The Protector

Chapter 12

A/N: I'm very sorry for the delay in the update.

The new cover is by elphadora and she writes fantasy too!

I got caught up with a wonderful new project called Bottles, Mirrors and Spectacles with two other authors who love to challenge themselves just like I do. We made a collab account dirtpeople and these amazing authors are R3aD5r and TurquoiseSakura. We've conjured up a story that is quite different from anything else we've written, so if you have any suggestions or feedback, we'd love to hear it so we can improve ourselves. Please do check it out, and I'll be really thankful. Now for the chapter.

Warning: a little steamy.

Dnarza suddenly felt self conscious and put the book away. She had danced in front of a large audience of sleazy men in these indecent clothes, but something about his piercing gray eyes over her exposed limbs gave her strange, unexplainable feelings, making her feel both safe and vulnerable at the same time.

Theon walked towards her, taking her hand. She took a step back, looking up to meet his smouldering gaze suddenly becoming a regretful one. He was so tall.

"I would like to apologize for all the trouble I have caused you." He said, taking her hand and kissing it. "Perhaps if I hadn't stopped and asked you for your name, none of this would have happened."

Dnarza kept her eyes on his eyes. How could a similar set of eyes be so vile and disgusting on another person?

"It was inevitable, your highness." She said, taking her hand and turning away from his intense stare. She felt she would combust if she kept looking into them. "They exploit my mother the same way, if you haven't noticed. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."

"Please, call me Theon." He said, taking a step back, noticing her apprehension. "I am not like my brothers. I only asked for you to stay with me to keep Grant from taking you."

"I am very grateful to you, your highness. I cannot express my gratitude enough." She said, smiling politely, still not meeting his eyes.

They stood there awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. A strange tension was thickening between the two of them.

"It will be safe for you to spend the night here in my chambers tonight." He said, breaking the silence. "Do not worry, I will be keeping my hands to myself. You have my word."

Instead of feeling relaxed, Dnarza's body tensed and a strange excitement ran through her body as she imagined his hands on her. A blush coloured her cheeks.

Her eyes met his again and her blush deepened. She hoped the dim light of the candles didn't let him see it.

"The problem is," He continued, "My brother won't be able to do the same."

"Then I shall kill him," She said, fiercely, a different sort of fire burning in her now. "I would have killed him in any case, had he taken me to his room tonight."

He chuckled, shaking his head slowly. "And how did you expect to do that without any weapons? My brother is lazy, but a very strong man. And you forget he is a prince. Did you think of the repercussions?"

Her cheeks grew redder with embarrassment. She hadn't thought of all that. "I would have. I promise you, I would have. He's exploited my mother for so long." She cried, hot tears pooling into her eyes. "I would have found a way somehow. I'll find one. He will never touch her again."

"I think we should focus on keeping him from touching you as of now. Because tomorrow morning, he will want you in his bed." He said, rage burning in his eyes.

"How do you propose we do that?" She asked him, feeling his anger burn inside her, making her own feelings stronger. "Because if he so much as lays a finger on me, I will kill him. Even if it means losing my own life."

"I think I've got a plan." He said, taking a seat on his bed.
***

Theon could hardly control himself around her. He had always fantasized about such a situation in which she would be in his room, dressed in as little as possible. He wanted to take her into his arms and lose himself to the scent of her body, but he kept his control. He would not become like his brothers.

He had to keep his mind on track, if he was to keep any of them from getting a hold off her in the morning. He could have just taken her tonight and finish his lust, saving himself from all the trouble. But he found that he couldn't just do that. Something about her pulled him towards her. He had wanted to have her since such a long time. He wasn't just going to get her go, now that he did.

So he had devised a plan.

He would keep Dnarza in his chambers for a few days, then help her and her mother escape to the forest, away from the castle. His friend Brandt knew a woman named Marissa who ran an Apothecary with her sister. If he somehow convinced her to let them take refuge there, no one would hurt her.

Few people knew this, but Apothecaries were considered sacred by the Carroughs. No one would violate the sanctity of one to search for them. Hopefully his brother would forget about her.

So he relayed his plan to Dnarza, watching her expressions turn from anger to gratitude.

"If this plan works, I will be indebted to you for the rest if my life." She said, her eyes looking into his. "But I have a question. Why are you going through all of this trouble for us?"

"Because, my lady," he said, placing a gentle kiss on her hand, "I think you bewitched me with your charms the first time I saw you. I haven't been able to think of anything else for two years now."

***

Dnarza didn't know if it was the effect of the drink she had taken earlier, or Theon's words, but she found herself gravitating towards his lips until they attached themselves to hers.

However, instead of quenching the fire burning inside her, they only made it grow stronger.

She moved closer to him, settling on his lap in an attempt to close the distance and remove the ache. He seemed to be feeling the same as he pulled her towards his body, his mouth emitting a growl against hers as it rubbed against him.

His arms roamed her back, loosening the hook of the cloth covering her chest which fell on her lap.

They roamed the curves of her bare chest, pale, almost white hands against her smooth, olive coloured skin. She slipped her arm around him, deepening the kiss and they both lost themselves to the primitive dance of their bodies.
***

As Theon lay awake, stroking Dnarza's hair, her head lying on his bare chest, he knew that this was just the beginning. Her needed more of her. He wanted to keep her all to himself. He was becoming addicted to her.

A/N: hope you liked it. I'll be writing about Genevieve and Articus a little later, as it's set a couple of years after this. Hope you guys are enjoying this book. Please don't forget to vote and comment if you do :)