ELORA
Gentle sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains framing my bedroom window alerting me that morning had come and I had been up all night. I had tossed and turned unable to ease my mind enough to sleep, anxiety a fearsome wind billowing in my gut as I thought of resuming my duties in the King’s library.
He had been pretty cold to me after saving me from his father’s men but had been overly kind in sending his own Hand to save my sister from Lord Kain’s brothel even though we had been named traitors. It seemed even though he detested slavers, his kind heart wouldn’t let him look away from people being mistreated.
The contradictory behavior he displayed had me wondering how he would react if he were to encounter me in the library today.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror above my vanity table wincing at the tired girl that looked back at me. My eyes had sunk in with a visible dark ring as if I hadn’t slept in over a fortnight and my mouth was set in a permanent scowl.
I placed my dark auburn hair in a high bun as I readied to resume my duties in the library and held it in place with the rose pin Lucy had gifted me last night.
“Oh, Lucy.” I sighed fiddling with the pin.
She was starting to mean so much to me, taking the place of the twin sister I’d imagined having every time I watched my brothers. I was glad to have a friend that had stayed true even though I’d been accused of being a traitor. Unlike the ones I’d had in Alkarod.
Straightening the pleated skirts of the official Castle uniform, I smiled admiring how good it looked on me. It was a woolen grey A-line dress that was fitted on the upper body and flowed softly to the knee. It was to be worn with a small white apron with the purple ribbon signifying that I was a library staff.
“You’re up early…” Brian muttered rubbing his eyes as I made to leave the room.
They had chosen to sleep in my room last night and I hadn’t minded seeing that we’d been separated for too long. Where Brian and I were early risers, Olivia and Bennett could sleep into the next day if they weren’t disturbed.
“Yes. I start work at the library today.” I explained ruffling his hair, “Please wake them up soon and see to your duties. Remember we are to earn our keep here. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” He answered going to wash his face.
I glanced over to Olivia clutching the bed covers tightly as she slept and my heart broke again. She hadn’t said much since she had gotten back from the brothel but had stared at the ceiling till she had fallen asleep. I wished she would open up to me about what happened.
I sighed and going over to her.
“We’ll be okay soon,” I whispered kissing her forehead.
I walked out of the room, resting my head on the door for a bit psyching myself up for the day ahead of me. I prayed that exhaustion wouldn’t cause me to make too many mistakes today because I couldn’t afford to lose this job.
“My favorite librarian!” Lucy called out as I descended the stairs leading into the hallway that would carry me to the kitchens.
I turned around, hugging her briefly before we made our way down to grab a quick breakfast.
“You look like you didn’t get any rest.” She noted with a worried look.
“I know.” I answered groaning, “I couldn’t get any sleep last night. I was too nervous. Oh what if I make a fool of myself Lucy? What if I rip a book?”
“You shouldn’t worry so much.” She said around a mouth full of warm oven fresh bread, “You’ll do great. I know you will.”
“I hope so.” I sighed rushing my breakfast and waving her good bye, “I’ll see you later.”
I found my way to the library fighting the exhaustion that weighed me down, smoothing an invisible crease in my dress before I walked in.
The smell of books hit me and I almost sighed in pleasure at how the familiar smell transported me back to a time I had taken the luxury of having free time to read for granted.
I wore the strength the addictive smell gave me as armor against the anxious thoughts that had been plaguing me. It was a new day to do brave new things.
Denise had given me my itinerary for the day just before bed last night so I took time to read through it again before beginning. I was to start by reading some books to broaden my knowledge of the royal library before doing anything else. That was going to take more than a few hours so I looked for a comfortable seat, taking care not to crease any of the books I’d chosen.
I decided to start with the history of Bale and the Lycans. Of course, I knew a part of the history but reading texts from the royal library was different.
I spotted one at the back of the library where a large circular window let in some of the afternoon sun but before I could sit, I spied a body slumped on a seat with his head on a table, the shock of glittering red hair sending a familiar pang in my belly.
I moved forward on tiptoes, taking care not to disturb him. A lock of his soft ginger hair had fallen to cover one eye and it took everything in me not to move it back just to see if it was soft as it appeared.
The sunlight streaming in from the window highlighted the features of his face, making his golden brown skin appear unearthly beautiful in peaceful slumber. It was like I was gazing upon the face of an angel. I let my eyes linger on his long dark lashes resting on high cheek bones and full lips set in a cute pout.
Some buttons were missing in his baby blue undershirt enabling me to see the smooth tanned skin of his chest. His rolled up sleeves revealed strong arms dusted in a fine covering of ginger hair spiking my curiosity.
Did he have red hair everywhere?
I took a bolder step forward knowing I was pushing my luck and any moment, his Lycan senses would alert him to my presence but the temptation of watching him like this was too much.
I had barely placed my foot on the ground when his eyes flew open and he rushed forward grabbing my throat and trapping me between his firm body and the nearest shelf.
I should have been in pain but my mind had gone blank from the startling intensity of his azure blue eyes. Anger seemed to add a fire in their glittering depths that had me enthralled.
The intensity in his eyes morphed and dimmed in recognition as his eyes focused on me.
“Elora?” He questioned quickly letting me go and I dropped to my knees catching my breath, “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m sorry Your Majesty. I saw you and I wanted to thank you for…” I trailed off looking back into his eyes that had concern swimming in their depths, “To thank you for rescuing Olivia and me.”
He didn’t respond but straightened slowly and staring at me. I squirmed under his scrutiny, a strange shiver running through me as my wolf stirred.
Strange.
“I don’t want you on the floor.” He spoke finally turning away from me, “Not only is it unfit for a royal staff, but it is also unhygienic.”
“Yes.” I said disappointed at the less than…well exciting response, “Of course, Your Majesty.”
I stood up slowly but unfortunately, I tripped on the long skirt of my dress falling forward and right back to the ground. My face burned in embarrassment. He must think I was stupid. I was sure he regretted rescuing me. I was sure he hated me.
He put out a hand. “Here.” He looked a spot away from me and I was grateful because his gaze would melt me.
Surprisingly without any trouble I put my small hand into his large, warm ones observing the difference in their sizes. I was weak in the knees as he pulled me up but I was wise enough to suppress the shudder that raced through me. His face was still set in a slight frown.
“Don’t get me wrong.” He started dropping my hands as if I burned him, “I didn’t rescue you. You’re still a slave as the daughter of a traitor. You just traded one prison for another.”
I caught my breath wincing at how the words stung coming from his mouth.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that he’d see me in that light since that’s what everyone had heard about me; a mere slave, the daughter of a traitor, but the fact that it wasn’t true made me want to scream in frustration.
I bowed my head.
“Look at me, Elora.” He commanded, his deep baritone rolling over me in powerful waves that reminded me of the high cresting waves in the middle of the sea; deadly and unpredictable in every way.
I couldn’t dwell on how beautiful my name sounded in his mouth so I looked at his forehead since his eyes feeling too intense for me and then at his red, full lips but unfortunately, at that moment his tongue slowly flicked over them. It was like he was punishing me on purpose. His lips now glistened and became more alluring.
“At me, Elora.” He repeated stepping closer to me.
I carefully lifted my gaze to peer into his eyes that glinted with a strange golden light and I felt it again; a strange humming in my blood that made me feel alive for the first time in a long time.
“Like I said earlier, the job of a royal librarian isn’t a walk in the park. There’s a lot expected from you. A lot I expect from you.” He spoke breaking the trance he had me in.
“Yeee…yes, sir. I understand.” I answered, bowing low to hide my embarrassed blush.
“There are tons of treasures hidden in the page of these books, and I trust that you’ll keep them safe.”
He turned back trailing his large fingers on the shelves. I was rooted to the spot still unable to look at him.
“Follow me.” He commanded turning away from me.
“Yes, sir.”
I frowned wondering if I had done something wrong.
His strides were long, and he walked like he was in a marching parade. My shorter legs couldn’t keep up so I skipped behind him.
“I’m sure Denise gave you your itinerary for the day.” He stopped and turned back.
I stopped. “Yes.”
“Good.” He nodded. “I want you to start from here. S.”
I looked up to the gold plated sign on the shelf to see a cursive letter S.
“Slavery and slave masters…” I muttered, reading the title of the book he was holding.
“Yes. I want you studying everything about slavery as related to Bale.” He cocked his head. “It’s something you can do, right?”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded.
“Good.” With that he continued deep into the library, totally ignoring me.
I picked up another book and inhaled it. I would read every book in the library in one week if that guaranteed my safety.