Monarchy

Chapter 3:

I felt faint. Arron Lazaro inherited the country form his father, which meant Dominic would get the control eventually. Now I wondered even more what they did to Zack.

"So you have heard of me. I hope that doesn't change your mind about coming with me." Dominic gave me a look, his dark eyes almost pleading. "I promise you, if you choose to leave with me, you won't regret it. However if you choose to go home I will personally walk you to the front door."

I covered my face with my hands. If I go home Zack with kill me. If I leave, who knows what I am getting in to. I heard Dominic move and rustle clothes on the rack. He had lighter steps than Ricky and moved easier.

"Perhaps you should sit down." It surprised me to hear Ricky speak. His voice was gruff and reminded me of sand. I did as he said, my breathing was uneven and fast. I started to panic, what was I going to do? Was I going to be able to tell my parents what happened? What would Zack tell them? Would he say I ran away? Am I running away?

"You know if it's bothering you that much, I'll just take you home. I'm sure that your parents will understand you spending the day with the King's son." Dominic's voice sounded far away. He has no idea, my parents will lock me away and apologize to the King himself. That is if my father doesn't give me away or kill me. He wouldn't kill me, would he?

"I'll go with." Dear God what was I saying? I lifted my head to see Dominic smiling at me.

"That's a good girl." Dominic tossed the clothed he'd picked out on the counter. He put a couple pairs of shoes on the counter as well. "Add this to my fathers tab." The woman nodded and started to ring up the items. "Is that all you want Abrianna?" I nodded. "Then get over here."

Slowly I walked to the counter and stood never to him with my head down. "I need a bath." I whispered under my breath causing him to laugh at me. My face flushed with embarrassment.

"Don't worry you can take a bath at the Inn we're staying at." He placed his hand on my lower back as he grabbed one of the bags, leaving the rest for Ricky to grab.

"You two make an adorable couple." The girl from behind the counter said. "Pardon me for speaking out of turn my Prince."

"You're forgiven. Excuse the mud, my wife has had a long day." I tried to speak out in protest but Dominic shushed me as we headed out of the store. "You would have been regarded as a whore if I hadn't told that woman you were my wife." I raised my eyebrow. "You do know what a whore is don't you?"

"A woman who had been with several men right?" He chuckled as he nodded. With his hand still on my lower back he guided me to a large building with glass doors and lots of security on the outside. "Is your dad in town too?"

"No. He doesn't like to travel to this part of the country. It's too crowded for him."

"Are there not usually this many people where you live?" He laughed again, I could get used to that sound.

"My word no. I live in the South. A place that used to be called Texas before the war. They talk much differently there. You should hear my mother and sisters. I swear it gets worse every time I go home."

"Why don't you talk differently?"

"I try to mask the accent whenever I'm not at home. It makes it easier to hide I'm the prince. People treat you differently when they're trying to impress you." I nodded not really understanding. Like the gentlemen I've read about in books, Dominic held the door open to his room at the Inn.

The room was beautiful. The bed was literally the biggest bed I've ever seen in my life. The blanket looked so soft and inviting. I stared, unable to help or control myself.

"Let's get you a bath started does that sound good?" Dominic dismissed Ricky who headed through a door that must have connected to another room. I followed Dominic to a room much bigger than the bathroom at my parents house.

"Are you not going to bathe first?" I asked him. I was always forced to bathe last, after the water had gotten cold.

"No of course not. You're a mess, you deserve a nice hot bath to clean up in. You can have the bed after as well. I'll sleep on the love seat across the room."

"You don't have to do that. You can sleep on the bed. I'll sleep wherever you tell me." Dominic started filling the tub with steamy water. After the water was running he looked at me with fierce eyes.

"I'm telling you to sleep in the bed. I promise you'll love it. Besides, if my mother ever found out that I let you sleep anywhere but the bed, she'll have my head." His eyes softened. "Don't undress yet, I'm going to get you pajamas to sleep in." I turned off the water while he was away. He came back with a pair of silk pants and a matching button down shirt. "I'll see you when you're done."

I lingered as long as I could. The hot water relaxed me to my bones. For once, I finally felt at ease. The room filled with steam and I got out of the tub, wrapping myself in a white fluffy towel. I closed my eyes and let the warmth and safety envelope me. The air started to chill and I felt it was time to get dressed. I tried to calm the tangles out of my long black air and it worked slightly, but not as well as I wanted. I left the room to find Dominic on the love seat fast asleep.

The position he was in was going to cause his neck to cramp. I took a pillow from the bed and as gently as I could lifted his head to place the pillow underneath. I covered him in a small blanket and walked across the room to the large bed.

"Thank you." He murmured softly in what I can only assume is the southern accent he's been talking about. I smiled, even though no one can see me. I snuggled myself into the bed and had the best nights sleep of my life. I woke to the smell of bacon and blueberries. I sat up in the bed and attempted to rub the sleep from my eyes.

"I had hoped the smell of food would wake you up." Dominic's accent had made itself known from across the room. "Did you sleep well?" I nodded, not trusting my voice to sound at least some what smooth. He walked over to the bed and handed my a glass of orange juice. It was sweet and tangy. He grabbed my hand and lead me to the table that contained so many wonderful foods.

"Incredible." As rich as my family had been, they never splurged this much on breakfast.

"My mom makes better. I can't wait for you to meet her." His smile was heart warming but I couldn't ignore the pang of guilt in the pit of my stomach. The butterflies made me nauseous. I had to smile anyway, it's the polite thing to do, right?

"I can't wait to meet her." Dominic looked at me with surprise and excitement.

"Good. We're leaving today."