Chapter 24

Eudora

My head is buzzing so loudly. I try to open my eyes, but the bright sunlight pierces into my brain, and I immediately shut them again. Where am I? I remember getting overwhelmed by men in the woods. I take an inventory of my body. Everything seems to still be here and functional. I don't feel any pain other than in my head. I am laying in what feels like a lush bed with expensive sheets. 

I try to open my eyes again, and this time I am able to. The pain in my skull is quickly fading, and I am regaining my strength. I sit up and look around. I am in the most lavish room I have ever seen. Ornate gold engravings decorate the walls and every item in the room seems to be encrusted with jewels. I notice large windows with a reading bench and rush over to it. I look out and a pang of despair shoots through me. I am incredibly high up. I look out and all I can see are clouds below me. 

I hear the door open and spin around to face it. The Emperor steps into the room unsurprised to see me out of bed. His eyes graze down my body and I suddenly become aware of my clothes, or lack thereof. While I was unconscious, someone changed me out of my uniform, and into a babydoll dress. The dress is light blue and completely see through. My nipples and a matching blue thong can be clearly seen through the sheer fabric. The dress itself is dainty and girly, seeming almost innocent in its design other than the glaring sexual nature of the gauzy fabric. 

The Emperor gives me an approving grin that sends shivers down my spine. "If you weren't betrothed to my son, I'd make you one of my concubines. I bet I could have a lot of fun with you Selene." 

"I am not Selene."

"You might as well be."

"How do you know about me?"

"I have eyes and ears everywhere. My family has known for generations now about the moon goddess being reincarnated. When you were born my spies informed me about the mystery surrounding the death of your mother and I instantly knew you were Selene, back again."

"Why did your ancestor, Sir William, kill the moon goddess?"

"You chose Sir Arion over him, and then you protected those humans. Sir William always knew that shifter's were the superior species and should rule over everyone, but you disagreed. Sir William had a vision of a future where shifter's ruled over everyone and he wanted you to help him. Killing that human child and inciting fear in the humans was easy. He wanted the humans to attack so you would fight them and you could rule over the world together. You weren't interested in ruling though. You only cared about love and having babies. With you out of the way, Sir William was able to take control and create this great empire. Every time you have been reborn, my ancestors have feared you. They knew the prophecy and worried that if you were able to come into your full power you would overthrow them. I am not so short sighted. When I learned of the prophecy, I knew I could use you to gain even more power. I would have married you myself if you were born sooner, but alas, my son will get that honor." 

"You can't make me mate with your son if we don't have a string, and I probably won't have a string with someone I've never met."

"Oh, but you have met him." He then looks back at the doorway and on cue Ryland enters the room. I gasp in horror. Ryland doesn't look smug and self satisfied like his father. He looks defeated and sad.

"Ryland? You're not the crown prince, are you?" Ryland looks at me and nods. "How could you keep that from me, from us? Were you in on your father's plan this whole time? Was every moment we spent together just a way for you to manipulate me, so we would have a better chance of getting a string?"

"No! I swear I didn't know. When you were taken I recognized the guys' scents and knew they work for my dad. I went home to confront him and that's when I found out. I promise you I just found out last night about his plans and our betrothal."

"You still kept it from me that you were the crown prince. I trusted you with my secrets and you didn't trust me with yours."

"I know, I am sorry. I liked that no one at the academy knew who I really was. I didn't want you guys to treat me differently if you found out." I understand what he means, since I also wanted to remain anonymous at the academy. 

"You could have trusted us."

"I should have." Ryland says looking truly sorry.

"I'm glad you guys could clear that up." The Emperor smirks. "And since you have already agreed to mate him, I think the best solution would be for you two to copulate to guarantee a string."

"I never agreed to mate with him!"

"Yes you did." The Emperor looks at the ring on my hand that Ryland fake proposed to me with. "It's so nice to see you wearing that ring again Selene."

"I am not Selene, and what do you mean wearing this ring again?"

"After Sir William killed you, he took your locket and your engagement ring from your corpse. That ring is the very ring Sir Arion proposed to you with." I study the ring on my finger and then look at Ryland for confirmation. He looks just as confused as me. "When Ryland told me about his plans to fake propose to you, I sent him this ring. It's only fitting that you wear it again, but this time as a symbol tying yourself to my family." He grins and then walks to the door. "Now hurry up and bind yourselves to each other." With that, he slams the door and locks it, trapping Ryland and me inside.

Ryland runs to my side. "Are you okay?"

I step away from him. "I am fine. We are not having sex though." 

"I know. I wouldn't want to, not like this."

"Good." I look at him. He looks disheveled. His clothes are ripped, probably from shifting with them still on, and a good amount of his skin is showing. He is covered in dirt and sweat. "You should take a bath."

He looks around the room and spots the large tub in the corner at the same time I do. "I guess my father doesn't plan on letting us have any privacy."

"Yeah. Maybe he thinks if he forces us together we will lose control and just start banging."

This gets a laugh out of Ryland. "I might be a deviant, but if he thinks seeing a naked man will drive you wild enough to jump him, then my father is not as smart as he thinks." I am glad to see a little bit of light back in Ryland's eyes even if I still don't fully know if I can trust him. "Would you like to tempt fate and join me in the bath?" He asks, wiggling his eyebrows. I roll my eyes. Even in this situation, Ryland can't help himself from hitting on me. 

"You wish."

"I really do, but alas, my deepest desires align with my father's evil plans, so I must resist my primal urges. I wouldn't want to do anything that my father approves of." Ryland winks at me and then draws a bath and strips out of his dirty and beaten clothes. While he bathes I continue my investigation of my new prison. A bell with a rope attached to it hangs by the door. I ring it and a small maid appears. 

"What do you require my lady?" I gather Ryland's clothes and hand them to her. She glances over at Ryland in the tub then quickly glances back at me, pointedly keeping her eyes on my face and not on my exposed body.

"Could you please bring a fresh set of clothing for Ryland, and something a little less revealing for me?"

"I am truly sorry my lady, but I have been ordered not to bring either of you anything else to wear other than this." She does look sorry as she pulls out candy underwear. "Is there anything else you require?"

Looking at the candy I realize how hungry I am. "Some food would be nice."

"I will get you some food right away."

A few minutes later the tiny maid returns with a tray loaded with food. Another maid enters with a basket filled with bottles of wine. They silently place the food and wine on a small table and then quickly exit. I cover my eyes as Ryland gets out of the bath and towels himself dry. 

"You can open your eyes, I am decent."

I peer through my fingers not sure what Ryland considers decent. Since he no longer has any clothing, Ryland has wrapped the towel around his waist. I drop my hand from my face and watch as he walks over to the wine basket and pulls one out, reading the label. He whistles at it.

"Wow, my dad pulled out the good wine." He pulls out the wine cork screw and opens the bottle. Once the cork is free he lifts the bottle to his lips, forgoing the glass, and drinks deeply from it.

"Are you sure your father wouldn't tamper with the food and wine?"

"No, but we have to eat, and this wine is too fancy not to drink. Let's relax and enjoy the libations. My father can't force us to do anything we don't want to do."

"That's true. I grab some cheese and bread from the tray and devour it. I grab my own bottle from the basket and pour myself a glass. After not too long, I start to feel warm and comfortable.

"I wonder if they will bring us cards if we ask?"

"Let's find out." I stand up and saunter to the door ringing the bell again. 

The maid enters immediately. "Yes my lady?" 

"We require playing cards for entertainment."

"Yes my lady." She disappears and quickly reappears with a deck of cards, handing them to me before slipping out again. I walk back to the table laughing when I look down at the cards and see that each one is illustrated with a different sexual position. 

"What should we play?" I ask Ryland.

"I would suggest strip poker, but that would be a really quick game seeing as I am already naked and you are most of the way there." 

I tap my finger to my chin pretending to consider. "Yeah I think I'd like to keep on what little clothes I have. What about Rummy?" 

"Sounds good to me."

We spend the rest of the day drinking, playing cards, and seeing what else the maid can bring us. By the time the sun sets we have three sexy games (brought to us when we asked for other games), a set of body paint and a giant canvas, the kama sutra (brought to us when we asked for a book) and a cassette player that only has mood setting songs. We howl with laughter at each new addition wondering how many requests the Emperor has planned for and made sexy. 

After we finish painting our own corners of the giant canvas, I let out a huge yawn. 

"I think it's time for bed." I look over at the huge bed just now realizing there is only one.

"You take the bed, I'll sleep in the tub." Ryland says.

"No, it's okay. The bed is big enough for both of us, and I have a feeling we both are going to need to be well rested for tomorrow."

"Fair enough." After brushing our teeth we slip under the covers on opposite sides of the bed. I am worried that I will have trouble falling asleep seeing as I am locked in a tower by an unhinged king, but surprisingly I quickly drift off to sleep.