The Attempt
I opened my eyes and found myself in my room on my bed. I didn’t remember going to bed but I must have if I was laying there. I looked around to find Dana was holding a basin of water and a bloody rag in her hand. She noticed that I had woke up and put the basin down on my desk and came over to me, “Your Grace, how are you feeling?” I tried to get up but felt a sting in the back of my head and Dana gently nudge me to lay back down. She frowned and shook her head, “Your Grace, the doctor told me not to let you out of bed. I need to go tell them that you are awake. They have taken up space in the study waiting for you to wake up. I knitted my eyebrows, “Who is they?” She smiled, “The doctor, the King and the Prince. Every single one was worried about you. The King was the one who brought you home.” She put a new cool cloth to my head, “What happened?” She looked off to the side, “I was told that they would explain to you. Pardon me but may I fetch them for you so they can explain.” I pulled my hand up to my forehead where the cloth lay, “You may go.” She scurried out of the room while I laid in silence trying to remember what had happened but the last thing I had remembered was talking to Vanessa at her cottage.
I heard the men enter the room all with a look of concern on their faces. I mustered a smile for all of them trying to give them some indication that I was okay. The doctor stepped forward and started to take my vitals before he nodded to the King. I looked at him and spoke, “Can someone tell me what had happened to me? I feel like someone hit me over the head with something really heavy and my cheek hurts.” Blake spoke first, “I got intel that an organization called The Order of the Old Ways was not pleased you were in Vellum. They see you as an abomination to the Pyrio kind and so wanted to eliminate you before you became a threat to their existence. They believe you are a threat to become the Queen.” Lucien spoke after Blake, “He had sent a messenger to me to let me know this intel and I took off from the castle right away with a guard to protect you until we could get The Chalshin in place. Malinus had told me that you were at Vanessa’s, but I found you weren’t there. Then I heard the quiet in the woods and knew I had to hurry to catch you. I heard the arrow being let go and got to you almost in time. It grazed your cheek and I fear you hit your head in my haste to get you away from the arrow. My apologies.” He looked down at his feet like he was ashamed. I spoke softly, “No Your Majesty, please don’t apologize. You saved my life and small hit on my head is nothing compared to the alternative. Your Highness, I also appreciate your quick action to ensure my safety. I am indebted to you both.”
Just then I heard a clamor downstairs and running up the stairs before Vanessa busted into my room. She was visibly pissed, “Who do I have to murder?!” She then noticed Lucien and Blake standing in my room, “Oh pardon me, Your Majesty, Your Highness. I am just incredibly angry that someone would try and hurt my goddaughter. Who do they think they are?!” She hastily walked up to my side and then embraced me, “Are you okay darling?” I nodded, “I’m just shaken up. I am grateful that the Royal Family has my back.” I nodded towards them and smiled before Blake spoke, “Surely you know that I would do anything for you Alexandra. Please know that I have your safety in mind always.” He gave his brother a side eyed glance that indicated that he had not cared for my safety the way he should have. Lucien cleared his throat, “I will have a full guard on Alexandra’s house tonight and I will appoint The Chalshin to Blackwood from here on out. I assure you that she will be well protected until snuff out The Order.” He shot a dirty look at his brother and clearly, they were bickering over me. I cleared my throat, “Where is Jess?” Dana stepped forward, “She left for her full moon excursion before you were carried in by His Majesty, Your Grace.” I giggled, “So you mean Jess is out there getting it on while I’m here all concussed and cut up?” Vanessa giggled with me, “Not quite, she is not of age just yet to partake in that part of being a lycan. She is, after all, only seventeen but her eighteenth birthday is before the next full moon so she will definitely be likely to get it on.” Vanessa looked up to the three men in my bedroom, “I believe it is time for Her Grace to get some more rest.” She shooed them out of the room, turned to wink at me and left Dana and I alone in the room. Dana turned to me, “Your Grace, would you like to rest or read?” I didn’t want to rest, I felt like I slept for two days. I looked at her and then at my desk remembering the letter from the King, “Can you retrieve the letter in my drawer?” She pulled the letter out and handed it to me, “Would you like a lap desk to reply to this letter?” I nodded at her, “Yes, that would be great. Thank you, Dana.”
She left the room, and I opened the letter and started to read: “Alexandra, I am not sure how to start this letter and I believe I have started it probably a thousand times. I told myself that this would be the last attempt and I would send it on. I hope you don’t find this letter chaotic as I believe it will be as I attempt to convey to you my thoughts and feelings. I found myself thinking back to the events of last night and I find my mind to be a jumbled mess. I am hoping I am not alone in this and that you are better equipped to help me make sense of this than I am for myself.” I am not sure if I could help him when I didn’t know how I felt either, but he seems so much less confident and sure of himself in this letter. He also hadn’t carried himself as I had seen him when I last saw him. I continued to read it: “When we danced, I found myself enjoying your company. This is not the case with the other ladies in Vellum. Each one tries to put on a front to flatter me and flirt with me. I am not fond of that, but you were so obviously your genuine self. This was something I very much appreciated. It was much like two old friends talking again after a long absence. Did you feel that way too? I also find myself often flashing back to the Blood Ritual.” I shifted in my seat and blushed. I thought to myself that he wasn’t the only one. I took the water that was on my side table and took a sip. I sighed before I kept reading, “I have to admit that when Pretre Jean said what we would have to do, I was angry with Grand Pretre for her mischievousness. I knew you were nervous looking into your eyes as I took the sip and putting my hands on your waist. I did not want to kiss you without your consent, but we had to complete the ritual. As I took you in my arms and our lips met, I felt an electric feeling throughout my body. I had kissed women before, but this was different. Did you also feel this? I felt that it probably wouldn’t happen again but when you went to kiss me, I felt that same electric tingle.” I thought back to that ritual, and I can confirm that I had felt that tingle as well. I had made my stomach flip; I had assumed that is what they meant when they referred to butterflies in the stomach. I nodded and finished reading the letter, “When I had announced the Queen competition, I found myself looking for you in the room to see how you would react. I know I barely know you, but I think that you intrigue me. I will leave it here for now and eagerly await your reply to me. Always yours, Lucien.”
Just then Dana entered the room with a lap desk and a plate on top of it with a sandwich, “Your Grace, I took the liberty of preparing you a sandwich as I felt you were likely hungry.” A well-timed rumble came from my stomach, “I think my stomach appreciates you. Thank you, Dana.” She placed the tray around my lap and sat down at my desk, “I will wait until you are finished and take your plate.” I nodded at her and ate the sandwich. When I was done with it, she pulled out the stationary set and a pen then brought it over to me. She pulled the plate away from the little tray and turned to me, “Would you be needing anything else Your Grace?” I shook my head, “I am okay for the night Dana. I will place the tray on the floor when I am done. You can go rest.” She smiled and curtsied, “Please ring if you are feeling ill Your Grace.” She left the room and I sat and wrote the reply letter to the King. I thought to myself that I would likely have as much of an issue writing to him as he had to me.
