Leni walked off the field with Kieran at her side.
"What am I going to do with a wife who could kill me?" he playfully asked.
"Never irritate me." she smiled wide as Kieran laughed. She thought of how he'd pleased her the night before and wondered if she should allow him to do it again. It was enjoyable but, it had no deeper meaning for her. She sighed and thought they would figure it out as they went along.
The bath was drawn when they got back to their rooms. Rayn was hovering at the end of the hall waiting, looking very agitated. He beckoned Kieran to come and talk to him but he wouldn't look at Leni. He was being so secretive since they had been back in Rodan, she found herself instantly annoyed. She quickly undressed and slipped into the warm bath. A moment later she heard Rayn shouting, before she could go see what was wrong Kieran opened the door and then slammed it behind him. He was rubbing his jaw with one hand and his other was on his hip. She thought he looked angry. She heard him knock something over and then he stalked into the bathing room, stripped his clothes, and threw them forcefully to the ground. Leni had never seen him this irritated.
"Everything alright?" she asked curiously as he stepped down to join her in the bath.
"It's nothing. Rayn wants you to meet him in his quarters tomorrow morning. He is going to teach you how to block other people from accessing your mind." He sounded tense but he leaned back and closed his eyes.
"I see..." her voice trailed off. She sat in silence for a moment and then started washing her hair absently. Kieran sighed, she thought if he wanted to talk about it he would say something but he didn't. She combed the tangles out of her hair as he washed himself quickly.
"I'd like to send a note to Iona , can you deliver it tomorrow?" she asked.
"It's better if you tell me, notes can be stolen and I have an excellent memory." He assured her.
"Oh," she said quietly.
Kieran watched her bathing in the pool. Rayn was such a fool for not asking his father to change his mind about the engagement. If he wanted her for himself he should have asked her to marry him! It wasn't Kieran's place to question the King's will.
He noticed her biting the corner of her lower lip, she was thinking hard about something. He didn't have the guts to tell her she had been saying Rayn's name in her sleep and he didn't want to tell her Rayn had just punched him in the jaw because he found out about last night from reading her thoughts at the training grounds. She was surrounded by cowards, she deserved better from them.
"We're friends, yes?" he asked her directly.
She looked at him, confused, "Yes, of course we are."
"Can you tell me the truth?"
"Yes." She said slowly.
"Do you enjoy my company?" he quizzed her.
"I do." She was honest.
"Did you enjoy what we did last night?" he raised an eyebrow.
She smiled, "Yes, I did."
He sighed and crossed the pool to be closer to her. "I know you want to make the best of the situation. Maybe someday we will be more than we are now."
She took his hand, "I would be very happy if that happened, Kieran but I can't make any promises." She seemed sad.
"I know." He said, his voice resigned, as he affectionately stroked some wet strands of her hair behind her shoulder. He kissed her benignly on the lips before getting out of the bath to go to bed. Maybe someday he would love her the way she deserved. Maybe they'd have an arrangement so many other nobleman had with their wives, discretionary affairs. He was disappointed at the thought; he'd never wanted a marriage like that.
**
Rayn sat in his rooms staring at the crackling fire, with his fourth glass of brandy in his hand. He slowly opened and closed his other hand, he'd hurt his knuckles when he clocked Kieran and now they were throbbing. How could he; how could they? It was bad enough he sensed her feelings; but worse that he could see the images in her mind, images of them together and the pleasure Kieran had brought her. Rayn tried to convince his father to simply put her under house arrest in the guest quarters but the stubborn King refused to let her be unattached. Rayn became so frustrated that he threw his glass into the fire, the alcohol feeding the flames. He was so drunk now he could see her curved figure dancing in the flames, mocking him. His anger flared even more, he clenched his jaw and paced the floor for hours with another glass in hand. He finally fell into bed in a stupor, too drunk to feel the pain anymore.
**
Kieran left before dawn to pass on Eleanor's message. He told her he thought it would be safer for them both if he didn't know where Iona and Lukas were living. She assured Kieran that her friend Grinley would know where they were hidden and even under pain of death he would never betray her. She only wanted to know if Lukas was alright and tell them she would come for them soon. She and Kieran talked over breakfast and had decided after things calmed down and they were married they would move back to Proteria and take her family with them. She hadn't lived there in many years so no one would know her now. They would visit Rodan occasionally, but always alone. Leni dressed in a hunter green dress with golden trim to go see Rayn, she was frustrated that all her dresses were too revealing. She asked Mary if there was a chance she might be able to wear something more conservative. Mary seemed confused, all Oneandran women of noble birth dressed this way she assured her.
"But I am Rodanian," Leni told her.
"The King had these made for you, miss." Mary didn't understand why anyone wouldn't want to dress this way.
"Nevermind," Leni was a little irritated; she let Mary lace up the back of the dress but refused to wear a corset under it. She hated feeling bound.
"Mary, will you show me where the Prince's rooms are?" she asked before Mary rushed out. The petite woman nodded, her loose brown curls bouncing around her round face.
Eleanor paid attention this time so she would remember where things were. They passed the great hall and went up the wide staircase; Rayn's rooms were at the back of the castle overlooking a private courtyard.
"Thank you Mary." She said quietly. The girl seemed surprised at her politeness. Leni hadn't seen anyone thanking their attendants since she had been here and found it more than a little rude. Mary didn't respond and went about her business. Oh well, Leni thought, at least she tried. She steeled her nerves and knocked.
**
