by Lily Thomas
Books By Lily Thomas
Giant Wars Series
Loving His Fire
Grounded By Love
Melted By Love
Wicked Flames of Desire
Galactic Courtship Series
Xacier’s Prize
Claiming His Champion
Captivating the Doctor
Escaping the Hunt
Abducting the Ambassador
Wicked Prisoner
Seducing the Enemy
Cuff Me Now
Challenging the Arena
Dark Desires in Space
His Fallen Star
Ice Age Alphas
The Sabertooth’s Promise
Wicked Flames
Of
Desire
Lily Thomas
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Lily Thomas
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce the book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information email [email protected].
www.lilythomasromance.com
ISBN: 9781717992703
ISBN: (ebook) B07G1YBB2C
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 1
Roxanne rotated her head in a side to side manner as she examined her fiery curls in the mirror.
“Maybe one more.” She murmured as she picked up another pearl hairpin and used it to tuck away a stray strand of hair. “There we go.” She patted her hair down with her hands. Taming her mass of hair was always difficult, but she’d had years of frustrating practice to perfect the skill.
The door to her chamber clicked open and then slammed shut the sound vibrating through the stone walls. Roxanne jumped a little on her cushioned seat and glanced behind her using the mirror. She saw her servant wringing her hands frantically in her apron.
“What’s wrong?” Roxanne patted her hair again.
The servant girl shook noticeably. “Men… bloody… border… terrifying!”
Swiveling around in her chair, Roxanne took in the girl standing before her. “You will have to use full sentences if you want me to know what you’re saying.” All the words her servant had spilled out though did not bode well.
The servant girl just shook her head, her trembling worsening.
Rising from her seat, Roxanne walked over to grip the young woman’s hands with her own. “What is it?”
“Soldiers from the border.”
“What about them?” Roxanne leaned in, her interest piqued.
“They came to the castle with blood covering them from head to foot!”
“When?” Her heart skyrocketed in her chest.
“Just now. They are in your father’s study with him.”
“Everything will be fine.” She comforted the girl.
The servant shook her head. “I’m not sure about this.”
“Go and collect yourself. We’re protected here behind these castle walls. There’s nothing for you to fear.” She might preach it, but she could feel her own jitters starting to jump about inside her.
The servant girl nodded and left the room. Roxanne followed close on her heels. She had to get down to the great hall and see what was going on. If she wanted to know what was happening, she’d have to find the source.
Roxanne tapped her heeled foot impatiently on the stone floor, as she waited in the great hall.
Click click. Click click.
It seemed like the whole castle had managed to cram into the small space of the great hall. Or did all the people crammed in the hall make it seem small?
She glanced over the expansive space. It wasn’t as large as the king’s hall, but she was going to guess it was the number of people who were eager for some news that caused it to feel overcrowded.
An elbow jammed into her back. Roxanne hissed as she scooted away from the offending body part. It was definitely all the people crammed in the hall.
She’d arrived in the great hall to find she wasn’t the only one who’d heard rumor of bloody soldiers. Her father’s study door was shut, so they had no option other than to wait. Her father, who was the general of the human forces here on the fire giant border, would fill her in as soon as he was done. She just had to wait and remain patient.
Now she waited for more information like all the others in the great hall. Almost everyone paced around, and she was afraid they would pace holes into the stone floor before they found out any news or start a stampede in the cramped space.
Everyone had concerns and questions about this whole alarming situation. Roxanne didn’t know what to make of the bloodied soldiers’ presence. There was agitation lurking beneath her skin. In all her time of living on the border, nothing had happened quite like this. It brought the war so much closer.
Waiting was, of course, the hardest part of all. Her mind wouldn't stop thinking about how those men had become bloodied or how bad it might be for the rest of the people in the castle.
The fire giants must have attacked them, and Roxanne worried what their presence at the border might mean for this castle. They might be the first ones attacked by the fire giants, and that sent her heart skittering in the opposite direction.
This was the first time she’d seen any part of the war, since moving to the border to be near her father. The rock giants were still marching into human territory, and the fire giants were now making a ruckus.
Her eyes focused in on her father's study door. Roxanne drew in a steadying breath trying to calm her racing nerves, as she wished they would finish up already in there. She wanted to know what the news was and where the soldiers had come from and what it meant for them.
The room had so many people crammed in it that the temperature was rising and she could feel her skin begin to moisten as some sweat gathered on her temple.
Her tapping foot increased its rhythm.
Click click click click.
“Perhaps it was just an animal attack and not the fire giants.” A woman nearby speculated.
“An animal attack?” A man responded. “Doubtful.”
Roxanne agreed with the man on this.
“An animal wouldn’t have left several warriors bloodied, maybe one or two, but they should’ve been able to fight off any animals with ease.” The man reasoned.
Again Roxanne had to agree.
She was just as curious as everyone else in the great hall and her eyes were riveted to her father’s door, but her ears couldn’t help but overhear the nearby conversations.
At least something was happening here at the castle. She’d come to the border with her father under the assumption that things might be a bit livelier than at the king’s court, only to find it boring with little to occupy her mind.
Yet her father wouldn't let her leave the castle walls for fear of her getting attacked by wandering giants. He’d only let her come to the border castle with him since they were the last close family they each had alive. Now she wondered if it had been a wise decision on her part to accompany her father out here.
Bloody soldiers were never a sign of good things to come.
Alarm crawled up her spine, as she glanced around the room to see
the same grim look on everyone's face.
No one seemed to think anything good would come out of this, and she had that same sinking feeling. This was going to be one drawn out day for all of them.
Knowing it wasn't the time for her to be yawning, she covered her mouth with a hand. The sun hadn't even risen yet, and the whole castle was up and about.
Roxanne had gotten up early to get her day started, and she was sure glad she’d made that decision. Most of the people within the great hall had yet to wake fully, and a lot had even come in their undergarments or wrapped in blankets.
At least she was in a nice dress with her hair done.
No one else cared for decency, at this moment. They were all too focused on what was being said behind those doors.
Sadly, all anyone in the great hall could hear were muffled voices, because of the wooden door's annoying thickness.
For what seemed like hours, but in truth was only a few minutes, Roxanne waited impatiently for her father to stride out of his meeting chamber. She was ready for news. They were all ready for some news, preferably good news.
As the door creaked open, she pounced. Roxanne sprinted over to the door from her prime seat. She desperately wanted to be the first one to hear what the news was all about.
Before she reached the door, three soldiers stepped out of the room.
Holding a hand up to her mouth she tried not to gag, as she took in the sight before her. She was unable to believe what her eyes were telling her.
There was blood on them sure, but it seemed to drip off of their armor before her very eyes. It was fresh, and there was a mindboggling amount of it. She could only imagine what kind of bloodbath they must have been engaged in. Never before had the war intruded into the castle or her life. It had always stayed far away from her, like a distant dream, nothing more than a light fog.
Roxanne’s stomach rolled, and she felt like she might throw up right there in front of everyone in the hall as her eyes appeared unable to glance away from all the blood.
Stumbling forward she did her best to hide the quiver in her voice. “Father?”
It was the only word she was able to choke out, while the soldiers were still standing there in front of her. Her eyes were plastered to the blood splattered all over them, and she hoped none of it was their own.
Her father seemed a little dazed as well as he stepped out of his study his hair disheveled like he’d been running his hands through it vigorously, which sent a spark of panic shooting through her. He was a general, and he saw this every day. Why would he be shaken up? There was no reason for it unless the situation warranted it.
“Pack whatever you truly need, Roxanne. I want you to leave the castle once the sun comes up since I'll be sending you to the king's castle.”
“Why?”
“It's far away from the border and a lot safer for you. The fire giants are rearing their ugly heads.”
The image of a beast with gnarly teeth popped into her head. “Father?” She was perplexed why he’d send her back to court. He knew she didn’t enjoy the gossip mills at the king’s castle. “I would rather remain here by your side.” Even if the castle was burned down around their ears. He was the last family she still had alive.
He’d started to stride away from her, but then he swiveled around on a booted heel and barked at her. “Now, Roxanne! I will be sending you off, as soon as possible, whether or not you’re packed, so I suggest you pack your things!”
She jumped a little at his harsh tone but could see how serious this was for him.
Before she could get out any more questions, he left the great hall with the soldiers trailing after him.
“What did your father have to say, my lady?” A small group of people rushed up to see what she knew.
Was it too much to ask that he tell her what was going on before chewing her face off? Not knowing frightened her to the core. All she wanted was to know so she could better prepare herself for what might come.
“I’m sorry. He didn’t tell me much of anything.” She watched as their faces fell. “I’m sure he will make an announcement to the castle at some point.” She rushed to reassure them.
“It has to do with the giants. Bloody soldiers racing to the castle has to mean giants attacked them.” Another raised all their concerns.
Images raced through her mind of what those men must have seen. She’d never seen a giant in person, but she was sure they were gruesome looking. They probably looked like a troll with yellow teeth of differing sizes and bumpy green skin. She’d heard a few harrowing stories from soldiers who’d battled against the rock giants, and she was sure the fire giants were no different.
“There’s no need for concern. We can spend all day speculating, or we can be helpful around the castle.” Roxanne stated, her back straight and exuding confidence. There was no need to break down into a useless puddle.
“She’s right.” A man agreed as he ushered his wife away. “We need to get dressed and then see what the general needs us to get done.”
Turning around she found the rest of the hall empty. It looked like the others had overheard what her father barked and decided to pack so they could leave as well. She should get to it before her father came back and found her still standing in the hall like an idiot.
She darted back to her room, her heels clicking the whole way. Once she arrived at her chamber, she grabbed a case and threw it onto her bed. It bounced a couple of times almost flying over the other side of the bed.
Then she grabbed a hold of anything she could reach and threw it into case. There was no thought or plan as to what she took hold of. Her mind raced too fast for her to focus on one thought for long.
Never before had Roxanne thought she would be in any danger living with her father on the border. She hadn't wanted to leave the last family member she had in this entire world, at least, her last close family member. She had some distant uncles and aunts and even some cousins, but she wasn’t close to any of them.
A maid rushed into her room her face flushed as she asked, “Is there anything you need assistance with?”
“Where’s the maid from this morning?” Roxanne asked.
“I don’t know, my lady.”
Her eyes darted around the room, and she saw the fright pulsing through the maid’s entire body. One loud sound and Roxanne knew this maid would duck underneath the bed.
Giving the maid a task might help calm her down, so Roxanne nodded to the case she’d just filled haphazardly with clothing. “Take this case down to the courtyard for me.”
The maid cast her a shaky smile, as she nodded her head. Quickly, the maid slammed the lid shut and grabbed the case, lugged it out of the room, and disappeared.
Roxanne wasn't able to leave the room. She’d lived here for enough time to call the castle her home. The stone walls felt comforting to her.
As she glided up to the window in her room, she watched her bag being loaded onto the carriage that was ready and waiting for her down in the castle courtyard. At that moment, she realized her father wasn't planning on joining her. None of his luggage was being loaded, just hers.
If her father was sending her away, then it meant he thought the situation at the border might escalate beyond his control. If it wasn't safe, she wanted her father to come back to the king’s castle with her. He was the only family she had left, and she couldn't lose him.
She felt a little bit more panic flood her. Her fingers trembled at her side as her heart thundered away inside her chest. It felt like she was going to bust out of her skin in hysteria.
Without her father nearby, she would be flooded with invitations to meet young men. There were always meddling mothers wherever she went, but her father would always set them straight. His daughter deserved the best of the best, and none of their sons were the optimum suitor.
Roxanne also knew he couldn't lose her either. She was his precious daughter, and she knew he would lose his mind if anything happened to her. They were al
l they had, and they needed each other.
Then her father's horse was led out of the stable decked out in shining armor. She felt her throat close up, as alarm wrapped its icy fingers around her. If there was danger approaching, her father was, of course, planning on staying and fighting it.
Her father strode across the courtyard below her in his armor, and she shook her head, as she tried to calm down. After losing her mother in childbirth, she couldn't help but fret about losing her father in a battle against fire giants.
He turned and looked up at her through the window. Motioning her down he directed the maids as they loaded up the carriage.
Giving a shaky smile, she nodded and left her room.
She took her time in walking down the few flights of stairs and through the rest of the castle. This was her home, and she needed just a moment to say goodbye. She was about to leave the peace of country living to head back to the king's castle and the hustle and bustle of court. Reaching out a hand she let her fingertips brush over the stone walls.
Sure, there wasn’t much to entertain her out here, but it had been an interesting change of pace.
Court appealed to most young women, but Roxanne wasn't one of them. Court was too fast moving for her, and there seemed to be an ever-constant spreading of rumors, which she had always detested. She needed a nice middle ground between the two.
Roxanne had been the brunt of some of those nasty rumors, the first time she’d gone to court. Women loved to gossip, even if none of it held any truth. The moment a new woman showed up was the moment she was gossiped about behind her back.
As she strode through the castle, she could hear quite the ruckus startup in the courtyard. It sounded as though men were yelling orders at each other with an urgency she had yet to hear while staying here.
Her heart rate picked up its pace, as the blood drained from her face. Roxanne quickened her pace. Then she picked out the high-pitched voices of women and the sound of running feet carrying throughout the castle.
