Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ALINA
The next morning, I woke up well rested and refreshed.
My body still relaxed after the lovely dream I had.
In my dream, Kent was with me all night, holding me in his arms, taking away all of my worries, bringing me peace.
It felt so real, so intimate and magical that I could not get him out of my head, even after Sally walked in and bustled around the room, talking about everything Corliss had planned for me that day.
“A walk with Lord Dayton has been arranged shortly after breakfast, then you are expected to have tea with his younger brother. Later in the day, all of us are going to gather for the annual parade.”
I sighed and looked out the window. More than any other day, I was dreading every moment I had to spend in a similar way.
I needed to do something useful, I needed to work, have real interactions with other people.
Moments later, I started remembering bits and pieces of my regular days.
I was always on the move, always helping to solve one problem or another.
Talking to servants and merchants, figuring out better ways of doing things.
I was always researching something, reading, or writing mountains of letters.
I would oversee everything from the quality of paint that was used to seal the corners of the buildings, to repairing the villagers’ homes. I also organized all the celebrations.
I lowered my gaze, realizing that was what my life used to be.
I was curious if Kent had ever seen me like that.
I was never treated like a simpleton, and my brother was with me every step of the way, supporting me, encouraging me.
I wanted to see him. Somehow I knew he was going crazy not knowing where I was.
If he knew, he would come for me, I was sure of it.
“This is going to be such a great day,” Sally continued talking, but I hardly listened.
What did they do to me that left large chunks of my memories missing? What gave them the right to do that to someone?
It was infuriating that they thought they could manipulate me, that they thought I was going to be compliant and quiet.
My blood boiled under my skin. I wanted to do something crazy, I wanted to defy them, show them all that they had made the wrong choice, and I would never be what they wanted me to be.
As Sally, left to prepare my gown for the day. I got rid of the medicine and paused, noticing the yellow leaves that had formed on the unfortunate plant, and decided I needed another way to dispose of the poison.
I had to be smart about it, I could not show my cards before I was ready. I wondered if behaving differently had managed to raise any suspicions. If I wanted to keep the upper hand, I had to continue acting, at least for a while longer.
Twenty minutes later, Sally returned with a soft, off-white, silk gown that accentuated my waist line. She secured my hair on top of my head with decorative pins. I checked the mirror when she proceeded to apply red cream onto my cheeks.
I dreaded spending any time with my suitors. There was nothing they could say to me that would change my opinion about the betrothal.
When Sally and I were ready to leave the room, my shoulders stiffened and my muscles tensed.
Involuntarily, my body was already reacting to the presence of my guard.
My eyes met his dark umber eyes, and I nearly misstepped.
The memories of my dream rushed straight to my head, and I remembered his strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, and the feeling of belonging and peace that it brought me.
The way I craved his touch, and leaned into him.
There was no way to describe how I felt, but one thing was certain, I would not look at any other male the way I looked at him.
Kent.
And again, his name sounded wrong in my head. I felt as if I were standing by a closed door that I desperately needed to open.
He said that he wanted me to remember his name. And sometimes I felt like it was on the tip of my tongue, that if I could concentrate hard enough, it would come to me.
Sally was talking, turning fully to catch Kent’s eye, and that bothered me. The way she thought she was good enough for him, as if that was even possible.
What was his name?
I sighed and looked down to the floor and almost immediately I could feel his eyes on me.
He offered me his arm, and after only a moment of hesitation, I took it.
It was somehow acceptable to lean into the arm of your personal guard, but if they knew everything that entered my mind when we touched, they would never allow it.
I was careful not to look at him while Sally was around, but I really wanted to trace his strong arm with my fingertips.
I knew I could drive him crazy with just my simple touches.
I wondered if he knew he could do the same to me.
I wondered if he, too, saw me in his dreams.
When at last we entered the open grounds of the gardens, Kent released me and I followed Sally onto the narrow path where, in the distance, Lord Adger’s oldest son waited for me. I pursed my lips. I hated all of them, but for some reason, Lord Dayton seemed to be the worst.
I was still put off by the fact that he was going to abandon his two wives and many children in order to obtain yet another wife. He moved closer and offered me his arm. Reluctantly, I trailed beside one of the lords of the gold clan.
“I believe we have not had much time to get to know each other.” Lord Dayton started.
I glanced at his carefully cut beard that I suspected was to hide the deficiencies of his weak chin.
“You’re exactly the woman I have always searched for.”
I was on the verge of asking him how either of his wives would feel about that, but I stopped myself.
“You must see that no one else can offer you what I can. I can give you the world.”
“You can?”
“Yes. I can. By combining both our influences, we can end the unsettled state between all dragon clans.”
“What about the black clan?” I could feel Kent’s stare on the back of my neck.
“Those parasites? No, they should not be allowed back. Not after what they did.”
“Do you not believe in forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness? That’s an excuse for weakness.”
I nodded and looked away.
Unexpectedly, I could feel Dayton’s hand on my back, I paused, glancing at him in surprise.
“Remove. Your. Hand,” Kent’s quiet voice sounded from behind me.
“How dare you even speak to me!” Lord Dayton exploded. Kent continued looking at him with alarming intensity. “You are nothing but a servant, and you and you will obey me!”
Something dangerous flickered in Kent’s eyes and I panicked, needing to find a way out of the situation.
“Lord Dayton, shall we continue?”
“I cannot have him disrespecting me.” He turned his eyes back to Kent. “If we were in my estate, I would burn you alive for your disobedience.” He hissed.
“If you touch her again, I will fucking kill you.” Kent said, and everything around me slowed down.
I watched the scene unfolding in front of me in slow motion. Kent took a step forward with a wild, menacing look in his eyes, and Lord Dayton stepped back, almost cowering.
“Kent! Lieutenant’s looking for you. I’m going to take it from here.”
The new voice belonged to a female guard in a dark blue leather suit, her two thick, light blond braids catching the light. The stubborn way she nudged Kent on the shoulder broke my stupor. The tension in the air immediately went away when Kent, after giving her a frown, was forced to walk away.
“That bastard. Who does he think he is?” Lord Dayton was still fuming.
“He’s uneasy after the attack,” I tried my best to soften the tone of my voice.
“Those rebels. Someone has to deal with all the unrest. This can’t end well,” he muttered as we continued our walk followed by my new female guard.