Free Web NovelChapter 60: Chapter 60
She ran herself a bath immediately, adjusting the temperature to seem mildly hot, undressed, and entered the tub.
All the tense muscles she’d felt earlier eased. She sighed as the water caressed her body and hummed.
Adonis had just finished a meeting with his soldiers and was heading up to his room when he heard Astrid. Curiosity got the best of him; he tiptoed slowly like a child stealing meat from a pot, and then he hid outside.
He saw her long, wet hair clumped together with a few strands sticking to her hands and neck. Her neck, dripping with water. He fantasized about his hands on them, pulling her to him, and running his mouth slowly along her throat as his fingers grazed the nape of her neck down her spine.
It was a sizzling fantasy. Adonis could hear a pair of footsteps coming up the stairs, and he immediately hid within one of the rooms.
He peeked out of the door and saw Augustus standing just outside, exactly at the spot he had left. He clenched his fists and breathed heavily. But he couldn’t come out just yet.
Augustus did not stay long. He looked flustered by the sight of Astrid naked.
As soon as he was gone, Adonis came out of his hiding space and walked back to the scene he had admired.
Astrid had come out of the tub and was about to dry her body. Adonis could feel himself go hard. Everything about her was magnificent. The way her breasts curved perfectly and sat on her chest, and her legs that ran for days.
As much as it pained him to leave, he needed to go before she found out he had watched her.
He crept away until he reached the door to hide in the bedroom.
"I saw you look at her," Augustus said in a low voice.
"I could say the same for you," Adonis replied and then sighed. "Can we leave this for now? I am exhausted; every bone in my body aches. I would like to rest."
Augustus sighed. He had done the same thing as well, so he couldn’t act like he was as righteous.
Adonis looked at him and rolled his eyes. "Are you getting ready for the next few days that will soon be upon us?"
"Of course, your majesty. Almost all the boys have recuperated and are in good health. The ships are clean, and we have enough food and water for our next journey."
"When will the proxy from Erindros reach her?"
"Soon, your majesty."
Adonis nodded his head and turned to enter his room, but stopped and turned back to look Augustus squarely in the eye. "I am in love with her, Augustus. She consumes everything: my thoughts, my soul, my body. And I intend to make her love me back. So, I suggest you stay away from her. But if you can’t keep in mind that she is mine."
Augustus returned the look. "And I would like to inform his majesty that a person cannot be owned, and that only by winning their affections can a person truly be yours in every sense of the word." Then he left.
Adonis scoffed and scowled at the retreating figure. He knew Augustus would not let her go, not with that expression on his face.
Not today, he thought. He would not think of that today. He had men who relied on him to lead them to battle, and that was exactly what he intended to do. His one-sided love affair would have to wait.
The next few went on the same; they planned and planned for every possible outcome. Soldiers trained nonstop, and Doris seemed to be getting better. She had begun to walk on her own.
A day before they were to set out to Anatolia, Adonis received the emissary from Erindros and showed him around the kingdom of Thalassia.
"It’s really good to see you again, Alexander," Adonis said to the man as they walked around the villages. "How is my father doing?"
"He has never been better," Alexander replied. "With everything coming in and the trade finally moving along as planned, I would say he’s the happiest man alive at the moment."
Adonis’s smile was sad. "Has he asked of me since I left?"
Alexander shifted awkwardly on his feet and looked straight ahead.
"I see." Adonis’s smile faltered. "It’s fine, though, I’m already used to all of this at this point."
"I’m sorry, my prince. I know he’s incredibly proud of the things you do and commends all your sacrifices. It won’t all be for naught." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
They passed a man and his mule, which dragged a cart filled with chickens. Children saw them and ran behind their parents. While some of the men stood with their backs straight, watching them with murderous intent. Too bad for them.
"I do have something important to discuss with you, Alexander."
"Of course, my prince, go on."
"Someone is supplying bombs to these kingdoms," Adonis sighed deeply, "our bombs."
Alexander’s eyes widened in shock, and he stopped in his tracks. "Why didn’t you inform the council?"
"I thought it was merely a coincidence at first, but twice, not that, isn’t it. Plus, I sent men out to conduct further investigation, and all the kingdoms we plan to attack have the bombs. Has Octavia made no mention of this?"
"No, she hasn’t," Alexander rested his chin on his hand. "Which would mean either one of two things. There are either no bombs in those areas or there are, and she’s hiding the fact. If it were the latter, it would certainly be strange, but then, your sister has always been competitive; she wouldn’t want to seem weak in any way."
Adonis shook his head and smiled. "I know her very well, Alexander; you do not need to tell me. But that isn’t really the issue. The problem here is that someone is selling our bombs without our knowledge, bombs which we have told no one about. And they especially do not want us to succeed in our conquest."
