CHAPTER XVIII #7
I roll my eyes with a huff, completely over this conversation. No man will ever force me into a marriage, especially not a young Prince with more greed than he knows how to handle. I would probably wring Hadrill’s neck myself if he ever got close enough to try.
Keane reaches for my hand, gripping it hard with a serious look pointed in my direction.
“We will be wed the first day of Summer. I will announce tomorrow.
My eyes go wide.
The first day of Summer?
That’s only a few days over a fortnight away.
Hirovale nods his head solemnly to the King, satisfied with the answer. His golden gaze immediately finds mine when his head tilts back up, that gaze now strong and unwavering.
“I’ll meet you both when I can for training,” he says quietly, turning from the table. “Consider your options. We leave for Livyatan on the third morning following your marriage.”
My hand is shaking in Keane’s as we both watch Hirovale walk away, his dark-clad body moving towards the shadows of the balcony.
The Ancient hesitates for a brief moment when he steps outside, his hand reaching out to the black marble wall as if he’s touching it in thought.
I eye him silently from inside and watch as he lifts his hand, disappearing into the darkness without a single glance in our direction.
It’s not until I’m dressed in my night slip and ready for bed until I notice why the Ancient paused on the balcony. My heart stills at the sight of the bright red, my body turning slowly to look at the single rose that lays gently on top of the wall for me.
Our mood once Hirovale leaves is dim. The two of us lay in bed silently, not saying much to each other as we remain too lost in our own thoughts. I let Hadrill fall to the back of my mind for most of the night and hold steady to my resolve that I won’t travel to Livyatan without Keane.
But the look of pure anger on Keane’s face from earlier keeps flashing in my mind. He truly was considering Hirovale’s proposal, of that I’m sure. He’s not happy about the idea, in fact, the look on his face told me it was one of anguish and despair.
When my thoughts did travel back to Hadrill and Aireal they were somber.
I feared for Voland’s safety more than my own and wished beyond everything that the King had the intuition to keep an eye on his own son.
Hadrill is a crafty young man, and that ambition is ultimately leading him to be a dangerous one as well.
Steal me away?
Force me into marriage?
The thought of taking my own life before that happened didn’t sound so bad after all, but I would be sure to end Hadrill’s along with it if given the chance.
As I told Keane, that would be a back-pocket play, obviously, something to use as a last resort only when things got drastic.
If Keane couldn’t have me, then no one else would, and I took solace in the knowledge that I would meet Hirovale after my death and that he would lead me on to my next exploration.
Hopefully.
Keane’s hands are strong as they caress my body under the sheets all night, letting me surround his chest and legs with my own.
The two of us are still deep in our thoughts, and although he holds me in steady comfort, his breaths are heavy, occasionally stopping altogether to grip my arm or the back of my neck, pulling me in even closer.
Neither of us get much sleep, of that I’m certain.
The early morning comes within a blink and we now find ourselves still awake to greet the incoming dawn.
I look up to the open sky of Keane’s room, spotting a few stars still twinkling in morning.
It’s a beautiful sight and one that calms my mind, appreciating the fact that I’ll be waking up to this view for the rest of my life.
“I love that your room is open to the sky,” I sigh, moving in closer to his chest.
I can feel his small smile above me when his lips touch down on my hair.
“Our room, Alexis,” he corrects. “After our drills today I’ll let you unpack and do whatever you want to it.”
I was too tired and too lost in my own thoughts last night to properly take in Keane’s room again.
Not much has changed since we were last here, though the crates that I packed from Bardot are all stored next to his large dresser.
I did notice two new chairs and a small table on the balcony when I went to pick up Hirovale’s rose.
The additions immediately made me smile, relishing in the memory of Keane outside my room in Bardot and asking if I read a lot on the balcony.
His attention to detail always stunned me, and the knowledge that he added a new space for me, for us, warmed my heart.
“I don’t think I’ll need much,” I grin against his chest, “perhaps just an extension of your bookshelves in the wall. Maybe add another settee around the fire. Oh, and a large armoire for my dresses.”
“Not much at all,” he chuckles.
I slap his chest playfully. “And I’ll be eyeing where best to put a new mirror.”
“Definitely can’t forget that,” he smirks, hips arching up just slightly under the sheets. Keane slowly dips his hand below my chin and draws my face up to meet his, brown eyes filled with intensity.
“Whatever you want, Alexis.”
“Hmm,” I grin back at him, holding his gaze, “whatever?”
Keane gives a small nod before I push myself off his chest. I slowly wrap my legs around his hips and settle down, letting the black sheets fall around us. His gaze follows his hands down the sides of my arms, leaving me with a shiver before they settle firmly on my hips.
“Thank you for yesterday, Keane” I whisper, my own hands roaming up his hard chest.
He doesn’t reply, just shows his acknowledgement and appreciation in his eyes that haven’t left my body.
I can feel the heat from his stare as he slowly moves his hands down the silk over my thighs, his palms brushing against my skin before they disappear under the slip and back up.
The sensation makes me shiver on top of him again, my reaction pulling a small smirk from his lips as his brown gaze narrows perfectly over my sex.
I take a sharp inhale of breath when his hands skim past my thighs to grab my ass, his grip squeezing even harder when I roll my hips lustfully in response.
Ancients, I need him. I’ve needed him since the moment we set foot in Gaumond. I need to feel that smirk on me, need to forget Hiro’s intrusion from last night and the news he brought with him.
“Will you be pulled away today?” I ask quietly, fingers finding the black chain around his neck and pulling on it softly. Keane nods again before a hand skims its way back to my front, fingers moving dangerously close to my center.
I rock my hips towards those fingers in welcome.
“I’ll want to move around Gaumond for the next few days,” I lean down and brush my lips against the side of his jaw with a wicked grin. “Will I need to hand over my blades, Your Grace?”
“No, Alexis,” his voice is deep, fingers sliding over my sensitive center when I nip at the side of his neck. “With the decree in place, you will never have to again.”
A quiet moan escapes my lips when he rubs against my clit, the feeling sending a hot rush straight between my legs. I plant my hands firmly on his shoulders again and push up, rolling my myself into his hand just as the slip of a finger finds its way down my folds.
Keane is still eyeing our lower bodies, gaze watching in hunger at the movements he pulls from me under his simple touch.
I slowly bring my hands up to the thin straps on my shoulders, the motion immediately drawing his eyes to my chest. His hand still resting on my ass gives it a hard squeeze while his fingers tease at my entry deliberately.
I slide the thin fabric down my arms, relishing in his eyes landing on my breasts.
“I had a conversation with Holis yesterday,” I tell him quietly, letting the silk pool around my stomach.
Both of Keane’s hands are quick to leave my lower body, his calloused palms running up my stomach before they squeeze the underside of my breasts in full.
“He’ll need to be at your side every moment you move through the capitol,” he nods, eyes watching his fingers when they grab my nipples.
“Even in Gaumond?” I gasp.
“Even in Gaumond,” Keane nods, brown eyes finally catching mine.
“Then that will take him to the Shadow Oak,” I lift my hands from his chest and wrap them around his, “and I don’t think I want anyone there with me but you.”
Keane smiles, twisting his fingers out of my hold before they land back on my nipples and give them a good tug.
“Others have made their way to the Shadow Oak, Alexis, but I appreciate the desire. Holis will need to be at your side no matter where you go. I will not leave you unattended.”
“And when you find me there yourself one day?” I tease, letting my hands fall back on his thighs, “will he still be required to stick around at my side then?”
Keane narrows his eyes on my lips, a small flash of anger sparkling through.
“Never.”
In a swift movement his hands grab my hips hard before he pulls me quickly off his body.
I gasp when a hand pushes against my back, the direction making me fall on my stomach into the sheets.
Keane quickly moves up to his knees, hand applying pressure to keep me in place before it settles between my shoulders, pinning me down below him.
I moan when his other hand shoves my slip up my waist, baring my ass for him.
“Tell me about your conversation,” he demands, fingers moving along my leg before they push against my thigh, spreading myself for him.
“Your vines,” I tell him with a shaky breath.
I tilt my head to the side to try to get a look at him, once again catching his heated eyes all over my body.
“My vines?” Keane’s voice is dripping in quiet amusement as his finger reaches for my center. “You told him about that? Naughty, Alexis.”