A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 26

I snapped my head back to the shelves and shook my head in disgust. He was openly flirting with her in front of me. Which should not be upsetting me, but it did.

"You are utterly shameful your grace." She replied with a giggle. "Let me go and wrap your gift." She pushed off the counter and disappeared behind the draped curtains leaving us alone.

I continued to admire the jewelry in the glass display cases. The mixture of different metals was hypnotic. My eyes landed on a ring constructed of black metal with a beautiful purple-colored stone. The ring itself intwined in delicate vines until it circles around and over the beautiful gemstone.

"Do you see anything you like?" Delcallon's breath brushed against my ear causing my attention to snap back to reality.

I shrugged him further away, "Honestly." I groaned out in annoyance at his flirtatious tone.

"What?" He asked as he stepped in next to me and leaned with his back against the glass.

"Do you flirt with everything that moves?" I asked as I dragged my attention away from the ring.

"If I can, yes." He shrugged with a wicked smile.

I shook my head in disappointment at him, "You need to bed someone before you end up humping the furniture." I teased.

His face turned devilishly charming as his lips curved, "Are you offering, Alinta." He purred causing my body to twitch at the use of my name.

I nudged him with my hand, "Stop it." I warned as His face softened again.

I tried to play it off as casually as possible, but my mind was drifting back to the dream I had had. I turned my attention back to the ring as a means to distract myself.

"Here we go, your grace." Marissa stepped into the room with a box wrapped in gift paper and a ribbon placed on top.

"Thank you, Lady Marissa." He replied with a far less flirtatious tone than he had been using previously. He dropped a pouch of coins on the glass table before sweeping up the box and pressing it into his pocket.

My eyes focused on the ring again. It was beautiful. I had never enjoyed jewelry, but for that, I might make an exception.

A hand pressed onto the dent of my back, "Alinta?"

I looked up and saw Delcallon with an arched eyebrow, "Shall we go?" He asked gently. I looked over my shoulder at Marissa whose eyes were narrowed at the slight affection he was giving me.

I nodded slowly and shot Delcallon a soft smile.

He began to lead me out of the room. "Save me a dance, Marissa." He chirped over his shoulder in a jesting tone before opening the door for us. The bell chimed while Marissa giggled with a similar light sound.

Once outside the store, Delcallon released my back and we walked down the roads as dozens of people passed us. They would stop and greet Delcallon respectfully before walking off. Everyone seemed to smile and beam at the sight of their King, and Delcallon greeted most of them by name as if he knew everyone personally. He would even ask detailed information about them, such as asking if their mother was back to health, or if they ever found their stray pet.

No wonder I was having sexual dreams about him. He was stunning in every meaning of the word, he was kind, he was strong, and he was also devilishly dangerous which I apparently enjoyed.

He stopped at the yellow tent and bought us each a sweet roll that tasted like raspberries and cream, before leading me through the town.

"When we were little," He said with a smirk, "We would visit that sweet store once a week." He said pointing to a colorful shop called Pascal's Candies. "The Owner would often allow us to take one candy free of charge." He said with a soft smile.