"You must be Luci. Pleasure to meet you" the king said grandly.
He stood before me, poised and menacing as I looked up to view his tall and thickset stature.
Dressed in a long black cape with a red fur trim around the collar and on the edge of the heavy velvet cloak, the excessive fabric tried to hide his bloated stomach without success.
His jagged gold, jewel encrusted crown shifted on his short red hair slightly as he bent down and held out his hand to greet me.
I regarded his pale stubby hand with reservation,
"It's Lucia" I replied bluntly, unimpressed by his imposing welcome.
I usually hated when people called me Lucia but with everything that had happened so far, I felt a weird affiliation to my full name.
The king retracted his hand and rubbed his neatly trimmed beard with curiosity. There was an air of silence that swept across the open space and I could sense that the residences were unsure what reaction the unpredictable king would make. He chuckled at my bold rejection,
"I hope you're not going to be a problem, little lady. We have ways of dealing with troublemakers here, you know" he mocked sinisterly.
Tynan gave me a death stare.
You know the one's your parents give you when you have said or done something wrong in public and they really want to scold you for it but can't due to embarrassment,
"I'll be on my best behaviour, your highness" I sarcastically replied.
My derisive response was lost on the arrogant royal and I felt slightly deflated. He shifted his black velvet cape off the floor and beckoned one of the guards to his side,
"Take this young lady to the dungeon and put her in cell three. She deserves it for saving my son"
The guard nodded and quickly grabbed my arm.
I struggled to get free but the grasp was too strong,
"I will take her" Tynan casually interjected.
He pulled the guards hand from my tender arm and held onto my hand tightly.
His father noticed this less abrasive exchange and raised his eyebrows with concern,
"I don't think that would be wise, son"
Tynan ignored his father's reservations and guided me down to a door at the opposite end of the dimly lit foyer,
"I will see you in my chambers in five minutes, Tynan. Do not make me have to hunt for you" he bellowed.
His deep, forceful voice echoed around the circular reception area, bouncing off the black and red patterned walls as a door opened to the right and distracted his attention.
Tynan refused to look back. Instead opting to raise his hand in acknowledgement of his father's request, making all the guards, in the vicinity, hold their breath with surprise at his defiant attitude towards the merciless king,
"You can let go of my hand now" I suggested as we got to the end of the foyer and faced the small black arched door.
Tynan smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a black cord necklace. He pulled out the woven chain and took it over his head.
The 18 inch cord comprised a long black key that was attached to the secret piece of jewellery through its gothic patterned handle.
He inserted the key into the lock and the cylinders groaned open,
YOU ARE READING
Love Bite (Love Bite Series #1)
FantasyLucia has reluctantly moved to the rural town of Umbra, in the English countryside, to live with her absent father, after she found her aunt Sofiya in the alley, at the side of their London home, bloody and bitten. Struggling to cope with village l...
