CHAPTER SEVEN

The cold wind blew Selene's hair to her mouth. She reached to remove the strands and left her window, drawing the curtain together. The night was eerie, cold and restless, she had been unable to sleep after putting Mia to bed. The thoughts of her future bothered her, she had always known she was alone the day the Sol warriors went into their castle to take her father away but this night seemed to make the harsh reality all the more clearer. She was an unmarried maiden out into the region with a young girl to care for, she knew the odds were against her. Selene sighed softly and sat on her bed as the events of the past weeks weighed on her, she had decided to be strong, to be strong and optimistic for Mia but slowly she felt the fear creep in, the fear of being alone, having to fend for both of them, to protect them both. Probably she would get married and Mia would then have a father equivalent but then she didn't see that happening soon, she didn't want any man to breach her and Mia in the name of love and attention.
Her thoughts trailed to the trial, she had only once seen the council when they had been honoured to the annual harvest feast on Riverland. But she had heard they were three stiff old men and a woman. Their adherence to rules and mercilessly had dethroned several lords and banished many. No one wished to appear before the council, especially not an offender. Selene thought if perhaps they would remember the feast and spare her father but she knew that was very unlikely.
Selene rose from her bed and drew her shawl over her neck, she needed some peace or perhaps distraction before the worry killed what little bravery she had left, she would leave Sol and worry of her fate later. Turning the door knob, she pushed the door open and stepped out, the guard by the door alert and looking at her. The new man had scanty beards unlike the first and Selene decided he had taken over sometime during the night. It didn't matter anymore, she had decided the guards were no longer her worry.
Closing the door with a soft click. Selene pretended she wasn't followed and made her way to the hallway. Feeling the chilly air blowing gently around, she pulled her shawl closer and turned to the balcony. She halted as she saw the figure on the balcony, hands outstretched as if trying to touch the wind. Selene gulped and decide she didn't want strange company. Turning back to the guard that stood not so far away.
"Selene" the familiar voice called, sounding slightly strained
Selene stopped at her tracks and turned to the lord
"Why are you not sleeping? " he asked
"I shall go back to my cage now" she replied coldly
"Come" he said
Selene could hear the gentle command in his statement and she longed to disobey.
"I would rather be alone" she replied
"I insist, I want to speak with you" he said
Selene frowned at his tone. His voice was slightly weak and lacked it's usual strength and authority. He sounded... Vulnerable? Like someone who just wanted company.
Selene walked to the Lord slowly and stood beside him. She watched as he flicked his raised wrist and the guard walked back into the darkness. Very few lamps lined the wall, no doubt blown off by the persistent wind.
"Could you not sleep?" Edgar asked
Selene was unable to reply and just stared at the Lord blankly. Not wanting to acknowledge her discomfort.
"I couldn't sleep too, I haven't for a good while now" Edgar stated lowly, more to himself.
"The night is cold" Selene said
"Usual here at Sol, with the approach of Winter" He replied
"Riverland has warm weather mostly" Selena stated
"I could tell by your skin" Edgar said, making Selene blush with a smile
"Do you hate me? " Edgar asked
Selena looked back in confusion, unable to answer the question as well
"Tell me Selene, do you loathe me?" Edgar urged
"No" Selene replied
"I wouldn't want you to. So much has happened in Sol but I do not wish to make more enemies" Edgar replied with a little laugh
"I do not hate you. I see the ways of Sol is different. One reason I do not fit in here" Selene said
"What if I did want you here Selene?" Edgar askdd
"I would refuse" Selene replied with a harsh glare
"I can not force you Selene. I do not force" Edgar replied
"Perhaps it is best I go to bed now my lord" Selene said and turned angrily on her heel to leave.
"Selene...have I upset you?" he asked, gripping her wrist and turning to block her escape
"I can not see how you cause my suffering and still act like you.... "
"You look so much like her...her lips, her hair, her smile, her fire" Edgar murmured as he stared at Selene
Selene stared at the Lord in confusion as he gazed at her, eyes full of emotions. She was aware of his large rough warm hands as it held hers, strongly but not painfully. She stared at him also, her heart quickening as their distance closed.
"I won't let any harm come to you Selene. I promise, you can stay" He said, looking desperate
"I can't, my father will be free" Selene said, hoping she could voice her hopes to life.
"Oh Selene.. What have you done to me?" he asked with a dazed look and pulled her into a hug. Holding her tightly against his warm built body. Selene could feel the hilt of his sword by his hip and could smell the leather overcoat he wore.
"The little princess will be safe too" he promised softly as he pulled away, staring at her eyes
"I... I can not" Selene said, unable to speak her mind which wanted to abuse the Lord for even offering such outrageous thing. To be his mistress and put Mia in danger, she wanted to spit at him and leave his greedy egoistic presence but as she stared at the Lord, she saw unmistaken adoration in his eyes, like he meant all he said
But she would never be any one's mistress, never.
With that last thought, Selene pulled away harshly.
"I would never betray my land and myself by being with you. You are a pig" Selene said despite her body shivering at the lords nearness.
A sad smile came to the lords lips an he stared out at the wind.
"I always told her I'd never find a creature like her again, but here you are Selene, another Vixen" he said softly and pulled the princess into his arms again, holding down her protest
"I am going to kiss you Selene" Edgar stated
"You wouldn't da..." before Selene could speak, she felt the soft skin for his lips cover hers.
She felt her struggles die as he parted her lips with his tongue and didn't delve in but exhaled into her open mouth. She shivered and held onto the man and her legs shook. She could feel his hands come to rest on her shoulder as he moved his lips gently over hers. She could not pull from the Lord as she wished to as her own hands went to his neck, pulling the strands of his hair that fell. Selene felt angry light tug on her bottom lip and moaned, the sound muffled by his lips. He held her to his lips and his hands went to his waist, rubbing circles around her back as he went down. Selene moaned again as he thrust his hips into hers, she could feel the flame in her seeming to explode at the raw pleasure she felt, she lifted her arms.....
Selene used all her might to push away from the Lord. Her breath coming in gasps. She looked at the Lord as he stood with an unreadable expression, his lips pressed together like the had never been on hers.
"You low life pig! How dare you!" Selene shouted angrily
"I told you I would kiss you Selene" he replied stoicly
"You are a dog for thinking I would allow that" Selene spat
"The night is too cold. You should go to bed" He said
"And you should rot in hell...how can you act like a savage and you are ought to be a lord, I pity this land" Selene replied
"Guard" Edgar called and the man seemed to immediately come from the dark hallway
"You are a pig!" Selene spat and went away with the guard. Her angry steps sounding.