I took a deep breath as I grasped the handle and pulled the door open. I came face to face with a broad chest clothed by a palace guard uniform. For once, it wasn’t Captain Clay. That thought flew out the window when I tilted my head back, and still farther back, as I looked up at the person who owned the impressive chest. My eyes widened as I saw the stern silver eyes staring down at me. He was breathtaking. There really was no other way to describe the fierce looking man before me. He was not pretty. He was too masculine for pretty. He was striking. His unwavering stare and large, solid frame was incredibly intimidating and yet I was not afraid of him. Something in his gaze was…protective of me. I knew that he would never hurt me.
“Princess.” The man finally spoke and his deep voice caused chill bumps to rise all over my arms.
“Who are you?” I asked, once I had finally found the good sense to close my mouth and quit drooling like an adolescent staring at her first crush.
“Forgive me for bothering you, your highness,” the guard rumbled. “Brant,” he motioned to the even larger mountain standing behind him, who I had yet to even notice, “and I have been assigned to your guard detail.”
“Uh-huh,” I said slowly. My eyes narrowed as I glanced at the one called Brant and then back at the vision in front of me that had spoken. “And who exactly are you?”
His lips twitched as if he was amused by my scrutiny. He bowed his head slightly. “I am Torben.”
“Torben,” I repeated as if he was speaking another language. What was wrong with me? A handsome face and mesmerizing voice seemed to be enough to turn me into a brainless ninny. But really, what kind of name was Torben? I don’t think I’d ever heard it before. It certainly did not sound native.
“Yes, Torben. I know my name is unique. I’m not sure how my mother came up with it. I’ve asked her plenty of times, but she never gives me a straight answer.”
“Uh-huh,” I responded, once again showing my brilliant linguistic abilities. I stood there staring up at him stupidly while he stared back at me. Torben did not seem to feel awkward about the silence between us. He stood stock, still simply staring at me, as if he would not mind spending the entire day doing just that. I, on the other hand, fought the urge to shift from foot to foot under his intensity.
The other one, Brant, cleared his throat and the trance between us lifted. My brain, which I knew I still possessed somewhere in my head, suddenly reengaged. “My father did not inform me that I was getting a new guard,” I said, watching closely to see if my words caused any insecurity in Torben. I knew many of the palace guards and certainly all the ones assigned to my protection. My father would have informed me if there was to be a change among the men.
“I am sure he has not had time to tell you, just yet. It may not be my place to tell you, but he was concerned that the fire that was started last eve might be more than just an accident,” Torben answered calmly. “He wanted to make sure you were protected, especially with all the visitors in the castle.”
Either this man was truly my new assigned guard, or he was as smooth as churned butter at lying. I couldn’t tell for certain, but he didn’t feel evil to me. I didn’t have any supernatural ability to discern a person’s intentions. However, my power has, at times in the past, warned me about danger. I didn’t understand how it worked, but I guessed it was a defense mechanism to alert me when I was in the process of healing someone. During those times, my attention was completely focused on my task and I was vulnerable, so knowing if danger is close at hand is important.
This sixth sense, as I had come to call it, had saved me in the past. Once I came upon a rabbit that had been attacked by a predator. As I knelt to check the frightened creature’s wounds, I was completely unaware that a wolf was hiding close by in the foliage. Just as I placed my hands upon the rabbit to heal the scratches and bites, an overwhelming feeling of being watched came over me. I jumped up and yelled, spinning in place. The wolf, startled, matched my yelp, and bolted away, leaving the rabbit and I behind. Since that day, I’ve never ignored my sixth sense when it tells me danger is near.
“Princess, are you all right?” Torben asked me. I shook my head and refocused. His voice was musical, but that wasn’t what had drawn my attention. It was the large hand that was currently resting on my shoulder. He was touching me.
“You are touching me,” I said stupidly, as if the man did not know he had placed his hand on my shoulder.
A small smile tugged at his full lips. “I am,” he said without apology. “I called your name several times but you did not respond.”
I looked from his hand back to his face. “Oh.” That was my brilliant response. I shook my head and took a step backward. I needed to put some distance between myself and this new guard. Something about him, I didn’t know what, disarmed me.
“Thank you for introducing yourself, Torben. I need to ready myself for the day. If that is all, good day.” I said all of that with the speed of an exuberant child and then shrugged off his hand before quickly shutting the door right in his handsome, yet confused face.
I stared at the closed door as though if I looked at it long enough I would be able to see straight through it to the man beyond. After several minutes, I slowly turned away from the door and let out a shuttering breath. I had never felt so shaken over anyone. Do not get me wrong, I had noticed handsome men in the past, but none of them caught my attention the way Torben had. Something about him captivated me, which, in turn, made me sound like a bumbling idiot. I shook my head as if I could remove the image of him from my mind and began my morning routine. It would be the first time I would have to spend the entire day with King Cathal. The thought was nauseating. Being in his presence was the equivalent of allowing chickens to peck out my eyes, only the chickens would probably be better conversationalists.
A half hour later, there was another knock at the door. Instead of walking over to it, I simply stared at it as though it was a three-headed monster preparing to devour me. My heart began to beat painfully hard in my chest and my palms grew damp. I wasn’t sure whose presence I feared most on the other side of the door—Cathal or Torben.
The choice was suddenly taken out of my hands when the door opened and in walked Lidia. My handmaiden glanced out into the hall, confusion marring her brow before she closed the door and turned to face me.
“I was not aware that you were getting new guards,” she said.
“I was not either,” I said with a sigh. I watched as Lidia moved about the room, making the bed and straightening pillows that were already straight. “I can tell you have more to say on the matter, Lidia. By all means, speak already.”
She shrugged her shoulders as if it was of no consequence. “I was just thinking that they were both quite handsome.”
“You make it sound as though guards cannot be handsome.”
Lidia tsked at me. “When have you ever seen a guard that looked like those two?” She motioned toward the door.
I had no argument. Torben and even Brant, I could admit, were both exceedingly handsome. “Have you ever seen them before?” I asked her.
Lidia shook her head. “I would not have forgotten either of them nor would I have failed to have mentioned it. They are new. Those two will be the talk of the castle staff.”
I smiled at her. “That, my dear friend, is quite true.”