Page 40 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“Tell me, is it customary for the king and queen of Ardvalla to sleep separately from each other?”

I look at him, somewhat surprised by his question, as I've always assumed it's customary for all kings and queens to sleep in separate chambers. “Yes,” I reply, “is it not so in Ellerban?”

He snorts and laughs at the same time. “By the gods, it most certainly is not,” he declares. “No self-respecting king of Ellerban would allow his queen to sleep on her own. He would be perceived as a failure as a husband and that's not a good thing for an Ellerban king. Family is everything to the Ellerban and that starts with the father and mother. If a man can’t keep his wife happily in his bed then questions must be asked as to why not. No king wants such questions asked of him.”

I'm quite taken aback by this information and my surprise must show on my face as the prince chuckles at my expression. “Oh, my young queen, I think there is much you have to learn, and I must admit I'm rather looking forward to being your teacher.”

He drains the rest of the brandy from his glass and stands. He takes my glass from my hand and places it on a nearby table, then turns to me with an outstretched hand. “Come here to me,” he demands in a soft voice.

I stand, take his hand and slowly look up into his eyes.

“Do you trust me, Queen Elinor?” he asks, his voice low and husky.

I stare into his eyes and find myself getting lost in their green depths. His eyes hold so much. They speak of intelligence and humour, honour and integrity, of great joy and enormous sadness, and I find myself wanting to ask him any number ofquestions. However, he has asked me a question and he awaits my reply.

“Somewhat,” I reply. “I'm sure you're well aware trust is earned, Prince Ronan, and whereas you've not given me any reason not to trust you, there's no reason why I should.”

“I'm not asking you what you should feel, Queen Elinor. I'm asking you what you actually feel. What's in your heart?” His eyes bore into mine as if he is seeking the answer to his question within their depths.

My pulse is racing, which is ironic considering I can barely breathe, such is the intensity of his gaze.

Do I trust him?I ask myself and the answer surprises me. From everything I’ve seen of this man, and as infuriating as he can be with his unreasonable requests, I realise I trust him more than most people I've known my whole life.

“Despite the fact you infuriate me with your vexatious demands, Prince Ronan, I find myself trusting you more than I possibly should.”

He smiles, “Ah, but my young queen, I make those demands for your own good.” With that, he tugs me towards him and places his lips upon mine in a tender kiss.

Such is the exquisite tenderness of his kiss that I have a sense of falling, not in a physical sense but as if the world has fallen away from me and it’s just the prince and I suspended in air. I bring my hands to his shoulders and clutch at his tunic to anchor myself before this kiss causes me to lose my emotional footing. I never thought such a kiss possible, especially not from a man as gruff and brash as the prince can be.

His arms come around me and he pulls his lips away from mine. “I've got you, Queen Elinor, place your trust in me and I promise I will never break it.”

I look up into his face and am touched by the integrity of his words, underscored by the sincerity of his expression, and all I can do in response is smile and give a slight nod.

His large hand comes around to the back of my head and his fingers tangle themselves in my hair. He pulls my head to his chest. “Good,” he whispers into my hair as I listen to the solid beat of his heart, “we have honour, honesty and trust between us already, which is more than most kings and queens have upon entering into a marriage.”

I smile into his granite-like chest. His point is a good one, and those things that exist between us already are more than I ever hoped for in a prospective husband. He holds me for a few moments more before whispering one simple word into my ear. “Come,” as he takes my hand and leads me towards the bed.

If anyone had asked me before the night bell tolled how I would feel if the prince wished to take me to his bed, I would have told them that I imagined I would be a bag of nerves. However, here I am, about to join him in his innermost private chamber, and instead of feeling nervous I have a sense of calm.

We reach the bed and he looks down at me and smiles. “You're doing well, young Queen.”

I say nothing but merely look at him. I don't know what he expects of me, but I also don't want to make any assumptions, because if I've learned anything about this prince, it’s that I can't predict his actions or expectations.

Still smiling, and not taking his eyes off mine, he unbuckles his belt and removes his outer tunic, both of which he lets fall to the floor. He steps out of his boots and then bends down to remove my shoes. The feel of his fingers on my feet causes my breath to hitch and my sense of calm starts to falter.

He senses the change in my mood immediately. “Shh there, my Queen,” he reassures me in a low voice, as he tracesthe back of his fingers across my cheek. “Trust, remember? You have nothing to fear.”

Incapable of speech, I simply nod. He takes this as my tacit approval for what he does next. His fingers move from my cheek to the laces of my dress, and he loosens them with such deftness of touch that my dress falls to the floor before I realise what he has done.

I gasp as the material lands on the floor and the realisation hits me that I’m standing before him in only my smock. Embarrassment flares through me and I involuntarily raise my hands to cross them over my breasts, but he stops me and grabs my hands instead. I look away from him, unable to hold his gaze any longer.

“Queen Elinor, look at me,” he commands in a low voice.

I keep looking at the floor.

He curls his fingers underneath my chin and lifts my head until I have no choice but to look into his jade coloured eyes. “Trust, honour and honesty, remember? You placed your trust in me and I stand by my solemn promise not to abuse it. I am a man of honour as you are a woman of honour, and I promise to respect that. However, there is also honesty between us and we need to acknowledge it as much as everything else and be truthful with each other. You are beautiful and I desire you as I have not desired a woman in a long time, and I know that desire is reciprocated.”

I gaze into his eyes and am floored by the passion I see burning there. His eyes are ablaze with the truth of his words and his desire. His desire for me. My breasts tingle in response and an unfamiliar heat blooms low in my belly and spreads to my womanhood. My breath comes in shallow beats and again, words fail me.

---