"You are playing a dangerous game."
Dion whirled around surprised to find Thena in his quarters. She still wore her black dress from the ball but she'd loosened her hair. He despised when she did that. It made him see her as that vulnerable woman he had once saw so many years ago.
"What are you doing in my room?" He demanded.
"Stay away from that girl." Thena demanded.
Dion startled. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Don't act dumb." She said darkly.
"You sound jealous." He smirked, loosening the rest of his shirt and throwing it in the corner. He watched with some satisfaction as her eyes darkened.
"I don't do jealous. Not when it comes to you. Not anymore." Thena said entering the room and perching on the edge of his bed looking at him darkly.
"I am saying this for your benefit." Thena said. "The King obviously holds some fascination for this girl. It would be wise not to get in his way." Thena pointed out.
"You sound like you are willing to actually let this continue." Dion remarked.
"It's not up to me." Thena said, watching as Dion walked up to her parting her knees slightly as he cupped her cheek.
"I think you underestimate your allure." he said quietly.
"You are usually so careful. The only reason you are even slightly curious about this girl is because the King is." Thena said darkly.
"He was my general before he was my King." He said gripping her cheek slightly.
"You are used to him taking your side in things." Thena said knowingly. "It drove you crazy when he not only saved her from you but also gave her a job in this castle."
"I wanted to see for myself what the allure was." He said moving away from Thena.
"Instead you found something in her that you yourself seemed to be fascinated by." Thena said. "But this is where it has to end. Continuing down this road will only lead you into more harm. It is not worth endangering yourself."
"Get out." Dion said quietly. "Your message has been received. Get out."
He waited for the sound of his bed moving before he turned back to see her retreating back, stiffening as he saw the faded whip marks on her lower back.
It was a reminder that while things had been going a certain way in this kingdom, it had been so much worse not too long ago. There had been a reason his notice had narrowed onto Asteria, he had seen her unique coloring and had immediately remembered the war of the stars. Of Asteria's people striving for domination over all, no matter what form that took.
Everything that was good about Asteria was also a stark reminder of the people that had once tried to enslave everyone. It was something he was determined to remember.
No matter what.
XXX
The library was colder in the early hours of the morning, still it gave her comfort, as she leaned against the table watching the windows that showed the dark ocean waters. A stillness dark void of nothing. Somewhere further than she could see her brother was on some pirate ship headed to an island full of cursed treasure. There was no accounting what dangers he could possibly be facing at that very moment.
And here she was.
In a beautiful dress, her face painted like a courtier, jewels in her hair. She felt like a traitor to her brother. For a moment today she had been happy, had felt truly happy and devoid of the sorrow that had filled her for so long. She had looked at Aderas and had wanted to do nothing more than kiss him. To lose herself in his arms for a moment. For a single moment. Like one of those other courtiers that dressed so exquisitely hoping for a single wonton glance from the King.
"I had hoped the ballroom would have been suffice enough to make you forget your troubles." Aderas said.
Asteria turned to look at him stiffening slightly. "Your majesty I hadn't heard you come in."
"Was I too forward?" Aderas said quietly, he walked slowly up to her.
Asteria looked at him steadily. "I was having fun." She whispered.
"And that's something you cannot do?" He asked steadily.
"My brother could be facing all kinds of danger and I'm here with you." Asteria said.
"With me." He said softly moving even closer to her, his arm going lightly to her waist as he settled in between her legs. "You don't have to worry. Kailani is trustworthy."
"To you. You trust her. But I don't know her. I barely know you, and I've trusted you with the most important thing in my life. The only important thing in my life. You could make me all the promises in the world, but until he's here, I will always be looking out the window wishing for some sign that my brother is coming back." Asteria scowled.
"I wish I knew what it was like to care for someone so much." Aderas said looking at her eyes. "I know what it is to hope. To feel like you don't have a right to be happy. Those painful feelings never go away. I would never try to take them away from you. I just hoped that you would smile even for a moment." he said lightly caressing her cheek.
"I did." Asteria said softly. "With you, I always seem to forget my troubles."
"And is that so bad?" Aderas asked quietly.
"Maybe it is." Asteria said looking up at him. "You're the King."
"And you are the most exquisite person I've ever met." Aderas said softly leaning forward and pressing his lips against hers. Swallowing her gasp, and smiling against her lips, pulling her against him as he lost himself in her forgetting for a moment that he shouldn't do this. No matter how good it felt, no matter how good she felt in his arms.
She could never be his, but maybe for one night they could both lose themselves in each other.
Just for one moment.