Vincent's POV
"Richard!" I called, my voice snapping with a force even I didn't fully intend. Across from me, he'd been saying something mundane, something that might've mattered any other day.
But today, my mind was elsewhere
"Yes your Majesty?" he answered
I leaned forward, fingers clasped, my eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"What's a baboon?"
He blinked in confusion, adjusting his glasses. "Pardon me, your Majesty?"
"I said, what's a baboon?"* I repeated, feeling irritation creep into my voice.
"I, uh… I'm not sure, sir."
I clenched my jaw, recalling the insult. "She called me a pompous baboon." The words tasted bitter, her voice ringing in my mind. Iris was now consuming my thoughts more than ever and it was pissed me off.
Flashes of images of our kiss from the day before wouldn't stop stirring and arousing me in inappropriate situations.
"A pompous baboon? Your Majesty?" Richard asked in a joining disbelief as well. His repeated questions pissed me off and I shot him a glare.
"Yes… anyways-"
Suddenly, a royal guard burst in cutting me off and snapping me from my brooding. "Your Majesty! The messenger from the Moon Palace is back. Shall I send him in?"
My pulse quickened at the thought. "Of course. Send him in." I leaned back, already anticipating her reaction to my gifts.
"I know she would be left speechless" I boasted inwardly, a triumphant smile creeping on my face.
The messenger wobbled in, his wrinkled face twisted with unease.
"Your Majesty," he began with a shaky bow, "the duchess…" he hesitated, swallowing hard. Suddenly a dreadful feeling loomed over me, like I knew his statement was about to be something displeasing.
"What of her?" I demanded, tension coiling in my chest and my expression darkened before I realized it.
The messenger took a loud gulp before he continued. "she rejected your gifts your Majesty"
I felt a shock course through me. "What?!" I shot up from my chair, my voice reverberating in the room. The messenger and Richard flinched.
Swallowing my frustration, I forced myself back into my seat, motioning the messenger to continue.
"She… she sent a letter in response." He held it out, trembling.
I motioned for Richard to bring it to me, tearing open the envelope with barely concealed fury revealing the white paper that bore Iris's clumsy handwriting. My continued to race inside me that I felt an unsettling heat craw up in me.
"What could she possibly have written to me now after rejecting my gifts?" I mumbled quietly, hesitating to read the contents of the letter.
" Dear Vincent, I appreciate your weak efforts to please me and try to change my mind about our marriage, however I have made up my mind and I no longer want to be your bride. Yes I may have loved you in the past but now you mean absolutely nothing to me as much as I mean nothing to you, so let's in our mutual benefits, part ways.
Iris"
My blood ran hot, my fist crushing the letter into a ball that I tossed aside without a second thought. The messenger and Richard both flinched, but I couldn't care less. All that mattered was the stubborn, infuriating woman who seemed bent on tearing her way out of my life.
My brows squeezed as I tried to push my anger away and maintain a calm demeanor. "why is she still so hell bent on ending our marriage?" I thought silently.
The image of the words "Yes I may have loved you in the past…" fell back on mind. "The past?" I scoffed clenching my jaws tight. "Calm down Vincent… she's just being difficult to get your attention" I reassured myself. "well now she has my attention" I continued, forcing a bitter smile at my thoughts.
I always knew Iris loved me and I strongly believed she still did, after all she used to act like she couldn't breathe without me near her. "Its all an act Vincent, don't fall for it!" I convinced myself.
"Richard!" My voice cut through the silence. "Prepare my horse. We're going to the Moon Palace." I ordered
"Yes, Your Majesty." He rushed out.
"You may go too!" I pointed at the messenger who breathe a sigh of relief.
The door closed behind them, leaving me alone with the thoughts of her, of how her defiance was like nothing I'd ever experienced. "Fine, Iris. If you want to be difficult, I'll match you every step of the way"
My whole muscles tensed as I stood up and walked to the door of my office.
I barely reached the middle of the hallway, when I was met with Simon approaching. I frowned at his appearance. "What now?" I thought to myself almost rolling my eyes. Iris's response to my gesture had totally ruined my day.
"Good afternoon my king" he greeted with a bow. "I see you're leaving for somewhere, shall I come back?" His voice almost hiding his curiosity at my angry appearance.
"it's alright, what news have you brought for me?" I questioned him, stifling the irritation inside my voice.
"Ah well, it's about Atlas your Majesty… he has successfully conquered Silver Rose and is making his way back to Estoria leading the army…He shall soon arrive at your court to give his report like you commanded my king"
My name Atlas sparked something inside me, I was so occupied with Iris I almost forgot about Atlas.
"Hmmn when will he arrive? I asked.
"In about a week my king."
"Very well then I shall be expecting him. Is that all Simon?" my voice showing subtle hints of eagerness to end the conversation quickly.
"Yes your Majesty" He answered
"Good! Then be on your way!" I said walking past him. The brief thought of Atlas soon drowned by Iris again.
Within hours, I was there, striding through the halls, her scent haunting every corner of the Moon Palace that I hadn't visited in a long while.
The staff scurried away, their faces tense with fear. One elderly maid, more brazen than the others, finally dared approach me.
"Your Majesty!" She gasped, her voice trembling. "What are you doing here? "Had we known you were coming, we would have prepared–"
"Do I need a reason to come to my own palace?" I didn't want their courtesies or greetings. I wanted her. I exhaled sharply as my patience grew thinner. "Why is everyone on my nerves today?" I thought angrily.
"I'm sorry your Majesty- I simply wished to welcome you better than this" her weak voice barely audible.
"It doesn't matter, I'm here to see Iris! Where is she? I asked in annoyance. I wasn't interested in any other thing at that moment.
The only thing I wanted was to see my mate, my Iris. I felt my wolf rousing inside me as my blood continued to rush inside my veins. "She must be near." I thought. My nose caught tiny whiffs of her scent.
I noticed the maid remained silent at my question, looking nervously while she avoided my gaze.
"Look at me!" I commanded, my clear voice thundered through the hallway filled with tension.
Her head shot up as she met my menacing gaze. "Where is Iris?" I asked again.
"Sh-she isn't around your Majesty-" the maid stuttered.
"Do you take me for a fool?" I cut her off sharply.
"No- I" she stuttered again finding the words to say but couldn't find any.
A deep sigh escaped my mouth " I don't have time for this." I muttered walking past her.
I reached the entrance of Iris's room, her scent grew stronger and stronger making me more excited. I pushed the door open but the room was empty. My wolf stirred again in frustration.
I barely stepped inside when I turned, a red flash of fabric at the end of the hallway catching my eye.
At the end of the hallway, I saw a large balcony that overlooked a garden I knew well. I couldn't see her but I knew she was close though, her presence lingering in every breath of air I took. Her scent called to me,
I turned to the direction of the balcony and began walking towards it following my suspicions.
I reached the edge where I saw the fabric, I heard hasty footsteps that seemed to grow farther and farther away from me. It immediately clicked. "she's hiding from me" I thought and picked up my pace. I followed the direction of her footsteps leading out of the balcony to the garden.
After about half a minute of running I finally saw her and increased my speed even further. Without warning, I reached out, catching the edge of her dress and pulling her to a stop.
She thrashed, a growl of frustration escaping her, but I held her firm. "Let me go!" she spat, her voice laced with venom and something else, something that only fueled my need for her.
When she finally gave up, we both stood still catching our breaths.
"Why are you here Vincent?" she asked, her soft voice filled with anger. "Have you finally decided to reject me?" she sneered.
I felt the familiar heat build up inside me again as my gaze fell on her back.
My mind dazed from the word she spat at me ignoring her questions. I was more focused on how roused something insatiable within me.
Her orange curls were braided in two parts that laid gracefully on her neck. Leaning in, I brushed a hand over her braid, my breath tickling her skin. "Why are you making this so difficult, Iris?" I murmured against her ear, savoring the way her skin flushed, that small victory igniting something dangerous within me.
"Vincent- Look…" She twisted to face me, her defiance barely concealing her own vulnerability. "I'm not the one making this difficult, you are!" she protested, her lips pulling my gaze, drawing me in again.
I was losing myself, my sanity fraying at the edges. Her lips, those soft, full lips that I knew the taste of, were so close. She was so close.
Her words bounced off my ears as I continued to suppress my growing desire for her. "is this the mate bond?... It has to be… it didn't make sense that someone I've spent years hating even as my fated mate suddenly mattered so much to me"
"Hey are you listening to me?!" she yelled. Her voice pulled my gaze away from her lips to her dull green eyes that glistened under the sun.
"Vincent please stop making me miserable and just let me go" she continued in a pleading tone. "You hate me, don't you?" she asked, her voice breaking just slightly.
My chest tightened, her question catching me off guard. Before I could think, the words slipped from my lips, reckless and raw. "What if I don't?"