His lips on hers sparked a longing deep inside Seri. When she kissed him in return with the same eagerness, Tait wrapped his arms around Seri and held her against him as his mouth ate at hers. His kiss was intoxicating. It made her head spin. Seri wrapped her arms around Tait’s neck and pulled him closer as their timid kiss became more frantic. She wanted so much more from him.

A knock at the door disrupted their frenzied kiss and Tait tried to catch his breath. “What?” He barked at whoever was behind the door.

“I have come to show you to dinner?” A woman’s voice came from the other side.

Tait looked down at Seri. The servants could not find her in his room in this state, and they both knew it. “Go,” Seri whispered. “I will follow once you are safely away.”

Tait released Seri and took his tunic from the bed. He pulled it on and then walked over to his door and stopped. Tait rushed back to Seri and pulled her into his arms and kissed her once more. He rested his forehead against hers when his kiss ended. “Come to me tonight.”

Seri smiled. She knew what he wanted, and she knew she should not give it to him, but she wanted him as much as he wanted her. It was all she could do to say no. Seri ran her hand along the side of his face. “I cannot.”

“Why?”

“You know why.” She whispered. A woman was supposed to be virginal on her wedding night, and if she gave Tait what he wanted, she would be robbing her husband of his prize, and all sorts of troubles would arise from such an insult. Her virtue was not hers to give.

She could see the understanding in his eyes. Tait caressed her face lovingly. “I cannot live without you, Seri. I love you.” There was another impatient knock on the door. “I am coming!” Tait barked at the servant. He then looked at Seri. “Marry me.”

“I cannot.”

“Your father said you could choose.”

“Yes, choose a man he has approved.”

“Marry me anyway.”

“Tait…”

“The Seri I know and love, would never allow anyone to tell her how to live her life. Even the King. Be my wife.” He pleaded.

“So, you can have the throne?”

“So I can have you. You are all I want. You are all I have ever wanted.”

“I cannot,” Seri said regretfully. “I cannot defy him on this. It is too important. It will decide the future of this kingdom.”

“And if I had his blessing?”

Seri smiled. “I would marry you in a heartbeat.”

Tait took her in his arms once more. “Then find solace in the knowledge that he gave me his blessing this morning.”

“He did?” Seri was shocked.

“He did. You may ask him yourself.” She would. Another impatient knock. “For the love of the Gods, I am coming!” He yelled at the servant. He turned to face her. “You ask him tonight. Then you give me your answer.” He released her and Seri watched as Tait left the room.

Seri waited a few minutes until she was sure Tait and the servant would no longer be in the hall. She opened the door and made her way back to the royal family’s private halls. She ran to her grandmother’s chambers and entered the room just in time to see her family introducing themselves to Tait.

They all took their seats and the servants placed the food and wine on the tables. “It was so nice of you to join us for dinner.” Her grandmother Ellika said to Tait, who was seated next to Seri.

“I thank you for the invitation. It is an honour to dine with the royal family.”

“Where are you from?” Zahra asked.

“Past your borders.” He told them.

“Is that where you met Seri?” Cain asked. “Past our borders?”

“We met in the woods as children. I was ten. We hit it off. She became the most important person in my life.” He said as he looked at Seri.

“Who was your father?” Erik asked. “Perhaps I have heard of him?”

“I do not know his name. My mother does not like to talk about him. He was murdered before I was born by a man who wanted my mother and could not have her.”

“I am so sorry to hear that,” Ellika said. “The world can be a harsh place. No one knows that better than I do. I lost my husband while he was away.” She then looked at Cain. “And shortly after, I almost lost my son.”

“Mother,” Cain warned.

“I know,” she turned to Tait. “He does not like to talk about it.”

“Talk about what?” Tait asked.

“How he came to be disfigured.” Annaliesa said only for her brother to groan.

Tait looked at Cain with great interest. “Your scars? Since it has been mentioned, might I ask how you got them? Did you get them in battle?”

Cain shook his head. “I wish. When I was young, I was promiscuous. I had a lover. One year I went off to sea. I returned with a wife. I love my wife, and I refused to continue seeing my old lover. I wanted to commit myself to my marriage, heart and soul. She did not that well. She had believed that I would one day make her queen. She was livid when she realized that would never happen. There is no fury like a woman scorned.” He sighed. “My marriage was rocky in the beginning. This woman she went out and got pregnant by another man. She claimed the child was mine. When it came to light that she had lied, she was facing serious punishment. So in a crazed fit of rage, she broke into my chambers late at night. She threw a bucket of oil on me in my bed and lit me on fire.”

Seri could see the horror in Tait’s eyes, and she could not help but think he was taking the story far too seriously.

“My wife and my men put me out. But it was a long recovery. I was left with scars all over my body.” Cain looked lovingly at his wife as he took her hand in his. “If not for my wife, I would have died. She nursed me back to health. She taught me to walk again. Shortly after I relearned to walk, we had Seri.”

Tait looked at Seri and then at Cain. “Um, I apologize for asking this in mixed company, but I thought you were burned all over.”

“I was.” They could all see the question in Tait’s eyes. He wanted to know how it was possible that Cain had not been left impotent from the injuries he had sustained. Cain smiled. “It was a pleasant surprise; it still works.” The men laughed, and Ellika slapped her son in the arm.

“Cain, there are children at this table.” Ellika lectured.

Tait’s amusement faded quickly, and Seri could see he still had questions. “What happened to the woman?”

“I would have killed her had I been conscious.”

“Would have?”

“I sentenced her,” Zahra said. “It was a had choice. I agonized about it for days. The woman deserved death for what she had done. But she was with child, and the child had done nothing wrong. Executing her would have meant executing her unborn child. I could not do it. The child deserved the chance to be born, no matter how despicable its mother was. So I exiled her. I banished her from our borders. Many disagreed with me, but I was Queen, and it was my call given at the time we were not sure if Cain would live. I never liked her, but it was the hardest choice I ever made.”

“What happened to them?” Tait asked.

Cain shrugged. “I do not know. We have never seen her since. We put that dark time behind us. We do not talk about her.”

“May I ask one more question?” Tait asked. Cain nodded. “What was her name?”

Seri watched her father sigh as he thought of the woman who had nearly cost him his life all those years ago. “Lotta. Her name was Lotta.”

Suddenly Tait stood up so abruptly the chair fell over. “Tait, are you alright?” Zahra asked. “Do you feel ill?” She asked, standing up and coming to his side. She lay her hand to his face testing his temperature. Tait brushed her hand away, and he stormed out of the room. The room was quiet, each wondering why he was so upset.

Seri stood up and left the chambers. She was going after Tait, and no one tried to stop her. Seri checked the room he had been in earlier, and she found him putting on his armour. “Tait, what is wrong?” She asked as she came into his room without an invitation.

Tait finished pulling the straps of his chest plate tight and picked up his helmet. “I am leaving.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Leaving? Why?”

“I have business elsewhere.” He said, pulling his helmet down over his head, then he picked up his sword and sheathed it at his side.

“Will you return?” She asked as he stormed out the door and down the hall heading for the exit. “Tait!” She yelled, and he stopped and turned to face her.

Seri could see pain and confusion in his eyes. “Forget me, Seri.” Then he turned and stormed out.

An hour ago, he was begging for her hand, and now he was telling her to forget him? She did not understand. What had changed?

***

Tait stormed into his childhood home. It had taken all night to get there, and when he did, he found his mother had been sleeping. Lotta jumped out of bed when the door burst open. Tait ducked his head and removed his helmet. “Tait? You scared me half to death. What are you doing here? You are supposed to be getting close to the King.”

“Liar!” He growled. “You have lied to me all my life.” He snarled as he placed his helmet on the table.

“I have not.” She said offended as she got out of bed. She pulled a robe on and tied it closed.

“You are still lying!” Tait screamed. “The King did not kill my father, did he? Tell me this much. Is he my father?”

“Tait…”

“Is Cain my father?” Tait screamed at her. He had to know. He had to know if the woman he loved was his flesh and blood. He did not know what he would do if his mother confirmed his suspicions… if Seri was his sister. “Tell me the truth for once in my life.”

“No.” She said flatly. “Cain is not your father.” Tait did not know if he could believe her.

“Who?” He asked. “Who is my father?”

“That is not important.”

“It is important to me. Is my father dead?” Lotta took an exasperated breath and squared her shoulders like she did not wish to answer his question. “He is not dead, is he? My father is alive, and you never told me? Does he even know I exist?”

“He knows you exist; he just does not know he is your father.” She confessed. “He was drunk. I never told him.”

Tait could feel his anger building. “Name him,” Tait ordered.

“His name is not important.”

Tait’s hand flew up, and he caught his mother by the throat and slammed her back down on the table. His grip tightening. “Name him.” He growled through clenched teeth.

“Mani.” She gasped for breath. “His name is Mani.” Tait threw Lotta to the floor, and she glared up at him. “Does it make you feel vindicated to know his name?” She growled as she rubbed her throat.

“Everything you have ever told me was a lie. You tried to saddle the King with me, and when they discovered your lies, you tried to kill the King.”

“The throne was rightfully mine.” She barked as she came to her feet. “And he gave it to another. His bitch wife stole the crown from me. They deserved to die!” She came to Tait and tried to touch him, but he pushed her away. “I knew if I could not have the throne by marriage, I would take it by force. That is why I had you. Why I brought you into this world. Your only reason for existing is to kill Cain.”

Tait felt the tears building in his eyes. “You never loved me. I was never a son to you. I was always a weapon.” He pushed her away. “I will not allow you to use me. You will poison my mind no more.” He picked up his helmet and turned to leave.

“How dare you. I am your mother.” Lotta yelled as she stomped her foot.

“You are a venomous snake, and I am done with you. You are dead to me.” He then stormed out, leaving his mother to rage behind him. He would be her pawn no more.