Caruso POV
I woke up completely refreshed. I turned to reach for Evangelina but she was not here. I recalled the events from last night and I felt like an absolute fool. I should not have embarrassed her in front of the servants like that. She is a princess and I know if anyone would have done that to me I'd of killed them for disrespect. I was however, only partially to blame this thing inside me does not help my anger. I walked over to my water basin, washed and got dressed. I asked one of the handmaids to bring breakfast to my chambers. When I was about to leave for Evangelina my guard knocked on the door.
"My Lord your father summons you." I rolled my eyes and ran my hand over my head in frustration.
I stomped down to my fathers chambers and barged in, he was sitting at his table eating breakfast.
I stretched out my arms, "you wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes. Why was Evangelina given a separate chamber?"
I sighed, "if you must know we had a disagreement and..." he cut me off.
"For gods sake Caruso, you have only been married to the girl for two days. You cannot just send her away when you throw a tantrum. She's in a new setting and you left her alone!You need to grow up, she is no mistress you can just send away, you're her husband. She is to stay in the same room with you until she produces a child! Is that quite understood?" He coughed for a while and I nodded my head. "Perfectly understood father."
"If you continue this behavior I will give her to Alek, after all he only has one wife. How would you like that eh?"
My blood boiled at the thought of it. Evy was mine and I would never let my brother or anyone else have her.
"Don't you dare attempt that father Evangelina is my wife, I will not have her taken from me and given to my half brother!" I felt my eyes burn, I started to see red and growled in my throat, my beast was angry.
"Do not tempt me then, if you cast her aside one more time I will send her to Alek. I will make you watch him bed her as well. Do you think I am blind? I know your marriage is still unconsummated. Leave me, go make things right or I'll make your life miserable."
I turned and left his chambers infuriated! I needed to calm myself and in order to do that I needed to kill something but I wanted to speak with Evangelina. But I could not let my wife see me like this, she'd end up fearing me and hating me. I need to go see my mother, she must give me one of her elixirs.
I barged into my mother's small chamber, she turned and saw the red fury in my eyes. "Caruso what's going on? You're not supposed to let people see you this way."
"I know but father is provoking me and I am trying to keep my composure!" I grabbed my face with both hands out of frustration. "It's my fault, I need to try and control this thing within me!"
My mother Helga shook her head and gave me a sad look. She walked over to her wooden dresser and opened it, grabbed one of her many viles and handed it to me. I took the clear vile with purple liquid and drank it. My mother placed her cold hand on my cheek and stared into my red eyes. "I curse the day I married your father. It's his fault you have this demon inside you. His family is the one that carries this curse. Merek's is not as strong as yours, he controls it and Alek barely carries any symptoms. Your father says Alek hasn't felt the demon since he was eighteen years old. Maybe there is hope for you and Merek or perhaps it's my fault because I'm a witch. My magic probably enhanced its power, after all you're the only one from the three that can heal almost instantly." I nodded my head while closing my eyes feeling the monster quiet down. My blood pressure wasn't boiling any longer and I felt relief. I opened my eyes and my mother held my hand. I felt bad for putting her through this. I embraced her and stroked her salt and pepper long hair. "Thank you for loving me even though I am a monster. I don't know what I would do without you. This beast would probably take over and I would be lost forever." My mother squeezed me then let me go, "oh hush now don't say that. Remember you're stronger than this family curse I will love you even after I die, I am sure of it. Ah, enough of all this negative talk. Tell me, where is my new daughter? I want to ask if she would have mid day tea with me."
I stroked the back of my head and gave my mother a guilty face. Her eyes widened and shook her head, "you lost your temper didn't you? That's why your father had a word with you, it was about Evangelina. Caruso what did you do to her? Oh gods tell me you didn't hurt her!"
"No, no mother I didn't hurt her...not physically anyway but I spoke many harsh words to her. I regret it completely and I am going to make it right. I just needed to calm myself before I went to her. That's why I came to you first."
My mother shook her head, "be nice to her Caruso. It's not easy leaving your whole life and starting a new one with a strangers. She maybe a woman but in reality she's still a girl because she's been very sheltered. We females don't learn or do the same things as royal males. She's very naive son, please try and be a gentleman with her. Evangelina is scared and you loosing your temper with her isn't going to make her feel safe. I know from experience. You will do well to remember that next time you want to scold her."
I nodded, "I will mother I promise. Would you like me to ask Evangelina if she'd join you for tea? I'm going to see her now."
My mother's face lit up, "would you son? I'd like that very much, I always wanted a daughter. I'm rather lonely when you boys are busy with matters of state and hunting."
I smiled at my mother and conviction set in. I must visit her more often and not just when I needed her elixirs.
"Yes mother, I'm sure she would like that as well. Also, how is father's health?"
Her brow furrowed, "your father refuses to be sick, you know how stubborn he is. Like I told him, 'you can act as though you're fine but that doesn't mean you are'. The king's situation is bad, he has fluid in his lungs, that's why he coughs consistently. He wakes up with cough fits, not being able to breath. His heart is weak and he simply does not care. With the winter upon us I doubt he will see spring. I've tried to give him a few of my herbal concoctions but he refuses. I believe he wants to die so that he may go be with his queen."
Learning of my father's serious condition made me wonder why he didn't care but perhaps mother was right about him wanting to die. He has always had heart problems but because of this new issue, it may push him to his death. I shook my head, "has Merek told you of his plans?" I studied my mother's reaction, she nodded and worry was show on her face.
"Merek is as head strong as you my dear and you know when he sets his mind to a plan, he will see it through. He asked me to develop a poison for him but I refused. I want no part in the murder of my step son. I care for Alek in my own way, I helped him as a boy when he struggled with his demon. You know this, Daphne was desperate and she came to me for help. I promised her when she died I would help Alek with his monster if it ever presented itself again. I will not break my promise, from one mother to another."
"I'm conflicted about the whole ordeal, even though Alek irritates me, that doesn't mean I want him dead. Besides I still care about him and then there's little Sofia. I love Sofia and I don't want to be held accountable for killing her father, she'd hate me forever. But Merek is my brother by blood and he expects me to support his cause, no questions asked. I would do anything for Merek but just because he has this personal vendetta with Alek doesn't mean I do. Argh!" I let out a groan of frustration. My mother placed her hand on my shoulder, "always do what is right and make sure the demon is suppressed. If not that evil within you will cause calamity. Remember that all three of you carry it, if it's unleashed between you, hell will be raised and utter destruction will destroy you all. I'm not sure if I'll ever get any of you back once that happens. So please make wise choices, not just for you but for me, your wife and brothers."
I hated when she was so wise and convicting, she expected so much from me. Why me? I'm not always a reasonable person, I am also stubborn. As if she could read my thought she answered.
"I know I ask too much from you Caruso but between you and your brothers. You're the only one who ever takes heed to my council. Go now and make amends with your wife, I want to have my tea time, I deserve it."
We both chuckled and I gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I love you, you silly old witch. I'll see you soon." She laughed at my attempt at humor and smacked my arm. "Behave yourself demon, don't forget I love you more."
Now I was on a mission to make amends with my wife, I secretly hoped she would accept and come back to my chambers. I'd rather die than see her in the arms of my brother because I know my father would give her to him.
*****
Evangelina POV
When I woke up this morning I tried to ignore the the fact that my husband probably bedded a mistress. I suppressed my feelings because I had only been married two days. I did not completely know my husband, this stranger, who I had committed til death to. He is royalty, as am I and I knew that royal men always had mistresses. What bothered me was that our marriage still isn't consummated but he had no problem bedding a mistress. What was so wrong with me that he stopped himself on our wedding night? I was still bitter about that. Was this what my life was going to be like now? I knew this family had a bad reputation but Caruso's temper was nerve wrecking. I noticed a flicker of red in his eyes when he told me to leave last night. That scared me, he looked evil, maybe he was a monster after all. When we were in Sylvanio I felt connected to him, I felt that he would fall in love with me. Maybe I'm just naive and believed that the man I was forced to marry would actually love me and choose to only have me. I was wrong. I tried to eat some porridge but I had no appetite so I just drank wine. My mother would be disappointed if she knew I was drinking wine this early but I was weary.
"Knock-knock."
'Who could that be?' I wondered, "enter!"
Caruso glided in gracefully and it irritated me how presently handsome he was.
I frowned and turned my face from him.
"Have you come to gloat about your nightly activities? If so, do not bother, I am perfectly fine left alone. You made sure of that!"
I heard a slight chuckle from him and it infuriated me. 'The audacity of this man!'
"Why do you laugh?" I asked fuming.
"You look adorable when you're upset dear. You're so small but I'm sorry I meant no offense. And no my darling I have not come to gloat. I have come to apologize and ask if you will please return to OUR chamber. I had a sleepless night without you beside me. It was wrong of me to speak to you in that manner and it will not happen again. I visited no mistress and I promise you I will bed no one but you. If you forgive me, I will make it up to you."
I couldn't believe it, a Dracu man was actually apologizing for being irrational! Dracu men are known for their ruthlessness, I expected him to want me to apologize for upsetting him. I turned around still frowning so that he could see I was not going to forgive him so easily. I was utterly humiliated last night!
"Why should I go back to YOUR chamber? If you loose your temper again you will just cast me aside, I have no guarantee."
Caruso walked over to me and kneeled in front of me. He grabbed my small hand and kissed my knuckles. "Evangelina, you're my wife and yes I made a mistake. I have never been married before so I'm still learning what I should and should not do. I've learned my lesson and understand that I have no right to tell you to leave our quarters. I feel like a fool saying this but it's true. I had an idiotic temper tantrum and took it out on you. For that my dear, I am truly sorry. I had no right and I can assure you it will not be repeated."
I couldn't really be upset with him because he spoke truth, this marriage was still new to me as well. Since he took no mistress and apologized for humiliating me, perhaps I shall forgive him. But I still needed security so I offered him a small compromise.
Caruso studied my face waiting for my response. Oh god he is beautiful; those lips, his eyes and that piney scent.
"I accept, however, I think I should keep this chamber for my own. Just in case you forfeit on your word, I still don't know you completely husband."
Caruso chuckled and let his head fall, his long raven curls cascaded over my lap.
"As you wish but not to reside in, only to have tea or to sew...whatever it is that you women do when men are not present."
I couldn't help but smile at his ignorance of women. "Agreed." We both stood up then he bent down and kissed me. It was a long endearing kiss. When we disconnected he caressed a section of hair by my shoulder. "I really am sorry Evy, I will not disrespect you that way again." Knots churned in my stomach and I smiled at his sincerity.
"Speaking of tea, my mother would like to have midday tea with you today and possibly everyday."
I chuckled, "so your mother is the culprit."
Caruso shot a look of confusion, "what do you mean?"
"That's why you came to apologize because your mother scolded you."
He laughed and I joined in.
"Guilty," He proclaimed.
"I'd be more than happy to have tea with your mother. I need to thank her anyway."
We walked to OUR chambers holding hands and I felt happy.
*****