The Bastard Prince

4 The work of fate (2)

Karic did as Phillip instructed. He followed Derrick to the stables, and helped him settle Phillip and his brother’s horses in the stalls the stable master indicated.

He took their bags to the house, where the housemaids took over in carrying them inside, and then he returned to the stables again to take care of his own horse, Thunder.

He found him an empty stall at the very end of the stables and help him inside. Karic closed the door behind them as he needed a moment too.

He was glad that the journey was over. Being on the road with three people that didn’t like him was torture. He’s lived with little his entire life, but being on the road with them showed him that he hasn’t suffered.

They barely gave him food, and they didn’t want him to sleep anywhere near them or the fire, and the nights were bitterly cold.  

Karic smoothed his hand over Thunder’s neck, calming him after his mad dash for the woman who had been almost trampled by the runaway horses.

He should take him out for a run later, Karic decided, otherwise he won’t rest during the night. The adrenalin rush that had hit him when they rescued the woman must still be running through his veins – his muscles had spasms running through them. And he hadn’t let him run throughout their journey here, because Prince Phillip didn’t run his horse. He was a gentleman.

Karic ground his teeth as irritation caused through him.

If he ever thought that his half-brother and him will ever have a normal relationship, where he would view him as a brother he can think again. Phillip and his brothers, David and Ronald, treated him like he was a glorified slave, right along with Derrick.

He didn’t know why he cared…but…he couldn’t help it.

Karic leaned his head on Thunder’s neck feeling his heart thud with a stabbing pain in his chest. Thunder wrapped his neck along his side, his head resting on Karic’s back as if he was giving him a hug.

Karic liked to think that he was. There was no one to comfort him, so he’ll take any comfort he can. Even if it’s from a horse.

“Stay here for a while, I’ll be out to take you out for the run I know you’re dying for,” he said patting him on the side. 

He turned around to walk out of the stables. He had to sidestep a few more horses coming into the stables. He cast his eyes at the stall he left Thunder in, slightly worried.

The stables were almost full to capacity. He wondered if they’ll allow him to keep Thunder in there. He sighed knowing that they might not.

He was no one of consequence.

Shaking off the gloomy feeling that was about to wrap him, Karic walked out of the stall. He’ll find him a place to stay if need be.

Now he had to find the out who the prince, he was here to kill is. The sooner he got this done, the sooner he could go home.

He walked around the Duke of Marinne’s country house. He could understand why his father wanted the duke’s daughter to marry Phillip. This means another powerful ally for him.

Karic came to a stop at the edge of the property staring at the bustle of people. He wondered what King Stefan’s plan was.

He wouldn’t just kill a prince for nothing.

The prince must definitely be in his way. He wanted something from the Duke of Marienne…

What?

Karic shook his head. It shouldn’t matter to him. He was here on his own mission.

What King Stefan has planned for the Duke was none of his business. He walked back to the house, hoping to make some discrete inquiry about the prince.

He asked the people around the stables, and they told him they haven’t seen the prince all day. All they could tell him was that he had silver hair, and he was too handsome for him to miss.

Karic guessed, he’ll see him whenever he came out of the house.

Now, what he needed to do was plan how he was going to kill him.

Make it look like an accident, King Stefan had said…as if that was the simplest thing in the world, especially now that he could see that he won’t be allowed into the house.

He’ll have to find his way in…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Bella couldn’t unglue her hand from Prince Phillip. He had his grip on her like a vampire having her first taste of blood.

Shit…

He wanted to talk to Dominic. She had to tell him her good news so that he can break this farce of a betrothal, because she found her mate.

But Prince Phillip held onto her as they moved around the house, guided by the Duke himself to the grand hall where they had lunch prepared.

Bella cast her eyes towards the room where her brother was. Bella pulled away from Phillip to try to get away, but his grip tightened.

He looked down at her with a leering smile that caused her heart to hammer in her chest.

“Excuse me,” she said, staring at his hand on her arm.

“Oh…” he looked surprised that he was even holding her. “I find myself so very attached to you. Please say you’ll sit with me at the table for lunch,” he said so smoothly Bella knew she’ll have to cause a scene for him to let her go.

A male voice cackled behind them. And Bella wondered which one of the prince’s brothers had laughed.

She looked over her shoulder at them, and she could see the amused look on their faces. The older looking one even winked at her, making the younger one laugh harder.

 They gave her a weird feeling…like they were immensely enjoying whatever their brother was doing, and they wanted to be part of it.

Bella faced forward and bit on her lip. She gave her arm another tug.

“You’re so bent on getting away from me,” Phillip leaned close and whispered in her ear.

“I just wanted to go and call my brother. He hasn’t eaten all day,” she said giving him a kind smile. Prince Phillip’s eyes brightened, and Bella knew she had missed her mark.

He must think that she was as enamored with him as he was with her, Bella thought confused as to what she could do for him to let her go without causing a scene.

“Send your male servant. I am sure he wouldn’t mind,” Prince Phillip said turning to Micah. He was also following, making sure that Bella was alright.

They reached the grand hall, and Bella breathed a sigh of relief as the Duke pulled his daughter forward to introduce to prince Phillip. Marian looked like a vision of beauty. Her blond hair was perfectly curled and piled on her head, with some of it trailing to her shoulder in wispy strands that made her look all innocent and angelic.

She smiled at prince Phillip. Her smile was wide.

Bella looked at her shocked to see her smile like that.  She was clearly taken with prince Phillip, because Bella has never seen her smile at her brother like that.

Marian looked like a different personal all together.

She simpered sweetly at the prince, her eyes taking on a twinkle that Bella could only describe as her flirting.

Prince Phillip on the other hand gave her a very forced smile that didn’t even reach his eyes, but Marian didn’t seem to notice. Bella noticed though, because with her he had been all eyes, and big smiles. He had looked like he couldn’t stop looking at her.

The more reason you should escape his clutches while he was still occupied, Bella thought to herself turning to leave the room.

She ran all the way to the sitting area she had left her brother, Micah following closely behind her. They reached the room to find Dominic still lying there on the couch.

He looked paler than when Bella left him.

She rushed to him touching his face.

“Dominic?” Bella said touching his face. He opened his eyes slowly and stared at her. For a minute she wasn’t sure that he could see her.

“Is he alright?” Micah asked concerned.

“He’ll be fine,” Bella said with conviction. Her brother is not going to die here. She will help him find his mate, just as he helped her by almost sacrificing his life. “Dominic, I found him. He’s here…he’s here. You need to get well so you can meet him, alright? And then we can all go and find your mate. You don’t have to marry that woman.”

“He’s here?” he asked with a wan smile on his lips.

“Yes.” Bella said with tears in her eyes. He didn’t look like his normal self, but the news of her finding her mate so soon, were really cheering him up.

“Did you talk to him?”

“No. I couldn’t,” Bella said irritably as she remembered prince Phillip dragging her from her mate. “But I’ll find him.” She reassured Dominic.

“Make sure he understands what you need from him. It’s not just enough that you found him. He has to mate with you,” Dominic said.

Bella blushed. She knew what had to happen.

Her mate had to claim her completely so they could form their bond, they needed it so that they could bind their lives together. They will become one – their lives intertwined completely. She’d heard that they could even hear each other’s thoughts once their bond was completed – two lives merged into one.

She needed that bond to break the curse.

But it was a great burden to take, and she wasn’t sure if her mate will be willing to take it.

“Yes, I know. But I need to learn his name first brother,” Bella said with a slight laugh. Dominic smiled too.

“Names and how do you dos are nothing when time is running out,” he said getting to his feet. He stretched looking slightly stronger. “Let’s go and meet this mate of yours.”

“Oh there you are,” Prince Phillip’s voice filled the silence, making Bella cringe.

“Is he…?” Dominic asked, but trailed off when he saw Bella’s face. Dominic stared at her for a few minutes as they communicated silently:

“No.”

“What does he want with you?” Dominic asked.

“I don’t know. He’s been on me like a fly. I can’t get rid of him.” Bella said making Dominic laugh deep in her mind.

She loved that sound.

If only he could meet his mate too. So they can live for a very long time. But looking at him like this she could tell that he didn’t have enough time.

Dominic cleared his throat, as he stepped forward to introduce himself to prince Phillip.

“I am Prince Dominic Killengly of the Killengly Islets, I am Bella’s brother. It’s very nice to meet you,” Dominic said offering his hand to be shaken.

“I am prince Phillip of Kantarina,” he said clasping Dominic’s hand, his eyes never leaving Bella.

Doesn’t he have someone else to obsess over? Bella asked herself feeling his stare like a physical touch.

Dominic blocked his view, as he steered him out of the room. They returned to the grand hall to have their lunch.

Bell tried to find a chair far away from Phillip. But he somehow managed to sit next to her as Dominic was required to sit next to Marian.

Bella didn’t miss the look that Marian gave her as Phillip gave her his full attention.

Marian’s eyes focused on her, and seemed to blaze with an evil glint that made Bella wish she could disappear.