166
As I made my way to the front of the ballroom towards my table the King motioned for me to join him. I sat down on Florin’s chair as the King pushed a tumbler towards me. “Is the ball not to your liking?” he asked me.
“It’s a grand affair my King, but I’m used to much simpler things,” I said as he laughed.
“I saw you leaving the ballroom and wondered if my daughter had upset you,” he said.
“Not at all, I needed to have a quiet conversation with a friend,” I said.
“Of course,” he said as four warriors walked towards us.
“Your Majesty, two watchers just discovered the body of Lord Thomas Summerton in the far gardens. We are investigating the breach as it seems like he was killed by a vampire,” the warrior said.
“Was he bitten?” King Rex asked them.
“No Your Majesty, his heart was ripped from his chest,” the warrior said.
“Please report your findings to me as soon as possible,” King Rex said and dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
“What a tragedy,” I said.
“How on earth did you manage that one?” he asked me.
“I need to keep some secrets my King,” I said as he nodded.
“You have secrets well worth protecting,” he said.
“When we spoke this afternoon, you said that you know everything that happens, what do you know of my wife’s disappearance that I don’t?” I asked him.
“I know a man by the name of Curtis Oaks, not his real name by the way, was involved in the disappearances of at least three women. I don’t know if he took your wife as well, but we’ve also hit a dead end in finding out his real name,” King Rex said.
“So you don’t know anything that I don’t,” I said.
“I’m sorry Ryder, ever since your wife was found nothing out of the ordinary has happened. There’s not much we can do,” he said.
“It’s nearing eleven pm my King, may your son merge with a strong dragon,” I said and stood up from Florin’s seat.
Everyone in the ballroom made their way back to their tables and stood behind their chairs as Prince Florin went to stand next to his father. King Rex looked happy and proud as he looked at his son. “Thank you for joining us on this occasion. My son and I will now gather in the ceremony hall so that he may merge with his dragon and forever more be true and honourable to his crown and his people,” King Rex said.
Applause rang out through the ballroom and Princess Alexandra gave me a look when they walked past us. I heard Missy as she chuckled next to me and I turned to look at her. “Good luck Mr Grey, I’m sure she is already keenly aware of where your room is.”
“Then she’s in for quite the disappointment,” I said.
After the royal family had left, the music changed to more modern ones and people visibly relaxed as they talked freely and laughed loudly. Ties were loosened and jackets were discarded as the younger crowd mingled on the dance floor.
“Nasty business that befell Lord Summerton,” Tom Birkland said.
“I don’t really understand why everyone is so relaxed and still here as if nothing happened,” I said to him.
“The warriors will search the grounds and give the all clear for everyone to leave, plus many of us are guests in the castle tonight. Also, the regular guests have no clue what occurred,” he said.
“Do vampires regularly gain entry into royal territory?” I asked him.
“Actually, no. I have to wonder what Lord Summerton was doing so far down in the gardens and why the vampire chose him,” he said. “It’s almost like someone intentionally let the vampire in to kill him.”
“Anything’s possible,” I said and finished my drink.
“I do hope we meet again Chief Grey,” Tom said as I stood up from the table.
“Goodnight General,” I said and left the ballroom.
Inside my room I stripped off the tuxedo and stood under the hot water of the shower. I wanted to go home, I hated the pretentiousness of the royal court even though I liked Rex. Personally I thought his life here was a waste. I could never live like this. I pulled a t-shirt over my head and pulled a pair of sweatpants on.
“I come bearing gifts,” Alexandra said where she lay under the covers on the bed.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” I said to her.
“Why not? I can tell that you find me attractive,” she said.
“I love my wife,” I said as my eyes flashed yellow in warning.
“So? You can keep on loving her when you go home. Tonight I only need you to satisfy my wants,” she said.
“Not going to happen Princess, please leave,” I said.
I took the robe from the hook and walked to her side of the bed and held the robe out for her. She pushed the covers back, revealing her stark naked body and stood up. She was a beautiful woman, there was no doubt about that.
“Am I not beautiful enough for you?” she asked me.
“You are a beautiful woman Alexandra but I’m bonded to the only woman I’ll ever want to love. She completes me and for me she’s perfect in every sense of the word. You’ll find your bonded half and then nobody else will compare to him,” I said.
She took the robe from me and wrapped it around herself. Abeloth felt sorry for her, an emotion he rarely had and I watched her as she sat down on the armchair facing the window. I’d be in a world of trouble if anyone found her in here.
“You’re not well versed in how things work in our world,” she said sadly.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be in my room,” I said.
“I know it’s not. Will you take a walk with me Mr Grey? You are a real breath of fresh air in this monotonous lifestyle,” she said.
“Fine, but then you have to promise that you’ll stay out of my room,” I said and she nodded.
I pulled on jeans and boots and waited for her downstairs. She appeared five minutes later also clad in jeans and sneakers. Her hair was in a high ponytail and for once she looked carefree and much younger than I had first thought her to be.
“How did you meet your bonded half?” she asked me as we walked down the footpath leading to the gardens.
“I was tricked by a girl that used black magic to bond with me. Megan opened my eyes and we became friends, over time I found myself falling in love with her and then my dragon told me that she was my true bonded half,” I said.
“If only that could be my reality,” she said.
“How old are you princess?” I asked her.
“Nineteen.”
“You have your whole life ahead of you, you’re more privileged than most, you can do anything you want to do,” I said.
“That’s where you’re wrong Ryder. I’ve met my bonded half and he didn’t meet my mother’s expectations and I had to reject the bond with him,” she said.
“Why? The bond is sacred,” I said.
“He wasn’t part of the society that we choose to mingle with,” she said and looked off into the darkness.
“The problem with that is that you’ll never find someone that will fit you as well as he would have,” I said.
“I’ll end up having a husband chosen for me from our court of eligible bachelors, men that have found favour with my father. Men that have a title before their names and it wouldn’t matter if I loved him or if he loved me,” she said.
“Your father’s a reasonable man. Have you told him how you feel?” I asked her.
“Do you really think he chose my mother? She was chosen for him by his parents, the previous King and Queen. This is how our world works,” she said.
“I could never live like this,” I said as I turned around at the approaching footsteps.
“It’s quite late for a stroll in the gardens,” King Rex said.
“I couldn’t sleep Daddy and Ryder was kind enough to escort me,” she said.
“Ah I see, off to bed now young lady, tomorrow will be another busy day,” he said.
She slowed as she walked past me and stopped for a second. “I will have you Ryder, by whatever means necessary,” she said and then continued on towards the castle. Rex had turned to look at the gardens and I looked at her back as she disappeared inside.
“My daughter is unhappy with her life,” he said.
“My King, it wouldn’t be my place to comment on that,” I said.
“Speak freely Ryder, you are a realist, are you not?”
“She seems upset with the idea of an arranged marriage,” I said.
“Wouldn’t you?” he asked.
“I’d be highly pissed off my King,” I said and he chuckled.
“I met my bonded half when Alexandra was a mere baby. She was a newly employed maid in the castle in Romania. I think of her often and sometimes I do wonder what my children with her would’ve been like but alas the Royal line has to be kept royal,” he said.
“My father is a hard man but one thing he made us honour was the bond,” I said.
“You’re lucky then Ryder,” he said.
“I am my King. My father is a great man. A man I respect more than anyone else, a man that will go to the ends of the earth for his family. I can only hope to be half the man he is. Your daughter needs her father.”
“I can see that you miss your own family, take care Ryder Grey, I’m sure we’ll be talking again soon,” he said.
Ten hours later I placed my suitcase in the boat and steered my way across to the island. I sighed in contentment as I walked down the dock and placed my suitcase down on the porch. Abeloth separated from me and stretched his neck and wings.
“Are we now the King’s Assassin?” he asked me.
“Yes we are, the King needs someone he can rely on,” I said.
“The King will die soon,” he said.
“Then we’ll be done,” I said.
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