Page 13 of The Time Of Kings (An Afterlife Story #1)

12

MUDDED TRUTHS

A few hours later and I believed that such a thing of her slipping through my fingers had in fact happened. Especially when the captain of my guard returned empty handed with the news that they had been led astray… just like the fool had said they would. Of course, despite knowing this plan of his was coming to fruition, I still couldn’t help the furious roar of anger I displayed upon hearing my own men had failed.

For I had no idea who the bounty hunters would be, nor whether Marcus’s vison of Fate would play out the way he said it would, and she would arrive here unharmed. Besides, I wasn’t accustomed to being made to wait, nor was I used to feeling anxious or worried. As admittedly, the emotion had never had the cause to arise before. Which meant that being a stranger to such feelings made it the longest few hours of my eternally long life so far.

The wait, thankfully, didn’t last much beyond this furious point, as one of the maids was found screaming about an intruder entering my home. And one unskilled at that, for they led me straight to them.

Which meant that after following the muddy footprints, I quickly realised they eventually led straight to my own bedchamber. However, when I saw them journey to an open window and no further, my irrational mind took over, along with my anger.

Because unless I was dealing with a Supernatural being, then no mortal could have survived that drop. But like I said, my irrational mind had taken over and ultimately led to my discovery. I allowed my frustrations to be known when lashing out at the nearest object I could find. A destructive reaction that quickly revealed my cunning little thief hiding under my bed.

My hearing, superior enough to make out the small yelp of shock when hearing of my anger, made me quick to take pause, and I was now calm enough to hear the rapid heartbeat for myself. One I had admittedly missed in the mist of my rage.

But with my discovery, I decided two could play at this game of hide and seek. And seek I certainly would, as I closed the door in hopes that whoever was hiding under my bed would miss the lack of footsteps taking me there. Oh, and wouldn’t luck have it, for that was exactly what happened. Giving me the chance to stand on the bed just waiting to jump down the second my little thief started to emerge.

The echoing thud of my feet landing the moment I saw them crawling out was enough to cause them to react in their panic. Because of course, as soon as they saw my feet, they desperately scrambled back to try and retreat once more into their hiding spot. Little good this did them, as it was too late for them now.

Something they knew the second I reached down and grabbed the slight frame of my thief, lifting them with startling ease. At first, I was left believing it was a slender, short male for there was so much mud that covered them, most of their features were masked.

However, what I had not expected upon my discovery, was that the first words uttered would be to swear upon a man’s testicles. Hence why I couldn’t help my reaction as I tipped my head to the side in a confused gesture, questioning whether or not I had heard them correctly.

“Looks like I just found my thief… albeit a short one,” I commented dryly before my eyes lowered to take in the rest of the small man I now held firmly in my grasp. My shocked reaction was made even more so when I looked down and discovered it was in fact a woman I held at my knife’s edge. The realisation of which came after finding the tempting curves of a deliciously sinful body that could not be hidden, even when wearing men’s clothing. The sight made me remove my blade instantly.

“You’re a woman!” I shouted the obvious, unable to contain my shock. Yet it was her witty reply that also added to that of my increasing astonishment.

“Last time I checked, yes,” she said, taking a step away from me the moment I unhanded her.

A feeling of regret in doing so overcame me instantly. My mind racing with too many new emotions to process, with the main one being if this was really possible?

Could this really be her?

Of course, every single fantasy on how this would happen and how I would eventually find her played out in my mind. But alas, I was left with the truth being presented to me. That this was about as centuries-far from those dreams as I could get. Hence why I was quick to question,

“Who are you?” I folded my arms as I allowed my disbelief and scepticism to lead the conversation.

“Well, I am certainly not a bandit, that’s for sure,” she huffed pushing some of her mud caked hair back from her face as it had come loose from its binding. Which was why, given her state of both dress and dirty complexation, I scoffed the insult.

“Nor do you look like a lady.”

She presented me with an adorable frown in response, one I would have liked to have seen in all its entirety. For most of her features were unfortunately still hidden from me. Her stunning grey-blue eyes, however, were bright and shining like a storm was brewing within her. It was fascinating to the point that I could barely tear my own from them.

“Well now we have established that I am neither a bandit nor, in your opinion, a lady , you won’t mind if I just see myself out,” she said in response to the status snub, making me wish I could have beaten myself about the head for doing so. As like I said, if this truly was my Chosen, then this wasn’t the first meeting I had always envisioned it would be. Her first impression of me certainly seemed to be lacking.

The bitterness in which she said the title of ‘lady’ had certainly not been lost on me. But in this moment, my actions in trying to redeem myself didn’t taken precedence, for she was currently trying to leave. I was quick to preventing such a thing, slamming the door from behind her and quickly invading her personal space.

“That will not be happening, little thief,” I practically growled at just the thought of her trying to leave me. My possessive feelings towards this strange, muddy little intruder were already growing stronger than I ever imagined.

She huffed brazenly and turned to face me, determination set in her eyes.

“I told you, I am not a… thief… I er…”

This argument of hers quickly dissolved as I took a step closer, her denials lost to me as a piece of her hair came loose and, this time, it was a piece untouched by the mud. Thus, making it suddenly look like a vein of pure gold ribboned in the earth and calling out for me to touch it.

“You’re blonde,” I said, caring little that I was stating the obvious as the sight had me utterly transfixed.

She looked almost panicked and took a step back, flinching as her back hit the door. Then she told me,

“Er… yes, like… like a lot of girls, yes.”

I narrowed my gaze down at her much shorter frame, displeased by the distance she tried to create between us. Therefore, I rectified the insult by wrapping an arm around her and forcing her closer than ever before. When I had her where I wanted her to remain, in a firm tone, I informed her of what I now knew without a shadow of doubt,

“But I think we both know… you are not like any other girl.”

As soon as I said this, I then watched as she swallowed down a lump of trepidation. This before composing herself enough to throw my first assumption back at me.

“Well, according to you, I’m not a lady either.”

I couldn’t help but allow myself to smirk, before taking the opportunity that clearly presented itself.

“No… you are so much more,” I whispered down by her ear, after first being tempted to pick her up, doing so in sight of our obvious height difference. And being this close only made it more apparent. However, I resisted the urge, knowing she may struggle and get distressed, for I was already acting out of character for a gentleman.

So, I remained content by simply keeping her imprisoned in my arms, and with her own feet upon the ground. I was awarded by a shudder on her part, something that pleased me greatly as I knew now just how much I affected her. A feeling that was no longer one-sided on my part and hence why I gave myself leave to grin fully.

“I… erm… I thought I was a thief,” she argued as I found a spot on her neck that wasn’t covered in dirt, one that meant that I could breathe in the first true scent of her. An act of indulgence that forced me to hold back the moan of pleasure that I felt. Now knowing that no truer words were about to be spoken from my lips when I told her,

“Hmm, yes, and I have a feeling you’re about to steal something very important indeed.” That being my heart, was the unspoken end to that sentence.

“Well lucky for me, it wasn’t your porcelain vase,” she commented in jest. Yet despite knowing she said this so as to dislodge herself from what she clearly found was a difficult conversation, I couldn’t help but laugh at her quick wit.

“Forgive my allowing you to witness my temper. Only I had believed for a short time in your trickery of having me think you evaded my capture by sprouting wings and flying away,” I told her, trying now to redeem myself from her first experience of my thunderous and quick temper. However, her reply surprised me, as it soon became clear she was certainly well educated.

“Knowing my luck, I would have flown too close to the sun like Icarus… although I like to think I wouldn’t have been foolish enough to use waxen wings.”

I felt my brow raise in a quizzical manner.

“You know of Greek mythology?” I asked ignoring her nervous fidgeting as if only now realising we were having this conversation with my arms still caging her to me.

“I can also read,” she quipped, making me grin.

“Ah so a well-educated thief then… I must say, I am becoming increasingly intrigued by the second,” I replied, teasing her in return, despite the truth of my words. For it was becoming quite clear that she was not a thief at all. But merely escaped the clutches of the men that had brought her here. Clearly having no choice but to seek refuge by hiding in my castle.

“Just as I am increasingly eager to get you out of these muddy clothes and into a warm bath,” I added, now scanning the length of her once more and being bold enough to speak my mind. As well, I think we were long past the formalities of society by now.

Mmm, but just the thought of stripping her bare and being the one to take the time to rid her of all the mud was a fantasy that was rapidly taking shape in my mind. Especially as inch after inch was revealed to me with every swipe of my hand. One slick with soap that would glide right over what I knew would be blush-painted skin. And one look at her wide, panicked eyes and I knew that she wasn’t at a loss to where my erotic thoughts had taken me.

“That is quite alright, I will have a bath at the… erm… place I am staying,” she said, failing to give me the name of such and stumbling on her reply as she, once again, tried to squirm her way free of my hold. Which was why I decided to take the opportunity to discover a potential lie told.

“The place you are staying?” I enquired, unable to keep the amusement from my lips and granting her a small reprieve by easing my hold enough that she slipped free like I allowed her to do.

“Yes, it has four walls and a roof and everything,” she replied in a tone that spoke of her feign of bravery, as clearly, she used humour to mask her nervousness. Hmm, an endearing quality I would no doubt have found tedious in any other.

But on her, in truth, I found it adorable. Quite honestly, it was a trait I would have never associated with finding attractive before. Yet, in such a short time I was already making account of the many firsts I was experiencing. For I had never felt the urge to kiss someone covered in mud before either. Nor had I found myself so amused and entertained by someone such as she. For she clearly wasn’t like any other woman I had ever encountered before. Hence why I was eager to continue our verbal sparring, motivated to see where it would take us next.

“Hmm, sounds very well equipped indeed, but pray tell me, this dwelling in which you are staying… what is its name?” I asked, knowing what I would say should she be unable to grant me the name of the local inn.

“Erm… its name?” she repeated, stalling for time, something commonly done when being questioned with guilty lies upon the surface of someone’s mind. A mind that vexed me as much as it fascinated me, for it was one I strangely could not access. But then I also had to confess to never having such fun in an interrogation before. For my little thief was trying to play the evasive game like a professional, when in truth she had no idea who she was up against.

“So, as I may call on you like a gentleman,” I replied, as she now started to try and back away from me. As if any moment she would take her chance and run from the room, being foolish enough to believe she could actually escape me.

“I am staying at the inn,” she replied once more and, I swear, it was getting harder and harder not to laugh. Instead, I pushed down my amusement enough to inquire,

“The inn?”

“Yes, the inn,” she promptly replied.

“And which inn might that be?” I asked whilst taking note of what her hand was doing behind her back now that she had been allowed to make it to the door. But then if she believed what she was doing was discreet enough for me not to notice, then she was surely going to be in for a surprise.

“The inn in the town,” she added and, again, I couldn’t help but smirk as I asked for greater clarification,

“And its name?” I asked in such a way, my tone was easy to read as being suspicious.

“Oh, I forget,” she said, shaking her head and cracking the mud that had dried as flecks of it now rained down around her. She now looked even more fucking adorable, so much so, that I was near biting my own lip to stop myself from saying so. I also had to wonder if in sight of me doing so would have had the same effect on her in drawing her eyes to my own lips, as I had found her endearing action enticing me to focus on hers on more than one occasion.

“I see… and this inn in which you found lodging in, pray tell, how long have you been there?” I asked, causing even more discomfort on her part, as she fidgeted nervously with her free hand. Now pushing the loose hair back from her face and subsequently rubbing the dirt along her cheek in one long streak.

“A few days,” she replied with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders and again, with the movement cracking the mud on her clothes. But this was when I decided enough was enough, for I was about to tell my own lie in order to detect the one I was convinced she told.

“Hmm, I see… the same inn that caught fire three weeks past and is still without those promised four walls and roof in which you speak… that inn, you say?” I asked in an ungentlemanly way. To which she laughed. A nervous little sound that escaped before she thought to do the same, now tugging down on the handle. Of course, I could have locked the door with a simple thought, but then as she ran out the door, I couldn’t help but think, now where was the fun in that? After all, the preventive measure would have robbed me from the pleasure of making chase and capturing my little thief.

Something I did with ease.

She barely made it even halfway down the hall before I was sweeping her legs from under her. Now taking her in my arms and feeling my muscles relax the moment I held her slight weight against the heavy bulk of my own. As if for the first time in my long life, my soul felt centred and at peace. Making me quickly vow to carry her like this as often as I could get away with, without coming across as a possessive tyrant. A tyrant master who took the opportunity to make my demands when seeing a servant girl looking astonished by my brutish ways.

Not that I cared, for I had an important task to complete.

And first order of business…

“You there, fetch some warm water for my bath…”

“…I have an untruthful little prisoner to clean.”