ten
1008 Words
Cardan and I were in the same bed at the end of the day, and Prince Dain had searched pretty much the entire palace for me, save for Cardan's room. What would I, his wife, be doing in his brother's room, after all?
No, Cardan and I did not sleep together, but it was clear that was his desire when he brought me into his room.
He did have too much to drink, after all.
I turn to look next to me, the light streaming into the room through the enormous and elegant windows, illuminating every feature of Cardan's face.
He stretches, still sound asleep, or so I hope. As soon as his arm settles on top of my abdomen, his body presses against mine. "Well, isn't this comfortable, intimate even?" he says as he pulls me closer to him, his breath latching into my skin.
Before I push myself out of his shockingly too comfortable bed, I force him off of me. "What happened yesterday should never...like ever...be spoken of again."
My gaze rests on his all-too-perfect features as he flashes a lethargic grin. "Sweetheart, take a deep breath and relax. I was so drunk that I can't even recall what happened."
I let out a sigh, my anxiousness evaporating like sweat on my skin.
"However,"
Oh no.
"I remember how those human lips of yours tasted, and I must admit, they were rather exquisite."
"Could you just quit talking and help me with finding my shirt?" I sigh and pull his bed covers off him, tossing them to the ground. "Maybe you should also put on a shirt."
"Why?" he smirks, his gaze falling on mine, and it lasted longer than I had anticipated. "Distracted?"
I defiantly turn towards the blouse I spotted on the floor, my shirt, and deliberately ignore him. I slip it on and gather my belongings as I prepare to leave the room, but he stops me.
"You're leaving...looking like that?" he proclaims. You can't possibly be so foolish."
"What's wrong with how I look, Cardan?"
"To begin with, my brother will ask you a slew of questions to which you will be unable to respond, and if you admit you slept in here, we will both most likely be exiled."
"You're going to have to tell a lie to get out of this situation," he says as he sits up.
I have to admit, he's pretty fit. He has a small waist and his figure makes it appear as if he works out, but I doubt it; faeries, I presume, have it easy.
I notice I've stood there looking long enough at him when he snaps his fingers at me, "I'll wear a shirt for your sake."
"I wasn't even— Forget it. What do you plan on doing?"
"Well, I could help you," he says as he slides his arms through his button-up shirt and speaks while doing so. "On one condition, of course,"
"Spit it out Cardan, what is it that you want?" I sigh, folding my arms across my chest and tapping my foot on the lush, cool concrete floor.
"A permanent place on the council, when you become the Queen of Elfhame."
I should have known. Cardan is self-centered, and he would do anything, and I mean anything, to ensure his safety and power. He most likely had this elaborate scheme in mind to pull me out to his room, lure me into sleeping with him, and then blackmail me into gaining him a position on the king's council.
"You're unbelievable..." I sigh, brushing my palm across my temples.
"—Ly ambitious," he continues. "You didn't think I brought you here out of attraction did you?"
He laughs, almost humiliatingly, but at least his plot didn't go entirely as planned.
I didn't f**k him.
"Don't get me wrong, Anastasia, you're attractive, but come on. You should know better, I'm a prince, you're a princess... but we're not a good match since you'd knife me if you had the chance and I'd betray you at any juncture."
I squint at him, weighing my options: leave the room without Cardan's assistance, looking like a disaster, and facing a barrage of questions.
Accept Cardan's help and avoid having to tell Dain that I slept in his brother's room. I'm trying to stay away from starting up rumors that I'm having an affair with his brother.
"So? Is that a deal?"
I don't have many options, and as much as I don't want to make a deal with Cardan, I also don't want to be caught lying to someone I'm scheduled to marry.
"f**k me," I blurt out with a sigh. "Sure why not."
"Let's leave the f*****g for later alright?" he jeers.
"I would slap you if both my arms weren't numb."
~~~
It was nearly nightfall, and I went out on a walk with Dain, who was droning on about his duties and such.
Cardan has kept his end of the bargain and gotten me out of trouble by lying his ass off. He hasn't told me how he did it, but I suppose it's better if I don't know.
"I'd like to introduce you to The Court of Shadows," he says as he halts, picking a red and dynamic rose from the shrub.
"Hm?" My thoughts collide with reality once more as I turn to face him. "I'm sorry what did you say?"
Before tucking my hair out of my face and perching the rose on my ear, he gives a little chuckle.
"I said, I'd like you to meet The Court of Shadows," he rehashes and I try to jog my mind's eye but that name doesn't ring a bell.
"What's a court of shadows?" I ponder, and he offers a wry grin.
"It's a clandestine organization; they've served me and will continue to serve me until our child is crowned monarch of this vast kingdom."
Our child...??
"And I'd like you officially introduce you, my wife, to them."
I portray a faint smile, "Why not?"
- Writer
