snippet from Chapter 21

The Emperor and Lamar were not the only ones that had been watching Kendra. Kaydra too had been watching her twin; she knew all to well Kendra’s behavior would change as the night went on. Kendra pulled her hand free from the young man she’d been dancing with and patted her dress as if she was looking for something.

Kaydra whispered to the gentleman whom she was dancing with. He nodded and led her to Merrick where he stopped and asked if they could change partners. The girl whom Merrick was dancing with answered, “by all means” and they danced off. Kaydra pulled Merrick to her as they continued to dance.

“Kendra is about to do something rash Merrick, she is looking fer a weapon.” Kaydra told him quietly.

Merrick flashed a grin at Kaydra, “Well she does care then!”

Kaydra growled at him, she was not going to hold her tongue any longer on the matter of Kendra and Merrick, “Nae be a fool Merrick everyone can see she is madly in love with thy likes of ye.” she exhaled, “She knows she will live alone till she dies without ye.”

Kaydra was furious with him. She looked for Morgan and found him talking with a small group. Morgan turned to gaze at the dance floor and saw Kaydra looking at him. He also saw Merrick dancing with her. He turned to those he was with and bowed slightly and headed toward Kaydra and Merrick.

Morgan didn’t have to cut in, Kaydra dropped Merrick’s hands and went into Morgan’s arms. She looked back at Merrick and spat at him, “Stop being the prince and be the man she needs and wants.” Morgan grinned and swept Kaydra off.

“Should I ask?” Morgan questioned her as he looked down into her eyes.

“Ye verra well knowest why bother ta ask?” she replied with an icy edge to it.

Morgan drew her into his body tightly and safely to him, as he chuckled. “Wench.” He whispered to her. Kaydra laughed out causing those nearby to turn and look at them as they danced slowly around the room to the music.

Merrick, left standing on the dance floor alone. Both the Emperor and Lamar chuckled softly.

Kendra who was still looking for a weapon had not been watching Merrick and the others. Her eyes scanned around looking for anything she could use. She spotted a carving knife that was on the buffet table. The faster she tried to move the more difficult it got for her to walk. She felt herself stumbling forward, she was going to fall, and she could feel herself going down.

Merrick had seen her scanning the room and he too saw the carving knife. Merrick moved swiftly to reach it before she could. From the corner of his eye he could see her nearing the table but noticed she was falling. He moved quickly and caught her just before she was about to slam into the floor. He whispered to her, “My Dearest Kendra, are thou hurt in any way?”

Kendra blinked looking at the floor that was inches from her.

Merrick rolled her over in his arms and looked into her eyes.

“Fine.” She muttered to him looking up into his dashing face. Well she thought at least she had his attention now.

Merrick drew her up into his arms as he stood up with her, his head remained lower and their lips met, he pressed his tightly to hers and kissed Kendra firmly.

Kendra was left breathless by his kiss; she looked deep into his eyes after pulling back and standing upright fully. He smiled down at her.

“Nice catch there Thadius.” An older gentleman told him and patted Merrick’s back.

Some elderly ladies rushed over to Kendra’s side. “Oh! My dear can we help ye?” they cackled to her.

Kendra looked at each woman and grinned “I’m verra well thank ye kindly.” Her voice was sweet and soft as she spoke. She pulled herself into Merrick’s chest.

The elderly women all giggled and nodded. “That ye be my dear.” One even winked at her before she moved off.

The single girls where huddled around the punch bowl all snickering at first. Now as they watched her drawn into the prince of Denbur's arms changed their expressions. One girl with long raven colored hair retorted with a sneer to the others. “That wrenched creature planned that. As if nae dancing with every single man here wasn’t enough she had to scheme a plan to end up in someone’s arms, the Princes’ arms nae less.”

Another girl spoke up “I was told she welds a weapon better than most men.”

A short plump girl then added “Gentlemen nae marry such woman.” They all nodded in agreement.

Kendra could careless of what anyone thought of her; she’d been like that all her life. Merrick pulled her up into him more, her head titled up looking at him.

“Thank ye my lord, I would have hit the floor if you had not been fer ye boldness and uncanny timing. T’was like ye had been watching over me.” Her eyes sparkled as her hands slid up over Merrick’s arms as she gently sucked her lower lip into her mouth.

Oh what a true vixen she was he thought. How much he loved everything about her. He whispered to her. “Now let me escort ye.” Merrick started to move her off toward the table with the carving knife. “I do believe ye were wanting something over here near this carving knife.” He grinned wickedly at her.

Kendra eyes widened, was she that predicable. Nae she thought someone else informed him. Kendra’s hand moved quickly toward the carving knife and grabbed it.

Guests near by moved away and a woman shrieked out as her hands covered her mouth gasping in terror. As Kendra turned the carving knife toward herself, slitting her dress between her legs so she could move. Merrick’s chuckle and grin disappeared quickly as he stepped back away from Kendra, his arm raised up in protest. “Now, Now my dearest Kendra thou nae wish ta harm me.” He smiled at her sweetly.

Kendra twirled the carving knife around in her hand, her eyes narrowed while stepping toward him.

The guards all moved forward toward Kendra but with a signal from the Emperor they all stopped and moved back to their places.

“Sire ye nae stoppen’ her?” Lamar asked quietly.

The Emperor laughed out, “She’ll nae hurt him, she loves him. Jealously is at hand.” He smiled “Let it play out, it is most amusing, eh?” he looked up at Lamar who looked very worried. The Emperor went back to watching the baroness go after the prince, he hadn't been this amused in some time.

Kaydra broke from Morgan’s arms and went to stop her sister from making a fool of herself. She had only made it a few steps before she felt Morgan’s arms around her waist.

“Let them go Kay, they need ta get this sexual frustration out.” Kaydra signed she knew Morgan was right.

Morgan turned Kaydra to face him, his fingers gently lifted her chin, and “It will all work out my dear they both are truly mad for each other.” His eyes sparkled as he looked into hers. Kaydra knew he was right yet again. She was being rash more like Kendra. She exhaled and turned to look at her sister. The musicians now stopped playing and those that were on the dance floor were backing away as Merrick backed out over the floor with Kendra stalking him with the carving knife.

Every eye was on the pair. The men found it very amusing to behold. The women were appalled by the baroness’ display.

The plump young woman said softly to her friends “Told ye, she is a heathen.” The group all nodded in agreement again as they watched.

Kendra jabbed at Merrick and he dodged the blade.

“Kendra, please ….. Let us talk.” He pleaded with her.

She just jabbed at him again and he moved backwards. What was she doing she thought, blinded, she wasn’t thinking clearly at all. She moved swiftly at him, he moved to the right as Kendra swung wide and slashed Merrick’s tunic.

Merrick looked down making sure there was no blood and quickly back at Kendra not wanting to take his eyes from her and that blade. He swore softly, “Hell Kendra.”

She laughed out and jabbed again at him as he moved from right to left. But Kendra was faster; her leg swept out and knocked his legs out from under him as he dodged the blade. With a loud thud Merrick hit the floor hard.

Gasps filled the air by the women; laughter echoed the ballroom by the men. Kaydra turned her head away, “Damn her Morgan.” Morgan simply laughed.

Kendra leaped forward and placed her knee into Merrick’s chest, as the carving knife pressed to Merrick’s throat. She grinned down at him.

Before she could say or do anything a firm arm wrapped around her waist and another gripped her wrist and pulled her back with one great jerk. The man that was so bold to go after her dropped her to the floor and stood over her looking down at her. “Surely ye nae were going to harm my dear cousin Kendra.” The heir Emperor spoke down to her.

Those around the ballroom were all kneeling down.

Merrick jumped up and ran to Kendra; “Ye hurt Ken?” he reached for her.

The heir Emperor grabbed Merrick by the shoulder and spun him around, “Tis thy thanks one gets fer savin` ye life?”

“Welcome home cousin.” Merrick took his hand and shook it. Merrick looked down at Kendra and back to the heir Emperor.

The heir Emperor let go of Merrick’s hand and bent down to help Kendra. “Lass ye have split thee’s dress.” Both of his hands grabbed her up and returned her to her feet. He turned to those around him. “Arise.” He gestured with his hands. He looked at Merrick and then back to Kendra. “I see.” He chuckled, “I been gone these many years and I come home ta find ye have fallen in love with Thadius.” His hands grabbed his chest holding his heart as he moaned in pain.

Kendra just stood there looking at him. It had been many years now that she had seen him, the Prince looked healthy as ever.

Prince Adris the heir Emperor turned to Merrick and lowered his voice, “we need to speak alone cousin. Let me see father then we shall speak.” He slapped Kendra on the rump as he walked away.

Kendra blushed slightly, Merrick looked very worried while he took the carving knife from Kendra and tucked it inside his tunic. He looked down at Kendra as she looked up into his face. She could tell he was troubled by what the heir Emperor said to him.

The Emperor stood and embraced his eldest son, “Welcome home my boy.” He hugged him for a long time, “Welcome home.”