Page 39 of The Time Of Kings

“Oh, and you wish to truly know that, do you?” she said, as if taunting me with the protentional knowledge of others she may have kissed before me.

It was clear that she must have detected my jealous and possessive nature and was now using this fact against me to win her argument.

“You purposely provoke me to lead the conversation down the path in which you choose, but I am telling you now that it will not work… now tell me who hurt you and therefore who I need to hunt down and punish for committing such a sin,” I demanded firmly, nodding down at the sleeves she was tugging on. As if trying to hide the evidence of such an attack that would forever be burned on my mind’s eye. However, once more, instead of giving me the information I wanted to know, she turned her saddened gaze back to the window before telling me,

“In that case, you can rest easy, as I can assure you that anyone involved was already punished enough.”

I couldn’t help but scoff at that, as I doubt such a punishment worthy of the crime could have been severe enough for the likes of my murderous judgment. Hence why I gave her a good dose of clarity and insight to my dark thoughts.

“Yes, well unless this punishment you speak of was of the torturous kind, one that ended in a long, painful death, then I believe our version ofpunished enoughis a different concept entirely.”

“Different or not, it is of little matter now.”

I was unable to help myself when growling at this, making her shudder at the sound.

“If you think seeing the evidence of you being hurt is ever to be of little matter to me, then it is a lesson better learned now, before you find my sword imbedded in the chest of anyone foolish enough to think they could ever hurt you and live a single day after,” I told her, letting anger coat my words as just thethought had me wishing I already had someone within my grasp to punish.

Once more, she looked back towards the window, to a reality that included a deadly drop and nothing more than a pane of glass between her and the picturesque countryside. One that offered her the freedom I knew she desperately sought in this moment. Yet the weight of her silence became deafening. Which was why I could take only a moment more of it before I released a sigh and approached her from behind.

Then once I was within reach to take what was mine, I turned her face from that freedom and back to face her future. Cupping her cheek, I let my hand caress her soft skin before taking purchase of her chin, using it to commandeer her gaze once more.

“Is it the reason you came to this place, to escape your troubles?” I asked, purposely softening my tone to one of understanding.

“I think you will find I was brought here against my will, My Lord,” she replied just as softly, despite the bitterness that veiled each word.

“You know my meaning well enough, for I do not speak of the castle,” I replied, frowning down at her acrimonious answer.

“My reasons for coming here are my own,” she replied, denying me once more.

“You do not yet trust me.” The statement was what it was. An unfortunate consequence surrounding the circumstances to her being here now. Of course, after two millennia dreaming of when we would first meet, I had to admit that taking her as my prisoner and keeping her against her will had not exactly been in my plans.

“Is that really a question? Coming from the man who even now keeps me as his prisoner behind a locked door?” she said as if reading my thoughts and using them against me. Then as ifmaking her point, she looked to her only means of escape and I couldn’t help but release a frustrated sigh. As she was not wrong in her argument. For how could I ever expect her to trust me, her captor and someone she would deem as nothing more than the one stripping away her freedom? But it wasn’t just her freedom, was it? No, it was…taking away her choice to leave me.

A bitterness washed over my entire being at this, causing me to react as such.

“And if I did not, what then? For I think we already tested what would happen should I give you such freedom to leave,” I told her, which even to my own ears was a weak response born from selfish need and fear.

“Then I see we are at an impasse, for I do not trust you enough with tales of my past, just as you do not trust me with my intentions to leave.” Well, she had me there, for it was like she said, we were certainly at an impasse, and one I knew I would have to work hard on breaking down.

“And if you had the choice, what would you do?” I asked, testing my theory, and her face said it all… she would run from me at the first chance presented to her.

“And right there in your beautiful eyes, I have my answer.”

“So that’s it? Just like that, I become your captive?”

I had to confess, the possessive bastard in me couldn’t help but grin at the thought of keeping her as my prisoner. This despite the guilt that somewhat muddied the fantasy. And therefore, I knew exactly what hand of cards I would play next…that of the King.

“I think you are forgetting, little thief, that I am still Lord of these lands…”

“Not likely to forget,”she muttered, and with just a look she backed down and let me continue.

“…And with that comes the responsibility to punish those that commit crimes.”

The moment her delightful (and it had to be noted, talented little mouth) dropped in shock, I had to mask my grin. Especially when she started to argue.

“But I didn’t do any…!”

At this I got closer to her face and made the rest of my point.

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