The Crowned Captive

Faintly, she was aware of people talking beside her, and then the warmth around her left. She reached out to it and found someone else there instead. The spice was comforting too though, and she pulled them closer. Arms wrapped around her once more, and she shivered as they planted a kiss against her cheek. Heat licked at her core as they kissed her again on her jawline, and then her neck, nipping at her with fangs.

Morana did not jolt this time when she awoke with her arms around Rowan. She opened her eyes, her face deadpan, as the elf grinned down at her with mischief in his eyes. She really felt like walloping him right now, but she would likely only hurt her hand against his incredibly dense skull.

“Dearest apologies, your Highness, but after Cordan had told me you had a nightmare I could think of no nicer way to awaken you,” Rowan murmured as he grinned down at her, still wrapped around her.

“You aren’t sorry, my Lord,” she mocked. She grinned herself when Rowan’s face dropped.

“Only my enemies and those beneath me call me Lord, and you are neither. I own no lands and govern no people. It is a title in name only,” he replied.

“Don’t call me your Highness and I won’t call you my Lord, then. I believe it would be really quite simple.”

“I did not come in to argue with you, Morana. In all honesty, I came in to answer questions now that we both have a somewhat level head.”

Morana looked up at Rowan then, studying his face. Apart from that predatory grin as he assessed her body in the less-than-modest nightgown, and the growing scent she knew now was arousal, he seemed utterly genuine in his proposal.

“Who am I, Rowan? Truly, with no secrets or omissions. Tell me who I am.”

“You are the daughter of King Victor and his late wife, Mylanda Alichade. You are the only trueborn heir to the throne of Navyria. You are the last heir of House Alichade, the House of the Phoenix, and one of the last three of the royal line. No matter who is born after you, even if the king ever decides to remarry, you are next in line.”

“I am truly a princess?” Morana replied after a long time, her voice threatening to break all over again. “Who was Mama then?”

“That I don’t know. I assume she truly was a human witch who happened to come across a lone babe.”

“Why was I not here, safe in some cradle? Why was I ever out somewhere to be found? Where is my birth mother?” The questions spilled from her mouth unbidden as the pain rose in her chest. If she hadn’t been abandoned, would she have ever known this pain?

“Your mother may have been the queen, but she was not a friend of the throne in her late life. She betrayed your father to the enemy and ended up killed by said enemy. It was never confirmed until you were found that you had ever survived.”

“And that is why I still am watched like a prisoner. He is worried I am like my mother. Is he going to end up killing me?”

Tears welled in Morana’s eyes as she questioned Rowan. She finally knew who she was, and it should have been a relief. She was angry it had taken someone attacking her for her to be told all of this, but could not muster the rage forward. No, she only felt sorrow that she was still ostracised despite her apparent position.

“No, he will not. I will make sure of it Morana, you have my word,” Rowan swore, and she looked into his eyes and saw none of the arrogance. No, only genuine determination sat there. “As long as he doesn’t believe you are a danger or threat to his kingdom, you will live. I will train you so you can protect yourself, so you won’t become a burden. I will train you to be a strategist and a politician and our princess. You will not perish under my watch.”

His eyes were alive once more, and Morana swore she would melt under his gaze. So pent up with emotions, she let her body command her, still within his arms. Having kissed only one other person in her life, and none as passionately as she had Rowan the night before, she was not sure what she was meant to be doing as she laid a hand gently against his cheek and led his face to hers. His lips were soft at first, then more incessant, and she gave into him fully, allowing him to guide her. Already within his arms, she could feel his arousal nearly immediately, pressed against her most intimate areas, only a set of trousers and a very flimsy nightgown between them. His hands roamed across her skin now, and one landed on her breast. She felt herself stiffen, her own nervous heart betraying her, and Rowan pulled away gently.

“I did not come only to answer questions,” Rowan said after a moment of silence passed between them. Morana cursed herself for her nervousness, the moment together having passed. “The King has ordered a meeting of the royal council. Now you know your identity, he wishes you to have a seat today.” Rowan’s eyes were heavy as he continued. “This is a big step in your acceptance and will be the first time you are publicly announced. It can be your undoing if you are not careful. I will be with you for the entire meeting. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to, and you should be fine. I will tap you once if something you are saying is something you should continue with, and twice if you should stop. Three times if you make a real mess, but I doubt there would be much fixing it if you do. Just follow that, and ignore the rest of them. You are above them.”

Morana’s pulse quickened and her throat tightened as she took in the words. She was barely more than a prisoner still, and she was to sit in front of the royal council. She may be free of her cell but that did not make her free.

“What are they to discuss?” She finally asked, trying to convince herself that this was her chance for true freedom.

“The attack last night. You may have to talk about what happened and they may ask for details. Tell them the truth and hold nothing back. You are a princess and nothing that happened last night should cause shame or guilt.”

“Even the whole naked part?”

“Even the whole naked part,” Rowan grinned, eyes roving her body as if he could see through her nightgown and the blankets over her lower half.

Morana’s heart once again jumped to her throat as Rowan leaned closer to her, close enough that their breath mingled. Morana’s eyes fluttered shut, and she felt his grin against her lips as he kissed her once more. She knew the intensity was quickly ratcheting up, but she cared little. His hand cupped her face so tenderly as he climbed over her so he straddled her. She relaxed back into the pillows, a moan escaping her as Rowan’s other hand found her breast through the nightgown once again, this time worrying at her nipple. Her heart thundered and her body felt as if it would catch alight but she ignored it. That hand roamed then as the other tangled in her hair. It brushed down her waist, trailing heat down her hip until it rest on her upper thigh. Rowan brushed closer to her apex then, and she felt herself arch up into him.

And Rowan broke away, that stupid damn smirk still on his face. She was sure that if she looked down, she would see his want, yet he stopped. She wasn’t sure if she had done something wrong, but she sure wanted to wipe the grin from his face. His grin deepened as the wave of emotions passed over her. She felt herself flush from head to toe and seriously contemplated punching the arrogant elf. Cordan’s warning sounded in her head, and she scowled.

“Whilst I would love to continue this with you, I would not think it wise to make the king wait on us just yet. He is expecting us to see him before the meeting,” Rowan said, and his eyes roved over Morana again. Morana nearly thought he was going to kiss her again before he swung off of her and the bed and started walking towards the door.

“You will have a lady’s maid in shortly to dress you for court. I will be back in half an hour to escort you to see the King. Make sure you are ready,” Rowan called over his shoulder as he left.