Alliar

I heard voices travel up through the rafters of the library and bounce off the walls. I frowned momentarily as I looked at the wall. Were they glass? Was I being watched? Nicolai said he was close but was the library a room that held the shadows. I made a mental note not to shout in the library as the sound travels and could probably be heard all the way down the hall.

Shutting my book, I flipped my position on the chair and leaned my head over the arm of the chari, peeking around the edge of a bookcase that kept me hidden from the entrance of library. I saw six girls walk into the room and I immediately recognised them as the castle's newest guest that had just been presented to the king.

I rolled my eyes and moved back to my original position on the chair, slouching my posture and just trying to lose myself in the words again.

I heard a gasp and looked up, hoping that if someone fell I didn't miss the show. The girls had spotted me and apparently I had surprised someone. I shook my head and looked back down hoping they would leave.

I was never so fortunate.

The girls took a seat on the lounges that were positioned in a square in front of the fireplace that was slowly dying. They lowered their voices to whisper to one another but no matter how much they lowered their tones, I could still hear the murmurs of whispers and that was even more frustrating than someone trying to have a conversation with me while I read.

"Go, go." I heard the hushed whisper and looked up under my lashes. The first girl presented stood from her seat and smoothed out her gold dress that was still far too bright and pushed her shoulders back making her posture as straight as humanly possible. I licked my lip and bit down. I always hated my edicate lessons. My straight posture was never straight enough, he head was never high enough, my shoulders never square enough - 'You have a poor man's shoulders Alliar, straighten up' Sister Claira would yell at me.

I was lost in thought when a small shadow appeared to block the sunlight from the nearby window. Looking up I saw the golden dress reflect the light and instantly dropped my head to shield my eyes.

"Excuse me but I wasn't aware that the King had another guest at his court." She stated with a voice as sweet as honey - I never like honey. Princess Bethany of house O'ry if I remembered correctly. House O'ry ruled over a Kingdom the other kingdom in the West, the smallest and most insignificant of them all. Their castle was no bigger than a large Holdfast and their main contribution to the country was silk and cotton as the owned a vast amount of farm lands that held more cattle and sheep than subjects.

"So if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" She was trying her hardest to interrogate me without being accusing or commanding, something that most high born ladies are taught to do since birth.

"No one of importance my lady." I bit my pride and looked down mocking respect. I never liked the O'ry family, they had the smallest kingdom, but they had the biggest egos.

"I didn't see you presented to the king."

I looked up at her this time. "I wasn't."

"Then who the hell are you?!" Her voice rose as she scowled at me showing me her frustration.

I heard another girl behind her gasp in surprise as Bethamy cursed. They were all staring at the both of us wided eyed.

I narrowed my eyes at Bethamy and held my head high but didn't answer her. I didn't particularly know how to answer that question without further incrimination.

"I heard the King returned with a girl. A mistress." She was accusing me now.

I kept my voice calm and neutral, not giving anything away. "So they say."

Bethamy gave me a pointed look. She saw through me like I was nothing but glass. "Are you his mistress then."

I remained silent. I couldn't deny it, but I would be damned if I started calling myself his mistress out loud.

"How dare you not answer me, I am princess and you are nothing more than a toy, you will answer me when I speak to you."

"Little Miss."

Bethamy jumped at the sound of another approaching us. I turned my head to the side to see the lady in grey from the court gathering standing beside me. How long had she been standing there? Or a more important thought - she knew who I was?

I stood from my seat as did the rest of the girls in the room and curtsied. I bit my lip hoping I didn't look foolish, I wasn't meant to bow to anyone but a King and I didn't have much experience with perfecting the respectful gesture.

"Would you join me for a walk in the gardens, I could use some company." She offered me her hand and I quickly stood, grateful for the chance to get out of the interrogation. I laced my arm through hers and let her lead me out of the library and further down the hall in silence. It wasn't until we were some distance away before she began.

"Do you know who I am?" She finally began.

I searched my mind for my lessons on the royal houses. I knew Jonathan had lost his mother when he was young, shortly after he was born, I knew my father had killed his in the war. But other than that, I knew very little about his family.

"My name is Ashiar. I'm Prince Dillon's wife." She spoke after a few seconds of silence.

His aunt. I nodded. "I'm sorry my Lady, I'm not familiar with - "

She pat my hand and hushed me. "Not to worry my dear, you will learn soon enough. The North keeps a small court, not too many names to learn."

We turned towards the gardens and stepped out into the courtyard. Green vines crept up the black walls making the bright purple flowers gleam. Tall hedges provided the illusion of privacy as they curved around stone benches and I mentally noted the distance between the gardens and the fake walls. This was perhaps the most private part of the castle that I had access to that wasn't Jonathan's chambers.

"You must forgive the girls." She began again and slowed her pace. "It is a difficult position they are in. Competing for a man that already has eyes for another."

"I doubt he has eyes for me as you say my lady, I was simply there." I told her honestly. I remembered Jonathan's and Demetri's warnings. Say as little as possible. But then I also needed to look the part, not the princess hiding in plain sight but the blacksmith's daughter who was not a threat.

"Nonsense. You are here which means he likes you well enough." She waved her hand as if this was nothing to concern myself with.

I was momentarily stunned. A part of me sighed with relief at the news, he liked me, I was safe, he wouldn't kill me. But then another part of me thought about everyone else who would want to kill a Mistress of a king.

"Well nevertheless, thank you for intervening."

"Not all. And it will give us a chance to get to know each other since you will be living under our roof. What was your name?"

And so it begins. "Miss."

"I meant before Jonathan gave you that one." Her eyes pressed me for an answer but her tone remained soft and angelic. "He never did care for names even as a boy."

"What was he like as a boy?" I smiled and changed the subject.

Jonathan isn't the only one who knew how to change the direction of a conversation.

"Well I met him when he was about fifteen two years after his coronation. Then he was less," she paused briefly as her eyes focused on the moss slowly creeping its way up a toadstool. "Well, he smiled more. The crown has weighed on him in many ways."

"That must be a heavy burden." I added sympathetically.

"Yes it has been difficult, with only Dillon and I to help him."

I wanted to keep leading the conversation. "Do you have any children?"

She gave a pained look and I immediately regretted the insensitive question. "No." She sighed. "I was married when I was fourteen to a pig farmer on the Northern border. He used to beat me often calling me a barren witch. And then I met Dillon when I was in the market one day. He was young and fresh from the war. The King had just died and Jonathan was meeting with the people before his coronation. Dillon saw the way my husband treated me and asked me to be his nurse - to help push his chair mostly." She smiled fondly at the memory. "I agreed. He could never father children of his own after his injuries from the war and so we bonded over the loss. We married soon after. Jonathan became like our child in a sense. He was already grown but I still found myself straightening his armour and collar before he went outside." A little giggle escaped her as she shared her past.

I tried to suppress my smile at the mental image of her fixing Jonathan's collar and patting his hair down before he had to address his people.

"I'm sure he thinks of you as a mother."

"What about your family Miss?" She flipped the conversation.

Oh she's good.

"My father was a blacksmith, my mother served Lady Mckinley." It even sounded rehearsed in my ears.

"And were they kind?"

I hadn't expected this question. "Yes, very."

"Any siblings?"

I swallowed thinking. I knew it was better for me to tell half truths rather than lies or I would end up hurting myself more. "Yes, I have three older brothers and a little sister."

"Oh, a decent sized family then."

"Yes I guess so." A thought suddenly entered my mind. Was she asking so she knew how easily it would be to kill me without too many people knowing? Was she asking about my family to see how fertile I was so that they could give Jonathan a list of reasons why I was a liability and he needed to kill me?

Ashiar put her hand over mine, grabbing my attention. "You needn't worry dear, we won't harm you." She said reading the look in my eyes far too accurately.

I lifted my head to look into her eyes and saw her sincerity. "Thank you."

"Not to worry, I've always wanted a daughter." She smiled. "If you need anything come to me. And best stay to your room until these girls leave us so that we don't have any more disagreements. If you need to go anywhere take a guard with you. I'm sure you already have a shadow knight following you. I don't know where they hide but they come in handy more often than not."

She stood from her seat and smoother out her dress. Giving me one last smile she left me in the gardens. I sighed deeply and felt my body relax. Maybe I was safe? Maybe I had nothing to fear?

Nodding to assure myself I stood from the seat and made my way out of the gardens and down the one of the corridors, sure I could make it back to Jonathan's chambers without asking someone for help. I made a mental list of things I needed to do. One, ask Nicolai what working the kitchens meant exactly and see if he could give me any tips. Two, insist I get my own chambers. Three, figure out just how Jonathan feels about his new mistress so that I knew how much power I had behind me. If I had his favour, then I'd be damned if I let those girls walk all over me. If I had his favour, they were going to be the ones who answered to me. Maybe it was a foolish thought, or maybe it my pride finally stepping up to the challenge life has presented. Either way, I had to get answers -

I screamed as a hand clasped around my mouth and an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back roughly. My feet protested and tried to kick out but fell out from under me making it easier for my salient to drag me backwards until a cloak of darkness formed around us.

The glass wall was pushed back into its original place and they let me go. Spinning around, I had fire in eyes as I stared at the king looking rather entertained. I opened my mouth ready to protest or scream but was silenced by his lips on mine.

I let my eyes close and accepted his kiss. "Don't even think about screaming." He whispered against my lips.

I smirked unable to resist.

"I wouldn't dare."

His hand wrapped around my wrist and he started walking through the tunnels. It was strange walking through the tunnels in the daylight when people were rushing about and stopping to have conversations. I could hear and see them all so clearly and they had no idea that I was watching them, that I could hear every little secret that they whispered between each other.

We stopped walking just outside the front of Jonathan's door. He gently slid the glass out to, almost silently and gestured for me to walk through while he put it back in its place. Jonathan followed me through the door with haste.

"That dress," he spoke as he lifted his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor by the chair. "Was not the plain and simple I was going for." His hand cupped my cheek and brought my face to his, pressing his lips to mine eagerly. His desire radiated off him in waves and made it difficult to breath.

I parted my lips and let him hungrily suck on my bottom lip. Finding my courage I let my fingers reach out and explore his hard skin, feeling at the lines and rigides of his muscles as he tensed under my touch. Jonathan's fingers gripped my hips and pulled me towards him until there wasn't an inch of space between us before he started to work at the strings of my dress, holding it up. When my dress was loose he pushed it over my shoulders and followed the material down, over my body following along every curve of my body until it pooled at my feet in a heap pile. The cool air bit at my skin and stirred at my building desire.

His hands roamed my skin leaving a trail of burning skin in their wake. Jonathan gripped my hips and pushed me down onto the bed. I pushed my head back into the furs as Jonathan followed me down, pressing his body against mine and kissing my neck. I wrapped my legs around his waist to make the position more comfortable.

"I want my own room."

He groaned into my neck and sucked at the flesh. "Not a chance."

I tipped my head back giving his lips more space to work. As my fingers traveled up his back, I dug my nails in slightly earning me a wicked growl.

"I want my own room." I repeated again.

He pulled his lips back from my neck and kissed my lips to silence me.

"I. Want." I said between kisses. "My. Own."

"Oh shut up." He bit my bottom lip hard making blood pool in my mouth with a bitter taste.

***

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