The next morning I awoke alone. Some point after our intimacy Killian left. My body was sore and I could see where blood stained my legs and the sheets revealing our night together.
I rolled to my side, opening the canopy that encircled the enormous bed. The curtains to the windows were open, and the sun shone through shocking my groggy eyes awake.
I tried to get up and move to begin my day, but I was met with intense pain. My whole lower half felt as though someone had stabbed me with a hot iron. He had been true to his word and met with with gentle hands and compassion. It had been painful at first, but as time went on, I felt pleasure. With every stroke, I wanted, I needed, I yearned for more. Until I felt this euphoric sensation blast through me creating an intense feeling of relaxation.
However, as all good things do, it ended. He didn't leave right away. He held me for a short bit, twirling his fingers in my hair and breathing slowly. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I listened as his heart steadily beat and felt the rise and fall of each breathe he took. I don't know when it happened, but at some point I fell asleep and he left.
Just as I got the strength to get up, a knock sounded at my door and my maids entered. Neither said a word as they bathed the blood from from my thighs and removed the bloody sheets. I stayed silent as well, afraid that speaking would make last night even more real than I recalled.
Sitting down for breakfast Killian entered the room, looking refreshed. His face was unreadable. Not completely stand-offish as before nor was it filled with joy, his facial expression today read indifference. I didn't speak, afraid if I did he'd leave.
So we did what had become normal for us, we sat, silently. I could hear the scraping of his fork and knife against the plates and the distinguished way he chewed his food like a ravished animal. I felt my blood begin to boil. If there was anything that was going to push me over the edge, it was those sounds. Those irritatingly painful sounds made me stand up, walk over to his side of the table, look him dead in the eyes and say, "For all that is good in this world learn to eat like a dignified man of nobility and not some animal in a barn!"
The moment the words slipped from my mouth I regretted them. I wanted to gather them all together and revert them back. But it was too late. I could feel his rage radiating off of him like the suns beams from this morning.
In response, Killian stood, picked up his plate, forked a large piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth. The entire time maintaining eye contact with me. He began chewing and moaning loudly. He finally swallowed his food and retorted, "I will eat how I damn well please, and you will learn to accept that! You may be my wife, but you are not in control of me. I will eat as I please, sleep as I please, and live my damn life as I please. As you put it, "I am only your husband in name". You will take note today."
He then threw his plate on the ground, whistling for the hounds to come clean it up and he turned and stormed out. I stood shocked.
The maids quickly shooed away the hounds and picked up the remaining food and plate. Beccah my personal maid came rushing over, "Are you okay m'lady? Lord Killian seemed rather angry with you."
Of course he was angry. I yelled at him infront of the servants and treated him like he was a child. I was frustrated that he left me to wake up alone and in pain after such an intimate evening. But wasn't that how he said it would be? All I knew was if I continued to see Killian Altair the way I saw him last evening, I'd surely perish. I'd rather he kept his distance and his hatred for me, than to feel this sense of longing for him.
As I gathered myself and left, I was caught off guard by one of the clansmen who had accompanied Killian here.
"I'm sorry m'lady, I did not mean to frighten you. My name is Sir Anlon O'Brien, I am here as a personal guard to his lordship Killian. Do you know where I may find him?"
Anlon was a handsome man. A bit shorter than Killian, but just as broad and muscular. His hair was a bit longer and a dirty yellow. His face was angelic, he looked young, but the scar through his brow left an untold story.
Smiling in return to Anlon's boyish grin, I replied, "I'm sorry Sir Anlon, my husband just left from breakfast a bit upset with me. I would suppose he would like to blow off some steam. Perhaps you know better than I where he could accomplish such a thing?"
Anlon smiled, "For you to have made Killian angry, you must have embarrassed him. He's normally a level-headed man. However, it seems when the subject is you, his ability to think rationally goes out the window."
"I merely pointed out his barbaric way of eating. I was simply trying to help," I retorted.
Anlon began laughing and replied, "That would do it. I would guess Killian is out on a hunt or is beating up my men. I shall go and retrieve him. I will speak with you again I hope, you are an interesting woman to say the least."
"The pleasure is mine Sir Anlon," I bowed and watched as the cheery knight walked away still laughing.
I wonder what Killian's laugh sounds like.