Improper Mage - Ch 5

Lady Monroe and her daughters were ecstatic during the carriage ride home. Pride filled her that each daughter found potential matches. Liana feigned happiness for her mother’s sake and to not drag anyone else down with her. All she could think about though was her secret and unexpected meeting with the king.

She found it odd to think that the infamous, ruthless vampire king had sought her out. Or perhaps he didn’t seek her out but merely stumbled upon her hidden spot. Nevertheless, he found her and stayed. Even insisted on shunning formalities and spoke as normal people. He made her laugh. He made her speak out of turn and even though she instantly regretted it, he seemed amused.

Perhaps that’s all she was to him, amusement. But the way he spoke to her and allowed her to speak freely. It felt wonderful. They would never speak again most likely, but at least she had the memories. Memories of a stolen moment with a powerful man that let his guard down just a bit. Memories of his handsome smile and husky laugh. She dared not think of him beyond that though lest she convince herself that she favored him. That would never be possible anyway. Liana, the town’s pariah courted by the king. What a ridiculous notion. Liana shoved the fluttering of her heart away and focused on Keeper Olivier.

The next morning brought with it much excitement as formal invitations for courting arrived. Custom had the men sending letters of intention to the female they favored. Each of the Monroe daughters received at least one. Louisa received a maddeningly large number of letters. Six to be exact. Hannah received three. And surprisingly, Liana received two. The letter from Keeper Olivier was no surprise. It was the one from Beta Mooncliff that brought with it a shouting match to surpass all others before.

“No!” Lady Monroe shouted when she read the letter from the shifter while they gathered in the drawing room. “This is an outrage. I will not allow this! No shifter will be courting my daughter.”

“Mama, he was a nice man. He holds the second highest rank in his pack. He is a good match,” Liana argued.

“Good match?” she screeched incredulously. “He is a shifter. You are a mage!”

“There are no laws preventing our marriage only social stigma.”

“It is not just social stigma. Shifters are wild and dangerous. Their culture is vastly different.”

“Ladies! Please, stop yelling!” Lord Monroe interrupted, screaming as well.

“They turn into animals, Mother. That does not make them wild and uncultured. They are human just as we are. Mostly,” she added as an afterthought. Louisa sprawled on the sofa reading and re-reading her letters with a goofy grin on her face. Hannah rolled her eyes at her mother and sister. The two always fought like this, both so opinionated.

“Isn’t Mooncliff a wolf?” Wesley interjected. No one responded to him.

“You have no idea what they are like, Liana. You don’t know what you would be agreeing to. I forbid it!”

“I know perfectly well what I will be agreeing to. I will be agreeing to a kind man that sees beyond social status to find a partner he is most compatible with.” That’s all Liana could ever ask for. A partner in life. Someone that would be her friend and possibly a lover if they were so lucky. She never dared dream of it. Perhaps she could now.

“Liana, please, don’t do this. It will bring ruin upon our family. Think of your sisters. They still need to make their matches.”

“Oh, Mother. You are far too dramatic. This will not ruin our family. My sisters have plenty of suitors anyway. They will shackle one down one way or another.”

“Don’t be disrespectful, Liana,” Lord Monroe cautioned as he reclined on the sofa with his youngest daughter and middle son, Carlisle.

“I’ve heard stories about them, Liana. They are… they are rough with their women.”

Carlisle snickered. “I heard the shifters breed in their animal forms under a full moon,” he sneered before howling like a wolf. Lord Monroe reached around to smack Carlisle upside the head. Lady Monroe gasped, nearly fainting while young William asked,

“What does ‘breed’ mean?”

This set Hannah and Louisa to giggling while Liana helped her mother to a chair. “This is ridiculous, all of you. It was merely an intention of courtship, not a marriage proposal. That doesn’t mean he will propose and even if he does, I’m sure he will be a gentleman and understand that I am a mage not a shifter. There will be no breeding under full moons. Well, if that’s their culture maybe, but certainly no animal bits involved.

The boys planted their hands over their ears faking sick while Lord Monroe jumped off the couch in an outrage. “Daughter, don’t ever speak of such things in front of me again. I cannot allow any man to marry you if I think of such things.” He shuddered before forging ahead. Liana shrugged. It was nature. It was how babies were born. “Enough of this arguing. If Liana wants to accept the courtship, that is her choice.”

“Excuse me!” the butler, Henry shouted to the room. Everyone spun around and froze. Henry stood red-faced and agitated by the doorway. “I’ve been trying to get your attention. You have a guest,” he said but this guest needed no introduction. The family dropped into bows and curtsies at once. “King Ashwood is here to see you,” Henry said unhelpfully.

“Thank you for the introduction, Henry,” King Ashwood said with a sly grin, leaning against the door frame beside the embarrassed butler.

“Your highness, what do we owe the honor of your presence?” Lord Monroe asked, still in a bow, his head nearly touching the floor. Liana watched the king closely as he pushed off the wall, his movements lazy and unhurried.

“Rise, everyone. As you were,” he instructed then chuckled. “Well, perhaps no arguing but please, relax.” Henry offered him the best cushioned seat in the room. Only after the king sat did everyone else. Liana’s face would be permanently red from the total embarrassment she would never forget. “As entertaining as it would have been to let you go on, I have come with a purpose.” The king pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to Lord Monroe. “I have come to make my intentions clear. I intend to court your daughter, Liana.”

Lady Monroe swooned and no one bothered to move from their own shock to aid her. She lay safely on the couch anyway.

Liana looked to him in surprise. Hazel eyes stared back brazenly.

“What an honor, Your Highness,” Lord Monroe managed to say as he opened the letter. Lady Monroe shot up in her seat, resurrected with wide eyes.

“Is it true? Do you truly wish to court Liana, Your Highness?”

“I do, Lady Monroe.”

“Oh, what an honor, Your Highness. An absolute honor. We will gladly accept,” she said greedily. Liana crossed her arms and glared at her mother. “How wonderful and unexpected. I didn’t even realize you knew of our little family, Your Highness.”

“I met your daughter last night. We had a good conversation.”

Mary looked to her daughter. “A conversation? When? Did you have a chaperone?”

“We did, Lady Monroe. I assure you nothing untoward occurred. Your husband and my guard were both present.”

Both daughter and wife gave Michael surprised looks. “He asked me to chaperone discreetly.”

“You heard everything?” Liana accused.

“Don’t use that tone with me young lady,” her father replied.

“The better question is why are you so mortified? What did you and the king talk about?” Carlisle teased. Liana glared daggers at her little brother.

“Everything was very proper, I assure you,” King Ashwood addressed the room. Liana disagreed.

“Well, then. I will say again how honored we are that you will consider our daughter to be your wife, your highness.” Liana harrumphed, her arms crossed.

King Ashwood raised a questioning brow at her. “Is there something you would like to add, Ms. Monroe?”

“No not at all, Your Highness. I just find it very odd that my mother is so keen to accept your proposal. I mean, you are a vampire after all. We can’t have our courtship ruining our good family name as mage.”

Her mother elbowed her hard in the ribs. King Ashwood looked down to hide a smile. “Please forgive my daughter. She can be a bit stubborn when she is passionate about something.”

“I shall count myself lucky then that she has passions about something other than fashion and gossip,” he said off-handedly and only Liana and her father caught the undercurrent of derision toward the women of high-society. Father and daughter exchanged pointed looks. “I must take my leave. It has been an unexpected pleasure visiting your home, Lord Monroe. I look forward to the coming weeks.” The family bowed to the king.

“Is someone going to tell me what breeding is now?” young William asked at the most improper moment. Liana found it to be the perfect moment however and snorted as she tried to confine her humor. Holding her hand over her mouth, Liana’s shoulders shook with laughter while Carlisle fell back on the couch laughing outright.

“Unexpected indeed,” the king reiterated with a smirk before leaving.

As soon as he was out the door, the hysterics started again.

“How could you all embarrass me like that?” Lady Monroe wailed. “Gods above! The king must think me an awful mother with such misbehaving children.”

“That is not true, my dear,” Lord Monroe said in a half-hearted attempt to calm her.

“Everyone to your rooms, right now!” Lady Monroe declared, sending her children fleeing. “Not you, Liana.” Reluctantly, Liana turned back around, the sound of her siblings’ retreating footsteps mocking her.

“How could you not tell me that you met with the king? I am your mother,” she declared, aghast.

“He found me, mother. I had nothing to do with it.”

“Found you? Where were you?”

“I was just sitting in an alcove of windows.”

“Oh gods!” Lady Monroe cried. “My daughter, hiding in an alcove. What he must think of us.”

“It is fine, Mary. He seemed enamored by Liana. He sought me out before he even said hello to her. He must have watched her and waited for a private moment away from prying eyes. You know how people like to talk.”

Mary nodded. “You’re right. He wanted privacy. What did they talk about?”

“Mother,” Liana complained.

“I didn’t hear everything, but I can tell you he is intrigued. Who wouldn’t be? You’ve raised such wonderful and unique children, my love.” Lord Monroe captured Mary in a hug.

“I did. I did raise wonderful children,” she repeated. Michael waved at his daughter to escape while she was distracted. The man loved his wife, but she was a handful to be sure.

Liana ran up the stairs to her bedroom and locked the door so her siblings wouldn’t barge in to berate her for details about last night. She jumped onto her bed and sighed.

She wasn’t sure what to think of the king’s proposal. On one hand she adamantly opposed all things related to marriage because it meant the end of her limited freedom and privacy to perform magic. On the other hand, she enjoyed the king's presence, as impossible as that seemed to her.

Her head fell to the side, and she found a bouquet of flowers waiting on her nightstand. A vibrant bouquet of white lilies and bold blue irises were artfully placed in a simple glass vase. Their fresh aroma filled her room as if they’d been freshly picked minutes ago. She grabbed the card and read the elegant script.

May the statue forever keep our secrets.

Damien

Surprised at herself, she smiled like a fool at his words. She was not the romantic type or the one to swoon over simple words.

“I thought you would appreciate the colors.” She startled at the sound of his deep voice. She looked over her shoulder to find the king standing just inside the doors to her balcony and gasped. Liana scooted off the bed as gracefully as possible in her gown and gave him a quick curtsy.

“Your Highness, what are you doing here?”

He took a few more steps into the room, knee-high riding boots making his legs appear even longer. “I wished to speak to you. I found myself thinking of you all night after you departed.”

She blushed. She had thought of him all night as well. However, she wouldn’t admit it, especially not to the powerful king. Glancing around, she noticed yet again that they were without a chaperone. “We should not be alone in my bedroom.”

“No one will discover us,” he declared. He took a few more steps toward her then took her hands in his. Gentle fingers tipped her chin up so she would look him in the eyes. She wasn’t sure she was even breathing with him so near. “You have enchanted me, Liana. I needed to see you again. I need to know you better.”

Liana didn’t know what to say to that. She could hardly believe he was here right now. “So, you sent a letter of intention for courting me? I would have said yes to afternoon tea.”

He chuckled, his smile quick and easy, such a contrast to the stern look he wore most of the ball. One hand cupped her cheek and his thumb brushed over her soft skin. “You bewitched me so thoroughly I had no other option.”

Liana blinked. Was the king truly confessing his feelings to her? Perhaps she was dreaming. That must be it. She lay on her bed after finding the flowers and fell asleep. There could be no other explanation because no king would ever want her. Her family was not rich enough. They were not powerful enough. Despite her father being on the Council, they did not own vast estates across the country. The king would gain nothing from marrying her.

“I thought you said the ball was the last place you’d want to find your bride,” she challenged.

“That was true, until last night.” His hand drifted from her face down to her neck where his fingers caressed across her collarbone. Breathing became difficult as fire followed the line of his fingers.

“I am only a mage. You are a vampire,” was all she could think to say.

“It doesn't matter. The moment our eyes locked I knew there was something different about you.” Hearing those words was like a bucket of reality doused upon her. Different. She’d always been different. She was odd. All her life that’s what she’d been told. They meant it as an insult yet here the king stood, appreciating those differences.

Taking a deep breath, she collected her nerves and stepped out of his hold. “We should not be alone in my bedroom,” she repeated, keeping her voice even. King Ashwood stood before her again and took her hands.

“Tell me you accept my offer,” he demanded softly as his thumbs brushed over the backs of her hands. She didn’t dare get lost in those striking eyes again and instead observed their hands. His deep skin made her tanned skin look pale in comparison. His fingers were long and thin like an artist but marred by scars and callouses from fighting and holding a sword.

“My parents already accepted your offer,” she said. She didn’t get a say in the matter.

“I am asking you, Liana. Do you accept?” Lifting her head, she narrowed her eyes on him. The ruthless king did not act so harshly now. In fact, Liana would say he seemed quite vulnerable at the moment which was so at odds with how she imagined him, even after last night. He gave no indication that he was interested. On the contrary, he said he was not looking for a wife at all.

And although he asked her directly, she still did not have the option of denying him, the king of Triaedian. She could not say no. And despite the inevitability of it all, Liana found that she did not want to say no. King Ashwood intrigued her. She wanted to know more just as he claimed of her. And a courtship wasn’t a definitive marriage proposal. They could at least get to know each other.

“Why me?” she asked, curiosity outweighing reason.

“Because you are intelligent and witty, and you made me laugh.”

She smirked. “For a king, you don’t have high standards.” He smiled back. Letting go of her hands, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his body. Liana gasped at feeling his body against hers.

“You are also the prettiest female I’ve ever beheld.”

She snorted. “And a terrible liar. Are you sure you’re a king?” she teased.

His hand cupped her cheek again, his brows furrowed, and lips pursed. “I did not lie.” A blush crept up her neck. “What is your answer?”

“I accept.”

King Ashwood held her tighter. “You’ve made me very happy. Now, I must go before someone catches us. Until next time, Liana,” he said, then bent as if to kiss her. She froze, not knowing what else to do. She’d never been kissed, nor was she allowed to. But the king did not kiss her. Instead, his head dipped into the curve of her neck where he brushed his nose along her throat. Liana’s head tilted back of its own accord as her eyes fell closed, that burning in her core scorched her with a vengeance.

“You smell wondrous, my little mage,” he breathed against her skin which had her biting her lip. When his lips pressed against the pulse in her neck, a noise escaped Liana she’d never made before, one full of longing.

The king chuckled darkly as he stood to his full height. “I am certainly going to enjoy this, Lady Liana,” he said as her eyelids fluttered open. He smirked down at her then he was gone. Liana stumbled onto her bed at the sudden loss of his support. He moved with vampiric speed, faster than she could track, and exited through the balcony doors.

Falling onto the mattress, Liana’s fingers went to her neck, the feel of his lips lingering. Her heart pounded fiercely as she wondered just how much trouble she’d gotten herself into. This was the king. He wanted her. And despite all her protests against society and marriage, she wanted him.

There was no denying the butterflies in her stomach. Liana Monroe, was, for the first time in her life, smitten.