by VJ Dunraven
“Hey . . .“ He hastily sat up and turned her face towards him. “What's the matter, love?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes glittered and a fat tear fell.
“Hush . . .“ He wiped it with his thumb and took her in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Several hiccups and silent tears later, he peered at her with concern.
“I upset you, didn't I? I'm sorry.” He kissed her forehead. “I didn't mean to. I—,” He swallowed and tipped her chin to look into her eyes. “It's just that whenever I'm with you, I lose myself. I've never wanted anyone as much as I want you, Elizabeth. You have no idea how glad I was to know that you stayed pure. I don't think I can bear the thought of another guy touching you.”
He instantly saw how his words had stunned her. For a brief moment, he worried that he might have said the wrong thing and she would scramble off the bed, but she didn't. Instead, she bestowed him with a timid, most endearing smile and touched his cheek.
“Thank you,” she said with utmost adoration—, at least that was what he could perceive with the way she was looking at him.
His chest tightened. “Thank you?”
“Yes.” She was now absently caressing his cheek with her fingertips. “For appreciating my choice to save myself.”
He couldn't resist. He needed to know. “And who, may I ask—,” his voice lowered to a husky whisper, “are you saving yourself for, Elizabeth?”
You. Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from saying it, astonished by how easily the answer came to mind. It felt as effortless as saying his name, as natural as being held in his arms, as right as knowing she belonged to him, with him. Always.
But she'd known that from the very beginning. When those silver eyes locked with hers, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief and reunion. Somehow, she knew it wouldn't be their last encounter. The strong connection she felt towards him was simply inexplicable.
The thought re-ignited the fear in her heart. Worlds apart. Which portion of that didn't she understand? Did she really want to get entangled in an impossible affair that would most likely result in heartbreak?
“So ... who's the lucky guy, Elizabeth?”
The gentle stroking of her fingertips on his cheek came to a halt. “I-I don't know,” she replied, abruptly snatching her hand away even if every fiber of her being knew.
“Don't you?” his voice deepened into a silky drawl, as he slipped his fingers beneath the fall of her hair to rest on her nape, his thumb splayed on her cheek. “Or perhaps you'd rather ...” He drew her closer until his lips were almost touching hers. “Not tell?”
The last words were uttered with a purr, then, he was kissing her again, cradling her in a loving embrace that made her forget her worries once more. Deep down, she recognized she was hopelessly defenseless against him.
He pulled away a little. “I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do,” he whispered, looking into her eyes.
“I believe you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her chin to receive his kiss. She was tired of fighting it. Tired of being alone and lonely, of being scared, of running away from what she feared the most—, falling in love.
Beginning tonight, she would welcome all the beautiful possibilities that she had denied herself for so long. For once in her life, she would defy her logical, practical self and be brave enough to take the first step and take a chance with the man of her dreams, her silver-eyed Prince.
Chapter 36
On Loyalty, Love and Friendship
Arriving in school later that night with the European Royals proved to be a challenge, Elizabeth realized, as she peered beneath her lashes at the growing crowd that ogled them.
She could hear the shocked murmurs, most of them unpleasant.
Isn't she a Tainted?
What did he see in her?
He'll dump her within two weeks, who wants to bet?
“Don't mind them,” Prince William whispered, wrapping his arm protectively around her shoulders and pulling her closer as they strolled towards the main entrance.
Elizabeth kept her head down, thankful that his cousins surrounded them like a protective wall. Sophia was on her side and Silvia led the way. David and Philippe followed right behind.
“Are you okay?” the Prince asked once they reached the top landing.
“Yes, but I don't think it's a good idea to come to school with you. They're making nasty comments behind our backs. It's because of me—”
“Nonsense. Let them bloody cackle.” His eyebrows snapped together.
“I should ride with Chad—.”
“No. You'll ride to and from school with me from now on.” He paused before the large staircase that led to the Tainted wing, waving his cousins ahead to the Royal wing. “I'll pick you up later. Wait for me by the main entrance. We'll go to your house so you can get some clothes. Tell your mom you're coming and staying with me until it's time to go back to school. We'll do this every day—, yes?”
“No!” she exclaimed, appalled. Clearly, he would never be rid of his habit of giving orders. “My mom will have a cow! There's no way she'll let me.”
“I shall speak to her, then.” He dropped a quick kiss on top of her head. “Very well, run along now. I must go and attend to my duties. I'll see you later.”
“But—”
“Elizabeth.” He heaved a heavy sigh and raked his fingers through his hair. “Please.”
She bit back a reply, seeing his weary expression. “Okay.” She stood on her tiptoes on impulse and tugged on his jacket to lower his head, so she could kiss him on the cheek. “Drive safe.”
The stress on his countenance lifted. “I will.” He gathered her in a bear hug. “Thank you for understanding. It's just that my time—, it's not enough. I wish—, but I can't—”
“William—,” She touched her fingers to his lips. “I know.”
They hugged each other tightly once more before he gently pulled away and said goodbye. Elizabeth watched him disappear into the night outside.
Slut!
Social climber!
Did she think he'll take her seriously?
I bet it's about the money and the perks!
Forget the money and perks! I'll take the hot Prince! (Laughter)
Elizabeth shut her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves, trying to ignore the mean comments around her.
Someone squeezed her shoulder. “Come with me.” Chad pulled her by the hand, leading her up the steps.
“When the Prince is away, the slut can play!” somebody hollered from the foyer. A round of snickering followed.
Chad stopped abruptly and swiveled his head in the direction of the perpetrator. He leapt over the stair banister before Elizabeth could utter a protest. She watched in horror as he hauled Bart Hammerstein with one hand, the guy responsible for the snide jeer, and pinned him by the throat against the wall, his feet dangling off the floor.
The other students backed off in a circle.
“Chad! No!” Elizabeth screamed, but he was too angry to take heed.
“You say that again and I'll decapitate you with my bare hands,” Chad snarled. Elizabeth watched in sheer terror as his canines lengthened and curved into sharp points. His eyes blazed and his knife-edged claws protruded from fingers wrapped around Bart's neck. Blood trickled as he sank them into Bart's flesh.
Bart flailed helplessly, desperately tearing at Chad's arm and looking to his friends for help. But Oscar Lynch and Joe Wayne ignored his silent plea, too terrified to get involved.
“Holy bajezus!” Elizabeth heard Carlos' voice and saw him with Lela and Ben entering the lobby.
“Carlos! Carlos!” Elizabeth waved frantically from the steps. “Please do something!”
“Good grief! What's going on?” Ben exclaimed, as he made his way with Lela to where Elizabeth stood.
Elizabeth didn't reply, too anxious in watching Carlos push his way into the crowd. Jared Crowe and Ishmael Johnson em
erged from the throng, and followed Carlos to help.
“Dude! Relax!” Carlos said behind Chad. “I would gladly let you slaughter this maggot-head, but do it outside of school, man! Let him go, before the Administrator finds out and we all get into trouble.”
Chad slanted a glance at Carlos then gripped Bart's throat harder. “Consider this a warning,” he hissed, “am I making myself clear?”
Bart bobbed his head several times before Chad dropped him into a boneless heap on the floor, convulsing and wheezing. The crowd drew back as he swiveled to face them, his teeth bared and red eyes bright with rage. He swept his gaze slowly around the room. “And that goes to all of you too!” he growled.
“What are you idiots staring at?” Jared Crowe exclaimed at the stunned onlookers.
“Go! Shoo!” Ishmael Johnson yelled.
The crowd broke up amidst a sea of whispers.
“Chad!” Elizabeth met him at the foot of the stairs and hugged him. “You're bleeding!” She took his hand and checked the gashes on his arm.
He shrugged. “They're just scratches. They'll disappear any minute now. Look.”
Elizabeth gaped. The wounds began to fade even as they spoke. Ben handed her a pink hanky to wipe the blood away.
“What was that all about?” Lela asked.
Elizabeth sighed as she blotted Chad's wounds. “Prince William dropped me off and some kids made rude comments.”
“They called you a slut, Elizabeth,” Chad said, taking the hanky from her to finish cleaning up, then handed it to Ben, who took it with a grimace with his thumb and forefinger and tossed it into a trash can. “That's beyond rude.”
An uncomfortable silence ensued. Elizabeth noticed Ben, Carlos and Lela exchanging brief, but meaningful glances.
“What is it?” She darted her eyes from one to the other.
“We're late, that's what,” Carlos grumbled, avoiding her eyes. He ran up the stairs, followed by Ben and Lela who took her arms on either side, hurrying her along.
She glanced over her shoulder at Chad who trailed behind them, still wearing a dark expression on his face. He had looked disturbingly terrifying at the height of his temper. Far from the golden angel-knight, she had imagined him to be. How long could he tolerate the cruel murmurs before he seriously hurt someone? He seemed quite capable of murder just five minutes ago and it was all because of her. Elizabeth halted in her tracks and gripped the railing. Chad would do anything for her.
His fierce protectiveness touched a place in her heart she didn't know existed.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” Ben peered at her with concern, urging her on.
“You guys go ahead, I'll just check on Chad.” She turned to see that Chad had also paused on the steps, looking at her. They gazed wordlessly at each other. Without hesitation, she descended the few steps between them and flung herself in his arms.
Chad held her tight and sighed, stroking her hair, inhaling her fragrance. Of all the beautiful girls in the world he'd met in his travels who would be honored to be with an Officer of his rank, why had he chosen her?
Elizabeth looked up at him with those big, blue-violet eyes that had relentlessly haunted him every time he closed his eyes.
“Thank you, Chad.” Her tears glistened, but her perfect pink lips curved into a smile.
Alec. My real name is Alec. He wanted to say out loud. She didn't even know who he really was and he was tired of this charade. If they had met under normal circumstances, things would have been so different. He wanted her to be his, and end his long search for a mate who would grace his life and fill his magnificent, but empty home.
He drew a deep breath and gazed at her face—, so innocent, so sweet, and adorable. He tried to deny it at first, but something about her attracted him like a magnet to solid steel. He'd never felt quite so aggressively inclined to shelter anyone in his safekeeping until he'd met her.
“I'll always be your knight in shining blue jeans,” he whispered. When what he had really wanted to say was ... I love you and I'll always protect you.
“I know. I'm so lucky to have you as a friend,” she replied with such conviction, it tore him into pieces.
He smoothed the hair away from her cheeks with his fingertips, forcing to content himself with just the sound of her soft laughter at the reminder of their silly pact.
Then, with his heart still smarting from the words she'd spoken and the things he'd left unsaid, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her up the steps. In all his life, he'd never felt so defeated.
As if reading the anguish that tormented him, Elizabeth paused at the topmost landing. She turned in his arms, resting her head on his chest, and hugged him. They quietly held each other, the faint sounds of classes in progress floating around them.
Finally, she raised her face to look at him. “Promise me,” she said, unshed tears glittering, “that you'll always be there for me.”
He brushed the back of his fingers on her cheek and feigned a weak smile. “I promise,” he whispered, swallowing the tightness in his throat at the promise that he knew, he might never be able to keep. “I'll always keep you safe.”
A warm tear slid down her cheek and he bent to kiss it, his heart in tatters, crippled with the hopelessness of it all. For here she was, tucked securely in his arms, and shielded from the cruelty of the world. The only girl he loved, so close, and yet—, so impossibly beyond his grasp.
Chapter 37
Fortuitous Discoveries
At a secluded property not far from Darian Hall, John Drake sat behind his desk peering at the surveillance photos Major Reynolds and his men had gathered.
“The Prince and his cousins are staying at the Palladian, Your Grace.” Major Reynolds pointed at the pictures of the twin girls, Prince David and Prince Philippe. “Lady Catherine stayed with them, but has since moved out.” He opened his folder and handed him pictures of Catherine leaving the premises with luggage in tow.
John tensed and snapped his head up. “She left the country?”
“No, Your Grace.” Major Reynolds shifted through the photographs and showed him another picture of her in front of a hotel. “She is staying at this place in town.”
John rubbed his jaw. Why was she not with the Prince? Had anything untoward happen?
The Major seemed to perceive his thoughts. “We have reason to believe that the Prince had broken up with her.” He arranged a series of images on the desk, depicting the confrontation in the balcony with a tearful Catherine.
John examined the scene carefully. No doubt, an altercation was evident that ended up with the Prince walking away. His heart began to hammer in exultation. The chance he'd been waiting for had finally come. He could at last make his move. “What brought this about?” he asked calmly though he was simmering with anticipation.
“We recently discovered that Prince William was seeing another girl.” The Major pulled out photos from another envelope.
John stared at a picture of the Prince emerging from a yellow cottage and several snapshots of him in the company of a girl. He took a closer look. Something seemed oddly familiar about her. That red hair . . .
He shuffled through the rest of the pictures and came across a close up shot of the girl. He froze, eyes widening. Devil be damned! Could it be?
“Major Reynolds! Who is this girl?” he asked earnestly, startling the officer.
“Some Tainted lass the Prince fancied.” The Major pulled out his notes. “I believe her name is—, ah, Miss Elizabeth Hamilton.”
“You have her address? Who lives with her?”
“Yes, Your Grace. We haven't noticed anyone living with her, but then again, our surveillance is focused on the Prince, not her.”
John muttered a multitude of curses. But of course! They have been looking at the wrong lists all along! That crafty little witch outsmarted his men once again! She threw her daughter in with the Tainted! Who would stoop that low except for that bitch?
He picked up the picture on
ce again. The girl was looking up at the Prince. They were smiling tenderly at each other. He could practically see the chemistry between them. The affection showed openly in her eyes. Her blue-violet eyes . . .
John felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He gazed at the girl and then back at the Prince. They are in love.
Damn it to hell! He laughed out loud.
“Your Grace?” The Major raised his eyebrows.
“Reynolds, the old ducal luck struck again! You must assign a surveillance team for Miss Hamilton at once! If my gut instinct is right, she might be the former Queen's daughter!” and the new Pure One, he added to himself, euphoric with his discovery. And if everything went well, he could capture the girl and kill the Prince, and perhaps ... get Catherine back. Three birds with one stone. Brilliant.
“Right away, Your Grace.” The Major bowed to leave then paused, bending to collect a photo that had fallen on the floor from his folder. “Oh, we missed this one.” He strolled back towards him. “We believe he's the Prince's bodyguard. The men spotted him talking to the Prince and accompanying Miss Hamilton, so we assumed that the Prince had asked him to watch over her.”
John held the picture and gasped. He would recognize that face anywhere. The man was assigned to hunt him years ago when he abducted the Queen, and had given him a monstrous dilemma that nearly got him killed.
“Son of the devil!” he bellowed. “Notify all surveillance teams to distance themselves from this man immediately! I want zero visibility! We cannot risk being traced!” He slammed the photograph on the table.
This is no bodyguard! This—” He stabbed a finger at the angelic face in the picture, “is Colonel Alexus Gunter!”
Major Reynolds gaped at the harmless-looking, almost too beautiful a visage for a man in the photo. “The legendary assassin?” He met the Duke's hard gaze, his eyes widening.
“The Angel of Death,” John said grimly.
