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Alena's P.O.V

Leon tried to avoid my eyes as he spoke, "You're looking will, Olivia. As always."

I could only stare, there was a hint of color gracing Leon's cheekbones. I would've had never imagined Leon the type to blush.

"Not as well as you, my lord," Olivia replied, looking him up and down, I could see lust clear in her eyes. I could see a hint of a smile creeping slowly on Leon's lips. I quickly lowered my eyes when I realized what I was doing.

Before I know what was happening, Leon had already turned and was striding back toward the door, there was no doubt he was relieved to be free of the burden I had become.

Mary shot her daughter a dark look and shooed her back to the kitchen. "Go on now, there is nothing here to watch anymore."

Olivia spread Mary a disrespectful glance before she stomped back into the kitchen.

I took off my worn out boots and huddled in front of the fire. I was finally happy to feel such a warmth and keep company with lady Mary.

Lady Mary got up and asked me to wait for her as she wanted to check on something back in the kitchen. When she returned she had two cups of hot tea in her trembling hands.

She placed one of the cups on an old wooden table before me as she took a sip of her own. I a blissful moment breathing in the steam of the hot tea.

"Drink up, lass. You don't want it to get cold."

I took a mouthful sip of the tea, smiling weakly at her. "How long have you knows Leon?" I asked her as I placed the cup in my cold hands trying to warm them up.

"Since he was nothing, but a little boy riding on his father's shoulder." Mary smiled to the old memory. "Leonidas couldn't take a step without Leon, shadowing his every move. Oh, he was such a sweet little boy and could never do wrong in his father's eyes, but it broke Leonidas's heart when he sent him away to a fancy school when he turned sixteen."

"It's such a shame they never taught him any manners," I muttered.

Mary gave me a dark look, "watch your tongue now, a man doesn't need manner if he had Leon's heart. We might've been dead if it wasn't for Leon. So many cold, heartless winters we survived because of Leon. He would bring us milk and meat when everyone turned their back on us. If it's wasn't for Leonidas's son we would've left the mountains and ended as an Alvin's lapdogs. The royal family puts the food on out table and gold in our purses when we need it. No, man can ever be like that."

"Would you still defend him if I told you he had abducted me?"

I knew that Mary Loved Leon like a son and nothing I say can change that, but I've never imagined her to gasp in horror. " I had my doubts, dear. Even my husband stole me right out from under my father's nose."

I couldn't believe what Lady Mary was saying. "Are you trying to tell me that general Atilius, abducted you?"

"Oh, yes he did." Mary's eyes were clouded to the memory. "He tossed me on her shoulder. I was the youngest as I had a younger sister. What people don't know that we were lovers long ago, but I could never marry him back then. My father wouldn't allow it. He didn't want me to suffer."

I couldn't believe what she was saying. This woman sounded as she lost her mind. I looked around me and signed, who would stay sane if he stayed here all alone in the mountains...

"But Lady Mary this is not the dark ages!" I took another tip of my warm tea. "Where I come from, men courts the woman he desires. He woos her, but he doesn't toss her over his shoulder and carry her off to his cave." I looked around me for a second. "Or his cottage," I added, glancing around the cottage.

"Where I come from men acts like gentlemen, not like savages."

"Really dear? But there's nothing gentle or civilized about what happen between a man and a woman in the bedchamber." Mary gave me an amused look as she spoke.

"And Mary has always been so lucky." I jumped as Leon's voice came from just behind me, it was as if wanted to warn me that he heard everything.

"Mary has five sons and ten grandchildren to prove it," He added.

Mary rose from her chair and smacked his hand. "Go on... I would've more if that lass would settle with a man."

I was really alone here as I knew that Alvin didn't have so many admirers here and I couldn't blame them. Alvin is such a hateful man. I took another sip of my tea and it tasted bitter this time. I was waiting for Leon to tell Mary that he's going to use me to get the ancient maze under his control. But Leon simply took the tea cup from my hand and gave it to Mary before scooping me back into his arms.

I didn't want to be treated like a child anymore, "You may put me down now, my lord. I'm capable-"

"-Of holding your beautiful tongue for another ten minutes," he finished smoothly, striding toward the stairs. I shut my mouth as I didn't want to create a scene in front of Mary and her daughter, who reappeared and were watching Leon carry me off.

Olivia's mouth was gasp open as she watched.

I knew that I should be worried about how Leon was manhandling me, but I could barely resist the urge to poke my tongue out at Olivia as we passed. Leon turned right at the top of the stairs, carrying me to a chamber. The bedchamber was so beautiful it was as if it walked out of a fairytale. A huge bed was placed in the center of the room, covered with dark bedding. The windows were so wide, yet dark majestic curtains were covering them. Slowly I moved toward the curtains opening them, then I turned around.

There was a small wooden table in the middle near the bed, but when I turned to the other side of the room I saw a wooden tub with steam rising from the heated water within.

"I'm afraid this is the best I can do right now, I didn't have the time to compose an ode of the fairness of your face and the grace of your step," Leon added dramatically.

I moved forward, I know that I would always forgive Leon, no matter what he'll do. With a smile covering my face, I knew perfectly what Leon whispered to Mary before he left.

"Oh, Leon," I said faintly as I trailed my fingertips through the warm water. "It's so beautiful." Just like you. Yet the last part I could never say.

When I lifted my head I found him looking at me oddly. My smile faded. "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"That was the first time, this was the first time you spoke to me like that." Leon's eyes dropped to my lips. "I really fancy that side of you, my dear Alena."

Before I could understand what he meant, he was gone. I touched my lips gently, I would never understand Leon not even if I wanted. Simply, he would never allow me.

My, Leon.

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Leon's P.O.V

I went striding away from the cottage, trying not think how badly I wanted to hear those words out of my beautiful Alena's lips again. I never wanted anything like her. I wanted to take her again and again, yet I knew it wasn't right, even though I knew that she was mine, yet something always stopped me.

I bit back a groan as I reached the edge of the mountain. The gentle snow was still falling from the sky and I need it to cool my fevered skin. I could imagine Alena peeling off her gown and sink into the warm water just as I longed to sink into her once again.

However, I knew that I had to honor my words. If Alvin gave me what I wanted, I had no option but to give him Alena, but not my child.

My hands clenched into a fist. I kept convincing myself that this was the only way. Alvin doesn't love Alena, but she's like a beautiful star in the sky he could never have.

I felt a sudden envy toward him, but why would I? I wasn't caged like an animal in a kingdom controlled by Alena. I was a free man and I'll keep it that way.

I knew that Alena would want me for my title and power. My father wasn't that heartless after all, he would take me back.

Yet Alena did something I could never forgive, she's having my child and she was about to fool Alvin. She was willing to allow that man in her bed as long as he provides her with the best jeweled in this world.

All of a sudden I felt a pair of female arms started to slip around my waist.

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to imagine Alena's arm. This was Alena, my Alena who ignored this harsh winter to seek my company. She was fresh from her long bath, her skin was soft and rosy, the overwhelming softness of her breasts were pressed against my back.

But my dreams were all in vain as I couldn't smell her beautiful scent, it was a different mixture and wasn't Alena's.

I turned around slowly and signed. "You should get back inside, Olivia, before you freeze to death."

Olivia moved her hands and placed them around my neck. "But I'll be fine with you here. You know perfectly how to keep a lass warm."

I groaned loudly, removing one of her hands fast away from him. "My, my." She giggled. "I told my mother you'd be eager to see me tonight, but I had no idea that you wanted me this badly."

As much as she annoyed me, but I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was lusting to be with Alena.

And besides, it looks like Olivia wasn't in the mood for conversation as she was rubbing her breasts against my chest. I knew perfectly what I was about to do was so wrong as I wrapped my hands around Olivia, kissing her. Alena belonged to another man...

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Alena's P.O.V

I rested my head against the rim of the tub and closed my eyes, allowing the hot water to warm me up. One of the maids left a new towel and a ball of soap. I pulled the soap and smelled it. For sure Mary was the one who made it.

I sank even deeper into the water and imagined Leon, my skin became feverish and sat up right away.

I quickly clambered out of the tub, covering my body with the warm towel. I spotted my nightgown on the bed. As I moved closer to the bed cold air flooded into the room.

I rushed over to close the window but my fingers froze when I spotted two figures locked in a passionate embrace at the edge near the cottage.

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