Queen of Hearts

Chapter 2

Upon hearing the phrase ‘special guest’ Grandpa overjoyed and started to rush the stairs. As we neared the ballroom, I couldn’t help asking “Who’s the special guest?” 

As I expected, I was left with no answer, as we entered the room. Grandpa moved towards his throne, time for him to start practicing his speech and welcoming guests. I decided to stay aside choosing to rather go and find Veirn.  

I walked out of the ballroom and towards the gardens, Veirn’s favourite place. He usually experiments with his spells in there, making poor plants fall victim to his genocides. 

I saw him just coming out of the garden, and sighing in relief. “What? You killed another plant?” I asked. Veirn chuckled but shook his head. “Better, I managed to hide all my destructions, and make the garden look presentable.” This time I chuckled. 

“Know anything about a ‘special guest’ that’s just entered the castle?” I asked, wanting to finally get some answers. Veirn thought for a moment. “I only saw Charrings’ entering. Maybe they are special guests?” I shook my head. “Charring would probably be special family members or friends.”  

Charrings are my grandparents' family friends. Lyssa and Quirn were one of the few people who supported grandparents' idea of ‘acceptance, and love for all’, 1000 years back when they first started out as a small town. 

“Yeah you are right, they are here every other day, not like there’s anything special about that,” Veirn said and we decided to go to the ballroom to clear the mystery of the special guest. Chatter from the ballroom indicated that the majority of guests have entered by now, meaning that we can’t just waltz in and look for the special guest and grab a bite. 

Instead, Veirn sighed as I directed him to the second passage, through the library which led to the door right next to the throne and kings table, where we should be seated through most of the night. 

We entered the ballroom, and I saw my mother already seated, on the left side of the king, I sat next to my mother while Veirn took a seat on the other side. “Have you seen your uncle?” Mom asked, an irritated tone. “He is running late and it is getting ridiculous.” I decided to leave that unanswered and concentrated on the crowd in front of me. Ballroom was filled with lords and royals of every kind. Colourful dresses and accessories shined as chandeliers light reflected on them. Tables were already set, and some guests decided to sit and chat there while others stood aside in corners, clearly gossiping about someone in the room. 

Sudden opening of the backdoor caught my attention. It was uncle, with cleaner hair and clothes. He winked at me and smiled to my mother as he moved towards his seat. “Happy birthday, papa,” Uncle said as he pat grandpa’s back and sat next to him.  

“Well, now that you all are here, let’s start.” With that grandpa signaled for the musicians to stop. The room filled with silence as he got up from his throne and broadly smiled at everyone. 

He went on to thank everyone who came, his eyes were searching for the royal families, but it was clear that some of them, have failed to come. Namely, the sorcerer’s kingdom and Nature powered kingdom. 2 that hate us the most. Why wouldn’t they?

My grandpa was a naturally powered general of air division, and grandma, well she was one of the most powerful sorcerers and they decided to leave their countries because they tried to stop their relationship.  That to kingdoms where on hostile terms long before that, but now they are even more hostile towards each other, while they try to sugar coat us to build an alliance with one of them.

After the king ended his speech cheers erupted and music started again. In few moments’ food was brought along and the ball officially started. Still no sign of the special guest, interesting. The room was too crowded for me to be able to find an unfamiliar face among the people I know. 

As the night progressed to dances, I decided to excuse myself and go out to clean air to relax from all the music. I exited through the backdoor and emerged to the dark library. I opened my palm and summoned the fire to appear, and it shined the room with enough light for me to go out. 

I loved that I got a fire as my natural ability. As my mom and uncle both inherited their mother’s gene becoming sorcerers, and as Veirn got a bit of both from his parents- shapeshifting and being able to do minor spells, it is weird that only I got my grandfather’s power genes. 

I was close to the exit when I heard a ‘thud’ from the back of the library. It was closed to public use at the moment. No one should be here. “Hello?” I called out and traveled towards the source of the noise. As I came to the stop in front of shelf, I saw that one of the books have dropped. I leaned down, careful to keep my fire away from the books, and put it back in its place. 

Suddenly my fir started to go lighter, as if wind was trying to blow it. I made the fire go away totally and I looked around. As I turned around I was face to face with his blue eyes. “Hello there, princess.” He whispered I could see the outline of his face as my eyes got used to the dark. Side of my mouth lifted to a smile. “Lord Ezra, pleased to see you. But I am afraid library is closed.”

He moved another step closer, the blue of his eyes glistened. “Closed? Then no one would object if I did this.” With this, he kissed me, and his arms were around my lower torso. Where his fingers touched my bare skin, I could feel the electricity going through my body. Bad tingles.

I kissed him back and put my hands on his chest, in an attempt to stop this from going too far. “We shouldn’t, not here,” I whispered as I tried to gain my breath back. He looked around the dark library, and turned his attention back to me. “No one can enter this part and if they did I would sense it. And also” He leaned towards my ear and whispered. “I am the one giving orders here.” 

I grabbed on to his shirt and leaned closer. “Then do it.” He didn’t miss a beat as he slammed his lips on to mine and pushed me back to the bookshelves. My hands automatically wrapped around his neck, while his hands were around my breasts, he was slowly cupping them.

I could taste him in my mouth, but he moved away towards my neck, slowly kissing his way down to my shoulders. I was getting flushed; my hands were pressed to his chest. He was getting closer to the nape of my neck, and I could feel him lightly biting my skin. I tried to keep in a moan which resulted in him biting even harder. 

I moaned as a leaned my head on his shoulder, trying to keep the sound to a minimum. “if you leave a hickey, I am going to murder you.” I whispered, feeling his ear with my mouth. I kissed his ear and his face, and I could feel his bulge getting stronger in my inner tight.

He groaned while kissing my neck, light vibrations passed through my body. This time I really pushed him away and he stopped. “Well, wasn’t that fun.” He said rather sarcastically and still out of breath. I smirked, “Unlike you, Ezra, I have duties to fulfill, and I can’t be looking all messed up while doing them.” 

He chuckled. “Well, go on then, don’t let me stop you.”  I smiled innocently, and kissed him, I bit his lower lip and moved away. “Hope to see you at the ball. You didn’t just come to f**k with me now, did you?” I said as I walked towards the exit and heard a laugh.

I walked out of the library and straight to the bathroom, to examine the state of my hair and neck. I looked in the mirror, and the first thing I noticed was my flushed cheeks, I turned on the cold water and splashed my face with it. My hair was a bit messy but I could fix it, and luckily Ezra didn’t manage to put a hickey on me. 

I walk out of the bathroom, and towards the castle entrance. There was a small number of people gathered there waiting to be seated. My thing was sweet-talking them and keeping everyone in their good behavior. 

After 30 minutes of pointless talking, I saw Ezra entering through the main entrance. He was aware of me watching him but didn’t pay any attention to me. I fixed my eye elsewhere as well and continued on small talk as usual. 

He and I have a small affair going on for nearly a year. Luckily, it is not that emotional, I wonder what would it tell about me if I had an emotional connection with the ambassador of sorcerers. I am pretty sure the only reason he was put here was to monitor and report back to his kingdom, like a spy.  

None of it matters because I don’t think we, as in our kingdom have major problems with Sorcerers, not yet at least. Meaning me and Ezra can touch each other without feeling guilty. 

I got tired of meaningless conversations, so I made my way back to my place, in the main platform of the ballroom. My mom looked at me with a question in her eyes. “How’s the outside doing?” 

I nod. “Great. People are happy, not much other than that.” Mom nods with satisfaction. “Good, good, I don’t want any of those people to irritate him today.” I nodded without paying that much attention. 

Then grandpa’s laugh brought my attention to him. He was talking with Charrings. I smiled and nodded at them. “Good to see you, Miriam, Lydia.” Lyssa addressed my mother and me. 

Grandpa turned towards me. “You asked me about our special guest earlier.” As he said that Veirn sat up straighter so he could listen closely. 

I nodded, eager to meet this mystery person. “Well, he’s not that much of a guest, I suppose. He is Lyssa and Quirn’s son. Lyron.” As he said that I looked at Lyssa who just smiled and nodded. They moved aside and I saw Lyron. He was a tall blonde, dressed in beautifully sawn smoking. I made eye contact with him and smiled.

I have met him a few times when we were little. Though that was ages ago. Somehow, I have even forgotten about him until now. “Nice to see you, your majesty.” He said and slightly bowed to me. 

“Lyron just got back from his studies, I think it would be fitting for him to sit here. He is a special guest after all.” Grandpa motioned and another set of plates and stuff was set next to me. Lyron still had a sheepish smile on his face as he moved around to sit next to me. 

He sat and we looked at each other again. “Long time huh?” I said and he laughed. As I looked up I noticed Ezra’s icy eyes staring at me.