“Trust me, I know,” I said, wincing as his thumb ran over the tender skin. I had hidden it pretty well with some heavy concealer, but word had gotten around that I had been attacked and now other students were staring at me like I was going to sprout another head or something.
Royce dropped his hand, his eyes glittering with rage. “I don’t like seeing you like this.”
“Touching,” I answered tiredly. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to sleep tonight without Johanna here and a part of me thought about asking Royce to stay. I had slept like an hour last night, even with her here. “I guess Johanna called you.”
“Of course she called me,” he said harshly, coming into the room. I shut the door behind him and leaned against it. “She said you didn’t sleep last night.”
“Would you?” I countered as he turned.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t either, Anna. I was worried about you.”
I didn’t know what to do with this Royce. This was the Royce that was going to break my heart. “Royce, I—”
“You don’t understand, do you?” he lashed out, cutting me off. “Of course, you wouldn’t. I’m just a bastard to you. Hell, I have been a bastard to you.”
He was rambling. Royce never rambled. “Royce,” I said gently. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes met mine and I was taken aback by the emotions in their depth. “Nothing,” he said tightly, reaching into his pocket and producing a black oblong-shaped item. “Here.”
I took it. “Um, thanks?”
“It’s a dagger,” he said. “One that you can keep on you for protection.”
I turned it over, seeing the small button catch that would extend the blade. Before I could press it, Royce took it from me, engaging the blade. “If you get attacked again,” he said in a low voice. “You go for the neck, groin, or armpit. You can easily hit an artery there and do some damage.”
“You think she will come for me again?” I asked softly as Royce pushed the blade back down. I didn’t have to spell out who we were talking about.
“I don’t know, pauper,” Royce said, handing the blade back to me. “I really don’t fucking know, but I won’t let you be unarmed the next time.”
“Thanks,” I answered, placing the dagger on the bed. “I’ll keep it on me anytime I’m out of this room.”
Royce nodded, looking at Johanna’s empty side. “You can come and stay with me, pauper. You can even have your own room if you want.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say yes. I could go to Royce’s mansion and Isauros wouldn’t touch me under the protection of a king.
But for how long? I couldn’t stay under Royce’s protection forever. He had a senior year to finish and then, well, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do after his graduation.
Me? I was just getting started with my college career, meaning I would be at this academy for the next three years if I chose to turn down the title offered to me by my father. I had had dreams, before I had found out that I could be the next empress of Rome.
“Thanks,” I finally said. “But I am going to stay here for now.”
Royce’s hands balled into fists. “It could be your death, pauper.”
I straightened my spine, hiding the fear I had inside me. “It will be one way or the other, Royce. There’s no use in denying the fact.”
His expression softened and he crossed the room abruptly, pulling me against his hard body. “You’re going to be the bloody death of me,” he whispered, fisting his hand in my hair. I shuddered against his body, wrapping my arms around his waist as I laid my head on his shoulder. I didn’t know what to think about Royce’s sudden display of affection nor did I know what to do if and when Isauros decided to strike next.
***
After Royce left, the day stretched into the night, with a misting rain falling outside. I took my food inside, opting for room service over going to the cafeteria in fear of running into Isauros or another one of her traps.
I curled up on my bed, eyeing the dagger on the nightstand. My mind was jumbled with what could happen next, my heart bruised at Royce’s tender display. I had to pick soon. I couldn’t keep drawing out not only the king’s feelings but mine as well. I wanted to get on with my life.
A sudden scratching at my window drew my attention and my heart leapt into my throat. Was it another attack?
Had I locked the window? Mine and Johanna’s dorm room was on the first floor, making me an easy target.
The scratching persisted and I grabbed the dagger, stalking over to the window. Whoever it was, I was going to make them go away.
I unlatched the window and flung it open, stifling a scream as a large, bulky frame appeared. “Shh, it’s me.”
I sagged in relief as I heard the familiar sound of Arthur’s voice. “What are you doing out there?”
He stuck his head in. “Can I come in? The damn academy is locked down tight.”
I stepped back and he hoisted himself over the window frame, landing on the floor. I hurriedly shut the window as Arthur stripped off his rain jacket. “I hadn’t planned on breaking into your room tonight,” he said as I took his jacket and hung it on the chair. “I planned to knock on the door like a regular guy.”
“Why are you here?” I asked, hugging the dagger to my chest.
Arthur’s eyes flitted to it and his expression hardened. “I guess Royce has visited.”
“He came earlier,” I stated, noting the jealousy in his voice. “He wanted to give me something to protect myself.”
His beautiful eyes softened as he reached out, cupping my cheek. “How are you really, Anna? You look exhausted.”
I sighed, leaning into his touch. “I am.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close, letting me settle my cheek on his chest. Two kings in one day, holding me. There was a fierce protectiveness about Arthur, one that normally would have a woman swooning.
Where Royce was rough around the edges and didn’t take any shit from me, Arthur would absorb it and make me change my mind in an instant, wanting to please him.
It wasn’t a bad thing at all.
When he pressed a kiss to my temple, I closed my eyes, feeling protected and cherished.
That was what Arthur did to me.
When he led me to my bed, I half expected him to want to pursue something more. After all, we had been an item once.
But he just kicked off his shoes and chucked his shirt in the corner, his gorgeous chest on full display. “You are going to sleep tonight,” he stated, motioning to the bed. “And I am going to be here to protect you.”