บท 27: NIGHTMARISH TALE

Ivan held my hand in his as he led me all the way to the bedroom. I was grateful he was holding me because I wasn't sure if I could stand upright, not after witnessing what had just happened in the throne room. For a moment, I was scared. I was afraid Ivan believed his mother over me. I can't still forget the rage in his eyes but now I knew the rage wasn't directed at me. He chose me! He chose me again! I thought to myself as I stared up at Ivan who was running a bath for me in the bathroom. I don't know what that makes of us but I surely know one thing, there's no one in this world I'd rather belong to than Ivan.

Ivan came out of the bathroom, his hand dripping with water. "The bath's ready for you." He informed me and I smiled at him.

"Thanks." I muttered as I stood up from where I was sitting on the chair. I took on step towards him my knees gave way and I would have reached the floor if not for Ivan who had crossed the room and had his arms wrapped around me.

"Fuck, I was hoping you'd take a bath first, but now it seems I have no choice than to bath with you."

I looked up at Ivan whose arms were still wrapped around me. The thought of him naked behind him in the same bath flashed in my mind and I decided I wasn't ready for that yet. "Um...no, I think I'll be fine."

"You don't have to be strong in front of me Arianne." Ivan said gently brushing away strands of my hair. "You can barely stand as it is, besides this isn't the first time I'll be seeing you naked."

My gaze flew to his asking him multiple questions with my eyes. What? When? How? I mean I'm pretty sure I'd remember sharing a bath with a man like Ivan. I'd remember those hard chest of his as they were pressed against mine and...I paused when I was suddenly assaulted with the image of warm golden chest pressed against my back as he rinsed the blood of my body.

Ivan was right, he had seen me naked! That night in the woods when I had been attacked by those rogue wolves it was Ivan who had come to save me and apparently he had been the one to bath me. He had seen me naked! I thought to myself as I looked up at Ivan who smiled at me.

"I promise nothing will happen. Just let me take care of you tonight little one." He told me stroking my cheek softly and a contented sigh escaped my lips.

I suppose there was no harm in him taking care of me. Besides I don't trust myself in the bathtub alone, I'll need all the help I can get. I turned to my back to Ivan so he could undress me. Ivan untied the rope to my corset and when he took off the rest of my undergarments. I turned to find him staring at me, his grey eyes had already darkened and there's no mistaking the desire in them. Even covered in sweat and the grime from the dungeon, Ivan still had a way of making me look beautiful.

Ivan slowly brought up his hands to undo the button of his white cotton shirt which were covered in Liam's blood. I watched with interest in my tired eyes as he undid the last button of his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders exposing his golden chest. Ivan then moved to unbutton his trousers and pushed them down his leg all the while keeping his eyes on me. I noticed he was wearing underwear. Ivan was hard everywhere, I could see the muscles on his thigh as he stood before me. My gaze then rose back up to his underwear and I caught sight of something else that was also...hard! I flushed as I quickly brought my gaze back to Ivan whose eyes had completely darkened with desire and he was looking like he was restraining himself from pulling me close to him.

"We should go to the bathroom before the water gets cold." Ivan said in a gruff voice.

Yeah, that seemed like the best idea. Not trusting myself to speak, I turned and headed towards the bathroom with Ivan guiding me and I tried not to think about the warmth radiating from his body. Carefully, he lowered me into the warm bathwater. At first the shock of the heat made my breath catch but within moments the warmth was pure bliss.

I felt myself relax deeper into the water and Ivan soon got in next to me, thankfully he chose to keep his underwear on. Ivan bathed me with care, using the washcloth to clean the grime off my body. He also decided to wash my hair. Using a citrus smelling soap he gently massaged my scalp and his touch felt relaxing. I sighed as I relaxed against his warm hard chest.

Ivan made sure I was clean which I was thankful for because now, I didn't have that putrid smell on me anymore. When Ivan was done he brought me out of the water and wrapped me in a grey fluffy towel, making sure I was dry. Then he brought out a silk flimsy night gown to wear before he lowered me on the bed.

"Thank you." I told him when he laid down beside me, "Thank you for believing in me."

"I'll always believe you Arianne, always." Ivan shifted closer so he could press a kiss to my temple, "I'm only sorry I couldn't get here sooner, you must have been very scared." He told me trailing my cheek with one long finger.

I shook my head at him. "Not really, I knew you'd come." I smiled back at him and he returned it.

"I'm so sorry my mother made you go through all of that."

"Yeah about that..." I trailed off looking up at him, "You shouldn't have treated her that way in court." I stated while looking at Ivan and I could see the rage begin to simmer in his grey eyes at the mention of his mom.

"She touched what was mine, she shouldn't have."

"But still, don't you think that was a little harsh, wicked even." I commented remembering the way he threatened to turn his sword at Dahlia, his own mother.

Ivan chuckled darkly. "I'm nowhere as wicked as she is."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked suddenly curious and Ivan shook his head at me.

"That is a nightmarish tale I don't wish to tell little one." Ivan says with a smile and I frowned wondering what he meant by that. "You should go to sleep little one." Ivan ordered as he reached out to smooth the frown away from my face and I let out a small yawn.

He was right, I was tired but I couldn't stop thinking about what he said about Dahlia. What nightmarish tales had included his mother? I thought to myself and that was my last thought before I fell asleep.

That night, I dreamt that I was back in the throne room. Only this time, it was me kneeling down on the floor and before me was Dahlia, standing with Ivan's sword in her hand.

"You will never be queen!" She roared before she sliced my head away from my body.