The King's Inamorata (A Queen's Tale #1)

The King's Bastard

Okay guys....I cheated.

I had an epiphany the other day doing edits and decided to scrap what I had for chapters 8-14 which meant that I had to rework all the chapters that came after in order to fit what I now had planned and what I have planned for future chapters.

HOWEVER I do not want any of you to think that I'm ditching this project because I absolutely AM NOT and because I've already gone on so many hiatuses, I felt it only right to give you a new chapter. Only, not the chapter you expected.

The King's Bastard is Hesman's chapter. The first of many. 

Going forward, it's important that you get a glimpse into his head and after last chapter I think it's necessary. As of right now, chapters 1-7 have been remastered so if you haven't read any of those yet go right ahead! I am still working on remastering the rest of the chapters so bear with me please! If I'm not done by the end of this week then I absolutely PROMISE to add TWO new chapters and you can hold me to that <3.

Now, without further ado welcome to Chapter 29: The King's Bastard.

*

*

*

One brush of the shoulder--one brief moment of contact was all it took to send a shiver down Hesman's spine and he hated himself for it. The wings of the butterflies warring in his stomach fanned at the flames blooming in his core. Whatever Vivia said to him went in one ear and out the other. He simply watched as the train of her robe followed her around like vicious waves of opal and he thought it might consume him entirely.

Long jet black curls cascaded past olive shoulders and her eyes as she looked at him shifted from brown to green and then back again. Vivia turned her head and the candlelight cast her face in shadows, carving out the hallows of her cheeks and deepening her gaze. He watched her lips move but wasn't sure of what she was saying. Hesman clenched his hands into fists so tightly he felt blood dampen his palms. 

"He has never visited me at night before," Vivia told him hotly. "Ever."

Finally he looked up. Before something stupid burst from his lips he bit his tongue so hard he nearly winced. He remembered when Lukas remodeled this part of the castle to accommodate Vivia and himself of course. He knew that right behind her was a passage way to Lukas's room next door.

Many nights Hesman had lain awake, tortured by the thought of one of them sneaking down those halls with a lantern. The thought of Lukas being alone with Vivia was enough to make his stomach roll. He hastily shoved the thought to the back of his head. Surely this common girl from Canta had bewitched him for he'd never been so overcome by a woman in his entire life. She ate up his thoughts, get him awake at night, wouldn't let him eat or think or simply be without haunting him.

Some days Hesman truly thought her to be a witch.

"We've never been together without at least one of my lady's maid present. I'm not a dirty secret he's been keeping in the shadows. I am his fiancee--his future wife. Am I not entitled to the same respect?"

One minute Vivia was in front of him and the next she was turning. He couldn't help himself. He caught her by the wrist, spun her around, could practically taste her lips as he pictured himself holding her against him, one hand caught in her hair and the other around her waist. But something stopped him--no, someone. The image of Lukas in the back of his mind, the smile on his brother's face whenever he spoke of Vivia had been enough to keep Hesman's demons at bay.