Chapter 24
Rubbing the sweat from my temples, my fingers smeared blood across my head. One of my guards stood watch over the female as she sat slumped in the chair. I doubted she could get very far, but precautions must be taken. Blood still poured from the slices on her wrists and arms.
I knew I should hold back. I hated hurting any female. But she’d betrayed Ornella, left her to be further harmed—and for that, I lost control over my own mind and of the shadows that pleaded with me. They wanted me to destroy her life.
The female screamed and begged for me to end her life. One thing I would not grant. She would suffer for the rest of her long life for what she had done.
Finally the female was now whimpering and shaking as nightmares took over, plaguing her mind, ruining her from the inside out. She would be a shell once I was through with her and only then, would I send her to live within the temples.
She would not step foot within these walls again.
“My king, what of the man?”
Percy, one of my trusted advisors and friends, had stepped into the room at some point and it was only him who could pull me away. We’d both grown up together and he was the closest thing I had to a brother. He was also the only other soul who knew I went to get Ornella and vowed to protect her if I did not make it back.
“He will be next,” I muttered as I dropped my hands into some warm water to wash off the blood.
“Are you sure that is wise, my king? The princess may become upset and withdrawn if she finds out you hurt her tutor as well as her friend.”
“I do not care if she is upset by my actions.”
I tried to keep my anger at bay. It was boiling within me, desperate to come out and for me to lose myself in it completely. I knew deep down she would be upset with me once she found out about her lady’s maid. It wouldn”t be possible for her not to hear the screaming. I’d commissioned this dungeon to be that way, so others may know and fear their king.
“You do not mean that, sire. Please, I beg you to leave the male. Let him sit in the cells for a few days, maybe a week or even until after the wedding and then, bring him forward to teach our soon to be queen.”
As much as it annoyed me, Percy was my advisor as he always spoke with logic. When a fit of rage clouded my mind, I could never see or think straight. Splashing my face with the water then dabbing my skin dry, I thought over his words. I waved my hand to allow the dungeon healer to somewhat heal the female, I didn”t want her to die, just be in pain. “Where is she?” I asked as I left the dungeon and plodded up the stairs.
“Out riding with your sisters. I know, you wish to go with her, but the council has called a meeting, and you are expected.”
“They are ordering the king now, are they?”
“No, sire, they just have a few questions about the new arrangements you have made.”
“Since I stole a princess of the Crystal Fae, yes?”
“Eh—Yes.”
Laughing under my breath, I allowed Percy in front so I could follow. He would announce my arrival before I arrived at the council room. Refusing to change as the sight of blood always made me appear scarier towards them, we went straight there. Even with half the council as trusted friends, it was always good to keep them on their toes.
Percy announced my arrival and the doors swung open for me. All heads bowed as I walked by and took my seat at the head of the table. Already bored and desperate to find Ornella, I hoped they would make this quick.
“Care to explain to me why you think it is alright to summon your king?” I asked, the shadows dripping in and out across my eyes.
Lord Richard Foster, an older gentleman, was the first to speak. He’d become a council member just shortly before my father died, after inheriting lands from his own father’s sudden death. Although the man and I never saw eye-to-eye, he did always give me sound advice when I asked for it. Now was not the time.
“My king, the council and I would like to know, what do you intend to do with Princess Ornella?”
“I have already discussed this. Publicly.”
“Yes, we know you have stated you are to marry. But what of her family? What about the Crystal Fae and their laws? I have already heard of talk. They wish to bring war upon us unless we give her back.”
Rolling my eyes, I ran my tongue across my teeth. War was always a threat when our borders were so close to the Crystal Fae’s. The only thing that stood between us and them were the mountains, which could be crossed within a few weeks. If that failed our barrier of protection magic, would keep any of them out.
I’d assumed they were already crossing the land once Queen Elora sounded the alarm. Their son was still unhealed, and I didn’t plan to rush that healing process, even if Ornella begged me. The longer I drew this all out the better.
Once we were married in two weeks’ time, I’d have my prize and only then, would I heal her brother. For the moment, it served me better with him out of commission as he couldn’t rise to bring his father’s army to our door.
“They will not bring the war to us until their son is better. For now, we are fine.”
“I know you hope they will keep to their side of the deal, but that doesn’t stop the princess’ uncle from coming,” Lord Wallace interrupted.
I wanted to throw him across the room. He was an annoying little fae, whose mouth was larger than his height.
“Let her uncle come, I’m sure the princess is dying to see him.”
I would prepare her if he did arrive. Train her, teach her how to swing a sword and allow her to gut the man out herself. It would be a part of my wedding gift to her. Just like the one she would have seen today. I would have enjoyed giving the mare to her myself but alas that wasn’t how today was going to work. For that I was grateful for my sisters keeping her company.
“We are just concerned for your people.” Percy stood up from the table as he addressed me.
“The people are fine. They will thrive once the wedding arrives and will enjoy the festivities.”
“And what if war does arrive at our shores?” Lady Nora spoke, the only female on the council. She had excellent skills in the battlefield and had taught me how to wield a sword. She was also head of my army—to the anger of many of my lords. When I offered her her position, I knew she would be the most trusted and wisest of them all. Someone who was not afraid to charge in headfirst and die for her home.
“Then you, I am sure, have my armies prepared.” I stared at her from across the table and she kept my eye line, she’d never stand down in a challenge.
“The Princess Ornella will soon become your queen and every abled fae will fight to protect their queen. I trust you will all do the same,” I said with a snarl at the edge of my words.
There were a few mumbles of yes and hmm’s. A growl rumbled low on my chest, I wanted to throw out my fists and demand their loyalty, but I knew I couldn’t. Ornella needed to prove herself to them, by attending her lessons, learning how to fight for herself and one day give me an heir.
Only then, would they look at her as one with me.
My frustration and anger would still not disappear, even after I became too tired to work out the emotions in our training room. Kicking and punching at a dummy, sweat dripped from my forehead and down my spine.
My heart raced as I thought of Ornella at the hands of her uncle, beneath his large body. Before I knew it, my fists were surrounded in shadows as the air around me changed. A roar of energy ran through my body, sending the dummy flying across the room.
“Gosh, I hate to be the guy on the other end.”
Vanessa appeared suddenly, sitting on the edge of a table kicking her legs back and forth. Her boots were caked with mud, and she smelt of horse. They must have returned from their ride, which meant Ornella and I were to have dinner soon.
“What do you want, Ness?” I asked, drinking deeply from a jug of water.
“Only to inform you that your princess seems quite frightened of you, but she was grateful for your gift. I am sure she will tell you later on this evening.”
“She is only frightened of me because she does not remember who I am to her.”
Untying the bandage wraps from my hands, I chucked them in the bin beside Ness. Sticky and hot, I wanted nothing more than to bathe and speak with Percy, to see if they had got more information out of our guests.
“You should give her back those memories, Nic. It”s not right to keep them from her.”
Ness followed me out of the room as I headed towards my part of the castle. She wasn’t going to leave me, especially when she had something to say. As she was the middle child, she was relentless in getting her voice heard. Often or not, it was ignored by our parents growing up and I feared she thought the same with me. When actually, I listened to her the most.
“I know she should have them back, but not yet. I don’t want her to pass judgement on me before knowing the person I am now.”
“It’s not fair though, they are her memories.”
“She would only know the boy I once was, not the king I am now.”
Sighing deeply, she crossed her arms as my bedroom door opened. Ness went in first, the storm in her clearly brewing. Vanessa’s powers were unlike any the family had seen in almost three hundred years. She was blessed with the ability to control the weather.
Unfortunately, her emotions often caused her to lose some degree of control. Like now with the storm that was developing outside my window. Her annoyance of my choices clearly showed.
“Calm down, Ness. I will tell her, but not yet. She hasn’t fully settled in yet. Ornella isn”t ready.”
“You must before the wedding goes ahead, Nic. She needs to know everything, the promises her father made with ours and everything else that happened when you would visit her.”
My eyes shot up at her as she looked at me with her brows tightly together and fists on her hips. The wind picked up outside, shaking my windows and I knew if she didn’t calm down soon, there would be an all-mighty thunderstorm. Our sisters would know who—rather—what started it.
“Alright, I will tell her everything the night before the wedding, but our deal is still the same. It”s binding so even if she doesn’t like what she hears, she has made a promise to marry me for the sake of her brother’s life.”
“You know as well as I do, that kiss you made her give you isn’t binding. Blood is what will bind that kind of deal and until then, she is free to leave. You just don’t want her to.”
Now she was trying my patience. If she wasn’t my sister, I would have thrown her across the room and out the door. Of course, April would beat me to death with a stick if she knew I did such a thing. As much as I was the oldest, April’s temper wasn’t something I liked to mess with.
“Well, we shall see. Now, I suggest you leave, otherwise you will have to deal with seeing your brother naked.”
Her storm stopped as quickly as it had started. My sister glared at me, her eyes widened in shock then narrowed in suspicion. If looks could kill. Waving her hand at me and clicking two fingers together, a wind circled her body as she faded away.
“Tell her, Nic!”
Her voice shouted in my mind as I headed towards my bathing room. I needed to soothe my muscles and contemplate her words.