“Do not interrupt me until I say so. Got me, Kearnyn?”
“Yeah, I got you.” Kearnyn made his way for the door.
“Turn the music back on.”
Rolling his eyes, Kearnyn hit the power switch on the radio. 'Yous a Hoe' came blasting through the speaker system, the bass loud enough to demolish an old building.
“I'm going to Rosa's to check on production of the weapons.” The only indication he received that Telal heard him was the bottle of Jack being raised in a salute in the air. “What about your guest?” The hand paused in mid-air then slowly lowered back into his lap.
Even over the loud music and the terrifying screams of someone being murdered on the TV, he still heard Telal's low demand. “Do not tell her where I am.”
Kearnyn shook his head. “You got it.”
CHAPTER 21
A brisk knock came at the door.
Arianna closed the journal she'd been writing in and went to answer it. She recognized the steward from the other night and instantly her gut tightened.
“Yes?”
“King Alrik has commanded your presence.”
Oh, God. “Well, I will have to change.”
The steward shook his head. “I'm afraid he's ordered your presence immediately.”
Arianna nodded, feeling like this couldn't be happening to her. Oh, but it was. She closed and locked the door behind her then followed the steward down the hall. She still hadn't recovered from their last dinner together, and it was too early for dinner now. Maybe he wanted to have breakfast with her. Or maybe he wanted... No, she couldn't think about that. That's all she'd been thinking about since he told her.
And now things had changed. She'd seen Telal, her betrothed, for the first time since the war. His appearance was like seeing someone brought back from the grave, she'd been shocked beyond belief and excited to see him. Then he'd publicly denounced their marriage. And that was that. Her opinion made no difference on the matter. Now Alrik wanted her for...sex. Even thinking it made strange feelings grow inside her, made breathing difficult. Who could have thought that such a simple task could be so troubling?
The steward led her down the hall to the royal dining room again. She sighed with relief. Whatever he had planned, he wouldn't be doing it in the dining room. Or would he? Her eyes widened. He'd touched her the first time in there, had made her feel...strange and exciting feelings. If she were honest with herself, she'd admit she wanted to explore those feelings. See just how much he could make her feel. But it all felt so wrong. If this had been before the war when he was a different man, things would be so different. Now he was dark, his heart black. He was not a good man.
The steward opened the double-wide doors. “After you, Lady Arianna.”
She walked inside and mentally checked to make sure her small smile was in place, her hands resting neatly at her sides, her chin up. Alrik was nowhere to be seen.
Arianna turned back to the steward just as he was closing the doors. “Where's the king?”
“He shall arrive momentarily, my lady.”
Arianna flinched as the doors closed. From the last booming echo of the door shutting, she felt as though her fate had been sealed. Silence filled the air. The chandeliers were lit and flickering over the grand table, but no plates were set for a meal. Unease trembled through her. Unsure what to do, she walked to the table then crossed back to the door. Again and again. What did he want with her? Why bring her here now? Without a formal appointment? Her gut twisted and churned. Her fingers began to tremble and she wrung them together to hide it.
The servant's door burst open and she stifled a yelp. King Alrik strode through it looking more tense and angry than usual. His brows were pulled down, his lips flat. He started towards her and she back up until her back hit the door. He stopped at the table and tossed down a packet of papers.
“There,” he said.
Her brow arched. “There what?” she asked, breathless.
“Read it.”
With no other choice, she obeyed his order. She had to come close to get the papers, and he didn't move, which put her much closer to him than she wanted to be. It was inappropriate of him to stand so close to her but then again he'd had his hand down her dress last time. Her breath caught and she quickly starting reading over the papers. She shouldn't be surprised at what she read, but she was.
“So it's complete,” she said finally, her tongue dry.
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly then set the papers back on the table. “I am now officially...single.”
He shook his head. “No.”
Her brows pulled in confusion. “But this said I am not betrothed to anyone. Wouldn't that make me single?”
“Normally, but I have claimed you.”
She swallowed hard and closed her mouth to keep from panting. “What-what does that mean?” If he meant claim in the savage sense of the word then he certainly hadn't done that. She'd never lain with a man but she was certain she'd remember it. Especially by the dark king.
“It means that you are mine now.” He pulled out the chair beside him and dropped into it. He stared up at her with a lazy expression on his face, almost like he was bored. She tried to ignore his big legs kicked out and spread before him but she couldn’t help but notice how strong his legs were, how long. A blush crept over her face.
“But in what way? If we are not, that is, if we are not betrothed...” she whispered the last.
“Come here, Arianna.”
She stiffened but didn't move. Fear kept her immobilized.
“Come. Here,” he said again, an edge to his deep voice.
Arianna closed the space between them until she stood by his chair. His hand reached out to grab hers, then he yanked, and she fell into his lap. No lessons on manners or teachings of etiquette ever taught her how to deal with this. She stiffened awkwardly, and tried to keep her back straight but her bottom rested atop his spread thighs and her feet dangled off the side of the chair.
One strong arm slid around her back and instantly the strain in her back and abdomen lessened. His other dark hand came to rest on her stomach which clenched hard in response.
“We are not betrothed. You are mine now. I'd recommend that you don't let any males pursue you, Arianna. Now that the whole kingdoms heard what's happened, the males will come out to try to claim you.”
Her eyes darted to his gaze, and then quickly stared ahead at the wall. He meant to what, then? Keep her as some sort of concubine? The notion was absurd, degrading, and she hated him for it. A part of her wanted to say that if you don't want any males to claim me, then do it yourself, but that would only lead to huge, huge problems. Like what if he agreed? No way. No way could she be his wife.
The hand at her stomach flattened until she could feel the heat of his fingertips as though he was touching her skin to skin. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. I've waited a really, really long time for you, Arianna.” The hand around her back curled around her hip.
Her breath stuttered out from her lips as little zaps of pleasure shot inside her like fireworks. Somehow she found the strength to look him in the eyes. “But you've changed so much,” she said softly.
His eyes froze over, the heat in them disappearing like a receding wave on a shore. The hands on her body tightened in what felt like a warning. Then in a flash of movement, the hand at her back vanished and cupped her neck, pulling her face towards his. Wild excitement, panic, and fear all combusted inside of her. She could feel his breath on her lips she was so close. Her stomach trembled. She wanted to feel the wicked heat he lit inside her last time. Wanted to see just how far he could take her; discover what exactly he could make her feel.