Page 81 of The Princess's Pet

She washed me carefully, placing kisses against my wet skin. I let my eyes close and enjoy her closeness, enjoying her taking care of me. When we were both clean, she dried me with the same attention and carried me back to her room.

I looked to the vanity half expecting to see my blood still making a mess of everything, but the room had been cleaned.

She dressed me in only underwear and one of her oversized shirts, choosing simple lounge clothes for herself and putting me to bed.

“I’m going to ask Gregory to bring you something to eat. I’ll be back soon, pet,” she told me as she fixed the pillows behind my back and pulled the quilt higher up my body.

The pillows and bedding smelled like her, it was soothing, and I was tired but I forced my eyes to stay open and awake. True to her word she returned to me within only a few minutes. She crawled up the bed towards me, a playful grin on her lips as she straddled my quilt covered lap.

She leaned forward kissing me softly. “If I were to kiss you proper, would you break?” she asked pulling back to check my reaction. I could have laughed at her genuine concern but instead, I lifted my arms and pulled her towards me. She kissed me with intention, with want, but there was not the same roughness I was used to, that I wanted. When she pulled away I was breathing heavily, my heart thundering in my chest.

“When you’re feeling stronger,” she began, before kissing me again and pulling at my lower lip with her teeth. “I’m going to devour you,” she promised.

“What happened, you know when I was passed out, how long did it take for Poseidon’s Wrath to work?” I asked as she settledbeside me wrapping her arm around my waist and guiding my head to her chest.

“I was unconscious for two nights and days. When I awoke I suffered minor weakness. How did you know Poseidon’s Wrath was a cure for Hades’ Delight?” she asked me.

“I didn’t know. There was no cure for Hades’ Delight,” I told her and she hummed encouraging me to continue. “I wracked my mind trying to think of a way to help you and I remembered a myth. My mother left books behind, on magic and plants. One of those books she wrote herself, on aquatic plants - her speciality. There was a section of myths and legends.” I looked up to find the Princess listening to me carefully. She smiled down at me and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“Go on,” she commanded.

“There is a legend that Poseidon’s Wrath could be used to counteract the effects of Hades’ Delight. It’s said there was a Flores witch that found her child near death, having mistakenly eaten many of the sweet berries of Hades’ Delight. The witch, a worshiper of Demeter prayed for help. Demeter appeared before her and told her that if she could wrestle Poseidon’s Wrath from his grasp the liquid of the live root would save her child. So, the witch found Poseidon’s Wrath and freed the root but when she reached the surface of the water the plant wilted and died. The witch went back to Poseidon’s Wrath and this time when she freed the root, she used her magic to keep the plant alive and the liquid of the live root saved her child. The only way to free the root from Poseidon’s grasp was to keep the root alive out with the water. When I first read the story, I thought it was a cruel trick. One meant to lead desperate witches to their deaths. Poseidon’s Wrath is dangerous when handled for even short times. But then I was a desperate witch and a legend, a myth was all I had,” I explained.

“You risked your life for me, not knowing if your sacrifice would save me,” she stated and when I looked up, her browswere together in thought. “Why?” she asked me, staring down, captivating me with liquid silver.

“It was my only hope of saving you,” I told her and her brows grew closer together in a frown.

“Why would you risk so much to save me? If I were to die you would be free. Do you understand? It is I that holds you here, that keeps you like a prisoner, that took you from your family against your will. It is I, that will never let you leave,” she told me with a slight rumble in her chest.

“You didn’t take me against my will,” I protested quietly, my throat hurting from all the talking. “You’re my soul match, I wanted to go with you, maybe not so dramatically and suddenly, but still. And I don’t want to be free. I don’t ever want to leave you,” I told her seriously. “I refuse to live in a world without you. It was an easy choice,” I added assertively forcing my voice to be strong. “I love you and I’ll always choose you.” I felt my face flush at my admission but the thought that she didn’t know my utter devotion to her was upsetting, angering even. I knew she didn’t love me. I knew she didn’t want me as I wanted her. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t make my feelings any less real.

I looked away from her intense gaze unable to meet her eyes with the strength of my feelings laid bare. Her hand reached out forcing me to turn back towards her and she crashed her lips to mine heatedly. I returned her kiss, accepting her control. She only stopped when a knocking on the bedroom door interrupted us.

21. Epilogue

“I can’t believe we’re going into the forest of the Dark Mountains,” I told the Princess excitedly. We were at the edge of the forest having sneaked away from the castle leaving her personal guard behind.

“Are you scared?” she asked me teasingly. It had been a week since I had awoken after surviving Poseidon’s Wrath and I was restless from being kept hostage in the Princess’s wing. Though technically Princess wasn’t the correct title; Queen Regent was her current title, at least until her father recovered, and he was healing now that Lady Sana was treating him instead of drugging him.

The Princess had told me that she had executed the traitors her uncle Vasilios and Lord Antoniou. When I asked why she allowed Lady Sana to live and even kept her on the council, the Princess reminded me that she was indeed a Queen to be, with her understanding of people and behaviour, terrifyingly enacted.“An enemy defeated, pardoned, and kept close is more reliable than any friend. Lady Sana will not only serve me well and true with gratitude because I have spared her life, but she will also act as a living reminder of the consequences to those who betray my trust. Her mere presence means that no one will soon forget the folly of Vasilios and Lord Antoniou. Vasilios was my uncle which in turn led my father to trust him, to gift him land and title and hold him high. Lord Antoniou was ambitious and although treated well by my father always wanted more. Friends are useful when equals, but monarchs cannot truly have friendships for we are not equal to our subjects. Friends expect more and more without gratitude, enemies are honest in theirdesires, and friends are liars to keep the peace. Give me an enemy under my thumb over a friend any day.”

“I’m not scared,” I told her, but I was a little. The stories of the forests of the Dark Mountains were legendary, told throughout the Borealis Kingdom.

“Don’t worry, pet, I’ll keep you safe,” she told me, taking my hand and entwining our fingers before leading me into the treeline.

The forest was surprisingly not dark. Light filtered through the canopy and I could see very well.

“I thought it was meant to be dark in the forest?” I voiced my thoughts.

“The light is lost further in, but I’m not leading you into the darkness,” she answered glancing down at me.

“Where are you taking me then? You’ve been quite secretive,” I asked because all she had told me was that she wanted to share something with me.

“You’ll know when we get there,” she replied cryptically and continued to lead me through the forest.

The further we walked the denser the forest became until the Princess was helping me over fallen trees and catching me before I could trip on the forest litter. After what felt like a lifetime of almost falling and my face bright red from the Princess’s laughter each time she saved me before I could hit the floor, the trees began to thin and I could hear the rushing of water.

We walked further still until we emerged from the treeline to a waterfall on the side of the mountain. It was small perhaps 30 feet or so, with clear water falling into a deep pool. The edges of the pool were lined with large flat stones baking in the warmth of late spring. It was wild and beautiful and as I turned to look up to thePrincess, who I found already watching me, I thought that she too was wild and beautiful.

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