by Rachel Angel
“I agree,” I said.
He pulled me tightly to him, his hand firm on the small of my back.
I smiled as my hand lay on his strong, muscular shoulder. “You must have your share of young damsels throwing themselves at you, Prince Oliver. You certainly are a dashing young man.”
“Thank you. And yes, many damsels. Too many to count. But none that are very memorable.” He smiled and leaned in closer.
For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, and while I was, indeed, attracted to him, kissing me so soon, and in front of the entire ballroom, would be greatly inappropriate. But I needn’t fear. It was not my lips he sought, but my ear.
“By the way,” he whispered. “People that I like call me Ollie.”
“Okay,” I whispered back, looking playfully into his eyes. “Ollie.”
There was something about him that was different from all the other princes I had ever met. Yes, he was handsome, and regal and strong, but there was a glow to him; a shimmering light that danced around him. I had never seen a human with such a light in him.
The song came to an end and I pulled away and bowed my appreciation for the dance. “I’ll go check on my father to see if he needs any assistance.”
Ollie nodded and smiled.
As I walked about the banquet hall, smiling and briefly saying hello to the numerous guests in attendance, I couldn’t help but notice that neither Avery nor Axel had arrived. I’d felt certain they would be here… at least one of them would. I headed to the small balcony off the far end of the ballroom. Maybe they were outside. For a moment I stood on the threshold, hoping to see one of them in the darkening night.
“Are you looking for me?”
I turned to the voice hopeful.
“Ooh,” Prince Oliver said with dismay. “Apparently not.”
Though I knew it was too late, I nonetheless tried to hide my disappointment.
“It’s a beautiful night,” Ollie said. He took a gentle hold of my elbow and led me outside. “I do believe the moon should be out by now.”
The cool breeze was pleasant on my skin. The night sky was dark with millions of twinkling stars, but no moon.
“I think your moon may be late.”
“Just wait,” he said, leaning against the sturdy banister. “It should be coming up over that jagged island way over there.” He pointed to the far left, through the sole willow tree that grew there. “Just at the tip of that last branch, you’ll see a wonderful glow.”
I looked into his eyes, happy to bask in his glow.
He turned me around, directing me in the direction he promised the moon would rise.
“See there,” he said, pointing to the edge of the low hanging branches of the willow. “See that vague light. See how the moon is already lighting the sky.”
I looked as he directed and smiled. Indeed, the dark sky began to show signs of a faint glow.
“Just watch,” he whispered in my ear, his warm breath reaching deep inside of me.
I wanted to lean back, lean into his chest and have his arms wrapped around me.
“You know, every night the moon comes out a little later and later.”
“Is that true?” I said, turning to glance back at him.
“Yes.”
“I’ve never noticed.” Although I enjoyed walking under the moon light, I had never paid much attention to when it rose or set.
“Yeah,” Ollie said. “I guess I’m kind of a geek about that sort of thing. The moon, the stars, the galaxy; it all fascinates me.”
“I don’t think that makes you a geek. It makes you very interesting.”
He smiled, then whispered. “Look. It’s coming.”
I turned to see a bright line of white come up over that small distant island. The moon was just a bright sliver for a brief moment, but it grew and grew.
“I can’t believe how fast it’s coming up,” I said, staring at the glowing orb. “And I can’t believe how big and bright it is.”
A few moments more and its bright glow was reflected in the shimmering waters.
“That is quite a spectacle.” I glanced back at him. “I can’t believe I never paid attention to it before. I mean, I would see the moon up above at some point during the night, and I would even see in sometimes during the day, but I never thought more of it than that.”
“Well, I’ll make it a point to remind you to watch for it every chance I get. The blood moon can be particularly fascinating.”
I liked the sound of that. I liked the sound of him… a lot. Although we’d just met, I already felt so comfortable around him. I already looked forward to seeing him again, to talking to him again.
Chimes rang out, the delicate but persistent sound telling everyone that food was being brought out.
“Hungry?” I said to Ollie.
He licked his lips and looked hungrily at me. “Yes,” he said in a deep tone that resonated with lust.
“Father had our team of cooks work all day to treat us with a large variety of tasty treats.”
Looking deeply into my eyes, he smiled. “I’d say that your father created quite a lovely treat, oh, about nineteen years ago.”
I smiled. “I’ll be sure to tell my father that you approve.” I turned to lead him inside where we were instantly greeted by the delicious smells of Rosie’s concoctions.
Chapter 5
Violet
Rosie led an army of servers to the endlessly long table and set down the platter of artistically carved fruits that was to serve as the centerpiece.
Several pineapples were fashioned into tropical birds, strawberries, peaches and pears were flowers and the large watermelon served as a decorative bowl for many other smaller fruits.
Behind Rosie, her small army brought platters of bite-sized sliced roast pork, chicken and lamb, delicate cups of baby potatoes, baby carrots and snow peas. Trays of fresh bread, creamy butter were accompanied with jars of jellies and jams.
“Oh,” I said to Ollie. “Stay here. You just have to taste the pumpkin marmalade Rosie makes.”
I headed to the table, slathered a big chunk of warm fresh bread with the sweet marmalade and brought it back to Ollie.
“I’ll bet you anything that you’ve never had anything so delicious.” I held the piece of bread up to his mouth and he dutifully opened it to take a bite.
Smiling, he chewed on the bread and his brow went up. “Hmm. This really is good. I’m usually not a sweets type of person, but this is great.”
In addition to the table laden with so many delicious treats, more servers meandered through the noble crowd, offering tiny bite-sized delicacies. Shrimp, oysters and escargots. Smoked salmon, quail eggs and caviar.
I took a shrimp topped with dried tomatoes, a thin slice of pumpernickel topped with smoked salmon and an escargot on a thick crunchy cracker.
“Your cook certainly knows how to take advantage of the sea,” Ollie said. “I must admit that while, Mary, our cook is very talented, she doesn’t quite live up to this,” he said, popping an oyster topped cracker into his mouth.
“I’m sure Rosie would be pleased to hear that.”
Ollie blushed suddenly. “Please. Mary would be horrified if she ever learned I’d said that.”
I smiled at him. He was adorable. “Don’t worry,” I said, putting my hand to his cheek. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Reggie came up to us. “Hey, nice spread. I knew there would be good food, but this…” He held up the plate of roast oysters and cheese that he’d fixed himself. “I’ve had some good oysters in my life, but this beats them all. So succulent and so perfectly seasoned.”
“Wow,” I said. “Rosie is going to be floating on a cloud with all this praise. But keep some room in your belly for the main meal. You won’t be disappointed.”
“Your father should keep an eye on that Rosie of yours,” another handsome young prince said as he joined us. “Someone is likely going to try to steal her from you.”
“Ne
ver,” I said with a confident smile. “Rosie is as loyal as they come. She would never leave us.”
“Oh,” Ollie said. “But I can be very persuasive.”
“Don’t you dare,” I said with a laugh.
A strong, almost aggressive hand grabbed my wrists and pulled me away, making me drop my pumpernickel and salmon.
“What the hell…?” I said, then looked up to my aggressor. “Axel?”
His angry eyes met mine. Without saying a word, he pulled me out to the patio.
“What are you doing?” I said as I tried to pull free. “Axel!”
Once outside, he turned and pulled me into his arms, pinning my arms down and keeping me from fighting him off. He kissed me in a way that was more possessive than passionate. The hunger and urgency of the kiss was almost alarming.
“You’re mine,” he murmured into my hair. “Don’t ever forget that you are mine.” He brought his lips to my ear, down my neck just under the lace of my dress and down to my collarbone. His hungry kisses covered my skin until he found the soft fleshy part just below my ear. He sucked on it.
I tried to push him off. “Alex. Stop it.”
His grip tightened, keeping me close to him as he persisted in leaving his mark on me.
“Alex!” I disentangled my arms from his hold and smacked him on the side of the head.
“Hey!” he lamented. “I’m loving you and you hit me?”
“You’re not loving me, Alex. You’re marking me.”
“Well, yeah,” he said, completely oblivious to the problem with his action. “Did you see all those guys around you? Those princes who are all hungry to get to you? Damn it, Violet. What do you want me to do? Just sit back and let them have at you? Let them do to you what they will. They have to know that you’re mine.”
“In case you didn’t notice, I’m very capable of defending myself. These guys are not going to do anything to me that I don’t want them to do.”
“What are you saying? You want them to touch you?”
“Did you see any of them touch me?” I argued. “We were talking, Axel. This is a banquet. Every noble from every kingdom has come to meet and mingle and exchange stories.”
“You could exchange stories with the princesses instead of the princes. Why do you have to talk to the men? Let men talk with men.”
I grimaced at him, my eyes narrowed with anger and indignation. “I am free to speak to whomever I want, Axel.”
“Not if I have a say in it.”
Appalled by the very notion, I glared at him. “Then you don’t have a say, Axel. I will not be controlled; not by you or any other man. Even my father does not hold that degree of control over me.”
“Oh, yeah?” He put his hands over my shoulder blades and pulled me tightly to him, kissing me in a way that was far from pleasant. His teeth cut into my lips and the more I struggled to break free the more he held on tight and kissed hard. He pushed me up against the hard granite wall of the castle, knocking my head to the stone.
Damn, Axel, I thought as I continued to struggle. Don’t make me hurt you.
Just as I was about to knee him in the groin, I heard a loud smack.
“What the fuck?” Axel said. He let go of me and staggered back, his hand over the side of his face.
Before he could say more, another blow came, knocking him out. For a startled moment I looked down at him, lying there with a small trickle of blood coming from his lip. Then I looked to the source of the blow.
“Avery,” I said as I looked at Axel’s brother.
“I apologize for that sorry excuse of a brother… of a prince,” Avery said, tilting his head to Axel. “I can’t believe he would do that to you. I don’t know where he learned such brutal tactics. He should know better than to treat anyone like that.”
“I’ll admit he didn’t really impress me much with that move.” I ran my fingers over my sore lips then brought them over the mark he’d left on my neck.
“Even with the high collar of your dress, he managed to leave a bright red mark that everyone is sure to see,” Avery said.
“I guess I could let my hair down to hide it.”
He smiled. “I don’t think that would work.” He ran his finger over the sore mark, causing me to wince.
“You’re right.”
“Leaving his mark on you,” Avery scolded as he shook his head. “As if you were a piece of property.”
Dressed in his fine royal attire, something I’d rarely seen before, he was dashing and handsome. His jacket, dark blue, almost purple, was trimmed with gold. A shimmering gold scarf of silk was wrapped around his neck, under the lapel of his jacket. He pulled it off and gently wrapped it around my neck, hiding the mark his brother had left. “How’s that?”
“Gold and black,” I said, looking down at my tight black dress, now brightened by his scarf. “My favorite color combination.”
“By the way,” Avery said, taking a good look at me. “You look spectacular tonight.”
“Thank you. I’ll admit I’m going against the trend of flashy gowns, but… it’s me.”
“It certainly is.”
“What should we do about him?” I said, glancing down at Axel.
Avery seemed completely unconcerned as he waved dismissively at him. “Leave him there. He’ll wake in a few minutes.”
As if hearing us, Axel stirred and groaned.
“I don’t think he’s going to be very happy when he fully wakes up.”
Frowning, Avery shook his head. “Axel is never happy. This won’t change anything.”
“You’re not afraid he’ll retaliate when he discovers you hit him?”
He shrugged. “Better me than someone else. I’m his brother. It’s my job to keep him in line.”
“Is it now?”
He chuckled. “Yes,” he said with a playful smile. “It is an official part of my title as prince. I am to look over my little brother, as annoying and as obnoxious as he can be. Besides, think about it. If someone else had stepped in and pulled him off you, that person risked getting their head cut off, or perhaps even having war declared on their kingdom.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Come on,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s go back inside. I don’t want to be around when he wakes up.”
We went back inside, and I immediately noticed the looks of displeasure on the princes’ face. A few of them just unhappily looked away while Ollie seemed profoundly confused and hurt to see me with Avery.
“I think I just made myself a few jealous enemies,” Avery said.
“Don’t you always?” I said with a chuckle.
Humble as usual, Avery pressed a tight smile and reddened slightly.
“You know,” I said, trying to glance over my shoulder. “As angry as I am with Axel for what he did, I can’t help but worry about him. Maybe you hurt him more than you think.”
“No,” Avery said, turning to look at the door we’d just walked through. “Besides, look. He’s up now.”
I finally saw Axel come inside. He staggered slightly as he made his way to the table where his parents, the king and queen of Islandia sat. He rubbed his aching jaw as he went and seemed to be muttering angrily at no one in particular.
The queen looked at her bruised son with a disapproving shake of her head. Axel sat down beside her and for a moment she seemed angry as she quietly and discretely chastised him. But then her attention suddenly turned to her husband who seem uncomfortable and hot as he patted his brow with his linen napkin.
Chapter 6
Violet
The main attraction was brought in by Rosie who pushed a large cart up to the center of the ballroom; a huge roast pig surrounded with red and yellow potatoes, bright green broccoli and orange yams.
Servers brought in a delightful array of side dishes and other meats for those who preferred poultry or beef.
I sat with pride at the head table beside my father. “Isn’t she amazing,”
I told father.
“She’s the best.”
Rosie had worked so hard, as had her team, and now was her reward. Praise surrounded her as everyone tasted her culinary masterpieces, nodding their approval.
“I do believe you have the best cook of all the kingdoms,” Avery said as he tried Rosie’s special sauce on his slice of pork.
“That’s certainly what I always say.”
He picked up a small roasted cherry tomato and looked at it. “I never thought something as simple as a tomato could taste so good.” He held it out to me, right in front of my mouth, but as I opened my mouth to take his offering, he popped it into his own mouth.
I laughed. “Tease!” I said.
His warm thigh came to rest against mine, heating me up and making me suddenly so acutely aware of my need to get closer to him.
“Tease?” he said with a sly grin. He picked up another roasted tomato and brought it to my lips.
Refusing to open my mouth again, he ran the warm red fruit over my lips.
“Come on,” he whispered. “You know you want it.”
While I had piled on the potatoes and broccoli, I’d neglected to take any of the tomatoes as the platters of food had gone around.
Resolutely, I kept my mouth shut. Avery brought the tomato back to his own lips but instead of eating it, he kissed it, and licked it before bringing it back to my lips again.
“How can you resist?” he whispered.
I parted my lips slightly.
“Yeah. I knew you would cave.”
I quickly gripped the softened tomato between my teeth.
Avery’s eyes widened with sudden alarm just as I bit down on the tomato, sending seeds and tomato juice squirting in his direction before taking the entire fruit in my mouth.
Giggling and laughing, I leaned into him.
“Did I mess up your beautiful suit?” I said to him, still giggling.
“No,” he said, forcing a stern glare. “You just missed me.” His stern glare quickly turned to an amused grin.
“Besides, you kind of brought it on yourself,” I said.
Avery nodded and brought his knife and fork to my plate. “Let me make it up you. I’ll cut your meat for you.”
