The throbbing behind my eyes was a brutal reminder of my coronation celebration. I groaned, rolling over in the massive bed. Torrance lay beside me, a dark silhouette against the pale morning light. Even in sleep, his presence radiated intensity. I smiled. A stupid, lovesick smile. Then, the memory of the overflowing goblets of wine crashed down on me. Oh gods, the hangover was a monster.
Carefully, I extracted myself from the bed, the silk sheets whispering against my skin. I stumbled towards the en-suite bathroom, my head a symphony of pounding drums.
Nadia, bless her heart, was already there, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, good night last night?" she teased, handing me a glass of water.
My face flushed crimson. "Nothing happened, Nadia," I mumbled, shaking my head.
She just smiled knowingly. "Sure, sure."
Macy, who had been my rock since I was a little girl, chuckled, entering with a fresh towel. "Now, now, Nadia, leave Bella alone. She's a grown woman and can have her fun with men." She winked.
"Macy!" I squealed, mortified.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, a familiar warmth against my back. A kiss landed softly on my shoulder. "Morning, beautiful." Torrance's voice was a low rumble, sending shivers down my spine.
Nadia and Macy erupted in laughter, bustling about, making excuses to leave us alone. "I left some fresh towels and clothes on the counter, and the bath is running," Macy said, her eyes twinkling.
"And I left condoms!" Nadia added, her voice dripping with playful innuendo.
My face was practically on fire. I was a sputtering, blushing mess. Torrance just smirked, the devilish glint in his blue eyes promising all sorts of trouble. "They will be needed," he taunted, his voice low and suggestive.
I rolled my eyes playfully as they finally disappeared, leaving me alone with the dangerously attractive man who had somehow consumed my thoughts.
I began to undress, the silk robe sliding off my shoulders. Complete and utter idiot that I was, I completely forgot Torrance was watching. I stepped into the steaming bath, the heat a welcome balm to my aching muscles. Then, I heard the rustle of clothes. I turned, and my breath caught in my throat.
Torrance was stripping. My face burned hotter than the bathwater. I was stunned; I'd never seen him…like this. He was all hard muscle and sculpted lines, a warrior's physique honed to perfection. Good gods, he was magnificent.
"I'm going to take a shower," he said, his voice surprisingly even.
"Are you sure?" I asked, a hint of hesitancy in my voice.
"Yeah," he said, a knowing grin playing on his lips. "You deserve your privacy, still." He winked and stepped into the shower, the sound of the water a sudden intrusion on the silence.
I sank deeper into the bath, trying to calm my racing heart. Gods, this man was going to be the death of me.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally emerged from the bath, wrapped in a plush robe. I brushed my damp hair, brushing through the tangles, and then twisted it into a messy bun. I slipped into a comfortable, if slightly less than regal, outfit. Today was not a day for silks and jewels.
Torrance emerged from the shower, toweling his dark hair. He dressed quickly, his movements efficient and graceful.
"Ready to face the day?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine.
"As I'll ever be," I sighed. We decided to start the day. Torrance and Athenia went out to horseback riding.
Later that morning, my brothers arrived, a whirlwind of sibling energy that both comforted and exhausted me. We had a meeting scheduled to discuss the state of our kingdoms.
James, with his unruly brown hair and perpetually mischievous grin, was the first to speak. "The Wing Kingdom is facing a surge in poachers targeting our winged creatures," he announced, his playful demeanor vanishing. "Their feathers are fetching exorbitant prices on the black market."
Mason, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, his blonde hair immaculate. "The Element Kingdom is experiencing unusual seismic activity. The earth elementals are restless."
Jacob, his blue eyes filled with concern, added, "The magical barriers surrounding the Mystic Kingdom are weakening. We've detected increased activity from dark entities."
Ace, the eldest, his black hair neatly styled, spoke last, his voice even but firm. "The Solar Kingdom is facing a celestial alignment that could disrupt our weather patterns. We need to prepare for potential storms."
The weight of their concerns pressed down on me. Each kingdom faced its own unique challenges, and as Queen of Norternglades, it was my duty to help them in any way I could. "We'll allocate resources to address these issues," I said, my voice firm. "James, I'll dispatch a contingent of guards to help patrol the Wing Kingdom. Mason, contact the earth elementals and see if we can appease them. Jacob, strengthen the magical barriers. Ace, issue warnings to the coastal regions."
After addressing the immediate crises, we moved on to the topic that haunted us all: our parents.
"It's been nearly twenty years since Mother disappeared," I began, my voice shaking slightly. "Lyra claims she sent her away for our protection, but I don't believe her."
"We need to find Mother," Ace said, his eyes filled with determination. "And we need to find out what Lyra did to her."
"And Father," James added, his voice somber. "We haven't seen him since Lyra and him vanished. Lyra claims he died of grief, but I don't believe that either."
We discussed possible leads, old contacts, and forgotten clues. The task felt overwhelming, like searching for a single grain of sand on a vast beach. But we couldn't give up. We owed it to our parents to uncover the truth.
By the time the meeting adjourned, it was late afternoon. I invited my brothers to stay the night, and they readily accepted. The thought of spending the evening with my family, however dysfunctional, eased the tension that had been building within me.
Just as my brothers were settling in, Athenia and Torrance returned from their ride. Athenia ran to me, her face flushed with excitement. "Did you have fun today?" I asked, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
"It was the best! I named my horse Winter!" she gleamed, her blue eyes sparkling.
My heart melted. "I'm glad. Go take a bath so you can eat. Your uncles are joining us for dinner."
She nodded and scampered off. That left me alone with Torrance. "So, had fun?" I teased, leaning against him.
"I haven't rode a horse in a while. It was a refresher, that's for sure." He kissed my cheek. "How was your day?"
"Just meetings," I explained with a sigh. He went to shower, while I went to the kitchen where Macy and Nadia were with the other cooks preparing dinner.