A King's Weakness

Chapter Two- A King's Secret

I sit here surrounded by my advisors, going over strategies and plans of invasion. It's so very tiring and it bores me but being a King has a certain set of higher obligations I must follow. The men continue on and on, arguing over what we should do and how we should do it but all I can think of is her. My last encounter with Eva didn't go so well and that was entirely my fault. I shouldn't have even mentioned the marriage but something in me makes it hard to control myself, I even find myself fighting to have her against me at every moment I'm with her. I let out a heavy sigh before my right hand man William was speaking to me.

"Are you alright, my liege?" He asked his eyes concerned.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, yes I'm fine."

I motioned my hand for the men to continue and they carried on as my thoughts drifted back to Eva.

She was so scared when we took her, but she will know one day that she is better off. She doesn't know how many times people have came here looking for her, how many men I have slain, their blood covering my hands because of her. She doesn't yet know that I must protect her at all costs, and that by binding us we will save ourselves. Not to mention it is in the best interest of my people, something that will ensure protection that will last for centuries.

It may be harsh to have locked her in that room but until the first war was over I couldn't risk it.

"On second thought men, I think I will take a walk. I need to get some air. You may continue but William please let me know what the final decisions are and I will go over them and decide which action we will take next." I say as I stand from my chair.

My advisors all stand and give me a quick bow as I walk out of the war room. Once I am outside the cool air feels refreshing and it's like I instantly can breathe but as I look around to the skies and back down around me I feel a bit irritated. I always have someone hovering over me, guarding me as if I cannot fend for myself. I am not only a King but a warrior and also something else.. I have an inner beast that most men fear and shake from being in my presence. Part of me is-

My thoughts break off as I smell the sweet familiar smell. My eyes dart up, and there she is in the window. My heart is heavy and beats faster as I watch her. She's reading, her soft flawless skin almost glowing, her beautiful copper hair in silky long waves beside her. Her features so soft and delicate but I know she's not as delicate as she looks. She has a fiery side, a side that needs to be tamed, to be made obedient.

No no no. I shake my head as I think to myself. Not tamed, she doesn't deserve to have her fire put out, she just has to cooperate and obey the rules I have to lay before her. She's strong willed and a fighter, someone who would be perfect to rule beside me. If only she consents it would be easier.

She glances at me and as if I was a child caught doing something I shouldn't I quickly turn my head from her and casually walk towards the castle entrance. I chuckle to myself. I feel as if I got caught and will get into trouble.

I walk to my chamber speaking to various people in my court along the way but I am eager to rest and clear my mind. Some wine and my doctor's special mixture of herbs will help me sleep more so than I have the past few nights, Eva has taken over every damn thought and even my dreams.

Finally I am able to lay on my bed and get myself comfortable. A maid comes in and flirtatiously smiles at me.

"Do you need anything your majesty?" More wine perhaps?" She asks with a bigger smile.

"No, I am fine. Thank you Ravena." I say motioning her to go with my hand.

"Henry." She says in a lighter tone.

"Perhaps, if you need someone to-- help you sleep better or need me to do something for you-"

I broke her off as I leaned up on one arm.

"Ravena. That was one time, I'm sorry it happened, but it was a mistake. I would like for you to refer to me properly from now on and not enter my room without first asking." I sighed as I laid back down.

"I'm sorry your majesty I just, I thought I would offer seeing as how stressed and tired you've seemed lately. I just want to be available for you an-"

"Ravena! Out now! I yelled as I sat up again in frustration.

She ran out of the room quickly and a guard laughed as my door shut.

Attempting to give sleep one more try I finally drift off.

I begin to wake to the sound of my door creaking open. The candles have blown out and only very faint moonlight shines through my window allowing me to see a small feminine figure tiptoe to the foot of my bed. I can barely make out a face.

"Who's there?" I ask slightly sitting up, fatigue still covering me like a thick blanket.

My gaurds wouldn't have let in anyone dangerous.

The feminine figure is beside my bed now and her soft slender hand reaches out to touch my leg.

"Henry, I had to see you." She whispers with the most delicate voice.

It's soft and familiar, almost comforting.

"I could not wait any longer to speak to you about us." She said as her soft hand slid gently up my thigh.

Chills ran up my body.

"Eva?!" I asked blinking my eyes as to see her better.

"Shhh." She whispered.

She slowly climbed onto the bed and then put one thigh on each side of me straddling me. I let out an uncontrollable sound of pleasure. Her skin soft as a petal was nearly enough to push me over the edge. I look her over, she's as intoxicating as ever, her silky white night gown is so shear I can see her firm pink n*****s peering from underneath. I feel frozen and also like I want to throw her on her back and ravage her all at the same time.

"I want to be yours, I want to bind us together forever. I want your skin against my skin, I want to feel you here." She said as she rocked my body between her thighs.

I let out a groan and she leaned down crashing her mouth onto mine. It was a deep kiss of lust and the heat between our bodies was like a fire. She moaned into my mouth only making me want to take her more. As I slid her gown down around her waist she began to undo my trousers, furiously trying to get them off.

"Wait, Eva, wait." I sighed.

"We must wait, it can't be like this, it has to be- special." I grunted fighting myself. I wanted to take her right then and there, no matter what I crave, I have to wait.

She let out a growl and pulled up her gown as she slid off the bed and quickly walked over to my table, grabbing the wine before pouring herself a drink.

"I'm sorry, it's complicated. There's just a certain way things have to be done in order to protect- to ensure things go according to plan." I say as my body longs for her as I look at her from behind.

"You know dear Henry." She says her voice sounding different as she take a drink, still facing away from me.

"All these plans you have, it would be such a shame for something to happen to your precious Eva." The voice was not that of Eva at all. It was dark and cold with a slightly foreign accent.

She turned around and I saw the face of Ravena, but it was not the same Ravena from before, she was different.

"What? Who? Who are you?" I asked darting up from my bed.

"You know very well who I am, it's just been awhile dear Henry. I'm just surprised that little seduction technique didn't last as long as the first time." She giggled before waving her hand in front of her face.

Her face changed again and this time I knew her. Her face was older, the face of a woman in her forties, dark hair, with piercing blue eyes, the eyes of a witch.

"Circe!" I hissed as I darted towards her.

She stepped back quickly and put one finger up as to stop me.

"Now, now, no need for hostility. This is merely a" she clicks her tongue and looks as though she is thinking.

"A little visit to make a deal." She gleams as she takes another sip of the wine.

"I don't know how you're hiding little Eva from me, and I cannot kill you so I have a proposition for you. If you give me Eva I can give you back what I took from you, I can fix you and the curse can disappear. Just. Like. That." She says as her long finger nail taps on the side of the goblet in her hand.

"You said the only way for the curse to ever be broken was to fulfill my binding to her also ensuring the prophecy for my people." I said argumentatively.

"Well, I have other plans for her, I need her. Besides, there are loopholes." She said as she shrugged and twirled her finger around.

She glances to her side as not to meet my eyes.

"You're lying." I growled.

"Just give her to me Henry, I don't have time for this!" She snarled, as her face began to change again.

"You can't have her unless I willfully hand her over to you, can you?" I asked almost shocked.

Circe glared at me before smacking her lips and crossing her arms.

"Well, aren't you a smart boy." She said mockingly.

"One way or another you will hand her over to me eventually! Or once I find her and am done with her I will cut off her head and dismember her little body right in front of you and make you eat her heart!" She growled as she was face to face with me now.

I growled back a deep booming growl that caused Circe to become wide eyed as I lunged at her.

"And I would be free to tear you apart witch!"

Two of my gaurds along with William burst through my door and halted once they saw what was going on. The two gaurds immediately backed away and took off running down the hall.

"William!" I growled.

He quickly took off after them as I turned back to face Circe.

"You forget you did this to me, and that once the curse is lifted either way I can and will kill you."

Circe was backing away cautiously now.

"We shall see beast." She said before creeping out of the door.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, feeling calmer as my body went back to normal. Moments later I hear footsteps frantically approaching the door.

William stepped in as he looked at me with concern.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he let out a heavy breath.

I nodded at him. "What of the gaurds?"

"I gave them a quick blow to the head, nothing serious. They will wake in the morning with the wine bottles between them and think they passed out drunk on duty. Surely dismissing the whole thing as a dream, who would believe them anyhow?" He said shrugging his shoulders.

"Thank you William. As always I do appreciate you being by my side." I say as I take a seat at my table.

"Your majesty.. Henry, might I be forward?" He asked taking a seat across from me.

"Of course, you're my oldest friend." I nod.

"Do you think we can keep these secrets at bay much longer? It's getting harder and harder to hide things, to keep everything contained." He says as he places his elbows on the table and intertwines his fingers in front of him.

"I honestly don't know." I say shaking my head.

"I'm doing everything in my power to keep it all together but I cannot hurry it along any quicker than I already have. I have to wait for the Shesbak, otherwise it doesn't work, nothing changes." I sigh.

"And what of Circe? She's finding more ways to breach us, she's killed so many of our people in the past because of that girl." He said cautiously.

" She's not just some girl William, you know that! I hope you of all people are not getting at something fullish?" I said glaring at him.

"No, I'm not. I just want you, my King safe and our people safe. I just hope all this- I hope she is worth it." He said looking away.

I feel a heavy pull in my chest.

"She is."