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6
Reece
Her flavor was still on my lips—an addicting sweetness that mingled with her intoxicating innocence. Only the thought of dozens of guests who still occupied my ballroom and who would all no doubt note our absence kept me from getting caught up in the moment. I wanted nothing more than to test her attraction to me and find out how devoted to the lines of propriety she might be.
A jewel. She was that and so much more. Caged like a baby bird, hidden from the world for so long but no doubt ready to be polished and shine in it. She would reign in my world, knowing that no matter where she went, she did so as an extension of me. In that moment I’d first seen her, I knew she was mine and I would do anything and everything to make it so.
I asked her to dance, any excuse to have my hands on her, when Cheval's voice spoke behind me, "Your Majesty. There is a security breach in the Southwestern Wing that I'm afraid needs your attention."
Alina's hand still in mine, I turned around to face the contrite lines of my aide's face. A light of worry in his eyes caused a frisson of apprehension to dance down my spine. As a strong and prosperous kingdom, Oshal had to always be prepared to defend its own from those who sought to destroy it. And as its king, I had no choice but to face my duty, even if I wanted nothing more than to stay with Alina.
"I will see to it then, Cheval, thank you." I turned to my jewel, who looked at us with confusion, but interest also sparked in those emerald depths as she turned her gaze to mine. I looked forward to the day she’d be my Queen, when I could share my duties with her by my side and not feel as if I had to deal with the mounting pressures on my own. "My princess, I am afraid I must leave you for a moment. I will collect that dance the moment I return. Cheval, Her Royal Highness Alina Atwater of Lantis."
"I hope you're having a pleasant evening, Princess," Cheval greeted her, ducking his head into a polite bow.
She smiled, a full beam that hinted at everything she could be when she felt more comfortable around people. That she seemed to feel far more comfortable with my staff than with the rest of the royalty might have been a deterrent for some. For me, it only convinced me she would be a kind Queen.
That she cared about all people and not just the ones who could do something for her.
"It's certainly been interesting," she said softly, and Cheval's face threatened to break into a smile that he quickly pushed down.
"See to it that she has anything she needs from here on out," I told Cheval, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. I lingered there, enjoying the smoothness of her skin against my lips and stared into those light green eyes when I pulled away. "Until I return, Princess."
Turning, I made my way through the ballroom quickly with Cheval at my heels. He spoke into his earpiece, coordinating with the rest of my security to ensure Alina would have whatever she desired during the entirety of her stay in Oshal.
They weren't yet aware that the arrangement would be permanent, but they'd figure it out with time.
"Talk to me," I said when he finally stopped talking and stepped up beside me.
"There's been a commotion between a few of the guests. Security was hesitant to interfere since some have noble blood, so I thought informing you would be prudent," he said. We rounded the corner to the Southwestern Wing of the palace. With every step that put more and more distance between Alina and me, I cursed the opportunity it presented where another man might try to steal her away.
I didn't like her being out of my sight. I hated the thought that someone else could touch her when I wasn't there to protect her. That someone else would take her and claim her when I wasn’t there to stake my ownership on her.
The commons of the Southwestern Wing were mostly empty, with only a group of three men standing there and having a heated debate. While it didn't appear to be amicable, I wouldn't have said they looked near trading blows. My guards stood off to the side, blocking any others from entering the space and looking entirely conflicted as to what they were meant to do.
"Is there a problem here?" I asked, stepping up into the fray despite the groan of frustration my bodyguard gave behind me. Mostly silent, he was often forgotten until he felt I put myself in danger. Then he made his position very clear.
"We were just discussing the consequences of rising Parliamentary powers in Mitnar. My comrade seems to think that expanding powers won't have a lasting influence on our monarchies, but I think—"
I cut him off with a hand, unable to tolerate their political discussion. "Are you intending to come to blows in my Kingdom?"
"Heavens no!" One of them laughed. "Just a heated conversation as people tend to have about these things."
I glanced at the guards at the corner, studying their befuddled expressions. "Right. If that changes, my guards will interfere and put you in a cell for the night for disturbing the peace. I'm occupied, and as such, you will sit there until the morning."
I turned, striding away before they could answer. Only glancing to the security with a nod to confirm they would do exactly as I ordered, I hurried back to my Princess. "You seem to be in a hurry, Majesty," Cheval said, rushing to keep up with my blistering pace.
"I'm eager to be with Alina," I said. "I insist on being the one to claim her final dance." I refrained from mentioning that the thought of her dancing with any others made my skin crawl with the need to officially make her mine.
"Does that mean you intend to spend the week getting to know potential brides?" he asked casually, oblivious to the burning need inside me to taste her, claim her, brandher.
"No. I intend to spend the week allowing Alina to get to know me, so that when I submit my proposal she'll be prepared to proceed immediately," I snapped, pausing in the doorway to the grand ballroom. "In fact, you might as well start drafting up an initial contract. Certain things will need to be discussed and edited later, but we'll need a starting point."
"Marriage? When you've only just met her?" he announced as the guards at the doors tugged them open.
I turned, flashing him a broad smile. "She'll be my wife, Cheval. Get the contract prepared." Then I spun back to the royals flitting around the room, some of them watching my exchange with my aide and whispering to one another. I didn't care that Alina could potentially hear word of my plan to propose marriage, not when I never intended to keep it from her in the first place.
Alina would always know what her place in my life was. Beside me, always.
