Claimed By The Tyrant King

The next few days had been particularly difficult for Rowan, even though he did his best to remain composed. Watching Rosalind spend time with Alaric every day left a tight feeling in his chest that could only be described as jealousy.

The thought had begun to take shape in his mind that she might eventually start to like the king, especially with the way Alaric constantly showered her with attention, bringing her cakes every day in large quantities, knowing full well it was what she liked.

What Rowan did not realize, however, was that Rosalind was already growing tired of it. Liking something did not mean she wanted it every day, and it would take far more than sweets to make her feel anything for that man.

At the same time, she had grown more at ease around Rowan, and that only made things worse for him because it forced him to confront what he had been trying to ignore. He was beginning to feel something he had no right to feel. He had intended to keep his distance, to remain nothing more than what he was meant to be, but each time he acted cold, he stopped himself because he did not want to be the reason she felt hurt.

Rosalind sat in the library with a book open before her, though after only a few minutes of reading, she cracked her knuckles and let out a long sigh as though she had exhausted herself going through the entire collection when, in truth, she had barely made any progress at all.

She turned her head to look at Rowan, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him, and he returned the look with one of his own, already aware that she was about to start again.

This was all Lily’s fault.

"What do you say, Rowan?" she began. "Maybe we should find a book of poems so you can express yourself better. It’s been days now, and you still haven’t written back to her. The poor girl must be waiting endlessly." She clicked her tongue and shook her head in disapproval.

"Do you enjoy playing matchmaker," Rowan asked, then added after a brief pause, "my lady?"

Rosalind nodded, a small smile forming on her lips, and her response seemed to irritate him. She seemed to take a certain pleasure in pushing his buttons.

"Look here, Rowan," she continued, shifting to face him properly as she crossed her arms and fixed him with a serious look. "I know what you’re probably thinking... that men need to act distant and unreadable, but it’s actually the opposite. Women want someone who shows they care, someone who speaks openly and makes them feel safe." She continued listing her thoughts with quiet confidence. "I’m only saying this to give you proper advice."

He watched her in silence, his expression giving nothing away even though his lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say but was holding it back.

"What is it?" Rosalind asked, catching the hesitation.

"How many relationships have you been in to know all this?" he asked at last.

She blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard, but quickly straightened herself and cleared her throat. "I don’t need to be in one to understand it," she replied.

Rowan said nothing after that, though inwardly he dismissed her advice, even if a small part of him found it amusing. None of that showed on his face.

"But I’m serious," Rosalind insisted, leaning forward slightly. "You need to stop acting so cold and closed off. You should have someone you truly care about, someone who makes you happy." She smiled at him as she said it.

Rowan’s gaze lingered on her. He already had.

"My lady, the king has requested your presence in the council hall," a guard announced suddenly as he approached them, cutting the moment short.

"The council hall?" Rosalind repeated inwardly, her brows drawing together in confusion.

The guard waited patiently, and she rose to her feet after a moment, smoothing her dress as she began to walk, with Rowan and the guard following behind her.

When they reached the council room, Rowan was stopped at the entrance, as only Rosalind had been summoned inside. That only deepened her confusion because she could not understand what business she had in a place where matters of Eryndor were discussed. There was nothing they could possibly need from her. Before stepping in, she glanced back at Rowan, and he gave her a small nod, which she returned before turning away and entering the room.

The moment she stepped inside, countless eyes turned toward her. The men seated around the table wore grim expressions, and at the head of it all sat Alaric. The atmosphere was heavy, and it made her uneasy as she walked toward him, her heart beating faster with each step.

"Come, sit here, Rosalind," Alaric said.

She paused, glancing around briefly, unable to find an empty seat, as every chair in the room was already occupied.

The silence stretched as the men said nothing and simply observed her, and she could feel it pressing against her skin as she moved closer.

Alaric reached out and pulled her down onto his lap without warning, and her eyes widened in shock at the suddenness of it.

A few quiet breaths were drawn around the table but no one spoke.

She could feel the weight of their disapproving stares as Alaric’s arm settled around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

He leaned in slightly, his voice low as he spoke near her ear. "since you will be part of the council one day, you might as well begin to see how things work here." He smiled as he said it, completely unaware of how uncomfortable he had made her.

"They don’t like me," Rosalind murmured under her breath.

"Who cares about that?" Alaric replied, and her throat went dry at the ease in his voice. Her gaze remained fixed on the men around the table, and she pressed her lips into a thin line, forcing herself to stay still.

The men, on the other hand, were silently questioning why the king had brought a woman like her into the council room meant for serious matters. To them, she had no place here, and did not seem impressive.

"The meeting may continue," Alaric said, as if it were perfectly normal to have her seated on his lap while matters of the kingdom were discussed.

"We are here to address Vaelor and their repeated attacks on Eryndor," one of the councilmen began, his tone steady but strained. "We have yet to respond, choosing restraint, but the situation is worsening. The people are growing fearful. Insecurity is rising, citizens are being taken, and entire cities have been destroyed. All signs point back to Vaelor, and Your Majesty, the people of Eryndor have begun to protest. They fear that war is inevitable."

Rosalind stiffened the moment the word war was spoken. So while she had been inside the castle, everything beyond its walls had been far from safe. The thought unsettled her, and she could not stop herself from wondering about her home, about her mother, and whether they were safe from all of this.

"Then we will not stand by any longer," Alaric said, his voice calm, though there was something in it that carried weight. "If their king believes he is strong enough to challenge me, then I will show him otherwise. Prepare for war. We will crush them so completely they will not rise again"

His words settled heavily in the room, and Rosalind felt her palms grow damp. War was never good, and it was always the common people who suffered the most. The thought stayed with her as the discussion continued, though she remained silent throughout, not moving once as she sat on his lap, waiting for the meeting to end.

Time passed slowly, the ticking of the clock stretching each moment, until at last the meeting came to a close. One by one, the men rose to their feet, bowed to the king, and began to leave the hall.

Rosalind remained where she was, as Alaric had not released her.

Without warning, he lifted her and set her down on the table before him, and before she could react, he leaned in and captured her lips in a sudden, heated kiss that left her startled, her breath catching in her chest.

Pulling back from the kiss, "Those men are exhausting," he murmured near her ear, his voice low. "Sometimes I think it would be easier to have them all removed so they never disturb me again."

The same men who advised him?

"Rosalind," he said, drawing her attention back to him, and her eyes snapped to his face. "I will allow you to visit your parents."

"Really?" she asked, unable to hide the sudden hope in her voice, Her heart lifted at the thought of seeing her parents again, especially her mother. And she hoped to warn them about the war coming.