LARA’S POV
I was all by myself walking down to our quarters when I felt someone behind me causing me to cringe in fear and could not look back. It was obvious that whoever was behind me trailed me right from the hall.
I quickened my steps as my heartbeat rate increased drastically. It would be crazy for anyone to try to attack me here in the palace but I am not ready to take any chances.
Suddenly, I felt a grip on my hands and it felt electrifying. “Do you think she will be happy?” a voice asked.
I turned slowly to look at the face of the intruder but I could not see him clearly, everywhere was dark.
The marriage ceremony of the Chamlar and the Chamlee went late into the night and I am just able to pull myself away from the servants cleaning up the place. My eyes are drooping and I need to catch some sleep after being awake since 3 am and just in a couple of hours, it will be 24 hours.
“Who are you?” I asked as I tried to pull off from him. My voice was terrified but I tried to sound bold.
But why should I feel this way just by a mere touch, and who is this stranger? My whole body felt awe-struck. It was as if something inside of me leaped in excitement.
He giggled, and that was when I finally let out the fear that had already built up inside of me. “Rich, you startled me” I exhaled. “Why have you been trailing me?”
“I have not been trailing you, Lara. I thought you know I was behind you” he replied innocently. “So do you think she will be happy, I mean this marriage?” he asked again.
“I hope so…” I responded dreamily. “But I have never seen her this happy. At least now she got a choice on whom to marry”
“I am happy for her,” he said.
“Me too” I replied.
“You can take a seat” he requested.
I looked around us and saw that we were somewhere else, an open space with a little brightness.
He pulled me gently into a seat and he sat beside me.
“I have been meaning to talk to you. Lara” he began.
“About what?” I asked. For some unknown reason, I could feel my heart in my mouth and my breathing shallow. I was anxious.
“About you… no, me and you… us” he stammered.
About us? What is he getting at? He has always been a friend to me and Scarlet and there has been nothing unusual.
“And what about us…?” I murmured.
“I… it’s been long… and I…”
I listened attentively as he stammered. I have never seen Rich this lost for words before, he has always had something to say. But now, he appears… stupefied
“I am listening…”
Before I could finish the words, he leaned over and took my lips in his. I allowed the kiss to go on for a few seconds before I drew away from him looking stunned.
“What are you doing, Rich?” I asked.
He blinked for a few seconds, moved away from me, and rubbed his hands over his lips. He looked even more confused.
“Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking… it should be alcohol. I had too much to drink” he apologized.
“Alcohol…” I muttered.
“Hey, Rich, this is where you are, come with me, we aren’t done yet”
I looked up and saw Landon walking towards us. At the sight of him, I blushed, wondering if he had seen anything.
“I have been looking everywhere for you,” Landon said. “Hey, Lara” he greeted me.
“Hey…” I murmured.
Rich got up. He leaned close to me and whispered apologetically. “I did not mean for it to go that way, Lara” saying this, he walked away with Landon leaving me astonished and helpless.
*
I, Kendra, and two slave girls were in front of the Chamlar’s court when Rich walked up to us in a hurry looking very anxious.
“Where is the Chamlar?” he turned to Kendra and avoided me.
After what happened between us on the night of Scarlet’s wedding, I have not set my eyes on him. I have tried to avoid going to places where he could be and even now, I feel like disappearing.
“Good evening, Sir Rich” the two slave girls curtsied. He nodded at them and shifted his gaze back to Kendra.
“She stepped out. She will be back soon” Kendra replied.
He began to pace around with his head looking downwards. “Didn’t she say where she went to?” he asked.
“She did not say, but I think she will not be gone for too long” I replied quietly and tried to search his look.
It was apparent that something was not right. His cloth was rumpled and his feet looked like it has engaged in a long race.
“Is there a problem?” Kendra asked.
He heaved. “I need to see the Chamlar right away” and he made to leave.
“No, wait for her” I called back to him.
“I am going to search for her” he stopped, looked at me, and immediately moved his gaze away.
“She should be back before you know it, just hold on a while,” I persuaded.
“There is no time” he replied.
Just then, we sighted Scarlet from afar.
“See, the Chamlar is already here,” Kendra said.
As soon as Scarlet arrived, we curtsied and she walked in without taking a second look at Rich.
“I will tell her that you are here to see her,” I said and quickly walked in.
“You can go in,” I said when I came out
He smiled shyly and walked inside. My eyes followed him in, whatever he wanted to see Scarlet for must be very important. I thought.
Soon after, Scarlet and Rich hurried out of the room. Scarlet looked appeared a little anxious, while Rich stood beside her.
Scarlet looked at the slaves, and they bowed before walking away hurriedly.
“Is there a problem, Chamlar?” I asked but my gaze was mainly on Rich.
I drew close to her and held her hand. She inhaled and put up a weak smile. “Where is Landon?” she requested.
“He is at the camp, Chamlar” Rich responded.
“Okay. Kendra” she called.
“Yes, Chamlar” Kendra curtsied.
“You will go and get Landon right away” she instructed.
“Okay, my lady” Kendra bowed and started to walk away.
“Take some water, it is quite a distance. And you can go with a guard” Scarlet instructed.
“I will, Chamlar” Kendra replied and continued on her way.
Scarlet gaze finally fell on Rich. “For how long has it been?” she asked.
“I rushed to you immediately we noticed” Rich answered.
“And how far are they?” she asked.
“Still are the borders. We believe that they are laying siege” Rich replied.
She chuckled and sniffed. “They better not” she murmured.
“May I know what the problem is?” I requested politely.
“Rich thinks some rogues would dare to hunt us” she replied with a smirk.
I gasped and my mouth remained open for a little longer.
“No one should act or attack, we must first know what their purpose is” she ordered.
Rich opened his mouth to speak but immediately closed it.
“Speak, Rich, I am listening,” she requested.
He hesitated for a while before he finally spoke. “Leaving them, won’t that afford them ample opportunity for whatever they are here for?”
“That is what it looks like. But then the rogues are coming from faraway north. I doubt if there would be anything of pleasure to them here” she responded.
“Blood is of pleasure to them, Chamlar, and we have a lot of it here” Rich replied.
She sniffed and let out a soft groan. “Still at that, we would give them the benefit of doubt”
“They are at the borders, what are we going to do?” I asked in fear.
The rogues should never be trusted. They know no justice or wrong or right. All they know is battle and blood which are the only things that they are good at.
She gazed at me and then at Rich.
“It is two ways, Chamlar, we fight to wand them off or we don’t” he murmured and gnashed his teeth.
“There is a third, Rich. How about we know what their unusual visit is for?” she smiled at him.
“They are good for nothing” he snorted.
It was obvious that he was eagerly waiting for an order to go rip off the rogues to pieces, but sadly, Scarlet was not about to grant that.
“Landon will be here soon, join him to the borders. He should be in charge of the eastern borders, while you watch over the north. The guards at the other borders should be alerted too” she instructed and turned to go back inside.
“My Chamlar” a voice called, bringing her to a halt.
Slowly, she looked at where the voice had come from. It was a male slave and immediately he got to her, he knelt before her with his head bent low.
“The Chamlee sent me to you, queen of kings and alphas” he announced.
After listening to him, she was about to go in when he added. “There is a messenger from the rogues in the palace and he demands to speak with you”
Hearing this, Rich immediately drew out his sword in rage but with a gaze from Scarlet, he reluctantly returned the sword.
Scarlet turned to me. “Convey a meeting with all the elders right away” she instructed and she went inside.
“You know… you should” Rich tried to say something to me, but then he shook his head and went away.
I released a huge breath. I almost had a panic attack being all alone with him.