The Trip 10

Ro waited as Lady Alexandra left the room through the door that they didn't come in and vanished into the other room. Ro sighed in relief as she felt the pressure leave with her.

Ro wondered what her friends were doing now. It was past the time for combat training to begin. She hoped they were doing well at practice. She also thought of Laine and Zephyr and wondered how they'd fill their time this week. Then Ky popped into her head. She never knew what he did in the afternoons. Did he still train? Her thoughts turned to how he had tried to mark her, and she shuddered. Sometimes she felt so safe with him but other times he scared her.

As she was busy sorting through her thoughts on this, Lady Alexandra returned holding something small in her hand. She came over and held it up. It was an ornate gold ring set with a small, jet black stone. It was so old the gold looked soft. It must be ancient, Ro realized.

"Give me your hand." The Lady ordered, holding out her right hand. Ro shook her head.

"I can't possibly accept something like that. It looks expensive." The lady nodded.

"It is priceless." She still held her hand out. Ro blanched. "Would you really be so rude as to refuse my gift?" Lady Alexandra's voice had an edge to it now. Ro met her cold eyes and slowly reached out her left hand. Before her hand had reached halfway between them, Lady Alexandra snatched it and slid the ring over her forefinger. She smiled smugly. Instantly, Ro felt washed with cold. She shivered. "Are you alright dear?" Lady Alexandra asked. From her tone Ro would say she was mocking her slightly.

"Yes, Lady. I am just a little cold suddenly." Ro replied feeling confused.

"Well if it's nothing, you may leave. I am feeling tired." Lady Alexandra said dismissing Ro. "The servant outside will show you to your room, where you may wait for Alexi." Ro stood and bowed her head as she had done with Alexi when they had left his parents earlier. Then she turned and left the room.

As lady Alexandra had said there was a servant waiting for her in the hall. The servant led her through the castle to the bottom of a stair in one of the towers. Ro looked at him in confusion.

"It's straight up there." The servant said before walking off. Ro sighed and began her long climb.

When she reached the top, she was sticky with sweat and slightly out of breath. She had climbed thirteen stories. She immediately caught sight of Alexi. He was sitting shirtless at his desk. Ro observed him and felt her breath catch more. Even if she didn't like him, she had to admit he was very attractive. His tousled blond hair was darker and damp with sweat and she couldn't help but stare at his chiseled chest, sculpted abs and toned arms. He was attempting to clean a jagged wound on his right upper arm. His eyes fixed on her.

"Good you're here. Clean and bandage this for me." He ordered. Ro looked uncertainly at him. "Please." He added through gritted teeth. "I'm not left handed." Ro sighed resignedly and crossed the room to him. As she neared him, she saw the scars littering his body. He saw her looking at them. "My father doesn't allow minor healings after he teaches me a lesson." Ro felt shock. His father had done that to him. Alexi caught her about the waist and pulled her into his lap. His left arm encircled her waist and he placed his head on her chest. "He was wrong, wasn't he?" He asked softly. Ro knew that Alexi was talking about how his father had called her a whore.

"Yes, he was." She replied feeling uncomfortable. Tension eased from Alexi's shoulders at her reply, but he made no move to release her. After a minute or two she got fed up. "Alexi." She said her tone showing her disapproval. His arm tightened around her. "If you want me to do this, you'll have to let me go." He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. His face wore vulnerability rather than his usual confident smirk.

"Roselyn." His voice was low and entreating and Ro found herself unable to look away. "Now that you've seen all this, tell me you want me." There was a plaintive tone to Alexi's voice, and it became clear why he had brought her here. He had wanted to impress her. Ro felt sorry for Alexi for the first time. She couldn't see how she would ever be able to give him the answer he wanted. She shook her head and her eyes became sad.

"I'm sorry." She told him. His arm tensed around her waist and anger flared in his eyes.

"You want Professor Arzandia." He accused.

"No." Ro stated firmly. "I don't want anyone. I don't want to be claimed."

"I don't know why I even asked." He muttered to himself. Some of the anger had left Alexi's face when she'd said that she didn't want Ky, but his eyes had hardened with determination. "You will be mine, one day. You had better learn to accept that or it will be the first thing I teach you." He told her. Ro felt a stab of panic as she remembered his fight earlier. She realized he was right, and she might not have much of a choice. He released his arm from her and allowed her to clean and bandage his wound.

"How did this happen?" she asked making conversation.

"He broke the arm and it punctured the skin."

"I'm sorry." Alexi looked at her with confusion. Ro elaborated. "You were fighting because of me."

"It had to happen. He was wrong, and it will be my job to defend you. I couldn't let him speak about you that way." Despite Alexi's saying this Ro still felt guilty. She taped the bandage in place and jumped up from his lap. A bell chimed from somewhere in the castle.

"What's that?" Ro asked.

"That tell us there is an hour until dinner. We both need showers and to change." Alexi walked to the clothes rack and riffled through it. He pulled another dress out. This one was white with inch thick straps to hold it up. He handed it to Ro. "Wear this. The bathroom is downstairs one floor. You can go first." Ro went to her bag and pulled out the necessary undergarments. She wrapped them in the dress and headed down the stairs.

When they both finished showering and dressing, Alexi pulled her into his arms and shot from the room. They flew to another balcony on the main building. Ro recognized Lady Alexandra's solar from the windows they passed.

"What are we doing here?" she asked as they landed.

"We are returning that ring." Alexi replied with a hard edge to his voice. "I don't want you wearing it." Ro looked at the black stone on her finger and wondered if there were something wrong with it. She had felt cold since Lady Alexandra had put it on and she had a slight head ache. Ro had also found that she couldn't take it off. She had tried before she had gotten into the shower.