*Ainslee*
My body hurts. It’s not the sort of pain that makes me think I might die if I don’t get to a healer right away, but it’s a bit uncomfortable. I suck in some air and adjust on the bed, wondering how a person is supposed to get over this. How long does it take?
But then, it was so much fun causing all this pain, maybe I don’t care.
My eyes open, and I stare up at the ceiling for a moment, contemplating the events of the night before. A smile falls into place, and I bat my eyelashes, dreamily thinking about him.
I know he’s not here. When I woke up in the middle of the night to hobble into the other room to pee, he was gone. I can still smell him every time I inhale, which is comforting, but I do wish he would’ve slept with me. I wish I could’ve woken up with my hair spilling over his chest, his strong arm wrapped around me. We would gaze into one another’s eyes and whisper about how much we enjoy each other’s company.
Not love, though. No, I refuse to use that word. It’s silly, especially at this point. After all, I only met him a few weeks ago. We barely know one another. Some might say he’s far too old for me, though I don’t think that’s a problem. He’s a prince, and while I am a princess, I don’t really think of myself that way. No, I don’t love him—though I could. Someday. Maybe.
It’s not like I’m ever going to meet my mate now, anyway. My wolf shifter mate can’t possibly be in this castle, unless he’s a feeder, and that’s doubtful. So… I may as well fall in love with a vampire prince, right?
“Are you going to lay there all morning and make wistful noises, or are you going to get up?”
“Fuck!” I rocket up in bed, grasping the blankets around my breasts, to see Zoey dusting. How dusty could this room possibly be? She’s always doing that, and I don’t even think there’s anything to dust.
Zoey has a knowing smile on her face, which worries me. My eyes go to the spot near the window where Rafe undressed me. My torn nightgown and sopping wet panties are long gone. I look at the clock and see I’ve slept in a bit. She’s had plenty of time to take care of that.
The maid giggles, smirking at me, and I fall backward onto the pillow, cursing again.
“Oh, relax. It was bound to happen. I’ve seen the two of you together. You are clearly smitten with him, and he finds you alluring.”
I sit up again, wondering who all knows about this. That is my first thought, followed quickly by, does this happen often? Why has it never occurred to me before to ask if the prince is fucking other women in the castle? Of course, it’s not my business, really, and I probably don’t want to know. I’m quite certain only one of us lost our virginity last night. But what if he has a mistress—or a whole slew of them?
No, I’m fairly sure Riley would’ve illuminated anyone like that. Still, I can’t help the wild thoughts that something is about to go wrong. For the first time since I was a little girl, I’m happy, and that can’t be allowed to continue. Something, somewhere will come along and rip it out of my grasp, laughing mockingly in my face as I crumble to the ground an am forced to start all over again.
“Go take a shower, and I’ll get your breakfast,” Zoey suggests. Before she leaves, she goes to the armoire to fetch a robe, which she lays on the bed. Then, she walks toward the door.
“Zoey,” I say, hoping to the Goddess she is actually my friend, “please don’t tell anyone about this.”
Her smile softens into one that’s more sincere and less amused. “Don’t worry, Princess. I will use discretion. No one will hear of this from me.”
I believe her. “Thank you, Zoey.” I hope she hears the sincerity in my voice. She bows her head and then leaves.
I head off to the shower, thankful when the hot water soothes some of my aches and pains. I wonder if it will hurt as much the next time I have sex with Rafe, which immediately makes me wonder what makes me think it will happen again. My mind is at war with itself, and it’s not amusing. Why can’t I just let myself be happy?
When I’m done with my shower, I get out to find Zoey is back. I eat my breakfast of ham and fried eggs while she puts an outfit together for me. It’s a dress, though not that fancy, and I like the pink fabric. I don’t usually wear pink, but I think it will look good on me.
After breakfast, I get dressed, and she insists on doing my hair and makeup. Toward the end, when she puts a pair of silver earrings on my ears and a diamond pendant necklace, I begin to wonder if something is going on.
“Zoey, what’s up?” I ask her. “Is there something important about today?”
“Actually,” she clears her throat, “the king has requested your presence in thirty minutes.”
My heart skips a beat. “The king?” Not the prince, but the king.
“That’s right,” she confirms.
I swivel around on my seat to look at her. “Zoey, do you know what this is about?” I know that servants gossip, so I can’t imagine no one has overheard anything.
She shrugs. “No, I have no idea.” But I see a glimmer in her eye, and I know that’s not true.
“Zoey?” I stand and take a step toward her. She almost runs into the dresser trying to get away from me. “Please? I need to prepare.”
She takes a deep breath and says, “I only know a little bit. Last night, a messenger delivered a letter for Prince Rafe. I’m not sure who it was from, but it had to have been important because the prince woke the king, and I can only remember a couple of other times when that happened. Once was when Tormentia had invaded our southern lands and the other was when Queen Hilago died, leaving Queen Cirrci as her successor. So… I think whatever that letter said, it had to have been significant.”
I absently thank her as I take a few steps away toward the window. Who could Rafe have gotten a letter from in the middle of the night that would involve me?
Only one person comes to mind.
“Striker,” I whisper.
It had to have been from my cousin, King Striker.
I press two fingers to my forehead and try to calm my thinking. It won’t do any good to freak out, but it seems pretty clear to me that this is how my fairy tale is going to end.
My cousin wants me to come live with him, and the king wants me to go. Rafe will either have no say, or he won’t fight for me.
I’m about to leave home again.