The King’s Lover

Rose slowly walked forward. She was scared to touch the bed, but knowing Henry was staring at her made her put her hands on it. Her eyes widened in shock. Even in this situation, she couldn't help but notice how soft the bed was. It would be very nice to sleep in—if only that was what was about to happen. She lifted herself onto the bed with her legs sticking out the side. 

"Lie on your back," Henry said. 

Rose jerked. She hadn't heard him come closer. He narrowed his eyes at her reaction and didn't stop staring until she did as he asked. Only then did he nod and slowly turn away. He headed for the door, taking the servants with him and leaving Rose all alone—but she wasn't alone. 

Rose stared at the balcony again. It would only take a few moments, and she would be leaping over the edge. Rose shut her eyes tightly as she tried to make time move faster. It would only take a moment, and everything would be fine. This would be over soon enough. 

Rose lay as stiff as a statue, with her hands on her stomach and her eyes shut. They flew open the instant she heard movements. However, he was already too close. Dressed in nothing but a bathrobe, he approached the bed. 

Rose paled, and she pulled upward, bending her knees. Caius didn't like that, and his neutral expression turned darker. He walked closer, and the light from the fireplace stretched out his shadow on the wall, giving the room an even more eerie look. Rose was sitting upright with her arms around her legs as she curled into a ball. 

The robe was tied around his waist, but Rose knew he was completely naked. She knew what she came here for, but she didn't know if she could go through with it. It was to save her father, but the thought of his skin on hers made her want to throw up. 

Caius stood in front of her. "You're not only still dressed but in this position. I don't have the patience nor the time for this." 

He leaned forward and grabbed a leg, his grip on her ankle tight. Rose's eyes watered, but she couldn't meet his gaze. She wanted to plead her case, but her mouth wouldn't open. He pulled, undoing her defense. Rose didn't have the chance to fight back; he had taken a little too long, so when he eventually pulled, she didn't expect it. 

Her grip around her knees came undone and she hit the bed with her head bouncing a bit. Rose ignored the pain in her head as she tried to regain control. She knew she couldn't lose it now, she didn't know what the crown prince was capable of, and she didn't want to find out. 

She pulled her legs to her chest once again and kicked out. Suddenly, everything stopped. Caius knelt on the bed with a hand on the side of his mouth, and blood dripped out. Rose's heart sank. She wasn't trying to hit him; she was just hoping it would stop. 

She jumped out of the bed and ran to the fireplace, curling into a ball. What was she doing? What could she do? She was dead. He'd have her executed in the morning. She had struck the crown prince until he bled. 

"Come here!" 

It was a simple sentence, but Rose felt all the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. She slowly stood up but found that she couldn't move; she was too scared. 

"If I have to say it again…" 

Rose didn't wait for him to finish the sentence before she started moving. He hadn't called the guards to throw her out. It was a good sign. However, she knew the good sign wouldn't last for long. 

Rose got in front of him and dropped to her knees. "I am so sorry, yer highness. I didn't mean to…" 

"Stand up," he commanded, his tone dark. 

She slowly stood up, trying to put some distance between them, but Caius closed it quickly. He stretched out his hand and grabbed her neck, almost lifting her off the ground. His brown eyes gleamed in the dark. Rose shut her eyes tightly as fear made her legs turn to water, but Caius didn't squeeze. 

"I will assume your reaction is simply jitters from the long journey. Should this happen again…" he paused and licked the blood off the right corner of his lips. "Best be ready for the consequences!" 

He let go of her, and Rose dropped to the floor with a loud thud. "Get out!" he ordered. 

Rose scrambled to her feet and rushed for the door. She pulled vigorously at it, and the guards opened it up. They all stared at her oddly, but Rose didn't care. She fled down the hallway and down the stairs. She didn't stop running until she was completely out of the wing. Her flimsy clothes were still intact, and so was her head. Just to be sure it was still around her neck, Rose touched her neck. 

However, trouble wasn't over yet, and she knew she wouldn't get away with it next time. She had even gone as far as to hit the crown prince. She just couldn't let him touch her. It had made her skin crawl. She thought she could do anything to save her father, and she couldn't. 

Rose's eyes widened, and she fell to the ground. What if he decided to take it out on her father? She needed to get a grip, but thinking about it and actually doing it were two completely different things. At least, she had bought herself some time. He didn't say anything about her father, so that was good. 

Rose pushed herself off the ground. She would have to prepare mentally. She couldn't risk angering the prince. This was for a just cause. Her father's life was far more important than anything else. Even if the prince disgusted her, she would do what she had to do.