Shadows of Desire Ch. 02

DEVASTATION

Rowan would have liked to have thought that his father would never do something so cruel to him but, who was he kidding, this was King Desmond he was talking about, of course he'd do something this cruel. This was just the kind of cruel, heartless, thing he would do to his son. The old bastard was probably enjoying every second of anguish he'd caused in his son.

Rowan was fuming when he'd left the King's solar. Fuming and hurt. After all these years it shouldn't hurt this much but, this was his father, didn't the man have any love for his son? Even the slightest shred of love? No. Of course not. Desmond hated Rowan and Rowan knew that. Still, as pathetic as it is was, Rowan had always hoped he'd been wrong. With the King's latest order though, that Rowan was to wed Lord Killian Thorn, all hope Rowan once had was now gone.

Don't cry. He willed himself. Don't give the old man that satisfaction of knowing he hurt you.

Rowan was done. Done with all of it. Done with his father, done with the palace, done with this life. He knew he had but two options left. Marry Lord Killian and move to Grayholm or leave Basmorte for good. Again came the thought of running away to Night Port, boarding a ship and sailing away to places unknown. But, could he actually do that? Rowan had no idea what lay beyond the shores of Basmorte. He'd never been outside the Kingdom and he knew little of the species that lived beyond.

He sighed as he reached his apartments. The familiar rooms no longer seemed safe to him. No where was safe. There was no where to hide. He closed the door and leaned against it trembling, finally letting the tears falls as he slid down the door and slumped to the floor. Pulling his knees to his chest he wrapped his arms around himself and cried. He cried like he'd never cried before and it seemed like he was never going to be able to stop.

***

Lord Killian was standing by the doors to the gardens when Rowan arrived. The smile on the man's face made Rowan's skin crawl. He couldn't believe he'd actually agreed to this but then again, what choice did he really have?

"My Dear, you look as lovely as always." Lord Killian said as he offered his arm to Rowan.

Rowan stared at the arm as though it were a viper ready to strike. Reluctantly, he took the offered arm and forced a wan smile. "T-thank you." He muttered.

"Shall we?" Lord Killian pulled Rowan closer against him as they both turned towards the door. "I thought a moonlit walk through the palace gardens would afford us time to get to know one another."

"I think I know enough about you, My Lord." Rowan narrowed his eyes. "Enough to know that a marriage to you would be a mistake."

Lord Killian laughed as he led Rowan outside and into the gardens. "I fear you have me at a disadvantage then." He said. "For I know very little about you."

"There's not much to know I'm afraid, My Lord. I'm very boring."

"Oh, I doubt that." Lord Killian said, looking him over. Rowan shivered at the way the mans eyes drifted slowly over his body, taking him in, and lingering a bit too long on the lower regions. "I suspect there's a wild side to you that I am very looking forward to taming."

Rowan stopped walking and turned to look at the man beside him. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at him coldly. "Then, My Lord, you are going to be very disappointed. I've spent much of my life living in this palace, sheltered from the outside world. What I know of the world I've read in books which, I'm afraid, has been very limited as my father has only allowed me the most basic of education. He believes it's a waste of time to educate an omega beyond the ability to read, write, and do simple math."

"Well, my young Prince," Lord Killian stepped closer to Rowan, brushing his lips against his ear as he spoke in a soft whisper. "The education you will get from me will be far different than anything you've read in your books, and way more...intimate."

Rowan instantly pulled back, his body tensing. "Please, My Lord, you are not yet my husband. Speaking such things to me is...inappropriate."

Lord Killian laughed heartily at that. "What an innocent you are." He spoke lasciviously. "I can hardly wait to have you writhing beneath me, naked, and begging me to fill you."

Rowan ripped his arm from Killian's grasp and glared at him hard. "I believe our walk is over. I will not stand here and listen to such foul language from someone I barely know. Good-night, Lord Killian."

Rowan turned, intent on leaving when Lord Killian suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He wrapped his arms around Rowan's waist and drew him close, crushing their bodies together. Killian leaned his head forward and brushed his lips over Rowan's exposed neck. His lips parted and Rowan could feel his fangs grazing his flesh. Rowan fought against him but Killian was stronger than him.

"Listen to me." Killian whispered in his ear. "You are mine to do with as I please. Our mating may not be official yet but your father has already given you to me, mind, body, and soul. I could take you here and now if I so chose and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. No one will come to your aide. Even if you scream, no one will come. You are completely at my mercy." He tightened his grip on Rowan's arm and Rowan yelped in pain, tears filling his eyes.

Killian grinned, maliciously. "Good." He breathed hot breath against Rowan's neck. "I like the sounds you make. I want to hear more. I want to hear you scream and beg and cry. Your whimpering turns me on." Killian took Rowan's hand and moved it down, placing it over his hardening bulge. "Do you feel that?" He hissed into his ear. "Do you feel how hard you make me? Do you think you could stop me from bending you over right now and shoving my cock into that hot, tight, little ass of yours?"

"Take your filthy fucking hands off of me this instant!" Rowan sneered, pushing his hand against Killian's chest with all his might. "I care not what my father has promised you. I've agreed to nothing."

"You have no say in the matter, my little Prince."

"Oh don't I?" Killian took a hesitant step back, looking down as he felt a slight sting in his belly. Rowan had reached into the waist band of his breeches and pulled out a small, silver, dagger and had it poking into Killian's gut. "Touch me again, My Lord, and I will kill you."

Killian laughed sadistically. "Have you ever take a life before, little Prince?"

"No." Rowan admitted. "You will be my first and believe me, I have no reservations about stabbing someone in self-defense."

He pushed the blade of the dagger in a bit more. Not enough to draw blood but just enough to let Killian know that he was serious. The smile on Killian's lips faded and his eyes became cold and hard. There was a darkness in those eyes that made Rowan shiver internally though he refused to show any weakness to this man and so stood his ground.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, My Lord, I believe I will take my leave of you. Do not follow me and do not think to enter my bed chambers tonight. I keep my door locked."

Lord Killian grinned. "As if any lock could stop me, child."

Rowan raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps not, but the wards on my door surly will." With that, he turned on his heels and ran, leaving Killian standing alone in the garden.

"Soon." Killian whispered into the darkness. "We'll meet again soon, little Prince."

ESCAPE

"You! You horrid, disgusting, vile excuse for a vampire!" The doors to Rowan's apartments burst open and Lady Caroline stormed in screaming at the top of her lungs as she made a beeline straight for Rowan. Rowan scrambled to get away from her, stumbling over a chair and falling to the floor.

"How dare you?" The Lady screamed as she lunged at him. Rowan raised his arm to shield his face as she slapped at him over and over again. "You will pay for this you whore!" She threatened him. "I'll see to it."

"It is your daughter who is the whore!" Rowan spat back at her. "Perhaps it is she who you should attack."

"How dare you?" She seethed, glowering at him with fury in her eyes. "I'll kill you for what you've done!"

What Rowan had done he'd gladly take back. Not that it was even his fault. Just a mistake that he suspected wasn't at all unplanned.

Word of his outburst in the garden the night before had gotten back to the King and in a fit of rage he'd backhanded Rowan across the face then ordered him to apologize to Lord Killian.

"Get on your knees and beg his forgiveness if you have to." The King demanded.

"But father, the things he said to me, the things he threatened..." Rowan tried to plead his case but the King would not listen.

"I don't care if he made you suck his cock! He is to be your husband and you will do as he says!" The King grabbed Rowan by his head and pulled him to his feet. "You will not mess this up, boy. Do you hear me? This is my one chance to get you out of my palace and out of my hair. Pray to the Gods that Lord Killian has not changed his mind about wanting you or you will spend the rest of your pathetic life in the dungeons!"

Whimpering and beaten, Rowan had agreed to his father's demands. He left his father's chambers and went to straight to the east wing receiving room where he'd been told Lord Killian would be waiting. The idea of apologizing to that man had Rowan seething. Why should he be the one to apologize when Killian had insulted him? The whole situation was just one nightmare after the next and Rowan, despite his distaste for the man his father had promised him to, knew no other course of action but to bend to his father's will.

Could he really marry such a man as Lord Killian? Would they even be happy together? At this point, Rowan was certain that love and happiness were not in his future. Not that the King cared one bit. His only desire was to wash his hands of the son that had disappointed him so. The son that had failed his father simply for being born an omega. As if Rowan had any say in the matter at all. Still, he figured that this was his lot in life and one way or another, he had better make the best of it, for he had no one to rely on to save him but himself.

He didn't bother knocking when he reached the receiving room, but perhaps he should have. He was told that Lord Killian was expecting him though so he simple turned the handle and pushed the large door open. As soon as he stepped into the room, Rowan froze. There on the floral upholstered lounge he found the Lady Emilia, on her knees, her skirts pushed up about her waist totally exposing her naked backside. Lord Killian was behind her, his hands firmly grasping her hips as he drove himself into her with great force.

Emilia moaned and cried out as the pleasure wracked her body. Rowan could hear the sickening sound of flesh against flesh as Killian, completely nude, continued to slam his massive cock into her. Rowan stood there, his hand still gripping the door handle unable to tear his eyes away. He was in shock, not believing at first that he was actually seeing what he was seeing. Then, unbelievably, Lord Killian turned his head, locking eyes with Rowan, and smiled, giving the young Prince a quick wink.

Rowan was suddenly enraged. Not at his soon to be step-sister, but at Lord Killian. Had the plan planned for this to happen? Had he wanted Rowan to walk in and catch him fucking someone. Not just anyone though. Lady Caroline's daughter and future Princess. What game was he playing? Why would he do such a thing?

"You lecherous snake." Rowan hissed, surprising Emilia who had no idea that she had been caught. "Have you no shame?"

"You!" Emilia screamed, mortified. She struggled to pull her skirts down and cover herself all while Lord Killian was still buried inside her. "Get out!" She screamed at Rowan. "Get out at once! What is wrong with you, you sick, little, child?"

"I see you've found yourself a new betrothed." Rowan sneered, ignoring Emilia. "Good. Then I assume that my apology is no longer needed."

"On the contrary." Lord Killian laughed. "I'd love to see you grovel."

"That, My Lord..." Rowan spat. "Is something I will never do."

He turned then and walked out, slamming the door so hard that one of the paintings on the wall fell to the floor, shattering to pieces. He could hear Lord Killian laughing as he stormed away from the room.

Rowan knew there would be hell to pay for his intrusion but he never expected that Lady Caroline would actually strike him. It was a crime punishable by death for anyone lower than the King to strike a member of the royal family. Rowan doubted there would be any repercussions though had he complained. In fact, the King might congratulate the Lady on her fine disciplinary skills. Still, the smack to the face did come as a shock to Rowan.

"I will kill you!" She repeated her threats. "Who do you think you are to speak of my daughter in such a way?" She hissed. "I'll have you whipped for sure this time. You won't hide behind Master Kinnerik anymore. From now on I will be handling your punishments." If Vampires breathed, the Lady would have been out of breath from the exertion she took in screaming at Rowan. He had never seen her so furious in all the time he had known her.

"I speak only the truth!" Rowan snapped, still trying to shield himself from the woman. "It was your daughter who was caught fucking a man who is not her husband. If you wish to punish someone, punish her. I was only doing as my father instructed me to do."

"Your father never instructed you to spy on my daughter and her future husband!" She lunged towards Rowan again but he put a foot up, catching her in the stomach before pushing her off of him.

He got to his feet and just as Lady Caroline advanced on him again, he put a hand up. "Stop!" He demanded suddenly, his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Did you just say that Lord Killian is Emilia's future husband?"

The expression on Lady Caroline's face was venomous. Her brow knit together and her mouth was twisted into an ugly scowl. "Not that it is any business of yours, but yes. My Emilia and Lord Killian are going to be married."

Rowan was taken aback. When had this happened? How could Lord Killian have planned to take Rowan as a mate if he were already planning to wed Emilia. It made no sense to him. He wracked his brain trying to figure out what was going on when real fear gripped him suddenly. It made sense to him now, his father's warning. Of course, that had to be it. After his outburst in the garden, Lord Killian must have decided that Rowan was too much of a bother and so had rejected him. The demand for an apology was obviously just to lore Rowan to the receiving room so he could flaunt his new bride in front of Rowan.

Rowan wasn't the least bit upset that Killian had chosen Emilia over him, in fact he was grateful for it. What frightened him was the reaction his father was going to have when he found out. Rowan would spend the rest of his life locked in the dungeons or worse. His hand rose to his throat as he considered all possible outcomes. Lady Caroline wouldn't need to make good on her threat to kill Rowan once the King was made aware of Killian's rejection, he'd gladly kill Rowan himself.

Rowan looked up, his hand trembling as he spoke. "I...I assume that the King had not been made aware of Lord Killian's intentions yet." He stammered.

Lady Caroline rolled her eyes. "You foolish child. Of course the King knows. It was he who informed me and I, of course, gave my consent at once. Why do you think we were all present for lunch the other day? Lord Killian wanted to meet the royal family. The entire royal family. Though why anyone considers you a part of our family I'll never understand. If I had things my way, you wouldn't even be here. Or, better yet, I'd have you on your knees, scrubbing my garderobe!"

Again, Rowan was confused. "I...I thought." He shook his head. "My father had told me that Lord Kilian had asked for my hand in marriage, not Emilia's."

Lady Caroline Laughed manically. "You? Why on Earth would Lord Killian want you? It's clear that someone has played a rather hilarious joke on you, child. You are nothing. You will always be nothing, and no one, not even a gutter trash, blood born, vampire would take you as his mate. Face it, my little toad, you will spend the rest of your miserable life, alone."

Lady Caroline smoothed out her skirts, brushed a stray curl behind her ear then turned for the door. She stopped long enough to turn back to Rowan, a malicious grin crossing her face. "How long your life may be, my young Prince, remains to be seen." With that, she turned sharply and stormed out of the room, slamming the door hard behind her. Rowan lowered himself into an arm chair next to the dying fire and put his head in his hands. He had to escape, and soon. He feared, his days were numbered.

REVELATIONS

Lady Caroline burst through the doors to the Kings private solar, her face a mask of anger and humiliation. The king looked up at her, cocking an eyebrow, then calmly took a sip of the blood wine he held in his hand.

"And, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, My Lady?" He asked. His tone clear that he did not appreciate the intrusion. He sat his glass down and waited for the Lady to compose herself and speak.

"Your bastard of a son." She growled, narrowing her eyes as she stood before the King. "I've taken his insults long enough." She told him. "You must do something about him. If you will not, rest assured, I will deal with him myself."

The King motioned for her to sit in the empty chair beside him. "And, what has my idiot son done this time, I wonder?"

"Only humiliated my poor Emilia and then assaulted me when I confronted him about it. He..." She feigned anguish as fake tears filled her cold eyes and she dabbed at them with a handkerchief. "He struck me, your Majesty. Can you imagine. He actually struck me." She sobbed into her kerchief miserably, one eye watching the King, gauging his reaction to her agony.

"I see." The King placed a hand on her knee and squeezed gently. "I agree that his behavior had gotten out of control but you may rest easy, my love. He shan't be a bother to us for much longer. I've already made arrangements for having him removed from the castle. In three nights from now, he will gone and out of our lives for good."

Lady Caroline smiled at her intended. This was music to her ears. Finally the King's wretched child would be out of her way. She couldn't have asked for a better wedding present. "Tis marvelous news, my King. May I inquire, what is it you plan to do with the boy?"

The King sighed, picking up his wine glass, bringing it to his lips and emptying the glass in one gulp. "I thought I had already made my plans known to you. Lord Killian has asked for the boys hand and I've agreed. Why he would be so eager to marry the welp is beyond my understanding but who am I to question it when it means getting the child out of my hair?"

Lady Caroline stared at the King, the shock evident on her face. She let loose a small, nervous laugh. "Sire, I'm afraid I don't understand. Lord Killian. But, he has already asked for my Emilia. Surely there has been some mistake."

The King narrowed his eyes. "There has been no mistake, madam. Lord Killian has asked to wed and mate Rowan. There was never any mention of him asking for Emilia. He wanted a bride of royal blood."

Lady Caroline shook her head. "No, this can not be. Lord Killian is to marry Emilia. My Emilia will become the duchess of Grayholm, not that sniveling, coward, of a vampire you call your son!"

"Calm yourself, my dear." The King gave Lady Caroline a stern look. "Plans have already been set in motion. It is done."

"This isn't right." She continued to protest. "When you told me of Lord Killian's proposal you said it was Emilia that he had chosen."