Page 115 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
*ROYAN*
Rona stirs in my arm, blinking her eyes open when the first rays of sunlight peek through the curtains. The sun hasn’t risen completely, it’s very early in the morning.
“It’s too early,” I complain.
She giggles, crawling on top of me to tickle me. “Are you really a scary mercenary? You sound like a boy who doesn’t want to go to school.”
I laugh, grabbing her hands. “Careful what you are starting here.”
She bends down to kiss my cheek. “You too,” she whispers. “And now I wish we didn't need to get up, either.”
She is so sweet and beautiful. I know it’s not good that she is stuck here with Penelope, indebted to help her, but I swear to the goddess I will free her. Rona told me how she grew up with nothing, and with no stability in her life. Penelope was the only one who hired her.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks quietly.
“How to get you to safety,” I admit.
“Oh, Roy,” she leans her head forward, her eyes looking sad. “I’m starting to believe that no one will ever be able to save me. I owe the Madame my life… unfortunately.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “She might have saved you, but it doesn’t mean she can take advantage of you. It doesn’t mean she owns you. You are worth more than that.”
“Do you really think that?” she whispers.
“I think you are your own person, and despite what Madame Penelope told you, you are you… no one owns you.”
“You don’t know me,” she replies. “I’m weak.”
“I do know you,” I smile. “We share a bond, remember?”
“You deserve more from the bond,” she says. “I… I did horrible things for the Madame, Roy. I deserve no forgiveness.”
“You were used,” I emphasize. “And abused. She forced you into joining her cult. You might not be innocent, but there is redemption for you.”
“The fact she beat me whenever I tried to oppose her doesn’t excuse what I did,” she contends.
“That might be true,” I take her hand, brushing over it. “But, there is still a chance to make things right.”
“Do you really think that?” she asks.
“I strongly believe so.”
“Roy,” she whispers, kissing me softly. “I… I don’t know how I deserve you. You are beautiful inside and outside.”
I smile, wrapping her in my arms and pressing her against my body. She is delicate and a lot smaller than I am, and soon she giggles and wiggles in my arms. “You are not playing fair, big bad wolf.”
I laugh. “Alright, let’s continue this later.” “That’s a promise,” she says.
She kisses my hand, before crawling off me and hurrying to the small bathroom to freshen up. Neither of us needs a long time and soon we find ourselves heading to breakfast. To my surprise breakfast here is similarly organized to the castle, just not as distinctive. Rona showed me around last evening and made sure I know how everything works here.
It’s so hard to wipe the shit-eating grin from my face whenever I am with her. The mate bond is strong, and draws me to her with such intensity, it’s hard not to go all mushy on her. It makes me feel new respect for Tynan. Everyone watching him knew that Shayan is his mate, but the patience that the usually reckless and headstrong Ty displays is amazing.
I take Rona’s hand in mine while we walk into the dining hall. I know I have a role to play, but everyone here knows she is my mate, so there is no need to hide it. And I prefer having her close. It’s when I sit down at my table that I feel it. Like a blizzard, a shot of pain runs through my body, startling me. Fuck, what was that? My heart almost stops beating for a second. It feels like someone in my ranks died, a soul left this world. It’s not strong enough to be someone from my family, but certainly has to be a higher-ranking member of the royals or the royal guards.
“What is wrong?” Rona whispers in worry. “Is everything alright, Roy?”
I clasp my chest. Who fell? Who of my friends died? Or was it someone from the royal family?
thirty-eight
