Anna

I wake up and see Henry to the side of me, sleeping as sweetly as a innocent, suckling babe. I run my fingers through his rough blonde curls, staring at his profile in admiration.

If only he could sleep forever.
He looked so much better when his mouth was clasped and restricted from movement.

I bend over to grab my dress to start my day. Catherine had clued me in on an important banquet of some sort tonight. I forgot to ask her the occasion but I would find out soon enough.
But first, I needed to find Thayne and brag to him how unscathed I came out. My bruised lip was the worst of Henry's anger towards me.

I try my hardest to tiptoe to the door but Henry's voice interrupts my escape.
" Who was it" he yawns, sitting up from the covers.

He stretches, lifting his arms over his head before focusing his attention on me.

"You know who it was Henry. Why ask?" I shoot back. So I guess he hadn't forgotten about my little encounter with Thayne.

"I can kill him you know?" He says it so nonchalantly, as if he were informing me of the weather.

"Go ahead. What do I care? He was a insignificant fuck either way." I try to steady the inflection in my voice. I didn't wish to see Thayne die. I was growing quite fond of him even if they were for reasons unbeknownst to me.

Henry pulls on his pants, coming behind me. He grabs my waist tight, painting kisses against my neck. I push his arms away and move to pack my curls up in the mirror.

"I forbid you to talk to him." Henry stands behind me, watching me from the reflection of the looking glass.

"Excuse me?" I fume, hearing his command.

"You heard me. I command you to refrain from talking to Thayne."

"You command me? Who do you think you are?" I snap around to face him, challenging his brashness.

"King Henry the 8th.
Ruler of all of England and the New World. I urge you to remember your place Anna." Henry growls.

Red.
It was all I saw as his words replay in my mind.
Despite my rage, he was right and he knew it.

I was Anna. A lowly servant to the king. A taster.
He had not even made me his queen yet. I had no power.

I turn on my heel to walk away but he grabs my arm.

"And who dismissed you?" I could hear the smug smile that parted his lips.
I remain silent, instead, thinking of the different ways I could kill him.

Choke him?
Slit his throat.
I couldn't use poison anymore. It was too careless.

"You may control my heat thorn but remember, I rule over the kingdom and everything in it
That includes you. Doesn't it?" He asks me.
His grip tightened around my forearm making me bite my cheek in pain.

Come on Anna.
If you kept quiet, he will let you leave.
Keep quiet. It was the phrase I repeat in my head to keep me sane.

"Yes my king" I mutter through clenched teeth.

"My king? That phrase is music to my ears." He pretends to cry in solace. I turn on my heel once more, making my way to the doors of his chamber.

"Anna." He curls his fingers, hithering me to approach him . Obediently I oblige,  dragging my feet towards him. He looks at the bruise on my lip and smirks.

"I can't seem to find my crown? Usually my servants come in and place it on my head every morning but?" He looks around, pretending to notice their absence.

I let out the long breath I was holding in and walk to the case where he kept it.

He watches me as I glide across the room before turning to place it on his head. I try my hardest to increase our distance but he grabs my jaw.

"If only I had another, then I could place one on you're pretty little head." He whispers against my ear. He was torturing me!
"Too bad" he brags, tapping my cheek before pushing past me to go to his bath.

What a pompous, arrogant king he was!

"Ahhh don't look too dismayed thorn. In due time." He let's silence fill the room. "Maybe."

Finally,  I turn to finally leave but his words halt me once more.

"One more thing. I assume you'll keep the death of the pope our little secret? I would hate for bad news to spread about the king's taster? A two time murderer?" He walks over to tower over me, lifting his fingers to stroke my cheek, "it will look unfavorably on you"

I glare up at him...my purpose for killing him reignited.

"It is our little secret my king."

He kisses each side of my cheek before dismissing me. I gather my cloak and storm out, determined to find Thomas! I needed his help.

——

I hate him
I hate him
I hate him

"Good morning Anna!"
"Morning Anna"

"Morning!"

The hustle and bustle of the people did nothing to deter me from my sinful impressions.
My quest to become queen had proved more difficult than I intended.

"Anna. Anna?" The warmth of Thayne's palms around my shoulders snap me from my distant memories.

His eyes drop to the bruise on my lip.

"What did he do to you?" He says in a hushed tone.

"Nothing Thayne." I look around, observing the hallway for any peering eyes before leading him to a secluded corner in an abandoned hallway.

"Why is your lip bruised?" He asks again, his blue green eyes showed his rage.

"If I told you the reason, what would you do?" I smile, taunting his bravery.

He was silent. Of course he was. Henry wielded all the power.

"Don't let him drive you to insanity." I reminded him. Thayne glances upon my eyes before nodding.

"Let's meet up after dinner. I have a secret garden in the west wing of the castle. It had the reddest roses and—-"

"I can't Anna?" He cuts off my speech.

Thayne

"Why?" She pouts. There was confusion in her eyes. I push an arm above her head, diminishing the distance between us.

"Where's the ring?"

She pretends to act coy. "I don't know Thayne.. you don't remember where you put it?" She whispers against my lips.

"I don't" I smirk, staring into her beautiful brown eyes.

"We'll I don't either prince?" She says even more impatiently. My hand was selfish to grab her waist.

I turn her around, pressing her back against my chest before dropping my palm against her thighs. "You don't?" I smirk, pressing my lips against her ear.

She shakes her head slowly, still pretending her feat of confusion. I lift up her long cream dress, running a palm against her thigh before forcing her legs open.

She allows me, coaxing me with gentle yet urgent kisses to continue.
"Thayne" she curses through a moan as she clenched around me, realizing there was a bit of selfishness in my quest for its whereabouts. I force her head to the side so I could entrap her lips. We kiss wildly, forgetting the mission at hand and instead giving into our pleasure.

My lips mark every inch of her throat, my teeth impatient to mark her as mine.

"Thayne" she gasps again as my fingers weaved deeper but I cover her mouth with my free hand, turning her on ever more.

We both hear footsteps and I knew my fun was over. I quickly fished out the ring and let her reach her high. She sighs, resting against my stomach.

I kiss the back of her perspiring neck, showering her with care before we separated.

Anna

We waited until the footsteps disappear before speaking again.

"Here. Wear it" he wipes it clean before pushing it into my finger.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I have a strange feeling you'll need it soon. A premonition..."

I swallow hard knowing his sudden interest in the jewel meant trouble was brewing. I look up at his crown, counting its curves until some moments passed. He looked at me nervously until he finally revealed the truth. "I saw Jane and Cromwell whispering in the shadows last night"

"About?"

"I couldn't hear everything from where I was hiding. All I heard was poison and king"

Thayne adjusts the ring on my finger, sealing my wrist with a kiss. "Wear it tonight at the banquet"

I nod, taking heed to his advice. I feel like I owe him.
For revealing the plot. For potentially saving my life?
But I hate owing people. It meant I was indebted to another which made me feel useless.

"Henry will kill you Thayne. He will not kill me. He is too weak to follow through. You need it more than I do." I take off the wrong before forcing it to his palm. I was more terrified of what the king would do to Thayne than me.
Henry could sleep with me.
He couldn't fuck his brother.

"Trust me?" Thayne pleads, pushing the ring back into my hand.I press my hands against his chest looking at the bruise beneath his eye before brushing my finger against it.

"I trust you" I whisper, staring into his green eyes. They were so different than Henry's. Warmer.

We kiss violently again and all the feelings from that night in my room rush back to me.

"I'll see you soon?" He wipes my lip with a finger.

"Why does this feel like goodbye?" I could hear the tone in his voice. It sounded like a final farewell.

He was silent, only looking at the floor.
Now I see it.
I understood what was happening.
I would never see Thayne again. The power Henry held was greater than the feelings we shared.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Don't apologize. I knew what the consequences were interfering with the King's new obsession" He tries to kiss me but I turn my cheek away.
I didn't wish to kiss him anymore. To lead him on or down a path that ventured nowhere.

"Goodbye Thayne" My tears were now down my cheeks. I take one final glance at him before running away.

———-

Author Note
Grand opening
Grand closing

Looks like Thayne and Anna have to say goodbye....