Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
CYPRIEN
The ride to the city was nothing more than a blur consisting of fields and houses.
Once inside the city walls, we raced past hundreds of people who came outside to watch the spectacle we created.
Faces, homes, and businesses melted into one incomprehensible image that made staying in my saddle quite the challenge.
My heart pounded in excitement and terror; I was to be brought before the King himself.
My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened between the prince and myself out in the fields.
He had kissed me. We had been surrounded by guards and the Magus was there, crying tears of joy, and the prince pressed his lips to mine in a brave display of passion, to be met with thunderous applause and cat calls.
He’d promised me safety from my stepfather, and swore that he would get what he deserved.
I tried to have faith in his words as we continued toward the castle for my meeting with the King. Soon I would be in the same room as our sovereign, who knew I’d had sexual relations with his son. Shame heated my cheeks, and I dipped my head low to cover it.
Faster than I would have liked, we were heading through the gate to the castle and surrounding grounds.
The horses slowed to a stop in front of the building that looked much more imposing in the light of day.
Without my magical disguise, I felt exposed.
My clothes were stained and covered in dirt, my boots were worn, and I didn’t feel anything close to worthy of being there.
Alaric leapt down from his horse, then helped me to the ground.
My legs were wobbly, but he supported me with an arm around my waist. A small round man was waiting for us on the steps, it took me a moment but I realized I recognized him.
It was the steward that had accompanied the guards when they picked up the royal twins.
He was also the man who lied to my stepfather, which had resulted in a beating that I wouldn’t soon forgive or forget.
The man was all smiles until his eyes met mine, recognition flashed across his face followed by anger.
“What is the meaning of this?” his shrill voice cut through the air.
I straightened and gently extricated myself from Alaric’s hold. The steward backed up as I stalked up the steps toward him, a finger pointed in his direction. “You! You are the one who lied to my stepfather about what happened in the fields that day! I received thirty lashes because of you.”
Alaric had caught up with me and caught me by the arm before I could reach the now trembling man. “Cyprien, what do you mean?”
He told my stepfather that I had demanded the reward money that was promised to my family. My stepbrothers got to tear my back apart with a training whip. Fortunately, my maid had magic a healing salve or every movement would be ripping the wounds open anew even now.”
“Guards, bring him with us to my father’s study,” the prince growled. He didn’t even look at the steward as his guards rushed the stairs and took him into custody.
“I did nothing of the sort!” he insisted. “Who are you going to believe, a dirty commoner or your father’s steward?”
Alaric whirled at that, stomping up the stairs two at a time until he reached the man who was still pleading and insisting that I was a liar.
He grabbed him roughly by his face “That ‘commoner’ is my fated match and the next member of the royal family. I would be careful what I said about him if I were you. Your words border on treason, and your actions are worthy of a lashing of your own.”
The steward fainted then, becoming dead weight in the guards’ arms. They lifted the rotund man as though he weighed nothing and carried him inside the castle. Alaric descended the stairs to take my hand, then led me through the open doors.
“You found him!” I heard the voice before I saw the figure behind it.
The queen, more regal and gorgeous than I could have imagined, hurried toward us, arms outstretched.
The princess was hot on her heels and they enveloped us in a hug as soon as they were close enough.
“Oh Depths, what a handsome young man!” the queen cooed, releasing us.
“I told you, mother. I knew it was going to be him.” Princess Lydia grabbed me by the hands and pulled me down to her height. She kissed either cheek and smiled serenely. “He’s gorgeous, and perfect for our Alaric.”
I bowed low to both ladies and they chuckled softly.
The queen gathered me in her arms. “There is no need to bow, son. You are family now.” Releasing me, she took one of my hands in her own.
“Are you opposed to a bath and change of clothing before meeting the king? I mean no offence, but you seem like a nervous little bird and I feel you’ll fly away from us if you are forced to meet my husband fresh from the fields. ”
“I take no offence at all, your Majesty. I would love to freshen up before meeting his Majesty,” I replied, a slight quiver to my lips and a tightness in my throat. “Thank you for your kindness.”
Princess Lydia waved her hand at me dismissively. “She’s happy to do it. Don’t you see the look on her face? She’s already planning out what you’ll wear.”
“Just so,” the queen said, then turned to her son. “Your father insisted upon having the guest quarters in your wing set up for him. You’ll find a fresh bath waiting for him and your sister and I will come by with some clothes shortly.”
The two women hurried off, leaving me watching, stunned, as they retreated
“So, that was my mother. She can be a bit overwhelming.” Alaric rubbed the back of my neck and used that hand to steer me in the correct direction.
“She and your sister were perfectly lovely. No one aside from my own mother has ever been so kind to me, not even Antonia.” My voice sounded like it was coming from far away, floaty and distant. “Will the guards be there when I bathe? I don’t think I could stand such an audience.”
Travis caught up with us, responding in Alaric’s place “The prince and I will be in the room, as will a couple of servants and two guards. Four guards will be posted outside the doors, captain’s orders.
” The uncertainty must have been clear on my face because he continued.
“Hey, you’re lucky. He wanted another two guards inside.
I managed to convince him that you and the prince would be safe. ”
I nodded, falling silent as I marveled at the hall we stepped into.
Every painting and sculpture was beautifully done, with exquisite molding and gold accents across the walls and ceiling.
The ball had been too hectic for me to be able to fully appreciate my environment, but I needed something to distract me from how quickly everything was happening around me.
Alaric led me up a magnificent staircase ,then down another corridor with intricately carved doors on either side.
Guards gathered around one door near the end of the hall, slowing my feet before I realized it.
“It’s okay, I’m here.” Alaric squeezed the back of my neck reassuringly and guided me ahead.
The guards parted and one of them opened the door, gesturing us inside.
I froze a few steps inside the room when I saw the female servants near the ornate bathtub.
Alaric leaned in and whispered, “They are not lovers of men and I did not think you would want a strange man touching you.”
ALARIC
“I think it is you who doesn’t want a strange man touching me,” Cyprien murmured, giving me a soft smile.
“You aren’t wrong.” I said quickly then chuckled. “Honestly I don’t want anyone else touching you right now.’
He looked at me, concern clear on his sun-kissed face. “I can bathe myself, you know.”
“No, no. You deserve the royal treatment. These ladies will ensure that you are fully clean and relaxed before you have to meet my father.” I urged him gently toward the tub of hot water. “Now, strip and get in. We don’t want to keep my father waiting.”
Travis turned his back to the room, commanding the other guards to do the same. “Just until he gets under the water, boys.”
I was instantly overwhelmingly grateful to have him with me. I was too caught up in the moment to think of the little details, but I knew that having everyone avert their gaze from my soul mate while he undressed was certainly something I wanted.
“Ladies, you too please,” I requested in a soft tone. “Give the man his dignity.”
They quickly complied, and Cyprien began stripping out of his clothes.
He was facing away from me so I got a good look at his broad back.
The still healing scars and welts boiled my blood.
They had hurt him, badly, and more than once from the looks of it.
My control was hanging on by a thread. Without realizing it, I’d drifted closer to him.
My hand hovered over his skin. I gently touched one of the marks, and he winced away from me.
“Your stepbrothers did this to you?” My voice was little more than a whisper. He turned to look at me over his shoulder, a pain I couldn’t fathom in his eyes. “I swear to you that they’ll never do it again.”
“What will you do to them?”
“Anything you want. The same goes for the steward who caused the most recent of what seems to have been several beatings. We can discuss it with my father when you are done here.” I ran my hand down his back and gently nudged him toward the tub.
He nodded and climbed into the hot water.
“He’s covered, everyone can turn back around. ”
I stormed over to Travis and hauled him to a corner of the room. “How badly is he marked?” he asked with a low growl.
“It’s some of the worst I’ve seen. He’s mostly healed but there are layers of scars. I’m surprised he has any mobility in his back at all. Which is why such punishment is reserved for those who have committed treason or other heinous acts.”
“We have guards on their way to arrest his stepfamily as we speak. They are being lied to so as to not cause a scene and make their punishment that much sweeter.” Travis assured me, a wicked smile on his lips. “I cannot wait to hear what he has planned for them.”