Crowns of Flame and Ice - Book One

(17) The Plan

There were hands between my thighs, teasing and taunting. A moan slipped past my lips as I gripped the sheets, willing those fingers to go deeper and faster. A dark sensuous chuckle sounded, presumably belonging to the owner of the hands. "Anala" the cold voice purred and I wanted to drown in the sound of it. Just as those hands went deeper, just as the tension built the image disappeared and I was again shoved back into reality. I groaned, snuggling up to the hard body next to me, the bed was so warm and comfy. I couldn't remember the last time I'd woken to something other than a nightmare, but this was definitely new. I gripped hold of material that felt warm and soft, like a shirt. That dark chuckle sounded again and I smelt something that reminded me of cold mornings, like cold wind and... peppermint.

I jolted upright, slipping the dagger from under my pillow and pinning Quilo to the bed with the blade poised to his throat. He grinned up at me with a teasing "good morning." I glared at him, the restraint it took not to stab him quickly disappearing. "What the fuck are you doing in my room?" I seethed, pushing the dagger further into his throat, "and why are you in my bed?" He rolled his eyes as if my questions were the most unreasonable thing he'd ever heard. "I may go where I please" he answered boldly, "it is not my fault you were asleep." I glared down at him, willing more patience than I had to appear. "if I was asleep, surely that'd be your cue to leave" I mumbled, moving the dagger away from him. "I was going to but you were making some interesting sounds as you slept" he smirked, "and I grew... curious as to what you were dreaming about." I blushed again, recalling exactly what I'd been thinking of.

Just then, the door creaked open and a servant popped her head through the door and froze as she saw the sight before her. "it's not what it-" I started but the servant left quickly after placing the tray she carried on the little breakfast table. I gave a frustrated huff and Quilo laughed, it was then I realised the position that we were in. I scrambled to the opposite side of the bed and hopped off it, scowling when I noticed Quilo's widening smirk. "they're going to think we're... we're..." I stuttered, my frustration growing. The servents would sure gossip and I knew the nobles we saw the other day would when I'd helped Quilo with his arms. "struggling to finish that sentence princess?" he teased, "they're going to think we're together? think we're a thing? think we're fucking? Think we're having sex?" I blushed, quickly turning to the breakfast table to hide my face and chucking a croissant from the tray at his head. He chuckled and picked it up, taring a piece of the buttery pastry with his teeth and chewing. His hand was draped lazily over the top of his head, his shirt ruffled from where I'd gripped it as he added "don't worry princess, you're the last person I'd want to be with in all of the two kingdoms." I did not doubt that claim and the feeling was very much mutual.

Quilo stilled and stared at me like I'd grown a third arm before grinning and swallowing the rest of the pastry. "such interesting nightwear too" he murmured, eyes meeting mine. I shrieked, running to the bed and pulling the sheet from under him causing him to roll off the bed with a thud. I scrambled under the cover and pulled the material up to my neck, hiding myself from him. The clothes I'd worn weren't exactly too revealing compared to some of the other gowns I owned, a simple black bodysuit with a sheer black gossamer skirt that trailed down to the floor. I'd designed it based on what ballet dancers wore on stage.

"What exactly were you dreaming of Anala?" Quilo pushed, righting himself and taking a seat on the end of the bed "naughty things I hope." I rolled my eyes, muffling a groan of embarrassment. Just then, of fucking course, there was a knock on the door and Rosie called "Is... is everyone decent?" through the door. God's gossip travelled fast in this castle. I cursed and glared at Quilo, before shouting "no one was ever not decent." Rosie bustled in, holding a pile of fresh towels and what appeared to be tea. "That's arguable, Anala was dreaming about me, based on the noises she was making I'd love to hear about the wicked things we were doing" he teased, giving me a lazy smirk. "I so was not dreaming about you!" I snapped, throwing a pillow at him which he caught easily. "That may be the case, But you still haven't explained what you were dreaming about" Rosie added with a giggle. I gave an exasperated sigh, deciding it wasn't a good idea to snap back at Rosie while she was holding my mug of peppermint tea.