Last time on Blind Hope

"Mi amore, you should know that Red doesn't act without my approval." Hope found her way out of the room, and when the door shut behind her, Dorian fell back on the bed, his hands flying to his burning face.

"What the heck?! Did she literally mean she wanted me!?" He sat up, gasping. "She backed off because I didn't give consent!?" He groaned, and leaned forward over his knees. "How can I be so stupid?" He shook his head. "Horatio can never know."

~~~~~~~~~~

Hope sat down on the sofa and smiled softly, letting her hand skim her lips. I should have been more aggressive. She would have to let Dorian make the next move. Hope had wanted to just feel him, but then the feels hit her. She would have gladly mated and marked with Dorian, had he let himself go.

She felt Dorian's presence enter the room. His aura was shy, and Hope smiled at the floor. The Alpha King was feeling shy because of her? "My sweet, that..." Dorian pointed back at the bedroom, but then he looked at his finger and shook his head. "We should, um..." He scratched the back of his neck. "You can feel me anytime you want." He sat on the opposite end of the couch.

"It is hard to touch you when you are so far away." Dorian's whole body was on fire just remembering what had happened. The possibilities of her touching him again would set him off, and he didn't want that. Not after turning her down. "But I understand," Hope giggled quietly. "I can wait until you're ready."

"Please stop teasing me." Dorian slumped against the couch and held his head in an attempt to stop the growing headache. He decided that being embarrassed was not the right course of action. Of course, Hope was going to touch him again. She liked the feel. She needed help getting places. A mind-link interrupted his thoughts.

Your Majesty? It was a kitchen worker.

Yes. He snapped angrily. Why couldn't he have just touched Hope too?

Su-supper's done... Dorian cursed internally. He'd made the poor girl cry. He cut the mind-link and looked over at Hope, smiling at the floor. What went on inside her?

"Are you hungry?" Dorian stood up and went towards Hope. "I can take you to the dining room or I can have them bring something up here." He knelt and heard Hope hum in thought. He liked that about her. She always pursed her lips and hummed when she thought.

"We should go down. The castle needs to see me." Hope stood and let Dorian lead her in the direction of the dining room. "Look at us, touching each other. Almost like we're adults."

"Stop that." Dorian flushed and actively ignored William and Hector following behind them. How could she say things like that in front of people?

"William," Hope swallowed to keep herself from laughing. Teasing Dorian was becoming the best part of her life. "Have you ever met a man who--"

"Hope," Dorian's voice dropped an octave. "Do not say what you are about to say." Hope laughed and tightened her grip around Dorian.

"Alright, my little celibate," Hope whispered. Dorian forced a growl down when he heard William snort in amusement. Darn that man and his hearing.

William made up his mind then and there to figure out what had happened. Dorian could sense the resolve and rolled his eyes to the heavens.

"Ma-ma-majesties..." A timid girl bowed, her eyes bright with tears. Dorian knew she should apologize for snapping, but instead he glared. "Ri-right this way." Dorian placed his hand on Hope's back and lead her into the dining room where everyone waited.

Servants. Royals. Betas. Guards. Captains. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the Queen. Hope was overwhelmed by all the smells that greeted her, but she forced herself to remain calm. She would have to follow Dorian on this one.

Dorian lead her to her spot and helped her to sit down. Hope could feel everyone's curious gaze burning into her, and nervousness spiked. But she remained calm. Just as if Vivian were sitting beside her, mind-linking and telling her who was there and what was happening. She missed that constant presence.

"Please, sit." Dorian's voice rang throughout the room, and Hope winced as chairs instantly began to scape against the floor. No one was talking though. Dorian's voice softened as he gently took Hope's hand, "Hope, I would like you to meet some people that we'll be working beside." Instant murmurs went around the table.

The King... he was... gentle?

"Everyone, this is my mate and your future queen, Hope." Hope waited for him to follow it up with, "and she's blind," but he didn't. He simply began eating. Hope stared down at her plate. Was there food? Was it messy? How should she approach? Where was it?

"Dorian..." She said, looking over at him, desperately wishing she could just mind-link. This was embarrassing.

"Ah. Sorry, sweet." She felt Dorian reach over and take her plate. She heard scratching noises. He was cutting the meant then. How sweet. Hope sniffed the air. It was chicken, but the other smells began to blend together. "There is chicken at noon, pea casserole, asparagus, and... I think that's some sort of red thing." Dorian poked at it with his fork. "Very jiggly." Hope giggled, feeling more at ease.

She heard Dorian set her plate in front of her, and slowly moved her hand onto the table until she picked up the fork. "Where is the jiggle?" Now it was Dorian's turn to laugh, as he guided her hand to the red jiggly blob. Hope tasted it, and her eyes lit up. "Cranberry sauce! I love this! How did you not recognize it!?" She ate more of it, and Dorian grinned in amusement.

"I don't like cranberry sauce."

"I'm pretty sure that's a crime." Dorian laughed and looked around the table. Everyone was staring with wide eyes and drooping mouths. His voice and eyes hardened.

"Is the food not to your liking? Why are you not eating?" Everyone instantly dug in, except the two at the far end of the table.

"Son, what is this?" Hope tilted her head at the voice. It was scratchy, and she didn't like it. Was it his father? Dorian narrowed his eyes.

"What is what, father?" There was a challenge in the words, as if Dorian was daring his father to make some sort of remark about Hope. Hope felt something on her face, and began searching for a napkin. Dorian realized, and quickly handed it to her. "Here, my sweet." She smiled as Dorian placed the napkin in her hand.

"She's blind." There it was. The dreaded word that haunted Hope's brain and life made it's appearance. She continued to eat, however, completely focused on not making a mess of herself and the table.

"Yes, and?" Dorian stared his father down, waiting for something that validated his obvious concern. The Captain shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Do you have something to say, Captain Asher?" Dorian softened his voice. "That's the Captain of the Royal Guard. William's brother."

"Oh. Nice to meet you, Captain." Hope said, but continued to stare at her food. She wasn't sure where these people were located.

"Likewise, my Queen." He turned to address Dorian. "I have nothing to say, Milord." He focused on his own food. In truth, he was uncomfortably with the former King speaking of the future Queen in the negative, but it wasn't for a Captain to involve himself in Royal family matters.

"Don't you think that will complicate matters, Ian? And she looks young. Too young." Hope's jaw clenched. How much longer would people marvel over her lack of sight!? It was good enough for her, and it was good enough for Dorian. That was all that mattered. Hope continued to eat, but it felt like the food was sticking in her throat.

"Don't call me Ian," Dorian growled, his eyes flashing. He hated that more than anything. "You may be my father, but you have no authority here anymore. DO NOT DISRESPCT THE QUEEN."

"But Ian, surely-" Hope's head jerked up, and to everyone's surprise, she growled fiercely.

"He said not to call him Ian." She had no idea the relationship between Dorian and his father, but it clearly was not good. "You should eat, father-in-law, and continue this discussion in private. Perhaps when the person being spoken of isn't present. Don't you think?" William had the biggest grin on his face, and Asher shook his head at him. Sometimes William just couldn't control himself. "Now where is this divine smelling chicken?"

~~~~~~~~~~