Chapter 21 - Hallway Attack
Ismena whirled around, just as her candles went out, and cast her into darkness. She lost her footing, almost falling back but for the strong pair of arms that held her in place against a firm warm chest.
Lavender and orange blossom rushed into her lungs.
Immediately, the color drained from her face.
She desperately tried to pull away but he wouldn't let her go. Intead, a mocking chuckle slipped past his lips.
"Let me go, Stavan!" She tried to wringle out of his grip but his arms only tightened around her.
"Did you have a long talk with your husband?" His said closely to her ear, his breath brushing her skin. "Did he believe you? Or did you abandon your stupid plan upon the realization that the Lamb of the Knight of Ragma can do no wrong?" His fingers sank into her hair and held it in a tight grip.
She would scream. She wanted to but she knew even if anyone or even Haron was to find them in this way – inappropriately being close within the darkness of this hallway — Stavan would have something to say and make her look like she was the evil one.
It had been bad when he was just the King's brother.
Just the Thirteen Knight.
It would be even worse now that was the Lamb of the Knight of Ragma.
Her relationship with Haron was far too dedicate to be tested at this moment. She just had to get away from Stavan without drawing any attention.
That will do for now.
When she felt his lips pressed against the base of her neck, she jolted.
"Stop this madness, Stavan. By the Sun, I am your sister-in-law–"
"Your mistake." He pulled away and she could hear the frown in his voice. "One which I will rectify soon. My offer still stands, remember?"
His offer of her having a relationship with him while being his brother's wife!
He was mad!
"Never. Why won't you just leave me alone and go to your Ladymynor Dali?"
"Don't be ridiculous." He chuckled. "You know that you are my Ladymynor Dali."
Now finding the strength and powered by enough rage, she drew her knee between his thighs and he let her go with a venomous hiss.
She walked away quickly, as her trembling hands reached for her matchbox and she quickly struck one to life, lighting her candles before Stavan could recover.
But the blood transfusion was taking so much toll on her that she still wasn't able to walk fast enough. Her heart was beating too rapidly, her body felt weak and her head was clouded with a strange fogginess.
Stavan was in front of her soon enough.
"Get out of my way and we can both pretend this night never happened," she managed to say in a stern voice.
A spark danced in Stavan's eyes and he pushed his fingers through his long silky hair that fell over his shoulder. He wore loose fitting brown tunic and a pair of equally loose fitting trousers.
It wouldn't surprise her if the Lamb of the Knight of Ragma had been coming back from the room of a female servant, or many female servants.
She wished he would go back to them and just leave her alone.
"Where were you headed, Ismena? You are not the type to go around sneaking through the hallways in the shadows."
"Where I was headed is none of your business. You are not my husband!" She snapped at him sharply and his eyesx narrowed. "Know your place."
His hand caught her arm before she could make it pass him. There was a twisted rage etched in his features. "No. You know your place. My offer will not lay around unattended for long. If you do not accept me of your own will, then I will be forced to finally teach your body what is best for it. As you seem not to know yourself." His eyes darkened as if he had remembered something. "How dare you?"
Something in her trembled with fear.
Her worries about what might have likely happened between them rushed through her lungs. She had forced herself but to think about it but in this situation, it was all she could think about. And how he was so much more stronger than she was.
"How dare you pick dying over me," he said through gritted teeth.
"I don't—"
"The only chance I get and you decide to die. Do you know how much I paid for that opportunity, how much I risked?!"
It dawn on her then.
Relief washed down her spine and a smile played on her face. "Nothing happened."
His features contoured with disgust. "Of course, nothing happened. Do you think me depraved enough to lay with a dying woman?"
"But you would lay with one who you forced into sleep so she wouldn't be able to fight you? One who clearly doesn't want you."
He gritted his teeth. "Ismena—"
She shoved her candles towards his face and he staggered back. "Get out of my way. This conversation is over."
His hand loosened slightly around her arm but he still wound not let her go. His hand held the lantern so she couldn't try to push the candles back in his face again.
She should fight to be free but something held her still in that position.
"You should think on it, Ismena. My offer. Your Haron will be busy in the next few days, visiting different kingdoms to speak on the war. There might be a temporary pause on the battlefield but this war is far from over. You know in whose care your weak and recovering self will be placed in?"
A long pause.
Rage tumbled in her.
"Mine."
She clenched her free hand into fist.
"And I swear by the Sun that I will take care of you so much, even when he returns, you will want nothing but my care." His voice deepened and devilish smile played on his lips. "While you think on it," he pulled out her handkerchief from his pants and shoved it against his nose.
She looked on. Horrified.
"I will keep on taking care of this prized silk fabric."
She trembled with rage,just as a voice cut through the space.
"What is going on here?"
The air went still.
Haron.