Chapter 27: An Excuse

While dancing, Eltanin's thoughts traveled to his Fae and how she looked in the white gown that night and he wondered how she would have felt dancing in his arms. His hand would have sprawled across her back and maybe he would have lifted her onto his feet and made her dance. The thought was so raw, so potent, that his blood rushed to his groin and a thin coat of sweat formed across his forehead. He clenched his teeth. What the hell was wrong with him?

The music stopped and the next thing he knew was that Morava had pressed herself against him. She rubbed her belly over his erection, giving him a knowing glance.

Eltanin removed himself away from her quickly else she would get the wrong idea. But he realized it was too late for he saw excitement in her eyes. He bowed to her and excused himself. He opened a mind link with Fafnir to take care of the princess. The next ballad started, this time a singer accompanied the music.

Morava rushed after the king between the dancing couples, but before she could reach him, Fafnir stopped her. "Princess," he bowed to her. "May I have this dance with you?" he asked politely with a handsome smile.

Surprised, Morava jerked her head back. The man in front of her was rugged, just like Mizvah. Her panties became wet immediately. She extended her hand to him, her chin high, her thoughts became scattered and her knees shaky.

Eltanin reached the bar where the servants scurried around to give him the finest wines. He picked up a tumbler from one of them and gulped down a large swig. The wine burned all the way down his throat and he closed his eyes.

"Don't tell me you are savoring the wine," came Rigel's voice as he chuckled. Rigel lowered his voice and said, "You shouldn't marry her. You are clearly not interested in her. But I am impressed by your father's choice. She is beautiful and clearly tailor made for such a position. She is of a marriageable age and her father will get numerous proposals her way. At the same time, I wouldn't say that you should decline her proposal either."

"How could I be interested in her?" Eltanin replied, gulping down the remaining wine. He picked up another flute. "This is the first time I have met her. Besides, I would be marrying her for the kingdom, and not for myself."

"That's lame man!" Rigel snorted. "I would never marry for my kingdom," he said standing taller. "I will only marry for love or if I find my mate."

A rough laugh left his throat. "Mate? Love?" He waved his hand at that. "Look around you Rigel." He surveyed the pomp and pageantry once again. "The only ones around us are people who want to take advantage of our positions."

Rigel rolled his eyes. He picked up whiskey from a servant walking by. He motioned Eltanin to walk to the high chairs at the back of the hall. As the two perched themselves upon them, Rigel leaned towards him and said, "Who are the two girls with her?" He eyed the two who were standing with Morava earlier in the night and were eyeing Eltanin with interest.

Eltanin turned his gaze lazily to the left. "Probably a part of her entourage. They weren't introduced." He didn't even care.

Rigel, being the womanizer he was, he gave them a suggestive wink and a smile. The two blushed. "They would be in good company tonight," he remarked.

Eltanin shook his head. His eyes went to Morava who was talking to Fafnir while dancing, taking note of how she was clutching his shoulders tightly.

"The High Priest sent me a message," Rigel said, interrupting his thoughts.

Eltanin frowned. "About what?"

"He wanted to meet me tonight as he wanted to leave early in the morning. Or if that would be inconvenient, he would like to meet early in the morning. He stated that there is some urgent work that has come up in the monastery otherwise he wouldn't have rushed back."

"I said I wouldn't be able to meet tonight!" Eltanin growled. "He can go fuck himself." How dare anyone pressure the king to meet at their convenience. Perhaps the High Priest was looking to shorten his lifespan.

"You forget that it is me who he wants to meet and not you," Rigel reminded him, though on the inside he knew that Menkar was more interested in meeting Eltanin. He would have never accompanied a lowly scribe otherwise.

"Then what are you planning to do?" Eltanin asked, frustration rising along with restlessness. He felt he should let the priest and the scribe go suddenly feeling that it might be a useless task.

"My decision is based on yours, Eltanin! And from what I gather, you don't want to meet him tonight."

"That's correct!" Eltanin growled again.

"Then I'll arrange for us to meet him in the morning before dawn. Is that okay?"

"Do you think I will be able to wake up that early in the morning?" Eltanin didn't like being pressured.

Rigel shrugged. "It's not like I wanted him here. The High Priest and the scribe can go to hell for all I care." He fell silent after that and turned his attention back to the dance floor, his annoyance apparent at Eltanin's behavior.

Eltanin hung his head low. "Okayyy. I will meet him in the morning. But you have to drag me out of bed!" He was going to drink himself senseless tonight. Senseless enough to get some sleep. He hadn't slept in a while.

The side of his lips curled up. "I will."

Despite his father's request to stay and attend the dinner, Eltanin left. He was the king and he had no intention of creating an excuse for himself but he still tried to form one. "I have a terrible headache." He strided to his bedchamber.

He tossed all his clothing off, except his breeches and walked to the bar. He pulled out a bottle of red wine and walked to the balcony that overlooked a fountain in the gardens below. He spotted a few guards that were posted beneath his window. Vines dropped from the walls laden with night blooming roses. A couch along with three arm chairs and a table sat in the middle of the balcony over a soft rug. Vases of various sizes adorned the sides. Two torches burned on the side walls as a few lined the railing. He inhaled the fresh air and the same citrusy scent hit his nostrils again.