Chapter 9: Don’t call me Alex

Grab the rope! Alexander's wolf growled at him. He saw the tree branch snap, but before it was too late, King Alexander swallowed his pride and grabbed the rope. Jamie prayed to the gods of the sun that the Arabian horse would obey her gentle command. She mounted the horse with great ease. She knew absolutely nothing about Arabian horses. Did they follow regular horse command, or does she have to speak Arabic to it? "Okay. Since I don't know any of your native commands, I am going to use a regular horse command, nd and if I die, I will haunt you and your master," Jamie whispered to the horse. Using both legs, squeezed gently just behind the horse's girth, and the Arabian beast obeyed. Jamie expected a slow gallop, but the horse took off at full speed, dragging King Alexander out. Alexander was able to let go of the rope before he was slammed into a tree, but he knew that Janessa was now in trouble. Millie was standing just a few inches away from King Alexander, and he attempted to mount her and go after the princes, but it was too late. He heard a scream and then a clashing sound. "Janessa!" Alexander took off as fast as his legs could carry him; he was a fast runner, and he knew the forest well enough. In about a minute or two, he located her still body on the ground, and the horse was nowhere to be found. Alexander checked to see if she was breathing, and thankfully, she was. He could see the point where the horse kicked her and the cut on her face. She was lucky the force of the fall knocked her out, or she would be in excruciating pain. He raised her head slowly and placed it on his arm as his eyes searched for other injuries. When it became apparent that he needed something other than curious eyes to assess her injury, Alexander took the risk and lifted her. She weighed considerably less than his men, whom he had carried on occasions during the heat of battle after they were injured. Compared to the weight of a knight, Janessa weighed just a little more than a feather. She stirred with every step he made, like his movement caused her further pain. She murmured something he couldn't hear, and Alexander stopped to listen. "Monisha?" Alexander waited for a second to see if she would say any other thing but she merely groaned and slipped back to unconsciousness. Alexander decided to take her to the king's cabin in the forest. It was a place he came to whenever he needed to escape the public eye, and it was considerably closer than the castle. The two guards who guarded the king's cabin from enemies' intrusion in his absence came forward when they saw their king carrying a young, injured maiden. "His highness?"They bowed to him. One of the guards came forward to relieve the king of his loincloth, but he declined with a threat: "If you touch her, you will lose an arm." Alexander took her to his bed and lay her on it. He tried to leave, but Janessa wrapped her hand around his.m "Don't leave me," she whispered. Alexander went still. "I am here. Go back to sleep, Jane,ssa" he commanded. He lowered himself next to her and stroked her cheek until she went back to sleep. He kissed her hand before he gently left the bed. When Janessa opened her eyes again, someone was forcing a bit of potion down her throat. She tried to resist, but she was too weak to do anything. "It is for your good, Monisha. Just take another sip." Jamie obeyed, but the sip turned to two and another until she slipped back into total blackness. Alexander sat by the bedside with his legs crossed. It was dark outside, and he was tired and he was getting worried. It has been three days since Jamie fell from the horse, and yet she was only able to slip in and out of consciousness a couple of times. The royal doctor assured him it was completely normal, but it didn't stop him from worrying about her. After all, she had hurt herself trying to save him. "Alex?" Her voice was barely a whisper. Alexander moved closer to her. He dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth and kissed the spot just below her eyes. "Alex?" She whispered again. "I am a king. You can't shorten my name, Monisha." "Alex? "Then she started to fidget like she was fighting off someone. Alexander realized she was having a dream about him and that she was still asleep. She looked terrified and hurt. He kissed her forehead to soothe her and then her cheek, and before he could stop himself, her lips. They were soft, and she made a throaty sound. Alexander didn't know whether it was from pain or pleasure; he wasn't fully awake. He tried to go back to his seat, but her weak hand grabbed his tunic. Alexander took it as a protest, and that she wanted him to stay. The feel of his frame leaning on hers as his arms wrapped around her gently felt forbidden. What are you doing, Alexander? His wolf cautioned him. Alexander wanted to pay attention and listen to his wolf. But Janessa wouldn't let go of his shirt, and anything short of prying them off wouldn't work on her. Now, she was no longer fidgeting. It was like the nightmare was over. Alexander wondered why she was having a nightmare about him., Was she terrified of him, except Janessa didn't seem like someone who scared easily, or was she just good at hiding her feelings, just like him? Before Alexander could think straight and become aware of her wandering fingers, they had already slipped under his shirt, his skin smooth and radiating heat. Just when Alexander thought it wouldn't get any worse, Janessa opened her eyes.