“I wasn’t informed you were going to leave the grounds,” the guard reiterates.
“Can you keep me here against my will?” I ask.
“I’m not allowed to touch you,” is all he gives in response. That doesn’t really answer my question. In frustration I turn around and start walking, trying to ignore them, but it’s hard to ignore five big men following you around. Everyone turns to look as I pass, whispering behind their hands. I wonder what they are saying about me.
I stroll down the long drive and know that I’ll never make it to the end of it without falling over with exhaustion. I remember the tough journey when we arrived. My shoulders drop when I know I’m going to have to go back and face James.
“Yes, sir.” I glance over my shoulder to see the main guard with a phone to his ear. “I tried to get her to stay, but she wouldn’t.” He pauses for a moment. “You told me not to touch her.” His eyes meet mine. “Of course, sir.” The man reaches out, trying to hand me the phone.
“The king would like to speak to you.”
“Well, I don’t want to speak to him,” I tell him, walking past him and heading back towards the castle. For some reason I feel more betrayed by James than my own uncle. I know that’s ridiculous and unreasonable, but there it is. It’s probably because my uncle never made me hope. He never made me believe in fairy tales only for them to be taken away and proven false. It’s cruel and cuts deeper than anything I’ve ever felt. How can I be so attached to something I never even had?
I slowly climb the stairs up to the castle and make for James’s room. I’m not sure exactly where I’m going, but I know the vague direction of his quarters. I notice the guards stop following me and drop back when I get close. I slow my steps in a stalling tactic, wondering which door is his. I don’t want to see him yet. I want to hide away even though I know he’ll find me.
I decide to bite the bullet and open the closest door, then smile when I see it’s another bedroom. Not as big as James’s but still just a beautiful. I walk in and close the door, clicking the lock into place. I can’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction at that, even though I know a locked door won’t stop a king in his own castle.
I collapse onto the comfortable bed and think over the last few hours, wondering what the hell I’m going to do.
Chapter Ten
James
I grip my phone tightly and an ominous cracking noise emanates from it. I toss it towards one of my men. I know I’m going to need a new one. What the fuck happened while I was gone? I left my princess satisfied in bed only to find out now she’s trying to escape my castle.
Before I left I made sure to have a small army keep an eye on her for me. It was intended to protect her rather than stopping her from leaving. Either way, I’m glad now that I did it. I never thought about how they would stop her if she did try to leave, given my strict order that no one touch her.
The order had come from pure jealousy. How could any man look at her and not want to touch her? So I made it clear that anyone who did wouldn’t breathe to tell anyone about how soft her skin is. If I could I would tell them not to even look at her, but even I know that’s over the top. They wouldn’t be able to protect her that way, and I couldn’t keep her locked away in our room, no matter how much I like that idea.
I pick up the pace back to the car, sliding into the back seat when the driver opens the door. “Get me back now,” I order. I should have stayed at the castle, but I wanted to make sure things were done, and done the way I wanted.
When the castle comes into view, relief fills me just knowing I’m closer to her. The car doesn’t even come to a stop before I’m jumping out and running up the stairs. I hear John shout my name, but I ignore him. He’s just going to bitch about my safety and I have more important matters to deal with.
I jog towards our room, but slow down when I see the head guard I put on Kate, Grant, standing there.
“What the fuck happened?” I ask. Whoever upset her is going to face my wrath, and it won’t be good.
“Nicolette Court has been detained and is being held in John’s office.”