by Daya Daniels
I stiffen, realizing she’d just read my thoughts. “This is impossible…”
Terra makes her way around the chamber, moving past me as if I’m not even standing here and invading her strange space. Then she glances over her shoulder at me wearing a clever smile. “Please sit and stay a while. If you do, I promise you, Princess Briar, that I will show you many impossible things…”
Alexander
I SIT ON THE throne where I remain many nights lingering in this dark room and gazing out the massive window with my eyes fixed on Raven Forest. With my shoulders slumped, I inhale a breath and continue to fiddle with the weighty crown held in my hand.
Heavy.
Beautiful.
The weight of the world hangs from my pinky finger.
A little laugh rumbles through me.
I cannot sleep.
So, as of lately, instead of bedding one of the servant girls which does nothing to soothe me, this is what I have decided to do.
The creak of the massive gilded doors across the room forces my head to rise.
Pale fingers curl around the edge of it and slowly the door is pushed open.
Something tickles my heart and a smile almost perches on my lips, but it dies an immediate death when I see the worry etched into Briar’s fine features.
“Alexander.” With her hands kept closer to her chest, her eyes search the darkness.
“Yes, I am here.” Slowly, I rise, still holding tightly onto the crown.
“Oh.” She steps closer.
She is mesmerizing beneath the moonlight which paints white stripes across the polished wooden floor.
I eye her over and smile at the sight of her in such a simple dress. Her hair has fallen out of its pinned-up style and her thick plait hits her lower back. She makes no move to right herself. I don’t wish her to. She is perfect imperfection lingering ahead of me, trembling and with eyes which are infected with worry.
“Please do not rise for me.” Her voice is but a whisper in the silent air.
A deep laugh rattles my chest. “Now, Princess Briar, that is a little difficult.” I peer south.
Briar stiffens and then slaps a hand over her mouth to stifle her soft giggle.
A smile tugs at my lips as I allow her to ogle the swollen appendage which calls her name.
She almost moves to twist away from me.
“Don’t-you-dare, Princess Briar.” All lightheartedness dashes from this opulent room.
Her shoulders fall. “I am sorry, Your Majesty.”
I grin. “Please call me Alexander.”
Her eyes twinkle annoyance/amusement. “Alexander.”
I sink back down to the throne and make myself comfortable in the chair. “What brings you here at this ungodly hour?” Canting forward, I regard the woman standing in front of me with curiosity. “Surely, it is not because you could not sleep.”
“No.” With trembling hands, her chin lifts and tears fill her eyes. “It is not.”
I wait patiently for her to speak.
Keeping her head low, she fiddles with her fingers. “I met her.” Her chin rises.
My head tilts dramatically to the side.
Be still my beating heart…
This woman is more courageous than I have ever given her credit for.
Once again, she has surprised me.
“I met Terra.”
“I see.”
She swallows hard and gazes out the window. “Only you and I can see the ravens...”
“Yes.”
“And you have always known that?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
My fingers rake through my hair. “They often say self-discovery is a precious gift, Princess Briar.”
Her brows crash together.
I regard her before I say more, and then I do. “I will never force anything on you which you are not prepared to embrace, Princess Briar.”
Briar
HE SITS HIGH ABOVE me on the throne, bare-chested and glorious beneath the darkness.
A thick lock of his hair tumbles across his forehead and he regards me with those eyes.
“If I was not prepared to embrace it then, Alexander, what makes you think I am willing to embrace it now?”
The crown dangles from his thick fingers. “Because you have no choice, Princess Briar.”
I glare at him, absorbing his words which are truth, then I press a hand to my chest, feeling where my beloved ghost orchid has remained, providing me comfort. “How do you know this, Alexander?”
He stretches his long legs out, showing off his beautiful bare feet. “Your future has always been tethered to mine. I have always known that. And I think deep down maybe you have too, although you refuse to admit it to yourself.” He silences for a moment as his gray eyes sweep over me in the most consuming way. “After all, you are the woman of my nightmares….” He laughs a little.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
His pecs flex and all the muscles in his abs tighten in the most delicious way as he shifts to a proper sitting position. “Yes, it is.”
All my weight shifts to one hip and I do not make any attempt to hide my annoyance. “How so?”
He runs a hand over his beard. “No woman occupies my mind.”
I breathe.
He remains silent, searching my eyes for what I cannot name and then he speaks. “But you come to me in my sleep, Princess Briar. You have slipped into my unconsciousness and have made your home there. And now, no matter how hard I try, I cannot get you out.” He stares at the bejeweled crown in his grip.
“You believe it is fate?”
His head lifts. “No, I do not believe in fate. Only fools leave their lives to fate.” He exhales. “I believe it is something more.”
Something more?
“Something that transcends time, lives, entire universes, Briar. There is a reason you have come to me.”
My face scrunches. “I do not understand.”
“Maybe in time you will.” So much hope laces his words.
I attempt to rub warmth into my arms by caressing them.
Alexander eyes the action curiously. “Are you cold?”
“Yes.” I examine his naked chest in wonderment as to how he can withstand the chill.
There is no fire in here, no warmth. This room is so, so cold.
Alexander lazily places the crown atop his head, snatches up his robe and before I can refuse it is wrapped around me, cloaking me in much-needed warmth.
Craning my neck, I peer up into his face as he continues to arrange the lush fabric around me. “Thank you, Alexander.”
His thumb and index finger clutch my chin and instead of offering me words, he simply nods.
“If you had this, why aren’t you wearing it?”
“I don’t mind the cold.” It is a lie, but I do not accuse him of that expected transgression.
We stand, staring at each other and breathing the same air without saying so much as a word.
“It is wonderful to have you here still at Berkhamsted Castle, Briar.” He smiles.
“As you know, I have considered leaving many times, but something has always kept me here.”
Perhaps, the tether to you…
The commitment to the scenic garden which I can never free myself of.
My work on behalf of the King and the House of Montforthe-Bryon for the people.
Perhaps, because of my undying love for England.
A grunt is his response. “It was never intended for you to leave this castle. This is your home.”
“I know.”
He cups my cheek with his warm hand. “Good.”
Allowing my eyes to fall shut and breathing the unique scent of Alexander’s skin in, I revel in this moment. Us. Alone. Surrounded by so much of what we speak nothing of. He urges me to come closer and I do. Lifting his muscular arms, he removes th
e crown from his head and gently places it on top of mine.
The weight of it all threatens to crush me.
Alexander
MY MOUTH NEARS BRIAR’S ear and I must fight all my filthy inclinations to take the lobe between my teeth and suck on it.
Her chest moves violently when she inhales and waits, waits, waits for me to speak.
I take my own sweet time with gifting her with my words, but eventually, I do. “Heavy is the head which wears the crown…”
Her pretty eyes regard me. “The weight…”
I am trapped by her gaze.
Her hand rises to touch the jeweled piece. “It is so resplendent.”
“Yes.”
She frowns. “But, it is heavy…as you just said.”
“Yes, it is.” I cup her cheek with my hand. “But, you look utterly regal wearing it.”
“It is not mine, Alexander, it is yours…”
Laughing softly, I work to remove the crown from Briar’s head and set it down on the throne gently and then I make my way back to her. We stand in the cloaking and heavenly silence for a while…
“I am worried, Alexander.”
So am I.
“What would a woman like you have to be worried about, Briar?” I encourage her to look around and to appreciate all the wealth and comfort and safety which surrounds her.
Could a woman ever ask for more?
It is quite a loaded question I ask myself because I know that this woman undoubtedly wants more…
But it is not more than I can give.
In fact, it is precisely what I offer…
She laughs. “Well, for starters being pursued by a man like you…”
My head jerks back and I feign insult. “A man like me.”
“Yes.”
I let out a grunt. “And what kind of man would you presume I am…”
“I’ve known you for long enough, Alexander…” She gives me the side-eye. “I know what kind of man you are.” I debate the meaning of her words which are filled with caution. But still, I find desire in her orbs as she takes in the sight of my naked skin, adoring the sight for much longer than is reasonably necessary.
I step closer and gift her with a close-up view of my flesh.
The tip of a nervous tongue darts from her mouth and sweeps across her pouty lips leaving them wet. Slowly, her eyes skate over my stomach, my chest, and then my face where they settle on my gaze. “I am afraid, Alexander.” Reaching out, the tips of her fingers tease my skin. “I have been afraid my entire life.” Up and down they glide. “But, I am not afraid of you...” Those fingers of hers tease the sparse line of hair which runs down the middle of my chest and to my lower belly which then disappears to my…
Seeming surprised by her own desires, immediately, she stops.
A low laugh rumbles through me—one of pride and utter satisfaction.
The shock which slaps her features never goes away.
I peer down at her. “Why did you stop?”
She blinks.
“Your hands are so warm.”
“I thought you didn’t care about the warmth.”
A smirk passes over my lips and I choose not to respond.
I inch closer, closer, closer until we are almost chest to chest. Dipping down, my nose falls to her sweet-scented hair. I do not resist the urge to breathe it all in loudly because everything her seems to feed my soul exactly what it needs. She doesn’t move. She doesn’t back away. She allows me to take what I need.
And I need so fucking much…
“We are tethered, Briar.”
“I am aware.” She looks up at me with adoration and fear swirling around in her eyes.
“Do I desire you more than you desire me?” I slant my head to the side, wanting nothing but the truth to spill from her lips yet knowing that if it’s not the answer I want, I just might burn down this grand room, patiently.
“No.” It is the truth.
“Good, because my heart could not take your refusal.”
She smiles.
Cupping her head in my hands and pulling her close, I kiss her forehead just once and let her go.
She stands in the middle of the room, baffled, regarding me with confusion in her eyes.
“It was all I needed to know, Briar…”
She lingers for a little while before she turns away and strides toward the massive doors.
I find my seat on the throne once more, place the crown atop my head, and let out a breath.
Halting her footsteps, Briar spins on her heel. “Alexander.”
“Yes.”
“I am heading off to bed now.”
I nod.
“I wish you pleasant dreams.” It is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.
But just the thought of any such thing occurring is a dream in and of itself…
“Thank you.”
Her head lowers. “I have much to tell you tomorrow…important matters.”
It is not necessary…
Her beautiful eyes well up with tears for just a moment as she manages to keep them from spilling down her cheeks. “We should talk tomorrow.” Her soft voice quavers.
“Yes, I understand.” I regard her for a while, seeing the emotions drift off her.
Sadness and rage.
Fear and desire.
Hesitation and anxiousness.
It stains every pale inch of her features.
But I do not question…
She lingers as if what she wishes to say just might explode from her mouth, but her fear stops it from ever leaving the beautiful thing. Caution races across her pretty features. But determination is behind them too. Still, she remains silent.
I smile. “Good night, Briar.”
“Good night, Alexander.” And with that, she is gone.
I am once again left alone with my thoughts of the black rats and my fear that they will consume England.
Slumping deeper into the throne—a chair which many generations of great men, my blood, once sat in when they ruled this country through all its dark times—I sigh. With eyes fixed on Raven Forest, I think of that old evil hag Terra and ask myself the very question which had crossed my mind so long ago. “What in God’s name are you up to?”
CHAPTER
IV
Briar
A FORTNIGHT LATER…
“Why didn’t you just tell him, Briar?” Vesper edges close to me where we sit at the edge of the bed.
Keeping my head low, I shake it a little as a tear slips down my cheek. “I don’t know.” I gaze into her browns. “He just looked so sad sitting there in that dark room and on that gaudy throne and alone. He just seemed sad. I couldn’t bear the thought of making his mood worse. How do I tell him I have solid information that his mother killed his father, Vesper?” I wipe away another tear. “But, I will tell him. I have to.” My fingers curl in my hand. “Hayden deserves justice. I can’t shoulder the thought they will get away with this.”
“I am sorry, dear sister.” She lays her head on my shoulder.
“I am sorry too.” I palm the side of her head, adoring her soft hair against my skin.
“You loved him.”
I still do. I still do. I still do.
“Yes, Vesper, I loved him.” I suck in a breath. “I will never stop loving him.”
She sits up straighter and regards me with big eyes. “As you know, I have never known love like that, you know, with a man.” Her gaze fixes on the window and all the gray beyond. “But I would love to.”
“You would deserve it, Vesper.”
She takes my hand in hers. “I have been with men before, but never one I’ve loved. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to know that the hand which touches you would never hurt you.” She shuts her eyes for a moment. “The man I first lay with was so cruel, Briar. He was the master of the household. I had no choice. I was in the stables one early morn
ing tending to the horses and filling their hay barrels.” Her lashes flutter and her eyes close momentarily as if she’s trying to force away the memory. “And he just took me.” Her bottom lips quivers. “Right there in the stables, he pounced.” She grits her teeth. “I fought him, Briar, I did. I tore at his flesh with my fingernails. I attempted to gouge his eyeballs out. I screamed. I squealed like the pigs too. And I almost won. I almost won the battle to keep my purity.” Her shoulders fall. “But one slap delivered with his large hand practically knocked me unconscious and all I could do was lie there, bleeding and sobbing as he took me over and over and over again. His wife rushed to where we were embattled. Whether it was to stop him simply from lying with me or to put a halt to the violence he was carving into my flesh, I do not know…But she could do nothing either because, with animalistic viciousness, master put his open palm to the side of her cheek too and she went flying toward the stable door and practically shattered like glass with the impact. Then she crawled away as injured as I was and hobbled back into the house, leaving me beneath the weight of his heavy frame and eager ministrations and rutting against me with fury.” Sorrow fills Vesper’s eyes.
“I am sorry.” I squeeze her hand.
And I can see it all sketched into every line put there when her forehead wrinkles.
It is pain.
It is sadness.
It is resentment aimed at Mother.
It is longing for a father we loved so much who we lost.
Vesper searches my eyes one more time and I know she finds the same in my orbs.
I only nod, confirming that my heart has always been empty of the same things. I too have suffered. But certainly not as much as Vesper has. When we lost Father, we lost Mother too. And when we lost each other, in some way, we lost a bit of ourselves.
But I am here now, Vesper.
We are together again never to part.
A crisp breeze whips past the window.
Vesper’s eyes settle on the vase of blue hyacinth which rests on the mantle above the crackling fireplace. “I worry that Alexander will steal your heart, Briar, and make a mess of it.” Her eyes hold assurance.
“No, never.”
