Chapter 17 Zara
Chapter seventeen
Zara
Leer leads me and Emlyn toward the drawbridge, and I glance back at Alfrie pulling up the rear, swaying a bit as he follows us to the gates of court.
Leer scowls as he walks next to me, and I have some second-hand embarrassment for both of them.
Gods, I hope I didn’t act this poorly the other night when Alix found me with Leer at Groble’s.
If I did, I hope Leer was as drunk as I was and doesn’t remember.
I tug on his arm. “We should wait for Alfrie.” I glance behind me again. Alfrie’s eyes are dark and heavy and absolutely pitiful.
Leer forms a straight line with his mouth, and huffs. He releases my arm and walks back to help his friend. Alfrie leans his weight on Leer, draping his arm over his shoulder and he’s going on about some woman in the woods. Honestly, how much did he drink?
“Shh. Hush now. Let’s try to make it inside without alerting the entire court,” Leer mutters as they brush by me, and I flank Alfrie’s other side to help carry his weight.
Alfrie wraps his free arm over me and the warmth of his touch makes my spine tingle.
“We need to go back. There’s a lady out there.
Or a monster.” I know he’s drunk and probably confused a tree with a creature, but the panic in his voice sets me on edge and gooseflesh crawls up my arms. “Take me back there. I can fight it. I’m a tiger.
” He mumbles into my ear, and I turn away at the strong odor of liquor on his breath.
Emlyn walks ahead of us and pushes open the gates as we approach the bridge. Once the gates are safely closed behind us, I scoot out from underneath Alfrie’s arm.
Just as we’re about to sneak through the servant’s entrance, King Hardin steps out and blocks our path. His eyes widen and his expression hardens to stone as he assesses his son and his squire. “What in the gods? Where were you? Where’s your guard?” His cold stare falls on Alfrie. “Is he drunk?”
“I don’t have time to get into it with you, father. He’s fine. I’m handling it.” Leer moves to walk past and Hardin stops him with a firm hand on Leer’s chest.
“You will tell me where you’ve been.” Hardin looks at me and Emlyn with disdain. “You, ladies maid,” he says, rudely addressing Emlyn, “take Alfrie to his rooms. I’ll deal with him later.” Hardin jerks his chin to me. “Go with her, Princess. I need to talk with my son. Alone.”
“Don’t order her—” Leer starts while Emlyn takes Alfrie’s arm from his shoulder and allows him to lean on her instead.
“I will give orders to whomever I please. Now, leave us.” King Hardin eyes the three of us with a terrifying wickedness until we escape through the entrance into the servant’s hall.
I glance at Leer, and he smiles weakly as if telling me it’ll be okay.
The door slams closed behind us, and I quickly move to Alfrie’s free side once more, aiding Emlyn as we haul him up to the north wing.
His head lolls and his steps are slow and unsteady as we climb the never-ending spiral stairs to the small closet of a room he’s staying in.
As soon as we enter, he collapses onto the tiny cot in the corner, throwing his arms over his face.
I help lift his legs up on the cot and Emlyn lights the lantern in the corner of the room before dampening a cloth in a nearby basin.
She tosses me the rag, and I sit next to Alfrie on the bed.
I gently lower his arms away from his face and place the damp towel on his forehead.
His blond hair is a mess and his fingers curl over his shirt, clutching the material.
His eyes are closed and he moans. “I think I might vomit.”
“I think you already did.”
He reaches blindly for my wrist as I dab his face with the wet rag. He opens his eyes, turning his face to me, “I’m sorry,” he mutters.
I shrug. “We’ve all been there.” I go to press the towel on his head again. His green eyes are soft and vulnerable as they hold my gaze, and a strange heat floods my veins.
He gently grabs my hand and holds it near his cheek. “No. I’m sorry. For being unkind. I think you…you’re…” his voice trails off and his eyes close, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. His lips part, ever so slightly, softening the sharp angles of his jaw.
I watch him for a moment, silently urging him to awaken and finish his sentence.
I roll my eyes. I’m so foolish. Why should I care what he was going to say?
It was most likely an insult. Or a backhanded compliment at best. Then, there was something about the way he held my hand to his face, tender and warm.
I brush my fingertips along his cheek then yank it back, surprised at my own actions.
What am I doing?
I quickly stand and carry the cloth back to the basin. I wipe my hands on my skirts. The bottom of the fabric is covered in mud and dirt stains from my private walk with Leer. Another wave of heat burns through me as I recall the way his lips set my whole body on fire.
This. This is what I’m supposed to be feeling. He's what I’m supposed to be daydreaming about. I’m betrothed to Leer, and he’s beautiful and sexy and charming.
He’s perfect. And we are meant to be together. Right?
I cast another glance at Alfrie, peacefully asleep on the cot.
Then grabbing a wool blanket folded neatly at the foot of the bed, I place it over him, the corners of my mouth turning upward as I watch the candlelight cast shadows on his beautiful face.
“Come on, let’s leave him to rest.” I whisper to Emlyn, and she blows out the lantern before we sneak from the room.
I lie awake and stare up at my starry ceiling. I tip-toed down to the servant’s quarters to check on Leer after leaving Alfrie’s room, but he wasn’t there. I even stopped by his chambers, but he wasn’t there either.
I should’ve stayed with him to talk to King Hardin. Perhaps I could’ve helped Leer explain or, at least, lie about where we were. It may have prevented him from getting into trouble. I should’ve stood my ground against the king. He may be a King of Lanray and Leer’s father, but this is my court.
I frown at my weakness and sit up on the edge of my bed. I need to go find Leer. I throw on a pair of suede house shoes and wrap my blue silk robe around myself before traipsing out of the room. I don’t make it twenty feet before I’m met in the hallway by my handsome prince.
His eyes are glazed and wary and his cloak is folded over his forearm. He looks exhausted. I wince slightly wondering how much trouble he’s in. And how much trouble I’ll be in once the word spreads to my father.
“Hello,” he says, his velvety voice low and deep. He leans in and softly kisses my cheek. “I’m so sorry about my father earlier. And Alfrie.”
“No, I’m sorry I didn’t stay and take some of the heat off you.
” I motion with my head toward the open door of my bed chamber, and we go inside.
I relax on the sofa in the sitting room, patting the empty cushion next to me.
“Don’t worry about Alfrie. Emlyn and I made sure he got to his room without falling down the stairs. ”
Leer makes himself comfortable on the couch next to me and spreads his arms out on the top of the sofa. “Thank you for that. He doesn’t usually drink.”
“Obviously.”
Leer’s mouth curves into a smile. “Obviously.” His eyes are bright, and he gazes at me for a second. “I hope he didn’t scare you back there. He was talking nonsense.”
I nod, but I can’t stop thinking about the level of panic in Alfrie’s voice. He was so sure he saw something out there. Though, with the amount of alcohol that he consumed, he probably imagined it.
Leer slides closer to me on the couch and lowers his arm, draping it over my shoulders. “I hope you enjoyed some parts of the evening at least.” He traces his lips lightly over the curve of my ear and my whole body reacts to his touch.
“Some parts were pleasant, I suppose,” I tease and turn to kiss his lips.
He grins and settles back into the cushion.
“Would you like to go somewhere with me tomorrow? I want to show you one of my favorite places in the Woodlands. It’s one of the most beautiful spots, but it’s closer to Lanray than it is to here, making it a bit of a hike.
You can bring Emlyn if you’d like. What do you say?
” The excitement in his voice is impossible to ignore.
“But it has to be our secret. The last thing we need is to have an entourage of bodyguards following us around. And this time I’ll leave Alfrie here.
” He traces my lips with his thumb then leans into me again, pressing his mouth over mine.
His kiss is perfection, and I whisper “yes” against his lips.
Leer stands and helps me up. “Yes?” His eyes hold so much hope that I nod in agreement. “Excellent. Tomorrow, then.” He kisses my knuckles then leans in to kiss my cheek before retreating from my rooms.
I follow him to the door, closing it softly behind him, then promptly fall onto my bed, lost in the daydream of what adventure tomorrow holds. I just have to figure out how to sneak out in the morning without Alix noticing.
Too easy.