The Emerald Virgin (Gem Apocalypse Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Ravyn Rayne
expected of their encounter.
James ignored the rumbling noises coming from her stomach. He took her arm as they walked. She didn't pull away. What good would it do? "I do hope you will like it here in Brayleigh. I know it isn't your home, but I do hope one day you might think of it like that."
Did he quickly forget that his guards murdered her mother? She didn't have a choice. Aria couldn't leave, and she desperately wanted to. She didn't answer him. What could she say to please him and be honest?
James led Aria outside through the back doors. Quick on her feet, the pavers were warm under her bare skin. Why did they not provide them with shoes? Were they afraid they would use them and run away?
Aria stared at the ever-present wall knowing she could never escape. Had he led her outside to toy with her or remind her that she was his prisoner? "I thought you might like some sun," he said.
"Seriously?"
"Yes," James said. He frowned, not quite seeing what was wrong. Could he truly be so oblivious?
The prince led Aria to a small table on the patio, made of metal with a glass top and seated no more than two. Why have something so mundane in a palace so grand? One might have expected a table the size of a king's mattress or perhaps larger. Of course it did look old and had to be a relic from an earlier era. There were very few new goods on the market.
"Have a seat," he said and pulled out the chair for Aria to sit down.
Aria obliged, she had no other choice. As she sat, her body relaxed. At least she had her clothes on, unlike an hour ago.
"Sadie!" he said, calling to one of the servants. "Bring us some croissants and cookies. I'd like to impress my new friend."
Sadie smiled. Aria couldn't tell if Sadie enjoyed serving James or felt it necessary, the smile looked real. She scurried inside and James dragged his chair closer, intending to sit beside Aria.
He opened his mouth but Aria spoke faster, interrupting him.
"Why me?" Aria asked. "Of all the young women you could have chosen from. Why me?" She may have been the oldest, but she doubted that had anything to do with his decision.
"You were honest with me," James said. He leaned back in the chair, making himself comfortable. "Didn't you hear the responses the other women gave? They were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear. I like it when a woman's honest."
Aria wanted to believe him, but her stomach ached telling her otherwise. "Well, you know I'm not happy to be here." She made it no secret that she resented every bit of the crown and royal crest.
James sighed and leaned forward. He clasped his hands in his lap. "Don't you get it? My father would have had you executed had one of my brothers not chosen you as a courtesan. Vent your frustration with me all you want, but my father, the King of Brayleigh, won't be so lenient should he hear you speak ill of his kingdom. I'm trying to help you, Aria, but I can't unless you watch your mouth," he warned.
Aria nodded, knowing he spoke the truth. "My apologies," she said, though she didn't mean a word of it. How could he expect her to?
Sadie returned with a tray of desserts and placed it on the glass table. She retreated without a word or a glance at the prince. The tension had been undeniable. Had he slept with Sadie too?
Once out of earshot, he leaned closer. "I understand your resentment and frustration, Aria. If I had it my way, things would be different, but I'm not next in line for the throne." James had been the third son in line to the throne. King Gideon had four boys of age to wed, and four more that were mere children. Aria suspected the king would conceive more children by the way he responded earlier this morning in the hall.
"You don't have to be king to change the way things are run. How can you keep women here against their will and think it's okay?" Aria asked. Her eyes narrowed, challenging him.
"Do you want to leave? Is that it? I'll let you go. March you right out the front door. You can
James ignored the rumbling noises coming from her stomach. He took her arm as they walked. She didn't pull away. What good would it do? "I do hope you will like it here in Brayleigh. I know it isn't your home, but I do hope one day you might think of it like that."
Did he quickly forget that his guards murdered her mother? She didn't have a choice. Aria couldn't leave, and she desperately wanted to. She didn't answer him. What could she say to please him and be honest?
James led Aria outside through the back doors. Quick on her feet, the pavers were warm under her bare skin. Why did they not provide them with shoes? Were they afraid they would use them and run away?
Aria stared at the ever-present wall knowing she could never escape. Had he led her outside to toy with her or remind her that she was his prisoner? "I thought you might like some sun," he said.
"Seriously?"
"Yes," James said. He frowned, not quite seeing what was wrong. Could he truly be so oblivious?
The prince led Aria to a small table on the patio, made of metal with a glass top and seated no more than two. Why have something so mundane in a palace so grand? One might have expected a table the size of a king's mattress or perhaps larger. Of course it did look old and had to be a relic from an earlier era. There were very few new goods on the market.
"Have a seat," he said and pulled out the chair for Aria to sit down.
Aria obliged, she had no other choice. As she sat, her body relaxed. At least she had her clothes on, unlike an hour ago.
"Sadie!" he said, calling to one of the servants. "Bring us some croissants and cookies. I'd like to impress my new friend."
Sadie smiled. Aria couldn't tell if Sadie enjoyed serving James or felt it necessary, the smile looked real. She scurried inside and James dragged his chair closer, intending to sit beside Aria.
He opened his mouth but Aria spoke faster, interrupting him.
"Why me?" Aria asked. "Of all the young women you could have chosen from. Why me?" She may have been the oldest, but she doubted that had anything to do with his decision.
"You were honest with me," James said. He leaned back in the chair, making himself comfortable. "Didn't you hear the responses the other women gave? They were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear. I like it when a woman's honest."
Aria wanted to believe him, but her stomach ached telling her otherwise. "Well, you know I'm not happy to be here." She made it no secret that she resented every bit of the crown and royal crest.
James sighed and leaned forward. He clasped his hands in his lap. "Don't you get it? My father would have had you executed had one of my brothers not chosen you as a courtesan. Vent your frustration with me all you want, but my father, the King of Brayleigh, won't be so lenient should he hear you speak ill of his kingdom. I'm trying to help you, Aria, but I can't unless you watch your mouth," he warned.
Aria nodded, knowing he spoke the truth. "My apologies," she said, though she didn't mean a word of it. How could he expect her to?
Sadie returned with a tray of desserts and placed it on the glass table. She retreated without a word or a glance at the prince. The tension had been undeniable. Had he slept with Sadie too?
Once out of earshot, he leaned closer. "I understand your resentment and frustration, Aria. If I had it my way, things would be different, but I'm not next in line for the throne." James had been the third son in line to the throne. King Gideon had four boys of age to wed, and four more that were mere children. Aria suspected the king would conceive more children by the way he responded earlier this morning in the hall.
"You don't have to be king to change the way things are run. How can you keep women here against their will and think it's okay?" Aria asked. Her eyes narrowed, challenging him.
"Do you want to leave? Is that it? I'll let you go. March you right out the front door. You can
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