The King's Mistress (Underconstruction/Editing)

Chapter Two: The King (EDITED)

(King Wesley)

Resting my face in the palm of my hand, I allow my eyes to roam the sea of faces before me. Thirty men fill the throne room, each hungry for a chance to be heard. A faded parchment lies before me, outlining the possible match between myself and Princess Alexandria, my cousin. My jaw aches, teeth grinding together. My blood boils at the notion. I have spoken time and time again of my intention to never marry or bed a woman of my own blood line. Other royals may engage in this...abhorrent practice but I simply refuse. They know this and, still, they bring this abomination to me.

Laughter bubbles in my chest, taking not only me but the rest of the men by surprise. I was not a man of mirth, as they all were well aware. A ripple of concern runs through the group, a few even offer half hearted laughs of their own. A few others shift nervously. My hand turns into a fist, nearly breaking the table in half as it comes down upon the wood.

"Have you lost your bloody minds?!" I snarl, my amusement suddenly merging into unadulterated rage. I pluck the contract from the table, shredding it before their very eyes "I will not wed a woman that is of my own blood."

Edgar, the eldest of my advisors, leans forward. What possessed him to speak in that moment, I do not know. But, alas, the daggers in my eyes are not enough to dissuade him from his desire to be heard. "I beg you to reconsider. She bore her previous husband three sons."

I rub my thumb across the bridge of my nose. "The answer is no. It will always be no. I will not marry her. End of discussion." I rise abruptly. "I do not care if she's produced a hundred sons. My decision is final."

"Your Grace, please," another advisor implores. "Your brother seeks to wage war on your kingdom. You need an heir!"

My fists slams down onto the table again, nearly finishing off the already cracked table before me. "Your forget your place, sir," The snarl tears from my throat as if I am a wild beast, "I am your King. You will not speak to me in such a fashion again or you will find yourself banished from my court."

He sinks back into his chair, eyes wide and hands shaking. Without another word, I storm from the meeting hall. I stalk back towards my room, already aching for my mistress that lay beyond that door. My hand is mere inches from the door when world shattering sounds reach my ears. The creak of a bed, the soft gasp of a woman in passions soft embrace. Ears ringing, I burst within the small room.

I know what I will find but, still, the sight of the two of them intertwined is like a slap to the face. She's on top of him, moaning in such ecstasy that she doesn't hear me enter. I stalk towards the bed, skin burning with rage. How dare she invite another man into my bed! My hand curls into her locks, ripping her away from him. She tumbles to the floor, scurrying to cover herself. Her eyes widen, lips parting in fear as it dawns on her that she has been caught. I stand there for a moment, hovering over her. My hands ball into tight fists. Never before have I struck a woman but I fear what this discovery will force me to do. My eyes drop to her swollen belly. It is enough to temper my rage...for the time being at least.

"Why?" Though my words drip with pure rage, my heart is another story. I feel it shatter into a million tiny, sharp edged pieces, "After all I have done, after all I have blessed you with, why?"

Shame forces her chin to her chest. Good. She should be ashamed. I do not imprison my mistress's like so many have in the past. I do not rip their offspring from their arms the moment they are born. I treat me like Queens, each and every one of them. In the end, in one form or another, they always betray me.

The man shuffles in the bed behind us. I spare him a second glance. His fingers are inching towards his blade that is slung over the foot of the bed. He pauses. My lip curls into a snarl. I cannot lay my hands upon my pregnant mistress but he is no one special to me. I turn from her, my intent clear.