Ambrose cursed under his breath as he watched the exotic beauty flee from his presence. A pang in his chest sent a painful shake through his body as her body disappeared from his view.
"Ambrose," the woman behind him slurred. "Come here." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her bosom against his chest. She tiptoed to reach his lips with hers but Ambrose stilled her. Gripping her by the hips, he shoved her away from him. "Leave," he growled.
~*~
Waking the next day, Keira stared unseeingly at the granite walls. It wasn't till the first threads of light streamed through her window that she finally collapsed into a restless slumber. The moment her eyes opened, she was assaulted with the painful memories that occurred last night.
Tears threatened to spill once more but she shook her head angrily. "No!" Keira hastily bounded from her bed and took a bath. Her eyes glazed as she stared at the steam oozing into the air above. Resting her head against the edge of the tub, her eyes fluttered close. She was angry with herself for letting her emotions take on such a toll on her. When did she become so self-conscious?! It was unlike her being. She was the calm and collected one; serene and content in all that she does. Yet here she was sulking because she caught an overbearing mutt devouring some bimbo!
Keira snatched the blue washcloth that hung on the edge of the tub and lathered it with soap. She viciously scrubbed at her skin, especially at the layer of skin over her heart as she tried to cleanse herself of the hurt. This weak girl was not who she was and she refused to ever experience such behavior ever again.
As she stepped out of the tub, she came out with a new frame of mind. She would relinquish these feelings that she has for Ambrose and she would prove to all that she was not weak. She is a guardian.
~*~
Sylvia stared out onto the garden, the warm sun baring down on her being quenched by the cool breeze. Her surroundings however were quite opposite from her mood. She had been troubled from sleep the night before and she knew not why. An ache had formed a way into her chest and she had snuggled closer to her husband. Yet the uneasy feeling would not subside.
It was not until this afternoon that she realized that Keira had been absent this entire day. There, she sought out her sister in her chambers and found her getting out of the shower. As she laid her eyes on her sister's puffy eyes, she knew then that the crisis she had felt was emanating from Keira. She had inquired of her sister what was wrong but Keira had simply dismissed her question with a, 'It is nothing,' and got dressed. Nevertheless, Sylvia would not stop her insistence knowing what was wrong.
Keira had, more or less, given up on ignoring Sylvia's questioning and relayed to her all that had happened. Sylvia could not have been any more enraged. She was absolutely furious! The fact that Ambrose would do such a thing to her beautiful sister was unforgivable! And her poor, dear sister! Her heart ached for the pain her sister must be going through. Although Keira didn't share much of her feelings about what had occurred, she knew her sister was in deep turmoil. It was Keira's first kiss! And Ambrose had gone and spoiled the whole memory with his stupid, barbaric hormones! Oh, when she saw him next....
"Are you all right, Love?" Alexander frowned at his wife's dark demeanor.
"Lovely," she bit out as she continued to glare holes at the ground.
~*~
Keira sat in the castle's infirmary as the healer scanned and checked her injuries. She did not see the point in it for she was perfectly fine, no bruises or scarring, her muscles no longer ached and she was perfectly well but the healer had insisted on making his assessment. She patiently sat as she waited for his examination to be over.
