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  Once inside, he shuts the door leaving us alone. "You defied me today in the throne room, Ella. I don't like being sassed by my queen."

  Does he really plan on spanking me? Perhaps it was only a threat? He'd swatted me once in the hall. Was that it? It hadn't been so bad. I almost liked it, a little.

  He struts over to me, forcing me back against the window. The glass is cold at my back and his hands fall to my hips.

  I swallow nervously, staring into Alexander's eyes. There's not a word for me to say, nothing that will change his mind if he's serious. That is one thing about Alexander, he's always determined to get what he wants.

  "We don't have to be intimate, but you will pay for what you did. I can't look weak among my men."

  "Pay? How?" I'm almost afraid to know the answer. He pulls me toward the bed, grabbing me by my arm, leading me where he wants me to go. I thought he said we weren't going to be intimate? My eyes glance from the mattress to Alexander. "What are you planning?" My voice betrays me, quivering as I speak. I'm terrified, my heart won't stop pounding wildly.

  "Even queens need discipline. You will not disobey me again," he says. "Now come here."

  I don't want to, but do I have a choice? He threatened earlier to carry me. My stomach knots, unsure what pain will follow. The last time I'd been spanked, I'd been a small child. I can't even remember what I'd done to deserve it. Alexander sits at the edge of the bed. "Get on my knee, face down."

  "What?" I don't understand. Is he serious? Maybe I can convince him that I won't cause any more trouble.

  "Discipline, Ella. You deserve to be spanked for your behavior and insubordination. Do you think I'd let anyone speak to me the way you did today? Come here or I'll drag you over and you'll get double the lashings."

  My eyes widen and I glance at the door. How far could I get? Maybe I should have left the other day when I had the chance. Slowly, with trepidation, I walk toward Alexander. "Can't we do something else?" I ask. Even though I'm nervous, I step closer, trying my best to seduce him. "I'd much rather run my tongue along your prick."

  Alexander raises an eyebrow. Sweat beads his forehead. "You're just dragging out the inevitable," he says.

  I do as I'm told, leaning on his knees, my bottom right where he wants it. "Dear, you have too many clothes on. I want you to feel the sting of your wrongdoings."

  He lifts my dress leaving me exposed. The cool air cradling my rear and his eyes given more of a sight than ever before. "Just do it," I say, wanting the humiliation and embarrassment to be over. I can't see his expression but I imagine he's smiling.

  "Be glad I'm not demanding this in front of the entire castle," he says and slaps his hand down on my bare ass.

  My cheeks clench and the sting almost feels good. Does he know the reaction he's caused? He strokes my rear making the pain cease and the desire build within me. "You're a dirty girl, do you know that? Saying such vulgar things to me."

  I moan wishing his fingers were doing something else, touching me and stroking me instead of spanking me.

  His hand comes down again with a second strike. This one is harder, more of what I expected and I whimper in protest.

  "What, you don't like that?" he asks. "I bet you do. You want me to spank you again, don't you? That's why you're moaning. You're a naughty girl, Ella."

  I feel conflicted. I don't want the pain but the experience also feels enlightening. I'm aroused and I'm not quite sure why. Is it because I'm half-naked lying on my husband's lap or something else?

  His hand comes down again over my sensitive rear.

  "Promise not to defy me again in front of my court." His tone is stern, he's not fooling around.

  I hadn't thought I'd defied him. We are both leaders of the kingdom, he the king and I the queen. "Ella?" he asks, waiting for my answer. He spanks me again, probably because I don't answer quick enough. My bottom is raw and throbs terribly. Is he enjoying this?

  A single teardrop cascades down my cheeks. Maybe I haven't made things easy for him, but I haven't intended him any harm either. "I'll behave." It's the most I can offer. I'm not one to make empty promises knowing I won't keep them.

  "Let this be a reminder of what happens when you defy your king." He spanks me again, the sting grows unbearable as my skin burns and I shift uncomfortably against his lap. It's a mixture of both pain and pleasure. I enjoy his undivided attention, is this what it takes to get that from him?

  Arousal courses through my body, making me wet. Is it visible to him when he spanks me? Can he see my glistening pink folds? A blush spreads across my cheeks and I'm certain it covers my breasts and chest. My rear hurts and I reach out to rub the pain away only to feel him grab my hand and push me to the mattress. He pins my wrists above my head, both of them. I can't move. I'm exposed. My ass is still showing and I feel his body straddle mine.

  "I want you, Ella, but I won't force myself on you." His breath caresses my ear causing a shudder to course down my spine. "No. I'm going to make you beg for it when you want me to please you. You're going to have the entire castle know that I'm the one doing those wonderful things to you and the best part, Ella. Hannah is going to watch."

  I chew my bottom lip raw. My thighs are burning and I feel wetness seeping against the mattress. His words and spankings have already aroused me. Do I give in? I don't want to. I'd rather make him suffer after the way he's treated me and all he's done.

  "Do you want me, Ella?" I feel his teeth scrape my ear and I whimper, thrusting into the bed. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing my heart to calm down and my arousal to extinguish.

  "No," I say into the mattress. "I don't want you. I don't want this."

  "Really?" he sounds surprised and he let's go of my hands and moves away from me. "Okay. If you don't want it, I won't give it to you."

  I expect him to leave the room, to escape my rejection but he doesn't. He climbs onto the mattress and lies down, his head on the pillow. "We're still sleeping in here together. Nothing's changed, Ella."

  * * * * *

  Lying in bed I can't sleep. Alexander is snoring beside me, making it harder for me to relax. I stare at him in the darkness of the bedroom. It would be so easy to shove a pillow over his head, just as he did to his own father, but I won't do it. I'm not a murderer. Even if I don't agree with his punishments and rulings, we are married.

  From outside the bedroom I can hear movements and noise. Is it Sebastian visiting Hannah late into the night? Could it be rebels infiltrating the castle walls?

  I slip out of bed as quietly as possible. My footing is light on the floorboards though they still creak in protest. Turning the door handle, I venture out into the hall. The castle is dark, except for an oil lamp illuminating the path.

  There's sounds again but it's not coming from Hannah's room. Three or four male voices are talking over one another. They're loud but muffled. Where is it coming from?

  I can't make out what's being said. I follow the sound in the direction where it's coming from, down the back stairwell. With quiet and precise movements, I take the stairs one at a time, careful not to make a sound. Finding the next floor down, I recognize one of the voices. He was the other guard that joined us at the creek earlier that afternoon.

  "We can't prove it," the guard says to the other men.

  I step closer, my feet finding a weak floorboard and it groans loudly under my weight. Grimacing, I step off it but the damage is already done. Three are outside of the room and weapons drawn on me. Three swords are staring at my throat.

  I swallow nervously. "Put your weapons down now!" I demand. Are they out of their minds? "I am your queen."

  They each look at one another before nodding and lowering their swords. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. You startled us," the guard from earlier today says.

  "What's your name?" I ask. He hadn't provided it earlier. I'd like to know everyone in the castle. Though there are quite a few servants and guards on duty.

  "William," he says. "We didn't mean to threaten
you, Your Highness."

  He must know a threat to the crown is punishable by death. Did they not recognize me at first glance? Or were they too caught up in some plot that the sight of any person frightened them? I have no intent to put him to death, unless he does intend harm to come to me or Alexander. I will protect him, even if I feel he may be wrong in his actions.

  William points to the two standing beside him. "This is Bridget and Richard."

  "Bridget?" I look the fellow over to realize it's a lady in a guard's outfit. "You're all guards?" I'm surprised to find a woman guard in the palace, or frankly anywhere. It's untraditional. Does Alexander have any idea that a woman is serving to protect his honor and his kingdom? Should I tell him?

  "We are," Bridget says, locking eyes on me. "We find the best way to infiltrate the rebels is to have a female guard spying on them. King Alexander has confided in you about the rebel factions?" Her eyes widen and she looks almost apologetic for mentioning it.

  "Of course." He's told me bits and pieces, but I don't dwell on what little I know. "What can you tell me about your time as a mole?" Is this how Alexander gathers his information about the enemy?

  Bridget glances at Richard and William, almost as though she's seeking their approval before confiding in me.

  "Go ahead," William says.

  "Not everyone agrees that Alexander should be crowned king. Many within our country believe that Alexander's cousin, King Frederyk, should assume the throne. Although he's not the direct heir, he is a diplomatic king and he's influential. His allies stretch along our borders, giving way to hostile nations that could attack us at any moment. Our peace treaties are in jeopardy. The only country that still has a secure alliance is your homeland, Queen Isabella."

  "How do you gather your information?" I ask. "Are you sure it's reliable?" I don't doubt their credibility, but I do question whether the enemy knows there are spies in their mist.

  Bridget's cheeks burn. "I'm sleeping with King Frederyk. I'm one of his many mistresses. A man can't keep anything a secret when we're in bed together."

  "Oh." My eyes widen surprised by her confession. "So it's reliable information?"

  "If it weren't, Queen Isabella, King Frederyk would have already had my head on a chopping block."

  I don't doubt she's right. "Does King Alexander know of your undercover work?" I ask. Would he approve if he knew all the details?

  "No, my Queen. I've thought it best to leave the specifics out," Bridget says.

  "Do we know if King Frederyk is planning an attack on our kingdom?" With his allies mounting our border, I suspect it won't be long until someone makes a move.

  "Yes, Your Majesty," Richard says. "King Frederyk has aligned himself to attack our villages first. His desire for the throne knows no bounds. He will kill women and children without a second thought."

  "Do we know when this will happen?"

  "Within a few days time. A month at most," William says. "War is coming."

  I don't dare ask what do we do. It is a king and queen's job to give orders and a soldier's armies responsibility to take them. "Have you told all this to King Alexander?" I ask.

  "Yes, earlier today. I offered to include you in the discussions but he insisted you were resting this afternoon."

  I'm not pleased with being left out of important decisions, but at the same time, I recognize that this has only been my country for a few days. For Alexander it's been his country for his entire life.

  I bid goodnight and sneak back into our chambers.

  Chapter Six

  I'm startled awake by the sound of a door slamming. "It's too early," I mutter, rolling over in bed feeling the mattress cool beside me. Alexander has been gone for some time.

  "You will obey my orders," Alexander says.

  I can't tell who he's speaking with, but he's curt and sharp. There's no discussion regarding what Alexander wants. After all, he is king and he gets exactly as he desires.

  I climb out of bed, smoothing down my chemise. My maids will help me dress when I call for them or when they usually wake me, if something is pressing and I must attend. Today seems like neither, yet my heart is frantic after the conversation with Richard, William, and Bridget. We are almost at war and Alexander hides his fear well. Perhaps I should send word to my parents, requesting soldiers for protection.

  Opening the bedroom door, Alexander and Sebastian are standing in the hallway a few paces down where Hannah's room is.

  "You have Isabella! You can have any woman in the entire kingdom and you want Hannah? Why? Do you have a problem with one of your most trusted guards and allies being happy?"

  Alexander's nostrils flair with anger. "Do not question my authority, ever!"

  Sebastian's face shows no emotion. He hides his disappointment well. At least I assume it's that, I can't know for certain. He shoots me daggers with his eyes before stalking down the hall to the stairwell. I shall watch my back. There'd been little trust with Sebastian before, now he might actually plot his revenge.

  Walking over, I rest a hand on Alexander's arm. I don't have to ask what that was about. From the brief exchange I heard, I'd suspect it had to do with taking Hannah as his mistress. Or more importantly, our mistress. Has he informed Hannah of the news or will I have to? I'm not sure how she'll take the announcement. She seemed quite pleased with Sebastian. We should have talked about this more before he sprung into action.

  "That didn't go quite how I had hoped," Alexander says and turns to me. "Good morning."

  "Good morning," I say and smile weakly. "Have you spoken with Hannah, yet?"

  "No. I was leaving that up to you. Unless you'd like me to inform her of the new arrangement?"

  I shuffle my feet anxiously debating what I shall do.

  "Forget it." Alexander shakes his head. "This was my idea, I'll take care of it."

  Can he tell how nervous this makes me feel? I love Hannah and to share her with someone else seems wrong. Whether it's with Sebastian or Alexander, I'm not happy about the situation. Though in truth, at least with Alexander we will have Hannah together.

  Will she accept the proposal or be angered that Alexander sent Sebastian away from her chambers for good? I just hope she doesn't blame me.

  Alexander knocks on Hannah's door. There's no way she isn't privy to the argument that just developed outside her door. In fact, Alexander might have interrupted them, I'm not sure.

  "King Alexander," Hannah says and curtseys. "What can I do for you?" Her eyes are red. She looks as though she's been crying and her focus is on Alexander. She doesn't pay attention to me in the slightest.

  "With your permission of course." He smiles at her in that charming way that makes your stomach flop and you think he only has eyes for you. "Queen Isabella and I would like you to be our mistress. I know Sebastian may have been courting you, but I assure you whether you accept or not, that's over."

  Hannah chews on her bottom lip. Does she feel she has no choice? I did tell her about Alexander murdering his father. If I were in her shoes, I'm not sure I would decline the invitation. "Mistress?" she repeats, sounding the word on her tongue. "What does it entail?"

  She's no idiot. Hannah knows what a mistress does. What she wants to know is whether she gets anything out of it. I don't blame her for trying to negotiate more. Once you're the king's mistress, finding a man to wed is near impossible.

  "You will be well cared for at court. I assure you, Hannah, we both are requesting your presence in our chambers as our mistress."

  "Both of you?" Hannah repeats, raising an eyebrow. Her head turns and she stares at me. "Is that so?" She looks furious, and I don't blame her. We ran off her new beau for a status of mistress without a true choice in the matter. I should have spoken with her before King Alexander accosted her and Sebastian this morning. I owed her that much and I screwed up.

  "Yes," I say and step forward. "We invite you into our chambers."

  "Is that all?" Hannah exhales slowly. "Don't get me wrong, I app
reciate the offer but as mistress, I will never have anyone's love undivided."

  Alexander reaches for Hannah's hand. "You will have Ella's. She loves you unconditionally. And while I want her to love me, I cannot force it to happen. We won't make you do anything you're not comfortable with, Hannah. The choice is entirely your own."

  "May I think about it?" Hannah asks. "It's a big decision." Being a mistress isn't some secretive affair. The entire court and kingdom would hear about it. Other neighboring kingdoms as well. It would make her valuable while also putting her in danger among the rebels.

  "Of course, take all the time you need," Alexander says. "Though I hope we will see you tonight in our chambers."

  * * * * *

  My maids, Anne and Magdalene, help me into my gown, securing the ribbons in the back. Anne fiddles with the dress while Magdalene grabs my hairbrush to remove the tangles from my long dark locks. "King Alexander has requested a meeting with his advisors and he'd like you in attendance," Anne says. It explains why they're putting me in a gorgeous gown of black and purple silk.

  "Of course. When is it?" I ask. Alexander neglected to mention it. The fact my maids know and I don't is even more surprising. Am I the last to discover everything around here?

  "After lunch," Anne says. "The meeting will be in the war room, on the second floor."

  "There's a war room?" I need a tour of the castle, and not one that forgoes all the interesting details. Alexander seems interested in providing me with what I need to know, nothing more.

  Hannah storms into my chambers, stalking toward me, coming eye to eye. I know without looking she must be on her tiptoes because she's several inches shorter than me. "How dare you! Is it too much for me to be happy? You have to go and ruin it! It's not enough that you're queen but to go and demand Sebastian leave me alone. I'm sick of you, Ella!"