Lovers, Knights, & Kings

Chapter One: SuitorsShe is eighteen when King James tries to marry her off to some knight in a kingdom two weeks travel away from their own. When her maid tells her this, she claws her curtains and throws her chair out the window in her rage, and then sits curtly on the bed when King James tears open the door, worry etched on his face from the noise coming from her room. He relaxes when he sees that it is just her, but the expression of worry is still there. "My King, what a pleasant surprise," she says through clenched teeth, curtsying angrily before glaring right up at him again through long lashes that glisten with frustrated tears. He looks around, studying the mess she's made without a word, and then gestures for her to take a seat. Normally, he would drag the chair to her bed and sit in front of her, but she's thrown that out the window and it is lodged on the roof. Leo, the weretiger who guards the King, would probably bring it back later. For now, he is standing guard outside her room and glaring at everyone who's walking past. She wonders where James is going to sit. To her surprise, he kneels in front of her and takes her clenched hands in his much larger, warmer ones. When he looks up at her, there is so much raw adoration in his eyes that she wants to scream and ask him why he's sending her away when he obviously loves her. But that's not true. He doesn't love her the way she wants him. He loves her like a cub even though she's pretty sure she's been in love with him ever since he saved her from the previous king and tore apart the collar on her neck. "Aryana," he starts, his breath lingering on her fingers as he presses his lips to her knuckles. She wonders how much trouble she'll get into if she lunges forward and kisses him. She gears herself up to do it. It's been a while since he's allowed himself in the same room as her without Leo standing guard behind him like the angry tiger that he is, but then James continues to speak so she forces herself to stay still. "Aryana, Sir Tristan is an admirable man... An honest, good man. He will take care of you, make you happy. His pack is strong. They will be able to keep you safe and he will provide for you." She doesn't know if he's trying to convince her or himself. Neither seems to be working. He takes a deep breath before continuing. "You understand why you can't marry a prince, don't you?" he says quietly as if that's the problem, as if she's mad because he doesn't want her to choose a crown prince as a mate. Of course, she can't marry an heir to the throne. Queens are expected to bear children for their Kings and because she's a lioness and most royalty are wolves, she can't bear their children without the risk of giving birth to lion shifters instead of wolf shifters. Royal blood would no longer be pure because she's not a werewolf. As if having lion shifters have children would be tainting their blood. If anything, it would be an improvement. All children are precious, but lion cubs are especially tenacious. Any child of hers would be amazing at everything. She sighs. It's all very stupid. Personally, she thinks children are all the same, wolf cub, lion cub, or human child. She makes an angry noise from the back of her throat. "I don't know," she hisses just to be contrary. He looks stricken. "Aryana," he sighs and opens his mouth as though to explain all over to her again why he would rather she marry someone who's not a prince, not a were-creature of any kind, and not involved as much in politics and put her at risk of getting murdered in her sleep. He only wants what's best for her and what's best for her involves sending her to nowhere and never seeing her again because apparently he can't stand the sight of her anymore. It hurts just to think about it. "I don't know why I have to get married in the first place," she interrupts before he can get into all that because she understands. There aren't nearly enough lions left in the world for him to find a lion mate for her. Marrying a prince would make her a companion rather than a wife because she would never be considered equal. It would put her in danger of being replaced by a jealous queen that would one day take the place of the King's rightful consort. He's worried that she would be mistreated, as she had been in the past, before he saved her from the previous king, from a father who wanted nothing to do with her. Lion shifters used to be revered. Now, they're just another endangered shifter species waiting to disappear. But they aren't going down without a fight. Lions are meant to be kings and rulers. They are the best and strongest fighters in all the lands. It is how James managed to crown himself king. James looks pained and he glances to Leo as though he has the answer. She narrows her eyes at the tiger, daring him to interrupt. The tiger shifter gives her a steely-eyed gaze and refused to turn away. She puffs her chest and sticks her tongue out at him, earning her a slight smile as his tough veneer softens. She's always liked Leo. He tries to be serious all the time as the King's right hand, but she's caught him stealing biscuits from the kitchen more than once and caught him baking with the chefs even more times. "Is Leo making you do this, James?" she asks. "I can take him in a fight," she whispers. It's not true. Leo twitches and James chuckles. "Of course you can, cub," he says. "But taking a mate is something you have to do. You will be happy, Aryana. Don't you want that?" She wants him but that's not allowed. She huffs. "Is it because I'm a lioness? You want me to be heavy with someone else's cubs? Carry on our species's legacy? Wouldn't it be easier if I were to mate with a human? The chances of having shifter children increases with a non-shifter mate." She licks her lips and rubs her stomach as she says this, already imagining how it would feel to be carrying cubs inside her. An odd expression crosses his face at the suggestion of her carrying cubs. He grimaces and then schools his expression back to neutral before she can figure out what it means. "I can do it without marrying." She knows she's said something wrong when he growls at her. She bares her sharp fangs right back at him. "I've been fine without a mate. I will continue to be fine without one." He growls and stands tall, vibrating with anger. "You will meet with Sir Tristan this afternoon." "And how are you going to make me?" she challenges, tilting her head back, offering him her throat like a challenge. Her golden eyes flash with indignant anger as she glares at him. He growls low. He's spoiled her. She knows this even without hearing the servants whisper it in the halls. It's made her proud and rebellious. She wonders if he's regretting it now that she's fighting him every step of the way. "You will do as you're told," he orders. She flinches and he subsides, shifting with discomfort instantly. He's never been good with giving her orders. "I you say so, my King," she says, her voice mild and bland, her sparkling gaze lifting to his and showing nothing but mute fire. He wants her to show interest in Sir Tristan? She can do that. A plan formulates in her mind and she lets a smile show, a cruel smile laden with a promise to make him regret telling her to do anything with Sir Tristan. He wants her to like him? She can do that. She can do much more than like him... She changes into one of her newer gowns before heading towards the room where Sir Tristan is being kept in. He's arrived earlier that morning and isn't going to stay the night even though his home is far. She The room they are is brand new and richly decorated, but devoid of personal effects. It is the only warning she needs that Sir Tristan is a shifter with a powerful nose. Probably a werewolf. She's been getting a lot of wolf suitors. It's not like she's biased towards non-shifters, but she has a temper and humans are more fragile. She walks into the room, her bare feet cold on the smooth stone floor, long dress covering the tips of her toes when she stops. The candle on the table is newly lit, flickering weakly. The window is much better at providing light. Sitting on the chaise lounge, is Sir Tristan, a knight of the Mages Guild. It is why James is so certain that she will be safe and happy if she chooses to wed him. Mages are neutral and keep peace of the lands by interfering only when the natural balance is threatened. Their knights are strong and magically inclined. He would make a good mate. He is young-looking, perhaps in his twenties, and very handsome. Her gaze slides to the man who has held her heart for as long as she's known how to love. King James is twenty years his senior, but does not look a day over thirty. Quietly, she thinks James is a lot more handsome than the younger man. There is a ruthlessness to his dirty blonde hair and black-rimmed golden eyes, the way his face seems sculpted from clay by an artist who is trying to portray male perfection. A servant announces her arrival and all three men turn to her at once. She curtsies politely and waits for the king to give her permission before entering. Sir Tristan's expression is one of pleasant surprise when he sees her. She's not sure what he's heard from her other suitors, but it probably wasn't positive. She doesn't particularly care. She doesn't know why Sir Tristan is given special treatment. The other suitors all met her in the main hall with King James lounging in the throne. He is standing in front of her now, his crown slightly lopsided, balancing across the top of his head as he leans down to press a kiss on the top of her head. "Feeling better?" he asks softly, wary of the werewolf's enhanced sense of hearing. She tips her head politely. "Yes," she says and waits for him to brush his cheek to the top of her head, leaving his familiar scent lingering on her nose and his warmth on her skin, before stepping aside to let her pass. "Sir Tristan," she curtsies to him and he bows low to her in return. "Lady Aryana." She releases a soft huff of laughter. "I am hardly a lady, Sir Tristan," she says, ignoring the way James grimaces at her condescending tone. "Tell me, Sir Tristan, what do you hope to achieve from marrying me?" He gapes at her for a moment, and then, to her annoyance, bursts out laughing. "I see you are not one for small talk," he says bluntly and sinks into the seat. She remains standing for a moment before deciding to sit next to the man, ignoring decorum by showing her back to the King. This way, she wouldn't have to look at the way he's grimacing at every wrong thing she says. "Small talk would waste both our times. I would rather we make our intentions clear," she turns to him, her thigh pressing against his. She can feel the warmth of his body and she tries to imagine what life would be like with him, how it would feel to share his bed for the rest of her life. "I am here because of the Mages Guild believes I have passed my prime marrying age," he says with thinly veiled amusement. "As if twenty-five is too old to remain unmated," he rolls his eyes. "And why are you here, Princess Aryana?" he asks. He learns quick, she would give him that much. "I am here because my King is trying to get rid of me," she states. "And I have turned away every offer I have been given." She hears James's annoyed growled from behind her and ignores him. "And what reason did you have to turn them away?" he asks. She frowns at him, confused by the question. No one has asked her that before. Everyone in their court has just assumed that there is something she did wrong. "They were not to my liking," she says bitterly. "Surely there are other reasons," he prompts. "It is improper to slander the names of knights, Sir Tristan," she says testily, though she is beginning to warm to the man. Her plan is advancing better than she thought possible. "I am a knight of the Mages Guild. I am not permitted to interfere, but I'll share a little secret with you. Mages thrive on gossip," he says, the corner of his eyes wrinkling as he smiles, flashing brilliant white teeth. "I happen to know that Sir Lahey from the Nadal Empire came personally to ask for your hand even though he has three mistresses waiting for his return." She remembers Sir Lahey. "He was an unpleasant man, but he was honest. He asked if I would not mind sharing and reminded me that because of my animal, I would never be seen as an equal." Behind them, James is close to snarling. "I think throwing him out the window was a kindness. Pity I forgot about the lake outside that particular floor." Tristan's shoulders shakes as he tries valiantly to hold his laugh. "And what of Sir William? From what I hear, he is a treasure in bed." She shudders at the memory of the older man. "Yes, that meeting was very educational," she says in a flat tone. He throws back his head and laughs. "You've certainly had your pick of suitors, haven't you?" "There are some decent ones," she says softly, feeling the need to defend her guardian's choices. "But they aren't what I'm looking for." "What are you looking for in a mate, then?" he asks. "Someone who loves me," she says softly, looking at her intertwined fingers in her lap. She already has that, but he's sending her away out of some misguided belief that she would be happier without him. She resists the urge to turn around. Sir Tristan must have no self-preservation instincts because he tips her head up by pressing his knuckles to her chin lightly. "Love can be nurtured," he starts. "It is not something that happens overnight. With time, couples learn to care for each other and sometimes, they fall in love." He sounds so earnest and sincere that she can't help but stare at him with her lips slightly parted. "Do you think you can learn to love me, Sir Tristan?" she asks, afraid of the answer. "I am not easy to love," she says because it's true. "I'm stubborn and savage in equal measures. Our children may end up being lions instead of wolves, and I can not promise that I will be a nurturing mother because I don't know what a nurturing mother should be like." He does not appear to be dissuaded. "We can learn together," he says, leaning forward and- oh, is he trying to kiss her? Dread sinks in her stomach as she closes her eyes, waiting for his lips to touch hers. She kind of just wants to see what would happen. It never happens because there's a sudden crashing noise and when she opens her eyes again, she is looking at an empty seat beside her. She looks behind her and sees Sir Tristan in a crumpled heap against the wall, James snarling down at him. "Sir Tristan! Are you alright?" She hurries over to him, pushing aside James so that she can look over the man. He appears to be unharmed, if a little confused by what just happened. "I'm fine," he says. "I suppose I was too forward." "Too forward?" she rears around and glares at James. "What's gotten into you? I thought this is what you wanted to happen?" she demands. He looks torn and pained. He turns around and marches away. "Of course. Leo will see to the rest of your meeting."