Chapter 9

"Do you wish to be King?"

I hesitated before answering.

"It is my duty."

She looked at me like she was holding some questions back. I could tell from how tightly her lips were pursed together.

"You can ask me whatever you wish."I urged her.

"What happened to your hand?" She asked, turning her attention to my hand.

"I got cut by an arrow during my archery lesson."

She nearly reached to touch my hand but held herself back. I allowed a little smile for her actions.

"Your Kingdom will be participating in the archery contest?"

"Yes. How do you know about that?" I asked her.

Surely no one had spoken to her about it, so I was more than a little intrigued by how she knew about it.

"Berna Bridge Pack. I saw them training the night before my pack fled and..." She trailed off.

This time, it was me resisting the urge to touch her to comfort her.

"We will find them." I said earnestly.

"I am afraid you will not, my Lord." She said with tears in her eyes.

A painful lump settled in my throat at the sight of her tears.

"There was just too much blood." She whispered.

This time, I did touch her. I held her chin and raised her head so I could meet her eyes.

"Listen to me. You survived. I am sure others may have too and we will find them."

She smiled and nodded. As she did, her tears fell. I wiped them with my thumb.

"I have told you about your day. Now tell me about yours."

She sniffed and chuckled before pulling her face out of my grip.

She rested her head on the wall.

"It is dreadfully boring here. I spent my day alone with not much to do. Aside from an early visit from King Breaven, I had done nothing else with my time."

She smiled at me and I did the same too. Savi reached for the dish in my hands as the porridge was finished.

"What did Father want from you?" I asked her.

She smiled faintly.

"To mock me."

I looked away when she said that to hide my own tears of anger. I felt ashamed and angry at how little I was doing for her and how much pain she had to endure because of that.

I turned to her. She gave me a little reassuring smile.

"This will all be over soon." I said to her.

"I pray so."

She closed her eyes.

Perhaps she was tired.

"I will leave you to rest now."

She nodded slightly. With a smile, I stood up. Savi took the blanket from the floor and folded it neatly in his arms.

I intended to leave the blanket that covered her with her for the night. It was one of the little things I could do for her.

"Zan."

My name on her lips sent sweet pleasures down my back.

Trying to control myself and hide my emotions, I turned around. She was awake

with the blanket clumsily folded in her arms.

"Please take this with you." She said.

"The night is cold, Ally. You would need the warmth they will provide."

"I beg of you to not leave them with me."

I had been with her long enough to know she was not going to back down so I signed to Savi to retrieve the blanket.

It broke my heart but I had to.

"Thank you." She said.

"It is my pleasure." I said gently.

I turned to leave but stopped.

"Have a good rest Ally." I said.

"I wish you the same, Zan."

I acknowledged her wish with a brief nod before I walked out of the dungeons.

"Do not let your heart be uneasy, my Lord. A time is nearing where she will be free and you can shower all your affection on her." Savi said when we were alone in my chambers.

"How can my heart not be uneasy when it is my desire that that time is now Savi? How much longer must I wait? And how much longer should I stand to see her treated like a prisoner by Father?" I said rather angrily as I paced around.

"I understand the emotion you feel my Lord, but your Father is doing as he should in the best interest of his family and the people."

"By hitting her? She is not a threat!"

"Without any evidence of that, she must be seen as one. The King once made a mistake and he paid dearly for it. It is right that he is more careful now, my Lord."

I scoffed.

"He is just doing this out of spite." I muttered.

Savi said nothing, allowing me to calm down. I sat on the bed.

"You have not had your meal, my Lord." He said after I had sat.

"I am not hungry."

"You need to eat to keep your strength up, my Lord."

"I can not eat in this state, Savi!"

There was a moment of silence.

"I will take this back to the kitchen then, my Lord." He said.

Savi turned to leave.

"Wait. I will have it." I said before he could leave.

"Thank you, my Lord."

He tried to hide his gratitude but I saw the smile that creeped out.

"You may leave now." I said, amused at his actions.

"I must watch over your dish, my Lord."

I sighed.

"I am quite capable of taking my dish to the kitchen, Savi."

"I apologize but it is my duty. Such an act is unfit for a prince, my Lord."

His smile made me aware that he took pleasure in our little banter.

"I am letting you off early, Savi. Why do you fight it? Are you not tired from the day?"

"I am here to serve you day and night, my Lord. Please enjoy your meal. I shall wait."

Savi stood at a corner, waiting for me to finish my meal.

I shook my head at him before I began to eat.