To Wed A King

Tainted with Blood

Adeline put on her best smile, then slowly twirled around, her eyes spreading around her, her hair falling in graceful curves over her shoulder.

"How do I look, Your Majesty?"

Lucan was finding it extremely hard to contain the anger that raged from deep within, his eyes wide, the veins on his forehead popping in an ugly way.

"Before I lose the reins of my control, Princess Adeline, walk back up and change into an appropriate attire."

Adeline raised a brow as she looked down on the dress she had made. It stopped mid thigh, and the hem was cut into a zip zag form. Her stomach was open, and the mark he had left on it was fully visible. The top covered only her chest and left even her shoulders open, her hair falling back in tight braids.

"Why, Your Majesty? I thought you liked women w*****g for you."

"Do not dare speak to me like that!" Lucan yelled, standing, his eyes wide. He was gripping hard on the sheathed sword he was holding, his chest heaving. "Go back up immediately."

Adeline raised her head a little, her eyes wide. "No. This ceremony is to introduce me. And I am appropriately dressed. You came to my kingdom to take a w***e. Why are you embarrassed to show it to your kingdom?" She took a step forward to him. "You said this body was yours. Why are you not proud of it?"

Lucan's eyes were dark and red with anger. Seeing her like that, it made him remember the darkest day of his life. The very worst moment when he had been on his knees.

He moved, then drew his sword slowly. Adeline followed the shiny blade of his sword, then moved backwards, avoiding the pointy edge.

"I will entertain your guests, Your Majesty. Every one of them."

Lucan swallowed, his fingers lightly trembling. His eyes filled with tears of anger and pain, and he held on to his sword tighter.

"Adeline."

She sighed, then turned. "I shall dance, with any man..."

"Adeline!"

"Who will dance with me?"

The entire place fell silent, and seeing Lucan's condition, no one dared to come forward. Adeline's gaze fell on a soldier standing by the stairs. He was looking right beneath the material on her waist, and she could, from the distance, see the effect she was having on him.

He was obviously uncomfortable, and she slowly walked to him.

"You. Come."

"M.. my lady..."

Before he could finish, she grabbed him, pulling him towards her. Lucan could hardly breathe, his knees weakening, his chest lightly heaving. He watched as Adeline let the man hold her hand, and while she stared straight at Lucan, she placed his hand on her stomach.

"Your Majesty, I will..." Angel trailed off as Lucan took a step forward.

Adeline had her back to him now, and the soldier, an animal with no control, had slowly fallen into the synchrony, his eyes shamelessly taking in Adeline's body.

Suddenly, Lucan swung his sword, ripping the soldier's back in two, the blood splashing on his robe, and on Adeline's body. She gasped, her eyes wide as the soldier fell off, and Lucan came in front of her, his eyes wide. The white part of his eyes was tinted with blood and tears, and his chest was rising and falling in an abnormal rhythm, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"His blood is on you, Adeline." His teeth were gritted hard, and his words were slightly shaky. "If he dies, remember that you killed him with your stubbornness. You killed him with your lack of tact!"

"Do not dare..."

"Silence!" He yelled, his voice booming across the entire hall, casting everyone into pindrop silence. "Get back up before I kill every single man who dares to look at you. Get back up and dress like the queen you are preparing to be."

Her chest heaved, and she looked around. All of the men were looking downwards, and not even a single man was looking at her anymore. She turned back to him, her eyes wide.

"You are an animal."

He did not reply, his body far too weak to care about what she thought of him. Slowly, she walked away, brushing his shoulder as she did, her chest heaving.

She stopped to look at the fallen soldier. He was writhing on the floor, his blood staining the pristine marbles. She looked back at Lucan, then turned away, her fists clenching hard.

Lucan let out a breath, a single tear dropping from his left eye. He felt dizzy, his chest heaving. He moved backwards, his sword clattering to the floor, his hand going to cup his forehead.

"Your Majesty," Angel said, grabbing Lucan's hand tobstable him on his feet.

Lucan yanked his hand away, mistakenly cutting Angel's cheek with the large ring in his hand. His breath faltered, but he struggled to stay on his feet. No one was watching him go on his knees again. It has happened before. Not anymore.

He turned around and, with staggering steps, made the way up towards the private chambers that were tucked away at the very darkest end of the palace and closed off to everyone, including Angel.