Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Five: Cristiano's Claim

Running her fingers through her hair, Camelia chewed on her lip wondering when she would see Cristiano; her heart was pounding in her chest and she feared what he might have done since leaving her alone. 

Cristiano not saying a word when she had told him that they had a son had made Camelia worry, she feared that he would not believe her or assume that she was trying to protect a child that she'd had with Ricardo. 

It had been oddly quiet since Cristiano had left her alone, Camelia hadn't liked it and it had gotten worse when it sounded like the men were returning to camp but she remained alone trapped. 

Sitting down on the bed, Camelia chewed on her lip wondering why her life needed to be so complicated; she had only ever wanted one thing and that had been to spend her life with Cristiano, something that would never happen now. 

Camelia felt her stomach turn at the thought of Cristiano's wife, they hadn't talked about her since Camelia had arrived but soon Cristiano would be expected to return to her. 

The flaps to the tent opened and Camelia looked up expectantly, her heart dropped into her stomach at the sight of Cristiano and Junior; she hadn't been expecting this when he had taken off that morning. 

Cristiano held Junior close, the little boy was practically asleep and he had spent the time that he had been with his son ignoring the questioning looks that they got from his men; he didn't care what any of them thought about this. 

"Mama," Junior murmured tiredly as Cristiano set him on the floor, he hurried over to Camelia who could only hug him while she stared at Cristiano; he didn't say a word to them as he turned and walked back out of the tent. 

Camelia closed her eyes, she feared what the future would hold for them now and she knew that it was something that would be decided much sooner than she would like.

***

It was the middle of the night when Cristiano returned to the tent, he sighed running his fingers through his hair; he peeked around the tent pleased to see that everything was how he had left it. 

Junior was sleeping soundly now and he doubted that the little boy would ever forget what had happened today, Cristiano was just relieved that he had been able to get there in time to save him. 

Arriving at the farm house, it had been a shock to find the already dead body of Camelia's cousin; the man had been slaughtered and it had been no different from his poor wife. 

They had both been killed by Ricardo and Cristiano knew that he had gotten what he had wanted in the end, the other man held no claim to Camelia anymore and he wouldn't cause them anymore trouble. 

Slowly starting to removed his armour, Cristiano wanted nothing more than to relax; the country belonged to the empire now and he would be expected to return home soon. 

It had taken him time to think about what he was going to do, he had spoken with his loyal friend, Jorge Mendes, to come to a decision that would allow him to be truly happy. 

There would be no ending of his marriage to Catalina, he was married to her for political reasons and there was no way he would be able to end the marriage without costing himself everything that he had worked so hard for. 

His mother had picked Catalina for him, Dolores had been close friends with Catalina's mother and the match had been pushed for by Catalina's father; they both expected him to keep his vows or they would ruin his life. 

Moving to splash some water on his face, Cristiano couldn't risk the back-lash that would come if he were to annual his marriage; he doubted anyone would even consider that move when he wanted to do it so he could be with another woman.

"Cris?" Camelia asked padding over to him, she had been waiting for him to return and she could tell that there was so much on his mind; she had no idea what would happen now but they needed to talk. 

Cristiano didn't say a word, he dried his face on a towel before moving to prepare himself for bed; he was a little unsure what to say to Camelia, he wished that he had been there for her when she had needed him most. 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Camelia mumbled fearing that he was angry with her, she had been selfish and she knew that there was no way to give him back the time that he had lost with Junior. 

There was a chance that they would be left behind her in Palma and Camelia knew that if that did happen then they would never see Cristiano again; he had a wife waiting for him and he had to be loyal to her. 

They were silent for a moment knowing that they hadn't really talked about what would happen now; it was going to have to happen especially with Cristiano going home. 

"What will happen to us now?" Camelia asked peeking over at where Junior was asleep, she smiled softly knowing that he'd been through a lot and from what he had told her it had been a good thing that Cristiano had arrived when he had. 

Cristiano moved towards the bedroom area of his tent, he didn't want to wake his son and he had made a decision on what he was going to do; he looked at Camelia who had followed him. 

"Ricardo is dead," Cristiano told her doubting that she would miss the man that had made her life a nightmare, he pulled off his shirt and gently reached for her. 

Trapping Camelia between him and the bed, Cristiano brushed his lips against hers; he had a feeling that they would have an interesting time in the next few weeks. 

"And I claim his widow for myself," Cristiano whispered before kissing Camelia and pushing her back onto the bed, he had only just found her and there was no way that he was going to let her go now.

***

"You still haven't answered my question," Camelia asked resting her head on Cristiano's shoulder, she peeked up at him knowing that they had to talk; he had distracted her once and she wouldn't be distracted again. 

His words earlier still rang in her head, she was a widow now and she knew that things changed now for her; Camelia feared what would happen to her and Junior. 

"You'll both come home with me," Cristiano replied as if it was that simple, he stared up at the ceiling knowing that Catalina was just going to have to deal with it; she wasn't going to be happy either way. 

It wasn't going to be easy especially when they arrived home with Junior, Catalina wasn't going to react well to that piece of news but Cristiano could care less. 

Camelia sat up a little and stared down at Cristiano, there was no way this was going to end well; she knew that his family had helped send her away and they would probably be baying for her blood if she went back home with him and Junior. 

"You'll become my official mistress," Cristiano revealed with a smile, he brushed his fingers through Camelia's hair before he pulled her down into a kiss; it wasn't ideal but it was the best way to get her home with him. 

Camelia felt her stomach turn at her worst fears became real, she couldn't believe that this was happening and she knew that her life was only going to get more complicated.