Shadows Of Desire

Desmond glared angrily down as he gave a menacing scowl. His eyes full of scorn and disappointment. “Well?” He asked. His voice low and accusing. “What have you to say for yourself?”

Rowan hung his head, refusing to make eye contact. He had knelt down on one knee, as was protocol, but found it hard to remain in that position. All he wanted to do at that moment was turn and run from the King’s cabinet then find some small, dark, place to hide.

He couldn’t do that, of course. Running now would only further anger the King and Rowan could not do that. No one, not even the royal family, could afford to incur the Kings wrath.

“Answer me!” The King, growing impatient, yelled. Rowan shivered as the King’s voice boomed loud, over him. He was certain that every being who resided within the castles walls had heard him.

“Forgive me, your Majesty.” Rowan tried to hide the fear in his small voice though to no avail. He was sure that the King could smell the fear coming off him in waves. “I...I meant no disrespect. I’ll apologize to Lady Caroline at once.”

“You’ll do more than apologize.” The King growled, his voice thick with disdain.

“Of course, your Majesty.” Rowan agreed. His voice was as shaky as his hands. “What...what would his Majesty have me do?”

There was a brief moment of silence between them. The only thing rowan could hear was the soft drumming of the King’s fingers against the arm of his chair. It was dangerous for the King to remain silent for so long. It meant he was thinking. Thinking of some horrible punishment no doubt. Rowan wanted to see what the mans face looked like, wanted to look into his eyes and gauge his anger but he dared not look up. Not without permission.

As though reading his mind, the King finally spoke, demanding Rowan do the one thing he both feared and desired. “Look at me.” The King hissed through his teeth like an angry viper about to strike.

Rowan did as he was told and slowly lifted his head, his eyes rising from the floor until he was looking directly into the King’s eyes and what he found there chilled him to the bone. The King’s icy stare bore into him hatefully, and with more contempt than he had ever seen in the man’s eyes before. Rowan’s heart beat fiercely in his chest, the sound of it pounding in his ears. The scowl on the King’s face told Rowan that he’d heard it too and it infuriated the monarch more.

“You disgust me.” The King spat. Not something Rowan had not heard before. Such insults were common and Rowan accepted them without complaint. One did not argue with the King and one certainly never disagreed with the King. In Old Basmorte, everyone knew that the King’s word was law and the King was never wrong, even when he was. “I must have committed some unforgivable sin in my past life for the Gods to curse me so.”

Past life? Rowan rolled his eyes internally. The old King had committed plenty of sins in this life yet the Gods didn’t seem overly concerned about that, why should they worry themselves about his past life? As it were, Rowan felt that he was the one who was cursed. Every day of his life felt like a curse.

“I apologize for having offended you, your majesty.” Rowan said softly. His voice never rising above a whisper though he held the Kings eyes as he spoke. “If it would please the King to send me away, I would go happily.”

The King sneered at him. “I have no intention of sending you away. But, you will learn your place.”

Rowan said nothing though the fear he once felt was now beginning to turn to anger. He’d requested more than once to be sent to Nightport, or even Ravenskeep, but had been denied each time. It seemed the King wanted him close-by, where he could continue to torment him and hurl insults at him. The King seemed to take great pleasure in being cruel and Rowan had endured the mistreatment for years but now he was growing weary of it. Resentment festered inside him and soured his mood. He was becoming unbearable to be around, or so Lady Caroline had said.

Rowan balled his hands into fists. This was all her fault. The woman had a viper’s tongue and she spewed venom wherever she went. She was just more thing that Rowan had to endure but lately he’d found her presence to be so overwhelmingly abhorrent that he just couldn’t absorb her petty humiliations anymore and so in a moment of weakness, he’d verbally berated her and then slapped her across the face. Not his finest moment but he knew from past experiences that the abuse would only continue if he didn’t do something about it now, before she became Queen and out-ranked him.

The King sighed then forward in his chair so that his face was mere inches from Rowan’s. He took Rowan’s face in his hand and turned his head up, pressing his fingers into the flesh of his cheeks. “You will apologize to Lady Caroline at once. Grovel before her if you have to. And, from this moment on you will show her the respect that she deserves. Do you understand me?” He spoke to Rowan as though he were a small child and not the man of nineteen that he was.

Rowan grit his teeth then attempted a nod though it was impossible with how tightly the King held him. “Yes.” He snarled, causing the King to raise an eyebrow. He almost seemed...amused. “I understand, your majesty.”

“Good.” The King released him and sat back in his chair. “Before the day of over, you will report to Master Kinnerik for punishment. No go. You are dismissed.”

Rowan stood, bowing to the King. “As you wish, your majesty.” He took a few steps backwards, as respectfully as he could, then turned and exited the room.

Rowan’s blood boiled when he reached the ante chamber and found Lady Caroline watching him with a self-righteous smirk on her face. He attempted to walk past her but she quickly moved to block his path. “I believe my future husband ordered you to do something?” She phrased the comment like a question but Rowan knew it was meant as a command. She and the King had not yet been wed and yet she sought to subjugate Rowan.

Rowan straightened his back and held his head high as he looked her in the eyes, not about to show any sign of weakness and allow the woman to bring him to his knees. He grinned, cocking an eyebrow, then made a formal bow before her. “My apologizes, Lady Caroline. I was out of line in my actions and my words. I humble myself before you and beg your forgiveness for my egregious behavior. If there is anything I may to do make amends simply name it and I shall do it graciously and post haste for my only desire in this world is to see your undying happiness.”

Lady Caroline scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. “Stand up you fool.” She demanded. “Do you think mocking me will atone for your actions?”

“The King ordered me to apologize.” He retorted. “I have done that. He never ordered me to mean it.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “You apologize yet continue to insult me. You have no respect for me nor for the crown. I will not stand for this. You will show me the proper respect that I deserve or I will have you publicly flogged!”

Rowan folded his hands behind his back and frowned. “With all due respect, My Lady, you are not yet the Queen and therefore I do not defer to you. Do not forget yourself, madam. I am still a Prince. Perhaps it is you who should show proper respect to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.”

He bowed once more then stepped around the Lady and left the room, slamming the door closed hard behind him.

By the time Rowan had reached the outer corridor he was fuming. He’d take his punishment as commanded but he would never show any respect to that woman. She was vile. Absolutely detestable. The only good that might come from her marriage to the King was her constant threats to have Rowan exiled from the Palace. Even if he were made to live in a hovel and tend sheep for the rest of his days, it would be better than living under the constant scrutiny of his father and future step-mother.

Yes, he would gladly take exile. At least then he’d be free.