Emyra lay in bed dying for sleep. Her eyelids clenched, but they only mocked her exhaustion. Now battling with her senses, her ears suffered. Someone’s shoes hammered along the marble path of the corridor. Soon the person reached her door bursting through. BANG! The thief of sleep stalled at the entrance that towered over her. Maybe if she kept still, they would go away. Disappointingly, rest became an illusion that soon faded when the culprit decided to make themselves apparent. Their expanded palm swiped her flesh, a signal to finally open her eyes. Just as quickly, her back darted forward tossing her black locks in her face. She brushed them aside to finally identify the culprit.

As things weren’t already shaken up, they took a darker turn. Just at the foot of her bed, viperous Queen Lilith hissed under her breath, drilling her with a narrowed gaze. Her shoulders hunched inwardly while her claws choked the bed frame. Where is this anger coming from and why is she here? thought Emyra. Her voice nearly spoke out, but seemed to fearfully tangle in the net of her throat.

However, in tune with her beast-like ora, Lilith’s gleaming orbs stayed pinned on Emyra’s skull. They beamed a repulsion that seemed to repel Emyra’s head to a slump. No one would dare try to face her in this unraveled state. With her lanky form aligning with the doorway, she appeared taller than usual. Anyone would be put on edge at this point. Lilith loved this moment though. Those who meddled with her emotions deserved such intimidation.

The timid vibrations that surged from Emyra’s body brought out a satirical chuckle from Lilith’s mouth. Not only that, but the sunken creases of her mouth that foreshadowed spilled tears. The nerve of this pathetic girl, thought Lilith tempted to thrash her again. There was nothing innocent about the girl trembling before her. Thoughts of punishment suited the moment, so exposing her became the primary choice. The idea of murder even satiated her taste exposing her inner darkness. For now, the problem at hand needed to be addressed.

“You thought I wouldn’t find out?” Lilith asked.

In Emyra’s sweet world of tranquility, not a burden this menacing ever came to be. Her mind scoured for a solution, not even certain of the issue. Do I really want to find out? Ideas came and went, but one prevalent truth remained. It cast a memory beyond the hindsight of her peripherals. A red, satin blanket passionately tumbled as her and the king’s body entwined beneath it. She can't know, she thought as the beautiful recapture faded. Perhaps, this very truth was the driving force behind Lilith's presence. Any wife who discovered her husband’s infidelity would be Lilith’s walking replica. That didn’t mean she would confess, so her thoughts scrambled making her feel rushed to think. They only brought her to oblivion which wasn’t the smartest response.

“What do you mean?” Emyra responded with her welted cheek cradled in her palm.

“I watched you go into Charles’s room last night.”

Those words were an incurable tumor that would enlarge as the truth unfolded. The mass seemingly grew within Emyra’s encephalon at a heightened pace with the symptoms quickening. Her eyes tightened as a pulsating headache pinched each temple. For a moment, her limbs slumped with no ounce of sensation. If she tried to run, her legs would give out. Anyway, there was no escaping the castle without guards hunting her down by the queen’s command. Since this was actually an anxiety attack underway, her shaky voice carried on to clear her name.

“It’s not what you think. I wanted to address Charles about my father’s whereabouts.”

Her father, Harold, took on the commitment as King Charles’s leading guard. Outside the castle, past the stretched viridescent plain, and between the gaping, dirt road that ran between the woods, her father strolled with his army. From keeping bandits at bay to upholding order throughout the communities, justice remained. Their worn legs dragged for hours into the night. However, pride motivated them to push through their inner turmoil. They’d stroll into nearby villages just in time for pleasure from the streetwalkers who stalked their pockets. A bar or inn would be their resting place instead of home to avoid their pestering wives.

The most obvious concern both Emyra and in this case, her mother, shared was his absence. She deceptively preyed on that truth but received an unforeseen response.

“Lies! I saw you both in his bed.” Lilith fumed like a blazing torch causing her new enemy to sweat sporadically.

When her shoes thundered along the bedside, Emyra heaped her head between her legs. Lilith’s hand swung back to inflict another blow, but she froze. A sharp contraction pierced her pelvis making her knees buckle. She let out a sigh, puckering her lips to inhale and exhale through the pain. Once it passed, her legs slowly straightened while her swollen belly protruded drastically. That petrifying ten seconds gave her the inclination to withdraw. Anyway, she carried the burden of this high-risk pregnancy. She was banned access to the second level and demanded to stay on the lower level. Her room sat tucked in between the kitchen and the dining room where Charles expected her to stay.

With her absence from obvious areas of the castle, Emyra took a presence no longer having to sneak around with him. Lilith felt further betrayed when she came to that realization. Her absence allowed them to carry out their affair.

One final thing left her mouth before she scurried off. “You’re no special than the others. Just a whore I will expose. "

The melancholy atmosphere relinquished once she left. Emyra’s mouth pierced to release the tension from her lungs. When her neck tilted back against the bed frame, her eyes lingered on the canopy that draped along the corners of the bed. Oddly, she felt slightly relieved now that there wasn’t a vulture preying on her. One thought stayed where she asked herself what could she do to make the situation better. The only answer that echoed in her mind, nothing. The vengeful word, consequences, soon surfaced putting her back in a tunnel of doubt. Haunting thoughts stirred her mind for there were many to come. Matters worsened when she assumed that maybe Lilith and Charles were together seeing how things transpired. He lied to me, she thought.

After moments of sitting in stillness, Emyra tiptoed to her door peering out. She scurried to Charles’s room that outstretched the west wing. Once there, the double doors flew against the walls creating a boom. His naked body stayed stretched as he slept, appearing undisturbed. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. Then again, being the source of his restful sleep brought back mild guilt. On a normal basis, they’d have sex, fall asleep, and she’d sneak back into her room by morning. How sad it would be to wake him for this.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Charles,” she said leaning over him as her lips brushed his ear.

Two squinted, brown eyes opened followed by a charming grin. He grabbed her neck pulling her towards his puckered lips but halted with eyebrows raised.

“What happened to your face?” he said while brushing a finger along her cheek.

“Lilith hit me… She’s aware,” she said with eyes pinned to the floor.

When he gestured for her to sit, his lap seemed to suffice. Both arms wrapped her waist as his chiseled chin rested on her shoulder.

“She was going to find out eventually. I didn’t think this soon.”

“So what now?” The worry in her tone made it known that he needed to fix things.

“I will talk to her. Don’t worry.”

“I am very worried. She will ruin everything. I have bigger dreams than this castle.”

“What dreams are greater than being with a king?” he said while turning her body to face him. His gentle smile nearly brought ease to the situation.

“I feel she will ruin my parent’s wishes for me to marry.”

“What do you want, my love?” He brushed his fingers through her hair appearing interested in an answer. “All you ever talk about is your parent’s wishes for you.”

“I, uh, want to be with you.”

“You are with me.”

“Without being a secret. Without hiding what we are.”

“Well, be my mistress,” said Charles so willingly. “Let’s finally put a title on our relationship. Let everyone know how we feel for each other.”

Bewildered by his offer, she jumped to the floor swimming in thought while her legs peddled about. In doing so, discretion seemed to be the only plausible choice. His wonderous idea wilted away losing its essence with what seemed evident. The royal marriage had the support of the masses. And though Charles was no faithful man, their love story remained believable. So where would she fit in as the mistress? She would never be accepted and she hated the title, mistress. To her, the name held no real weight. Knowing his love for her wouldn’t matter because that was all she would ever be to them, the other woman. Saddened by those elements, she chose to decline. Ending things completely started to seem like a more relevant solution. However, Charles intercepted her inner bickering rising to his feet to reel her back.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

“Well, I do. Now that Lilith knows, this relationship must end.”

“I won’t give up on us because of her or for anyone.” He merged her way now glaring down intensely into her captured eyes. His mesmerizing touch melted her heart, but she remained on course.

“We must and I will not be someone’s mistress.”

“But you-”

“Just stop! We have to do the right thing.”

“I don’t care about what’s right.” The strength of his arms wrapped her waist bringing her chin to his chest. “Or whatever they consider wrong. I love you.”

“I can’t go on like this anymore and anyway, you lied.”

“Lied about what?”

“You told me she’s only a child-bearer and you don’t have feelings for her.”

“Must we go over this again,” said Charles annoyed.

“Yes! She was extremely upset which proves her feelings for you.”

“She’s jealous.”

“As she should be.”

“I don’t want to speak about her anymore. All that matters is me and you.”

“But Charles-”

His peachy lips collided with hers reducing her words to a muffle. Moans vibrated within her throat as her neck stretched up towards him. This current moment came to be like all the times she tried to end things before. Her neglected ideas faded into the forgotten realms of her mind. In these moments, that didn’t seem to matter. She stopped shoving him and gave in. For fifteen intense minutes they enveloped in the same activities that brought the morning chaos. They layed in eachothers arms after, holding onto what could wilt away. Whether suitor or queen, reality was now a painful thought they both did not want to face.

Just as Emyra sat up to dress, the doors swung flew open. Emyra swiped the blanket, cloaking her bare body. Charles sat up and grabbed a pillow to cover his male parts. To his relief, Constantine, one of his loyal guards, walked in. However, he sent a narrow gaze his way while his head waved in disapproval.

“What are you doing just barging in here?” asked Charles. “You better have a good explanation.”

“I apologize,” said Constantine, “But the queen. She’s bleeding…… Badly.”

With eyebrows stretched, the tone in his voice became frantic. “Is she losing the baby?”

“We’re not sure, but the doctor sent me to you. I didn’t realize you’d be.....busy.” 

“I’m not. Please go to her. Tell her I am coming.” 

Constantine ran towards the door and stopped when Charles spoke.

“Speak of what you witnessed to no one.”

Just as he left, Charles ran to his dresser tearing through his clothes. He reached for slacks and a button up, nothing fancy. He dressed swiftly. There was no time to explain the situation to Emyra, so he said what instantly came to mind.

“I’m going to her now. You should be getting dressed,” he said as he sealed the last few buttons on his shirt. He left her before she could respond.

Chapter 2 coming