defiance and anger. I took a huffed seat by the vanity in front of a sculpted mirror that arched into a heart. I gasped at the reflection behind me, where a dress that was not there before, hung on the dressing wardrobe. I was up on my feet instantly, checking under the bed. Inside the wardrobe. Searching for any intruder. The hair on my arms rose, and an eerie shiver passed down my spine. I studied the dress and noticed it was a velvet black that had big golden feathers as prints on the back and front of the dress.
Funny... it had the familiar scent of the room. Had it belonged to someone before?
For now, it seemed like I was expected to wear this. I ripped it from the hanger and mentally prepared myself for what was to come.
***
My heels clicked against the marble floor, setting into a steady rhythm as I steered toward the loud chatter and laughter evidently coming from the ballroom. I was already beginning to feel the ache in my feet. An arena warrior didn't need to wear heels.
