Page 15 of Lord of the Castle
I narrowed my eyes at her. This. Again. "Why? Because the forest is evil?"
"I'm trying to help you," Sasha urged. "Go, before the festival of Samhain. Otherwise it will be too late, and the Lord of Darkness will come for you."
I laughed. Lord of the Darkness indeed! There was no mention of him in Lord Cedric's stories. "Are you jealous because you want Lord Cedric all to yourself?"
The words flew from my lips before I could stop them, but the scowl faded from Sasha's face, leaving surprise. "I'm not the one who's in love with him," she retorted, leaning away from me. "When the time comes, just remember, I tried to help you."
She rose and brushed her hands on her sky-blue gown. "I tried to help," she murmured again and disappeared into the crowd.
My joy evaporated as I weighted her words. The Lord of Darkness sounded frightening, and I could not ignore the fact that the guards who had come before me all disappeared. But Lord Cedric had a reasonable explanation and I had no reason to believe he lied to me. Besides, the words I’d seen in the book were made up. Weren’t they?
The lord of darkness hides in his tower
Saving the land from dark monsters
No, Sasha wanted to frighten me, after all, she’d been rude and unkind since my first day. I pushed her cryptic words out of my mind. In the morning, I'd ask Betty, but for now I wanted to find Lord Cedric. A fluttering sensation beat in my breast as I stood and made my way through the crowd.
The light was low around the tables and villagers still feasted, mainly drinking goblets of wine and laughing into them. I walked to the throne where Lord Cedric had sat, but it was empty.
“Looking for me?”
I whirled, my hand going to my throat. Then I smiled.
Out of the shadows appeared Lord Cedric with Felix behind him.
“Yes,” I admitted. “I am done dancing and came to spend time with you.”
“As I recall it, you are forced to spend time with you because you are my protector,” he moved closer, allowing the light to shine on his scarred face.
I took a deep breath and stepped toward him, the elderberry wine emboldening me. “As I recall it, I am a shield-maiden, and I choose who I spend time with. Tonight it is you.”
“Then you will forgive my forwardness,” he took another step toward me.
“Of course, my lord,” my voice dropped as I closed the distance between us.
The scent of wine, deep and bold hung in the air, along with the distant scent of fire. But I only had eyes for Lord Cedric as I gazed up into his dark eyes. Past, present and future faded in that stolen moment, and it was only us standing among the shadows. I matched his breath and reached out, touching his hand, tracing the lines of muscle up his arms. My breath caught as his arm stole around my waist, pressing me to him.
“Mariel, you have bewitched me,” he said, leaning his forehead toward mine. “You are not what I expected.”
“Nor are you,” I lifted my face toward his and parted my lips, desperate for his touch.
“I assume you desire to leave at the end of the month, but all I ask is for one night.”
Excitement throbbed in my veins. I was here, and so was he, and there was nothing to lose. Instead of replying, I lifted my lips to his. He met them with his own. The power and potency of that kiss filled me, and I closed my eyes, desiring nothing more than to let him kiss away my lingering doubts.
Cedric broke the kiss with a groan and leaned his forehead against mine. I heard his heart pounding just as quickly as my own. The warmth of his breath against my lips hinted at more. A moan escaped my throat, and I pressed a hand against the broad expanse of his chest. Cedric’s breath fanned the base of my neck before he pressed a kiss there. My skin prickled but just as suddenly he pulled away, leaving my legs wobbly, and a strange sensation of loss bloomed in my chest. I made an attempt to catch his eye, but he adverted my gaze and swept me up in his powerful arms. He practically tossed me onto Felix’s back and mounted up behind me, although how he did so without his staff, I did not know.
“What’s wrong?” I pled, reaching for his hand, hoping to bring him back with skin to skin contact.
“Trust me, Mariel.” His voice was distant, gruff. “It is not you. There are circumstances beyond my control.”
His arm tightened around my waist as he pressed a kiss against my ear. I melted back against his hard body, a sigh of relief bursting from my lungs. “But something is wrong. I sense the barrier between us.”
“Time is short, Mariel, and it is not my intent to bring you unhappiness. Remember this evening, and enjoy it with me.”
“But something is making you unhappy,” I replied, frustration mounting. “It is because of Samhain, isn’t it?”
At first he stiffened and then relaxed behind me. “Yes, Mariel, you are quite perceptive. I am often uneasy and restless before the festival. Once it is over, I will rest easy again.”
