“Princess,” Eák said, with his customary smirk. “How is lover boy?” Though I could barely make out his face, I couldn’t help but hear the emotion in his voice when he spoke.
“He will be fine. I’m sure he just needs some time to cool down.”
“I’m sure he does…” Eák’s voice sounded off and he quickly changed the subject of conversation. “Okay, I pulled out Lieutenants' maps. It seems we are a few days’ ride from the capital. If we leave at dawn, we can ride through the nights and be back by the time the sun rises in two days. But, my question is, when we arrive, what are we going to do next?”
He looked at me expectantly. This was a question I had been mulling over in my mind for quite some time. I had expected an attack from The Sins, but to have them use our own men against us the way they did... What are we expected to do next? I don’t know who we can trust.
“When we arrive at the capital, we will do so quietly. Then using our connections, we will ensure all remaining members from the original mission will be rounded up and interviewed. I’m afraid they will have to be detained. Until the entire issue has been resolved, we cannot guarantee anyone is on our side.”
“You can guarantee I am,” Liam said, taking a seat next to me beside the fire.
“True, but beyond the three of us, I do not see anyone beyond suspicion,” I answered back.
Throughout the next few hours, we discussed our plan to a tee. We would arrive in secret and ensure we went to the castle without being stopped. We then would have all men from the mission informed of an official awarding ceremony celebrating their heroism. Only when the men arrived would we detain them and interrogate them, until we are able to ascertain who led the rebellion. Once we had identified this entity they would be forced to lead us to The Sins directly, willing, or otherwise.
As the hours drew late, we laid in our tents readying ourselves for the long days ahead. This may very well be the last time we would rest for a while. Just as I started to drift away, I saw the light of the fire pierce through my tent and the cloth was opened, a voice whispered through.
“Hey Darling, mind if I sit with you for a while?” I couldn’t make out the look on his face, but Eák and I had grown closer over the past few days. I knew when he needed someone. I knew he needed me now.
“Yeah… Is everything okay?” I whispered carefully. The last thing I needed was another upset man right now. Ever since that night at the ranch, Eák and I had spent most of our evenings talking and sharing wiles.
I told him about my past… Or what I could remember…
As a young woman, Captain brought me to the Nol family house. I was told from that point on I would be a lady. I was introduced to my sister, mother, and father. It just felt like it was meant to be. I didn’t know anything else, because of that I followed the orders which were given to me. Father accepted me without question and told me nothing of my life before.
It was like someone had hit the reset button on my mind. I didn’t remember growing up. All I knew was moving forward. I never saw a reason to dwell in a past I didn’t know. Instead, I’d always focused on creating a future for myself that I could remember. I’d always moved forward for fear of finding something behind me, I couldn’t undo.
Over the past few days, laying beside one another, and living as husband and wife, I’d shared more with Eák than I thought possible. I kept getting a faint sensation like he was following a story, he’d heard before.
“Yes, everything is fine. I guess I just got used to spending time with you, Beautiful.” As he spoke, the light of the fire danced across his smiling complexion. I had grown used to spending my nights talking with him, also. The tales he would spin of his life at the castle were exhilarating for someone like me.
Eák walked into my tent and sat down next to the blanket I had laid out for the night. He leaned back and focused his gaze, on the light piercing through the thin cloth of my tent.
“How is lover boy?” He asked, in a disinterested tone.
“Lieutenant, Liam, is okay. He was just upset about the attack.” I responded, trying to avoid the conversation I could tell was probably coming my way anyway. Come to think of it, he never got to finish his statement in the town. I couldn’t help but wonder….
“The attack? Yeah.” His eyes turned towards me and I watched him raise a curious brow, his signature smirk spread across his face. “Are you sure that was the only thing upsetting him?” His smirk turned into a full grin, as he watched me carefully. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, as I remembered the feeling of him lifting me into his arms, the way his lips pressed against mine, and the pained expression on Liam’s face, as I found him in the crowd.
“... yes… there was also that…” I began, trying hard to push the memory of the feeling from my mind and regain my composure. “About that-”
“You’re about to ask another hard question aren’t you princess?” He interjected before I could finish. “You know. We don’t have to talk right now. We could always just enjoy this.” As the words escaped his lips, he moved his hand from his side and pulled his body across mine. He firmly placed his hands on either side of my torso and loomed over me. His heavy breath felt warm against my skin, as his eyes trailed a path up my nightgown. My heartbeat quickened and I felt my blood beginning to warm again.
I turned away from him to hide the indubitable blush that was painting my face. “Eák. I’d like to know what you meant. Why did you kiss me? … But more so, why did you regret it?” I asked, trying hard to keep my composure. His hands felt warm against my sides as he hovered over me.
His hand pulled at my chin, turning my face back towards his. His bright green eyes looked at me longingly. No. Hungrily. “I wanted to know what it would feel like.” He said, with a devious smile.
Wanted to know what it was like? But then… “You regretted it… Then you didn’t feel anything.” I said, drawing my eyes to the ground. I don’t know why I felt so passive around him. I was never sure of what he wanted and even though I knew I was strong, he was a prince. This man had more power and wealth than I could dream of and yet he was choosing to play soldier with me.
“Regret kissing you?” He looked deep into my eyes. He wore a perplexed look as he continued. “In a way, I guess I do.”
I tried hard not to show him the pain I was beginning to feel. I turned my eyes from his quickly. The idea… I don’t know what I had expected. It was not like I was some damsel awaiting my rescue. I didn’t need anyone and I sure didn’t need to be saved by some prince. But he regretted kissing me… When the way it had made me feel… I guess it was just me.
He placed his hands on either side of my face and forced me to meet his eyes. I could feel the pain behind mine, but I wasn’t going to cry. I wasn’t going to show him how much it hurt. His eyes met mine. His hands held my face tenderly and he looked at me with a satisfied grin.
“So you do care?” He let out pleased.
“What?” I said out loud.
His hands moved to my shoulders and pressed hard. I laid my back against the hard floor which rested below the blanket. He planted his palms on either side of my face, as he moved over the top of me. He dipped his head down low, and beside my ear...
“I knew I could get to you eventually.”
He let out a small chuckle, then a heavy sigh.
His words were so faint, I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d heard him correctly. But just as quickly, he pulled himself to his feet, flashed a devilish smile and made his way back to his own tent.
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