A Dawn So Dark (Blood Bound #1)

Chapter 13

Chapter 11

Aurora Artorias

T he King's question rang like a bell in my skull as he eyed me with a cocky smirk. He watched in fascination as my resting face of confidence faded. He had me dead to rights. He could easily have me tossed back into the mud infested dungeons and I would not blame him. My father had committed heinous crimes against his people. I felt my heart drop to my stomach, and my stomach leap to my throat as I nodded. Inhaling deeply, waiting for him to call in his guards to drag me away. “What I said last night was true, Your Majesty. I am running from a marriage … my father arranged it.” Bile began to rise in my throat at the thought of my father and Thane out there looking for me. Would the King hand me over to him? Surely, I had to be grand leverage to negotiate a treaty… or start a war.

“There’s another reason.” This felt like less of a demand and more like genuine concern. Despite his sincerity, a burning in my chest left me uneasy in regards to his true intentions. I swallowed hard before answering honestly, “I am running from my father. If I had stayed he would have killed me. Or, more likely, the man he promised me to would have that honor.”

The King's eyes turned dark as the forest I had stumbled my way through to get here. The room fell cold, goosebumps littered my skin as his lips curved into a wicked smirk as he let out a scoff of disbelief “Arthur must really be desperate to be rid of you if he offered your hand. Camelot's infinite supply of gold must finally be running dry. You were wise to run.” So, he knew of my father’s slow decline into destitution. I sat forward in my seat, my body screaming in protest. I could feel the stitches on my back begin to tear. “As I recall, I was running not too long ago and you stopped me. May I get back to making my wise decisions?”

The King chuckled, earning an eye roll from me. “Oh, little Princess , running from me is not smart. You are not leaving, no matter how many times you roll those pretty eyes at me.” When I sat back in annoyance, the King continued. “Where did you learn to fight? ”

I smirked confidently. I loved fighting, the adrenaline that came with it. “Oh, did I daze you, Your Majesty? How is your manhood holding up?” His gaze darkened to a near pitch black, his features darkening with them. He looked on the brink of losing control. “Do you want to see how my manhood is holding up, Aurora Artorias ?” The way he spoke.

The way he said my name so fervently.

The way his gaze bore into mine.

I felt like gravity had increased, pulling me further into my chair, flooding the place between my thighs with an intense heat.

He knew my name.

Pushing myself out of a heated daze, I bite down on my lower lip before I reply “You know my name. Hells, you seem to know everything about me already. Why don't you take a turn, Your Majesty? Why keep me here? My father thinks he wiped Vampire s out entirely. Let that continue.”

The King tilted his head, folding his arms over his broad chest. “Who is to say you would not run back and tell Arthur everything you know to barter your freedom?” I scoffed at the idea, annoyed he would even suggest it. There was no way Father would go for it, anyway. He was too prideful. “The only reason I would ever dare return to that godsforsaken place, would be so I could remove my father’s head from his body, mount it on the castle walls, and leave his body to rot in a tower. I would marry my mother off and send Merlin to a commune to live the remainder of his days without magic under an oath to the goddesses.” The words fell freely from my mouth before I could second guess telling my kingdom's enemy such a dark desire.

“It sounds beneficial for the both of us if I send you back. You would solve both of our problems. Why do you hate your own King so deeply?” The King's question made my stomach churn. Or maybe that was due to the fact that I had not eaten in… I suppose two days. “You ask how I know how to fight?” I evaded his question, answering his previous one. “I once wished to be a Knight of the Round Table. I trained my whole life. And then I learned what the Knights really wanted of me. They wanted to get up my skirts. I once yelled at a Knight who asked to be let into my bed chambers when I wa s fifteen and my father locked me in the tower for months for the offense. He is not my K ing . ” The King's jaw flexed in anger, something I had never seen before. I had only ever been witness to drunken anger. His Adam's apple bobbed as he gritted out, “The Knight, the one who wanted to be let into your chambers, was it Lancelot?” The mention of his name left a sour taste in my mouth. I was surprised by his accuracy. “How did you know that?”

“I was once an ally of your father, something your people's history books get wrong. We were allies, kingdoms united until your father started the Monster Campaign. Lancelot had a reputation of enjoying younger maidens.” The King leaned forward, waving the topic off. Though, I did not miss the far off look in his eyes, the hurt. “So you ran, and you ended up here in my land.”

I nodded, swallowing hard as I watched him, terrified that he would sentence me to death or send me back. “You are very troublesome, little Princess.” The nickname should have offended me, and it did, but it still made my cheeks flush with heat. Arden had called me little thing… which I had a similar reaction to. I also chose not to argue with the Vampire that held my fate in his hands. “Your skills were underappreciated in Camelot. I would ask that you put your destructive nature to good use. You are clever, and I will admit I am intrigued by you. Not many, especially humans, so openly defy me. You want your father’s head, so do I. Perhaps together, you and I could attain it.” I was stunned. I could fall to my knees and swear fealty to this man right here and now . He was offering everything I ever wanted. It felt surreal. My mind was reeling as I asked “So, you wish to keep me as a prisoner to cause trouble?”

He grinned, a true grin. Not a smirk. His smile felt seductive, handsome for certain. “Among other things, little Princess.” The way he said that last word made my chest tighten, the burning sensation returning as he watched me squirm in my chair.

I looked down at myself. I was a mess. Literally and figuratively. Blood, mud, and grime coated me. I had nearly died in my endeavor to escape. I doubted I could survive it again so soon. I would have security here, or some form of it. “Do you often keep women who strike your manhood as guests? Most men would worry of a repeat offense.”

“You may do as you wish to my manhood, Aurora. You will hear no complaints.” The King curtly responded, impatient for my answer. “We can discuss things further when you are back on your feet and not bleeding your divine scent all over my castle. ” Divine scent ? Arden had said the same. Did they want my blood?

“I am fine.” I insisted even though I knew it was not the truth. I was about five minutes from collapsing and we both knew it. “Would I be your prisoner?” I could not go back to the dungeons, it would be worse than the tower, there was no sunlight. The King studied me, his gray eyes tracing my exposed skin as he answered, “You will be a guest. A heavily supervised guest.” So a prisoner without the mud pit and rat-infested cell . I sighed, knowing I really had no other choice as I breathed, “Then I shall be your guest, Your Majesty.” He nodded in reply as a wolfish smirk graced his red lips. Rising from his makeshift throne he began to stalk around the desk. Each step came painfully slow, his eyes fixated on me as if I were a wounded deer and he were a mighty wolf. Did I make the wrong decision? He shocked me when he lowered himself to my seated height in a crouched position. I slid as far back as the chair would allow, the carved wood biting into the gashes on my back, my palms slick with sweat in my lap. His large, warm hand took mine, “Well, Princess, I look forward to witnessing your skills work for us, rather than against.”

“Can I be there when you tell your General that? I imagine he will be quite cross after the run I gave his men.” I smirk, holding eye contact to gauge his reaction. The King chuckled. He was so close in this position I could feel his warm breath fan my face. “You can tell him tomorrow at breakfast, little Princess. I imagine he will be more than thrilled to be a few doors down from you, so behave. Today, you will rest and hopefully bathe. You smell of blood…”

I tried to pull my hand away, feeling self conscious for being filthy but his grip remained. “A lady cannot exactly look her best when sleeping in that mud pit you call a dungeon.” He tugged me the slightest bit closer, holding me gently, but firm enough I would not pull away. “I never said I did not enjoy the smell.” He reached his other hand up to wipe something from my face. My mind only focused on the feel of the pad of his thumb gliding across my cheek. My breath hitched at the contact. A man had never been so gentle with me. The way his eyes studied my face, his gentle hand caressing my skin, his reassuring hand on mine. I glanced at his left hand and did not see a wedding band, so he was not taken. At least formally. He glanced at my parted lips before meeting my gaze as I took in a nervous breath. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut short by the door violently flying open. I quickly leaned back, not realizing how close we had moved to one another. The door thudded against the wall behind it, earning a flinch from me and a look of dismay from the King. “Daemon, I swear if Arden locked that sweet little human away again I will rip his heart from his chest and feed it to you for letting it happen.” A woman exclaimed, waving a pointed finger around. “ You are here! Daemon, you should have let her wash up, at the very least.” Daemon slowly lowered his hand from my face and rose to his feet allowing me to turn my head and see the woman from the hearing. Her dark short hair hung above her shoulders like liquid silk, and she wore an auburn dress today. She looked other-worldly. “Aurora,” The King, still holding my hand, helped me rise to my feet. “Meet Noa, my overly - enthusiastic advisor. Noa, I would like you to meet Princess Aurora. She will be joining us for the foreseeable future, please guide her through her duties and help her settle.”

She gestures to the chair I was sitting in with a faux look of disgust “Of course, but I am not going to take your intimate approach. I need to cleanse my eyes after seeing that. Did your mother teach you nothing of being a gentleman?” I blushed at her accusation. She must be close with the King to be so informal. Calling him by his name and teasing him. Daemon . It suited him well. It held power. My name was that of a dainty Princess who enjoyed embroidering and gossiping with her ladies in waiting. There was no power in my gentle-tempered name. “See to it that she rests and eats. I will see you in the morning, Aurora.” He lifts my hand and kisses it, as many gentlemen had before. But this time felt different. A liquid fire rushed from where his lips touched my skin to my chest. It felt as if the breath had been knocked out of me. My surprise seemed to satisfy the King. He smirked against my hand before lowering it and returning to his desk. I could feel his gaze lingering as he moved. Noa took me by the crook of my elbow and ushered me out, the large door thudding shut behind us.

“Thank the goddesses Daemon brought on another woman. Between him and Arden, it feels like a river of testosterone. With you, we can even the field.” Noa chuckled confidently, guiding me up a guarded flight of stairs. Her tone was far perkier than I would have thought when I first saw her. Noa spoke at such a fast pace, I felt as if I had been thrown from a horse for a second time. “It also helps that you are gorgeous. Between the two of us, we can get whatever we want.” I placed a hand on the wall, needing to stop for a moment. My body screamed in pain as I placed my forehead against the cool stone. “I am a formal prisoner, not a member of his staff. Also, I did strike his manhood so that likely will not win any good graces.” I ground the words out as I caught my breath. I pressed a hand to my side, holding my ribs firmly as I straightened back up.

Noa turned to face me fully, her blue eyes wide with shock. “You punched Daemon in the dick?” I nearly choked upon hearing the crass word come from such a beautiful woman. “That is the part that stood out to you? Does he often flirt with those he imprisons?” Noa shook her head, holding a finger up “I will answer any and every question you have. Any question . But, I need to hear you say it.” I cracked a smile, unable to conceal the small laugh that erupted despite the splitting pain in my ribs “I hit the King in the dick.” I had, and it had been hilarious in retrospect. I had struck a ruler of a powerful, dangerous kingdom in his manhood. I suppose my name was not as dainty as I deemed it.

Noa laughed along with me, tears welling up in her eyes as she hooked her arm through mine again and helped me the remainder of the way up. “Oh, we are going to be best friends, Princess. And to answer your question, no, you are the first besides Arden I have seen the King flirt with.” I tilted my head in confusion. I understood the part about the King teasingly flirting with his commander. Men often did so . Daemon had flirted with me, quite extensively. As had the General . “You should have seen him at your hearing. When you collapsed, he caught you before you hit the ground. I had never heard him swear like he had when he was yelling for the medics. If he was acting like that when you are caked in mud, just wait until we get you all cleaned up and in your court attire. I will come help you in the morning.”

I was unsure of how to feel when it came to the King and General fussing over me, as no man had really ever shown genuine interest in me. I was unsure if I wanted to be pursued. I had been pursued in Camelot, though the only interest was in bedding me. Most of the Knights of the Round Table had propositioned me before my sixteenth year. Would I truly mind if the king was pursuing me with intentions of bedding me? “Oh, Lady Noa, there is no need. I do not think the King is actually interested.” She laughed as we entered a large hallway with only a few doors lining it on either side. A large, black door at the end of the hall had to be the King’s. “He has never taken a civil prisoner, at least not in twenty years.” I thought back to the history books I had stolen from the library a few years back. “This was during the monster campaign…” Noa nodded, confirming my statement. It had been a bloody, vile war. I had heard the Knights share first hand the horrors they inflicted upon Vampires and every other creature under the sun. Death would have been merciful . “I apologize for the violence of my people. I was young when the war ended, but I feel as if my father would not have been as quick to war if it were not for me.”

“Godesses above, you are in no way responsible for a war you were barely alive for. Though, I appreciate the sentiment. Now, here are your chambers. The King insists that his guests and staff stay on the same hall as him. Apart from me– I insist that I live in a house off of the grounds. The boys are a lot to deal with at all hours. But, Arden is across the hall from you.” Across… ? She opened the door to the most lovely room I had ever seen. If not for my injuries, I would run and jump on the bed like a child. The room was a soft cream color lined with dark furniture and accented with gold fixtures. The bed looked fit for a king with its lush bedding and linens. One wall was lined with a bookshelf that went from floor to ceiling, filled with hundreds of books. A desk sat nearby as a workplace for my new job as strategist. “Oh, it is beautiful.” I muttered as I neared the shelf, eager to see what titles were held there. The room was four times the size of the one I had grown up in. This was closer to a suite than a room. High set windows framed a glass door leading to a terrace. A couch and chairs before the fireplace were set for tea or company. The large bathing room connected to the suite almost made me tear up. My mother always had a bath dragged to my room, she said I was not trustworthy enough to have a private bath.

“You are a Princess, surely this is humble in comparison.” Noa chuckled, taking a seat on the cushioned bench at the end of the bed as maids came in for turndown service and to start a bath for me. “All the nice things in Camelot were reserved for the King and his Knights. Why one would let pigs live in the castle, I am unsure.” My comment earned a chuckle from Noa as I turned to see the maids laying out a night dress and fresh bandages. “I will bid you goodnight, Aurora. I will see you in the morning. Should you need anything, a guard is posted outside your door. And if you wanted to go see the King in your nightgown this evening, I have a few options in the closet for you.”

I blushed but rolled my eyes to try and hide my embarrassment. She was relentless, and I had only known her for a few minutes. I had not ever experienced a woman being so bold in her sexual endeavors. I was also kept in a tower most of my life, so that could contribute as to why I had never encountered such a woman. “Goodnight, Lady Noa. I believe I will remain here for the remainder of the evening.”

“Let him dream of you then, Princess. Brilliance.” Noa chuckled as she moved to leave. “It was smart of you to align yourself with us.” I moved towards the washroom where maids filed in, waiting to disrobe me. I was still unsure of my decision, my plan. “I had no choice. Were I to go back, I would be killed.” I explained, unashamed of my answer .

Noa smiled softly at me “Daemon is not like your King. He is kind, unwavering, and a brave man. You will never be forced into anything by him. He takes care of his people” and with that she closed the door behind her.

The maids undressed me as I pondered her words. She was telling me I was safe. That her king would bring no harm to me. I stepped into a tub that could easily fit a small army, filled with lavish oils and soaps. I let out a moan of relief as I sunk into the hot water, my aching body crying out in joy. The water quickly clouded over with mud, small streaks of blood mixing in. When the maids cleared the dirty water and refilled it with clear, fresh water, I sank down so my hair floated up to the surface. I looked down at my body, my chest, torso, legs… and felt as if my father had somehow won over me. The various bruises and gashes, the scarring around my wrists and ankles from being chained to the floor of the tower. He had won. And these scars would always remind me of his victory. My gaze moved from my hands to my chest where I was scraped up from my encounter with the Duke's men while es caping the castle. Bile rose in my throat, as there was nothing in my stomach. I let the tears fall freely as I let the first sob wrack my body. The maids stopped washing my hair as I cried. “I can finish washing up. May I please have a moment alone.” I managed to dismiss them through the tears. I cried for hours. Until the water ran cold. I cried for my mother. I cried for the people of Camelot. I cried for my self.

Chapter 12

Daemon

S he cried herself to sleep, Daem.” Arden grumbled as I slugged down another glass of amber liquor in a desperate attempt to dull the burning ache in my chest that Aurora had ignited. Every fiber of my being called out to her, yearning for her presence, her touch. “I fucked up in bringing her here.” Noa had made sure Aurora was well and set off to procure her a wardrobe, leaving me and Arden to stew in the mess he had created. Arthur's daughter was fated to us .

I shook my head, leaning back in the desk chair, watching him nurse his own drink. “Arthur would have just married her off to some righteous prick had he caught her. She’s safe here. You did the right thing.” It had taken everything I had not to throw her over my shoulder in this very study and bring her straight to my chambers to ravish her. Body and blood . Feeling her presence a few floors above, finally resting, it brought me some ease. Not enough to dull the burning in my chest. “So, she belongs to the crown, what is our next step?” Arden sighed, running a hand through his hair. It was not often I saw him unsure or in distress. I had seen him remain stoic in the heat of battle, kill men without batting an eye. Seeing him so upset by Aurora's unease, it made my chest ache.

“We’re going to kill Varys.” I growled, knuckles whitening around my glass. He shot me a look, crossing his arms over his chest. “We should be concerned about Arthur, not Varys. It was a few Strays that came after her. Not Varys.” Strays or not, Varys was dying.

“We’re going to deal with Arthur, rest assured. She wants to be the one to kill him. But because of Varys, she was harmed. He dies tonight. ” I grinned, rising from my chair to depart for the Dark Woods. Arden returned my grin, on board with our lady’s desire to kill Arthur.

“ No fair! You’re gonna charm her first that way. She only head butted me, she hit you in the cock. ” Arden huffed. This was uncharted territory. The last King and General to share a mate was four thousand years ago. King Kian and General Cyrus. Only Vampires of high stature were destined to share mates, and it was a rarity that granted the kingdom immense power. I tilted my head, studying him. “ This is not a competition, she is ours .”

“But she doesn't know that.” Noa appeared in the doorway, sporting a large glass of what was clearly fresh blood. Her mouth and neck dripping from her feeding. Her usual vibrant energy muted. She looked at me with defeat tracing her features, silently asking to speak alone. “Brief your guards on her habits of escape, Ard. I do not want her slipping out in the middle of the night.” Arden nodded. He seemed distressed listening to her cry, I thought it best to give him a task far from this side of the castle.

Once he had left, Noa turned and glared at me with a raging desperation “So, it's true? She is Arden's mate? And yours? But she's human…” Noa had always been in love with Arden, he was just too enthralled in his position as General and the women that threw themselves on him to notice. I ran my hand down my face in frustration, letting out a long sigh. “It happens every few thousand years, but the goddesses are never wrong. A mating bond is a hard thing to deny. ”

Noa fought back tears and c hanged the subject entirely. “She had a rough trip here, Daem. And goddesses only know what happened before that. The maids reported scarring on her wrists and ankles, bruises from— she's been through seven hells. You saw the state she was in.”

Arthur was always one for physical torture but also enjoyed mind games. It would seem not much had changed. “Arden and I will see what we can get her to divulge, I trust you to do the same.” She winced at the mention of Arden and Aurora but nodded regardless, knowing what was likely on the horizon with her as a political guest. “Now excuse me, Arden and I have business to attend to.”

Noa grabbed my wrist before I could make it out of the door, her fingers clinging to my arm with a desperation that I had never seen in her. “He could still choose me, right?”

“I believe he has already made his choice, Noa.” With that, I left her. Someone had laid a hand on my mate, and I could not allow that to stand .

Arden and I soon stood before a line of caves that the Stray Vampires had claimed as their own. Strays were once sophisticated like us, but they gave into their inner hunger and let the animalistic part of them take control. They were a big part of why the Monster Campaign had come to pass. Arthur deemed that every monster was one step from giving in to their inner demons and issued a death sentence for every species that dwelled on the island of Avalon.

“Are you sure about this?” Arden asked, more annoyed than unsure. The burning sensation in my chest overrode any logic that should have been present. An itch just below the surface of my skin that could not be scratched. I knew that this was the closest I could get to scratching it without ravishing Aurora in the courtyard. “I need to do this.” Arden nodded, not pressing it further. I knew he felt the same way.

“What can I do for the orphaned King and his pet?” Varys spoke, appearing in the dark entrance of the cave. Strays lined the rocky terrain of the Dark Woods that lay just beyond Darkspire. Arden chuckled at their half-assed attempt to intimidate us. Strays rarely fed from humans, as our city was well protected from their attempts to infiltrate. So they fed from animals and fowl. It was why they pursued Aurora with such determination. They were starved.

I refrained from curling my fists, instead I smiled darkly as Arden paced the line of Strays, awaiting my signal. “You tell me.” I walked a few paces closer, watching Varys’ smirk fade as he realized why we were here. His greasy, mud-toned hair fell across his face as he scrambled back, his jaunt features attempting to mask his fear. “I-I don't know what you mean, Your Majesty.”

“Allow us to remind you.” Arden grabbed one of Varys’s foot soldiers, his fangs protruding as he tore into the Stray’s neck and ripped his head from his shoulders with a sickening crack of bones and spray of blood. The Strays dispersed, vanishing into the night to avoid the same fate. Varys tripped and fell to his knees, hands clasped in a prayerful manner. “My King, I beg of you, we did not know she was from your kingdom. We thought she was from the world of men. ”

I laughed, the rage boiling beneath my skin growing tenfold. “Worry not, Varys. She holds you no ill will.” Varys exhaled in relief, falling back into his heels with a smile. “But I do.” I added as I forced my hand through his chest cavity, ripping through his ribcage with ease, and grabbed his heart. I pulled him to his feet and backed him against the cave entrance. The stench of fear radiated off of him in waves, any confidence fading from his expression. His blood poured freely down my arm as my grip tightened on the beating organ in his chest. Goddesses, was I going to enjoy this. “You shall be the example of what happens to anyone who lays a hand on our mate .” With those words, I ripped his heart from his chest. The sound of flesh tearing and ribs breaking filled the night air. Then silence fell. When his body finally fell to my feet I felt some of the raging ache for Aurora subside, though it did not fully fade.

“Why do I get the feeling that you and I will end up killing plenty of men in Aurora's name?” Arden smirked as I stared down at my bloodied arm and the pulsing heart in my hand as the truth dawned on me. “Oh, we are just getting started. ”

Chapter 13

Aurora Artorias

“H umans require so much rest.” The sound of Noa’s voice pulled me from my sleep. I shot up, having forgotten where I was. The lavish room was dusted in sunlight as the maids drew the curtains open. At the end of the bed stood Noa, while maids made tea for us and brought in racks of gowns. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, taking it all in. The restful moment I had hoped to find vanished with the rustling of maids and tulle. I faked a smile and shifted out from under the covers. I had always hated having a large staff tend to me. Even one maid was too much. Aside from my corset, I could dress myself. Though, I should not complain. Just a couple of weeks ago I would wake up to a guard dragging me out of the tower by my ankle. I pushed my hair from my face and took in all that the maids were carrying. Noa grinned as she pulled the chair to the vanity out for me, urging me to join her. “I pushed our breakfast meeting back an hour. The boys can wait.” I gave her an inquisitive look as the maids loaded the top of the vanity with brushes, oils, and powders. “What is all this?” Noa smiled widely, hurrying me out of bed. Her crazed smile worried me, as did the dozens of dresses. “I sent for your wardrobe. Now that you are not doused in mud and earth we can get you presentable.” I was ushered over to the vanity and stripped of my nightgown. In the mirror, I could see Noa studying my naked form behind me. Her eyes drifted from my back to my ankles and wrists. I knew she was looking at the scarring that littered my skin like freckles.

“Did- were you-?” Noa was at a loss for words but her eyes held a sympathy I appreciated. I shook my head in response, knowing her question. I swallowed hard, blinking away tears of anger. “I am a Princess. I have never even been kissed to preserve myself for marriage. Clearly, it has not stopped men from trying. I should have fought harder.” The maids helped me step into a dark emerald gown, it fit flawlessly as they strung up the corset. Once they secured the dress, Noa dismissed them, guiding me to sit at the vanity. She started to gently brush my hair. “Princess, you are in no way responsible for what happened. That man, and the men like him, deserve death. The King has all rapists struck down in the center of the capitol. What happened was not because of you, it was the evil of men. I promise you, if you remain with us, you will get to kill him, your father, and any man who has wronged you. And, as for your never having kissed a man, I imagine we can arrange something.”

I met her gaze in the mirror. Did they do marriage, courting, and love altogether differently here? “I am– was expected to remain pure until I am wed.” Noa shoots me a wicked grin as she styles my hair,

“We do not hold women to such conservative standards here, Princess. I have slept with a multitude of men, none of which are my husband. And I am legendary in bed.” A thought struck me. Had she and the King been intimate? Perhaps he only hired women so as to lure them into his bed chambers. Had she been with the General? “Have you… have you been with the King?” I regretted the question before it finished leaving my mouth. I ought to not ask about her relations with Arden .

Noa laughed, deep and true. I had not heard a woman truly laugh before, unless you counted the shrill giggles of the ladies of court. “Oh Princess, I would sooner run naked through the square and impale myself on a stake than so much as kiss Daemon. He is like the brother I never wanted but unfortunately ended up with. So do not fret. I encourage you to pursue him. I still think you should have visited him in your nightgown.” I had spent most of the night crying, so it left very little room for seducing a King. Along with the fact that I had no clue how to do it or if I even wanted to. “I am unsure of what I want.”

Noa chuckled as she secured my hair half-up with a leather band, “I hate to tell you this, but yesterday that room radiated desire and I could hear your heart pounding from down the hall.” I blushed, embarrassed that she had been able to detect my feelings with such ease. Could the King detect that as well ? She swatted my shoulder lightly and smiled “Oh, do not be embarrassed, Princess. Desire is natural.” I paused and thought back to recall if I had ever felt desire for a man who was not written on the pages of a book.. “Desire is a game for men, where I am from.”

“It is your game now, Princess. You get to do anything you want here. And if men happen to be something you want, then you take it. I am sure the King would be more than happy to comply. Now, come along.”

I nodded, following her lead and heading to the door. A dark shadow at the end of the hall pulled my gaze to the dark oak doors. If Noa could hear my heartbeat last night, had the King heard me cry? Had Arden? He was right across the hall . I prayed that he would not bring it up. A few turns down the hall, and we walked into what seemed to serve as a private sitting room. The General sat at a rectangular table I imagined could fit around six people, but with the large size of both him and the King, I did not imagine more than four could sit without being crushed. The General seemed out of place in the ornately decorated room. All of the lush green cushions that lined the chairs, the towering windows with delicate curtains, the portraits of greenery that adorned the walls. The General contrasted the room so aggressively, his large form was too big for the chair, his leather attire stark against the velvet cushions. It was almost- sweet to see him in this environment. A sofa sat further off in the room, adorned with expensive fabrics and lush pillows. An odd thing for a breakfast nook.

“Well you certainly look better , little human.” Arden smirked as he sipped from a wine glass. He watched me over the rim of his glass with a deep intensity that I was unsure how to interpret. Better ? My cheeks flushed as he continued to look me over, his cerulean gaze moving across me slowly, lingering in a way that leaves my skin heating.

“I would thank you, but it is likely you will find some reason to throw me in the dungeon and ruin it.” I breathily retorted as Noa took the seat to the left of Arden, forcing me to sit across from him. Which left one seat, to the left of me, at the head of the table. The King's seat. “Where is Daem?” Noa asked as a servant came and poured wine for Noa, another servant appearing to serve me wine also. “How come I am always supposed to know?” Arden grumbles into his glass, earning a sharp look from Noa. “Because you are his second in command, you imbecile.” She smacks his arm, pulling a hiss of pain from the man's lips. “What did you two do last night?”

Arden held his hands up in defense, “Nothing, we did nothing.” Another smack from Noa pulled the truth from the man. “Fine. We went Stray hunting last night.” Stray . That is what they called the man I had killed . Their skin had been like leather and deep gray in color but other than that he had resembled a man, or Vampires, I supposed. Something in my chest stirred at the thought of Arden and Daemon hunting down the creatures who had meant to harm me . I shoved that thought aside as I watched their argument unfold. “You two idiots went hunting Varys! You fucking morons!” Noa smacked his arm harder, the table shuddering from the blow. “He is unhinged, Arden. A lunatic on top of that. What in the goddesses' names were you thinking?”

Arden rubbed his bicep, massaging where her blow had landed, “Varys was mad to attack a defenseless human. Daemon pulled me out of bed after I chased the Princess around all day.” The thought of him late at night in his bed, and what he might do there, made me clench my thighs. I shot him a glare, I was far from defenseless . His eyes snapped to mine, as if he knew what his words had done to me. His lips curved, his eyes darkening as he watched me shift in my seat. “Pardon me, but I killed one before you got there.” I snap, grumbling my displeasure as I grip my fork with white knuckles.

Arden smirked at my outburst, arrogant amusement dancing in his enchanting eyes. “By pure luck. And by the time I got there, you were almost a divine meal. Anyway, Daemon and I felt a lesson needed to be taught. The next lesson he and I will teach will be to ensure this one stops running. Or, at the very least, that she can’t outrun us.” He shoots me a challenging look, trying to gauge my reaction to his declaration. Noa rubbed her forehead, clearly frustrated by the man. “Tell me you did not kill him.”

Before Arden could answer, I felt a shift in the room. The warmth had suddenly been plucked from the air, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge in anticipation. Even though sunlight streamed through the windows, it grew darker as shadows danced across every surface, warnings of a greater power entering the room. Footsteps sounded behind me. His darkness carried across the room, caressing my skin as I waited with nervous breath. A mass fell to the table, the rattling of the cutlery was damn near thunderous as it reverberated through the room. Just to the right of my plate fell a heart.