Page 40 of The Time Of Kings

“You broke into another’s home, treated it like your own, and when my men came to retrieve you so as you may be questioned, you tried to evade capture by having whoever you travelled with lead my men away.”

At hearing this, anger overtook her features and even then, in height of her outrage, she looked glorious.

“And what about the goons who dragged me here in their place!?” she snapped, and I swear she was seconds away from stomping her foot like a petulant child. I nearly laughed but thankfully my wits remained in good strength, and enough to keep me from voicing my humour.

“Goons?” I questioned, focusing less on my amusement and back on what she had called the men that took her, for I had never heard the word before.

“Vagabonds, ruffians, vagrants, louts…I don’t know, whatever you want to call the arseholes that took me!” she shouted, and I couldn’t help but laugh this time in my shock, as upon my word, she was very forthright in her manner. Which was why I couldn’t help myself when commenting on such.

“Upon my word, you do have a colourful vocabulary.”

“Ha! Yes, well, I had an even more colourful one for them when they were manhandling me and tossing me over a damn horse!”

At this I lost my humour instantly.

“Yes, well those ‘goons’ in which you call them, will be dealt with soon enough, for I didn’t give anyone leave to touch you in such a manner.” Just the thought of it made me grit my teeth and clench my fists.

“And this coming from someone who is also convinced I am a criminal? Tell me, Lord Draven, do you handle all your prisoners with such care?” she pushed, and it was enough for me to give in to my desires, as I quickly grabbed her to me and decided to add action to my words. First by threading my fingers through her beautiful hair before tightening it possessively. Still taking care not to pull too tightly and hurt her.

“Only delectable, unruly, little blonde thieves I wish to imprison in my bedchamber,” I replied with a heated growl of words, and this was when she astonished me. For instead of acting outraged at such brutish behaviour displayed, she decided to take this moment to tease me further and therefore goading me to do more.

“Deal with many of those in these parts, do you?”

The grin she received was only the first part of my answer.

“Only one that I wish to tie to my bed and interrogate for hours,” I admitted, and instantly I heard her heartrate increase its beat. I could scent the maddening proof that my words had taken the desired effect I had hoped for. However, just before I was able to prove such with my kiss, there was a knock on the door.

“My Lord?”

“I told you that I do not wish to be disturbed!” I barked like some wild beast in fear of having my prey taken from me.

“I know, My Lord, but I merely wished to inform you that your guests have started to arrive for tonight’s ball.” The ball… damn! But I had almost forgotten it entirely as well as all the guests that would be calling this castle home for the eve.

“Very well, I will be there shortly, for I have something far more important to do here first,” I replied without taking my eyes off my mouthwatering prisoner.

“Of course, My Lord.”

“Oh, and, Jacobs …”

“Yes, My Lord?” my steward replied, awaiting my next order, one I gave him at the same time as I teased the frill of material at her deliciously low neckline through my fingers.

“Have one of the maids bring a selection of my sister’s dresses to my room.”

“Miss Sophia’s dresses, My Lord?”

I watched as my Chosen One’s eyes widened.

“Yes, for tonight…” I paused and held her gaze, doing so by force with my thumb at her chin. This so as I could see her reaction for myself when I made my declaration to another about what the future held for her.

For this was the beginning of our Eternity.

One she would have no choice but to accept when I said…

“…Ihave my new betrothed to announce to the world.”

18

A FINE MESS

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