The guard’s hands fly up. “It was one of the men who found them. She punched him,” the guard defends. “We didn’t know she was a girl.”
I take a deep breath, trying to get myself under control. I don’t want to lose it in front of the girl. She’s already frightened. I don’t need to add to her fear, or worse, make her afraid of me. No, I want her trust. A lick of pride runs through me that she punched one of my guards.
Letting her go, I kneel down, grabbing the knife from out of my boot. When she sees it, those big eyes of hers grow even rounder. “I’m going to release you,” I tell her gently, like one would talk to a small, frightened kitten. I nod to the bindings around her wrist and want to be clear I only mean to release her hands. I won’t be releasing her. No. She belongs to me now.
The idea of just keeping her is barbaric and ludicrous, but I am king, after all. Our country doesn’t enslave people. This is a free country, but who can stop me? I have final say in all matters, and in this I won’t falter. Never once have I abused my power, but in this moment I know I’ll do anything to have her.
She needs me. I try and rationalize in my mind. She’s so small and innocent. She must be protected. They said she’d been running. My narrowed eyes fly to the man who is standing with the guard, trying to go unnoticed. He drops his head, looking anywhere but at me, guilt crossing his features.
“What is your name, princess?” I ask her as I slide my knife under the plastic bands locking her wrists together. Pulling gently, I cut through the plastic. I hand the knife over to John, who is standing beside me like always. Then I rub the red marks that have formed on her delicate ivory skin.
I’m not sure if I’m trying to soothe her or myself. The bombard of emotions pounding down on me is settling. I want to rip this place apart for what has been done to her, but I fear scaring her. She needs to be handled with care, and I need to get myself under control for her.
“Kate,” she whispers out so low I almost miss it. She bites her lip, glancing away from me.
“Well, Kate, I’m going to get you all taken care of.” I turn to John. I having to fight snarling at him when I see the smirk he has on his face. I’m sure to everyone I’m acting nuts, but I don’t give a shit. “Call for someone to come take a look at Kate and get her settled into the east wing.
John fights a laugh. “Of course.” He takes a step back, giving Kate room to walk. I reluctantly release the hold I have on her, already missing the softness of her in my hands.
“Go with John,” I tell her. She looks as if she wants to say something, but I put my hand on the small of her back and guide her over to him. “Dr. Lena,” I say to John. He nods in understanding. I watch as they both walk from the room.
My heart stops for a moment when I see Kate turn and look over her shoulder at me with so many questions in her eyes. When she is finally gone from sight, I turn and let go of all the anger I’ve been bottling up.
Chapter Three
Kate
I follow the man the king had guided me towards almost in a daze. I don’t understand what in the heck is happening. The king seemed angry, but not at me. In fact, with me he was gentle and kind. I glance back over my shoulder, feeling his stare still on me. I never knew you could actually feel someone’s eyes on you, but I feel his. He looked at me like I belonged to him, but not in the same way my uncle does. No, this was something else. Something different that I don’t understand. I, for some reason, like him looking at me almost as much as I like looking at him. I’ve never seen such a powerful man before. Not because he’s king. He carries it with him. He isn’t one to be messed with.
I pull my gaze away from him, my cheeks warming knowing that I was caught staring at him. I’m still a little in awe of this giant who pulled me into his arms and freed my hands. In that moment, when I felt his body pressed against mine, I felt safe. I knew he would make sure of that.
“Where are we going?” I ask the man the king had called John.
“He wants you looked over,” the man says. I have to pick up my pace to keep up with the man as he strides down the long hallway. This place looks endless, but my mind is everywhere and I’m unable to take any of it in.