Chapter 48 Apologies your majesty
"You don't have to be sorry amica mae. I understand and I won't pressure you to do anything you don't want to but please you have no reason to feel embarrassed around me. I'm your mate. You also don't need to avoid me, if you need space you can just ask. And don't let anyone force you to do anything, if you ever feel like anyone here is belittling you or making you do anything against your will you tell me first, yes?" It wasn't a question, it was a direct order.
His tone was sharp and his face stoic as he tried to get a read on her. He could tell the gears in her head were turning and if her hold on her bottom lip told him anything she was struggling to say something.
He shamelessly watched the action, his gaze shifting. Before he could register his actions his thumb had moved on its own. Trailing along her bottom lip he released it from her toothy grip, shaking his head in disapproval, "Don't do that love. If you have something to say speak. Don't be scared, you're a good girl, yes?"
Her heart fluttered and her lower abdomen heated up at his words. He must surely know what his words were doing to her, right? The way his eyes had begun turning gold told her what she needed to know. Darius could smell her arousal, smell the tension and the desire Audrey was emitting in waves. He could feel how her breath hitched after each words he uttered.
"I've lived for a very long time Audrey. You already know that and I've been to so many places and seen a lot of things. Evolution, creation, life cycles come and go, species die. I've seen this whole world be built up from the ashes of the old world, my time. But you must know that you are the only one who has managed to captivate all my senses and it isn't only because you are my destined soul mate but because the world transpired to bring us together and I would be damned if I let you go. You belong with me, and even if it takes me years to make you realise that then it's a good thing I'm immortal, yes?"
Tears had gathered in her eyes but Audrey willed them not to fall instead she settled for resting her head against his chest. The soft beating of her heart mixed with his was the most melodious sound she had heard. His fingers slipped into her scalp, slowly but tenderly treading through her curls.
"I can't change what happened in the past no matter how hard I want to but I can and I will do everything in my power to make your future better. You're beautiful and I can't express how utterly awestruck I am by you. If I have to I will use all of eternity to convince you that you are safe and loved. Let me protect you baby"
And as the words left his lips a lone tear slipped down her cheek. His words had penetrated the walls around her heart and left no brick in place.
Her lips had parted but before she could get a word out her chamber doors came flying open, four ladies falling through.
Four pair of wide eyes met Audrey's and when she realised what position she had been caught in mixed with the wide grins on Anaise, Orchid and Greer's faces she swiftly got off Darius's lap, stumbling in the process.
He was quick to grab into her hip, steadying her flustered form. He turned to look at the four intruders and a growl threatened to tear through his lips but he instead shut his eyes tight and focused on the little kitten before him to calm both he and Phoenix down.
"Our apologies your majesty" Greer spoke up, throwing a glare to a seething Astrid. She had forced her way in even after the three girls had tried to stop her. Anaise stood on the look out at the bottom of the grand stairs that lead to Darius's quarters.
She had seen Astrid marching up and had tried to stall her from going to look for Audrey by telling her the truth, she was with the king and they shouldn't be disturbed but it only seemed like there words fueled Astrid's rage as she pushed past her sister and began her journey to the West wing of the castle. She had passed by Orchid and Greer who were swift to come in her path to stop her.
"Stop Astrid, you can't go in there" Greer refused, her stare hard as she looked at the intruder.
"And why not!?" She asked, feigning oblivion. Inside she was seething with rage and with each breath she drew her rage only increased. She had been waiting for Audrey by the water and the celebrations were well on their way but the candles hadn't been distributed and neither were the boat rides allowed without the king and his mate.
Astrid had planned this out perfectly but now there was a big obstacle. How could the girls be hiding the king and Audrey away! They were getting closer behind closed doors.
"Audrey's mate is in there. You can't walk in there, if you need her so bad you can wait or we could help" Orchid offered, her attempt only making Astrid angrier.
"I won't wait for whatever you girls have planned. This" she gestured around, referring to the general situation. "All this is too much, you can't force something like this, if it isn't supposed to happen it won't. Trapping them in a room won't make them fall in love and automatically make Audrey a good queen nor would it make her love Darius" Astrid rolled her eyes, glaring hard at the three girls who still stood in her way.
"It's his majesty to you" Greer started, stepping closer to Astrid. "And it is meant to happen, whether you like it or not Audrey is the King's mate" she stressed the king more than any words to get her point across. "And he loves her more than his own life and he would not think twice before leaving this kingdom all for her so it's either you accept it or you don't. It won't change anything"
They were full on having a stare down and before Greer could register what was happening Astrid was pushing past them and running straight for Audrey's chambers.
The three girls went after her but got there late with only enough time to grab her before the door came flying open and they fell through. When Orchid and Greer's gazes flickered over to the pair intimately positioned on Audrey's bed their lips twisted into a grin. Their plan had worked!