5 Chapter 5

He took her to his favorite place, a vastly large and brilliantly blue lake. The lake extended as far as the eye could see and not a sound could be heard other than the branches of the willow trees moving in the wind. It was soothing. He would often come here when he wanted to be alone; it was his secret place.

He looked at his wife who looked so happy. She had run down to the edge of the lake and was dipping her feet in the cool water, flicking it with her toes. The water must've been cold, but she didn't seem to care.

He just stood there staring at her. She was beautiful, with her long reddish brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Her dress clung to her body in all the right places, showing off her beautiful figure.

Suddenly, he heard a shrill yell of pain.

Lucian looked around.

"Hazel!"

She wasn't in the water anymore; she was sitting on the ground beside it holding her knee. He rushed to her side.

"What happened?"

"Nothing much, I just fell," she explained.

Her dress was torn and her knee was bleeding.

"Come on, let's take you home," he said, helping her up.

***

Lucian aided me in getting off the horse, but as soon as I shifted my weight onto my leg, my knee started to ache. Not wanting to draw attention I didn't say anything, but Lucian must have known because he put his strong arms behind my knees and back and lifted me with ease.

"What are you doing?" I asked, embarrassed.

"Carrying you," he stated simply.

"I know that, please put me down. I can walk," I said, my face and neck flushing red.

"Wife, if I were to let you walk, we wouldn't reach the room even after sunrise and I would like to get some sleep." 

Did he just call me wife? I liked the sound of it.

As we moved through the halls, the maids and servants looked down quickly as soon as they caught sight of us, and I was thankful for that.

He stopped for a while and told a maid to bring something to clean the wound before walking again.

Upon arrival at our chambers, he put me down on the bed gently as a maid came in with things to clean the wound. He took the kit from her and dismissed her shortly. Taking a seat beside me on the bed, he lifted my dress up above my knee.

"Uh...it's fine I can clean it myself." I stuttered nervously. 

"Just sit still," he ordered.

He put one hand on the back of my leg, his hand cold yet his touch hot. I wondered how such a strong and tall man could touch so gently. Strangely, his touch made me yearn for more and I found myself imagining how it would feel if he ran his hand down my leg or if he…

A burning pain interrupted my thoughts and I hissed.

"It will burn a little," he warned as he continued to clean my wound. 

I bit my lower lip because the burning was too much and I didn't want to complain. As if sensing my pain, he paused and then blew on my wound. When his hot breath touched my skin it made me shiver and curl my toes. 

Good Lord, he was doing things to me without doing almost anything.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"Yes," I whispered, "thank you."

When he was done he pulled my dress back down over my leg.

"You should change," he said standing up. "Do you want me to call a maid for you?"

"No, I can manage," I replied.

Walking with an aching knee I went into the dressing room and slipped into my nightgown and a robe and then walked into the chamber.

Only a few candles were lit now. Lucian was laying down on the bed looking up at the ceiling. His shiny black hair was spread across the pillow and his golden eyes glowed in the dim light.

When I walked up to the bed he turned his head.

"You should take your robe off. It's very hot in here at night." His observation was completely innocent, but it made my heart beat faster, and suddenly it felt really hot in the room.

I opened my robe and let it slide down my arms. His eyes followed my every movement. I then laid down on the bed, facing the other way. Even though he said he could wait to consummate the wedding, I still felt nervous.

I felt him shift on the bed and stiffened.

"Hazel," he whispered, his voice a soft brush on my back.

"Yes?" I struggled to keep my voice neutral.

"Turn around!" he commanded. I found myself turning around to face him. 

"I promised to treat you well; you don't have to be afraid."

"I am not," I whispered.

He didn't say anything for a while. He probably knew I was lying.

"Goodnight," he finally said.

"Goodnight," I whispered back feeling more relaxed until eventually I fell asleep.

I woke up and tried to shift in the bed, but then realized that a strong arm was around my waist restricting my movement. Lucian!

My back was pressed against his hard chest and I could feel his hot breath on my neck and some strands of his soft hair on my shoulder. He smelled good. He had a spicy scent, and somehow I found myself melting in his embrace. I liked it, liked the warm and secure feeling it gave.

Suddenly, he slid his arm away and sat up on the bed. 

"What is it?" I asked sitting up as well.

He seemed to be listening to something. I looked around and strained my ears, but couldn't hear anything. Climbing down from the bed he put his robe on. 

"We have a problem," he said and walked to the door. I quickly put my robe on and went after him.

Some maids and guards were gathered in the hall arguing about something. They fell silent as soon as they saw us.

"Your Highness," they said and bowed.

"What is the problem?" Lucian asked.

They had a look of fear in their eyes. One maid in particular was trembling with her hands behind her back.

"What do you have there?" Lucian demanded. 

She was shaking now. He went up to her and took the hidden thing from behind her back. It was a golden hairpin, my hairpin. One of the guards quickly came to the front and fell to his knees in front of Lucian.

"I am sorry, Your Highness, it will never happen again; you can punish me instead," he begged. "Please spare her, she is just a child." She did look quite young. The white-faced maid fell to her knees too, shaking as much as before.

"No, please, it was my fault! Don't punish my brother. He didn't know," she cried.

I had no idea what Lucian would do to them. For that, I both pitied and feared for them. They might even be executed, or if they were lucky then they would get their hands cut off. I didn't know which one sounded worse. Stealing was of course not okay, but I didn't think anyone should die for it. I hoped Lucian would have mercy on them.

Walking behind me he placed his hands on my shoulders. "Since you stole from my wife, I should let her decide the punishment for you." I froze for a moment, surprised and unsure what to do.

"How do you want me to punish them for you?" he asked.

I looked at the young maid sitting on her knees crying and shaking violently. I went up to her.

"Why did you do it?" I inquired in a gentle voice.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. I didn't want to, but my mother is sick and her treatment costs a lot," she croaked, crying hysterically.

"Get up!" I ordered them both. 

"What's your name?" I prompted once they got on their feet.

"Lisa, Your Highness" she said meekly.

"Lisa, you can have the hairpin, but you need to promise me that you will never steal again. There are more honest ways to find money. Besides, putting your life at risk wouldn't help your mother in any way."

Everyone looked at me wide-eyed. They clearly didn't expect them to be left alive. Lisa was in shock and just stared at me.

"Do you promise me?" I repeated.

"I...I promise you...I promise Your Highness," she spouted. "Thank you so much...thank you." She had begun to cry again, but this time tears of relief.

"Thank you, Your Highness," her brother repeated. His eyes were also glistening with unshed tears of gratitude.

"Now everyone can go back to work," I said, relieved that the situation ended well.

They walked away, Lisa hugging her brother and crying while he was scolding her. " Never do that again!" I found myself smiling. I wish I had a brother like that. My brothers were spoiled brats.

Turning around to head back I found Lucian standing there, his arms crossed behind his back. He looked at me with what seemed like admiration, but I wasn't sure.

Crossing the distance between us he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace.

"Let's get back to bed," his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.