Tainted by Cyndi Goodgame Page B

That was wrong to begin with for me, but for now I just loved getting to watch Ian.  Although he mentioned recently that I was being noticed as the daily audience and it was making the men nervous sometimes.  When I was appalled and hurt by this, he frowned at my very girl response of him not wanting me there.  He replied telling me that it wasn’t that, but rather the men feel like I am evaluating them and deciding their fates and that females in general distracted the men.  I was so surprised by this that I stood a little taller as a queen and did just that the next day.  He pulled me aside for a second time and said that he didn’t care for me watching other men and that it wouldn’t do well to let the men think she was evaluating them or anything else .  At my end of knowing what to do or say, I asked him.  He winked and smile that very melting Ian smile and said in his low voice like when we were in high school and no one was around, “I’d rather you be admiring me and my dizzying good looks.   They do not get your attention in that way, ever. You’re mine.”
    Oh, I get what he was wanting now.  And it had nothing to do with the guards or the range.  Greedy possessive man logic.   I loved it!
    I avoided the range the next day and waited till I knew Ian would be meeting with his men.  He was in the meeting room briefing guards of new developments and other blah, blah, blah.  I listened attentively at first and then impatiently settled in a chair to wait.  I shouldn’t have to get his attention, but he’d pointed me out in the room several times lately, and I wanted to return the favor other than at the range.  Or at least gain his attention. 
    A foreign Fey man dressed in different attire than our court stood with them.  I recognized his different designed maple leaf on the front of his shirt from the many I’d seen back on the ceremony nights when I came here.  He was here to discuss the upcoming Firebearer ceremony and the safety of the queen.  Me!
    I pulled out my silver maple leaf amulet among the chains around my neck and greeted him.  He bowed back to me.
    Bane, the latest to head the guards who’d shown promise, was at the head of the table.  He was briefing the rest on the grounds including Eric, the guard I’d practiced my persuasion on several times, by making him ask me if I needed anything.  I giggled on the inside at the thought of practicing it again.
    Bane was giving out security plans for welcoming the Unseelie court.  Being near Ian often lately, I could see that Ian trusted him explicably.  He was as tall as his counterparts.  Since it seemed that all of these Fey men had big muscles and broad shoulders, I was once again reminded that I was safe in the court and surrounded by too many men.  Don’t get me wrong, surrounded by hot sweaty men was appealing, but a girl just needed, well, girl time sometimes too.
    Still, I was glad to see as of lately, Ian chatting with this Bane fellow and talking small talk sometimes.  The two of them joked endlessly.
    “Excuse me gentlemen.”  Ian nodded to Bane and then to me to follow him.  I did obligingly.
    “What is it?” he asked without his usual charm.
    “Um well, nothing really.  There was no need to stop the meeting with your men for me.”  He could show a little feeling and a little less moodiness like I’m annoying him.  This wasn’t going as I planned.  He frowned.  Why?  “I won’t bother you again.”  I turned to leave the small archway where we stood just outside the room.
    “Grace, you are so frustrating sometimes.  Do you do this to me on purpose?”
    What does he mean?   “I didn’t DO anything, Ian.  I just came to return this.” I handed him his pendant.  “I simply wanted to sit with you, support you with the guards.  If my presence annoys you so, by all means, I won’t ever step foot in there again, not one single time.  A simple smile or how are you could have sufficed.”  I