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Authors: Anastasia Maltezos
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to have another attack." Suddenly, her earlier fears returned, splashing cold water on her unbidden desire and she panicked. "My God, it's my fault she's had another attack. The journey was too much for her. She…she always has attacks when…when she's overly excited." She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat.
With a grim face, he gathered her in his arms and held her close to his chest. "Hesta is the best in the land," he said gruffly over her head. "If anyone can help the little one, it's her."
Alex closed her eyes and let the strength of his body calm her. The embrace was different from the one he gave her earlier. This one didn't provoke passionate heat. This one made her feel profoundly safe, secure, cared for. She didn't want this moment to end.
"Thank you for being so kind," she mumbled against his chest. "And…and I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was travelling to your kingdom to compete in the Royal Contest."
A rough clearing of someone's throat made her jump from his arms. Malek stood some ways from them with a look tinged with embarrassment.
"What is it?" Vasilis growled.
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness. I wanted you to know Ortega and Krako have finished setting up your tent."
"Thank you," Vasilis said, returning his gaze to Alex.
She was mortified. At the mention of Ortega and Krako, she instantly recalled their conversation at sunrise. Malek immediately took his leave and Alex gave Vasilis a glowering look.
"I see you're back to being hostile with me again," he remarked dryly. "Why?"
"I have my reasons."
"You may act as though you feel nothing for me," he began arrogantly, "but our kiss proved otherwise. Whether you win the contest or not, you will be mine."
Her humiliation rose. "As what? Your mistress if I lose the contest? I won't be anyone's whore." His face turned a dark shade of red, but she didn't care. She was angry now. "You have enough women in your life. You don't need me to add to your list of conquests."
"What are you saying?"
"I know your reputation. You bed two or three women at a time and word is after you wed, you will continue to bed other women." She pursed her lips. "I will not have the same life my mother did. She died giving birth to Ariel while my father was busy with a village whore." He reached for her and she took a step back. "So don't stand there all high and mighty and think just because I responded to your kiss I will fall into bed with you. I have things in my life far more important to focus on than a conceited, arrogant, womanizing brute."
"I'm not the scoundrel you think I am. There are things about me you don't know. Things you would never understand."
She scowled. "I know that on the eve prior to our breakfast you were with three women. That night…that night I thought you…you…" She couldn't finish. She'd believed he liked her, even cared for her and wanted to kiss her.
"I wasn't with anyone that night," he said roughly. "Since I've met you, I haven't been with anyone."
"Excuse me, but I need to go back to Ariel."
* * * *
Alex had been by Ariel's side for a good part of the night.
"Child, I have seen this form of lung ailment before," Hesta explained. "Her attacks will never be completely cured, but with the right medication they can be controlled." She smiled. "Do not fear. The little one is strong."
"Thank you so much, Hesta. I'm so grateful for all your help. I don't know what I would have done without you."
The older woman smiled kindly at her and motioned with a gnarly hand to the door. "Go. Get some fresh air. I'll stay here with the little one."
Alex nodded and bent down to kiss Ariel on the forehead. Her little sister was fast asleep and didn't stir.
"I love you," Alex whispered. Straightening, she cast another grateful look at Hesta. "I won't be long." She then left the tent, stepping out into the cool night air.
She wrapped her arms around her torso and looked around. She saw Nolan and Falk standing guard in front of her tent. She
With a grim face, he gathered her in his arms and held her close to his chest. "Hesta is the best in the land," he said gruffly over her head. "If anyone can help the little one, it's her."
Alex closed her eyes and let the strength of his body calm her. The embrace was different from the one he gave her earlier. This one didn't provoke passionate heat. This one made her feel profoundly safe, secure, cared for. She didn't want this moment to end.
"Thank you for being so kind," she mumbled against his chest. "And…and I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was travelling to your kingdom to compete in the Royal Contest."
A rough clearing of someone's throat made her jump from his arms. Malek stood some ways from them with a look tinged with embarrassment.
"What is it?" Vasilis growled.
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness. I wanted you to know Ortega and Krako have finished setting up your tent."
"Thank you," Vasilis said, returning his gaze to Alex.
She was mortified. At the mention of Ortega and Krako, she instantly recalled their conversation at sunrise. Malek immediately took his leave and Alex gave Vasilis a glowering look.
"I see you're back to being hostile with me again," he remarked dryly. "Why?"
"I have my reasons."
"You may act as though you feel nothing for me," he began arrogantly, "but our kiss proved otherwise. Whether you win the contest or not, you will be mine."
Her humiliation rose. "As what? Your mistress if I lose the contest? I won't be anyone's whore." His face turned a dark shade of red, but she didn't care. She was angry now. "You have enough women in your life. You don't need me to add to your list of conquests."
"What are you saying?"
"I know your reputation. You bed two or three women at a time and word is after you wed, you will continue to bed other women." She pursed her lips. "I will not have the same life my mother did. She died giving birth to Ariel while my father was busy with a village whore." He reached for her and she took a step back. "So don't stand there all high and mighty and think just because I responded to your kiss I will fall into bed with you. I have things in my life far more important to focus on than a conceited, arrogant, womanizing brute."
"I'm not the scoundrel you think I am. There are things about me you don't know. Things you would never understand."
She scowled. "I know that on the eve prior to our breakfast you were with three women. That night…that night I thought you…you…" She couldn't finish. She'd believed he liked her, even cared for her and wanted to kiss her.
"I wasn't with anyone that night," he said roughly. "Since I've met you, I haven't been with anyone."
"Excuse me, but I need to go back to Ariel."
* * * *
Alex had been by Ariel's side for a good part of the night.
"Child, I have seen this form of lung ailment before," Hesta explained. "Her attacks will never be completely cured, but with the right medication they can be controlled." She smiled. "Do not fear. The little one is strong."
"Thank you so much, Hesta. I'm so grateful for all your help. I don't know what I would have done without you."
The older woman smiled kindly at her and motioned with a gnarly hand to the door. "Go. Get some fresh air. I'll stay here with the little one."
Alex nodded and bent down to kiss Ariel on the forehead. Her little sister was fast asleep and didn't stir.
"I love you," Alex whispered. Straightening, she cast another grateful look at Hesta. "I won't be long." She then left the tent, stepping out into the cool night air.
She wrapped her arms around her torso and looked around. She saw Nolan and Falk standing guard in front of her tent. She
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