Shadows Of Desire

King Desmond was furious. “How dare he?” He shouted at the poor servant who had the great misfortune of informing the King that his only son was found dead, in his bed, apparently having taken his own life. “How dare that insolent little bastard humiliate me this way?” He slammed his fist down on the hard oak dinning room table so hard that a deep crack splintered and snaked along the center of the table. “I should have had the brat guarded until his wedding night!” He ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed in frustration.

Lady Caroline tried to hide her smile as she glanced towards her daughter and a knowing look passed between the two. Emilia smirked as she cut into the slice of ham on her plate. This was just the news she’d been waiting to hear.

“I suppose you’ll have one of the servants take word of the Prince’s demise to Lord Killian?” Lady Caroline asked as she took a sip of the blood wine next to her plate. “I’m sure he’ll be most devastated by the news.”

“No, I should deliver the news in person.” The King growled. “I’m sure he’ll want compensation for the loss.” Rage flashed in his eyes at the thought of having to pay anything for an omega who, in his eyes, held no value at all.

“Perhaps some good will come from this tragedy.” Lady Caroline was quick to try and quell the King’s anger.

“What good could possibly come of this?” The King hissed. “I had a deal with Lord Killian. Now because of my coward of a son, that deal has been broken and I am back to having no heir!”

“Well,” Lady Caroline sat her wine glass down as her mouth twisted into a sinister grin. “That part can be taken care of as soon as we wed. I, my love, will provide you with many sons. But, as far as your deal with Lord Killian, I have a solution to that as well. Lady Emilia is available and quite smitten with the Duke. She will make an adequate replacement and, if I may, your Majesty, a much more suitable bride. He should have chosen her in the first place but, I’m willing to forgive his poor judgment. Once they are married.”

The King narrowed his eyes as he glared at his fiance. “Devious and shrewd as always my dear. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you had orchestrated this entire debacle just to ensure your daughter’s marriage to the Duke.”

Lady Caroline chuckled. “You flatter me, my love. But no. I would never go against your decree. I am simply trying to find the silver lining in all this. Lord Killian and Emilia would be a perfect match and would solve your problem of having to compensate the Duke financially.”

“Are you positive that this isn’t some scheme to ensure your daughter becomes Queen? Because, if it is, let me assure you, my Lady, that will never happen. Only my blood will assume the throne when I am gone and as I have many centuries left in me, I will no doubt find a wife who will produce a male heir. Whether that is you or not remains to be seen.”

Lady Caroline pressed her lips into a straight, thin line. Her fist clenched around the handle of the knife she held and her blood began to boil. You will not live long enough to see your heir born. She thought. Of that I will make sure.

“Of course not, my love.” She forced a smile as she attempted to compose herself. “I was merely suggesting a solution. It is up to you if you take my advice or not.”

The King nervously stroked his beard as he thought over the predicament he was in. “I’ll take it under advisement.” He said finally, returning to his seat. He stared at the food in front of him, no longer having much of an appetite. His conversation with Lord Killian was not going to be a pleasant one and he loathed the idea of having to pay the man anything. The Duke already had more lands than any other noble in Basmorte and more wealth than he knew what to do with.

The King drummed his fingers on the table top. He was in a precarious position. It was no secret that what Lord Killian craved more than wealth was power. That was why he was so eager to wed Rowan. It would ensure his place within the royal family, something he’d sought after for years but was never able to attain. When word came to the King that Lord Killian was beginning to grow his personal guard into a small army, King Desmond became concerned. His own army was vast and could easily overpower Killian’s guard but that wasn’t what worried him.

Killian had begun to gain favor with the nobles and already had a few of the most powerful families in Basmorte in his back pocket. His influence and power over the Kingdom was beginning to grow from just being a slight inconvenience to a potential threat. If he managed to sway the gentry as well as the peasantry his way, well, there could be a full scale rebellion in the works. The union of Lord Killian and Prince Rowan was meant to ally the two houses as well as allow King Desmond to keep an eye on the Duke. It seemed the King’s plan had now died with Rowan, leaving him vulnerable again.

Still, perhaps Caroline was right. Emilia wasn’t his blood but she would become his step-daughter once he and Lady Caroline were wed and King Desmond could officially give her the title of Princess if he so desired. It infuriated him to think of that spoiled and entitled little wench calling herself royalty but what was worse? Indulging her fantasies a little or giving Lord Killian cause to rally his forces and lead an insurrection? No, Desmond couldn’t allow that. He did not have the forces nor the finances to survive a war with the nobles. If peace meant sacrificing Emilia to the Duke then Desmond would offer her up on a silver platter. At least, he thought, It would get the little bitch out of my hair.

***

After the morning meal was concluded, Lady Caroline and Lady Emilia retired to Caroline’s sitting room. Once there, she dismissed the servants and locked the door.

Emilia dropped herself down in one of her mother’s cushioned arm chairs and giggled like a silly school girl. “I still can’t believe the little fool actually trusted that I wanted to help him.”

“Yes.” Lady Caroline smiled with pride as she stroked the side of Emilia’s face. “You can be quite persuasive when you want to be, my dear. Even I’ll admit, I was skeptical that the plan would work. I was almost certain that the Prince would see through the ruse and alert the King.”

That was her biggest fear. If the King discovered her treachery, what would he have done to her? The Prince’s death had to look like suicide, there was no other way. If he had discovered that the vile he’d been given was, in fact, poison and had gone to the King then Lady Caroline as well as Emilia would have been executed. No matter how the King felt about his son, the murder of a Prince was an offense punishable by death.

“You’re plan was perfect, mother.” Emilia squealed in delight. “Now that the little bitch is gone, there is nothing that will stand in my way. I will be married to the Duke before the month is out.”

“Do not get ahead of yourself.” Lady Caroline warned as she sat in her chair near the fire. She brushed a stray hair away from her face then laid her arm over the arm rest. “First we have to convince the Duke that it would be in his best interest to marry you which, I don’t think will be that difficult. What with all of your charms and attributes.”

“Oh I think I can convince him.” Lady Emilia cocked an eyebrow as a sinful smirk played across her crimson lips. “I have just the thing to encourage him.” She said, placing a hand against her abdomen. “He won’t refuse me when he learns of my delicate condition.”

Caroline’s eyes lit up and she grinned wickedly. “Why, my sweet child, you are a cunning little vixen, aren’t you?”

“My mother taught me well.” She laughed.

“I’m glad to see that all my lessons paid off.” Lady Caroline nodded. “That bastard Prince never stood a chance. Killian was always meant to be yours.”

“Indeed.” Emilia looked to the flickering flames burning brightly beside her. “And, I will always go after what is rightfully mine. Always.”