Читать книгу Dark One Rising - Leandra Martin - Страница 10

King Dainard Grayson stood with his back to the bedroom door, staring out the window, gazing across the green countryside that rolled all the way down to the Eirene Sea. He was the king of all of the land laid out before him, and he was proud, but something felt missing in his life lately. He felt incomplete. He took a deep breath, and the light southern wind blew the smell of salty air to his nostrils.

His black silk breeches clung to his muscular behind, and his back muscles tensed whenever he shifted his weight. His dirty blond hair was tousled from being in bed, and a piece fell down across his forehead. He reached a hand up and brushed it back. He felt tired but his pale blue eyes were alert. He held a glass of dark Tierian ale in one hand, the other hand supported his weight as he leaned against the windowsill.

The door opened and a woman walked in, closed it behind her and approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She placed her head on his back and sighed. She was thin and petite, in size only, for her voluptuous figure was not proportioned to the rest of her. Her curvy figure made her small waist seem even more so. She had long, sandy blond hair which hung down her back and practically touched her bottom, and cream colored skin. She wore a thin gauze-like nightgown that clung to her womanly curves and was transparent in the late morning sunlight. She rubbed her hands up and down his broad bare chest, pressing herself firmly into his back.

“Darling,” she said, standing on her toes slightly to reach his ear. “Breakfast has been ready for some time; aren’t you hungry?” Her hot breath sent a chill down his spine. He shivered.

“No. I’m not in the mood to eat.”

“Well maybe it isn’t food you are hungry for, but another kind of hunger you need sated.”

She slid her hand down his chest and headed down his belly. He grabbed it before she got further than he wanted and growled.

“Are you never satisfied, Annikka?”

“With you my love? Never.”

She tried again to get him to let her touch him. He pushed her hand away again.

“Go take a cold bath.”

She moved away from him and crossed to the armchair near the hearth, sitting down with an exasperated sigh. “What’s wrong with you the last few days, Dain? Why are you so grumpy?”

“Just because I don’t want to partake of your pleasures this morning doesn’t mean something is wrong. Perhaps I’m just tired, since you refused to let me sleep last night.”

“I can’t help it, darling; when I’m near you I can’t control myself. Your stamina has always been considerable. You’ve never had trouble going all night without effect the next morning.”

“But not all night, every night for the last two weeks,” he grumbled, tossing down the rest of his ale and going over to the highboard to pour another.

“Maybe I’m not sensual enough for you.”

“On the contrary, dear,” he said, glancing in her direction, taking in the curves of her body apparent through the thin material, and swallowing his again rising urge. “You’re almost too sensual at times.”

“Then perhaps you are boring of me.”

“I really don’t know, Annikka. I’m just not feeling myself these days. Perhaps it’s time for us to part ways.”

She stood up and went over to him, draping her arms over his shoulders.

“I’m sorry I kept you up again, darling. Why don’t you go back to sleep, and I’ll wake you when Emerick comes to get you for your meeting.”

“I don’t want to,” he snapped, becoming somewhat annoyed. “I have other things I need to attend to before that. Please, Annikka, go away and leave me be.” He took another large gulp of ale.

She dropped her arms and placed her hands defiantly on her round hips. “Maybe you wouldn’t be in such a foul mood if you’d quit drinking that swill in the wee hours of the morning.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, wench!” He seethed, pale blue eyes becoming lighter in his growing impatience. “That’s the reason I desire to part ways. I don’t like to be mothered!”

“Maybe you need more mothering.”

He shot her an angry look now. “What?”

“I’m just pointing out the obvious, darling. No reason to get riled.”

“I’m so glad I have you here to point out all my flaws,” he answered sarcastically. “Now would you please be so kind as to remove yourself from my presence.”

“You’re seriously thinking of kicking me out after everything I’ve done for you?”

His head snapped around, his face becoming red. “Done for me?”

“I have fulfilled your desires for the last two months without any thought of compensation. I’ve been here for you, at your beck and call, and have loved you unconditionally. I’ve been here for you on your best days and your worst days.”

He turned toward her, eyes now so light blue they were almost transparent, the muscle above his tight jaw twitching, his teeth grinding together.

“Sex isn’t the only thing that matters to me, but you wouldn’t understand that I’m sure. You don’t understand me.”

“Maybe not, but what have you done for me?”

“Everything you wanted. I took pity on you when your husband, Colonel Waverly, threw you out for your blatant infidelity. I gave you your own room in my palace, put jewels on your fingers and elegant dresses on your back. I’ve given you enough money and social graces to keep you comfortable. Let’s face it, Annikka my dear, I’ve given you more than you deserve.You don’t really care about me; you’re just hoping I will tolerate you long enough to make you my queen, but I can assure you that isn’t going to happen. I’ve tarnished my reputation enough by bringing you into my bed, but I certainly have no intentions of tarnishing it further by making you my wife,” his tone changed slightly, and he sighed. “Besides, I don’t love you, Annikka.”

She laughed, “Men in your position don’t marry for love darling, they marry because they have to. Why do you think nobles have mistresses, because they don’t love their wives. We’re good together, Dain.” She wrapped her arms around him one more time, making a point to press her ample bosom against him.

“Being good between the sheets isn’t everything.”

She huffed. “What do men know of love anyway?”

“Not all men are insensitive ogres you know. I know enough to say that I don’t love you. And you don’t love me either.”

“You could learn to love me.”

“No dear, you’re too selfish and too demanding, and you mother me too much. Maybe the Colonel liked those traits in a woman, but I don’t.”

“He didn’t either, that’s why I sought other company.”

“And I guess the Baron got tired of it as well, so you moved on and seduced me. Jesus, Annikka, you’re like an unwanted hand-me-down.”

“There’s no need to be insulting, Your Majesty.”

“I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

She winced at that. “Touché.”

She knew he was right. She missed being an important person in society and being queen was of course the ultimate figure of importance. She wanted it, more than anything, so much she could taste it. But she had been a fool to think Dain would marry her. She knew he wouldn’t, but she chose to ignore it.

“You’re a very seductive and sensual woman, Annikka, and you do have your good points, but you’re too old to become common street trash. I realize it must have been hard to be married to a man twice your age, but I can’t feel sorry for you. You chose to go through with it. You had everything; a gorgeous home, fancy clothes, and all the money you desired. Now you’ve lost it all because it wasn’t good enough for you. You wanted more, you became too greedy. I’ve appreciated your companionship and your efforts to make me happy, but I’m afraid it’s over. I should never have taken you in in the first place. I don’t want a woman who will only love me for my power and the things I can give her, while I am replaced soon after. You should have known it wouldn’t be permanent. I’m a man after all, and what would I know about love. Everything you have obtained in this relationship you may take with you. Good luck, Annikka. I hope you do find someone that you really love.”

“You’re just going to throw me out, like dirty laundry?”

He turned back to the window again. “You’ll be fine, Annikka. There are plenty of men out there who’d love to share their bed with you, and if you get rid of the notion that money and power are everything, one of them might actually love you.”

He waited for a rebuttal, another plea from her to let her stay, but there was none. He thought he heard sniffling, then shuffling of light feet across the plush floor. He heard the clicking of the latch on the door and the sound of it closing.

He let out a breath. He felt guilty. He was a player when it came to beautiful women, but he wasn’t known to be cruel. He was never cross or insulting, generally, and it bothered him that she had been the first to push the right button. He knew she’d get over it as soon as she found another man to satisfy her burning passion and her burning greed.

He left the window and took the seat she had recently occupied, tossing down the rest of his drink. He closed his eyes and let the soothing warmth of the alcohol take effect on his head. He was feeling lethargic without the ale, but the intoxicating element in the drink made his thoughts drift away and he soon felt himself floating.

There had been a time in his life, not that long ago really, when love didn’t matter to him. He only required the warm seductive body of a wanton woman. Someone he could take pleasure in, who’d give in to his every whim. But now he felt different. Twenty-five was creeping up on him like a nightmare. He felt so old at times, so haggard. The all-nighters and parties and the drinking didn’t help matters, he knew. He was starting to realize that he better change or die an early death like his father had. He still enjoyed the love of a beautiful woman as much as any man, but for some reason, for the first time in his life, he wanted to be with someone he cared about. He wanted to be with someone who loved him for himself, for who he really was, not because he was the king. He wanted to know the feeling of actually loving someone for a lifetime, not just a month or two. Was that even possible? Was there such a thing? Was there actually a woman out there who wasn’t interested in her own gain? Was there a woman who would just love him unconditionally and never want the arms of another man? Was there a woman whom he could love enough to marry, enough to change his lifestyle forever? A woman he’d stay faithful to, or one he’d die for? The thought was frightening, but if there were such a woman, he would vow to do just that. It wasn’t a conventional idea, he knew, a king being with only his queen, but why not be different, set a new trend? It was time for him to settle down, complete the roll of dutiful king by maybe being a dutiful husband to a worthy woman. There had to be one out there somewhere. A woman who has not only exotic beauty, but one with compassion and a caring soul and a taste for romance. Did he say that? It’s got to be the alcohol talking. He never thought of romance, he just thought of what came next after he wooed her. There was always a courtship of course, a way he used his charm and good looks to get the women to succumb to his proposals. Then there were women like Annikka who seduced him just because he was the king. Even before he was king, when his father still lived and he was young and invincible, he’d gotten quite a few maidens to submit to him, never feeling any guilt or remorse for what they had lost, or how they felt to be used and then tossed out. They were only conquests, sometimes bets with friends to see how quickly the lass would give herself over to his mesmerizing wiles. God, he really was a cad. Was he getting old? Was the fire in his loins dying down to make room for dignity and pride? Perhaps it was just the melancholy feeling he had in his heart of late. It longed for something more, to prove to people, people like Annikka, that men know how to love. It was settled. As of this moment, he would be a one woman man. He would find his soul-mate, his one true love. He would find that one person who would steal his heart.

He stood from his chair again, glanced at himself in the mirror and brushed his hair back with his fingers. His eyes were slightly bloodshot from being up all night, and the bags under them were becoming more pronounced as the years wore on. He really was a ghastly mess. Alek was right, he was a pathetic excuse for a king. He threw a shirt on but left it unbuttoned and went to the window again, looking out over the countryside he had ridden through so many times. Over the years, he had become a voice for the people, putting himself in their shoes, sometimes even living as they did, against his father’s wishes. “If you become their friend, they will not respect you as their king” his father used to say. His father was a good king, but Dain thought he was misguided. How could you possibly expect to gain respect if you didn’t give it? How could people learn to respect you if you looked down on them? The people loved him, as they had loved his father before him, but he had gained more trust because of his empathy. He knew he could be an even better king if he really tried. With a throne came certain responsibilities, and although he was thrown into it suddenly, before he was ready, it really was a poor excuse for his current behavior. Where did my life go wrong, he thought, when did I get off the right path and travel too far down the wrong one? He knew his father was probably looking down on him from wherever he was and shaking his head with disappointment; his mother too. He knew deep down he wanted to change, he just had no bloody idea how to do it. Getting rid of Annikka was a good start. Maybe now he could find a proper woman to settle down with, if there were any good women left who would still have him despite his reputation. He sighed. Perhaps his reputation was ruined beyond repair. If I were a proper lady, he thought, I certainly wouldn’t have me.

He had fallen deeper into his melancholy lately and perhaps it was because he felt something dark stirring out there and didn’t want to face it. He didn’t try to understand what it was he felt, but he refused to shrug it off as nothing. Maybe it had something to do with Fallon. Being out among the commoners he tended to hear more than perhaps he should. Fallon was feared, that was obvious. He was a powerful man, owning many acres of estates and ranchland, which made him the richest duke in Aelethia. Dain suspected he wanted to bring the destruction of the surrounding kingdoms and start a war. Fallon wanted to rule over all the lands. Dain would not assume these were just rumors. No one knew for sure. Maybe it was high time he found out and prepared himself for what was to come. Right now, however, he was too tired and too inebriated to think about it.