Vendetta

Chapter Five

On her way to the stables to prepare a horse, Adrastia walked the less-travelled corridors of the palace. As she passed by one corridor, she heard someone speaking and, predictably, her curiosity was aroused.

She crept to the edge of the corridor, intending to peer down to see who was speaking. Strangely, though she had no trouble hearing the voices, she couldn't see the speaker. She stepped lightly into the hall, careful her footsteps could not be heard. A floorboard creaked loudly, making her freeze, but the voices did not falter.

As she walked further, the words and tone were more distinguishable – a private argument, she realised. It was not until she was almost on top of the speakers before she realised where they hid.

Along the side of the wall, there was a tapestry of the first meritocratic leader – Lord Rieger. The man smiling at her benevolently, was Rayonne's sixth-degree great grandfather, but she had little interest in family history at the moment. Her concern was for what was going on behind it: a hollowed wall, where she had hidden from her sisters as a child. She wasn't aware others knew of the alcove.

"I don't understand why you can't just meet me outside the palace grounds." Adrastia had to hold back a gasp as she recognised Margravine's voice.

To even greater surprise, Kilaix answered: "We have more important things to discuss – let's not waste time complaining about the location."

Margravine sounded agitated: "I want to renegotiate."

"I'm not interested," Kilaix replied. "You know what I want."

"But you know where I stand," Margravine argued.

"While I sympathise, that really isn't my problem," Kilaix returned, curtly.

Without any particular details, Adrastia was lost. What was Margravine saying? Did she want this arrangement or not? Kilaix, Adrastia could not understand either. He could be enforcing the deal, or rejecting it completely.

"You don't want to cross me, Kilaix," Margravine's declared hotly.

"Of course not," Kilaix sighed. "I only agreed to meet because I thought we could work this out amicably. Now I see that is not the case."

Margravine sounded smug. "When we next meet then, you will be ready to renegotiate."

"No," Kilaix replied; "I will be ready to crush you."

The curtain rippled; Adrastia realised he would emerge from behind the tapestry. With no other option, she ran.

She was not quick enough – Kilaix caught a blurred sight of someone, and decided to pursue her. He was fast, grabbing her arm and practically slamming her against the wall, his body pressing against hers to prevent any chance of escape.

They were deep enough in the unused corridors that no help could be given: but any apologise or excuses fled Adrastia's mind as he slammed against her. The look in his eyes was equally rapt and captivated – as devoid of thought as hers. The next instant, she found his lips pressed down on hers.

She tried to push him away; tried to keep a cool head. But resistance became more difficult as his lips conquered hers, wiping her mind clear.

Then she kissed him back: her arms wrapped around his neck to secure him, locking their bodies together. His arms drew her closer to him, holding her so tightly, yet so gently. His hands tightened and loosened, kneading the muscles of her back. He pressed against her harder, as if trying to be sure she was real. Her fingers twined into his golden hair and she sighed, enjoying its softness.

When he began to grow hard, his body readying to take her, the cold, cruel splash of reality broke in. She began to fight him, scared of where desire was leading them.