Lost Heir (Blood Weaver Trilogy #2)

Chapter 14

14

T he struggle to rise the next morning was monumental, a battle against my body's demand for rest after a tumultuous night of restless thoughts and fragmented sleep. Tessa, in her infinite pragmatism, deemed it necessary to employ a rather startling wake-up call, resorting to drenching me with water to ensure my punctuality for the family breakfast. The echoes of last evening's confrontations, particularly the unresolved tensions between Ronan and Caelan, left a palpable shadow, casting dark circles under my eyes as silent witnesses to my internal turmoil.

Sure, I knew Ronan was angry and he had every right to be. Especially when it came to Caelan. I’d forgiven him one too many times in the Central Plains. As I looked back on those days, even I was frustrated with myself for giving him the benefit of the doubt. But things were different now. He had to know they were different.

Shuffling along, I let Tessa dress me while half asleep. Once she was done arranging my hair, I was promptly escorted to the dining hall in the Central palace where my mother, Marcellus, and Caelan were undoubtedly already waiting to have breakfast.

When I entered the dining hall, I was surprised to see my father seated at the head of the table.

“Good morning, Lyanna!” His voice, warm with the joy of reunion, greeted me as I settled into my designated seat, surrounded by family yet isolated by the silent undercurrents of recent events. “I thought I’d join you all today. I have much to do, and I didn’t know if I’d have time to see you otherwise.”

While he wasn’t consistent, my father did try to see me often and spend time with me. Out of everyone at this table, he was the only one I truly thought had missed me over the last ten years.

“No worries.” I offered a broad smile and sat down, taking the napkin and spreading it across my lap. “I didn’t sleep well last night, so it was a bit difficult to wake up this morning. Apologies for my tardiness,” I said honestly.

My father frowned. “Are you unwell? Has this been recurring? I’ll have the palace healer send you some valerian root at night to help you sleep.”

“I’m fine, honestly. I just think with all the celebration from the recent days, I’m just fatigued,” I lied, attempting to deflect his worry. “The valerian root should help.”

My father nodded. “Good, good. You would know more about that than I do,” he chuckled. “I heard you might be interested in working in the infirmary—”

“Absolutely not!” my mother interjected, her glare cutting through the morning's tentative peace. “A princess, working with the ill? No. We cannot have that.”

I looked over at my father, who sighed in resignation. “Well … we can discuss this more later. We don’t have to make decisions right away— ”

“Malik!” she yelled.

He slammed his fist on the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle. “Enough, Derinda!” he shouted, his voice booming throughout the dining hall. “I said enough,” he said softer, lowering his voice.

I peered over at Marcellus beside me, but he only shrugged. Our parents never used to fight, and I’d like to assume that ten years later they still didn’t. My father generally gave in to my mother’s whims to avoid conflict, but it seemed he’d had enough of her in recent days.

My mother cleared her throat. “All I was saying,” she said a bit gentler, “is that Lyanna should not risk getting sick. She’s only just returned to us.” She looked over at me from across the table knowingly. She wanted me to agree with her.

“Mother might have a point,” I conceded as I stared down at my empty plate. Breakfast hadn’t even been served and we were already at each other’s throats. “For now, I’ll avoid the infirmary unless it’s necessary.”

My father sighed. “If you wish, Lyanna.” He glanced at Caelan, who sat beside my mother. “Caelan, I know what you want. I’m just not sure I can give it to you.”

Caelan turned his shrewd gaze to my father and smiled politely. “No decisions need to be made right away. I would be content with an engagement for now.”

My father cleared his throat. “Well …”

“She doesn’t like you, Caelan. Why are you forcing the issue?” Marcellus barked abruptly.

“Marcellus!” my mother chided. “Mind your tongue!”

“Marcel is right,” my father said. “We need to take Lyanna’s feelings into consideration. I refuse to force my children into political marriages.”

My mother turned her icy stare my way. “Of course this is what Lyanna wants. Isn’t that right, dear?” She stared me down and willed me to agree with her once more.

I knew the answer she wanted from me. She wanted me to agree with her as I always used to do to please her. But not this time. No. This was something I couldn’t agree to. This was marriage. A lifelong commitment. And even if that wasn’t the case, too much unpleasantness had passed between me and Caelan in the Central Plains. If I turned around and married him, what would that make me? For the first time, I understood Ronan’s train of thought.

“No,” I said clearly. “I do not want to marry Caelan, nor will I ever.”

My mother slammed her palm on the table, making everything rattle once again. “Nonsense! You don’t know what you want!”

“And you do?” I countered with a raised brow. “You’ve been my mother for only half of my life. You don’t know me.”

She scoffed, clearly offended. “I am your mother! Of course I know you!”

“Do you really? What’s my favorite food? How do I like my baths? What’s my favorite color? Do you know what my passions are—”

“All of that is irrelevant.” She waved me off. “I know what’s important, and that’s for you to enter into a proper marriage with someone at the same level as you. Not some riff-raff from the Grasslands.”

My brows shot up at the mention of Ronan. “I never said I wanted to marry anyone from the Grasslands.”

My mother laughed dryly and fixed me with a calculating glare. “As if we haven’t heard the rumors? Lyanna, we weren’t born yesterday. Please don’t insult our intelligence.”

So the rumors had spread, just as I predicted. Maybe it was for the best. Eventually I would have to make my feelings known. Ronan and I couldn’t sneak around forever.

“So?” Marcellus shrugged. “So what if she wants to marry into the Grasslands? Ronan is a son of a Chief; he’s no riff-raff, as you say. This could be a good alliance—”

“Enough, Marcellus!” my father barked. “No one is marrying into the Grasslands.” He looked away nervously.

I frowned and worried if they were afraid of the prophecy. Sir Edric did mention that they knew about it because Chief Aryan contacted them to make a trade. It was one of the things Sir Edric feared the most – that eventually my parents would give in.

“Father,” I started, but he glared and cut me off.

“I’m sorry, Caelan, but if Lyanna does not agree to a marriage with you, I fear I won’t be able to either,” he said.

Marcel and I deflated in relief. I peered over at my brother, wondering when he’d become a fan of Ronan. The last time we were arguing in the Central Plains, I distinctly remembered him calling me a Crimson whore. Oh, how the tides had changed.

Caelan nodded. “I understand, Your Majesty. But I hope you won’t reject me so quickly and will give me time to court Lyanna in the hopes of changing her mind.”

“Hmm … I can agree with that,” my father said. “It’ll give you both some time to think things over.”

Just then, the servants entered the dining hall with our breakfast, quickly bustling to set the table as we waited in awkward silence. Once they left, the silence continued as we ate. I nibbled on a plate of eggs, wishing for a mooncake instead.

Marcellus leaned into me and whispered, “Are you really going to try with him?”

I snorted. “No way. But it’ll look bad if Father continues rejecting him, so I guess he has to accept it for now,” I whispered back.

Marcellus shook his head. “This is crazy. After everything Caelan did to you, I can’t believe he has the nerve …”

I furrowed my brows at him. “Isn’t he your friend? Didn’t you use to hate me?”

He rolled his eyes. “Water under the bridge, sis. And of course I’m going to take your side over his.”

“You know what the Crimson Clan wants to do with me.” He nodded grimly. “Would you really be okay with me marrying into the Grasslands?”

He scoffed. “Of course not. The last thing I want is for you to be in their grasp. But …” he sighed. “I know how you feel about Ronan. It’s obvious to everyone. And I think he feels the same in return, which means he wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

I chuckled and covered my mouth when my mother looked over at me. “You’re quite trusting,” I said once she looked away.

“Don’t let my handsome face fool you,” Marcellus said. “If he were ever to sacrifice you as you said, I’d lay waste to the Grasslands without hesitation.”

I smiled at my brother. Our relationship now was decidedly different from just a few days ago when he thought I was the absolute worst. Now … I didn’t know what he thought of me, but at least it wasn’t hatred.

“What are you two whispering about over there?” my mother asked with a frown.

“Nothing,” Marcellus and I answered at the same time.

Our father laughed. “Derinda, leave them be. It’s good to see them bonding.”

Our mother huffed but didn’t say a word. Marcellus and I shared another mischievous look as if we were in on some secret.

“All right, I think I’ve eaten enough. Are you ready, Derinda?” my father asked as he tossed his napkin onto the table and pushed his chair back, standing.

My mother sighed. “I suppose.” She gently patted the corners of her mouth and set her napkin aside before standing.

Without another word, our parents left the dining hall, leaving me alone with Marcellus and Caelan.

“I hope you’ll give me a chance, Lyanna,” Caelan murmured, leaning forward. “All I want is a chance.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I have a choice.”

“Ronan can’t give you what I can,” he insisted. “If what you said is true, then being with him is even more dangerous. You can’t risk—”

“I’ll make my own decisions,” I said quickly as I threw my napkin on the table. I’d had more than enough of this conversation already. Pushing my chair back, I stood. “I said I’d give you a chance because my father agreed to it. But don’t expect me to like it.”

I hurried out of the dining hall with Marcellus calling after me. I didn’t want to ignore him, but I also didn’t want to keep repeating the same old song and dance with Caelan. No matter how many times I said no, he still didn’t understand.

Viktor and Tessa were waiting for me outside the dining hall. We quickly departed the Central palace and headed back to the Eastern palace.

When I entered my chambers, I should have been surprised to see Ronan lying on my bed, but of course I wasn’t. His boots were lined up in front of the footboard, his ankles crossed and his hands tucked behind his head. A smirk splayed across his face the instant I stepped through the door. It was absolutely irresistible and brightened my mood considerably.

I chuckled. “What are you doing here?”

His grin widened. “I thought we could explore beyond the palace grounds today. Maybe take a stroll in the capital and get some of those mooncakes you love so much.”

It was as if he read my mind. “I was just thinking about a mooncake! I was going to tell Tessa to ask the kitchen to make some.”

Ronan sat up and gave a devastating grin. “Why ask, when we can venture to the capital where they’ve already been made? Come on, Leila. Let’s explore Valoria. I’m sure things aren’t the same as when you were eleven.”

I walked toward him and perched at the edge of my bed. “I’ll have to ask permission to leave the palace,” I groaned. “And after the breakfast I just had, I doubt my mother would allow it.”

He frowned. “Everything okay?”

I shook my head. “Caelan keeps insisting on the marriage alliance, and my mother is all for it. Luckily Marcellus and my father are not, but Caelan requested an opportunity to court me in the hopes he can change my mind.”

Ronan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Well, he’s persistent, I’ll give him that much.”

I attempted to ease his worries. “I won’t change my mind, no matter what he does. ”

He nodded. “Still, his persistence is worrisome. I don’t know why, but I sense he has something up his sleeve.”

“Possibly, but I don’t want to think about him now,” I said. “Is there anything else we could do besides leaving the palace grounds?”

Ronan raised a mischievous brow. “Well Leila, I’m sure we can think of something .” He slid closer, then grabbed my waist and flipped me onto my back until he hovered over me. “Why don’t we …?” he trailed off as his fingers glided down to the buttons that ran down the front of my dress.

“Ronan…” I moaned as he began to unbutton my dress. “We can’t keep doing this, or we’ll eventually get caught.”

He brought his lips to mine, effectively shutting me up. Our mouths melded into one another and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hard body pressed against mine and I couldn’t resist roaming my hands over his skin. He was utter perfection, his beauty unmatched.

“I wish we could stay in bed all day long,” Ronan murmured, trailing a fiery path of kisses down my neck to my chest. He unbuttoned the top of my dress and exposed my breasts, kissing them gently before taking my nipple into his mouth.

I worried others outside my room would hear the moan of ecstasy that erupted from me. My hands dug into Ronan’s hair, needing to take ahold of something as his tongue licked, swirled, and sucked on my breasts.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head. “I want you, Ronan. Desperately.”

He paused and peered up at me. “Leila,” he whispered, his mouth hovering just above my breast. “If I go any further … it might complicate things. ”

“Like the prophecy?” I grinded against him. “I don’t care. I just want you. All of you. Now .”

He shook his head. “You’re not thinking clearly, Leila. If we do this, it’ll ignite the prophecy.”

“No one has to know,” I protested, and he quieted.

He knew I was right. His father wouldn’t find out unless one of us told him.

I slowed my feverish movements and opened my eyes. “Wait. What is it that we’ll cause?”

“Taking your virginity allows me to possess the sole wish granted by the fox demon if he’s resurrected. My father has always wanted me to be the one, but after seeing us together at the banquet, I’m not sure if he feels the same way,” Ronan whispered.

Without giving him another second to overthink it, I flipped him onto his back and straddled him. The front of my dress splayed open to expose my breasts.

“I don’t care what your father thinks.” I slowly lifted his shirt up and over his head. “What matters is what we want. And what I want is you .”

I feathered my fingertips across the defined planes and curves of his hard abdomen, tracing the ridges of muscle that tensed under my touch. Slowly, I inched closer to the button of his trousers with a mischievous smile. With eager anticipation, I pulled down his pants, releasing his throbbing member from its confines. I wrapped my hand around his shaft and stroked him, reveling in the way he hissed and clutched at the bedsheets.

“Leila … are you sure?” he asked once again, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Once we cross this line, there's no going back.”

A grin spread across my face as I looked down at him. “That's exactly what I want,” I replied confidently. “I don't want you to hold back anymore.” Without another word, I lowered myself down his body and took the tip of his cock into my mouth. His hand tangled into my hair, holding me steady as he guided me up and down his length with gentle motions.

As I took him deeper into my mouth with each stroke, Ronan let out a low groan and closed his eyes in bliss. But it didn’t take long until he lost all sense of control. With a tight grip on my hair, he started thrusting into my mouth with more force and urgency.

“Fuck, Leila!” he moaned. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he pushed me off him and lifted me onto the bed, quickly discarding his pants before readying himself between my legs. “I won't hold back,” he murmured, staring deep into my eyes as he positioned himself at my entrance. “This is your last chance to turn back.”

But I was already too far gone to even consider it. “Don’t hold back,” I whispered, wrapping an arm around his neck and bringing his lips toward mine. “I’m yours.”

With a deep breath, he slowly pushed into me. The intense pressure and his girth made me gasp in a heady combination of pain and pleasure. I lifted my hips to take more of him in, determined to handle it all.

Once he was fully sheathed inside of me, my core pulsing with sensation, he started to move. A cry escaped my throat, but Ronan swallowed the sound with a passionate kiss as he pumped in and out of me at a slow pace before gradually picking up speed.

“You're incredible,” he gasped between kisses. “By the gods, Leila, you have no idea how many times I've thought about having you … all of you.”

I met his thrusts eagerly, reveling in the feeling of being completely consumed by him. “I'm all yours,” I promised .

“And I'm yours,” he repeated, the look in his eyes telling me that he meant every word.

As he continued to drive into me with increasing intensity, my body trembled with anticipation. He spread my legs wider and took me even deeper than before, hitting a spot that sent a wave of sensations washing over me, making my vision blur slightly.

“Oh, gods!” An explosive orgasm ripped through me, my legs shaking from the force of it.

Ronan slowed his movements, mindful of my overstimulated body. As he eased down and kissed me softly, I basked in the perfectness of the moment.

“You're beautiful,” he whispered against my lips. “I never want to leave this room.”

A grin spread across my face as I returned his kiss. “Then don't.”

As the passion between us intensified, Ronan’s crimson eyes locked onto mine. His gaze was filled with a love I’d never seen before; the intensity sent shivers down my spine. He moved faster, his rhythm almost frantic. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him in deeper.

The room was filled with the sound of slapping bodies, groans, and heavy breathing. It was as if we’d left the world we knew and had been transported to another realm where we were the only two people who existed.

As he continued to thrust into me, I felt my body building up to another climax. I moaned his name, my voice echoing in the room. He groaned and matched my rhythm as he thrust into me harder and faster. My body shivered with every stroke and heightened pleasure built within me. I gasped, my breaths becoming shorter and heavier as my climax neared.

Ronan’s muscles bulged with each movement, a feast for the eyes. I reached up and ran my hands over his broad, sculpted shoulders and back, feeling the sweat that beaded on his skin. His breaths became ragged, and his eyes locked onto mine as he reached the edge of his own pleasure.

With a final thrust, Ronan cried out my name, his body shuddering as he released himself inside me. I felt his warm release filling me, and I knew it was only for me. The feeling of being so connected to him was overwhelming.

As we lay there, both panting heavily, I traced my fingers over his skin. His eyes met mine and I saw unbridled love and devotion swimming in their depths.

“I love you, Leila.”

Those words were monumental, but something stopped me from saying it back. Instead, I smiled up at him and caressed his face.

We lay there for a moment, basking in the afterglow, our hearts beating in sync. The room was filled with the scent of our sweat and arousal. We finally broke apart and I rolled onto my side, pulling him close to me.

“Stay with me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He grinned and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

And so we lay there in the aftermath of our lovemaking, listening to each other’s heartbeats and the gentle sounds of our breaths mingling in the air. The world outside the door could wait. For now, we were content in our own universe.