The Exiled King's Guard

Chapter 10: After The Contest

Ashley's POV

I was walking, definitely drunk, but not out of my mind yet. There was a cool breeze blowing, helping me sober up extra fast. I walked all the way up to where thunder was and decided to bring him into the village since I had seen a stable near the tavern. Hopefully we could find a place for him there. I started making my way back, I could see people here and there who had come back to camp, which made me wonder, how late in the night was it? I wasn’t keeping track of the time.

Oh s**t! I wasn’t keeping track of time! And I had left my charge alone with so many people who could potentially kill him. Granted I knew most of them were harmless, but there definitely was some Credorian army here, even if they were drunk too. And I had brought attention to us in the contest, when we were supposed to be keeping a low profile. What was I thinking?

Oh I remember, I wanted to have fun, just like Zach was doing. Zach! Thinking of him I increased my pace, wanting to be back by his side as soon as possible. He was drunk too, he could be easily injured right now if someone attacked him. Thinking more and more worrying thoughts I ran-limped to where I had left him. Sure enough he wasn’t there, I looked around and spotted the siblings, I went up to them, Thunder almost getting in Jeff’s face.

“Hey guys, have you seen Zach?”

“Uumph, can you get this horse away from me!!” Jeff said, as Thunder continued to bother him.

“Oh yes! I am going to take him to the stables. As soon as you tell me where my husband is”

“Cant you see, he is right there” Tina said pointing through the open tavern doors.” We haven’t been able to reach him ever since the contest, he has a lot of fans.”

I could see his fans, batting their eyelashes, giving him flirtatious looks, and he was lapping it all up, like he always did even back home. It hurt. Why did he ever pay me attention today? It was hurting more because of that. Its all his fault, I told myself.

Turning away, I made up my mind. I walked Thunder to the stables, fortunately they had space for him. After making sure he had water and was fed, I made my way into the tavern to eat something myself.

Ignoring my fake husband I went to the bar, and got myself some food, which was apparently on the house for me. I dug into it, venting my irritation at the situation on the bread and soup.

“Are you planning to ignore me the whole time?” Zach spoke into my ear suddenly. I hadn’t realized when he had walked up to me.

“Oh I didn’t want to disturb you, I could see you were very busy” I retorted, my voice dripping venom.

“ I was looking for you”

“Well, I wasn’t there” I said pointing to the gaggle of women who were now staring at us. “But you found many replacements. I am sure they kept you entertained” I turned back to my soup.

“If I didn’t know better, I would say you were jealous” he said smugly

I froze, my eyes widening in shock and then narrowing in unconcealed anger. I gave him a side glance, but decided against replying and continued to eat my soup.

“ Come on ShelleyBug, I came here for you, didn’t I? I left all those pretty ladies for you”

“Why thank you for that huge sacrifice husband, but you can’t call me Shelleybug.” Not anymore I added in my head, fuming internally but giving him a very obviously fake smile.

He moved closer to my seat, covering my hand holding the spoon with his. “Can I have a taste?” he asked and without waiting for permission moved both our hands, soup in the spoon, to his mouth and ate the soup.

“Mmmmm” he said, looking into my eyes with an intensity that made me realize there was more to his words than an innocent taste of soup.

I gulped, my anger forgotten, the butterflies in my stomach replacing everything else I was feeling.

“Come on.” He said, gently removing the spoon from my fingers, he led me away from the bar. The soup, my hunger everything forgotten, the only thing I could focus on was that he was still holding my hand.

We were walking but I was in a daze, I wasn’t stupid. I knew something was going to happen between us, what exactly, I wasn’t sure. This was probably the most unbelievable thing to happen not just today, but in my life. Wasn’t he just over there flirting with those women. A small voice in my head spoke up. But he left them for me, another, stronger voice responded.

“ What are we doing Zach?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

He stopped, without responding he led me into the room and shut the door.

“Oh, so this is the prize from the contest.” I said, trying to distract myself.

“ Ashley, look at me.” He said holding me by my waist, we were only inches apart.

“ You are so beautiful, more than all the women out there. I am ashamed that it took another man pointing it out for me to notice.” I looked at him confused.

“ Jeff said to me that I was lucky to have you as my wife, you were the prettiest woman he had seen” he explained

“ Oh so that’s what you both were talking about when I was getting my ankle checked out.” I spoke lowly, realization dawning on me.

“ Mmhm. But that is not what I am concerned about. I want you like I have wanted no other woman before. I know you have wanted me for a long time. So what’s stopping us?” he looked at me with questioning eyes, burning with the same intensity as before.

My mind was racing, his words had surprisingly taken me out of my daze. Did I want him like he was saying? I know I loved him, did that mean the same thing? Possibly. It was very clear to me how he wanted tonight to go, but was I ready? Maybe I was. I knew I would do it because it was him, it was Zach. He was saying all the things I had wanted to hear for such a long time that I wanted to give him something in return. And the thing he wanted was me. But didn’t that make me another notch on his bedpost? The small voice from before was back. No, he wouldn’t that to me would he? I was his friend, not someone he picked up somewhere. So many things were running in my mind that I forgot to respond to his question.

“ We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to” he said softly, sensing my indecision.

That did it. He was being so understanding and careful about my feelings. And tonight was supposed to be about fun, as I had decided before. And this was supposed to be the most fun thing that people did, at least that’s what I heard. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Nodding as I opened my eyes again, looking anywhere but at him.

He gently cupped my cheek making me look up at him. He was smiling one of his most dazzling smiles, it was such a sweet sight. He leaned forward and as his lips touched mine, fireworks went off in my head.