Meaio watched him as she cleared the table, he was a well-built man and his hands were soft, save the points where calloused from hard work had formed from his training in magic, he was a world traveler, he had masters from around the world and held a knowledge that put her former employer to shame. But he was a man, the look in his eyes was normally cold and calculating, yet now they showed a hunger of a primal nature, the air about him felt intoxicating to her mind, and the way his eye wandered over her form felt like he was looking to her for her body, the thought of letting him in made her blush under his gaze, he was kind to her but was powerful, he swore to make her happy, yet this feeling in her chest was not just happiness of his attention, but also a longing for him that made her sway her hip every time she walked away, a desire in her core to see how he would react. But he finally closed his eyes and leaned back, sighing hard.
‘He is not like his brother at all, he had been watching me for a few minutes now yet he held back.’ she thought and walked around to the back of his chair, reaching down and onto his shoulders, the broad shoulders befitting a knight or soldier, those shoulders that held a weight on them, and she started to knead at them with the balls of her hands, the action making him shudder.
“What are you doing?” He asked out.
“You seemed tense, I want to help as your wife.” Meaio said back feeling the corded muscles even through the fabric, he had trained not only his mind, but his body and she felt it, the knots that needed to be untangled. “I have a question.”
He let out a soft sigh as she hit one knot well, then inhaled before he spoke, “What is it?”
Meaio could feel the tension in his shoulders. “Just now, you had a look in your eyes, it felt like you wanted to have me, yet you didn’t, why?” she asked, and felt him shudder a bit under her hands.
“Is it wrong of me to wait for you to come to me?” He asked back, as he rested his hands on the table.
Meaio thought it over. ‘Am I upset that he didn’t, It feels more like a surprise, I never really had much choice as a maid, but I am his wife, but as his wife, I would be happy if he did, wouldn’t I?’ she looked down to him, he hadn’t moved except his hands that were slightly curled, and answered him “No it's not, yet it seems like you intentionally stopped yourself, like you have the desire to do so, yet waited, why?”
“I guess I understand that we are still strangers, and I would not do anything if you aren’t ready.” he said back slowly while breathing intently.
Meaio leaned a bit down “Have you been with women on your travels?” she asked, a wish to learn more of him and the subject of his earlier gaze on her gifting the subject.
He seemed lost for an answer for a second then posed a counter question, “Would you be jealous if I had?” his tone sounded vailed like he didn’t want to give a true answer to her.
Meaio thought it over, he was a skilled and talented magic user, he had traveled the world, and he did so to gather power and knowledge, but he was a man, and men have a need, one that was not easily quelled, would she be envious of a woman he had been with before they met, did she have a right to be. Meaio shook her head and answered, “No I wouldn’t, you are sworn to me as my husband, and while I am not sure if you will be faithful to me alone, I can’t hold the past against you.”
He sighed with a bit of relief and spoke to answer her initial question, “Yes, I have been with only two, one was my master for druidic arts, while the other was a barmaid near a hotel I was in a few years ago. However, I am not a father to anyone but Arcaio, as for now, I will be faithful to you alone when you allow me in, until then I will wait patiently.” his tone was rich with reassurance for her, his declaration of faith made her heart thunder in her ears for a second.
‘This man, was he really that capable of holding himself back, he must have a way to soothe himself’ She thought it over and gripped onto his shoulders as an idea crossed her mind and asked it aloud, “Have you been with your succubus?”
Darak snorted a laugh, “Goddess forbid, she is my familiar and one that I keep for her magical powers alone, I wouldn’t risk my soul for that, as alluring as she can be.” he said back then reached up to her hand and pulled it forward, tenderly kissing the back of her hand, “Besides, I prefer mortals to immortals, and I have one that is an angel in my eyes as a wife, I would not trade that for anything.”
Meaio lost her composure for a second and gasped at his words, the sensation of his lips on her skin a bit invigorating, but she pulled her hand back and left quickly rushing up the stairs and finding a bedroom, the large bed was soft as she landed in it and let loose a scream into the mattress.
‘What is wrong with him, there is no way he believes that, even the two ladies from the morning were more beautiful than me, he is not serious, it's an act to keep me happy, surely. He is a powerful and talented magic user, he needs me for his plan, he needs me to do my job as his wife and assistant to accomplish his goals.’ she thought then turned her head and stared at the back of the hand he had kissed, ‘he wasn't serious, he did that to fluster me into stopping, yes that must be it, he was already filled with lust, and wanted me to stop so that he could bottle those drives up, he doesn’t love me like that.’
She rolled over and looked up, ‘Or can he, he said he has a black heart but I don’t think that is true, he has the capacity for love, it is there when he looks at my son, affection in his eyes like he is looking at a treasure he has, that look, a look he gives me sometimes, a look he has shown me.’ she heard the footsteps and leaned up and saw as he walked in.
“Oh, this is my room, yours is next door,” he said a bit sheepishly, averting his gaze from her.
Meaio glanced around and saw some discarded suits on a chair by a desk, the papers and books on the desktop still opened to different sections, and the closet that was ajar showing clean suits and clothes within. She turned back to him, her blood rushing to her cheeks, and she got up. “Sorry about that, can you show me to my room?”
Darak smiled and waved for her to follow, as he led her to the middle room on the floor, opening it to a grand bedroom with a four-post king bed with curtains, and a wonderful sitting space with comfortable chairs and a gleaming table for tea, a vanity with five glass mirrors that were clean and clear, a comfortable chair, that the baroness would be envious of, sitting next to it. She watched as he walked in and opened a room to a magnificent walk-in closet, that she will have only partly filled once her new dresses and clothes arrived. She turned to him, her wonderment and joy at her room too much for her to contain, “Is this really my room?” she asked with a tone that spoke to her unwillingness to accept this as a truth.
Darak just smiled at her before he spoke, “Yes, it is all yours, I want you to be comfortable as you are my wife.” He then gestured to a door, “That door will lead you to the nursery,” he then pointed to a door on the other side of the room, “That one leads to my room if you need something at night.” he then turned to leave.
“Wait!” Meaio called out faster than she realized, making him turn around expectantly, “Thank you for this, I never had such a bedroom.”
He smiled again, “No need to thank me, as I have said money is not an object for me, and spending this much so that you can be comfortable and happy is my first priority, I want you and Arcaio to enjoy your lives.” he said in a tone that sounds like a self-wish he had, then turned and walked back out and to his room.
Meaio was left speechless, ‘How is he like this, he has everything a man in this nation needs to live in the lap of nobility without a care, yet…’ she felt her heart skip a beat, and felt her chest burn up a bit, ‘yet he gives me so much and still asks for just loyalty, he has no demands of me but my happiness.’ she sat down on the bed, ‘this can’t be happening, surely it is a dream, a grand one I will wake from soon.’ she thought as she fell backward into the fluffy blanket, ‘but if it is not then I will know tomorrow. For now, enjoy this dream.’ She closed her eyes and found rest.
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Her mind woke her as the sound of Arcaio's cry rang out, her body worked on instinct and she rushed over to find him awake, yet as his eyes landed on her his crying faded, and he let loose a giggle as she lifted him up and out of his crib, “you just missed me right?” she cooed then looked to the window, noticing the late hour, she turned to the door and stepped out, overhearing the sounds of voices as she reached the top of the stairs. The sound carried over from the kitchen.
“Come now Darak, you can’t be this mean to us, Go wake her, we are friends, right?” said a deeply accented voice from the Middle East.
“Not happening Aziar, knowing you, you already tried scrying on her as soon as I spoke of her.” Darak’s voice said back with a cold indignation.
“So what is she like love, surely she is nothing next to me” Said a female voice that sounded like it belonged in a pub on the outer edge of the city.
“Please Yair, comparing you to anyone is like comparing a boar to someone. But I am interested too, what is she like.” said a man with a frenken accent.
“Do you guys think he is hiding her away because he is embarrassed.” Said a different woman with an accent that Meaio couldn’t place, “Maybe they had yet to spend their first night together.”
The suggestion got all of them but Darak to laugh, and Meaio noted two more voices.
“Fine, if you give this much of a shit, tonight would be our first night, jackasses, and no, I don’t think we will, we are still strangers, and I am not that rude and arrogant to make her do anything.” Darak’s voice called out but with a tone of understanding, making Meaio sit down on the top step. “As for her, I don’t really understand why, but when I look at her my heart thunders faster, my mana feels like it wants to rage, and even my vail slips without my knowledge, it's like I am walking in an illusion that makes me want to stand next to her even when I know I have other things to tend to. And yet I can’t help but smile when she speaks to me, and my resolve is shattered every time she smiles, she has me under her spell that she has cast without knowing it, and I for one do not care to break free.”
A short whistle rang and a new voice from an irlander spoke, “It soun like ya be smitten, laddie.”
“You got to be joking, the dark prince of magic is in love, bullshit.” said a voice that was accented the way those from Hispania are.
“No, I see it in his eyes, look, there is a crack in his blackened heart, this is good.” Said the Middle Eastern voice. “Now go wake her, we all have a right to meet this woman.”
“I told you, I will not, now drink your mead and go, she is not ready to meet all of you yet.” Darak said quickly.
“Hold on a minute, Darak where is your ring?” Said the voice whose accent Meaio still wasn’t sure of. “The one your mother gave you and you modified to have some of the grandest spells of protection on, where is it?”
“Oh yeah, did you give it to the wife?” Said the Hispanian.
Meaio looked down at her ring, the waves of magic that soothed her even now and kept her from doing anything but listening, was this his mother's ring she wondered.
“Ye, where you gone an put it laddie, it be a relic at this point, ya know.” Said the Irlander.
“I gave it to her as a wedding ring, I feel it was right as she can’t cast her own wards yet.” Darak said back before the sound of a bottle uncorking rang up to her. “Now finish up and go, I would like to have a quiet dinner with her, and you are all being shits right now.”
“So you did give it to her, Is that why I couldn’t scry on her half an hour ago.” Said the Middle Eastern voice, his tone sounded like he had been wronged somehow. “I guess trying to charm her when I meet her is out of the question too.”
“Aziar, this is why we can’t hang out and drink anywhere else but Darak’s, you keep trying to add to your harem.” said the man with a frenken accent.
“Yeah, if you want more women come to my palace, I have too many daughters I can’t marry off.” said the woman whose accent was still a mystery.
“No thanks, I have seen your daughters they all got the ugliness of your consorts.” the Middle Eastern said back.
Darak spoke up a bit, “Look, in a few weeks after she learns some mana control then I will introduce you all, but for now, I’ll be honest, the only one I trust in this room is Zaiz. now go and leave me alone, I am almost done cooking and I really hate having you here.”
She heard the grumbling of the six individuals and saw the soft glows of magic that were accompanied by the sound of rushing wind. And then she heard a long drawn-out sigh from Darak, “Zaiz can you go and see to waking Meaio up gently.” he said.
Meaio stood up and walked down the steps getting the cat to stop in the doorway of the kitchen as she turned and walked in, finding Darak out of his suit and vest, with an apron on, holding a larger tray with cuts of meats and roasted vegetables, his look of surprised at her entry. “Oh, you are awake. How did you sleep?”
Meaio looked over to the table in the kitchen, the four empty bottles and six glasses sitting atop it. “Good, Arcaio woke me a few minutes ago, been sitting at the top of the stairs a bit.” she turned to face him, “Is this ring you gave really your mother’s?” she asked.
Darak nodded but stayed silent.
“And everything you told them, about how you feel when you see me, was that true?” Meaio asked after a second.
Darak nodded but stayed silent yet again.
“So, you really feel a love towards me, even after you know I had a child with your brother, and that I am a commoner, and have no skill in magic, you still love me?” she said as she trembled at the thought of how he would answer, her voice shaken a bit by fear after she pointed out who she was.
Darak turned and placed the tray down on the counter before taking the mittens off and walking up. Meaio looked away as she felt tears welling up at his silence, but gasped as he cupped her cheek while pulling her to him by the waist, placing a soft kiss on her lips, then pulling away before he spoke. “I don’t know why or how, all I know is that I love you, and I would do anything for you, and will give you the world if you ask it of me.”
Meaio watched his face, there was no veneer, no carefully made mask to his thoughts, no restraints to his display, ‘he is being honest, this is what he really feels.’ she thought as she studied him and spoke a reply, “I can’t claim the same of myself, but for my son’s sake I will stay as your wife and hope that your affection and care of us will win my heart”
Darak smiled and let go of her, “We will be eating in the dining room.” He said as he turned and put the mittens back on before taking up the tray and leading the way.
The dining room had a long table that could seat twenty persons easily, the large fireplace facing the door was lit and crackling, and one end was lit by candles with a fine set of plates and cutlery that shined in the light. She followed him as he walked over and placed the tray down then pulled out the seat at the head of the table, before waving his hand summoning a crib for Arcaio, then pushed the chair back in for her, finally taking the apron off and sitting down next to her, smiling as he did.
‘Why is he doing this still, surely my answer had cut him.’ she thought and watched as he portioned some food to her plate, before taking his own, ‘Why can he be so ready to care for me, I have to know’ she swallowed before she spoke out to him. “Why can you claim to love me after a day?”
Darak stopped and leaned back, his eyes staring at his plate, and he forced a smile out as he thought about it, “My mother, I guess, she had fought tooth and nail for me too, she was kind and affectionate, she tried her hardest to protect me and feed me, so when I saw you pleading for Arcaio I knew that you would be the same, you look at him with the same face, a visage of a loving mother, and I find that beautiful. You are everything I could have wished to have if my life had not turned out the way it did, so now I can’t help but want to hold and protect you and him from suffering the same fate.” he looked over and shed a teardrop as he reached over and took Arcaio’s hand, “I was not as young as him, but my mother still did everything to help me, so now I want to help him, I want him to grow up never wanting for things like I did, I don’t want him to think he was hated. But to do that I also know you need the same, you have been held down too, suffered for no reason but your birth, so is it wrong of me to want to love you?”
Meaio stopped and looked at him ‘Is this it, is this really all there is to his love, a desire to not see mine and my son suffer, to have such power and use it for something like this, it is foolish, yet…’ she felt her heart thunder and her hands trembled a bit, ‘yet I feel like it is wrong to deny him, to push him away, to want to hold him back, who is he to will me to such feelings.’ she watched as he played a bit with Arcaio, his face showed a fear but love of her son. ‘He has shown me and Arcaio more care and warmth in a day than his brother has in a lifetime. He is a man that I feel a longing for, that is there beyond the attraction of lust, is this really why? His reason for everything he has done today?’ She shook her head, “No, it is not wrong but too fast, I haven’t known you long enough to understand you, and you are someone who has many secrets, but I can see that you care about my son and that is enough for me for now.”
Darak looked up and smiled, “Please enjoy the meal, it took me a bit to make it, as you may have heard I had some friends over.” he said as he leaned back up and took a bit of food with his fork.
Meaio took a bite, the roasted beef he had made was cooked to perfection, and was well-spiced in the best ways, The vegetables were also done perfectly, and she let out a hum at the joy of the flavor and tenderness of the food. “I didn’t know you could cook.”
Darak nodded and swallowed before he spoke, “Yes, master Yuie demanded it of me, possibly one of the worst three years of my life, she did not take anything less than perfection as a job done.”
“Was she here tonight?” Meaio asked as she ate.
Darak nodded, “She was the one who spotted that my ring was not on my finger.”
Meaio thought it over and realized it was the woman whose accent was far stranger to her than the others. “Where is she from?” she asked.
“She lives in The Great Khan’s Domain, she is the Khan’s personal sorceress.” Darak said back.
“I think I would like to meet her. She seems to be perceptive, and I need to thank her for making sure you knew how to cook.” Meaio said calmly, “Can you ask her to come back soon?”
“I believe she will be occupied for the next month or so, but if she comes again I will come and let you know.” Darak said back. “But I warn you now, she is … handsy, and will likely try to look under your dress, or even demand you strip for her. Not that I would allow that.”
“Why?” Meaio asked and looked at him a bit surprised by the information.
“She has an unhealthy interest in my offspring, and she will claim it is to make sure you can bear my children.” Darak said back and smiled softly, “But I like you the way you are and she can rot in hell for all I care.”
They shared a laugh at the idea of those events unfolding and shared most of their meal in silence until Meaio remembered something she had overheard, “Why did your friend from Hispania, call you the Dark Prince of Magic?” she asked but noticed he had frozen, a look of dread in his eyes as he thought it over.