Garbed in a fine evening blue gown, Isabella glumly roamed through the castle hallways adrift in her own world. The staff hurriedly passed her to complete their chores as she meandered through the palace. Here and there a servant would inquire if Isabella were feeling ill, and she would gracefully reply with a weak smile informing them she was fine. She tried to present her best façade that all was perfect, but inwardly Isabella wrestled with uncertainty. Still alarmed by Nathanial’s behaviour the previous evening, she could not shake a feeling of deep-seated uneasiness. Confusion clouded her thoughts about the previous evening.

After her husband trashed his room, Isabella held Nathanial for a long-time last night as sobs racked his body. When his head rose from her lap, his mood had shifted from sniffling to snippiness. In a state of shock, she focused on picking up shards of glass and fragments of wood scattered on the floor. Isabella had a difficult time comprehending how a person could destroy a room to smithereens. She did not have a chance to ponder too long as Nathanial then commanded her to get out. Not wanting to upset her husband again, Isabella dropped the chunks of material she scooped up into a pile in the corner before taking her leave.

Retiring back to her room, Isabella in a state of disbelief sat on her bed for quite awhile. Exhaustion finally overtook her as she crawled under her blankets still dressed in her fancy gown. Awakening this morning, she struggled with worry and dread over Nathanial’s behaviour. His complete loss of control frightened her as she never imagined he reacted with such violence. Instead of destroying the contents of his room he could have easily ripped her to shreds. She vowed this morning she would avoid breaking any of Nathanial’s rules. This meant Isabella did not dare leave the castle even though she dearly wanted to go outside.

Isabella continued roaming the length of the hallway until she saw Ronan turn a corner in front of her. The warlock spotted her and came towards her as Isabella felt her mood instantly lighten. Approaching her, she noticed his solemn expression as she blurted out to him. “Ronan, how are you doing? How is your wound?” The dark-haired man shook his head as he shook off her concern. “It is fine. Just a superficial scratch.” Ronan placed both his hands on her arms and stared at her. She froze watching him unsure of how to vocalize last night’s events. He must have read her expression as he asked her. “Isabella. What is upsetting you?”

Their heads turned as two servants talking loudly to each other passed them. Ronan released his grip on her arms, but his hand wrapped around hers as he pulled her into an adjacent room. Isabella looked around as she followed him knowing that this was one of the bedrooms of a royal court member. She thought of warning him they could be caught, but Isabella needed the chance to speak with him alone. As he closed the door behind them, she was momentarily distracted by the opulence of the bedroom. The bed was draped in colorful satin throws and several shiny silver ornaments were scattered throughout the room.

She did not have any further chances to snoop around the room as Ronan’s tall muscular frame cut into her view. Isabella glanced up at the soft brown eyes staring back at her. “Did Nathanial hurt you?” Breaking his eye contact, she glanced at the floor figuring how to put the experience into words. “No, no….he just scared me.” Tears formed at her eyes as a lump formed in her throat. Isabella’s face flushed red with embarrassment as tears fell down her cheeks. Turning her head, she stated to Ronan. “He became so angry. I have never seen the likes of it before. I worry that Nathanial may have lost his mind.”

The warlock brought a hand up to her face gently touching her cheek. Isabella leaned her head into his palm as his thumb brushed away a tear. Softly Ronan said to her. “We need to get you out of here and far away from Nathanial.” A bolt of terror shot up her body as she stammered. “Oh my god, no, that will really upset him. I can be good and if I can listen to him, he will be fine. I did not listen to him, that was the problem. I went outside of the castle and I practiced magic. It is my fault. Nathanial would be so upset if he caught us even discussing escaping.” She recalled how angry her Dulra husband became when she tried to escape the castle.

His hand fell from her face and gently wrap around her waist. “Shh Princess. It is not going to get any better. You are not a slave to that vampire.” His arms pulled Isabella closer as she gazed up at his soft expression as she could not help but wish for another kiss. The dark-hair warlock must have heard her prayer as his head angled down placing his lips against hers. Isabella closed her eyes allowing herself to tumble into the warm sensation running through her body. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling herself up into his embrace and deepening the kiss. Fire racked her body as the kiss intensified and became more passionate.

The distress and trepidation over the king’s antics faded into the background as she focused on this present moment. Isabella could no longer battle the attraction she felt towards Ronan. A sense of guilt and betrayal mixed in with her emotions as she worried about leading on Samuel. But she had felt a spark with Ronan since he attended to her bruise that day in her bedroom. Isabella attempted to push it aside, but she was no longer strong enough to fight it. The dark-haired warlock pulled away from the kiss resting his forehead on hers. “Princess, I never thought I could feel this way. But ever since I saw you up on that stage, I vowed to protect you with my life.”

His large hands wrapped around her tiny hands as he continued to speak. “I cannot let you go now, and I am not leaving this castle without you. Be my wife, and I will treat you the way a Queen should be treated.” Isabella smiled as she had dreamed of the day when a man would whisper loving words to her. She still could not help but feel guilty as she asked him. “What about Samuel? Have I betrayed or lead him on?” Gazing up into his dark brown eyes, Ronan let out a laugh. “Samuel is a big boy. He will have to learn how to handle it. What say you Isabella about leaving this place and being my wife?”

Isabella felt the warmth of his hands against hers as she answered. “When do we leave?” Ronan broke his grip, pulling her into his arms in a tight hug. Relaxing in his arms, she breathed in deeply smelling his pleasant woodsy scent. Closing her eyes, Isabella relished the warmth radiating from his body. She savoured the heat as she had constantly struggled with the chilly mountain air. Wrapped up in his tall muscular frame gave her a sense of safety in his presence. No longer would she fear unrealistic demands placed against her and her body. For the first time, she could be truly loved by another. Something she had always wanted.

Questions invaded her thoughts that broke her out of her hopeful mood. Where was home for Ronan? Where would they go? Attempting to shake off her pessimism, Isabella decided she could adapt to any location. With any luck, perhaps there could be meadows and forests close by she could explore. Isabella could easily make any place home if she were able to be back in nature. She was excited at the thought of getting far away from this castle, away from the Council’s decree and to get away from Nathanial. Isabella initially believed she could make this situation of being the Queen work, but now she admits defeat. She can not stay here any longer.

The dark-haired warlock pulled her out of his embrace while still holding tight onto her hands. Ronan gazed downwards at Isabella and asked her. “Is something wrong?” With her head raised, she stared into his brown eyes as she grasped at her feelings. Even though she was excited at the prospect of leaving this godforsaken castle, she felt a hint of sadness. Being the people’s Queen, she would disappoint her constituents by leaving the kingdom. And by leaving with Ronan, Isabella was going to disappoint Samuel. “Are you having second thoughts?” Ronan gently inquired of her. Thwarting the question, she asked the dark-haired warlock. “Kiss me please.”

As his black hair fell in front of his eyes, Ronan leaned down softly kissing her cheeks before settling on her lips. Isabella molded her body against his as she welcomed the kiss. Ronan cupped the back of her head with his hand as his mouth opened slightly. She stood up on her tiptoes as the kiss began to intensify. Lost in the heat, Isabella was quite startled when loudly a door slammed shut behind them. Quickly pulling away from Ronan, she gaped at the sight of a tall thin redhead glaring at the two of them. Isabella instantly recognized the redhead from the night of the ball as Nathanial’s companion.

The redhead flatly stated to them. “Sorry to interrupt your smooching session, but you are in my bedroom.” Isabella blushed as she searched her memory for the name of the Dulra woman. “Excuse me….” The tall redhead sneered at Isabella. “Jennifer, your highness. My name is Jennifer.” Isabella nodded in apology. “Excuse me Jennifer, we will leave.”

Taking Ronan’s hand, Isabella began to pull him closer to the door. As she opened the door, the woman’s voice interrupted them again. “Don’t you have to get ready for the competition tonight?” Isabella’s blood ran cold as she spun around to the redhead as she exclaimed. “What?”

“The king, your husband, Nathanial convened another round of competitions starting tonight.”