Come Morning Light

Chapter Two

I pulled on the silk robe that was beside my bed once we were finished. He didn't say anything, he pulled his pants on and walked towards the table filled with fruit. I felt the heat against my cheeks as I took in a deep breath, the moon still high in the sky. I had five hours until the sun broke the horizon. I have five hours left of life, five hours to find a way to make this monster pay.

I was nervous, he didn't seem like the type who wanted to have a conversation. That wouldn't stop me, I would die trying. I wouldn't be afraid of him or his kingdom. I was taught to be brave, I would die brave. I was doing this for something bigger than myself. I was going to bring justice to Harper's death. I took in a breath and sat down across from him at the table. He watched me eat a grape, I smiled.

I leveled my gaze towards his, watching as he took a bite of the strawberry in front of him. He wasn't what I thought he would be. He wasn't dark and broody. He was quiet and mysterious. He was a monster disguised behind a mask that told me nothing useful. I had to find his weakness, I had to figure out why he killed his brides before they even had a chance.

"So my lord, come here often?" the words were out before I could really think through what I was saying. One of my many problems was that my tongue was faster than my brain.

He sighed, "don't call me that."

I noticed him avoiding my question, "fine then what should I call you? My king? My husband? Or maybe the most fitting title, my executioner."

His eyes got narrow, "you knew the consequences when you volunteered," his voice was clipped and I felt my cheeks blush at his anger, "no one asked you to be my wife."

I shrugged, "well maybe I just saw all the girls doing it and I decided it looked like fun."

I saw the corner of his mouth twitch, he was trying to hide a smile. He didn't do a very good job as he looked down at his hands. I took another grape, watching as he sat there stoically. He was barely a person, he couldn't have a soul.

Or maybe the killings have made his this way.

No, I scolded myself. I will not feel something for this evil monster. He killed Harper, he was going to kill me. I wouldn't even think about giving him a chance.

"Aren't you scared?" he asked quietly, his hands playing with the corner of the table cloth. I swallowed the lump in my throat and studied him closely. How would I find a weakness when he didn't give me anything to go on?

I shook my head, "you said it yourself, my life was forfeit the moment I volunteered. Tell me, my king, should I be scared?"

He brought his eyes up to mine and held my gaze. I shivered, his brown eyes were hard and full of pain. He was a haunted man, I could see that even from a distance. Was he haunted by the wives he's killed? Did he fear the dawn like I was supposed to?

Or was he pretending? Was this all a show for me?

"Bellamy," he said quietly. I raised an eyebrow, realizing he was answering my earlier question, "call me Bellamy."

I nodded my head slowly, "King Bellamy," I said with a steady voice, "so tell me how this works. Do I get to ask you questions? Will you answer them? Seeing as I'm a dead woman walking, you might as well give me peace of mind."

The calm was gone, "I don't answer questions. We aren't even supposed to be here, together," he closed his eyes hard. He was fighting himself, there was a battle going on behind his eyes.

I nodded, "so then we just wait? If we can't talk do we just watch the sunrise?"

His eyes glossed over, "you do realize I'm the king. Has no one taught you how you speak to a king?"