It's just after lunch Roan had some things to attend to, he seems very busy with these "things" all the time, but the sun is shining and I'm out in the garden area soaking it up on a stone bench, I can feel myself drift off listening to the birds and fountains. Then a strong male voice interrupts.

"Hello Brianna! Fancy meeting you here...by yourself. Is Roan around?"

I sit up squinting against the sunlight to see Gregory standing in front of me with a sly grin.

"Gregory! What do I owe this pleasure?"

"I wanted to talk with you, that is all. I like being in your presence." He sits down beside me as I look him up and down.

He was a striking man, blonde hair and bright hazel eyes. He was heavily built and tall with strong arms and a perfectly sculpted torso. He was wearing the same knights armor as before.

"You surprised me the other day." He raises his brows to me.

"Oh really? How so?"

"I have never seen a woman deny a pledge let alone a pledge with Roan. You're quite the talk of the castle, actually everyone in the realm is talking about you."

"Oh great!" I whisper.

He chuckles.
"Well someone as beautiful as you will turn heads. But someone who can summon a legend can shake the realm. I was right about you."

"Right about me?"

"Yes, you are the most valuable woman in all the realms. Any man would be lucky to bond with you, knight or not, I could see myself falling for a woman like you." He says ever so boldly.

Well that was sweet, not like the way Roan has gone about it. He was so careful with his words and patient, while Roan was forceful and blunt. I was finding myself enjoying this conversation more than I should be.

"You know, I don't agree with the pledge. I believe they should be made based on the relationship between mage and knight not because they are a mage and knight. Why do knights get so many rights?" He says and puts his hand on mine.

"You're exactly right, I should be able to choose who I spend the rest of my life with. Have you chosen a mage?" I ask.

"No, I haven't found the "right" one for me. I've been through a few and almost pledged to one, but she was sharing her bed with another at the time and when I found out I severed our relationship." He says.

"That's horrible, I'm sorry she did that to you. I find the people here are superficial and lie to get their way. I don't really know who to trust."

He runs a finger down my arm.
"You can trust me. I wouldn't hurt you." He smiles gently as I look Into his eyes, searching for the truth behind them, but he was hard to read.

"I'd like to spend some time with you , I bet you're an excellent hunter, maybe you could join me one day."

"Hunting? It's been a few weeks since I've hunted. I miss it and would love to go!"

"Great! Maybe we can go tomorrow morning, early before anyone else is awake. We will be back before anyone knows we have gone." He winks.

"Are you trying to sneak me out of the castle?" I giggle.

"Maybe...what do you say beautiful?" He runs a hand through my hair. Before I can answer we are interrupted.

"Gregory! Kindly remove your hands from my mage! I will not ask you again!" Roan storms in flexing his impossible body. Here we go again.

"Roan, I was just having a talk with her, nothing wrong with that." He replies. "Talk with me anytime you like, I'm here to listen." He stands up facing Roan.

"Well your talk with her has ended, we have matters to attend to. Come Brianna." Roan holds out his hand to me.

More forceful acts from him. I am really getting really tired of his possessive behavior.

"Thank you Roan but I'll be heading to my room now, alone!" I snap.

"Brianna you will listen to what I say! Come with me now!" He snaps back and grabs my arm pulling me up.

Well that just tips the barrel. I pull away from him sharply,

"Listen to me well, I will not be pushed around by ANY of you! I am my own person and if you can't understand that, then neither of you deserve a woman like me!! I will NOT be thrown around like a piece of dirt! This isn't a game, this is my life we are talking about!." I turn to Gregory who is ready to burst out laughing at Roan.
"And you!" I point at his face." Wipe that shit eating grin off that goddamn face of yours before I knock your teeth out, good luck finding a mage with no teeth!"

His grin quickly fades to a look of fear and he raises his hands in surrender.
"Whatever you say, Brianna!"

I glare at Roan, he challenges me but quickly surrenders as well. "Ok Brianna." I shove my way through both of them and storm off into the castle before they can say anything else.

———————————-

I watch Brianna leave us, angry once again. Shame comes over me as I realize how forceful I was through my jealousy. Gregory just riles me up! Who is he to challenge me! Brianna is mine and he knows it.

"What a woman!!" Gregory says.

"You just don't let up do you, Gregory?!"

"What do you mean? We were just talking, it's not my fault she doesn't want to pledge to you. Maybe instead of forcing her to, you could try actually bonding with her? Just my opinion, that's what I would do and will do, you take a mage from me and I take one from you." He smiles through his teeth. Which drives my anger to a breaking point.

"Jewel came to me on her own accord! She was sick of you clinging to her all the time. It's not my fault she pursued me! Now I'm going to say this one...more...time! Unless you want to challenge a Demi-god you will stay away from Brianna, she is MINE!" As I say the last word my thunder cracks the ground underneath me and Gregory takes a step back. I grit my teeth as I stare at him.

"I'll stay away, but just as you say, it's not my fault if she wants to pursue me and with your attitude I'll win her over in no time! So you just keep pissing her off like you do, and I'll keep being as sweet to her as I can."He laughs then walks away before I can get another word in. "See you around, Roan."

"Fucking asshole." I whisper to myself.