Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 61

[ Ethyn ]

"Please don't go." She begged as I took the steps. The water line was hugging her chest just below the collarbone, although I could see clearly the water itself was heavy with heat and minerals making it cloudy and so her body was currently obscured from view.

There were so many 'should haves'. I should have put the light on when it was clear that she couldn't see. I should have announced myself when she went to disrobe. Failing that I should have at least closed my eyes but she was mesmerising. Everything about her was a siren call. A fable.

And Ye Gods, when the heat hit her skin and sent her scent cascading through the room I almost lost control. My body willed me to rise to the occasion, take this fragile flower in my arms and make her mine. While I resisted the urge to physically get up there had been a rise… and when she had growled, a feisty little sound, I'd had to curl my toes to stay put. I was unsure what had frustrated her so but it made me laugh.

In my younger days, I say younger - I was only 25 as it was, I would have been sweeping her off her feet. In my mind it would have been a done deal. Afterall who wouldn't want a virile, handsome Prince in their bed? I had delighted in my dalances. They made me feel confident, irresistible, a God of s*x if there were such a thing.

My confidence grew and grew because no matter who my desires fell upon they never said no.

I would smile in the mirror, vainly looking at my own reflection. I, Ethyn Lystra, Crown Prince, destined to be King, was a glorious being with an appetite for all things carnal. Who would say no? So cocky. So self assured.

That was until my Father. He repeated my affirmation in a way that prompted reflection of a different kind.

You are a Prince, he said.

Destined to be King, he said.

Who would dare say no? He asked.

It had punched a hole right through me. I stopped my pursuits and took only those who pursued me instead. While I was never short of bodies to fill my bed and quench the endless thirst inside me, I was not satisfied. My thoughts continually turned to worry along with a lick of self loathing.

Truly, did they want to give themselves to me in this way? Was it me that they wanted or the phantom crown they saw on my head? The Fae had made the world anew. Freed us from our repression. s*x was no longer taboo and 'virtue' was a personal choice not an expectation. I had flown high on these values and fallen hard on my realities.

Right now her eyes were scrunched up. It was adorable. I was sure she couldn't see a thing but still she was doing the honourable thing. Unlike me. She had asked me to stay but I really should go. In this endeavour I needed to tread carefully. I wanted her genuine affection. The time of being frivolous was over. Though I was certain that I was neither boring nor boorish, and extremely skilled in the art of the flesh, it was not the way to win her heart.

"I have been most ill mannered. You should be allowed to enjoy this reprieve without enduring my unseemly presence." I affirmed, resolute in my determination to leave.

"Prince Ethyn," I loathed it, Father was right when he said being of this station was a line that could not be undrawn. "You were here first, I would feel awful if you were to leave. The place sounds cavernous, I'm sure there is more than enough room for just the two of us. Please stay. If nothing else I do not know the way back to my room."

I sensed only truth, she was not being coquettish.

"Well, what kind of Prince would I be if I left a lady to get lost in the bowels of the castle?" Oh, Ethyn. I could slap myself. Could I not have chosen a better word than 'bowels'?

"One that fancies himself to be a romantic rescuer as opposed to a problem solver." She quipped, taking me by surprise. "My apologies Prince Ethyn, that was too bold of me."

"Not at all, romantic is very idealistic but pragmatic is much better. A useful trait." She looked a little confused at my words but I put it down to her own internal thoughts. Smiling, and comfortable that she did indeed want my company or at the very least someone to escort her back to her chambers, I reclaimed my seat. Secretly I longed to be the romantic Prince, a swoop in save the day kind of hero but if sensible was her preference then I would take it any day of the week. "So, would you care to enlighten me as to why you were throwing books in the library this morning?"

The delicate woman before me blushed deeply. So sweet and innocent. Then her lip quivered slightly and her eyes didn't quite reach my face. I really should have put the lights on already. How unpragmatic of me to keep her in the dark. She stammered, not quite finding how she wanted to frame her words.

Shit.

My hair.

I'd forgotten all about it. That Bless'ed silver streak had her thinking she had no choice but to provide the truth.

"Please, if it troubles you to answer then choose whatever topic of conversation you so wish." Despite trying a calm, cool demeanor a bit of panic definitely bled through. This was so hard. If only Willis had given us a few moments longer. Between my hair and my title I was done for. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

"Erm, no, it's quite alright, Your Highness. I should like to explain myself." This endearing woman took a breath to centre herself, those lips that I couldn't help but fantisise about parted to speak and I remembered the moment I almost had her name. I wanted her name. Ah, I should put the lights on too. "I have been quite ill, not that I am trying to find an excuse," she said hurriedly, "but my illness seems to have caused considerable memory loss to the extent I am struggling with some day to day things. I - I threw the book because I was frustrated. It seems my ability to read had been severely depleted."

"Oh." What explanation I had expected I don't know but certainly not that one.

"Please believe me, I didn't intend to hit you. I didn't even know you were there, Your Highness." There was fear in her voice and an extra shine in her eyes.

"Of course I believe you, it was no more than an unfortunate culmination of events." I smiled with genuine feeling before cursing inwardly. She still couldn't see me and I still had not gotten her name.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness. I am honoured by your graciousness." She seemed genuinely relieved to have had the opportunity to explain her true intentions. My Father thought it best that I know as little as possible about this mystery woman's stay in the castle. He thought it prudent that if I were really that serious about her I needed to allow things to develop naturally; including my knowledge of her circumstance. One thing I did know though was that she had been a criminal from the streets and her magic came in the undesirable shade that is blue.

That in mind there was every likelihood that she just didn’t know how to read. Perhaps I could offer to teach her. Internally I groaned. It would probably come across as strange. The Crown Prince offering to teach a woman he just met how to read. A tutor would be an offer that was less suspicious but it wouldn’t give me the opening I was looking for to spend time with the magical creature before me.

It would be perfect. The two of us snuggled in the corner of the library with hot chocolate and 'Gaëlle Wants an Apple' would be our starting point. A cute reminder of our first meeting. It was a dream. Just like I would probably dream of her tonight. Her pale flesh as the robe pooled at her feet would haunt my dreams.

My thoughts wandered. Would I want to dream of having s*x with her? Would that be a torment or a delight? I was jumping ahead. If I didn’t keep my cool and work out how to court her then such dreams would be torture as they wold never come to fruition.

Being her tutor was the best I had at the moment. My head was dizzy from her proximity. My heart was fluttering. My loins, well, they were not unaffected by her presence.

"I would like to alleviate your frustrations, perhaps you would be willing to provide me with the pleasure of your company in exchange for reading lessons." No, no, no, no. That came out all wrong. It didn't sound how I intended it at all. Why Ethyn? Way to go, messing it up like that! Maybe she hadn't taken it that way… after all I didn't mean it that way.

Her face said she had totally taken it that way.

Shit.