The Lost Princess

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen
Rowan stood in front of me, causing my whole body to go cold.

Cameron and Saxon pushed me behind them, blocking me with their broad shoulders. I narrowed my eyes and shoved them away. They both stumbled, surprised.

I then walked right up to Rowan and slapped him across the face. Rowan's head snapped back, a red hand print appearing on his cheek. He slowly turned back to me, shock coating his eyes. "What, pray tell, was that for?"

"That was for screwing with my head," I informed him, ready to slap him again. This time, he caught my hand in his own.

He tilted his head in my direction. Then, he slowly let go of my hand.

"But it's just so fun," he murmured.

I jumped as his fingers softly rummaged through invisible walls in my head. I knew he had said it in my head, as no one else seemed to blink an eye at his words.

"Your mind is just so easy to go into. You should probably work on that."

Get out of my head!

"Just so you know, you look absolutely ravishing tonight," he murmured.

I shuddered as a phantom hand caressed down my side. My dress rippled with the movement.

Don't touch me!

I heard his soft laugh, so deep inside my head I could feel it through my bones. I fought back another shudder. This time, when he spoke, it wasn't inside my head.

"Her mind is so open to me. You should probably work on that."

Cameron shoved me behind him. Saxon growled, "Stay the hell away from her."

Rowan merely shrugged. "Just a suggestion."

The queen walked up then. "Why are you here, Rowan?"

"I'm here for the meeting, of course."

What meeting?

"You're a week early," my mother informed him, her voice full of ice.

"I heard there would be a ball. I'm not one to miss a celebration," he stated, his grin feral.

Before anyone could object, Rowan turned towards me. "Besides, I wanted to get a chance to spend some quality time with our princess."

Then Saxon was there, shoving Rowan away from me. He backed up a few steps, but it seemed like it was only because he wanted to. If he didn't, I don't think Saxon's push would have moved him an inch. "Stay the fuck away from her."

Rowan tilted his head. "Down boy. I don't plan on doing anything with her that she doesn't want."

Before Saxon could interject, the queen was stepping between the males. "That is enough!"

Saxon backed off immediately. Rowan grinned at him before slowly backing down as well. Saxon walked back to my side, subtly keeping a step in front of me as Cameron did. Rowan's analytical eye noticed every move he made. It seemed to make him even more amused.

"You are both acting like children. We all know Rowan is permitted to stay here as long as it is within a week of the expected meeting date, which it is. It is our duty, as his host, to make him feel welcome. Inviting him to this ball is our pleasure," the queen announced, her voice cold and final.

Saxon gritted his teeth but didn't object, knowing that she was right. Rowan grinned, knowing that he had won. Of course, that was before the queen turned to him.