Chapter 11

My heart did a double-take. That was the last thing I expected him to say.

"Why?"

"I never thought this was possible...that a woman would steal my heart."

I did? Did he really love me? Was that what he was saying?! I blushed.

"How can you want to be with me while I'm in such a state? I must look terrible..." I lowered my face, but he lifted my chin up again.

"Your tears are beautiful to me, Catherine. They tell me that you feel the same way about me."

"I...I do."

With that his lips found mine as he pulled himself onto the bed next to me. His arms held me tight as his kissed deepened and then trailed down my neck.

"You looked absolutely stunning tonight," he murmured. I had difficulty breathing, partly because of the corset and partly from the excitement of being caressed by the man I love.

"This dress must be uncomfortable, let me loosen it for you," Hiro said as his hands slid towards my back to untie the buttons.

"Wait!" I said in panic. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this. I was still a virgin and would only be legally an adult when I turn 18 in a month's time. What if I fall pregnant?

"Please let me quench the burning desire in my loins, fair maiden, for I shall not find peace for my soul otherwise," he said still softly kissing my neck while his hands continued unbuttoning the dress at the back.

Was he going all Shakespeare-like now? Somehow it sounded very sexy, like we were in an era long ago. The last button came loose and his hands started loosening the corset strings.

"I...Hiro! What if the king chooses me? We'll be in great trouble!" I said in a desperate attempt to get him to stop, but it didn't seem to deter him at all. At the same time I didn't want him to stop. What was wrong with me?! His lips found mine again, as if to prevent me from speaking. The strings came loose and his hand slid down the front of my dress to cup my breast.

"Oh!" I couldn't help buy moan from pleasure as his thumb circled my nipple and made it hard.

"I want you," Hiro whispered in my ear, "I won't let anyone else have you."

He pushed me down onto the bed and pulled the dress away from me. Then he took off his clothes while keeping touching and caressing me. I felt like my whole body was on fire and I had a throbbing feeling down there. He lifted me and placed me further up on the bed so that I could lay comfortably with my head on a pillow before he got on top of me.

"Do you love me?" he suddenly whispered in my ear. I was so embarrassed from us being naked like this that I could barely whisper my answer.

"Yes... I love you Hiro."

As if that was all he needed he plunged into me. It felt a bit like something tore inside me, but he kept pushing and then maintained a steady rhythm. Every thrust sent a wave of pleasure over me. I could feel his lean muscular abdomen each time it pressed against my softer stomach and my breasts were trapped under his hard chest. It did not take long before we both found sweet release. He then lay down next to me, still holding me. I could feel his heartbeat. Mine was also beating fast, but more from excitement as I had only been lying on my back. I wouldn't be able to move much anyway. The alcohol made my head spin if I tried. I felt so happy. I wanted to stay in Hiro's arms forever. I turned slowly while my head protested and wrapped my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. I noticed that his body temperature was slightly cool. Perhaps he was feeling a bit cold? I pulled the satin duvet up to cover us more.

"There, there, my little sparrow," he said softly as he stroked my hair. Then I fell asleep.

I woke up feeling very happy and content, but with a slight hang-over. I turned around to see if Hiro was still sleeping and discovered that I was alone. I tried to put my dress on or at least as much of it as I could and left his room. A maid was waiting outside the door and offered to take me back to my room. I felt a bit embarrassed, but she didn't seem to be interested in why I was in Hiro's room and only half-way dressed. She took me a different way from which Hiro brought me here yesterday and from one point I could see the main portal. A lot of people were running around. I couldn't make out what the commotion was about so I asked the maid.

"His highness has announced his bride, my lady. Everyone is getting ready to celebrate your union."

"My...WHAT?!"

"His lordship chose you, my lady."

I felt all the colour drain from my face. How could this happen?

We arrived at me room and I asked the maid to leave me. She said that she would wait outside to take me to the king when I am ready. There was no way I was going to do that! OMW, what should I do?! I was no longer a virgin. If I pretended...would he still know? Ugh! I don't even want to think of doing it with him! I can't! What will happen to Hiro if he found out? The image of the king piercing through the traitor popped up in my head. If he sees Hiro as a traitor... I made a decision changed into my old riding clothes again. The only way would be for me to leave.

I climbed down the creeper outside my balcony once again and ran to the stables. There was some people around, mostly stable helps. I kept out of sight as much as possible. I found Denuska's stable and snuck in. Denuska made a little happy noise.

"Shhh!" I said quickly, "Denuska...I've messed up really bad...I need to get out of here. Could you please help me?"

He looked at me silently for a while and then slowly nodded. I wouldn't be able to get his saddle and bridle without being noticed so I got onto his bare back and held onto his mane. He started running as soon as I was seated. A stable help just entered the stables and had to jump out of the way. I just duck my head down and held on. Denushka ran like the devil himself was chasing him. I had no idea where we were going. I felt like ages before he eventually slowed down. I sat up and looked at my surroundings. Where were we?

Just then he stopped dead.

"Is this the border?" I asked. Perhaps things would look more familiar once we crossed it? We were suddenly confronted by several riders.

"Denuska?" I asked, but he didn't respond to me even when I nudged him. I got off quickly and ran. I heard the sound of a horse galloping towards me and then it blocked my way. I yelled.

"As I said we would we meet again," a vaguely familiar voice said. It was king Wilfred!

"You?!"

He laughed as he slid of his horse. He pulled my closer to him by my arm and seemed to sniff me, which seemed strange.

"He's had you, but not claimed you yet!" he exclaimed in a sardonically happy voice. What on earth was he talking about?

The other riders didn't come closer to us, but seemed to wait a short distance from us as if to give us privacy. Where they his guards? Then I realised that king Wilfred had taken out a dagger from his belt. It wasn't very big, but very ornate. It almost reminded me of the ritual blades I sometimes saw in fantasy books. The kind that was used for spells. My eyes widened as he cut into his palm. I never handled blood very well and felt faint.

"What are you doing?!"

I tried to get away from him, but saw that the riders had spread so that they block my way if I decided to run.

"Come here!" he commanded.

"No! I don't want to be part of what it is you are doing!"

I desperately tried to get past one of the riders, but he kicked me in the chest with his boot so that I fell. The next moment king Wilfred grabbed my arm, dagger in his other hand. I screamed.

A deafening growl made Wilfred look up in surprise. I used the moment to kick him and managed to get my arm loose and crawled away from him. He seemed to have lost interest in me and got up and sheathed the dagger onto his belt. The next moment the earth shook as the largest dragon I've ever seen (well, actually also the only real dragon I've seen) landed not far from us. A very angry dragon. I tried to stand up, but my body refused to do anything but tremble.

"Attack!" king Wilfred ordered his men and they did as they were commanded. The dragon snorted as if offended and breathed fire. Those riders didn't stand a chance... I only then realised that they were a decoy. King Wilfred had changed shape and also became a dragon! Soon the two dragons were fighting fiercely. I managed to crawl further away. It was already dusk so I couldn't see what was happening so nicely. Every time one of the dragons breathed fire the sky and surroundings lit up and scorched anything it touched. I eventually managed to stand up.

"Where do you think you are going?" a man's voice sounded up. A naked man stood in front of me. What on earth?!

"Who...who are you?" I asked in surprise.

"You've been riding me the whole afternoon and you don't know? Tsk...tsk..."

What?! This isn't Denuska... he doesn't look like the man I had seen in the stables that night...

"Get away from her!" another man's voice ordered. This was the man that I thought was Denushka. He was dressed in gold armour and brandished an axe.

"Are you really going to prevent a man from having a bit of fun?" the naked man asked, but he backed away from me.

"She belongs to his royal highness of the Shadowlands. What you are wanting to do is a crime punishable by death."

The next moment I heard 'swoop' and an arrow lodged itself into the naked man's chest. Then Denushka swung his axe. I couldn't look and sunk down on the spot. I couldn't handle this. All the fighting and death around me... The dragons were still fighting in a distance. Every time they touched ground the earth trembled.

"My queen?"

I looked up at the man who had his hand stretched out to me.

"Denuska? Is that you?"