Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 2: Soren

Thalia walked into the dining room, her nose in a book. Jeremy watched as she gracefully took a seat then quickly turned away. Thalia wore a pale blue dress that was form fitting in the bodice then flared from her hip. "We have a guest coming to stay with us." Arabella stated and Thalia groaned.

"Please tell me it is not the Princes of Echendore." They flirted with her relentlessly and her heart belonged to another.

"Why? The Princes of Echendore are very nice and strapping young men. It would be nice if you settled down, Thalia." Arabella said as Jeremy choked on his drink. "Are you alright, my son?"

"Thalia is still only twenty two, she is still young." Jeremiah said with a shake of his head. Thalia placed her fork down and stared at Jeremiah, Soren recognized the look she gave him.

"I am not that young, I can marry if I want." Thalia stood and looked at Arabella. "You can invite as many princes as you want, I'll choose the one I like." Thalia walked out and Arabella looked confused.

"What was that about, Jeremiah?" Soren snorted earning a glare from Jeremiah. "Soren? Do you know?" Soren shook his head as Jeremiah stood and walked after Thalia.

"It's complicated, mother." Soren smiled as the King walked in.

"Why is Thalia and Jeremiah fighting in the hallway?" Soren laughed as the King took his seat. "Soren, the guest is going to arrive soon. I'd like you to accompany them until they arrive."

"Of course, father." Soren stood, kissed his mother's head, then exited the dining hall.

"Why is it you're so dense you can't see what's in front of you?" Thalia shouted feeling frustrated.

"What are you talking about?" Jeremiah yelled back running his hand through his black hair.

"Just forget it," Thalia sighed walking towards the library.

---------

Soren stood by the trees waiting for the carriage with the assassins in it to appear. He flipped his blade in between his fingers and over his hand, boredom taking it's toll on him. A stick broke somewhere close and he slinked into the shadows, watching. A carriage came down the dirt path while three thieves stopped in front of it. A forth man fell from a tree and snapped the drivers neck. A man opened the door, "Out!" Two women stepped out, two gorgeous women. One was an older woman with brown hair, blue eyes, and she wore a green dress. The other woman made Soren's heart skip a beat. She had beautiful chestnut, curly hair that cascaded around her tan shoulders, dark green eyes that held a mysterious glint, her corset top fit her like a glove, it was light purple with black lace, and there was black lace that flowed to the floor. "Pretty one, isn't she?" One man ran a finger over the younger woman's collar bone, it made Soren's blood boil.

"Please, don't hurt me." The woman's voice was soft and music to Soren's ears. Soren couldn't take it anymore, he stepped out of the shadows and cleared his throat.

"That is no way to treat a lady, especially a beautiful one like this." Soren noticed that the woman looked him up and down, it created a fire inside him. The woman bent to the ground and ripped her dress, exposing a long, tan leg. The woman kicked the man in front of her's leg making him fall to the ground and held a knife to his throat.

"Now, let's everyone calm down." The woman smiled and Soren felt his gut tighten. She was gorgeous and dangerous, he didn't know if that was a good thing. The other woman flipped another thief on his back.

"Stop teasing the poor boys, Iris." The other woman smiled as the woman known as Iris rolled her eyes. The other two thieves charged him and Soren dragged his blade through their throats. Iris slit the thieves throat and straightened. The other woman killed the last thief and stood, brushing off dirt from her skirts. "You must be, Soren. The Queen has talked about you." Soren stared at Iris, her green eyes meeting his. She was gorgeous and too tempting.

"Yes, and you must be the assassins." Soren hated the word, hated the idea of it all. He killed many assassins to protect StoneHaven.

"Way to make us sound evil." Iris glared at Soren, a woman who talked as boldly as the Queen.

"Iris..." there was a hint of warning in the other woman's voice. Iris unhooked a horse, grabbed the reigns, hoisted herself up, and rode off. "I'm sorry, sometimes her manners escape her. I'm Trishelle, can you help me with these?" Soren and Trishelle lifted the dead men into the carriage. They hooked Soren's horse to the empty reigns and rode towards the castle. All Soren could think about was Iris and her green eyes.

---------

"Have you met our guest?" Thalia asked as she came to stand next to Soren as he leaned against the window frame. He brought the glass of brandy to his lips as rain fell on the window.

"Yes," he answered shortly trying to forget her. Trying to forget how her eyes held a challenge in them, the way her breasts fit in that corset, everything about her was erotic and a danger to Soren's mind.

"She seems nice," Soren nodded as a blur appeared in the glare of the window. "And very pretty."

"Don't Thalia," Soren sighed as his view of the blur formed into Iris twirling in the rain. Soren smiled, despite himself.

"You're twenty seven, Soren. I want you to be happy." Thalia sighed, trying to show her brother that he wasn't getting any younger.

"I am well aware of how old I am, Thalia." Soren sighed not taking his eyes off the ruthless beauty that spun until she fell to the ground.

"And we're not getting any younger. Are we ever going to see little Soren's run around?" Thalia poked him in his side and he turned to her.

"You're one to give relationship advice." He didn't mean it as a jab and Thalia's face fell.

"That's not fair, and you know it." Thalia sighed and Soren saw that scared five year old who stole an apple. He gathered his sister in his arms, she tried not to cry but her heart was breaking. "I love him, and it hurts so much, Soren." He smoothed her hair with his hand and kissed the top of her head.

"I know, Thalia." Soren sighed as she sobbed in his shirt. He'd fix her heart and he'd fix his growing affection with Iris.