“You need cleaned up. You look like you’ve been riding a horse all morning.”
“For part of it, I have,” I smile unashamed. “I needed to relax this morning before I begin my trials.”
One of my favorite people pushes through the horde of palace staff surrounding Matheas and me. Slightly shorter than me and with a long, light gray braid over her shoulder, my Grand Nina waves her hands at everyone.
“Give my granddaughter space. She’ll be crowded enough today.”
With a wide smile, I open my arms for my Grand Nina. Enclosing me in her arms, her hug is warm and comforting. With a hand still on my shoulder, she motions to the nearest two members of our staff.
“Have a warm bath prepared. Fill it with lavender and vanilla.”
“It’s not needed.” I release a heavy sigh. “I can run my own bath just fine like any other day.”
Nina pats my shoulder. “Today is not like any other day nor will tomorrow or the next day. You’re in your trials. You’ll do nothing yourself for the next few days. Best to deal with it, darling.”
Attention turned away from me, she looks to Matheas. “Wait for her upstairs. I need to speak with my granddaughter alone.”
Everyone disperses, including Matheas, moving onto their jobs as Nina takes my hand, walking me slowly up the stairs.
“I had a prophetic dream last night,” she whispers.
“Should I be worried?”
Raising my hand, she kisses the back of it.
“Every new monarch has dangers lurking ahead of them, but this dream felt like a warning. Something is coming, Fiora, but whatever it is, I know for certain you’ll survive it.”
My skin tingles with worry. Nibbling my lip, I look ahead to the top of the stairs, seeing the back of Matheas just before he disappears.
“What of Matheas?”
“What of him, darling?”
“Did you see anything of him in your dream?”
Stopping on the stairs, we turn to face one another. With my hands in hers, she holds them together in front of our chests.
“That man will always choose to stay by your side. No matter the sacrifice. You can trust him to protect you. It’s his sole purpose in life.”
“That seems unfair. I'm supposed to marry, and he doesn’t get to have a family of his own. Instead, he’s supposed to watch over me all his life.”
Continuing up the stairs, she gives my hand a squeeze. “As a monarch of Anauka, you’ll be free to choose whomever you want to lay with.”
“Nina, is that really true?”
“Ssh, darling, some things are not meant to be spoken until it’s time.”
Hearing the secret brings excitement coursing through me. I’d been made to believe I must choose someone from the royal families. I know my Nina would not lie to me. Each step up the stairs becomes lighter with this new knowledge.
Approaching my room, the automated door slides open, and I enter to the soothing aroma of lavender and vanilla. Standing near the wall, Matheas’s attention turns to me the moment I enter. Eyes centered on me, he steps forward and joins my side as I walk toward the bathroom. Inside, he moves to the long, wide windows and peers out as the two servants who filled my bath approach me. They move their hands and arms in an effort to undress me. Annoyed, I wave their hands away.
“Enough. I can undress myself just fine.”
Matheas’s side profile reveals a smirk raising the corner of his mouth.
With my boots off, I toss them aside and remove the rest of my clothing. The women move behind me and untie my braid, loosening my hair and resting it on my back.
Matheas stops his inspection outside the windows and looks at me. His cerulean blue eyes linger over my body, seeming to take in every detail. A pink hue forms on his cheeks, and he fidgets where he stands, unlike his usual sturdy stance.
“Ladies, I’ve had enough pampering. Please wait outside.” The two staff members are quick to depart, leaving only Matheas and my Nina with me.
“What is it, Matheas?” I ask him, walking to the tub in the center of the bathroom.
“I don’t like that you’ll have to stand naked at the splendor ceremony for all the Royal suitors to see.”
Nina chuckles behind me as I lower into the hot water.
“Get used to the idea, son. It’s tradition.”
“Nina, can you leave us for a while?”
“I can, darling. We’ll come back to do your hair.”
“Thank you.”
The automated doors slide open and close with her departure.
Matheas walks to the tub, stopping behind me. Placing his hand under the automated dispenser, shampoo fills his hand. Placing it atop my head, he lathers it in my hair, the touch of his strong hands soothing and arousing, my nipples hardening in response. Lowering my chest, I hide them beneath the water.
“I can wash my own hair, you know, but I’ll be honest, I love it when you do it.”
“I know you do. It’s why I do it. I’m glad you had Alayna and Ria leave. I’d rather it be me to take care of you.”
“You always have been possessive of me even when we were kids. Remember when Thomas kissed me? How you knocked him down and punched him?”
Matheas laughs, deep from his chest.
“I’ve never been kissed since. Every boy was afraid to after that.”
Wringing the soap out of my hair, he lowers my head into the water. When I sit up, hair rinsed, he squats down next to the tub.
“Do you want to be kissed?”
Looking at his handsome face, I stare at his eyes. They may be the same color as every Anaukin, but his eyes are far more expressive than anyone I know.
“I do. I’m going to be Queen soon. I’ll be forced to meet with potential suitors, and I have no idea what it’s like to be kissed by a man. You’ve had the opportunity to lay with women. I don’t even know how to properly kiss.”
Leaning forward, he cups his hand under my chin, raising my lips to his.
“Then it’s my duty to teach you, Princess.”
Warm lips cover mine. Instinctively, my mouth parts, and his tongue slides between my lips. The heat of the water is nothing compared to the fire that ignites and spreads throughout my body. Placing my arms around his neck, I partially rise out of the tub, my bare chest visible. One arm goes around my back, the other lost in my hair, holding the back of my neck. Like an uncontrollable force keeping me tied to him, I hang on as the kiss continues, his tongue dancing with mine, feeding my rising desire.
When he pulls back, my face is hot, my cheeks flush. Tingling lips and an ache between my legs leave me wanting more. There’s a moment of silence, his eyes staring into mine, his breathing slightly elevated.
“You won’t disappoint any man, Fi. Your kiss is like a smooth liquor. It touches in all the right places.”
A giggle escapes me, and I lower my arms from his neck. Gaze lowering to my chest, I notice his pupils expand before he returns his attention back to my face.
“Will you kiss me again?”
“Yes, but not now.”
“Why?”
The automated door opens, and he winks.
“What are you two chattering about? You should be bathing, darling.”
Matheas gently swipes his finger under my chin and grins.