My Auctioned Human Bride

Chapter 9

3 weeks later …  

Dealing with Colter leaving for war has been ripping me apart, it has drained my emotionally and physically I want to do nothing but lay in bed with him holding me close. I never thought this is the life I was destined to live. But regardless of what I felt I played strong for him, I never let him see the sadness I held in my heart because I knew if he did he would refuse the King and stay here which would have destroyed him, it would change him from the man I love into something entirely different.  

“They are here mon amour.” I heard him say from the bedroom door.  

“I will be right down.” I replied as I got up to dress.  

“Are you well?” he asked with a concerned tone.  

“I am my love, are you feeling alright?” I asked.  

“I am, and I am not.” He said in a saddened tone.  

“Is there anything I can do to help you?” I asked.  

“You love me is all I need.” He said before leaving the room.  

I finished dressing and brushing my hair before I made the long-dreaded descent to the living room where the man I loved, and his guests were waiting for me. As I went down the stairs, I could feel the tension in my body grow.  

“Ah here is your lovely mate!” The King said with a booming voice.  

“Mon amour.” Colter said as he came to my side placing a kiss to my forehead.  

“We shall be leaving now; say your goodbyes Colter we need to gather Cameron.” The King said before smiling at me and leaving.  

I turned and looked at Colter who was staring at me with eyes of regret. “You will be home before you know it.”  

“I do not want to leave you mon amour.” he said gliding his hand across my cheek.  

“I do not want you to leave either my love but, you must.” I replied.  

“Will you be alright without me for a few months?” He asked me 

 “I will manage.” I said with a smile.  

“I love you.” he said as he leaned and kissed me deeply.  

“I love you.” I replied before kissing him again.  

I watched him as he gathered his bag and walked to the door, I followed him there standing in the arch way as he got into the car and drove away. I watched as my heart drove away. I was to spend the next 4 months without my other half, to spend the next 4 months alone. Well so I thought until my phone rang.  

“Hello?” I asked softly as I watched the car holding my heart go over the hill out of sight.  

“Rose darling, I have sent a car for you, it will be there in 10 minutes please pack a bag that will last you a week.” I heard Silla say on the other line.  

“Yes, your highness.” I replied knowing not to argue with her.  

I hung the phone up and went upstairs to pack a bag, even though I was not interested in a vacation. Even if it was a good idea to get my mind from Colter leaving. As soon as I was finished packing my bags, I went into his office grabbing his favorite book. I heard a honk letting me know the driver was here, gathering my bags I walked down the stairs and out of the house, turning to lock the door before getting into the car.  

“Good evening Miss.” the driver said.  

“Good evening.” I managed a smile.  

I sat in the back seat as we made our way to the palace, I can honestly say I was dreading this interaction for than staying at home alone. After some time, we arrived at the front stairs where Silla and Misty were waiting for me with smiles on their faces. I took a deep breath and gathered my bag before exiting the car.  

“I am so pleased you made it here safely Rose!” Silla said as she pulled me into a hug.  

“Thank you for the invitation your highness.” I replied.  

“Oh, please call me Silla.” She said with a giggle.  

“Hello Rosie, I missed you.” Misty said hugging me.  

“Let us go in, I have tea some treats laid out for us.” Silla said ushering us into her home.  

As we walked in a woman stopped me and took my bag letting me know I could find it in the room I would be staying for the evening. I smiled and took Colter’s book out before letting her walk away.  

“Please sit, I am excited to tell you of my plans while our men are away.” Silla said.  

We took our seats and waited as a maid poured our tea and served us some cucumber sandwiches with a few pastries. It all looked lovely but made me miss him more. I missed afternoon tea with him in the garden before we took our daily walk.  

“You look troubled Rose, are you alright?” Silla asked snapping me out of my thoughts.  

“I just miss Colter is all, I am sorry Silla.” I replied as I picked my cup up adding a few cubes of sugar.  

“You two share a lovely bond, don’t you?” She asked with a smile. “I hope one day the King and I can have the same.”  

“Has he told you why he calls you Arabella?” I asked her.  

“No, he changes the subject to something else.” She confessed.  

“I asked Colter about it.” I confessed.  

“And what did he say?” She asked.  

“She is the former Queen, who was taken defending the King’s life. He loved her dearly and you look just like her.” I said before taking a bite from my sandwich.  

“That does explain a lot of things.” She said nodding. “Thank you for telling me.”  

“Of course, Silla.” I said with a smile.  

“So, where are we going?” Misty asked with an excited tone.  

“Oh, you ladies will love it!” Silla said whipping her hands off before grabbing a packet of papers. “Here you are ladies.”  

I took the packet as I set my tea down. Opening it up I found a photograph of a lovely rustic cabin in the middle of the woods far from the city. It was surrounded by tall trees, bright colored flowers and moss covering the ground.  

“What do you think?” She asked us.  

“It looks lovely.” I replied.  

“Well, this is where we are going tomorrow morning.” She said.  

“Thank you, Silla this is going to be, such a nice get away!” Misty said.  

After we spent some time chatting and then dinner we went our separate ways and to bed. I sat on the bed reading Colter’s book before I drifted off to a dreamless, cold slumber.  

“Rosie?” I heard someone call me name.  

“Go away.” I mumbled rolling over.  

“Rosie, it’s Colter.” the voice said.  

I shot up from my slumber wide awake. To find Misty standing next to the bed holding a telephone.  

“Thank you, Misty.” I said taking it. 

I watched as she left the room before I put the phone to my ear hearing the familiar pattern of his breathing.  

“Colter?” I asked into the phone.  

“Mon amour, how have I longed to hear your voice.” he said.  

“I miss you too my love.” I said. “How are you?”  

“Better now.” he said. “How are you?”  

“I am okay, I just miss you. It is very lonely.” I confessed.  

“It is. I heard Silla has stolen you.” he said with a slight possessive growl.  

“She did.” I giggled. “She is taking us to a cabin somewhere.”  

“That sounds nice mon amour, will I be able to call you still?” he asked.  

“I think so, I do not see her without a phone.” I laughed.  

“I think you may be right.” he agreed.  

“I have to confess something though.” I said in a soft tone.  

“What is it?” He growled.  

“I took your favorite book from your office.” I confessed in a whisper.  

“It is alright Mon amour, I thought you might, so I added a little something in there for you.” he said.  

“Did you?” I said with a surprised tone.  

“Yes, but you have to promise you won’t look for it, it needs to be found once you reach that page.” he instructed.  

“I promise.” I said in a reluctant tone.  

“Mon amour, I must get going we have a meeting in the war tent, and I cannot be late.” he said in a sad tone. “Just remember that I love you more than anything in this world.  

“I love you Colter, so much.” I said. “Please stay safe and come home to me.”  

“I promise mon amour.” he replied before the phone went dead.  

Setting the phone down, I clutched his book to my chest as the tears flowed down my face. I let myself cry a hard cry before getting out of bed to the washroom to shower before I join the others downstairs.  

COLTER’S POV 

Hanging up the phone was the second hardest thing I have done in the last 24 hours, the first was leaving the love of my life behind while I accompanied my King to war. Letting my duty rule my life is going to be one of my biggest regrets and I knew it the second I saw her waving goodbye to me.  

“Brother are you ready?” Cameron asked me. 

“Yes.” I replied in a grumble.  

“How is she?” He asked as we exited the tent.  

“She is well.” I said keeping my eyes straight ahead.  

“That is good, Misty and Silla seem to be well too. Misty said Silla had an adventure planned for them.” Cameron said.  

“I hope they bring guards with them.” I said.  

“I have instructed my best men to stay by their sides.” The King said as we walked into the war tent.  

“Thank you, my King.” I said before taking my seat next to him.  

“Now, let us get on with these unpleasantries.” he said pushing some pons around. “Are you ready?”  

“Yes.” Cameron and I said in unison.  

“Alight, Hendric and his army are here.” He said as he pointed at the board in front of us. “I have sent 30% of our army to the west, another 30% to the east and we will go the north with the remaining 40%. He will be surrounded with nowhere to run since there is a cliff to the back of him.”  

“That is a sound plan Sir.” I said nodding in agreement.  

“I would like to get this done as fast and painless as possible.” he said sitting down. “I would like to go home to my Silla.”  

“We would all like to go home to our women my King.” Cameron said.  

“Good, we need to gather our men and start that way then.” The King said as he got to his feet.  

We all stood and went out of the tent and began gathering everyone, the supplies and vehicles.  I took one last moment to see my love in my mind before switching it to the heartless, cruel killer I needed to be in order to return home. I was going to war for my King, but I am going to fight for my life for the women I love.