Sometimes I wished I was a bird, who could fly away from all my troubles. Ironically I was a half-bird, who could but manage short flights. Even my magical transformation, I could only do half it seemed. Nothing was working in my favor. I was neither a magical monster nor a charming noblewoman. I was just a foolish young woman, whose whole life had gone for a toss in the past few days. Suddenly I was dealing with not one but two Northern men, Andora was in danger, and my life was all topsy turvy.
I sighed, as I felt the reassuring sunshine on my face.
"Penny for your thoughts, sister?"
Eva came and flopped next to me on my blanket. "So where is your to be fiance? It's been a couple of hours and he is nowhere to be found? Is one of the maids of Andora getting lucky?"
I looked up at Eva startled. Her face was flushed and she held a champagne flute in her hand. Her beautiful face twisted into a bitter smile, "Not all of us are as lucky as Evolina. She knew Paris before they married. They fell in love, and what she has few women in the Kingdom will have. We are all pawns in Father's game. The wealth and riches of Andora must grow."
I was rather shocked to see my sunny sister so cynical.
"What happened to you today?"
"Ah sister, it isn't about today. I am to be betrothed to the Grand Duke of Ascan himself, not his son. Apparently, beauty is both a blessing and a curse for us women."
"Oh! Father never mentioned that to me when we spoke." I sat, my mind whirring in confusion. How come Evolina got away from father's machinations?
As if reading my mind, Eva said, "Evolina was already with child when she got betrothed sister. Mother and father couldn't do much then could they?"
I was shocked beyond words. So, that's why the hurried wedding and the reason for her not to return home yet. The world indeed worked in stranger ways than my mind could fathom. Eva mistook my silence for sadness and put her hand on my shoulder.
"It's not so bad sister. There are always fetes and galas to attend for us. Pretty dresses and charming men to admire us. At least, while we are young."
I felt suffocated immediately and wanted to run away. From Eva, from the picnic to my very favourite place in the world, the ruined castle. I got up abruptly and headed for the woods, ignoring Eva's admonitions. I ran till the music and noise of the picnic was far behind me till the cordoned off path that led to the castle through the woods surrounding the lake. I stood there panting, fed up with the world and my life.
There was a small space here on the fence, where I could sneak in, a part of the fence which looked intact, but could be moved and placed back. I pushed it away now and crept onto the path, replacing the fence as silently as I could.
I ran down the path at breakneck speed, with a strong urge to reach my favourite place the ruined castle. The trees were rushing past me, and I pushed the overgrown branches and ran blindly to my destination, till I hit a wall with a thud. Strong arms held me to steady me. It wasn't a wall, but Ashmeer.
"What are you doing here?", we both asked each other simultaneously.
"I....but where have you been since morning?," I asked him accusingly.
"I had some work, Little One. Already playing the jealous wife, are you? We haven't even been betrothed yet."
"I'm not jealous," I protested. "I wanted to speak to you about something important."
"You may speak now, we are alone here."
I was suddenly conscious of my surroundings. The woods here were very thick and dark. Very little light penetrated here, and I realized that Ashmeer was still holding me in his arms, very close. I could smell his scent, and hear his heartbeat. I was conscious of his gloved arms on my shoulders, his lips close to my forehead, our bodies so close to each other, yet not touching. To my shock, Ashmeer's eyes were shut, as if he was relishing each moment.
"Oh, the things, I could teach you Little One," he murmured before bending his lips to mine, crashing them against me.
Our lips touched and mingled, and I felt tiny jolts of electricity from Ashmeer. He was kissing me hungrily, and I stood still, lips clenched, accepting his kiss, but not relenting till I heard a voice in my head.
"Open your mouth Azriel...."
Did Ashmeer speak, no he did not. His lips were on mine, his hands were digging into me almost painfully, but the voice was nudging me seductively now....open..open....till my lips parted involuntarily and I kissed Ashmeer back. My hands went around his neck of my own volition and we were both lost in abandon.