"Erik wait!" Christine shouted, but he turned and hurried away. She tried to get away but Raoul held her close, "You bastard!" Her hand made contact with his cheek causing his lip to bleed.
"Such sprit!" Raoul smiled. "Come, he won't take you now!"
"Even if you were half the man I would never go with you!" Her voice became low and deathly. "You are nothing compared to him! You will never even be a quarter of what he is! I will never go with you!"
"Really?" He nodded. "What if Liren comes under attack? Will you go with me then Your Majesty?"
"With every fiber in my being I will fight them off." Christine drove her knee into his groin. "I hoped you enjoyed your stay Viscount!" And ran into the castle.
She ran past the maids, butlers, officials, and even Madame Giry. They all gave her strange looks, but she did not pay any heed to them. Her mind was elsewhere. She had to find Erik and she knew exactly where to look for him.
As she arrived in the music room, she saw Erik sitting at the piano. His head down, defeated, and hands resting on the keys but no noise came from the instrument.
"I thought you would be halfway to Plantne by now." He voiced.
"Erik, I…"
"I should have known." His hands fell into his lap. "I told myself not to…"
"To what?" She asked quietly.
"To care." He stood and came near her, lips set in a thin line, his eyes cold, and his voice was demanding. "But I might inquire as to what game you were playing at, Madame. Why live a lie?"
"I play no games sir!" She glared.
"Then why…"
"Because I do care for you!" Her breath gave out in an angry sigh. "De Chagny means nothing to me!"
"That was very clear when you kissed him!"
"I never wanted it!"
"Then pray tell Madame." His breath hot on her face. "What is it you want?"
"I…" She stopped. "I do not know."
He turned and shook his head.
"I do know that I want my country to country to be safe!"
"Ah yes." He scoffed. "Your precious country. The reason why this marriage was arranged. A marriage based on protection. As long as your country is safe, then we may move our separate ways!"
"That's not true!" Christine shouted.
"Go on with your affairs." His shoulders shrugged. "And I'll go on with mine…"
"I have no affairs!" Her anger flared. "Nor do I want you to have any!"
"As you do what you please." He turned to leave. "I will do what I please."
"You are acting like a spoiled child!"
"Then you must be rubbing off on me!"
"Are you deaf sir?" She gritted her teeth against the other. "Or are you incapable of thinking that perhaps I do not care for de Chagny and that I will, always and forever care for you?" He stopped. "He means nothing to me. And if he did I would not be here arguing over my own feelings of which I know very well!" She took a breath. "Do not hold me responsible for your own insecurities; I have enough of my own. I promise you that I will care for you forever."
"You cannot promise that." He said quietly, his back still facing her.
"I may promise whatever I wish." She walked around him to face him. "Whether you chose to believe it or not is your choice. I spoke my peace."
"You didn't want him to kiss you?"
"No." Christine felt her heart quicken as she touched his cheek and said, "The only person that I want to kiss or even touch me is my husband."
Erik laid a hand on her neck and followed it up to her cheek and kissed her delicately. She responded to the kiss by opening her mouth a bit to allow him access. He moaned softly as he tasted her inside his mouth. Her hands gripped the nape of his neck, making him feel even more desire for the woman that held him with such a caress. Without even knowing it the couple made their way back to the piano Erik used it to push Christine against for an attempt to feel her even closer to him. The keys made a sour note but even their trained ears did not bother to pick it up.
She gasped as his lips moved to her neck giving her little nibbles, forcing him try to control himself, but it was in vain. Her body began to heat into an untamed fire that filled her soul and she too tried to control herself. Christine was not experienced in any way, only a stolen kiss or two from the stable boys and visiting county boys, but she could feel something that stirred within her, something that she had to discipline within time, but for now she refused to discipline it no matter the price.
A knock sounded at the door, and ended their rendezvous. Both looked at each other with a certain emotion in their eyes that could not be explained. Their depths united and torn apart all in one stare. Everything was different now, both had said things that meant something to one another and now there was no hiding from it. The knock sounded again.
"One moment!" Erik called to the knock.
"Majesty." It was Madame Giry. "The meeting is in ten minutes!"
"Thank you Madame!" He said and caressed Christine's cheek once more. "I will always be at your side."
"I know." She nodded.
They both left, each fingers entwined with the others.
"The mines are doing much better." Christine nodded at the report. "And everything seems to be going well. So the question would be why are you here, Jane?"
"Majesty." The woman sighed. "Sources tell me that Borgia is in Borswan."
"Well." She put the papers down and looked up at the tough, strait woman. "I suppose we have a problem don't we?"
"Your Highness…"
"Are these sources reliable?"
"Yes."
"But what can we do?" Christine shrugged. "I have not seen the man in seven years. I could only recognize him with blood running down his face. Besides he has the means and the money to change everything about him."
"Yes, we know." Jane nodded. "I wanted to just warn you of impending danger. We may not know his looks, but we sure as hell know his doings."
"Indeed." She agreed. "But I highly doubt he would be anywhere near the castle. He knows he would die on sight."
"True." Her eyes held the hers fast. "But take extra precautions, Majesty. Liren does not need another upset."
"You're Majesty." Meg knocked o the door.
"Come in, Meg." Christine called.
"His Majesty is wondering if you would enjoy a stroll in the garden." Meg gave her a knowing smile.
"Tell him I will meet him out in the garden in five minutes." She tried to keep her voice calm but her heart raced with excitement.
"Alright." Meg nodded and left.
"I though you said no attachment?" Jane lifted a brow.
"I am not attached." Christine narrowed her eyes. "I am simply getting a better understanding of my husband."
"Right."
"I am being serious!"
"You're Majesty, if I may be so bold." She said. "Your blush, eyes, and the way you look at the moment is either love or a strange Borswan look when you are being serious and quite frankly the last does not suit you in the least."
"Enjoy your journey back to Liren, Jane." Christine huffed and left the woman snickering.
Really! How could that woman say something like that? Especially to her own queen! Her in love? Ha! The very notion! She had seen many great people fall under that spell and was doubtful it would ever happen to her. Wait, why doubtful? No, Christine was positive it would never happen to her!
She cared for him. That was all. If she only cared then why did her heart race every time he was near? Why did her stomach do flip flops every time she heard his name? Why did his eyes and lips hold such a fascination to her? And how was it his kiss that sent her senses reeling? There had to be a reasonable explanation for these things. Infatuation perhaps? Lust? She had to find something besides love, it would destroy everything! It destroyed her kingdom and that could never happen again.
"I thought you said five minutes?" The enchanting voice said.
"The castle has many turns." Christine shrugged. "I am still not used to them."
"Interesting, even after four months you are still not use to the castle." Erik studied her closer and lifted her chin gently to get a better look, she looked away. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." She struggled to put her emotions aside. Why was it easier to do this to another and not him?
"Really?" He lifted a brow. "Why are you wringing your hands so tightly?"
"I am fine." Her palms wiped themselves on her dress.
"That is not very convincing."
"Why do you care?"
"You are my wife." He shrugged. "It is my duty to care."
"Is that all I am to you?" She asked, suddenly mad. But in her mind she knew she should not be angry with him, instead she should be happy. Although her heart begged to differ.
"Is that all you want to be?" The question stunned her. Was it? Was all she wanted to be was his other duty? Did she want him to be her other duty also? Was she willing to risk everything for a man she barely even knew?
"No." Her voice was defined. "I am more than a wife…I want to be more than a wife."
"I want to be more than a husband." He whispered. A rustle in the bushes came to their attention, and Erik moved Christine away from it. "Who is there?"
"Show yourself!" Christine demanded, not noticing the tight grip she had on Erik's arm. A figure launched itself at Erik.
