was an expression Ignatius had seen Catherine use on Alek. He pulled her closer, fingers sliding firmly under the mass of hair as he envisioned…
A sound distracted them both. He glanced up to see the Prince and Princess exit the room, the courtiers bidding them goodnight. Glancing down at Roscel, whose eyes betrayed her disappointment, he smiled.
'I'll come by later?'
Her eyes lit up, making the green shimmer flash.
'Of course, I'll leave the door unlocked.'
Ignatius lifted her hand to his mouth and smirked as she flushed.
'I'll look forward to it.' Then he turned, and hurried after the couple.
They had gone on one of their evening walks. Ignatius knew most the routes they preferred, so ducked to his room first. The charm, an inconspicuous looking tangle of threads around a feather, rested on the top of the dresser. Slipping it in a pocket, he paused to look at his reflection. It was little wonder Roscel chased after him as he had a similar look to that bastard Prince—dark hair, blue eyes and an imposing figure. He wasn't above using his looks to influence, and Roscel was an enjoyable distraction.
The evening air was brisk as Ignatius quietly made his way along one of the tracks Alek preferred. Very few were aware of this track, but Ignatius had made it his business, for a while now, to know exactly where the Prince was. It was even more important now, for keeping an eye on Catherine.
Focusing on the path while keeping his ears pricked for voices, he pushed through the over grown bushes then froze at a sound.
Quiet now. He reached in the pocket for the charm, feeling relief when it vibrated. A valuable heirloom passed down from the time of the Norard War, from father to son. Not many knew that a single feather from an avine, with a little help from someone gifted, granted you invisibility. And not just invisibility, it also prevented any gifted being from sensing your presence.
The charm worked for nearly an hour straight, then required a day in the sun and two nights in the moonlight to recharge it. Still, that hour of invisibility made it worth it.
Moving carefully, he crept closer and ducked beside a tree just off the track. The sight before him, made him clench his fists.
They were naked.
Alek's cloak was spread beneath them, and Catherine's pale skin reflected the moonlight as Alek caressed her. Ignatius watched, lust and fury pulsing within, as she tipped her head back sighing in pleasure, gasping as the Prince sucked at a breast. Jealousy raged through Ignatius as he watched that bastard pleasure the Princess. It should be me, he seethed inwardly. Someone with a right to the throne—not a bastard from another planet.
He stayed there, frozen in position. He continued to watch, aroused at the sight of the Princess, so explicit in her demands. In his minds' eye, he could easily imagine it was he who leaned between those pale thighs, head bent to taste her. It was his name she cried out, and he who caused the sudden flush of brilliant red energy.
His hand gripped a tree branch and he breathed hard as he saw himself, not Alek, thrusting into her, arms wrapped around her back as her cries increased, hands clutching at his shoulders until a ring of energy ripped out from her.
With a start, he realized that they'd finished and lay wrapped in each others arms, totally unaware of his presence. The intensity with which he'd envisioned himself in the Prince's place shook him. A vibration from the charm brought him back to his senses, it was time to go.
When he reached his room, he returned the charm to its secret spot then changed clothes. His body ached with the need to release. He slipped silently through the corridors to Lady Roscel's bedchamber. The door, as she'd promised, was unlocked. A smile lit his face as he entered, hearing the soft breaths as she slept.
She might not be the Princess, but tonight she'd make the perfect stand in.
Breakfast seemed to take forever. Loi sighed inwardly when another diplomat engaged Cat and Alek in conversation. Meals had become a time consuming event since Cat was declared the heir. Sabyn, sensing her irritation, squeezed her knee gently under the table.
'Patience, not long.'
Loi rolled her eyes at him, but smiled.
Not long. It was the rest day today and Sabyn had arranged for the two of them to go horse riding. With only one free day out of nine, she