The Royal Elite: Mattias (7 page)

“I don't
need
a husband,” she countered, flustered.

“Maybe you don't, but your father apparently thinks you do.” Ahsan picked up a fresh cup of coffee one of the staff poured, waited for Alannah to do the same, and walked to the end of the empty table to sit down.

Alannah wondered if he'd done that on purpose. Choosing the empty table opposed to the crowded one because he'd guessed she wouldn't enjoy being compressed between bodies.

“It doesn't matter what he thinks,” she said, sitting down opposite him. She snapped a linen cloth out, laid it over her thigh, and moved the flowers to the left so she had an unimpeded view of her breakfast guest. It also served to block out a few people in the table next to them.

“Why are you the way you are?” he asked, digging into his food.

“Why are
you
the way you are?” she countered.

“We're not talking about me.”

“Maybe we should be.”

“Or, we can talk about your chess game with Prince Mattias. I'm very curious to hear what happened.”

“Are you his lover? Is that why you're so interested?”

Ahsan choked on his pancakes, then threw his head back and laughed. It drew the attention of every eye in the room. Suddenly, silence descended, followed by a rush of whispers.

Blushing hotly, Alannah pretended not to notice, hiding behind the floral spray as best she could. Regardless of her discomfort, she smiled. Really smiled. Ahsan's reaction was better than she could have hoped for.

When he recovered, he cast her a shark-like grin as if to say,
touche.
Then, in an overly loud voice, he said, “No, Prince Mattias and I are not lovers. I'm sorry you're disappointed.”

She wanted to kick him in the shin under the table. A round of fresh laughter raced through the room as others picked up on the obvious joke.

“I'll make you pay for that later,” she promised, whispering. Then, she realized the room had gone quiet again. Lifting her head, she glanced past the flowers to the spot everyone else was looking.

There stood Mattias, a confused expression on his face. Laughter broke out through the room again when Mattias shot Ahsan a bemused glance.

Alannah wished a great black hole would open up under her chair and swallow her whole.

“Speak of the devil,” Ahsan said. “Grab a plate and join us, Mattias.”

“What? I don't think he wants to--”

“Of course I will, thank you for the offer,” Mattias said, speaking over Alannah's protest. He arched a brow at her when he realized what she'd been saying.

Alannah arched a brow right back, then dropped her gaze to her plate. She pierced another piece of fruit and slipped it between her teeth. Mattias was not someone she wanted to be around right now. What an awkward position, with his blonde lover sitting a few seats away at the other table.

Maybe, Alannah thought, she could finish her breakfast quickly and excuse herself before he arrived.

Mattias knew women well enough to know when they were avoiding him. Or at least avoiding eye contact. That was the case with Alannah this morning, which surprised him almost as much as walking in to hear his name in conjunction with Ahsan's. Last evening at her door, she'd been sweet and amiable and appeared to enjoy the kiss he left on her cheek.

What could have changed in a handful of hours? Perhaps she was merely embarrassed. It didn't seem her style, though, which left Mattias with more questions than answers. Gathering a few things for his plate, Mattias procured a mug of coffee and walked it toward Alannah and Ahsan. Although he was aware of Katrina at the other table, along with the dagger glances she was throwing him, he ignored her.

Coming up on Alannah's right side, he set his plate down and pulled out his chair. At that moment, Alannah rose from her own.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I need to get back. Thank you for inviting me to breakfast, Mister Ahsan,” Alannah said.

Mattias remained standing. Confused, he traded a glance with Ahsan, who seemed as surprised as Mattias over Astbury's sudden departure.

“Thank
you
for making it enjoyable, Miss Astbury,” Ahsan said.

“Would you like an escort back to your room?” Mattias asked Alannah. Here they'd just got her under their wing, and she wanted to take a solo flight again. Mattias noted the bodyguard standing near the doorway and wasn't reassured.

“No, thank you. Good day,” Alannah said and turned on a heel.

“I'll see you later this evening,” he said, puzzled at what he perceived as Miss Astbury fleeing the table. And his presence, unless he was mistaken.

Alannah said nothing. She disappeared around the corner with her bodyguard in tow.

“That's bloody fantastic,” Mattias muttered, hesitant to sit down. He had half a mind to follow Alannah and ask what was wrong.

“Yes, I'd been hoping we could keep an eye on her personally from now until this evening,” Ahsan said. “What just happened?”

“I have no idea.”

“She seemed perfectly content to sit here and eat with me until you showed up.
Something
happened.” Ahsan sipped his coffee, looking at Mattias with an expectant expression.

“I'm telling you, she was fine when I said goodbye to her at her door last night. Pleasant, in fact. I haven't seen her since then.”

“Maybe it was just a coincidence.” Ahsan forked a bite of food into his mouth.

Mattias, along with most members of the Royal Elite, didn't believe in coincidence like this. It was a little
too
suspicious. He stared at Ahsan then, conveying with a look that he didn't buy that explanation for a second.

“Maybe you'll find out this evening,” Ahsan said after he'd swallowed.

“No. I think I'll find out right now.” Mattias snared a few pieces of bacon from his plate and departed the dining hall without further ado. Between bites, he closed the distance to Alannah with long, determined strides.

“Miss Astbury doesn't wish to be interrupted right now,” Barrett said, glancing back.

“I'll let her tell me that herself.” Mattias drew abreast of Alannah just as she reached the stairs to the second floor.

She paused hearing his voice and cast a frosty glance over her shoulder. “I have nothing to say to you, Prince Mattias. Please do as Barrett says.”

Barrett stepped up and laid a hand lightly on Mattias's arm.

“Remove your hand or I'll rip it off your body.” Mattias didn't hesitate to let the bodyguard know he'd overstepped his boundaries. If Mattias's security had been there, Barrett would have found himself face down on the floor in seconds for the infraction.

Barrett, proving he had a working brain cell or two, snatched his hand away from Mattias. Alannah continued up, apparently unconcerned with the mild standoff.

“Miss Astbury, a moment, please.” Mattias chaffed at being ignored. The least she could do, he thought, was explain
why
she'd suddenly turned ice cold on him.

“I'm busy this morning and afternoon, Prince Mattias--”

“Stop placating me,” he snarled, losing his temper for a moment. When she turned around with a frown on her brow, looking ready to lambast him for his curt words, Mattias used the opportunity to step right into her personal space. She was every bit as breathtaking as she had been last evening, right down to the perfection of her skin and the pert ponytail she'd put her hair into.

“I'll do any thing I choose,” she snapped back. “After all,
you
hardly refrain from doing the things you want, isn't that right?”

“What is that supposed to mean? Stop talking in riddles and explain.” Mattias didn't know whether he wanted to kiss her or drag her to his room and prove to her just how thorough he could be when he wanted something.

An indignant flush colored her cheeks, which served to confuse Mattias more. Why was she blushing?

“Well?” he pressed when she stalled.

“I don't have to explain a thing. I also won't be going to the gala tonight, so have a good time.” She turned on a heel, marching through the halls toward her door.

Mattias, right behind her, wouldn't let her off that easy. He wasn't a man who chased women, but in this moment, he wanted an answer more than anything. “You could, at the very least, tell me what you meant by your comment. What exactly do you think I do--” He stopped walking and talking at the same time.

Could she have somehow heard through the grapevine that he'd taken a woman to bed last night? Maybe, even, she'd guessed or come to the conclusion on her own after seeing Katrina waiting for him at the end of the hallway. Was her change of heart due to annoyance—or jealousy? It was a long shot, but he had no other explanation for her actions. Picking up the pace, he cast a warning glance at Barrett, one that clearly read
back off.
Cornering Alannah as she unlocked her door, he crowded her into the space with his body, bumping them into her suite even as a squawk of protest left her lips.

“Is that what it is, hm? You're perturbed that I slept with Katrina last night, aren't you?” He wasted no time getting to the point.

Alannah caught her balance and spun on him, outrage making her gray eyes spark and shine in the dim room. “I have no idea what you're talking about. I could care less what woman you sleep with. Take the entire manor to bed with you.”

Mattias studied her face while she made her protests, listened to the quickened pace of her breathing. “You're upset about it. That's what's going on here. Well let me tell you something--”

“Oh, oh! Don't you dare spell anything out for me. I heard it well enough when I walked past your suite!” she said, raising her voice and making fists at her sides.

Shocked, Mattias stopped in his tracks. “You what?”

Alannah covered half her face with a hand, as if she regretted making the admission. Standing her ground, she lowered it again and poked him in the chest with her finger.

“That's right. I came back to ask you in for a drink last night, but you were already gone, hightailing it after that blonde. So I went to your room, but I didn't even get halfway down the hall before I
heard
what was going on in there. Everyone could hear it!”

Well. That explained that. Mattias's eyes narrowed at the idea Alannah had wanted to invite him in. He didn't think he'd imagined the chemistry between them last night. Now here she was, indignant and furious and jealous at his bedding of another woman.

“Yes, she gave me what I wanted—hey.” He caught her arm when she flipped around to put her back to him.

“Don't.”

“I'm telling you the truth. Being honest. The least you could do--”

“Is what, exactly?” she said, turning back around. “Listen to you crow about your conquest? No thanks. For a while, I thought you might be different but in reality, you're not. You're just like the rest of them, ready to have a fling at a moment's notice.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

“That's not accurate at all—”

“Isn't it? Because let's discuss what you did--”

“Stop interrupting me.” He did the same to her if only to let her know he deserved to get a word in edgewise. What an infuriating woman.

“I won't! You had some other woman in your bed the night before last too, did you not?”

“Yes.” Katrina again, but he didn't say so.

“See? You prove my point very well. Now get out.” She gestured toward the door, a flippant flick of her hand.

Mattias, irritated beyond reason at the order to get out—did so. He turned without another word and exited her suite, leaving the door wide open in his wake.

The entire time he stalked away from her room, Mattias cursed himself for putting his emotions before Alannah's safety. He wasn't usually a man driven by them, not to this extent, and rarely over a woman. Chayton or Ahsan could take over for now, he decided, until he could cool his temper enough to try another round of conversation with Alannah.

Thanks to the lingering storm, the hallways he traversed back to his room were gloomy. Weak light filtered in through the windows, highlighting the center of the corridor but not all the way into the corners where shadows lurked.

Entering his suite, he paused halfway in and halfway out when he spotted movement near the bed. Immediately he tensed, ready for action. Chayton Black shifted away from his lean against the wall on the other side of the bed, hands in the pockets of his dark slacks.

“I thought you were someone else,” Mattias said, muttering a curse under his breath. He closed the door behind him.

“You're lucky I'm not. You're distracted,” Chayton pointed out, coming around the end of the bed. Of mixed heritage, the prominent being Cherokee Indian, Chayton had long black hair currently tied back at the nape. He wore a slate gray button down, nondescript but expensive, and boots that made no sound on the tile as he walked. His features were sharp through the cheeks and jaw, eyes an eerie blue against his darker skin.

“It's Miss Astbury,” Mattias admitted. “She's proving to be a handful. Have you heard anything new?”

“Nothing. I saw Leander on the way here and he's having a hard time getting connected to the outside thanks to the lack of power. His phone's out of juice.”

“I bet he is.” Mattias contemplated that while Chayton came to a stop a few feet away. If Leander couldn't get access to the outside world, finding the information they needed would be much more difficult.

“Why do you say Astbury is proving to be a handful?” Chayton asked.

“It's a challenge to keep her in our sights. She has a tendency to walk off or not want to be around people.” Mattias didn't explain
why
Alannah didn't currently want to be around him.

“She was very perturbed last evening.”

Mattias glanced at Chayton. “What?”

“I spent the night in her room--”

“You did
what?”
Immediately, Mattias saw red. And to think, Alannah had played the wounded card for all she was worth.

“I said,” Chayton repeated, “that I spent the night in her room. Hiding out, keeping watch. She tossed and turned or paced by the window. Her sleep was disturbed until the very earliest hour of the morning. She never knew I was there.”