Rowans Choice

Chapter Twenty Two- Restraint

Luna and I pass by the King and his guards as we approach the drawing room. Sycamore glares at us as he too walks by. I fight the urge to nudge him off of his feet.

"So, Rowan is to give me my duties... I thought it said in the note I was to be your lady in waiting" Luna asked.

I didn't want to upset Luna and confess I had got cold feet about her, and if Rowan directed her to take a different role I knew Luna wouldn't flinch about it. If I did, she would be hurt and hate me, and despite the fact I didn't want to be committed to her...I did care for her. I was being a wimp. It didn't sit well with me, to have Rowan become the bad guy to save my skin... but it was something I subconsciously needed her to prove to me, that she would have my back. Rowan had once let me down so poorly, that even five years later...my wounds were still visible, and whilst they still existed, reminding me of a time she had let me down...I would yearn for her to prove me wrong at every turn. I knew Rowan had an uphill battle to gain my trust once more... and any attempt to retrieve my heart seemed fraught and fruitless right now.... But I had to admit ... she was being very restraint in her desire to have me. It was as if she was purposefully trying to coax me back out, like a nervous starved bird to an outstretched hand of seed on a frigid winter morning.

"If it isn't Andromeda and her help" Cricket observes as she waited for us at the door. "The Princess awaits you. She asked if she could see Luna alone" she adds.

I frown and shake my head "absolutely not"

"Andy it's fine" Luna says smoothing my arm with her hand "I will be right out"

I offer a regretful half smile and nod as she left my side and Cricket opened the door to allow her entry.

***

Luna sweeps around the door with Cricket close behind her and I am irritated instantly by her presence. She had a perfume that preceded her. A heady scent that made me feel a headache coming instantly.

"What's that smell" I ask bluntly whilst gesturing to her.

"Me" she asks taken aback.

"Yes you" I state "come here please" I urge.

Luna hesitantly approaches me. I lean forward from where I am sat and tug her arm downward, bringing her neck to my nose. I inhale her closely and close my eyes. The disgusting perfume is not what makes me feel nauseas. It is Andy... her scent is upon this girls neck, and I've never wanted to strip someone down and have them aggressively scrub at their flesh more.

I drop her arm and she stands up straight "was it me" she asks confused.

"Your perfume is too much... it's giving me a headache. When you get to your room I advise you not only wash that off, but throw the bottle away immediately. You smell like my intimacy coach... Middle Aged and with no sense of smell. The only thing you will attract wearing that ... is moths"

Cricket stifles a laugh and turns away so as not to show it.

"I see" Luna replies. She takes the seat opposite me, and doesn't sit back, instead she looks straight at me. No fear whatsoever. If anything I had annoyed her. I could see it in the flicker of her grey eyes, a storm whirling. Anger, perhaps with a little embarrassment mixed in.

"I see your jealousy has already reared its ugly head" she says matter factly, her eyebrow rising up like a caterpillar bent in the middle.

Cricket and Robin both take a sharp intake of breath at this girls confidence and stupidity. No doubt awaiting her to pass by their heads as I threw her out of the window behind them.

I smile slowly, it unnerved her momentarily as my lips rose into an amused little laugh. "Luna Luna Luna ... for the love of Fae... have some kind of survival instinct. Who comes out of the gates being offensive ?... to a fairy who could kill you in response"

"Rowan... or should I call you Princess. I kind of like ... Andy's second choice ... it suits you better"

Cricket goes wide eyed and Robin throws her hands up in-front of her face awaiting the blinding light to follow. But it doesn't. I feel the rage wanting to explode out of me, but knowing Andy is on the other side of that door... it's forcing me to control myself, something I had been struggling with for weeks.

Instead I resort to a less obvious magic trick ... and with a flick of my hand her lips are sealed. Her hands reach for her mouth, her eyes widen as she realises what I've done. She looks like she wants to lunge for me, but I have her hands bound to the chair in an instant.

I lean forward until our noses almost brush "Dear little Luna... how naive you are to consider this the moment you take the upper hand with me. You have absolutely nothing I want. Andromeda was mine long before she was ever sleeping with you. She wouldn't love if I broke her new toy on its first day... so I wont. My guards will escort you, momentarily, to your new room. It will be a shared room with another member of the staff, in the lowest part of the roots... the damp rooms... or so I've heard. You will be an occasional dress maker...  but I'm not expecting you to be here long. I'm going to make it impossible for you to stay"

Luna narrows her eyes at me. I reach for her cheek and stroke it slowly, looking in her eyes with a smirk as she writhed about under my touch.

"Pretty little thing aren't you... it would be a shame for you to get maimed... since your looks are clearly the only part of you that isn't ugly. Andy will be bored of that ugly little heart of yours before our wedding bells even ring"

"Now sit back and have some respect" I suggest, taking her cheeks in one hand and squeezing roughly.

I release her, she gasps for breath as I remove my magic.

"You bitch" she curses.

"Respect" I remind her.

She stands up and stomps off toward the door "Your moment is coming" she threatens before exiting the door.

I look from the door that slams, to Robin and  Cricket who are still stunned beyond belief at how calm I am.

"Well I thought that went very well" I muse, reaching for my cup of tea and taking a sip.

"How is she still breathing" Robin asks, in a state of slack jawed surprise.

"Andy" Both Cricket and I reply.

"Yep" I confirm.

Cricket comes over and throws her hand up for me to high five "That was... incredible" she compliments "the restraint" she gasps.

I slap her hand and smile as Andy enters the room with a confused expression on her face "she looked mad... did you tell her she had to move down to the roots" she asks. "She stormed by me muttering something completely inaudible"

"Something like that" I reply. "Now let's call Bell down... we are late. Our next lesson.... Sexual intimacy without instant death... is queued up and ready to go"

"Sounds... interesting". Andy replies as she comes to take her usual seat.

"Thrilling I suspect... I look forward to learning how not to kill you on our wedding night"

"So do I" Andy returns somewhat amused and pouring herself a cup of tea "I'd like to survive to see the next morn"

"And we would like to exit this conversation" Cricket counters as she grabs Robins arm and makes haste to the door.

Andy stuffs a breakfast pastry into her mouth and leans back in her chair, a satisfied moan falling from her lips as the chocolate hit her tongue. It was a good thing she was so darn beautiful. I smile as the room is filled with a celestial morning light. I could get used to breakfast with the girl I loved.

I just had to take these damn lessons to learn how not to kill her first.

Sexual intimacy lessons... let's be having you!