Chapter 47: Blood Ring I
"Your dress!" Rafael exclaimed, horrified.
"It looks worse than it actually is," Soleia said.
Her mood had much improved once she realized Sir Ralph had managed to get her a replacement outfit. She could finally bid this torn and tattered dress goodbye. With a cheerful hum, she picked up the dress and her new undergarments and went behind the rock for added privacy.
"Keep watch for me, Sir Ralph! I would hate for another thornhound pack to ruin this dress!"
"Yes, Princess," Rafael said, his voice coming out in an undignified squawk.
Soleia was going to change? Out here? In the open? Where anyone could stumble upon her in her vulnerable state of undress and take advantage of her?!
Rafael’s eyes darkened. Not if he had anything to say about it.
No one would be able to lay their eyes on Soleia and live to tell the tale. Her lovely pale skin had shone in the weak sunlight, and when she shifted, the fabric had moved to reveal another expanse of unmarked skin. He wanted to lay kisses all over it, and then tear away the flimsy fabric―
Rafael dug his fingers into the palms of his hands. It was as though he was no better than an animal, Rafael lamented to himself. He was technically a prince, no matter how lowly born. How could he behave like a brute?
He stared at the snow intently, forcing his thoughts to be as pure as the freshly fallen flakes.
He had plans for winning the throne. He couldn’t lose to his baser urges and jeopardize his entire scheme. Princess Soleia was just a means to an end, an important piece of the puzzle, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted, even as his heart raced at the thought of spending time with her.