Let's recap from the previous two chapters... Giselle has been arrested. Christine and Erik have consummated their marriage. And now there has been a murder. What's going to happen next? Take a look. And if you're enjoying this story, please click the follow/fav button and leave me a happy review.

Chapter Eight

Cedric and his wife were waiting in his office when Erik rushed in with Christine. "Father. What's happened?" Erik asked.

Cedric indicated the pair of chairs in front of the desk. "Calhoun has been murdered." Calhoun had been one of the first guards to be stationed at the castle. He had been faithful to the crown his entire life. He had a good heart and fighting spirit. Cedric passed the letter across the desk to Erik.

Erik took the letter and unfolded it. The words he saw sent his pulse into overdrive. He read them out loud.

"King Erik. This is the first step down the road to your demise. When June begins, you will be dead, unless you step down and leave Britain. You have until June to leave Britain. Pray you don't ignore this. JRB"

There was no signature, only the initials. JRB. Erik looked at his wife, who had been standing next to him. Her face had gone stark white, her eyes wide in fear. "Erik." She choked on his name, then her knees wobbled.

Erik quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her down to sit on his lap. "Christine. It's alright. We'll find out who did this. We have their initials, and there are eight months until June."

Christine covered her face with her hands. "I know we have time. But I'm worried that we won't find this man before then. I can't lose you." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I can't lose you."

Cedric glanced at his wife, then at his son and daughter-in-law. "Erik. Maybe you shouldn't go train the knights today. It looks like Christine needs you to stay inside. I can't in good conscience allow you to go into the woods. Even with your sword and knights."

Erik looked to his mother, "If my queen needs me, I will stay in the castle." He turned to his wife. "Darling, would you feel more comfortable if I stayed here with you?"

Christine nodded frantically. Erik knew he would do anything for his queen. He loved her more than anything. He would move mountains and tame seas for her if it were possible. He also knew that he was ready to show her what he hid behind his mask. "Alright. I'll send Galvin in my place." He rubbed Christine's back. "Sweetheart. Can you get up so I can go talk to Galvin? Go upstairs. I'll talk to Galvin as fast as I can then meet you in our room."

Christine looked at Cedric and Alice. They both nodded. "Okay Erik." She stood. Erik handed the letter back to his father and stood as well. He took Christine's hand and they left the study. At the servant's entrance, Erik turned to his wife. "I'll be right back Christine."

She forced a smile. "I know Erik." She kissed him.

Erik squeezed her hand then went outside in search of Galvin.

Later that same day

Christine sat on the carpet in front of the fireplace, a book in her hands, her skirts flared around her. She tried to focus on the words on the page, but her mind kept returning to the night before. The door opened and she looked up. Her husband walked in, a pad of paper in his hand. "Christine. I have something for you." He took the book out of her hands, setting it on the table.

Sitting on the carpet next to her, Erik flipped through the sketches. He stopped at a picture of his wife. In the drawing, she was laying in their bed on her side, sleeping. The date indicated that he had made this drawing two days ago. "I couldn't sleep that night so I got out of bed and couldn't resist drawing you." He took a deep breath. "There's something I want to show you." He took her hand and reached up to his face.

"Erik. You don't have to."

"Christine. I want to. We've shared everything about ourselves. This is the only thing that I haven't shown you." Erik closed his eyes, curled his fingers around the edge of his mask and pulled. The porcelain fell away and he felt the cool air against his mangled skin. He waited for the sound of the door he was sure would happen. When it didn't come he opened his eyes. Christine sat in front of him, watching his eyes, not his face. She touched the scarred flesh, then surprised him by leaning over and kissing him. "You're not disgusted?" He asked.

"No. It's a part of you. And I love you unconditionally. No matter what your face looks like."

Erik's heart leaped when she said she loved him. "Did you just say you loved me?"

Christine beamed at her husband. "I did."

Erik let out a shout and tackled his wife, pushing her back onto the floor. He showered her face with kisses. "I. Love. You. Christine." He said between kisses.

"Erik please. Give me a proper kiss." She begged.

Erik was very happy to oblige. He rested his lips against hers, pushing his tongue into her mouth. One of her hands crept to the back of his neck and the other rested on his chest. "Erik." She managed to get out between kisses.

Erik stopped. "Yes Christine?"

"Do you think it's safe?" Her eyes sparkled seductively.

He grinned like the cat who swallowed the canary. "Well, are you sore?"

"No."

"Then it's safe." He pushed himself off her, stood, and pulled his shirt over his head.

"Here?"

"Why not here? You don't need a bed to make love." He reached for his mask.

She grabbed it before he could pick it up. "Nuh uh. We're going to do it without your mask. I want to see all of your face this time." She stood up and put his mask on the mantle, then loosened the laces at her back and pulled the sleeves off her shoulders.

Erik watched as her bare skin was revealed. She wasn't wearing any undergarments. Remembering that she had only pulled a gown from her wardrobe that morning, he silently thanked her. She walked over to their bed and pulled the top blanket off. Together, they folded it in half and laid it on the floor in front of the fire. Christine unbuttoned Erik's trousers and pushed them off his hips. He stepped out of them and she pulled him down onto the blanket.

His legs landed between hers and he stuck his hands out so his upper body wouldn't crush her. Before he could kiss her, she pushed on his shoulders, and he rolled so they lay facing each other. She pushed on his shoulder and he turned onto his back.

Christine rested her middle and index fingers on his collarbone, walking them down past his stomach to his shaft. Erik closed his eyes and dragged in a breath as her hand curled around the rigid flesh. She moved her hand down and Erik felt something warm around the head of his manhood. His eyes snapped open and he looked down. Christine had wrapped her lips around him. He tensed when her teeth grazed the edge of his shaft. He took a wild guess on what she should do. "Drop your jaw."

She did and he let out a groan. Setting her lips, she sucked, running her tongue along the head while keeping him in her mouth. Erik felt his muscles bunch and knew he should stop her. "Christine. Stop."

She pulled her lips off him with a soft pop. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. I need to be inside you." He reached for her hands and she lay down next to him. Erik rolled her onto her back, wedging his knee between her thighs. He rubbed his fingers against the curls between her thighs, testing the resistance. There was none.

"I'm not stopping you husband." She ran her fingers from his stomach to his shoulders and back to his hips.

Erik growled, adjusted his shaft, and slid his hips forward. They let out a collective sigh at the contact. He rubbed his nose against the side of her neck, flicking the tip of his tongue against her skin. She made a very unladylike sound. A cross between a sigh and a low moan. Her head fell to the side and her eyelids became heavy.

Unable to hold still any longer, Erik moved his hips, withdrawing until only the head of his staff was embedded, then surged forward. She gasped and hesitantly lifted her hips, meeting him halfway. He reached between their bodies and covered her breast with his hand, flicking the bud with his thumb until it grew hard. The pressure in his loins grew and he felt his release growing very close. He moved his hand back to where it had rested beside her head, moving his hips almost frantically. The need for release was persistent. Blood pounded in his ears, nearly deafening him.

Christine couldn't think beyond the need for her husband. The pressure built, pushing her closer and closer to her release. A coiling in her lower abdomen grew tighter and tighter, almost like the string on a bow. She didn't know how much more she could take.

Erik wasn't faring much better. Until Christine's inner walls clenching around him, sending him spiraling into oblivion. He stiffened and released his seed. His arms wobbled, and he slipped out of her warmth, rolling onto his back and wrapping his arm under her head to her shoulder. She rested her head on his chest and planted a kiss on his ribcage.

"I love you Erik."

Erik could have died at that moment from hearing her say she loved him. "I love you too Christine."

They lay silently on the blanket for a few minutes, then Christine's head snapped up. "Erik. What if I'm pregnant?"

Erik looked at his queen. "When is your cycle due?"

"Next week. Why?"

"We'll have to wait and see if you have your cycle. That will tell us if you're pregnant or not."

"Do you want children Erik?" Christine laid her head back on Erik's chest, listening to his heart.

Erik sighed, "I don't know. I'm worried that if I have one of my own, I might pass this," He gestured at his face, "to him."

"Or her." Christine rubbed her hand across his stomach. "I told you. I love you no matter what your face looks like. And I would love our child that same way, even if they did inherit your face. Which is highly unlikely."

Erik placed his palm over her hand. "I know I will love our child as well, if we have one." He kissed the top of her head. "Are you sure you wouldn't mind if he inherited my face?"

"Or her." She kissed his ribs, "I'm sure. I love you." She yawned.

"I love you too. We'll nap until dinner. Then I'll go and get a tray of food so we can eat in here."

Christine nodded and closed her eyes. She drifted into the oblivion of sleep.

Erik lay awake just listening to the birds and the far off clang of metal on metal from the training yard outside the window. The knights stayed in the yard as per his orders. He had stressed to Galvin that the knights were not to go into the woods to train until the man who had murdered Calhoun was found. He closed his eyes and slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Two weeks later

Christine raced through the dark woods, pushing tree branches out of her path to where her husband sat on his knees. His hands were bound behind his back and a man in a dark cloak and hood stood over him with his back to her. Christine stopped and hid behind the trunk of a wide oak tree. Taking a small step, she peered around the tree.

The man who stood over her husband pulled Erik's head up by his hair. Christine looked on in horror as he pulled a sharp knife from his belt. "Now Erik. I gave you plenty of time to hand over your crown and leave." Pressing the knife against Erik's face, he dug a long cut into Erik's scarred cheek. "You underestimated me. I will have the throne." He cackled, digging another gash into Erik's flesh.

So much blood. Christine watched the red liquid seep from the cuts on her husband's face. The man drew back his fist and hit Erik square on the jaw. Christine took a step forward, but Erik and the man disappeared. "ERIK!" She screamed.

"ERIK!" His eyes snapped open and he bolted upright. His wife lay next to him, tossing and turning under the covers.

He pulled the blanket out of the way, resting his hands on Christine's shoulders, guiding her onto her back. "Christine." He whispered, trying to wake her. "Christine." He spoke a little louder. Her eyes remained closed. So he did the only thing he could think of. He pressed his lips to hers.

She opened her eyes and stared at him, then launched herself at him. "Erik! You're okay!"

"Of course I'm okay. You were dreaming."

"Oh Erik it felt so real."

"What happened?" He picked her up and carried her to sit on the floor in front of the fire. He settled her between his knees, wrapping his arms around her stomach.

She leaned back against his bare chest. "I was racing through the woods looking for you. Then I saw you in a clearing with your hands tied and a man in a cloak and hood standing over you with a knife. You didn't have your mask on. Then he pulled your head up by your hair and started cutting into your face." She reached back and touched the scarred flesh. "Then he hit you. When I tried to get to you, you disappeared. Then I woke up." She stared at the dying embers of the fire.

Erik kissed the top of her head, "Christine. If you have another dream like that. Please tell me."

She turned around in his arms. "I will." She reached up to kiss him. "I love you." Erik was just about to return her kiss when Mabel pounded on the door.

"My King! My Queen!"

Erik quickly stood up and pulled on the trousers he had been wearing the day before, pushing Christine behind the screen with a random dress so she could change. "I'll help you with the laces in a minute." He rushed to the door, pulling it open. "What is it Mabel? Has there been another murder?"

The housekeeper nodded frantically. "It was one of the townspeople this time."

"Did the killer leave a note?"

She nodded again. "Your father wants to see you in the west parlor right now."

Erik thanked the woman and walked back to the screen. Christine turned around and pulled her hair over one shoulder. "Do they know who it was?"

"The murderer? No. I didn't ask about who was killed." He tied the laces together. "All we know is that it was a person in town."

Christine grimaced.

"Don't worry. We'll find who did this." He took her hand and pulled her down the stairs.

In no time they were standing in the west parlor. Erik's parents sat on one of the couches. "Erik. Christine." Alice looked at her son and daughter-in-law with worry in her eyes. "There has been another murder."

"Yes. Mabel told us." Christine and Erik sat on the other couch, facing Cedric and Alice. "She also told us the killer left another note."

Alice passed the piece of paper she had been holding to her son. There was a bloodstain on it. Erik unfolded the note as delicately as possible so he wouldn't touch the blood. The words on the page were written in a sloppy hand. He read the note out loud:

"King Erik, I hope this finds you well. As you can see by the blood on the page, I have killed again. This is the second step towards your death. Oh I don't mean your physical death. I'm talking about your emotional death. I will strike you where it really hurts. By killing your precious Christine. You took everything from me when you arrested my beautiful Giselle. Now I will take everything from you. Unless you leave Britain. JRB"

Christine watched Erik's face as he read. She looked highly distressed. "Erik." She rested her hand on his arm. "What should we do?"

Erik looked at his wife. "We go and interrogate Giselle. She will know who is doing this." He looked at his mother. "Who was it? The person who was murdered."

"It was a woman this time. Naomi, the shoe maker's wife." Cedric took his wife's hand. "Alice and Naomi have known each other for decades."

Alice sighed. "She was there when I gave birth to you Erik. She was a midwife, and a mother herself. Oh what will happen to her twins?" Alice put her hands over her face.

Cedric put his hand on his wife's shoulder.

Erik thought for a moment. He remembered Naomi. She used to pay visits to his mother once in a while. "She was such a good woman." He handed the note back to his father, stood, and went to the door. "I'm going to go interrogate Giselle. I'm sure I can think of a few ways to make her talk."

"I'm coming too." Cedric walked over to his son.

Christine stood. "I'm going with you."

"No." Erik snapped, then instantly sobered when his wife flinched. "A prison is no place a lady. There are too many unsavory men there." He backtracked to his wife and kissed her. "I'll be back in a few hours."

Christine sat back on the couch. "I'll be here." She said, defeated.

When Erik left the room, Alice moved to sit next to Christine and covered her hand. "He'll be fine dear. He knows how to get answers. Let's go to the library. I'll show you a few more things on governing your subjects."

Christine followed the woman from the room. She just hoped Erik and his father would be alright.

"Now Christine. The next lesson is how to greet your guests at a party." Alice stood, Christine followed. "I will show you the two types of subjects. And you must remember which action you need to use for each type."

Christine nodded. "I think I can do this. What are the two actions?"

"Curtsy to royalty. Wave to nobility." she demonstrated. "Now I will approach you as a person of royalty. Do you remember how to recognize royalty?"

"Um. The crowns and the way they carry themselves."

"Correct." Alice walked away then turned and walked primly up to Christine. She stopped in front of her. "What do you do?"

Christine thought for a moment. Then she remembered. Curtsy. She pulled her skirts away from her legs and bent her knees in the best curtsy she could manage.

"Very good. But you're still fairly stiff. Relax." Alice demonstrated again. She walked away and then turned back to Christine. "Now. Try again."

Christine relaxed then repeated the curtsy. "Was that better?"

Alice smiled. "Wonderful. Now, what do you do when introduced to nobility?"

"Wave."

"Good. Demonstrate."

Christine raised her hand, curled her hand inward a bit, and waved gently. "Like that?"

"Perfect." Alice smiled. "Now, let me go get the list of royalty and nobility." She turned and went to the bookshelf with a group of scrolls on it. "Let's go over it shall we?"

Christine sat next to Alice. "I'll do my best."

Who is this mysterious JRB? Christine and Erik are hopelessly in love. Erik finally takes off his mask in front of her. They talk about children, but Erik is skeptical about whether their child will get his deformed face. I don't know if things like that are hereditary, but I'm pretty sure they aren't. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Remember, click that follow/fav button and leave me a review.