Chapter 9

Ashriek of giggles filled the air surrounding the daisy-filled meadows as a young blonde-haired woman, no more than eighteen years of age, burst out from behind the trees. She had her floor length dress pulled up so it fell around her knees. She glanced behind her frequently and ran at a pace that gave away her true intentions; she wanted to be caught.

The young woman ran further into the field of daisies, making it only a couple of steps before the man following her burst through the dense forest. He stopped at the entrance of the field. Bright fuchsia eyes glazed with desire, he focused solely on the woman who had turned to face him. She still held her dress as she braced to run at any moment. Her giggles slowly subsided.

‘So, how are we going to play this, darling?’ he crooned, taking a couple of purposeful steps towards her.

Her answer was to teleport a couple of steps back, smirking in response to the roll of his eyes.

‘We’ve all got tricks up our sleeves, little Minx,’ he reminded her, cocking his head to the side, watching as she inadvertently pulled the dress up to mid-thigh.

‘You bastard,’ she gasped, hands shaking in an evident attempt to stop them from moving upwards.

‘Now, now, we both know you don’t mean that, my love.’ He wore a feline grin and moved towards her, his steps predatory. She released a deep moan.

Dropping her skirts, she flicked her wrist and the shirt he wore ripped straight down the middle, exposing sculpted abs and tight chest. Before he could react, his body was lifted up, levitating off the ground. The young woman teleported to stand in front of him and traced a single finger down the expanse of his torso, stopping an inch below his belly button.

‘My future husband,’ she whispered, biting her lip which elicited another deep, wanting groan, this time from him. The young woman giggled teasingly, levitating off the ground until they were eye to eye. ‘I like the sound of that.’ She reached forward, tucking a strand of his long, wavy, copper hair behind his ear.

‘I’d be concerned if you didn’t, considering the bureaucratic hurdles we had to clear to get the royals to give up their titles. But, it’s finally over,’ he sighed, eyes flickering closed in relief.

She took the opportunity to lean his body backwards, lowering him to the ground. She followed, coming to straddle his hips, and place her hands on his bare chest.

‘I love you, too,’ she said suddenly.

The smile he gifted her was one of complete adoration and love. It was the kind of smile that said he would run to the ends of the earth and beyond to protect her, to adore her, to love her. One of his hands cupped her cheek. The other wrapped around her waist and brought her body towards his before he crashed their mouths together. Their kiss was slow and passionate, conveying the deep love they shared.

They eventually pulled apart, his hand gently stroking her hair.

‘Do you know what sounds better than betrothed?’ he asked.

‘The future rulers of Fyriane?’ she teased.

He leant forward nipped her bottom lip in admonishment before resting back down on the ground. ‘No, my beautiful tease. Our fated destiny. What we are and were always meant to be. That is what sounds better.’

She nodded knowingly and sighed in contentment as she settled on top of him, resting her cheek over his heart.

‘True infinite,’ she whispered in quiet reverence, opening her eyes.

For the first time, her eyes were visible.

They were glowing. And lime green.

I woke with a start, eyes jolting open to take in the rays of sun pouring into the room. The room that was different to my one in Amarald. Which meant I was still at Varqel and Lyzia’s.

‘Shit! Eliasson will be awake now.’ I scrambled out of the bed, straightening my clothes. My eyes searched for the book next to the imprint of my body on the mattress. Where did it go? Did I move it? It wouldn’t be the first time my magic moved something in my sleep. Crazier things have happened. Like that dream.

I shook my head, as I raced to the floorboard to find it in its original place. I didn’t have the luxury of entertaining what the dream was all about as I teleported back to Amarald and landed in my bathroom. The floating steam told me the bath had been drawn recently.

A second later, Meredith burst through the door from my bedroom, demanding to know where I had been.

‘I fucked up. I fell asleep, I didn’t mean to be gone past sunrise,’ I interrupted her. ‘Where’s Eliasson? What’s happened? How much damage control is there to do?’

Stance wide, Meredith had her hands on her hips, looking completely unimpressed. ‘I came to check in on you about an hour ago to make sure you got back safe. Luckily I did because I sensed him wake up not long after. I started your bath before meeting him in the dining quarters, advising him that you’d woken up unwell and had summoned me. I bought you a bit of time, but it looked like he wanted to see you, Val. I insisted you were too self-conscious for him to see you in this state, which placated him a little, but I think he’ll be coming around in the next half an hour if you don’t show yourself before then.’

I cursed. An overbearing, worried Eliasson is not what I needed today. I hurriedly undressed before placing one foot into the bath, testing the temperature.

‘I didn’t know what other excuse to use, but I don’t think he bought it. I didn’t have much time and I had no idea when you’d be back,’ Mer defended.

‘No, you did great, Mer. Thank you. I’m sorry I put you in this position in the first place, it wasn’t my intention. I planned to be back in his room before he woke up.’ I put my other foot in, sitting down to sink into the luscious warmth, letting out a heavy sigh.

‘It happens. That’s what I’m here for,’ she shrugged.

I cleared my throat, ‘So, last night’s meeting ... ’

Meredith started pacing, a sign she was unnerved.

‘Interesting,’ I finished.

She threw me a look. ‘Interesting is one word. Unsettling, maybe. Downright sketchy are others. Slaviya’s up to something. If she weren’t, why wasn’t I summoned with the others? She’s not dense enough to think my loyalty to you would stray, but the rest of them? Does she see something we don’t?’ She shook her head.

‘Who knows, but it’s not as if we didn’t expect this. We’re still ahead of her, Mer. This could simply be her way of unsettling us. Or punishment for not having a plan yet. With Slaviya, there’s always myriad possibilities, but the root cause is usually her shitting herself. So she makes a couple of petty moves to feel like she’s in control again,’ I shrugged. ‘Standard behaviour. Nothing new.’

Meredith laughed in disbelief. ‘How you can be so relaxed about this is beyond me.’

‘Oh, I’m not relaxed at all. It’s all a fa?ade, darling. Call it the queen in me.’ I winked, trying to ease the tension. ‘Before I forget, excellent job last night. You played your part well.’

‘Do you think they bought it?’

‘You were essentially telling the truth, listing out all my flaws, so how could they not?’ I joked, not mentioning the harsh truths had elicited real reactions in me, despite my prior knowledge of what would be said.

‘Well, that’s true,’ Mer responded, calling my bluff.

‘Ouch.’ I placed a hand on my heart, feigning offense at her words and ignoring the lingering twinge in my centre.

‘So, where were you last night if you weren’t with lover boy?’ she asked.

I spent the rest of my bath filling her in on the details I’d omitted last night: the contraceptive remedy, Eliasson wanting an heir, moving into his living quarters. By the time I’d finished she’d sunk down to the floor next to me. Her jaw had dropped open, and she gripped my hands tightly.

‘You’re reacting as if all of these expectations have been placed on you,’ I commented, highly amused.

She stared into space for another minute or two, processing the information before shaking herself out of her stupor. ‘So, you went to see Varqel.’

I nodded.

‘Lyz has got you?’

Another nod.

‘And you discussed things with him about –?’

‘Yes.’ I cut her off, wary about discussing details with Eliasson likely to appear in my room at any moment.

‘Good.’ She released a relieved breath. ‘That’s good. Okay, we’ve had some wins, it’s not all bleak.’

I laughed at her dramatic words, shaking my head as I stepped out of the bathtub, grabbing the nearest towel and drying myself. ‘I can confirm it’s not all bleak. Stressful and overwhelming, but not bleak.’

Before she could respond, a knock sounded through the room. ‘Valare?’

Mer and I looked at each other. I’d hoped to have a little more time.

What do you want to do? She mouthed to me.

I raised two fingers, letting her know I needed a couple of minutes before I’d come out.

Meredith nodded before heading into the bedroom. I heard the door open, and Mer tell Eliasson I’d be there soon.

I sighed before making my way to my wardrobe, changing into the first dress I saw. As much as I would like to stay in my rooms for the rest of the day dissecting the events of the last twenty-four hours, I couldn’t afford a day off. Not when the fun was just getting started.

I walked to the door joining my quarters to the dining area. Pulling my shoulders back, I took a big breath before putting a smile on my face and pushing open the door.

Just another damn day of playing the game.