The sun had set and risen twice since King Theo's last visit. Hopelessness and hunger drew Fleur out onto the balcony.
Standing on the edge she wondered, not for the first time, how bad things could get if she spread her wings and simply flew away.
Yet she could see the green liveried guards standing far beneath, several of them flying past regularly, the only ones able to fly whenever required for the safety of the palace. The air patrols didn't pass too closely to the tower. No doubt the king had warned them away to keep her as isolated as possible. Yet she knew they were watching her. She could tell from the way heads turned in the direction of the balcony every so often. To many it would seem just a coincidence but after so many days with nothing to do but watch, Fleur knew it was much more.
The moment she spread her wings and tried to escape she would be arrested once more and this time she would have actually committed the crime she was being arrested for. She could only imagine what kind of punishment the king would cook up if he knew that his orders had been disobeyed. She had been ordered to remain in the tower and the king's word was law.
I can't leave Delilah alone with him, she thought, imagining what might happen if she actually did manage to escape. Her mistress would be left alone to fend for herself with a man who clearly cared nothing for her. But what will she think if I ever get out of here?
Fleur cringed at the thought. Delilah would probably think that she had spent the last few days beneath the king.
Maybe I should just give him what he wants? she thought absentmindedly, everyone will think it of me anyway. I may as well make it true.
Then she quickly shook herself. Being isolated and hungry for so long had shaken her wits.
The sound of the chamber door opening inside made her turn around, standing precariously on the edge of the balcony, her wings extended. A part of her had hoped to find King Theo standing in the doorway. Perhaps if he saw what he had driven her to, he might reconsider his thoughts on keeping her locked away.
Instead, her maid entered. She was a young girl with yellow brassy hair and pale butterfly wings. Her personality was like that of many servants, quiet and small as if she simply wished to get on with her job and be left alone.
I used to be just like you, Fleur thought. The maid crossed the room only offering a quick glance of interest at Fleur as she placed a tray of food on the usual table.
"My Lady." The girl curtseyed. "The king wishes for you to eat."
"You can tell the king, I have not changed my mind. I will not eat until…" she began but quickly realized that the maid would never go directly before the king and her words would likely never reach him.
A sudden wave of nausea made her head spin and instinctively she took a step backward as if to sit.
She realized all too late her mistake. Though she spread her wings they felt all too weak to hold her and they barely fluttered. She reached out in an attempt to grab hold of something, anything to stop herself from falling.
Then strong arms surrounded her. Fleur thought for a second how muscular her maid's arms appeared to be.
In the next second she blinked open her eyes to find herself staring up into dark lashed eyes.
She's tall too and handsome, Fleur thought deliriously. Realization crept upon her as she found herself gazing into the glimmering eyes of the person who had saved her.
In the instant before her wits returned to her, Fleur found herself imagining what it would be like for King Theo to kiss her again. She could almost feel the tingling of his lips on hers and her eyes began to flutter shut instinctively as she leaned forward, preparing herself.
A smile spread across her face and she enjoyed the feel of his fingertips brushing her cheek, stroking a stray strand of hair from her face.
Then, as if she had been slapped across the face, her anger returned to her and she suddenly remembered why she had almost fallen in the first place. She had begun a hunger strike because this man had decided to lock her up for no good reason.
She remembered all the times on the mainland when she had felt a twisting in her heart whenever she thought of him and how he had disappeared without even a word. She thought of how he had locked her up the moment she arrived at his palace and how he had refused to listen to any request she made.
"Get your hands off me!" she snapped suddenly, trying to yank herself free from his grip.
"Fleur, please, calm down!" he urged her softly though in her sudden temper she only heard it as an order. More enraged she found her strength and pulled herself free of his hands only to find herself falling once more.
In that moment she knew how humans and other wingless creatures must feel as they fell. Her back to the ground, she found herself falling, falling, falling. Unable to do anything but flail her arms and legs as her wings refused to do more than shiver weakly. Every instinct told her to close her eyes. It would all be over soon. But she couldn't do it. Instead, she stared up at the balcony, at the man who had caused all of this.
He seemed not to move for a long time but it could have only been a few seconds. Then he sprang into action, spreading his magnificent royal blue and purple wings as he dove off the balcony, aiming directly for her.
She could no longer feel the earth rushing up to meet her anymore or the nausea in her stomach when she imagined the pain of impact. All she could do was stare into those glimmering eyes as they drew closer and closer. They were as iridescent as the wings that propelled him down to her.
An arm wrapped around her waist and she was suddenly yanked to a halt, pulled into his chest.
She had a matter of moments to enjoy the feel of his smooth, muscular body against her own before weakness overwhelmed her and she blacked out.
Chapter 9 - Theo