ROME
As they crossed into the gates of Hanaerum, bells tolled in the lower city alerting their presence. Their party was one to be ignored.
Citizens stared open-mouthed in shock as the large army rode through, some of them with scars and others, albeit healthy, with menacing expressions brought about by fatigue. Long had the thrill of their victory faded leaving behind exhaustion and muscle soreness.
Rome was not immune to this phenomenon and wore his scowl even bolder than most because he’d not been given time with Elora at all during their trip.
Skye worried he might scare her off with his intensity since his emotions were still high and besides the girl needed rest after the ordeal she’d been through.
The doctor he’d ordered to look over her reported she was in excellent health and that the baby was doing fine but until he got to the castle and got Noel’s report, he didn’t think he could relax.
Looking up at the grim castle walls, he couldn’t help but think that so much would change in the next few days.
A lot of wrongs would have to be corrected.
He looked back at the prisoners they had chained at the back of their riding party. Oh, he would relish seeing their heads line the city walls but he would wait until they’ve had the due trial. Let him not be thought of as anything but a benevolent king.
Palace workers and noblemen alike had assembled in the courtyard to welcome them but he strode past, ignoring formalities, and went to his chambers, needing a good hot bath and some food so he could think about how to proceed with his plans.
He’d have to give an official announcement stating Elora’s family’s innocence so that their slave status can be revoked and their estates and noble status restored to them. He already got word her mother was alive and had sent some of his Elite ahead to bring her.
There was also the matter of setting up the court to handle all the traitors they’d exposed. Once Kain realized his defeat, he had begun singing like a nightingale, exposing all those that had been in on his plot. Turns out, a lot of people on his council had been after his throne.
He’d have to do a lot of reformation of his council.
Then there was the matter of…
No.
Right now he had to go see Elora.
She’d been through a terrible ordeal the past week and they still hadn’t talked about the contents of her letter. But did he even have a suitable answer for the feelings she had expressed?
Had he sorted out how he felt about her?
She was his mate, yes and he was mandated to love her. Plus, he enjoyed watching her and being around her even before he discovered the mate bond. But even then, he wasn’t sure what name to apply to his feelings.
He had been horribly distraught when she had been captured but seeing her had evoked a strong onslaught of emotions in his heart that had left him winded.
What word could he give to describe the rush that had gone through him seeing her covered in blood when she had ripped Alpha Rasmus away from him?
He had given into the feeling and kissed her but looking back now, it was surely more than lust that had spurred him.
When their eyes had met across the battlefield, she looks like a spoil of war in the blood-stained sheet and that wild gleam in her eyes, he knew if Skye hadn’t drawn his attention, he’d have rushed over to her and taken her right there and then not caring who saw.
He was a mere hairsbreadth away from the door when it swung open to admit Skye, Nauru, and Teriel bearing grim looks.
Fuck! He thought.
“Are you going somewhere, Rome?” Skye asked looking up at him confused.
“No.” He shook his head, running a hand down his face. “I just stood up to stretch my legs a bit.”
“Okay.” She nodded stepping past him to sit on the couch. “We just returned from rounding up the members of the council Kain pointed out before they could escape.”
“I take it there were a few who put these frowns on your faces.” He asked sarcastically, settling in his chair behind the desk.
He might as well get to work replying to correspondence.
“More than a few. Our father is one major headache.” She spat. “I have to ask Noel for a drug to wipe my memory after now.”
Nauru laughed, shaking his head at her.
“Your father’s quite flexible for his age.” He laughed.
Both Rome and Skye sent him dirty looks while Teriel laughed.
The once depressing mood faded into something nearing playful for which Rome was grateful.
“We have to get to work deciding who the members of the court for the trial will be,” Skye started pointing out the obvious. Noticing Rome’s frown, she glared at him. “It’s important, Rome.”
He sighed.
“Who do we nominate?”
They spent the next hour deliberating on the members for the panel and just when he thought they’d finally let him be, Teriel asked what he planned to do about Elora.
“I don’t know.” He answered honestly.
“When do you intend to announce her exoneration?” Skye asked.
“I plan to talk to her about it first if you would all give me some time to at least see her!”
They all looked taken aback at his outburst before bursting into laughter.
“Well we’re sorry if we wanted to help you restore order to your kingdom.” Skye teased. “But you’re right. You should go see her.”
His brows shot up in surprise as elation flooded his heart. He was finally free to go see her.
“What?” She asked shrugging. “I’m sure the poor girl is dying to get a reply to her letter.”
Anxiety had his heart pounding an unsteady rhythm in his chest and he had to fight the urge to place a hand on his heart or Skye would tease him endlessly for that.
He was almost out the door when he heard her call after him.
“Try to go easy on the girl tonight. She’s already been through enough.”
Their laughter followed him into the hallway abasing some of his fear but once he neared her chamber doors, he couldn’t help but pat his chest as if it would calm his heart.
Female voices and excited chatter floated through the doors and he smiled that at least she wasn’t alone.
Feeling the stares of the guards he had placed outside her door, he knocked, opening the door when she admitted entry.
All conversation stopped when they spied him, all of them rising to their feet, well all except her since she was staring at him, her soft face in an expression of shock he found cute as fuck.
“Your…your…majesty!” She stammered out rushing to her feet. “Did you need something?”
You. He wanted to say. Instead, he chose an answer likely not to make her blush.
“Could I talk to you in private?” He asked hoping he didn’t sound like a sap.
Her eyes widened and a hot blush crawled up her neck and cheeks.
Would there be anything he said that didn’t make her blush?
“S…sure.” She answered.
Her companions, her handmaid and siblings, hurried out not needing to be told twice although he saw her maid shoot her a wink causing her to blush even further.
A blush worked its way up his cheeks when he realized what the girl thought was about to happen.
Did she really think him that insensitive?
The closed behind them stealing his breath with it.
Damn.
How was he supposed to start?
“How…” “How…”
They stared at each other, then shared a short laugh.
Well…He thought. This was off to a great start.