Archery Mating Event 2

I ignored the frown Prince Pharon directed at me as I turned a page in my book.

Finally, he sighed and I heard the twang of his bow string.

As the other participants shot, I heard their partners giggle and clap excitedly for them. I rolled my eyes and continued reading.

After a two minutes, a shadow crossed my book.

"Miss Adamare, aren't you going to cheer for me?" Prince Pharon asked. I looked up at him with a flat expression. "If I win, you'll get a pair of diamond earrings." He added with a troubled frown.

"Why would I applaud something you should be able to do easily? If I set the bar too low, you'll never be truly worthy of praise." Prince Pharon's jaw clenched and he let out a hollow laugh.

"Shooting with a lady's bow may be easy," He countered, "but I assure you, this is much more difficult."

I lifted an eyebrow, "Oh really? Let me try."

Jumping to my feet, I snatched the bow from him and grabbed an arrow from the quiver. I fitted it to the string and loosed. The arrow stuck in the center of the target.

"Yes, that is so much more difficult." I said.

Then I frowned at the target. It appeared that along with passing out the males' bows, the servants had moved the targets to the other end of the meadow.

I shrugged and flopped back down to my belly. Prince Pharon returned to shooting.

Finally, all the males had finished shooting.

Once more, Prince Blaize walked down the row of targets. This time he'd look at the target, then tell a following servant a score.

After he had evaluated all the targets, Prince Blaize walked to the center of the meadow. The other participants gathered in a knot.

Prince Blaize flashed an angelic smile, "The scores were close, but my brother, Pharon, was the winner by 1 point." He cleared his throat. "Pharon who is the lucky female to get the earrings?"

"Miss Adamare is my partner," Prince Pharon said, ignoring my shake of my head. "The earrings will go to her."

I sighed and stood, "I appreciate your kindness, your Highness. However, I must decline. Please choose someone else."

Prince Pharon smiled uneasily at me, "Nonsense. They'd look so pretty on you. You can wear them to the ball next week." Several of the participants snickered.

I grimaced. We were having another ball? "No, thank you, your Highness. I cannot accept them." I replied firmly.

"Why not?" He said his smile turning strained.

"Because, I would not want to encourage you." I said flatly. Everyone stared at me in silence as Prince Blaize's face flushed and Prince Pharon turned white.

"Yeah, well who'd want you to encourage them anyway!" He jeered. Most of the participants laughed outright.

I smiled at Prince Pharon, "See your Highness, stupid and blind as I said."

I walked over to the horses and mounted. I would have ridden off then but I wanted to talk to Kane. I sensed Prince Pharon come up beside me.

Feeling a little bad for embarrassing him in such a way, I greeted him politely. His smile was stiff as he mounted his horse.

As we rode away, I saw Kane at near the front of the party. The cute female, who'd been his partner, rode beside him chatting happily.

Once more, ignoring Prince Pharon's protestations, I rode up beside Kane.

The female sniffed in disdain.

"Ka- Mr. Essenvir- Kane, why are you ignoring me? Are you upset I went on my trip?" I asked worriedly. Kane glanced at me with a guilty expression on his face.

"I-" he began.

The female cut him off, "Please do not speak to my intended so informally. I know you are an improper Cow but he is a well-bred male, not some merchant scum." She sneered.

"Intended?" I repeated breathlessly. I felt as if a horse had just kicked me in the stomach. My wide eyes turned on Kane. He grimaced into his horse's mane.

"Yes," The female said proudly, "Our father's have made the arrangements. Kane will become the Count of Maggedion, when he claims me."

My eyes flashed in anger as a flush crept into my cheeks, "But he doesn't want you."

"This sort of mating is not something a landless Cow would understand. I wanted him, and I have a higher social standing and many political connections across Aleus. Therefore, I get him. Now, I am tired of you stinking up my air. Go away." The female snapped.

I felt as if the ground shifted and I lurched in my saddle. Kane's hand shot out and steadied me.

"You agreed to this?" I asked him softly. His expression became pained and guilt ridden. I swallowed hard through my tight throat. "Twice? You'd betray me twice? Why even bother apologizing the first time then?" I asked. My voice was thick and I couldn't keep my face calm. Something must have shown because Kane's ruby red eyes widened.

I slapped his hand away and urged my horse off at a gallop. Seconds later, I heard pounding hooves behind me.

Turning in my saddle, I saw Ishmael riding after me. His blue eyes were focused on me and he had a dark expression on his handsome face.

A shiver ran through my hands as I remembered Kane's warning about Ishmael and his intentions. I urged my horse faster.

As the road turned, I took the familiar dirt trail to my clearing. I thought I'd be safe there. I thought he'd keep going to the palace.

When I didn't hear him following, I let out a relieved sigh. I dismounted and was going to do some training while I waited for the storm to pass.

However, when I walked into the clearing, I caught sight of Ishmael leaning against a tree.

His eyes opened and he smirked, "Took you long enough." He began stalking towards me like a predator.

He turned his gaze on my horse. Suddenly, my horse reared in a panic. I had to let go of the reins or get hit with those flailing hooves. The horse took off.

I watched it go with a sinking feeling. Spinning back around, I faced Ishmael, who was now only a few feet away from me.

"I want to talk to Kane." I demanded. Ishmael smiled.

"He doesn't want to talk to you, right now. He thinks he'll lose his resolve. That's why he gave me control. I'll do what needs to be done."

I swallowed and stepped back, "What's that?" I asked nervously licking my lips. Ishmael's eyes followed my tongue's movement avidly.

He smiled, "We're going to comprise you. That way you'll be our mate rather than that annoying cat. Don't worry," He stepped closer to me, "I'll make sure you enjoy this."

I let out a sharp breath as my back hit a tree. Suddenly, he was boxing me in. I put my hands on his chest pushing him back.

"Don't fight, Kylara. I saw how distraught you were just now when you heard we were going to claim someone else. You want us." Ishmael ignored my hands as if they were there and leaned into me. Pressing his lips to my ear, he whispered, "This is how you can get us. Just relax." I felt a jolt run through my body as his lips lowered and placed feather light pressure on my sensitive neck.

"Ishmael, please, let me talk to Kane." I begged, "he said you want me. He may want that female. If he does, and we do this this, it'll ruin- ruin him." I felt Ishmael smile against my neck.

"Don't worry. It is definitely you he wants. In fact, I don't know which of us wants you more. We're both pretty pent up." His tongue darted out and licked the curve of my neck sending a shiver through my stomach.

I turned my head to look at him.

"Please, Ishmael?" I asked softly. He groaned.

"Later, I am going to have you repeat that phrase often." He said lifting his head to look at me.

I met his eyes with my own slightly scared gaze, "Please?"

"Kiss me." He ordered.

I blinked, "What?"

"Kiss me and I'll let you talk to him." Ishmael said firmly. He ran his thumb over my lower lip. I sucked in a deep breath. Fisting my right hand in his shirt, I pulled him down to me. Our lips met in an explosion of warmth. His left arm wrapped around my back, pulling me to him as he made a choked noise and deepened the kiss.

I felt his body stiffen and suddenly, his kiss changed becoming more tender and soft. I opened my eyes and pulled my head back gasping for breath. Kane's red gaze met mine. His eyes were dark and shining softly. I felt my heart pound in my chest.

Slowly, he lowered his head again. His eyes were worried as if he thought I would reject him.

I don't know why I didn't. I hadn't forgiven him but the tender way his lips caressed mine, made me melt.

Seconds, or minutes later, I didn't know, Kane lifted his head.

"I'm sorry about this, Kylara." He said.

Before my hazy mind could comprehend what was going on, he'd grabbed by overcoat and undershirt. With a violent motion, unlike his kiss, he ripped them open, exposing my undergarments.

I gasped and suddenly, his mouth was on the swell of my right breast. I felt a pop of pain as he bit and sucked on my skin.

"What- what are you doing?" Pharon's cool voice asked from my left.

I turned wide eyes on him as Kane straightened with a smile.

"Prince Pharon, you must excuse me. I just got carried away and Kylara, of course, let me."

Prince Pharon stared at Kane for a long moment. Then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "I see and you will do the honorable thing then? Even though you are to sign your Mating Agreement to Miss Thorton tonight?"

"I have compromised Miss Adamare. I have to take responsibility." Kane said firmly. His eyes were shining as if he were delighted.

I found my voice at last, "This isn't what it looks like your Highness."

Prince Pharon raised an eyebrow, "Oh, Mr. Essenvir did not render you exposed and leave his mark on you?"

I flushed. I had no retort to that.

"Mr. Essenvir," Prince Pharon continued, "Miss Adamare, is compromised without a doubt, but if you do not want to disrupt your familial plans, I will say I saw her with a someone I didn't recognize." Prince Pharon grinned broadly.

Kane smiled, "There is no need for that. I will take responsibility for this." He quickly shrugged out of his coat and passed it to me.

"Very well. I'll expect to hear of your Mating Agreement with Mr. Goldleaf being signed tonight." Prince Pharon said turning and walking away.

I turned to Kane and simply stared at him in silence as a myriad of emotions spiraled through me, anger, hurt, even a little happiness. Kane saw these and wisely decided not to say anything else.

He turned and fetched his horse. Then, after helping me into the saddle, he mounted and we returned to the palace.