It was a normal morning. I rose and my maid tended me in my morning rituals. Brushing my hair until it was a soft yellow halo framing my face. She then plaited it. Weaving in some shining white pearls. Next, she dusted my lips with a bit of rouge to freshen my face. She pulled a sky blue dress of fine silk over my head and helped gather my hair from beneath it. Tightening the laces until I felt I couldn’t breathe. Then helping me into the matching slippers. The fire was still needed to warm my room because though the sun was up, it was a moggy, damp morning. And the castle seemed to encourage the dampness to cling. Building the chill. I grabbed a gold silk wrap with tassels on the edges and pulled it around my shoulders. Emerging from my room with a purposeful walk. I’m starved. I had every intention of heading straight to the Dining Hall to retrieve some breakfast when I was stopped in my tracks. A knight was passing me in the corrid

Alaric. Asking me how long I’d thought I could hide from him. A lot longer than I had, it appeared. “What do you want?” I lurched off the wall but met his solid chest. He had me caged in such a way, he was inescapable. His breath warm next to me. Still tainted with the hint of some wine. And far too close. “I’ll call for my Guards.” I gave him a hard shove but found his body utterly unrelenting. I tried to twist away but he caught my elbows and held me to him. “Do you think any of them would hear you before I silenced you?” Silenced? Killed or knocked me unconscious? As far as his question, no. He’s far too fast. “What do you want, Alaric?” I said acidly. Working hard to hide the fact that he had me trembling so hard that I felt like my legs would give out. “You know what I want.” His yellow eyes slid down my face and neck to the low cut of my

Things changed the day that I was eating in the banquet room. I’d settled down to some eggs and steaming linked, sausage for breakfast. The Dining Hall was relatively empty. As it usually is when I come to breakfast. It seemed I was generally the only early riser. Which was why I did it so often. I liked the peace of being the only one in this great hall, save for the guards near the mantle and door and a sprinkling of servants cleaning, I was the only occupant. I sawed at the bit of sausage with my knife and took a delicate bite. Savoring the spicy, tangy flavor. Nearly oblivious to the presence of the servants working diligently around the room. A man feeding logs into the fire and a few maids dusting. A servant stoking the fire, threw in the last log a bit carelessly. Which was what first drew my attention to him. Servants are not usually so careless for fear of reprisal. My blue gaze flitted over t

Months passed. Months of him finding assassins, and those that’d hire them, to kill me. Him dispatching them, before they could get anywhere near me. One after another. Until even I’d heard of his many triumphs. His decimation of killers. He’s certainly diligent. And though he cast me prolonged side-eyed looks when he past me in the long halls, he didn’t demand payment. But I could tell from the annoyance on his features that he was growing further and further impatient. Wanting me to make good on my word. But if he thought I’d catch him and offer it to him, he was insane. He’ll have to ask me. And even that thought chaffed my nerves. Would I? Even then? I needed him in a very practical, primal sort of way. I was a female, with little power. And not particularly beloved by the people of the Enderon realm. Whereas he, he had somehow become one of

I was extremely skittish after that. Careful to avoid him at all costs. Requiring breakfast in my chambers in-case he was one of the guards who now stood in the Banquet Hall. I knew Alaric would find me again. He’ll want more of what he tasted. Still, I was unprepared when that day actually came. I’d barely gotten up for morning rituals. Wrapping my hair into a loose braid over my shoulder and heading out of my chamber only to find my maid to order breakfast. But when I stepped beyond the doorway, I was snatched nearly off my feet. He rounded and pushed me against the wall. His mouth descended with crushing force. Alaric. I knew instantly who it was. I could smell his alluring, male scent. Hear the rumbling growl in his throat that told me he’d lost all patience. “The King!” I objected. Stunned when my shoulders hit the wall. He stood several inches above me and pressed his body to mine