"We will fight as hard as we can. We will be victorious."
"You don't know that!" I stood, pacing the room.
My cheeks burned as my body grew warmer.
"Evelyn, why are you doubting now?"
"It's not just now. I've had doubts for quite some time. There is no guarantee anyone will return alive. My mother was lucky to survive. I was lucky to survive. They are powerful immortals."
"As are we."
"We're not though. If anything happens to either of our dra..."
He placed one of his warm, calloused fingers to my soft lips. Trying not to look into his eyes, I couldn't resist. They drew me in and there were instant tears that sprung up, trailing down my cheeks. My body shuddered as he pulled me close once again.
"I'm afraid," I whispered between sobs.
"I know, Evelyn. I am too."
"You don't show it though."
"I'm a future king, I must be strong."
I snorted and looked down at my shoes. "I'm a future queen, what does that say about me?"
"That you are a wise woman. You stay strong when you need to be and are weak with those you trust. You will be a wonderful queen."
"I'll never be as amazing as my mother. I'll never as wise as she is."
"You already are, now shush." He leaned his head down to mine, pressing his firm lips to mine.
His hot breath filled my mouth as his wet tongue parted my lips, invading as if he were conquering some foreign land once again. His eyes closed as a soft moan escaped his throat. The vibrations of his noises tickled my lips and tongue. The sensation was quite remarkable and enjoyable. Wrapping my own arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair doing my best to be as close to him as possible. He grabbed frantically at my skirts, lifting them frantically as he guided me to the expansive bed.
"James..."
He stopped the frantic pawing at my clothing and composed himself, straightening his jacket and trousers.
"Forgive me, lady." He turned quickly and strode for the door.
"You don't always have to leave when we become so enamored with one another."
"But I must, my dearest Ellie."
"Why?" I pleaded.
"I'm afraid what I may do if I do not leave your sight."
"What could you possibly do?" I inquired.
"Not contain myself. I desire you above all other women and possessions in this world. I have such an intense craving for you, Evelyn. There is nothing I want more than to be immersed in your body."
My cheeks flushed once again as a familiar ache formed between my thighs at the thought of finally having James. All of him.
"I also have that urge. There is nothing I ache for more than to feel you flush against my own body. To be rid of the barrier of clothing and formalities. To express the love I have for you one a more physical level."
He stepped toward the bed, daring to be within arms distance of me. "Do hold tightly to the traditions of not having contact prior to our marriage?"
"I did. I always thought it would be a magical night after my vows were exchanged with my husband."
"Do you wish to wait?" he inquired, kneeling on the bed beside me.
"The longer I am near you and alone with you, no. Waiting seems to be such a foolish thing when we are already betrothed. We are to wed. I shall be your wife. You shall be my husband. It is not only written as a peace agreement, but I agree with every fiber of my being that I will be your wife."
"I have to confess something to you, Evelyn."
"What?"
"I may be crazy, but I am madly in love with you. A love that I never thought was possible. You have encompassed every part of me. There is nothing I won't do to make you happy or keep you safe. You have become my entire reason for living and breathing. The moment I wake up I think of you. When I lay in my chamber awaiting slumber I see your face." He trailed the back of his hand down the side of my face, examining every inch of me. "My heart aches with each moment we are apart. I love you, Evelyn."
Another, happier, tear slid down my cheek as I grasped his hand.
"I can't begin to tell you how incredibly happy that makes me to hear you say that. I feared for the day my parents would force me to marry. Seeing all the other ladies of my kingdom married off to the highest bidder, it was a fate I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to endure. When they first announced their intentions on having us marry, I must admit, I had my reservations. I have never been happier to be wrong in my entire life."
We sat on the bed, embracing one another for quite some time. My heart sped up as his fingers touched the exposed skin on my shoulders, but I didn't flinch or pull back.
I allowed him to work his hands to the hem of my dress, pushing it up to my knees. His hands stroked my calves, slowly moving up. My breath hitched as he reached my knees.
"Are you sure this is something you want to do?" he asked.
"Yes. Of course."
He leaned forward, covering my mouth with his again, as he fumbled with the stays of my bodice. As it slid from my body, I lay back against the pillows, chewing my bottom lip allowing him to drink in my image.
"I've only dreamt of this moment."
"How do you like what you see?"
"It's even more amazing than what I'd imagined. You have the most amazingly beautiful porcelain skin I've ever seen."
I allowed him to maneuver between my legs, pushing my skirts about so he could kneel above me. Being in such close and naked proximity to a man was a new experience. One I rather enjoyed. James lowered himself atop of my naked breast. His silk shirt felt cool and soft against my still warm skin. He brushed a few stray strands of hair out of my face and kissed me for a long while. The urgent need to have this man inside of me subsided as a longing to have him be mine emerged.
I let him push my hands above my head with one hand as the other ran up and down my side. He closed his eyes and let his head fall on the pillow beside mine.
"Let's wait."
Closing my eyes, I smiled. "Okay."
We didn't move though. We remained entwined within each other, lying on the bed.
Chapter thirty-two
"Oh my heavens!"
Charlene tugged on my arm as I lay there. "What?"
"Evelyn, wake up! The king is in your bed and your mother is coming up!"
"Oh! James!" I pushed him with all my might till he fell out of the bed.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"My mother!"
"Mother?" he asked sleepily, looking around. "Oh, Mother!"
He jumped up and ran for the door with Charlene and I close behind. He stopped short as the door handle turned.
"Shit," he muttered.
"What do we do?" I asked, looking around frantically.
"My room. Hide in there," Charlene whispered, pushing James toward the connecting door.
Just as she shut the door behind him, mine flew ope.
"Evelyn, are you still asleep?"
"No, Mother. I am awake."
"Good, good. I've been thinking a lot about your wedding."
"My wedding? Already? I'd much rather..."
"Shush now, child."
Rolling my eyes, I turned toward the bureau to find something to change in to. Charlene placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. She saw my jaw clenching and unclenching. The irritation my mother caused at times was overwhelming.
"Mother, really now, why is there such a rush? James and I have plenty of time to wed."
"Darling girl, it is time. Procrastinating the wedding will do no one well. You shall marry the king in a weeks time."
"A week? A week! How am I to prepare for a wedding in a weeks time?" I asked in a near panic.
"You are not planning this wedding. Everything is already arranged. There is more help arriving from England in a days time."
"Mother."
"This is not up for discussion, Evelyn. A se
amstress shall be around in an hours time to begin on your gown."
"But..."
"No. My word is final."
I slumped onto the bed and stared out the window. The connecting door squeaked open as James approached me. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, James. It's my mother. She's so domineering. She's so much like my grandmother no matter how much she denies it, just a little nicer."
"We don't have to wed."
Shaking my head, I sighed heavily. "No, we will. I'm not arguing with her and I do want to be your wife. I just wanted to focus on Charlene."
She dropped to her knees in front of me, a smile plastered on her beautiful face. "Do not worry for me. I can take care of myself."
I shook my head hard enough that curls bounced about my shoulders. "No! You are not to take care of yourself! I will. I'm not just your lady. I'm your friend. You're my best friend."
"Then we'll take care of each other. Let me help you with your wedding, then you help me with mine."
Nodding my head, we knew it was the only thing to do. As much as I wanted to wait, that wasn't going to happen. Mother would have her way. James grasped my hands in his and turned toward me. He kissed my cheek lightly and stood.
"I love you, Evelyn. I shall see you shortly, I believe it is time I go wash up as you should do."
As he left my room a tall, statuesque woman waltzed in followed by half a dozen other ladies carrying cloth and jewels. Charlene and I stood, staring at the woman as she barked out orders to the younger women. They organized and lined up all the fabrics along tables. A mannequin was set up near the window with pins stuck in the body. The body resembled some sort of torture device.
"Princess Evelyn, I am Lilliana."
"Charlene?"
"Princess Evelyn, please approach."
I glanced at my friend who's brows were arched as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Princess Evelyn," she repeated.
"Yes, of course. I'm sorry." I moved toward the woman, hesitant about what was going to happen.
She snapped her fingers and the other girls quickly removed my sleeping gown. I stood there in the nude, surprised by the brazenness they had with a royal.
"Oh!" Charlene exclaimed.
"I must protest," I began.
"Shh," Lilliana said, perusing the fabrics.
She held up a dull white, rough looking material. She motioned to the girls, who picked it up and immediately draped it over my body. Thankfully it was softer than it looked. Lilliana nodded her head in approval. The girls began pinning and cutting the fabric to fit my body. Before my eyes the shapeless cloth began to look like clothing. The head of the entourage held up a strange looking spool of cloth I'd never seen before. It had holes all through it and appeared to be very delicate.
Lilliana noticed me staring and held it out so I could see. "It's called lace. It's relatively new and it's from Venice. Yours could be the first gown I make out of it."
"It's very lovely."
"It's very fragile."
She placed it back on the table and piked up a beautiful red satin. Holding them up together she smiled contently as though she had just created a master piece. Two of the girls hurried over when she snapped her fingers and followed with intent eyes as she described what she wanted done. The furrowed their brows and nodded at every word she said.
In a whirl of nimble hands, occasionally being stuck with a pin, and shears coming entirely too close to my skin; a gown began to form around my body. The fabrics were soft and cradled me like a lovers embrace. Just as quickly as they'd arrived, they were gone and I once again stood in the middle of my chambers nude.
"Well I never!" Charlene explained.
"That woman was intimidating. I've never been treated in sch a way, but that gown will be gorgeous."
"Let's get you dressed."
I nodded and went behind my privacy screen as Charlene handed me undergarments. Walking around the screens I nearly jumped out of my skin when Elizabeth burst through the doors. Gasping, Charlene dropped the lovely red and black day dress she'd chosen for me. The front of Elizabeth's dress was covered in blood.
"What happened?" I ran to her as she collapsed to the ground. "Are you hurt?"
"Th-the servants. All dead." She weeped in my arms.
"What servants? What happened, Elizabeth? Are you hurt?"
"Not my blood. I went out to the stable to fetch a horse for an afternoon ride." She stopped talking and sobbed uncontrollably. The blood that splattered her porcelain face streaked down her cheeks.
"Elizabeth!"
"I didn't see their faces, Evelyn. I didn't know what to do. I froze while they killed them all."
"They didn't kill you?" Charlene asked.
"They didn't see me." She closed her eyes as more tears flowed down her cheeks. "I hid. I hid while they all died!"
"No. Don't you dare think like that. You're alive." I hugged the shaking girl as Charlene joined us.
I broke the embrace and stood. Grabbing a simple gown meant for staying in the castle and ran down the hall.
"Where are you going?" Charlene called after me.
"To the stables. I have to find out what happened."
I ran down the stairs, the hallway, and through the kitchen. Stopping once I hit the grass the breath left my body. Blood covered the yard. Blood and bodies. There were so many bodies strewn about such a small area.
"What happened?" I asked, tip-toeing to James.
He held his shoulder, which dripped a significant amount of blood. "I don't know. I heard screaming and came out. Someone came running past, slicing my arm. It was too late though. Everyone was dead."
"Who did this?"
He tried to shrug his shoulders but winced in pain. "I don't know."
"I do," Mother said, hugging me.
"Who?"
"It was the Guild."
"How? They should be immobilized."
"Evelyn, nothing we do will deter them. Nothing until they are dead."
"Then we will kill them. Sooner rather than later."
"Haven't you learned, Evelyn? We can't kill them. I've tried. You've tried. It doesn't work!"
"We have the dragons help this time. We have...oh no. Draco!"
I ran to the large barn off to the side and threw open the doors. Nothing seemed amiss. The floors were dirty and strewn with hay as always. The musty air seemed different though. It had the slight hint of blood. My heart dropped as I looked around for a dead dragon.
No. I would be dead if he were dead. He's okay.
I searched the barn for the smell. Keeping it in my head that Draco was fine. As I neared the back of the barn, the smell grew stronger. I closed my eyes and opened the closet door I'd used to change. Holding my breath, I opened my eyes.
There lay the stable master. His throat slit, eyes wide open. I knelt beside him and slid his eyelids close.
The poor man. Such a good servant to all.
I hurried out the back doors and looked about for Draco. The grass was scorched and three burned bodies lay in crumpled heaps.
"They're the culprits," a hot breath said from above.
"You're okay."
"Kind of."
He shimmered into view and jumped down to me. He wasn't okay. Blood poured from a wound in his shoulder and from his back.
"Draco!"
"It'll be alright."
I ran to him and examined the cuts he had sustained.
"What can I do to help? I know there's something."
"They will heal."
"No, Draco. What can I do to help you?" I asked hugging the big, scaly beast.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, landing on a small gash on his chest. Amazingly, it closed before my eyes.
"Well that's different," he said watching as well.
"My tears? My tears help you?"
&n
bsp; "I guess so. We are bonded."
"I need to cry." I started working myself up as he laid down on the scorched earth.
Climbing onto his back I let all the feelings I'd held in come out. The tears flowed easily. The ran down my cheeks and onto his body. He illuminated a brilliant blue as the healing from my body took over his. His warmth enveloped me and together we rose toward the sky. My simple dress was replaced with the most beautiful blue armor, bows seemed to form out of nowhere that were made of bone and dragon scale. The muscly beast beneath me grew in size, his scales shined in the sunlight and was something beautiful amongst all the carnage.
Now was the time to fight. Not time for weddings.
As we lowered to the ground my mother, father, James, and Charlene emerged from the barn. Charlene let a gasp before collapsing to the ground. Mother shook her head, father watched, and James stared in awe. My skin tingled beneath the new armor. I slid from Draco's back and inspected his battered body. Not a single cut or gash could be found.
"How?" I asked.
"What was that?" James asked.
"I don't know and I don't know," Draco replied to both of us.
"I thought you already bonded," my mother said, circling the both of us.
I nodded my head. "We did. This was different. Very different."
"What happened?" she continued.
"He was hurt during the attack, but managed to defeat the intruders." I pointed to the charred bodies still lying behind him. "I was scared and confused. I knew he couldn't have been dead because I'm still alive. When I cried some of my tears landed on his wounds. He started to heal. I climbed on his back and that happened."
"Did you bond again?"
I shrugged my shoulders, looking down at the magnificent new armor. "Maybe we had a deeper bond. I healed you instead of you healing me."
"Maybe," Draco replied, nodding his head.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Mother. Now is the time we fight. I know you want me to marry immediately, but it's going to have to wait."
"Absolutely not. The wedding will go on."
"No. We can't." I shook my head and pursed my lips into tight lines.
"Why not?" she asked. "What excuse do you have this time?"
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 19
