She was a powerful woman—more than I had imagined. I was afraid to admit that no matter how strong I tried to stay in front of her, she’d still dismantle me. She turned around and took out the underdress from the drawer. Was she going to dress in front of me? My feet were frozen to the ground. Ever since she had come out of the bath, I had wondered who’d tie her corset when there was no chambermaid to help her.
I stared at her beautiful back. She skilfully slipped the white underdress over her body, without losing her towel, and then dropped the towel once she had made sure she was veiled from head to toe. She pulled out the underpants from the drawer and covered her legs without any body part on display. Unlike other ladies, she was able to dress herself, without any help. She opened another drawer, took out the corset, and turned around. Something shifted in me. I hadn’t realized the underdress was sheer, revealing her every curve. Shit! I could even see her bosom. A heat ran through my body, my lust almost unbearable.
“Now get out of this chamber or help me tie this corset,” she ordered—rage and desire at war on her face. “Because I know you’re not going to let anyone in this chamber to help me.”
I swallowed my ever-growing desire and took the corset from her. I had never dressed a woman. She was making me do things I had not done ever in my life. She turned around and faced the wooden chest. I moved closer to her and she lifted her arms so I could wrap the corset around her chest. How do you do it? I was staring at the strings—clueless. I didn’t want to pull too tight.
“Just pull the strings and tie them—but not too tight,” she explained as if she could read my mind. I did what she’d asked me. The strings were tied in a crisscross, and as I kept pulling them, her body started to get closer to me. My beast started howling in the cage again. Her body doused in jasmine scent had indeed a magical pull that drew me closer and drove me insane. Should I resist the heavenly temptation or let the lust consume me? But touching her never felt like a sin. It always felt divine.
Shit! I couldn’t fight it anymore.
It was now or never. The beast finally overpowered my senses.
“Damn it!” I groaned and flipped her body to face me, and crashed my body against her. My hungry lips fell on her lips, and I sucked every breath out of her. I didn’t give her a chance to fathom my depravity. She should know how this beast tasted. I wrapped my arms tightly around her waist, pulling her so close to me that nothing could come between us. I dug my fingers into her back, and I knew I was hurting her because she tried to squirm out of my grip, but the beast didn’t give her the chance. I sucked her soul ferociously with my lips, inhaling every inch of her richly fragrant body.
After a moment, she gave up fighting.
Instead of defying me any longer, she raked her warm fingers through my hair, pulling them with the same pressure as my fingers—her touch etched into my body, every sensation was imprinting on my soul as I marked my lips on her. She was equally hungry as if we were both destined to sate our appetites by using each other. I could see the stars in the daylight.
I pulled back instantly—realizing what the hell I had just done.
“Damn it!” I groaned. “What the hell are you doing to me?” She looked at me for several long beats. It was as if I’d forgotten how to breathe properly; I found myself exhaling raggedly and too loudly. I ran my fingers into my hair—controlling my hunger and frustration. What the hell had happened? I had drawn a line just a few moments ago and I couldn’t control myself? She was catching her breath too, but she didn’t stop staring at me. Yes, it was quite obvious that she was shocked by my intense savagery. She touched her bruised lip, transfixed. “You wanted to entice the beast?” My heart kept running wild, thudding loudly in my chest. “This is how he does it—showing his right and goddamned power by hurting you.” I stepped back and turned around to pull out a dark green velvet dress for her from King Stefan’s generous wardrobe collection. The way she looked at me, she must have finally understood who the power held here. She thought she’d decide when to go away from me?
Ha!
I slipped the dress over her and flipped her around to tie the dress on her back. My hands were harsh, pulling the strings tightly but she didn’t argue, although I knew I was making it hard for her to breathe. She let my beast take control. I took her hand and dragged her out of the dressing chamber. “Stay here!” I ordered. “I’ll be right back.” I went back into the dressing chamber and changed my clothes for the morning mass. There was no way she was going to attend mass in the chapel. Her entry was forbidden and she’d know why.
When I came back into the bedchamber, she was looking at herself in the mirror, scrutinizing her bruised lip. The beast had given her the mark, and this would remind her of the power I had over her. She looked at me from the mirror—anger inflating her body, but I didn’t give her the right to explode. My beastly reflection was enough to warn her: what would commence if she didn’t stop here.
“Let’s go!” I ordered. She didn’t argue.
She followed me like a slave—like she was supposed to, her face as white as ghost. It gave me a thrill that I was finally able to leash and control her. We didn’t talk at all on our way to the chapel. Upon reaching the chapel’s entrance, I stopped her by grabbing her arm.
“You stay here,” my eyes blazed all the authority I had. “This is a no-entry zone for you,” I warned her. “Do not make me repeat it.” She leaned against the wall and watched me—petrified. I entered the chapel and sat beside my father in the front pew. King Stefan looked at me with curiosity, and I knew he wondered where Myra was, but he couldn’t ask me while the priest was holding a morning prayer.
Did she fear me now? She should. I wanted her to dread me—not love me or show any pity. Loving me would wreck me and nothing else. Yes, my body had never agreed with my mind and had always betrayed me when we came physically close, but I had to show her what a monster could do. This would help her stay on the other side of the line between us. She would now know the consequences of invading my territory.
The prayer ended and I stood up. I was about to leave when King Stefan rose and held me by the arm. “Where is Lady Farrow? I need to make an announcement.”
“She is not allowed to enter. If you want her to teach the children, she can do it in the Great Hall. But this chapel,” I glanced at the mirror. “No… she wouldn’t.”
“Any reason?” he wanted to know.
“Because she is my captive,” I looked him in the eye with courage. “It is up to me to decide.” I would not let him undermine me in her matters. She was solely mine to control.
He sighed.
“All right…” He walked to the altar and faced the crowd. “Good morning, everyone.” He seemed to be in a pleasant mood. The knights, their families, and some noble villagers watched him in surprise. They had never been wished a good morning by the king in the chapel.
“We have a special guest visiting us these days, a highly educated, well-qualified lady with exceptional mannerism, and she’d be able to teach the children in our village.”
Huh! I chuckled in my heart.
Mannerism, my arse!
I knew how foolishly audacious she was. She had always worn a mask in front of King Stefan. I knew the real her—the animal inside her.
“Teaching children with beautiful stories would help heal and blossom their minds. I would like to call upon every villager to bring their children to our Great Hall before midday to start their learning lessons every day.”
People listened to his command quietly and ultimately accepted it. He stepped down from the altar and I followed him out of the chapel. His proclamation would be carried forward to the entire village. As if anyone had room to deny the king a wish.
Upon seeing Myra at the exit, King Stefan halted.
“Good morning, Lady Farrow.” He smiled and kissed her knuckles. Shit! Why did he have to do it every time he saw her? I shifted my weight from one foot to another. I was convinced she could sense my
frustration, but she nevertheless smiled back at King Stefan, deliberately trying to make me jealous.
“Good morning, Your Majesty,” she curtsied. “I heard your speech.”
“What happened to your lip?” Of course, he would notice the bruise.
“Oh! I slipped in the bath.” She didn’t even bother to look at me. She was a master at weaving stories.
“Take care.” His voice was full of concern. “I was hoping to see you in the chapel,” he added softly. I had never seen King Stefan as a gentleman before he had met her. I wondered how he managed to put his beast to sleep. She looked at me for an answer. King Stefan followed her gaze.
“She has not been baptized,” I said with a stern tone. Her eyes grew wide at my words. I took her hand from King Stefan, as he always seemed to forget to let go off her hand when he held it. “A pagan, I believe!” I threw a hostile glance at her while King Stefan looked at her with surprise. “She doesn’t believe in God,” I said, even though it was me who had never believed in Him because we all worshipped Satan here. “She may be a guest for you, but it doesn’t give her the right to enter the chapel without my permission.”
King Stefan watched Myra for a few moments. She wasn’t acting right now. Her belligerent expression was enough to announce that she hated me this moment. King Stefan didn’t argue.
“Shall we have breakfast then,” he smiled at her again, offering her his arm to hold. I thought he’d be angry by her false paganism, but he was still drunk with lust.
“My pleasure, Your Majesty,” she placed her hand on his arm and I followed them quietly.
“You smell wonderful, my dear.” His face was leaning towards her while we walked to the dining hall. She and I both held our breaths together. I was behind her, but I could sense her anxiety. “Jasmine for a Jasmine,” he winked at her. She blinked and smiled back in confusion. The bastard still thought she was Jasmine. How could I unveil the truth she wasn’t Jasmine? It was dangerous at both ends. If she admitted she was Jasmine, she was truly in grave danger, but if he found out she wasn’t Jasmine then he’d lose all the hope he had and God knew what he’d do to her. And if I told him she wasn’t Jasmine then he’d want to know more about the woman of his dreams. If Myra had haunted him for so many years then what was her connection to the Hue Castle. And what about the dream legacy? They had all assumed it was Jasmine who had invaded their dreams, including me. If the invader was Jasmine then how could Myra look exactly like Jasmine? What was her connection to Jasmine? There were so many questions, but no one had answers. I blinked at both of them as we entered the dining hall.
We seated in the same manner as we had sat yesterday—her by King Stefan’s side.
“I hope you slept well, my dear,” he asked as the breakfast was first served to him. She threw daggers at me again. King Stefan did notice our exchange of contentious glances but we both controlled our tempers to avoid any drama.
“Yes, thank you for asking, Your Majesty,” she replied, looking down.
“And this dress…” His gaze raked over her body, over her green velvet dress. Something shifted inside me. “This colour is made for you.” He was drinking her from his eyes. She undoubtedly looked like a beautiful garden.
Bloody, perverted bastard!
“Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty,” she faked a smile again. “I loved all the dresses.”
He placed his hand over hers on the table. “The pleasure is all mine.” The food was being served with plenty of bread, cakes, cheese, different forms of eggs, and other assortments. She took a sip of tea.
“Lady Farrow,” King Stefan grabbed her attention. “I see that you don’t eat much.” He picked up the dish of hard-boiled eggs and placed it in front of her. “You must eat. Teaching requires lots of patience and strength.” She didn’t look up at King Stefan. “If you don’t like anything on the table, you must let me know your preference.”
Bastard!
I knew what she liked. She liked the bread of that peasant French baker yesterday.
He was reading her intently—soaking up each detail of her face with his eyes. I wanted to take out his eyeballs and boil them with the eggs; the only thing stopping me was that he wasn’t physically harming her. The day he’d lay his dirty hands on my captive—he’d be done with his life. She picked up one boiled egg and placed it on her plate, but I had a feeling she wasn’t hungry anymore. King Stefan was right though. She had to eat every day since she was so wispy already. She struggled to eat just one egg, however.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, if I sound rude but I’d like to be excused from the breakfast,” she said calmly, looking at King Stefan.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“I’d like to rest before the children come for the lessons,” she explained.
“As you wish,” King Stefan granted her the wish.
On that note, she pushed the chair with the back of her knees and stood up. “I’d like some time alone in the chamber. You may send a servant when the children arrive.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Something broke inside me. Had I damaged something inside her beyond repair? She had wanted to see my beast. She had demanded that she walk on my darkened path, but when I had shown her a glimpse of the monster, she had retreated. She didn’t want to fight any battle with me. It felt like she had plucked me out of her life and had thrown me back into the darkness. Or was it I who had dimmed the light in her? Although she was talking to King Stefan, I knew the message was meant for me. She didn’t want me to come into my own chamber. I was supposed to stay out.
What the hell!
“Let me know if you need anything,” he said.
She nodded, bowed lightly, turned around, and walked out of the dining hall.
King Stefan’s gaze never stopped following her. When she was out of our sight, he looked at me with disgust on his face.
“What did you do?”
I drew my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, Edward. She is not the same as she was last night. What happened over night?” He picked a boiled egg from the plate.
I had already lost my appetite knowing she would not be eating now, but, even though my body demanded it, I knew it was useless to eat.
“Since when have you been so interested and caring about my captives?” I asked, not even bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice.
His eyes grew wide from my confidence. I wanted to know besides his haunted dreams and him yearning for more years, when he thought she might break the spell, what was the other reason of him being such a gentleman? If she had haunted him all his life, why was he kind to her?
“Edward,” he addressed me. “She is a dignified woman. I don’t know what you are trying to achieve here?”
“You told me last night that she could be a witch because she had haunted all Hue men. You told me to keep an eye on her,” I argued.
“Yes, I said that, but that’s not what I see right now… what the hell has happened to her? I don’t see that spark I saw yesterday.”
“She just said she needs time to rest. Let’s see how she teaches the children,” I mumbled, throwing my napkin on the table. “I’m not sure if she is good enough for that job,” I changed the topic.
“The children are turning away from the castle, Edward. We need to bring them back. They are the future of this castle. If people stopped working for us, we’d be out of slaves. We need more slaves to run this kingdom.” He was indeed a genuine bastard. First, he enslaved adults and now he wanted to bring innocent children under his reign. I was glad Emma was out of this drama.
“What do you exactly want me to do?” I asked, struggling to not lose my patience.
“I know she carries a certain kind of power but don’t try to kill it. I want to see what she can do to this castle.” His greedy eyes were popping with excitement. “Don’t make her run away from us.”
“And then what would happen?”
; “You don’t know what would happen, Edward? For two hundred years, this castle has not seen a flower. Be it weddings, births, coronations, or funerals—every festival and celebration has been without flowers. We stop living because we know exactly when we are going to die.” He lowered his voice as to not let anyone hear him. “And if she is truly the woman from our dreams then she’d definitely bring back the colours.”
“So, you think she’d end all this?” My question made him look away. For the first time in my entire life, he didn’t have an answer or anything to say in return. I finally took the courage to ask him what I had been wondering since yesterday. “Are you falling for that woman, King Stefan?” I knew he was, but I wanted him to confess.
He still looked away… down to the corridor she had disappeared from a few moments ago.
Shit! He had fallen for her, and his silence was the proof. She had successfully cast a spell on my monstrous father, turning him into a meek animal.
“I want to live more, Edward,” he confessed for the first time. He was trying to be friends with me—like a father and son were supposed to. She had indeed paralyzed his mind. “I want to be happy—like an ordinary man.”
Huh! Since when did we have the privilege to be ordinary?
Once Upon A [Fallen] Time Page 19
