The King's Executioner (20 page)

Wrath grabbed Paine by the arm when he went to follow the King. “Let it be.”

“I will not stand by and let him have his way with her,” Paine said his fury mounting at the thought.

“If that is what he wishes, that is what he will do. She was to be his Queen.”

“So now she becomes one of the long line of women he pokes throughout the day?”

“Again that is his choice and if he finds no satisfaction with her, then he may just give her to you.”

“Give her to me!” Paine seethed.

“She is no more than chattel to him. Let it be before he punishes not only you, but Anin as well.”

“If he does this, it punishes us both.”

Wrath rested his hand on Paine’s shoulder. “Perhaps that is the punishment he intended all along.”

Anin followed the two warriors through the large dwelling, wondering once again where they were taking her. Paine had told her he would come for her, so they would not be taking her to him. When they climbed the wood stairs to the second floor, she grew concerned. She had surmised this was the King’s private chambers. Why was she being brought here?

There appeared to be two rooms, once at the tops of the stairs, one to the left and one to the right, both with closed doors. The warriors took her to the right and tapped at the door.

Anin recognized the King’s voice as soon as he bid them to enter. The guards, however, did not enter. One opened the door and stepped aside and the other gave her a gentle nudge, letting her know she was to enter. The door shut behind her after she took a few steps in.

A sense of unease ran through her as soon as she saw that she was in the King’s sleeping chamber. The sleeping pallet was raised and looked large enough for three people. It was well dressed with coverings. Several pegs lined one wall, various garments hanging from them and beneath sat a long, narrow bench, folded garments on top. The fire pit sat in the middle of the room and cast welcoming warmth throughout. King Talon stood by a table with two short benches, beneath it, not far from the fire pit. His features were strong and sharp, and he held himself erect as only a King could. His long dark hair was braided at the sides and left to hang free. He wore a tunic that was spilt down the center and fell to just above his ankles. A braided leather tie wound around his waist holding the tunic closed and Anin was glad it did, since it was the only thing he wore.

King Talon wasted no time in asking, “Why was I not told of your abilities?”

“Why does it matter?” Anin cringed, realizing too late she questioned the King.

He approached her slowly.

She wisely lowered her head and said, “Forgive me, my King. I am prone to curiosity and asking far too many questions.”

“So I have been told. What makes you so curious, Anin?”

She raised her head. “I do not know, though my mum would be quick to say that my head is much too crowded with thoughts. Do you not wonder the why of things sometimes like why are some people good and others evil?”

“At least you can tell the good from the evil with one touch.” The King extended his hand. “Tell me, Anin, am I good or evil?”

That was a question, if answered wrongly, could prove harmful for her.

“Do you fear touching me, Anin?”

His voice was a soft whisper that embraced her much too intimately and though she laid no hand on him, she sensed his passion sparking. Fear prickled her skin and she wondered why had she been brought to his private chambers?

“Touch me, Anin.”

Her skin prickled again at his strong command, though it was only a mere whisper. She forced herself not to tremble as she reached out and laid her hand on his arm. It hit her so hard that she gasped. The smoldering passion she had felt running through him when she had first touched him had taken control and consumed him, and it was born only of need. He cared not for who he joined with. He cared only for satisfying his insatiable need. The woman who would be Queen would know endless mating with him, but never, ever would he give his heart to her.

She dropped her hand off him and once again spoke before she gave thought to her words. “I could never mate with you. There is no tenderness, no caring. You wish only to satisfy your need. I wish for more.”

“Did you find more with my executioner?” he accused.

She raised her chin with false bravado. “I lost my heart to Paine, but we did nothing wrong. Paine would never betray his King.”

“Did Paine lose his heart to you? And do not bother to tell me you do not know. You touched him. You know.”

Anin had no choice but to answer, but then the King had been aware of how Paine felt the moment he refused to let her be locked away alone. She chose to respond with a single nod. She was glad the King turned and walked away from her.

“So the future Queen and my executioner lost their hearts to each other,” he said, turning to face her once again. “Whatever shall I do with the both of you?”

Anin understood he expected no response. The choice was his to make.

“Come here,” he ordered with the snap of his hand.

Anin preferred to keep her distance from him, but she could not deny the King. She went to stand in front of him, though not too close.

He bridged the gap between them in one easy stride and lowered his face to hers.

Anin’s breath caught, so fearful was she that he would kiss her. She wanted only Paine’s lips on hers. Though, his breath was warm and not unpleasant, she cringed when he brought his lips closer to hers.

“Go sit on the bench!”

Anin’s eyes shot open and she raced around him to do as told.

King Talon went and stood by the fire pit, staring at the flames as if in thought.

Anin sat in silence, waiting.

~~~

“Drink up, your mission is done and there is no one who needs torturing,” Wrath said, pushing a vessel filled with wine toward him.

Paine ignored the drink and regretted joining Wrath in the feasting house. The King’s decision to have Anin brought to his sleeping chambers had disturbed Paine and his concern for her was growing worse. “We both know why the King summoned Anin to his sleeping chamber. He will have his way with her.”

“Do not think on it,” Wrath ordered. “Besides, the King never forces himself on any woman. He does not have to. They willingly submit.”

“Not Anin.”

“Then you have no need for concern. He will speak with her and then release her,” —Wrath grinned— “unless she finds him too potent to resist.”

Not once had Paine seen a woman deny the King and never had he seen him take a woman against her will. Every one of them was eager to mate with the King, though none could match his appetite for mating.

Wrath went to speak and Paine was quick to warn, “Say one more thing and I promise you will not be able to speak for a whole moon cycle.”

Paine was glad Wrath wisely remained silent. He was aware that Wrath had no intentions of leaving his side, fearful that Paine would do something foolish. He was not prone to displays of foolishness. He did what he was told and never questioned... not until Anin.

He had grown used to protecting her, keeping her safe from harm. How did he simply stop or was it because he had grown to care for her far too much? That he could do nothing about Anin being alone with the King in his sleeping chambers had his insides twisting and turning. He fought to keep himself on the bench when he wanted to jump up and rush upstairs and rip Anin away from King Talon. But what good would it do either of them. The King would see him punished and Anin would have no one to keep her safe.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to chase the ache that centered between them.

“The King will enjoy himself this night,” a warrior said to the other warrior walking beside him as they passed the table.

“And well he should with such a beautiful woman,” the other warrior added.

Paine glanced up and saw that it was the two warriors who had guarded Anin.

He clenched his hands into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.

“Paine, you will only make it worse,” Wrath cautioned.

“Worse? You think it can get any worse than it already has?”

“You know the King would not hold her against her will.”

“Aye, I know that, but I also know Anin would do anything to ensure—”

“Her safety,” Wrath finished. “She will do fine.”

Paine shook his head. “Not her safety...
my
safety. And that I cannot allow her to do.”

Wrath grabbed his arm when Paine went to stand. “Think about what you do. Unless it is dire circumstances, no one disturbs the King when he is occupied in his sleeping chambers.”

“This is dire circumstances.”

“It is foolishness.”

“Then I am a fool,” Paine said and yanked his arm from Wrath’s grip and stood just as frightful shouts were heard from upstairs, followed by rapid pounding on the floor. Paine and Wrath did not hesitate, they ran for the stairs.

~~~

King Talon had yet to move from where he stood by the fire pit or speak. Anin wondered if he remembered that she was there, he stood so still. She kept watch on him, not knowing what to expect, but intending to make it clear that she had no desire to mate with him. If he was as fair a man as Paine had said, then he would leave her be.

The fire crackled and spit and she watched as several sparks flew out of the pit and caught the bottom edge of the King’s long tunic and flamed to life.

Anin screamed, jumped, grabbed a long garment off one of the pegs and ran to the King. She fell on her knees at his feet, smothering the flames with the garment.

King Talon was quick to shed his tunic and looked down at Anin pounding the life out of the last few stubborn, small flames with her fist.

“Are you harmed,” she asked, bringing her head up and her eyes rounding as her glance landed on his manhood.

At that moment, Paine and Wrath burst through the door.

Fury raged through Paine, seeing King Talon naked and Anin on her knees in front of him. He went straight for Anin, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to her feet.

“Release her!” King Talon demanded harshly.

Fearing Paine would not obey the King, Anin yanked her arm free.

“Your hand, Anin,” King Talon demanded.

Paine’s fury mounted and he was about to reach for Anin again when he saw the back of her hand as she held it out to the King. It was swollen red.

“Wrath,” the King called out. “Get a servant to clean this mess.”

“Are you harmed, my King?” Wrath asked.

“Anin’s quick action saw that I suffered no harm. Now go send the servant here.”

“Should I get the healer,” Wrath asked.

“No, Paine will take Anin to Bethia when we are done here,” King Talon said and walked over to the pegs on the wall as Wrath took his leave.

Paine would tend Anin’s wound himself, though he would not tell the King that. He took quick steps to Anin as the King reached for his long leather tunic and belted it at his waist.

Anin spoke before he could, resting her uninjured hand on his chest. “I am fine, though I am glad you are here.” His feelings rushed over her. He was angry he had not been there to protect her, upset that she had been hurt, and furious with—

King Talon interrupted her thought with his command. “Tell me what my executioner is feeling,” King Talon said.

Paine turned to face the King. “I can tell you myself.”

“I do not want your words. I want hers.” King Talon looked to Anin.

Anin surprised both men and herself when she stepped closer to Paine, slipped her arm around his and said, “It is not right of me to voice his feelings. He will have to tell you himself.”

“I command
you
to tell me,” the King snapped.

“I will—”

“Hold your tongue or lose it!” King Talon ordered Paine and pointed to Anin. “You will tell me.”

A servant hesitated at the open door, his eyes wide with fright.

“See to cleaning this mess,” King Talon ordered and walked out the door.

Paine slipped his arm around Anin’s back and eased her to the door to follow the King. They passed by the steps to enter the only other room on the second floor, the King’s private chamber.

Anin hesitated to enter and Paine gave her a nudge. It was not a large room and a good-sized table and bench occupied most of it. Several chests sat about, some stacked three high. The small fire pit barely had a flame and Anin shivered from the chill.

Paine felt it and drew her closer against his side.

The King shouted for the servant and when he appeared, he ordered the man to tend the fire pit. In no time, flames sprouted and cast a glow around the room, warmth began to follow. The servant hurried out, shutting the door behind him.

King Talon pointed to Anin. “You will answer me.”

Paine gave her waist a slight squeeze. “Tell him.”

With Paine’s permission, Anin did not hesitate. “He is upset that I am hurt and that he was not there to protect me.”

“And he feels nothing towards me?’

“He felt anger, but—”

Again the King interrupted and looked to Paine. “Only anger? I thought I saw fury in your eyes when you entered the room.”

Paine did not deny it. “You did, my King.”

“But the anger was not for you, my King,” Anin said.

King Talon looked questioningly at Paine.

Paine knew the King would have his answer, but he hesitated.

“If there was one thing I could count on with you, Paine, is that you always spoke the truth to me.”

“I always will, my King.”

Again the King waited for an answer, his eyes intent on Paine.

“Anin would do whatever it took to protect me, to keep anything harmful from happening to me and I was furious I could not do the same for her.”

“It is good that you will always seek to protect and keep Anin safe, for that will be your task from this day on,” the King ordered. “Anin will not make a fitting Queen, but her abilities will serve me well. You will see no harm comes to her—ever.”

“You have my word, my King, that I will protect her with my life,” Paine assured him.

“I have no doubt you will.”

Anin did not like that her fate was once again not hers to choose, but at least she would not lose Paine.

“Take Anin’s hand,” King Talon ordered.

Paine took hold of her uninjured hand.

The King walked to stand in front them and placed his hand over theirs. “I join you two as one from this moment on. No one can break this union. No one can see it undone. I seal it forever.”