CHAPTER 5

Alessandro studied the papers that Kieran had brought him over again, there was no positive news. He laid his head backwards and stretched, it was unlike him to be tired but the weight of the problem on his shoulders weighed him down.

All the people watching the borders had not seen anyone leave that fit the description of the prince. His theory was that he had made his getaway immediately after he fled the ball.

Alessandro looked around his study, papers were strewn everywhere. He was going to have to finish the paperwork before nightfall.

The door to his study was pushed open, Alessandro did not need to turn to know who it was, he could tell the minute the door opened and the lavender scent wafted across the room, he inhaled deeply, “Gwendoline”.

He heard the clinking of her heels as she walked towards him. Her hands found his shoulders as she began to massage them. Alessandro groaned and threw his head backwards, her hands did work magic with his body. He knew she was all smiles knowing her touch could provoke this reaction from him.

“I thought you needed help", she finally spoke with a hint of laughter in her voice, “with some things...”.

Alessandro smirked and in a swift motion spun her around and kept her straddled on his thighs. He took in her features again, her dark blonde hair curled in waves and rested atop her shoulders, her silk flowery dress was bunched up revealing her creamy thighs. Her blue eyes sparkled in delight as she watched him check her out. She was beautiful.

“I thought you might need a distraction", she said in her sing-song voice.

Alessandro did not bother with a reply as he quickly captured her full lips in his, it wasn’t any soft kiss, it was a demanding one. His tongue probed her lips as he ran his hand through her hair while the other rested on the low of her back.

She moaned in response as she let his tongue explore her mouth. He nibbled on her lower lip until he drew blood and he sucked fiercely, his hands began to roam when the doors to his study flew open with such force that he could have sworn the doors were dismantled from their hinges. Alessandro growled as Gwen got up from him, “What is it, Kieran?”.

Kieran took in the scene before him and retorted sarcastically, “Apparently while you were making out and having a good time, I was busy looking out for you and your business”.

Alessandro ran his fingers through his hair, he knew Kieran and Gwen weren’t the best of friends but he was not about to deal with one of their issues at this point.

“Just tell me, Kieran”.

Kieran looked him over, earlier when they had left the throne room, he had made him promise to always make sure the captive girl was safe. He had not questioned him because he had said it with such an authority that left no room for questioning.

“Your father has her".

It didn’t take a minute for Kieran’s words to register in Alessandro’s head, “shit!”.

Gwen looked between the both of them in confusion. Alessandro ran out the door at an inhuman speed.

Kieran turned around in surprise, “ Okay I didn’t expect that".

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Isabella flailed her arms desperately in an attempt to free herself from the grasp of the guards that held her but they wouldn’t budge. She didn’t know if it was because she was weak from starving herself and crying senselessly or that these men had a deathly grip.

“Tie her to the post in the inner courtyard!”.

Isabella heard the loud voice of a man when he finally came into view, everything about him screamed royalty, he bore an uncanny resemblance to her captor, the one they called Alessandro. He was no doubt his father. He was however looking young except for his tired eyes and grey hair.

“She is to be beaten to a pulp and later a piece of her will be sent to her brother as a souvenir, maybe that will bring him out of whatever cave he is hiding in", he held her stare unflinching and Isabella cowered in fright.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, “You have already wrought more than enough damage as it is, you would not hurt my brother!”, she could not recognize her voice as the words left her mouth, the force behind them didn’t seem to have come from her.

Malcolm who was already going out to the courtyard stopped in his tracks, “Oh no harm will come to him, I will only have his head plunged to a stake by my throne and feed his carcass to the vultures”.

She flinched like she had been stung. He studied her expression briefly and appeared to be in thought, “Why didn’t I think of that with your father".

“Take her out of here and tie her up!", he snapped at the guards.

Isabella was dragged towards the stake like she weighed nothing. The men wasted no time tearing off what was left of her dress, leaving her in her underwear. She shivered as the cold air caressed her skin. Soon she was bound to the stake, and a few guards stood around watching her, the tears kept flowing freely down her face, she had never known humiliation all her life.

She closed her eyes and waited for the whip to land on her back instead she got the sound of that very familiar voice, the voice of the devil...

“Stop!, immediately”.

She turned in the direction of his voice. It was like he had appeared out of nowhere. Every eye was trained on him. His voice held an air of authority that could not be challenged. Why he stopped them was a mystery to her.

“You dare not question my authority”, the king growled.

“I told you she was not to be harmed”, Alessandro retorted in fury, she could see him clench and unclench his fists, his chest was heaving...

With a wave of his hands, guards scurried away leaving only the king and his son to face off, the guy with the whip stayed behind.