The Talamute Prince
Chapter 17

Patrick stands in front of me still, his position blocks the crowds from seeing me. That is the only thing I'm grateful for." So, you lied to me. If you were not okay to continue all you had to do was say so." He says with a strange smile on his face. This causes me to navigate my glare to meet his. The spinning in my head was worsened when I moved but I didn't understand his expression. His eyes are stern and a smirk rest upon his lips as he stares at me.

"No, I could continue at that point and I did. I didn't have to move so much while that person spoke. The crowd of people, the feast, the noise, and all its just too much Patrick." I reach up to him as he extends his hand to help me back to my feet. Instead of pulling myself up I lay my face into the palm of his hand and close my eyes. It's something my father use to do for me when I had exerted myself and it calmed me.

"You are trying, aren't you."? He makes this statement as though he previously believed me to be pretending to attempt forgiveness. In truth I had quit trying to forgive him when I saw how cruel he was to my servants, or had I? I'm not sure as my head spins it makes it impossible to think clearly.

"It's difficult to go from my world to yours and under the circumstances I would say I'm doing far better than most would." I say as he and Melena help me up to my feet steadying me while holding me against his body. The dull golden color of our outfits seamlessly meshes. I lean into him to try to steady my shaking legs.

"Thank you for hanging in there for the ceremony." His voice seems less angry than when he initially approached me in my weakened state.

"It was my duty as your queen." His arms hold me tight for a moment as I lay my head on his chest to stop it from spinning. "It's your duty to tend to your party. I'm not sure I can take this much longer." He shifts my body over to Melena's as he knows I'm right, he must stay with his guest.

"I'll let everyone know you are ill. Please Melena, take her back to her room. I'll send the guards back to their post." I reach up and pulled the flower from my hair. It's such a trivial thing to fight over, a bit more ridiculous then it previously seemed. I grab Patrick's hand and twist it to where his palm is facing up, then place the flower in ever so gently.

"I'm sorry." I whisper as I hang on to Melena. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Off to bed with you." He says as she leads me out of the room. I look back as he twisted it in his hand then tosses it into the trash. He watches as I'm aided onto the lift to my quarters and then tapped his glass. I hear him give the excuse of too much excitement for one night as the reason I left, and the party continues. I find myself hoping he will slip away to come check on me. This only causes all the questions I have swimming through my mind to resurface. I'm too exhausted to fight them off as the door to my room is now within my sights.

"Thank you, Heather." I say as she helps take my hair down and the others readied a warm bath for me. I'm grateful to have the three of them rushing around to get things comfortable for me as I wouldn't have the energy to do so myself. I can tell that something is different than before.

"Your majesty?" She asks meekly. I can tell it is a question, and I'm pretty sure I know what it's about.

"Yes, what is it?" I look at her as I climb into the large tub and submerse myself into the water. My body relaxes with the warm embrace of the liquid. Melena steps out the doors to the hall to await the return of the guards.

"How do you do those things?" She didn't peek in at me as she asks her question. She just sorts of busied herself picking up my clothes and bringing me a gown. I knew it was coming as they had never witnessed such things here.

"I was born this way. With the powers of creation and chaos, the ability to destroy or create all the life that surrounds me. It's my curse. I'm supposed to be able to control it, but only after I have fully given in to a man. After I give him my heart, mind and body." I explain. This time she stops and looks directly at me.

"So, then you don't love the king." Heather sort of cowers a bit flinching as I pull myself up out of the water to get a more direct view of her. I smile and she relaxes going back to cleaning up. Tasha has laid my gown across the back of the chair to my vanity. Marci has finished folding back the covers, but that question seems to have caught all their attention.

"No, I don't. I thought I did, because I believed that he was a different person, but Patrick, his family, and his people tricked me. They lied to me, manipulating me into marrying him. My father was killed in the process and my own mother aided in their efforts. Such great pains have been brought to me by the efforts he put forth to ensure such a powerful being belong to himself. I unintentionally killed hundreds of people on the initial ship, all of which haunt my dreams, I have learned to exert my powers occasionally when it's needed. However, for the most part they remain untethered to this life. It's perfectly fine if you all are now fearful of me." I'm anticipating a look of sheer horror at the idea of something like me being in the vicinity of my three servants. It shocks me when a look of sadness comes over her.

"Why did you still come here? Why didn't you run away from it all?" these where the very same questions I've asked myself every day since I found out the truth of my husband's intentions. I look at her in awe, and confusion as I myself can't answer them to my own satisfaction.

I sit silently reflecting on my maid's questions. Why did I stay in the castle knowing there was a draw to the one Talamute? It took me a moment to remember exactly why I had come with Patrick instead of leaving. He had said he would let me go but I somehow doubted it was a sincere offer. "Something told me that even though I don't trust these people, I still had to come here. There is something on this planet that will help me gain control and I just need to be able to figure out what it is." She looked at me then back at Tosha. She gave a nudging look to the younger girl.

"Go ahead." Marci offers an encouraging voice to Tasha who shakes her head as she pulls away slightly. I had not had the privilege of hearing her speak. She seemed terrified to do so and with Patrick's reaction to her at first, I could see why.

"Do you have a question Tosha? I would be more than eager to answer you simply have to ask." Years of being raised and told not to speak had taken its toll on the poor girl. I could feel her pain and I sympathized with her plight.

"Is... Is it true you stopped him from killing the assassin?" her voice was small and hard to hear. Her eyes never met my own as she spoke.

"For now, at least. I'm not sure how long I can extend his life as my husband, as your king is determined he should die. Such savage things men can be' killing for the sake of it. For revenge, for anger, and all within the control of one's own will. If I had control, I would prefer not to kill anyone ever again." A sadness comes over me. I had saved Patrick, but he wouldn't return the kindness.

"Thank you, for saving him." Tasha adds in her quite tone. I glance at her for a moment before it hits me.

"He's your father, isn't he?" I muster as much of a smile as I can at the thought this poor girl will most likely be forced to watch him die. My heart feels so much pain for her as I've experienced such pain myself.

"I shouldn't say such things. I'm forbidden to speak of my parents." Tasha quickly grabs my dirty gown and disappears out the door. Tasha was hiding so much with her quietness I wasn't sure I'd ever reach her. I soak in my bath trying to relax but it is of no use. The expression on Patrick's face lingers in my mind. The reaction Patrick had to the attempted assassination was extremely horrible. It made me question him even further. Had I married a monster? With his statement about not being as kind as his father and the reaction to the flower I'm beginning to think I'm not as safe as he says. The urge to run sits inside my thoughts as I see the red glow of anger hit his face over and over. I sink into the water submerging my entire body as bubbles slowly slip from my nose and lips as I open my eyes. Tiny air bubbles cling to my eyelashes. The silence echoing into my mind should be calming yet it is not as the echo of the door opening and closing enter the tub.

I finish my bath quickly as I stand, the water dripped down my naked body as I come around the wall that divides the bath from the room. Patrick had walked into the room unannounced as usual and he turned to see me. I know that look, I had seen it before. The night we were married and even prior when he wants to have me sexually. I wanted nothing to do with what he had in mind. I reach for my robe wrapping it around myself quickly. My maids leave the room instantly.

"I take it you feel somewhat better." His eyes give me shivers as he stares me down filled with lust. I walk over to my dressing station. He steps in closer slowly, his glare unchanging from a passion I no longer shared.

"Yes." I say but before I can even turn to look at him, he had made his way over to me faster than I thought he would. I began pulling my hair out of the back of my robe. He reaches up to help me his fingertips brushing my skin on purpose causing me to freeze. Melena having peeked in from the hall witnesses her brothers attempt to seduce me. She quickly leaves without a word. I felt my breath catch as his fingertips dragged gently across the bare skin on my neck and down.

"I'm sorry I got so mad about the flower." He whispers and I turn to see the withered orange and purple flower in his hand. You could tell how hard he had gripped it in his fist when I had handed it over to him. I take it and look up at him.

"It's destroyed there was no point in you bringing it back to me." I step away from him to the trash and through it into the small can kept beside the vanity. In doing so I'm avoiding his attempt to sweet talk me into whatever was spinning through his mind. He smiles as he puts his hands on either side of my shoulder lifting my gaze up to his. I grip the front of the robe I have on. I really don't like how he barges in whenever he feels, the fact he saw me naked again disgusts me.

"You can heal it, just like you did me. Just like I'll do us." He leans in to kiss me. I put my hand on his chest catching him before he can complete this task.

"I don't want you the way that you want me." My arm doesn't give way to his pushing. He looks me over with the desires he had on our wedding night. The thoughts rush my head carrying the burden of regret at giving myself to him so freely. My stomach turns at his advances.

"I know. I just can't help the way I feel about you. I love you and I want to express that love with you. I know I must be patient." The corners of his mouth twist downward at my words.

"Patience may not be enough. As I realize how little I know about you. What if none of this is meant to be? Will you still grant me my freedom if I can't love you?" His face straightens.

"I will make you love me again." His tone harsher as he turns to leave. I take a deep breath of relief as he closes the door behind him. I'm finally all alone now and it's fantastic.

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