Charmed

Chapter Sixteen

Something was tickling my nose, stirring me from my sleep. I was blinded by sunlight when I opened my eyes, shutting them again immediately. That was enough to tell me that I wasn't in the servant's quarters. Slowly allowing my eyes to adjust to the light, I discovered that the thing that was irritating my nose was feathers sticking out of one of the pillows I was sprawled on. My first thought was that I was in Darius' chamber, but as the events of last night began to resurface, I remembered falling asleep with Claude. I sat up to find the princess curled into a tight ball on the other side of her double bed.

God knew what the time was, except that I was really late. Really, really late. I kissed Claude's forehead before I left her, sprinting down the stairs and ducking into Darius' room. He was sat, fully dressed, at his table with a bowl of porridge in front of him. He looked up from the thick book he was reading in surprise, waiting for me to catch my breath.

"Good morning, he smiled. "I take it you didn't get back to your own chambers last night?" I shook my head. "Nancy brought this up for me when you didn't come to get it. Turns out she had to wake me up, too."

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled, plopping down opposite him. I was suddenly very aware of my morning breath and bed hair.

"Don't apologise. I'm very grateful that you comforted Claude last night. How is she?"

I exhaled deeply, leaning back against the chair. "She cried herself and me to sleep last night. She was still sleeping when I left." I picked at the skin around my nails. "So, what happens now?"

Darius put his spoon down, standing up and pacing in front of his window. He ran his hand through his already ruffled sandy-blonde hair and looked at me with sad eyes. "I honestly don't know. I suppose I need to ask guests here for the funeral. From the way my grandfather was talking last night, they are already planning on the coronation happening only a few days after the funeral."

"Are you okay with that?" I stood up and moved to stand in front of him. He looped his arms around my waist, pulling me against him. "This is your life, Darius. You're allowed to have a say."

He smiled softly and bent down so that his lips were hovering inches above mine. I closed the space between us, relishing the feeling of his lips on mine. Desire swept through us both, and our hands were suddenly all over each other. "I love you so much."

"I love you more." We grinned at each other, and I felt my love for him increase tenfold.

I moved my lips along his jawline, darting my tongue out against his stubble. We were in our own sensation, and although it felt like we shouldn't really be doing this after the events of last night, neither of us could think about anything else.

"Ew, stop, I don't want to look at this!" Heather's voice squealed, making me and Darius jump apart as if we had been burned. I could see the effect I was having on Darius and I smirked at him, and he sent me a wink.

"Heather, how many times have I told you not to just appear?" Darius said to his little sister.

"I only wanted to find out where Father is," she said, making no hesitation in asking possibly the worst question she could have asked. My eyes flicked to Darius immediately.

He visibly stiffened at her question. "What do you mean?"

"I can't find him."

Darius cleared his throat and knelt down in front of Heather, taking her hand. "Sweetheart, Father died last night. You do understand what that means, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do." She rolled her eyes. "But I'm still here. Where is Father?"

Darius took her small hands in his much larger ones. "He won't be here, Heather. We're going to be having his funeral in a few days."