Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 64

[ Taiya ]

“Please, I beg you; may we start over?.” The Prince asked me with deep desperation. I didn't understand. There was something here between us, while I was more than hesitant to align myself with those mad whisperings that had assaulted my mind, I couldn’t deny the draw. Could he feel it too?

“Why would you want to start over when you are right where you want to be?” I whispered, my voice raised just enough to be heard over the gentle lapping of the water.

“My apologies, I don’t understand?” The Prince sounded so confused. I wished I could see his face but in the darkness the sound of his voice was enhanced.

“Well you see Your Highness, you have managed to find yourself as the romantic rescuer and me your damsel in distress.”

“Ah, but you wanted a problem solver, did you not?” He tiptoed with his words.

“Can a woman not desire both?” My words were a little bold but my delivery was shy. It had not escaped me that I was still naked in his arms.

“Then I shall endeavour to deliver your expectations. Perhaps, first, you would solve a problem for me?” His breath tickled my face. Anything, I wanted to shout, but instead I gulped.

“Mm-hum.” Somehow, although actual words were right on the tip of my tongue, they alluded me.

“It may not have seemed so, but all day I have been desperate to know your name and while I could have gleaned it from another; your lips were the only ones I wished to hear speak it.” There was a smile in his voice. Being as I was already in his arms there was no need to swoon but it didn’t stop that light feeling rippling over me.

“Lady Esther Jane Coumbridge.” Each part of my name was spoken like it was the longest word in the world, I couldn’t help it.

“That is a beautiful name. Worth every minute I had to wait to hear it from your beautiful lips.” Oh, Ethyn really was romantic. I could go for some more of that.

“Well, that’s a problem solved… does that mean romance is next?” I tried my luck.

“I have written you a poem, I was going to send it to you with flowers. Perhaps I could tell it to you now?” Where I had spoken slowly, he spoke quickly, excited, eager to please.

“For me? You wrote a poem for me when you didn’t even know my name?” Mate, came the whisper again, you are everything, he didn’t need to know your name.

“A poem for Lady Esther…

There are stars beyond stars,

A light beyond light,

Colours beyond the eye,

Sights beyond imaginable beauty.

My soul blossoms.

You are beyond."

A thousand stars burst into life above him.

"You should have opened with that." I giggled, almost helplessly in his arms. The poem, the imbued star lit cave sky, the way when my name left his lips my heart began beating harder; I almost believed the whispers.

“Yes well, it seemed Josephine and Zach were quite intent on standing between us. I was very hopeful that I would see you at dinner but you didn’t come - why is that?” His fingers had found the side of my face.

“I wasn’t well, I had a panic attack.”

“Oh, My Lady. What caused such a horrific event?”

“You.” I paused, unsure. “I was so frightened that you would punish me. My stay here has been… one long horrific event.” A tear squeezed from the corner of my eye. If it wasn’t for the strange burning sensation that accompanies the formation of tears I wouldn’t have realised. Afterall my face was already speckled with droplets from the hot spring water.

“Punishing you is not a thought that could even pass through my mind; it wouldn’t be possible.” He vowed. “You are a new horizon Esther, horizons are for being painted, for inspiring poetry, for adventure… you do not punish a horizon but if it finds you unworthy it will punish you.”

It seemed impossible that words could be so beautiful but here they were - gloriously enchanting.

"You flatter," I whispered, "sweet words but they are misplaced."

"I disagree," He whispered right back, "my words are not sweet enough. Clearly if I'm to make you believe them, I need to step up my game." Ethyn's smile was as dazzling as the imitation stars above, but unlike those stars I believed it genuine.

"Pri.. Ethyn," I said simply, "it was only the smallest of moments for which we have known each other, you can't truly mean those things."

"You doubt me Esther? Do you not also feel this," The Prince ran a finger lightly down my arm, "connection?"

The feeling danced, my skin alight with something.

"There is something… yes."

"And do you not believe that everything can change in an instant? That sometimes in a moment the world can be made anew?" His voice was so earnest and the way he cradled me tenderly had me feeling that we were the only two people that existed. "Is it so hard to believe that someone could be genuinely interested in you?"

"You're asking me to believe in love at first sight… that's madness." The words were sensible but my heart was in severe disagreement with me.

"I'm asking you to be open to possibilities." He countered.

Possibilities… I pondered the word. It all seemed too much to wish for - to dream of even but here I was; under the ‘stars’ in the arms of a Prince. This was the pinnacle of romance, was it not?

“You have persuaded me, … - on the merits of believing in possibilities.” I added quickly when it looked like he was getting ideas.

“Well, as I have won…” His lips moved into a slow curve, the beginning of a smug smile.

“What do you mean ‘won’?” I snapped with a little more force than I intended.

“I told you I thought I would need to step up my game…” He soothed, unfazed by my protest. “For my prize - I want you to tell me everything about yourself.”

“Oh, is that all…” I chuckled. It wasn’t what I’d expected. Shouldn’t Ethyn have claimed my lips in another way? Not for speaking but for kissing? To claim a kiss as a prize sounded charming but it wasn’t - was it? How was it charming to trap another into physical affection?

Kind of wished he had asked for a kiss though…

“Mon foudre? Are you ok? If you don’t want to … I err…” He panicked.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." Feeling bold I reached up and cupped his face with my dripping wet hand.