by C. J. Pinard
40
Alexander walked through the woods, near his family’s home. He knew he was dreaming because the castle was still in pristine shape and he’d personally helped to demolish it.
“Alexander.”
He turned toward the voice and felt his blood run cold.
It was Angelique.
She held out a sealed piece of parchment.
“What is that?” he asked, making no move toward her.
“The answer you seek.”
“To what?”
“To end the curse.”
He walked over and took it from her. Ripping it open, he couldn’t read what was inside because the words were illegible. He looked up and was about to inform her when he noticed a different woman standing in her place. She had jet-black hair, pale skin, and eyes the color of amethyst.
“Do not fear me. I’m here to help you,” she said softly.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Someone who wants to help you save your family and kingdom from extinction.”
“You want to help end the curse?”
“Yes. But, only you can end it. You, your brothers, and Mariselle.”
Confused, he asked what she meant.
“When Angelique cursed your family, she added a passage your mother didn’t hear.”
“I don’t understand. What passage?”
“I’m not allowed to tell you, but if you pay Quillon a visit, he’ll figure things out for you.”
Quillon was said to be a prophet, although Alexander had never met the man. Many believed he was just a crazy old coot who drank too much and talked out of his ass.
“Why can’t you just tell me?” he asked, watching as she began to disappear before his eyes.
She ignored him. “Quillon will tell you how to break the curse. It won’t make sense, but you must believe him and you must talk your brothers into working with you. It will be hardest for Griffin, but you must make him understand that there is no other way.”
“Why will it be the hardest for him?”
“Because he already loves her,” she replied and then disappeared completely.
Alexander woke up and stared at the ceiling. The dream had seemed so lifelike. He wondered if there was anything to it, but then shrugged it off. It was just a dream. The curse would be broken once Mariselle became pregnant. He was sure of it.
He sighed and took a deep breath.
Why the hell does it smell like Jasmine in here?
Turning over, he stared in shock when he saw the apparition standing next to him. It was the woman with from his dream.
“Talk to Quillon,” she whispered, her eyes burning into his. “And remember… it’s the only way.”
Before he could question her, she disappeared.
Shaken, he stood up and waved his hand through the flowery-scented air, wondering if it was possible that he was still in the midst of a dream.
Alexander grabbed the jug of wine sitting next to his bed and poured himself a cup. Although he was pissed at Gaylen, it was times like this that he really needed to know what the hell was going on. He wasn’t about to seek out Quillon. Not now at least. It would be the very last resort.
41
THE NEXT MORNING, Mariselle woke up alone in Griffin’s chamber. Not knowing what else to do, she snuck back to her own room, where Shawna and June were already waiting for her. Fortunately, they didn’t ask why she’d been wandering the castle in just a chemise.
“Could you please draw me a bath?” she asked them, wanting to soothe the ache between her legs. Griffin had made love to her twice more after the first time, and all she wanted to do was soak in the tub to relieve the soreness.
“Of course, Milady,” Shawna said, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
After preparing the tub, the two women left and Mariselle undressed and climbed inside. She closed her eyes and was starting to drift away, when she heard someone enter her bedchamber.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said, relieved to find King Griffin standing above her.
With a smirk, he stuck his hand inside the warm water and caressed her breast. “Expecting someone else?”
“No,” she replied, as he circled her puckered nipple with his finger and then pinched it. “Ah.”
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Mariselle?” he asked, drinking in her nakedness.
She smiled up at him. “I may have been told by you once or twice last night. Of course, it was in the heat of the moment. I’ve heard men will say anything if it will get them what they want.”
Frowning, he looked her in the eye. “I meant it. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Even more so than Georgina?”
He grunted. “There is no comparison. If I could make you my queen, I would jump at the chance.”
Her smile fell. After everything that had happened, he wasn’t going to make an honest woman out of her, apparently.
“Don’t look at me like that, Mariselle,” he said, frowning. “My hands are tied in this matter. It was why I didn’t want to bed you in the first place. I knew you wanted more than what I could give you.”
“And yet, you did,” she replied, trying to hide the hurt as she cupped water and let it flow over her shoulders.
“You didn’t give me much choice,” he said. “You provoked me into taking you.”
She laughed harshly and looked into his infuriatingly handsome face. “Really? So, it was all my fault?”
Griffin ran a hand through his hair briskly and sighed. “Look, let’s not argue about this. What’s done is done. It was an amazing night. The most amazing night, to be honest. I hope you don’t regret it.”
She didn’t regret the sex. The truth was, it had been better than she could have possible imagined. Even now she wanted his hands and mouth on her body. What she regretted was imagining that he was strong enough to leave the queen. “And what happens if I get pregnant? Will you admit the child is yours to Georgina?”
He was silent for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, Mariselle. I will claim the babe as being mine.”
She relaxed. “And, what will happen to me?”
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes. For now,” he dipped his fingers back into the water and gave her a wicked grin, “let’s forget about the queen and enjoy the moment.”
She slapped it away. “From what it sounds like, moments will be all we have,” she said, her heart heavy. Somehow, she’d thought that what had happened between them would have changed everything. Knowing now that she’d been naïve to think so, Mariselle decided that she wasn’t going to let her feelings for him get in the way of what was right. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s whore. Marriage is what she wanted, and at least Alexander had promised it to her. The truth was, Mariselle was starting to fancy Alexander almost as much as Griffin. Especially after the conversation the two were having at the moment. She could at least try to be true to Alexander from now, especially if he might very well end up being her husband.
“You knew that last night,” he said, his eyes dipping below her neck again. “I never promised you anything.”
She covered her breasts with her hand and tried again. “You promised me a husband. Since you can’t give that to me, perhaps Alexander can.”
His silvery-blue eyes burned with jealousy. Instead of giving her the answer she wanted, Griffin took a step back and nodded reluctantly. “Yes. Perhaps he can and should. I’ll leave you to your bath.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, trying not to cry.
42
GRIFFIN STORMED OUT of Mariselle’s chamber angry, more with himself than anything. He’d known that touching her was going to be a bad idea. Now she was already becoming an obsession with him and he knew that handing her over to Alexander was going to make him crazy.
“Hey, brother. Bad night?”
Speak of the devil…
He turned around and saw Alexander approaching.
“A sleep
less one,” he admitted, relaxing. There was no point in taking his anger out on his brother.
“Me, too,” Alexander replied.
Griffin could see the bags under his eyes and wondered what had kept him up all night. He decided it was probably women and spirits, which Alexander indulged in more than anyone he knew.
“It looked like you just came out of Mariselle’s chamber,” Alexander said with a funny smile. “How is our young mAlexander doing this morning?”
“Fine,” he said a little sharply.
Alexander tilted his head. “You sure about that?”
Griffin sighed. “Don’t mind me. I’m just ornery from lack of sleep. Anyway, we need to discuss what we’re going to do with her.”
“I thought we already agreed—you’re going to try and get her pregnant.”
“She wants a husband.”
Alexander shrugged. “So? I’ll marry her. If it saves our kingdom, why not?”
“Then you should sire the child.”
Once again, Alexander tried arguing with him about Griffin being the eldest and monarch.
He raised his hand. “Stop. Mariselle will not agree to me siring the child unless I marry her. Obviously, I can’t.”
Alexander put his hand on his shoulder. “No worries. I spoke to her last night. She’s fine with it.”
“Not anymore,” he replied, looking away.
Alexander’s eyes searching his. “Hold up. You tried already, didn’t you?”
He didn’t answer.
Alexander sighed. “Talk to me, brother. What’s going on?”
Griffin told him about Mariselle visiting his chamber after being spooked. “One thing led to another, and…”
“You plucked her flower?” Alexander replied with a smirk.
“Plucked the hell out of it, I guess you could say,” he said, trying not to smile despite himself.
ALEXANDER COULDN’T HELP it. He was damn jealous. Especially after what had happened in the courtyard. He could still remember the taste of her lips and the way she’d stared up at him while his cock had been in her mouth.
“So, you might have already gotten her pregnant,” he said, feeling himself get hard just thinking about Mariselle with her legs spread open. What he wouldn’t do to see her naked or get a taste of the soft, juicy peach between her thighs.
“Yes.”
Alexander was silent for a few seconds. “What if she does bear your child?”
“Then I’ll tell the queen.”
He grunted. “That’s a conversation I’d love to listen in on.”
Griffin smiled grimly. “It won’t be a pleasant one, that’s for sure.”
“Rightly not. So, now what?”
“We wait and see what happens. In the meantime, I’m going back to East Haven,” he replied.
That surprised Alexander. “Why?”
“Because I don’t trust myself around her.”
Although he loved his older brother and was always happy to see him, the idea of Mariselle being left in Alexander’s care was enough to make his cock lurch.
“What do you want me to do about her?” Alexander asked.
“If she bleeds next month,” he paused, “do what must be done.”
In other words, he was free to take Mariselle into his bed and do exactly what he was fantasizing about at the moment. “And if she can’t get pregnant?” he asked, suddenly remembering the apparition in his room.
“We’ll worry about it later,” he replied. “In the meantime, take care of her for me, will you?”
“She’ll be in good hands. I promise.”
He nodded. “Just keep them off until we know whether or not she’s with my child.”
“Of course. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
Griffin rolled his eyes.
Alexander smiled and raised his hands up. “Hey, I have a harem of women at my disposal. Fine buxom beauties who know how to please a man. I don’t need a girl who’s practically a virgin.”
“She’s definitely not a virgin. The blood on my linen reflects the evidence of that.”
“Believe me,” Alexander said, grabbing his crotch. “Every woman feels like one with me. You might have the tallest crown in the family, but I yield the largest staff.”
Griffin grunted. “Just keep it sheathed, brother. Keep it sheathed.”
