My Liege And I

Rabbit

Thank you for the love. I have fully recovered now and I can write well. Before, I was caught in intoxication due to the medication that I don't even know how I put together the previous chapter.

You have no idea how I'm excited to write again. I have another chapter already written and will put it up by end of tomorrow after I finish editing this one.

Weekly updates now. Let's go!

Chapter 31

Oren
Furia

"You have different  coloured eyes now." Oren observed Lance who grinned widely with blue and green individual eyes.

He ran his hand through his overgrown blonde locks. "It was either I gained a different shade or lost my eye."

"What did the queen say when you returned?"

"Nothing. She was evidently disappointed but no harsh words were directed to me."

Oren blew vapour on his sword and continued to clean it with his cloth. He sat on the floor rug of the guest sleeping chambers in the palace. The room had the aesthetics of the dark colors he enjoyed.

It was obvious the queen had instructed them to prepare his room in such a manner. She remembered what he liked and enjoyed and took pleasure in having it so for him. He did not know whether that was something that softened him towards her. 

Oren had arrived in the previous week, then spent much of his time working with the war men of Furia, while the queen, he saw not much of. She was pretentiously busy with her duties, procrastinating from giving him her audience so he would stay longer than needed. The woman would do anything to keep him by her side.

"Oren!" An icy voice screamed from the hallway.

Immediately, coldness emptied the room of any possible heat. The curtains swept the floor and wall decorations swayed in response to the force of energy.

Lance stood and picked his sword. "I..." he stuttered. "I think I shall excuse myself now," he finished as he exited the chambers without waiting for Oren's response. He did not want to be involved or caught in between what was about to unfold.

"Oren!" Queen Elora burst in.

"Yes, my queen." He continued to wipe his sword, pretending not to know what he had done. "What has caused you panic?"

She held up the dead white rabbit with the twisted neck. It's red eyes glared at him the same way it had done as he took its life. Also, the queen's eyes had turned icy because rage shadowed her.

He shrugged. "That rabbit was past its age." It was, but that was not the reason he did it. Mostly, it was to summon her to him. The queen was still predictable in her actions if you got her emotional.

"It belonged to Elora," she quipped.

Oren's ego was smirking. Instead of begging for her audience, he was having her do it for his.

"You think she cares and remembers such a thing." Oren tried to knock sense into her. "If she wants a rabbit, the emperor can give her thousands upon thousands, and on top of that, none will be past their age and suffering like yours."

"I was giving him―"

"If not for your blood, he could have died a long time ago. My queen, you are obsessing over everything rather than the one thing that matters."

She furiously tossed the dead rabbit to his face and he avoided being hit by swerving his sword as a shield. The move sliced the rabbit, blood that hadn't clotted splattered into the air and stained the floor rugs.

"What matters?"

"Our daughter, obviously. I do not think this is something I should remind you of. I would not be here if it was not for her."

She shrugged and slowly walked around, running her hand over the blanket on his bed. Her veiny hands shook due to lack of strength.

"Elora is coming back home. I thought the issue was resolved."

"She already has a life built in Nevoria. You think she will easily subject herself to your demand? And what about the emperor, he will not just roll over."

"You are so insensitive!" The air grew even colder. "She is the future queen! And if you are not seeing it already, I am dying!"

Hairs on his arms stood to the freezing air she was giving off. Oren stood up and took his black cloak to cover himself. His wings lowered to allow his dressing then raised afterwards.

Elora took a calming breath and rasped feebly. "Furia needs a queen."

Oren sheathed his sword. He was brewing and it was a little hard to control. "You are selfish. The same way you were with me, so you are with my daughter."

"Our daughter," she corrected him.

"I will not let you hurt her. That child has been through a lot due to your ignorance."

She quickly spun to face him. "Oren, that is quite hurtful of you to say."

"You should not have let her go in the first place."

"At that time, I had no idea you were her father."

"Thus, at that time she was useless to you and disposable?"

"Oren!"

"I will not let you hurt her. If Elora is to come, it can only happen with her willingly wanting to do it, not a case of force. I and the emperor will make sure of that."

The queen gave a scornful laugh. "The emperor? The emperor is no problem. He will hand her over easily. Do you not understand that their relationship is forbidden? A princess of fury cannot be with a dragon. In our books, it's unacceptable."

Oren's heart went cold. She could see where her mind was going. She was going to sabotage the relationship. He fisted his hand in agitation. "If you try anything, Elora, I will not be so nice."

She choked a laugh and strutted to him. Her long nail slid onto his temple and ran down his face. "Oren, Oren, Oren." She went on her toes and pursued her lips. "I am not afraid."

That was the last thing he remembered before he found himself entwined with her, later on, in the middle of the night. They were both naked, having slept together, something he should not have done with her considering he did not want to open the bottle that contained past memories.

He was disgusted with himself. All this time, and he still had feelings towards the woman. Collecting his belongings, he sneaked out and sat off for his return to Nevoria. The idea of how angry she would be to wake up and find him gone delighted him. She would feel used and abandoned, and just the thought made it all worth it.

S.V