Page 54 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

I think over his last few words and consider how Aaran feels those instincts and insights seem to have developed more during his recovery. “How so?” I ask. “How are his instincts different to yours and those of your other men?”

The prince’s eyes look distant as he answers, almost as if he is looking into the past. “Sharper, more honed. When it comes to tracking, Aaran is at one with the environment, a part of it. The rest of us are mere humans trying to interpret the wild with our limited human abilities, but he has animalistic instincts and is far ahead of us in this regard. He is the wild.”

The memory of Aaran’s intense gaze searing through me and the heat of his touch moving along my veins causes a shiver to run down my spine. Of course, the prince notices. “Come now, Elinor,” he says in a deep reassuring voice as he pulls me closer, “I can assure you, you have nothing to fear from Aaran.”

I snuggle deeper into his arms, but as I feel myself drifting off into sleep I think how it wasn’t fear that caused the shiver along my spine. No, it was an emotion of a different kind, and one I am becoming more familiar with the more I enjoy the prince’s touch and wonder how the touch of another would feel.

Chapter Eighteen

“How much longer do you think it will be before Kes returns with the Pennyweed?” the prince asks as he pulls me closer to him in the early dawn light. This is the seventh morning in a row I’ve woken in his arms and I have to admit I’m getting rather used to it.

“I’m not sure,” I reply. “I thought she would have returned by now. Perhaps we shall see her today.”

“Are you in any way concerned?”

“No. Not with Kes leading the mission, there's nobody more capable than her.”

He places a soft kiss on my shoulder. “Very well, we shall wait and see if she returns today, and in the meantime I think we could work on your harvesting technique.” He places a trail of kisses along my spine and fondles my breasts until I am yet again yearning for him to take me to the heights of unadulterated bliss.

He does so, multiple times, and I return to my chamber late, just as the chambermaids are entering. If they notice the flush of my cheeks or the slight breathlessness of my voice, they don’t say so.

I break my fast and the maids dress me. This morning I have a meeting with the Grand Council which will mercifully be short as today is petition day. This is the one day of the month when my subjects or their representatives get to petition me directly regarding matters that need addressing within their communities or are troubling them personally. This means the Grand Council won't get too much of an opportunity to discussthe ongoing presence of the prince in Ardvalla in his guise as the Emissary of Ellerban. The Grand Master, in particular, has been getting increasingly bolder in his questioning as to why the emissary remains at the castle. The prince is not the only one looking forward to Kes’ return. I'm anxious to harvest him and move things along and, if the truth be told, after the last seven nights, I also ache to feel his manhood inside me.

***

The first surprise of the day is the presence of an emissary of the Holy Cleric at the meeting of the Grand Council. He cordially informs the council members and I that the Holy Cleric requests the presence of the emissary of Ellerban at the Holy Palace. I find this a strange development, but at the same time I'm not surprised, considering the all-round curiosity regarding the prince’s stay in Ardvalla.

I wonder how the prince will react to this request but his response proves to be the second surprise of the day. He informs me over lunch that he will leave for the Holy Palace immediately.

“You do understand that you are under no obligation to go?” I ask him.

“Yes,” he replies, “however, I'm mindful of the warning from Aaran regarding enemies who are plotting against you, and I welcome the opportunity to meet with this Holy Cleric to see if he might be counted among them.”

Aaran informed the prince of the healer’s warning the day after I spoke with him and the prince took it very seriously, to the extent he is now suspicious of almost everybody.

“But what of your safety?” I ask him. “What if there are suspicions you are not who you say you are and are indeed the Prince of Ellerban and wish to marry me? What if the Holy Cleric is an ally of Greythorne and wishes to entice you away from the castle so that he may do you harm?”

He smiles and places his forefinger underneath my chin and gently raises my head until I'm looking into his eyes. “Elinor, I'm touched by your concern for me, but you must not fret on my behalf. Yes, I’ve no doubt some are asking questions as to my continued presence here, but I think for the moment they believe I'm simply waiting for my men to recover from their injuries. I can look after myself, and I think it would raise even more suspicion if I refuse to accept the Holy Cleric’s request.”

I realise he is probably correct in this assumption and accept it’s for the best if he goes, but I want to take some measures to help ensure his safety. “At least let me send some Khaleeni with you?” I ask.

He smiles again. “There really is no need. However, if it makes you feel better, then I will gladly accept a number of the Khaleeni to watch over me.”

A soft sigh of relief escapes my lips. “Thank you. I shall tell them to be discreet but to watch over you at all times. I shall send two members of the Queen's Guard with you to guide you to the Holy Palace. They shall remain there until such a time as you wish to return, which I hope won't be too long…”

My voice fades away as I try to keep the sadness I’m feeling from entering it. He has only been here a short while and yet I've become accustomed to his presence and am loath to see him leave.

However, he doesn’t miss the change in my mood.

“Oh, come now, Elinor,” he says in a low voice as he takes me into his arms, “I shall miss you too and I promise I won’t be staying at the Holy Palace any longer than necessary. I pray to the gods Kes returns soon and I can prove my seed to you, and we can forge ahead with our union.”

His voice is replete with meaning and I press myself against him, letting him know with more than just my words how much I’m looking forward to that too. “I eagerly await yourreturn,” I whisper against his lips before kissing him with all the need I feel for him in my bones.

He returns my kiss and then drags his lips away from mine. “I need to go now, Elinor,” he growls in a husky voice, “before I’m unable to.”

He leaves for his chamber and I take the tunnel to the Khaleeni camp to inform Desidera, Kes’ second in command, of the need to send some Khaleeni with the prince.

After meeting with Desidera I’m a little at a loss for what to do with my time. The past few days I have spent the afternoons with the prince, showing him parts of the castle and Valensia, and it’s no small surprise to me how easily he has slotted into my life. I decide to visit the stables and see if any progress has been made with the young Arywythian stallion.

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