Samuel's POV
No matter what I said, Nikita insisted on staying awake with the dragons. I sighed as I dropped onto the ground besides her, slumping against the wall and preparing for a long night.
“You should rest. I am well protected here.”
“A true guard will go for months without rest or sleep.” I reminded her, giving her a lazy crooked smile. I heard her heartbeat pick up and glanced around, wondering what had set it off.
“Samuel.” she whispered, leaning closer.
“Yes, my lady?”
“Do you believe in love?”
“Of course. I would like to see the man who does not.”
“I don’t. I am afraid I am not a man but I will simply have to do.”
“What? Why?” I straightened up, forgetting my lack of sleep and focusing on her as she looked away. The moon was let in by a small window, casting shadows across her beautiful face.
“My father met my mother when they were fourteen. He courted her and she accepted. Their parents, however, did not. They did mad things to drive them apart. They eventually started a war. A thousand people were murdered that year, all for love. It was love that killed my mother, that took her from me. That, my sweet Samuel, is why I do not believe in love.”
“I am sorry for your loss but that is not a reason. The queen passed because of illness, I cannot see how that was your father’s fault.”
A bitter laugh escaped her pink lips. “Is that what they tell you? That my mother fell ill? My mother was a beautiful woman, Samuel. No star can compare to her beauty, no river to her grace. She had many suitors for the throne. My father was not supposed to rule. Sir Nathaniel the third, the father to the horror I am to marry, was set to rule. He never took the fall from the throne well. One day, he decided to steal the crown in the best way he could. He tried to kill my father. My parents and I were in the garden, on a stroll. I was eleven, soon to be twelve and we were discussing manners. I had disobeyed and raised my voice with a lord because he had killed my horse. And then as I was telling my mother I was sorry, she took me into her warm embrace and I felt her blood seep onto my skin. I clung to her, desperate, calling for help as my father and Nathaniel dueled. She fought against death until her last breath and even then, she would not see me cry. She told me to be strong and that I was destined for the throne. She told me she loved me and that I would always be her little girl. And then she died in my arms. Nathaniel was never punished. Instead, my father told me never to speak of that horrid day to anyone. Even Hilary thinks mother had died of an illness. I confronted Nathaniel the very next time I saw him. I yelled at him for stealing my mother and I tried to hurt him, I did. But I was a child and I was struck with grief, unable to fight. He hit me back, much harder that I had slapped him. He told me that he loved my mother with all his heart and that it my father who was supposed to be in his grave. He told me he had aimed for my father but my mother had outwitted him once again and took the blow. So, no my darling mother did not pass of illness.”
I stared in shock as tears rolled down her cheeks ever so slowly, her eyes locked on the dragon without emotion. I slid closer to her without a word and took her in my arms as sobs caused her to tremble and collapse into my chest.
“I miss her so much, Samuel. I just want her to hold me once more, to sing me to sleep, to chase me through the halls. I want her back.” Her voice broke and her head dropped onto my shoulder, the tears soaking my shirt. I could care less at the moment though.
“I will never let that happen to you. I promise. I will sooner die.” I muttered into her hair, tangling my fingers in the blond locks. She remained silent as she lifted her head, her pale blue eyes meeting mine.
