Chapter 22: Altered
Sy
“How did everything go?” I asked Reggie as he entered my office.
“Antonio is on the other side, your highness.”
“Do you know if he’s still alive?” I pressured. I wanted to know what was going on now that I had held up my end of the bargain.
Reggie nodded timidly and sat down in his usual seat.
“Good, I hope we can actually get him to do what I want. You told him once this is over never to come back to any part of Encante?”
“Yes, of course, your majesty. He knows his death will result if that were to occur.”
“How about the others?”
“We are placing them as we speak.”
“Do you think this is enough?”
“Enough to plant doubt and keep him busy. If they have no time outside of meetings, when will they have time to improve upon their relationship?” Reggie continued sounding like an evil genius. Sometimes he surprised me with his ingenuity. For example, this plan had caught me completely off guard by its simple creativity.
“How’s Drea’s work coming?”
“She’s done would you like a tour?” I got up prepared to see if I liked Jayde’s newly remodeled quarters. Reggie rushed to catch up with me.
“Have you given any thought to breaking the treaty?” Reggie asked as he followed me to the newly painted white door.
“Let’s keep it in place I gave Lady Jayde my word.” Reggie nodded and opened the door for me. I stepped in looking around the finished product.
“I think she will be pleased with these quarters.”
“Drea has truly outdone herself.” I said taking in the new cream colored love seat and armchair. The white and blue coffee table. I walked through the living area to the kitchen. I had told Drea money wasn’t an object I wanted Jayde to have anything she could possibly desire. The whole suite had a beach theme that included tranquil waves and soft blues and a pale sand color. I opened the doors to her bedroom quarters. A massive bed sat with navy bedding and a bed frame with a soft white mesh encasing the bed. In her bathroom the sandy theme continued with a dolphin made of glass embedded into the cream colored tile.
“I told her she may have to bring the rest of the castle up to date to compliment this room.”
“I think she will like it. Did you find a restaurant suitable for our first evening yet?”I said getting back to what mattered. This coming weekend Jayde would be here and I only had three days to change her mind about me. She needed to choose me. I couldn’t lose to Kohl of all people.
Our bitter rivalry was worse than our fathers. We had grown up together and the moment he was in charge our childhood friendship was gone. He blamed it on my constant changing of our treaties, but I knew his resentment stemmed from his uncle’s death. A death he blamed me for even though I had done nothing to harm his precious uncle, unlike my father whom his uncle had killed in cold blood. Jayde made me see that Kohl wasn’t personally responsible for that and although his family was of the lowest sorts they were dead as were mine and Jayde’s. We all were alone. I still didn’t want to lose to him, but I was willing to keep my word to Jayde and make war an afterthought for a bit.
Kohl
She had to be the most radiant woman I’d ever seen. I looked at Jayde one more time, her head was resting on my chest, her dark waves fanned out down her back and her breathing soft and sweet. I looked at her clock it was four in the morning. I didn’t want to leave her again. I should be here. She should never have to wake up alone.
“Jayde.” I whispered and kissed the top of her head. She moved and yawned but quickly settled back into sleep. “Love,” I said again and she actually awoke.
“Kohl? You…you’re still here?” She said with a sleepy smile that made me smile back. She hugged me firmly and then caught a view of the time. “Did you wake me to say goodbye?” She asked a small pout coming to her full and kissable lips.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t bear to know you woke up alone again. I had to tell you.”
“I want to marry you. I’m sure of it, Kohl.” I kissed her forehead and sat up.
“I’m glad you are so sure, but I think you should at least wait until after your visit with Sy before we announce our proposal. Let him think he has a fighting chance.”
“I guess you’re right. I should at least get to know him better before I completely decide.”
“But you know the week after that is your coronation. Would you like to announce your choice then?” She smiled and pulled me back down into her mass of pillows. I was only a man how could I resist her when I wasn’t sure when the next time we were alone would come. She laughed as I pulled her firmly towards me.
“I thought you wanted to leave?” She asked her face slightly flushed from kissing.
“I do, but you are so tempting you make it impossible to want to leave you especially in these conditions.” I said looking at the light blue sheet she was holding with an arm.
“I like to know that you struggle with keeping your feelings in check too, your highness.” She said with a whisper of a smile that almost made me jump back into her bed but I needed to go at five, people would start waking to their morning tasks.
“I love you, my sweet temptress. Until I see you again.” I said placing another kiss on her already bruised lips.
“Goodbye, Kohl.” She said softly as I broke the kiss and left her room in the little clothing I had arrived in.
She possessed me. I sat awake for what seemed like hours thinking of what Sy was planning and I couldn’t think of anything that seemed plausible. I went to Jayde knowing she would be a distraction from my troubled thoughts, but hoping she would have the answers I sought. She had as much insight as me, but the time together we had was much needed. I had almost forgotten how beautiful her skin was, almost forgotten what it was like to not look over my shoulder as I showered her with kisses she deserved. She deserved more than I could possibly give her, but I would spend the rest of my life treating her like the goddess I knew she was. That I was sure of.
I collapsed into my unmade bed contemplating if anything would change her mind. She said she loved me, she wanted to marry me. I just had to bide my time until she was ready to make her announcement. Two weeks was nothing compared to the lifetime I waited to meet her and the lifetime I was planning on spending with her.