Heart of Darkness

"You probably should stop drinking now," Rayven told him.

No, he shouldn't. It felt like the wine wasn't helping him relax. He was still tense. Her scent still lingered and he could hear her chatter and chuckle from upstairs. He had tried to find excuses to leave but Rayven would know it was only just that. Everything in the world could wait for the moment unless there was war knocking on their door. And there wasn't. It would be foolish to hope so only to escape a woman.

Angelica's female servant began to serve the table and her servant husband came to help for a while. She scolded him about something and he gave her a pleading look. Poor men. So this is how they became with women. Completely helpless and at their mercy.

He gulped the rest of his wine down, only to wish he had more when her scent got stronger. He turned to the stairs and found her descending with Angelica. His breath caught in his throat and somehow the world slowed down around the woman he had his eyes on. Sunshine, was the word he thought about.

The bright smile, the golden curls that fell on the sides of her face while the rest of her hair was tied back, and the light yellow dress that exposed her collarbone and her upper chest, while fitting the rest of her body perfectly. He had known he was in a bad situation when he had first seen her in that dress. Now with her hair made she looked even more bewitching.

Oh lord, heavily father. He stole her prayers.

"Shall we have dinner?" Angelica called once she came down.

Rayven rose from his seat and Skender didn't even know when he got on his feet. He floated across the floor, getting closer to her scent. Just don't look at her, he told himself.

"Roxana was worried about her shift…" Angelica began talking to him when he came to the table, but her words faded into the background as he tried to focus on keeping his eyes on her and not turning to Roxana.

"I am sure His Majesty will arrange for something," Rayven said saving him from whatever words he had missed. He gave him a discreet kick to sit down and Skender just followed his lead.

The servants began to serve and Angelica made sure Roxana had plenty on her plate. "This is too much," Roxana said.

As if she wouldn't be able to eat all that.

"You are a guard. You need to fill up with energy." Angelica told her.

"Thank you," Roxana smiled.

Why did she have to sit right in front of him? He couldn't help but look up as she picked a fork and knife. Feeling his gaze she immediately looked his way. Skender averted his gaze quickly and picked up his own cutlery. He went for the meat to chew away the aching in his gums.

"I am guessing you have no plans to get married Roxana since you became guard?" Angelica asked.

Skender's vicious chewing slowed down.

"I do have plans," Roxana said.

Yes, she was thinking of seducing him. Who put this bad idea in her head.

Angelica tilted her head curiously.

"I plan on retirement once I find someone suitable." She said. She shouldn't say it with him there but she was doing it on purpose. "I know there is a certain age for retirement, as the king's guards should be young and healthy but those rules apply to men."

"Those rules are unwritten rules that have been maintained for generations. It is an old sacred tradition established to keep the guards focused on one mission only and not be distracted by other things. But there is no actual law that forbids guards from getting married." Rayven explained.

Why was he doing this?!

"Oh," Roxana looked his way with a little smile. "Thank you for the educational information, My Lord."

He just gave a curt nod and continued to eat.

"Well then Roxana, we should find you a husband," Angelica said.

Skender almost choked on his meat. He grabbed the cup of water beside him and tried to drink slowly.

"I am sure His Majesty knows many charming men. It shouldn't be that difficult." Rayven said.

What?

'What are you doing?' He asked him telepathically.

'You want to be rid of her. I am helping.'

He was lying.

"They would probably feel obliged if his Majesty asked. I would not like an arranged marriage for myself." Roxana said.

Angelica nodded in agreement. "I am sure you will find someone of your liking."

Oh! What a dreadful dinner and once it ended, things got only worse. Now he was supposed to take Roxana with him to the castle. Rayven and Angelica arranged a carriage to take them back.

He was suffocating before he even began to share that small space with her. It wasn't enough that he sat across from her, on the far-away end once they took the road. It was getting worse. The urge was increasing and he couldn't stop it. He was in pain.

Skender grasped the rim of the window and stared outside so he wouldn't look at her. She took notice of how tense he was and wondered why it looked like he wanted to escape.

Well, he did.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"

"Yes." He almost hissed in pain.

"Maybe I should go home first, to change." She said.

Maybe she should just go home.

"I'll take you home. You don't have to come to work today."

She shook her head. "I want to, Your Majesty."

"It will take too long to take you home and then to the castle."

"Then… I will come in my dress. It has never stopped me."

He cursed quietly. It didn't matter. She wanted to be with him but he would go straight to his chamber and then teleport to the other side of the world. No need for arguing.

Once they arrived at the castle he almost tore open the carriage door. The fresh air welcomed him, easing his pain for a moment. Feeling a need to run, he almost stumbled forward when she was suddenly by his side and grabbed his arm. "I think you had too much to drink." She smiled.

He stepped away from her. "I am fine," he said but he was a bit intoxicated

"Your Majesty," Gary and Peter came to meet him at the door.  They looked at Roxana with surprise, not believing how she went from man to looking so feminine.

Skender cleared his throat and they looked back at him. This was a mistake. He should have taken her home. How was he supposed to leave her with these men?

"Come with me, Rox." He said compelling them on his way by talking in their heads to go rest somewhere.

Roxana followed him and he took her to his study, avoiding the chamber. When they were inside alone, he paused. He couldn't just keep her here. There was only one option left. To compel her to go home.

He turned to her slowly and felt his lungs collapse again at the sight of her. Maybe there wasn't only one option left. There were many options. None he liked, but all he craved.

He took a step back knowing where he was going with this. The table behind him stopped him from going back any further so he sat on the edge slowly without tearing his gaze away from her.

"Roxana." Her name was not a plea like he thought it would be. It was a low compelling call as if his body knew what his mind planned to do.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Her heart became erratic as if she also knew what he intended to do.

"Come here!"