I’m too shocked to answer, so I just stand and stare at Lilliana. She walks further into the room, allowing the door to close behind her. We are both thrown into darkness again momentarily before suddenly the lights flash on.
I squint against the glare and when finally, my eyes adjust I see that she is standing in the middle of my room watching me with a frown as she looks around at the destroyed room.
I’m wary of her intentions and a coldness enters my voice when I speak betraying my defensiveness.
“What are you doing here?”
“Always so cold and aggressive Lance. Did you ever consider that I was responding in kind?”
“That is just your way of shifting all the blame to me, you are hardly blameless in any of this Lilliana.”
Her eyes narrow at my response, and I can feel her power radiating off her in waves, I wonder what she intends to do, and I keep my guard up. She seems to sense this because suddenly the anger in her eyes fades and she looks at me strangely.
“Yes Lance, it is true that once I saw your violent side, I didn’t stop to consider your feelings on other matters. I chose to lock you out of my heart and for that, I apologize. Perhaps things may have been different if you hadn’t broken my wrist, but, as it is, we cannot take back past actions. All we can do is try to put it behind us and move forward with our lives.”
“I admit that I have difficulty controlling my anger, and I lash out physically without thinking, but you are still putting all of the blame on me, Lilliana. So, answer me this, who was it who betrayed who’s trust?”
She looks at me, wide-eyed, trying to figure out my intentions, I frown.
“Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that you didn’t run to the arms of another man the very night we became engaged. Tell me you didn’t intend to betray me, the moment you decided to leave the castle. TELL ME!”
All my hurt all my anger spills out of me with those last two words and I see her visibly flinch, but I remain standing by the window. She breaks eye contact with me and sighs deeply before looking at me again. Her stunning green eyes, that make me feel like she is looking through me, into the deepest parts of my soul, lock onto my own gaze.
I’ve always found it unnerving.
“I’m sorry Lance.”
I’m floored hearing those words leave her mouth, I never expected her to admit it.
“It’s true that I never accepted the engagement, and I was angry that the decision was made for me without my knowledge or consent. But I never wanted to hurt you, I reacted out of instinct and a need to preserve my independence. I was scared, and I sought the one person who I have always been able to rely on for comfort. But that night I discovered that my feelings for him ran far deeper than I ever imagined. However, I also made a choice that night…”
She pauses and looks down briefly before returning her gaze to mine, I hold my breath waiting for her to continue.
“I chose to leave him and return to the castle to honour our engagement. I chose to say goodbye to my only friend and resigned myself to never seeing him again. But fate and my father had other plans and I found myself in an impossible position, unable to choose between by heart and my duty.”
“Self-pity really doesn’t suit you, Lilliana.”
I choose to say that because I don’t want her to see just how much her confession has affected me. I prefer her anger to her guilt; it makes it easier to accept that she is now choosing another man over me.
“That’s not what I’m doing Lance! I just wanted you to understand that nothing that happened was anyone’s fault except for both our fathers.”
What?!
“That is ridiculous, do you even hear what you are saying? You are just shifting the blame, again.”
“No Lance. If they hadn’t signed that agreement in the first place, then none of this would’ve happened and none of us would have gotten hurt.”
She moves toward me, and I don’t know what to do. Should I move away? Or simply tell her to stay back.
Before I can decide what to do, she closes the distance between us and wraps her arms around me in a hug. I remain frozen in shock, my arms useless at my sides while she holds me tightly, then I feel her breath close to my ear.
“Don’t let what happened here prevent you from living your life, Lance. You will find your place and when you do, I hope you will also find true happiness. And may that happiness also be with your own soulmate.”
I feel a soft pressure and a warmth connect to my right cheek and my eyes widen in shock.
She’s kissing me willingly?!
The kiss is brief and soon she removes her arms from me and takes a step back, I stare at her dumbstruck, unable to speak.
“Maybe one day when all of this is just a memory, we can put it behind us and strive for peaceful cooperation. I would very much like it if one day there could be an agreement that will benefit both our Kingdoms. But until then I hope you will remember this; if you need assistance for any reason then all you need to do is ask me and I will help if I can. For now, though goodbye Lance.”
She gives me a kind yet sad smile, then turns and leaves the room. I am once again alone, unable to understand what just happened or why. I raise my hand to my cheek and touch the spot she kissed.
Why?
All the time that we were a couple not once did she kiss me, in fact, there were times when we touched, that I could tell she didn’t want me anywhere near her. I sigh and sink into the chair by the fireplace, with my head in my hands. As I think about it, I come to realize something, my anger towards her has lessened, but my resentment of my situation hasn’t changed at all.
I fall into a dreamless sleep and before I know it, it’s morning. Since I am still confined to my room, I take a shower and then dress in my travel clothes. I don’t have to wait long before someone arrives to escort me to the front doors.
The King is standing on the steps by the entry doors, waiting for me to leave. Next to him, I see Lilli and Drake, but not their child. The thought still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, and I turn away from them.
My few belongings have been loaded into a car that belongs to my family, ready to depart I address the Pendragon’s while gritting my teeth.
“Thank you again, your majesty, for your hospitality. I bid you all farewell.”
I bow my head and prepare to turn to leave.
“Goodbye, Lance. Remember what I said.”
My head snaps up and I lock eyes with Lilli, her face is passive, while her eyes are burning with an emotion I cannot name. But it seeps into me and fills my body with a resolve I did not think possible, I bow to her, and she smiles.
It still feels like she is stabbing me in the chest when she acts this way.
I climb into the front passenger seat and allow the driver to pull away out onto the capital city streets. Luckily, it is only a short time after dawn, so the roads are quite deserted, and we reach the city exit without any traffic trouble.
From here we travel through the vast countryside towards my home and a confrontation with my family I dread, more than the idea that I might be eaten by a fire breathing dragon.
Hello my Lovelies. I hope you enjoy this next installment. I am always curious and appreciative to know what you all think so please leave comments on the chapters and if you choose, then please leave a review so others looking, can see what you think and feel about the book. And if you want to know more about me and my work then please look me up on Facebook. Much love, Ebony x
I rise with the dawn, the same as every morning and head to the stables to begin my chores for the day. I love my job, working on this ranch raising horses to one day serve the country on behalf of the Royal Family is extremely rewarding. We breed them to enter the Royal Cavalry, but many farms rely on horse labour as well, so we breed the larger ones for that too. The one other responsibility we have is capturing the wild mustangs for the Royal ‘coming of age’ ceremony when a Prince or Princess turns 18 or when an existing Royal horse dies, and they require a replacement. It is up to us to break in the replacement horse and make sure it is suitably trained to perform the required duties when delivered to the owner. It has been a few years since a mustang was last brought in to be broken, so for now, we just focus on our foals. There is a mare in the stables now who is close to giving birth, so I have been visiting her every spare moment I have, to check on her healt
Over the next few days, nothing changes much. The Queen and the Prince eat their meals in the main hall, but when she has work to do, he hides in his room. I am disappointed because I really hoped to have a playmate, but I’m not the kind of girl who gives up, so I start playing my games below his window. After a week I begin to get bored sitting there, so I wander over to the paddock and climb up on the fence to watch the men with the horses. “Hello, Rayne. Everything okay little one?” Mr Tobias calls out to me, and I wave back, smiling. “Hello. I’m okay, I wanted to watch you work.” “Really? Say, how old are you now?” “I’m eight.” “Eight you say, would you like to help?” A huge bubble of excitement rises in me, and I grin like an idiot. “Yes please!” He laughs and then walks over to pick me up and carry me over to one of the horses, he is smaller than the others. “This is Spade, he likes t
My return home is not a pleasant affair. My father had been so proud when the betrothal was agreed upon, but now as I stand in front of his throne awaiting my fate, he cannot bear to look at me. My family are all sat surrounding me, silently judging as my father decides my punishment. Finally, he looks up to speak to me.“You are an utter disgrace! I am ashamed to admit that my blood runs through your veins! I hereby denounce you as my son, you are no longer a Prince of this country! You will have no rights to the throne and will live out your days reduced to ‘Duke’ status. I don’t care where you go, just stay out of my sight. I never want to see you in my presence from this day forth. Now, away with you!”He turns his face away and waves his hand in the air as though he was swatting an annoying fly out of the air dismissing me. I glance at my brothers and sisters; I can see a conflict of emotion on their faces. They are equal parts annoye
***Flashback***Lance age 15My littlest big sister is due to turn eighteen in a few weeks, so they are preparing for her ceremony. Rayne and I wander over to the paddock where the mustangs are usually kept as we are both curious about the new horse that was brought in.We are both excited and talking about all sorts, I’m looking at her and watching her red hair blowing in the breeze, instead of paying attention to the paddock ahead.Suddenly there is a shout followed by the sound of splintering wood. When I turn to look, I see that the stallion has gotten loose.The ranch hands panic when they notice us in his path, everyone is shouting for us to move out of the way as they fear that we will be trampled to death.Anyone else would probably try to run away or dodge him, but I just think about protecting Rayne. I wrap my arms around her before throwing us both down to the ground and using my own body as a shield. She sc
I see the moment he raises his arm and I know what is coming, but I prefer he uses that thing on me than on the horse. I am fully prepared to feel its sting, but then a black blur engulfs my vision and blocks Lord Roderick from my view. What just happened? I take a step back so I can see clearer, and I am faced with the slender muscular back of a tall man dressed in a black suit. They are blocking Lord Roderick from me, and I realise they just stopped him using his whip on me too. But who would be out here at this time of day to be able to do that in the first place? As I struggle with my confusion and shock, my hearing comes back, and I hear what is being said. “How dare you even think of using a whip on a person! Have you no shame?!” The man in front of me is yelling at Lord Roderick, but the firmness of his tone tells me he is used to talking to people like this. “Who are you to speak to me like that?! I am
I know that when they find out who he is they are going to be shocked but, first I need to make sure Misty is okay. I slowly enter the stall and attempt to calm her down. “Shhh, Misty. Easy girl, it’s me, Rayne.” As I try to calm her with my voice, I see Lance remove a pocketknife from his boot and slowly approach her with it held low by his leg. The last thing I want him to do is spook her, so I keep talking, hoping to keep her attention on me. Suddenly she sees how close he is and feeling threatened, she tries to fight her bonds to get away from us. “Shhh, easy girl. I’m not here to harm you.” I hear a softness in his voice as he speaks to her, and I find myself drawn in. He extends his free hand out to her palm up as he continues to slowly approach, always keeping his voice low and calm. She is still breathing hard and eventually he is close enough to touch her neck. Laying his hand gently on her skin he slowly strokes the tense muscles there hopin
When she faces me, her expression is severe, and her biting tone cuts through me as do her words. But her voice rolls over my senses like warm honey and my skin prickles with goosebumps. I freeze like a statue in response, and I feel an electric current shoot through me as I lock eyes with her, I cannot look away. I have never been able to forget those eyes, they are burned in my memories forever, but I never thought we would see each other again, let alone meeting like this today. Those warm chestnut brown irises with that golden hue that pin me in place with their beauty and their odd way of making me feel like all my secrets are laid bare. Even though she is glaring at me I cannot deny that she is beautiful. There is a symmetry to her features that I find incredibly attractive, and it wasn’t there all those years ago. I fight back the urges that are building in me unbidden, she clearly isn’t my type, too headstrong and I won’t be put through another situat
I demonstrate what I mean by turning my back to the stall as I’m speaking to him, effectively ignoring the mare while still being aware of what she is doing. She inspects the stall all the while hearing me speak and eventually, I feel a tugging on my hair at the nape of my neck and a slight nudge to my left shoulder. Slowly I lift my left hand and she hesitates a moment before pressing her soft grey nose into my palm and allowing me to scratch it gently. Matt watches wide-eyed; she huffs out a breath but stays close. I turn slowly to face her and incline my head to her slightly, she copies me then moves away from the gate. “Okay Matt, what I am trying to do is gain her trust while she is in her own space, I want her to let me in and she has just done that.” “So, what happens now, Sir?” “I’m going back into the stall and if she lets me, I will brush her before I let her settle in for the afternoon.” “Surely you will still need to be cautious ri