QUEENLY QUEST

Chapter Nineteen- Royal Summons

I was so lost, trapped in that haze of pleasure and alcohol. Ryker's touch ignited sparks in my body, and I felt myself melting into his embrace. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as he devoured my lips.

 I watched, detached, as he carried me to the balcony, his lips never leaving mine.I was  far gone, consumed by the desire that burned within me.

The palace gardens stretched out before us, the sound of fountains and gentle rustling of leaves filling the air. Ryker's hands roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine. I felt like I was floating, my senses overwhelmed by the sensations he awakened within me.

But then, something changed. Ryker's eyes, once a deep brown, now gleamed with an otherworldly green light. It was faint at first, but grew brighter with each passing moment. I felt a chill run down my spine as I stared into his eyes, my mind snapping back to reality.

"Ryker, what's happening to your eyes?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

As soon as the words left my lips, Ryker's gaze snapped away from mine. He cursed under his breath and hastily retreated from me, his eyes fixed on something else. I was taken aback by his sudden reaction.

But I knew why. I knew that my own eyes, an unusual green, had sparked a realization in him. A realization that made him fearful, or guilty, or perhaps both.

"Ryker, what's going on?" I demanded, my voice firmer now. "Why are your eyes turning green? And why do you look at me like that?"

He wouldn't meet my gaze, his jaw clenched in tension. "It's nothing, Helena. Just a trick of the light."

But I knew better. I knew that our green eyes were no coincidence. And I knew that Ryker was hiding something from me, something big.

"Tell me the truth, Ryker," I pressed, my heart pounding in my chest. "What's happening to us?"

Ryker's gaze faltered, his eyes dropping to the floor. He took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging in defeat.

"Helena, I...I don't know how to explain this," he stammered. "But I think...I think we're connected somehow. Our eyes, they...they respond to each other."

I frowned, confusion etched on my face. "What do you mean? How are our eyes connected?"

Ryker hesitated, his words barely above a whisper. "I think it's a sign, Helena. A sign that we're...that we're meant to be together."

I took a step back, my mind reeling with the implications. Meant to be together? What did that even mean?

"Ryker, that's ridiculous," I said, trying to sound convincing. "We're just...we're just caught up in the moment, that's all."

But Ryker's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with an intensity that made my heart race.

"No, Helena," he whispered. "It's more than that. I know it is."

And with that, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the depths of each other's eyes.

Ryker's eyes never left mine, his gaze piercing and intense. "Helena, I need to tell you something," he said, his voice low and husky.

"What is it?" I asked, my heart still racing from the strange connection we shared.

He took a deep breath, his words spilling out in a rush. "I'm not a friend of Lord Thomas. I don't even know him. I just...I just used that as an excuse to get close to you."

My eyes widened in surprise, my mind reeling with the admission. "Why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryker's face was inches from mine, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "Because I had to meet you, Helena. I had to know you. From the moment I saw you across the room, I knew that you were different. Special."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as his words washed over me. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever looked at me with such intensity, such passion.

"What do you want from me, Ryker?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I want to get to know you, Helena. I want to explore this connection we share. And I want to see where it takes us."

"Are you from this kingdom, Ryker?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

He hesitated, his eyes darting around the balcony before focusing back on mine. "No, I'm not," he admitted, his voice low.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Where are you from, then?"

Ryker's face closed off, his expression unreadable. "I can't tell you that," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of regret. "I've been sworn to secrecy."

I frowned, my mind racing with possibilities. What could be so secret that he couldn't even reveal his own origins? And why was he here, in our kingdom, if not as a friend of Lord Thomas?

"Who swore you to secrecy?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Ryker's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze intense. "Someone who has my loyalty, Helena. And my silence."

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as we stood there, the only sound the distant music and laughter from the ballroom. I knew I was getting close to uncovering a truth, but Ryker's secrets seemed to run deeper than I had imagined.

I asked Ryker, my amusement tinged with curiosity, "How and why did your eyes change? It's not possible, is it? Are you some kind of sorcerer?"

Ryker's expression turned serious, his eyes gleaming with a hint of secrets. "Where I come from, it's natural for us. It's a form of disguise, to avoid arousing suspicion. We can blend in with our surroundings, become invisible in plain sight. But when we experience strong emotions, our disguise can falter if we're not careful."

I laughed, intrigued by the absurdity of it all. "Well, I think I'd like to get to know you better, Ryker. If only to uncover more secrets about your mysterious origins." I took a step closer, my heart racing with excitement. "Are you a spy? An assassin? What's your true purpose here?"

Ryker's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, but he remained silent, his secrets locked away behind a mask of mystery.

Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps and my name being called out by Lady Isabella, her voice close by. I gasped, my heart racing as I quickly scrambled out of the gazebo without looking back. I didn't want Lady Isabella to see me with Ryker. I hastened towards the direction of her voice, my mind whirling with thoughts of Ryker and our strange encounter.

As I ran, a blush crept up my face, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I couldn't believe I had made out with a complete stranger! But there was something about Ryker that drew me in, something that made me want to know more about him, and myself. Where did he come from? What was his true purpose here? And what did he want from me?

The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex, pulling me in with an otherworldly force. I knew I had to find out more about Ryker, no matter the cost. 

***********

I just want to say a big big thank you to all those who have been genuinely reading my book and supporting me. I love you all.

I know this chapter isn't my best so far. I'm currently suffering severe writer's block 😑😑

Please vote, comment and share.💞 

Let me know want you think about this chapter!