Veronica followed the guard escorts to dinner. Her father’s estate had been running low on funds so they had to lessen the number of guards around the castle. But for these guests, her father had returned a larger number of them to their home.
She was a little nervous about meeting these people, especially since her dad had encouraged her to dress so grown up! Who were these people? Maybe they were members of the council come to approve an important decision.
Could it be? Would she get a real job around here? She had so many ideas she could put into effect. Her father would be so proud of them, if he could find time to hear them. A position within the family would make her feel so much more grown up and useful. Then she would have the chance to tell him!
She stood at the door, as the butler announced her for dinner. As she curtsied, she glanced around the room feeling a rush of heat running up her cheeks. Besides her dad, there were three people at the table and all eyes were on her. “Good evening.” She whispered.
Count Barron cleared his throat. She flinched knowing she should have spoken louder. When her father signaled for her to come to the table, she nodded and walked towards the table. The two older guests sitting at the table were probably married.
But the stranger on her side of the table was not visible around the chair he sat in. She could make out the outline of a strong set of shoulders and the lean lines of the edges of his back.
The edges of the shirt she could see looked like expensive linen and a stiletto blade hung off his side, even as he sat at the table. But what he really looked like or who he was, she couldn’t tell.
She finally got to her chair and sat down quickly. Her father asked her. “How has your day been? Have you completed your studies?”
She licked her lips nervously. Why would her father start their dinner conversation this way. It was normally the first thing he talked about at dinner. But she had not even been introduced to the guests.
“Yes, papa.” She spoke softly but allowed her voice to carry across the room. He smiled proudly.
“I am Prince Vaughn.” The voice beside her spoke. It was a deep voice full of rugged undertones. It made her feel weak.
She turned to him to get her first real view of him and her breath caught in her throat. He was about her age but he was stunning. His hair hung ruggedly around his hard face. Dark grey eyes that spoke of danger with a hint of chivalry. She found herself speechless as she stared into them.
His handsome features were so masculine. She swallowed and the woman across the table giggled. Suddenly, she was aware that everyone was still watching her.
Her cheeks flushed hotly, as she sat back in her chair. She lifted an arm to him and he took her hand before turning it to kiss it. Suddenly, the warmth of her embarrassment was overpowered by a deeper heat that she did not recognize.
“My lady tales of your beauty have not done you justice.” She gasped, her hand resting in his. The heat of his hand warming her glove.
Tales of her beauty? Do people really talk about her? It makes sense considering her position here but her beauty is what they talk about?
These thoughts seem so far away, as their eyes continued to meet above her hand. Something about him seems ancient, yet he is her age. “Sir, you do flatter me.” She whispered back to him. Her eyes flutter involuntarily.Their conversation is interrupted by a line of servants bringing in food. King Barron cuts into his food with a flourish. “I am so glad to see how you get along with your betrothed.”
Her betrothed? She glanced up at him. His eyes met hers briefly and she regretted looking at him. It made her head spin and she couldn’t think clearly. He was smiling devlishly. “Yes, my lady, you will soon be mine to have and to hold.”
Her father blinked in surprise but said nothing. She looked down at her plate, the suggestive tone in his voice made her feel self conscious. Although she did not know his meaning, she dare not ask for clarification.
****
I had followed her from her room. I could see how uncomfortable she was in front of the monsters. She turned so red. I just wished I could help her.
I do not like how the younger stranger monster looks at her. She is mine. The sudden fierceness of the thought surprises me. I don’t remember ever thinking of anything as mine. But I couldn’t help feeling that way with her.
I shake my head in my hands, trying to rid myself of whatever enchantment it was. How could that be me? I am no more than a shadow on a wall. She doesn’t even notice me.
“She dances for you.” The familiar voice growled in my mind. “You do not dance for someone you do not notice.”
Veronica was sitting quietly at the table. Everyone was eating that delicious food. It made me so hungry. I wanted to reach out and grab some for myself. It smells so good my stomach turns.
But I watched and I waited. I saw how she couldn’t help reacting to this new monster. When she looked at him it was as if he was the juiciest food she had ever seen. But she had refused to look at him since her father called him her betrothed. What was that? What new awful thing was I to witness?
I didn’t want to stay and watch the scariest of all monsters do whatever a betrothed does. Would she be scared? I don’t want to see that. But I couldn’t go.
I have to be here. The keeper is going to come. The voice inside me says it is finding meals to get bigger. We need to keep that thing away from my cub mate. I cannot have it eating her.
After returning home from the war front, Prince Vaughn had been enjoying the company of many fine women. Maybe they didn’t have the best reputation but they didn’t treat him like everyone else treats ‘the prince’. He could lose himself for some time in comforts that he would not find in battle. He had several women friends visiting when his dad had dragged him away. He was disturbed when he discovered that not only was he being forced into a marriage that he didn’t even know about until now. But that it had been planned for some time. Some count’s daughter somewhere was thinking she was going to marry up and live a higher life? But when the King had explained the alliances that it formed, it began to make more sense. Her kingdom had an ace up their sleeve that they would be wise to get on their side. Besides, the girl could enjoy her life as the princess and
I had followed them from the eating room. But then they went outside. I stopped at the doorway. Could I go out there? I really didn’t know how to not fall up. How did they do it? If I was just going to fall anyway, what was the point of going out there? I looked up at the sky and shook my head. No, I couldn’t follow them that way. I stayed at the edge of the castle making my way towards them. It slowed me down a lot. But I could see that she was ok. Daylight was setting but it was still warm outside. In the winter, it would already be dark. But these summer days were long. The sun having started to go down was a relief to my eyes. It was always so bright. They chose a bench in an alcove of one of the garden pathways to sit. I was excited that it was so close to the castle and that I could watch the
I squirmed and kicked the whole way down to the dark dungeon. But the monster guard would not let me go. It had a good hold on me and there was nothing I could do but scream.He dropped me in a corner cell with an ugly look on its face. As I hit the hard, cold stone floor, my shoulder suddenly felt as if it had been lit on fire. I screeched out in pain, as the door closed and the monster locked it.I moved around in circles around the cell, jumping on and off the soft cot in the corner. I had seen people sleeping on something like that before. But I always slept within the walls. There were no cots there. I didn’t need one anyway.Another monster guard came in and watched me as I trampled all over the cell. “Who is this?” I heard him ask the other.
Veronica sat up on the couch, trying to clear her head. It didn’t make sense what the prince was telling her. The monster had run after Roger had saved her. Had Prince Vaugn gone after it?If he had, it still didn’t explain where Roger was. She grabbed the prince by the shoulders. “The boy in the garden. His name is Roger. He came after that monster attacked me. He saved me.”Prince Vaugn bristled and Veronica couldn’t understand what he was so upset about. “So the boy helped you, not hurt you?”She nodded. King Ruthford cleared his throat and Prince Vaugn looked at him. “You might want to cancel the order to get answers.”Prince Vaugn looked especially displeased by the suggestion. “He shouldn&rsquo
I would never let that thing hurt my cub mate! It tried attacking her twice. It must like her as much as I do.If that big black monster was not gonna scare me away from protecting her then neither would some fancy sword swinging monster. When he started yelling at her, I could sense her distress. I would not allow him to hurt her.Plus I had the voice urging me on. He said he wanted to see the monster’s blood spilt all over the floor. Said he deserved it. I couldn’t believe it was so violent.But then she explained that he was trying to protect her from me. Wasn’t that the silliest thing I had ever heard?!? If I wouldn’t let anything else, I certainly would never hurt my cub mate.But something about him still irritated me. It seemed that I irrit
Veronica looked at the two boys. It was kind of sweet that they both wanted to protect her against each other. It was after they stepped forward and stood together quietly in unison, that she decided to get closer.But when Prince Vaugn announced that it was a dragon, her heart skipped a beat. She stood there staring at the creature. It’s scales were so shiny and it’s wings were magnificent. If it had been closer with no divide between them, would she still be so fascinated or would she be frightened?“No hatred.” Roger said, as he looked up at Prince Vaugn. “Help with keep…er.” Veronica looked at him. He wanted to free the dragon so that it would help protect them against the keeper. If anyone could do it, a dragon seemed plenty capable.“You want
I didn’t like him touching her one bit. But when he finished by creating a way for her to protect herself, I decided it was ok. He had almost thanked me for saving my cub mate. It went a long way to making me feel better about him.The dragon had told me it was me who he should thank. It was true that I had chased the thing off. And it had been for her. But I wasn’t thinking about how it could benefit anyone else, at the time.The prince attached a couple pieces of leather over his hands and legs. I suppose it would help in protecting him. But I wonder how he uses it.Veronica was so interested in what the prince monster was saying that I felt left out. But I smiled when I thought about how she had squeezed my hand, when the Prince almost thanked me. It made me happy that she acknowledged I was res
Veronica went back to Prince Vaugn’s room. Her dad had stopped coming to tuck her in a long time ago, especially when she already said good night. So she would not be missed.But when they got back, Roger was no longer in the room that they had left him in. They were depending on Roger to show them the way. So, they had to wait for him.“Roger! Come out!” She whispered fiercely but there was no response.She turned to Prince Vaugn. “Did you scare him away?” She was half teasing. Although, she wouldn’t be surprised if Roger had decided not to help them after the prince’s attitude.Prince Vaugn just put his hands on his hips and called out to Roger. “Come on, kid. Let’s get this thing going.”