We spent the morning talking, cuddling, and kissing. Thankfully, Mother had already offered to take care of the orders for me today. After she returned to gather some items and left to run our stand shortly afterward, Silas and I quickly snuck to my room and made love far too many times. I was addicted to the feel of his body against mine, every flick of his tongue, every devilish smirk he gave. Everything about him was intoxicating. I would be lying if I said the idea of the Prince bedding me didn't arouse me further.
When Mother finally returned, Silas was already gone. I was washing our dishes as she strolled in, and she demanded I tell her what went down, though if she had taken a peek at all during our encounter, she would have known we had made up. She shook her head after I told her everything he said, save for the more personal details. She was still high-strung after I told her what happened with Torrin.
“Lena,” Mother paced. “Listen, he is a sweet boy. Attractive. Kind. But…I still can’t believe this,” she said as her hand went to her forehead. “He is the Prince. And should the King find out about your romance, there would be significant consequences. And don’t even get me started if you were to bear his child!”
“Mother,” I flushed. “I…I know I won’t be able to stay with him. But he has one more year before the kingdom will recognize him. I just…” I stopped scrubbing the dish in hand and turned off the water. “I just want this one year with him.”
“And you think that leaving will be easier after that?”
I knew Mother had first-hand experience with leaving the one she loved. “If you could’ve had one more year with my father, you would have, yes?”
Her eyes widened, and then she sighed, her reaction giving me the answer I knew it would be.
“Just…don’t get too attached, Lena.” She came up and hugged me. “And please, for the love of the Gods, especially now, donotget pregnant.”
I groaned and pushed away. That was the last thing I wanted. Thankfully, the contraceptive elixir was nearly one hundred percent effective so long as I ingested it every month.
Chapter Twenty-One
Nearlythreemonthshadpassed since I learned of Silas’s identity. His birthday and mine were only days apart, me being born on September 21st and him on September 13th. Since the royal family always threw him a special party on his actual birthday, and obviously, only members of the Center were invited, we decided to celebrate ours together on my birthday. I learned a lot more about him in the past months of our being together, as he was finally able to be completely open with me.
He told me stories from his childhood, how his father had always been distant, so consumed with ruling, while he and his mother had remained close his whole life. Her previous aide, who was like another father to him, was named Quill Callon, the false name he gave me. He said it was rumored it was he who kidnapped his sister, Princess Aria, as he vanished from the village at the same time. I was surprised he would use the name of someone attached to something so horrific, but he said his mother never believed he did it. She still spoke fondly of him after all this time.
“Princess Aria…what do you think happened? And how was that for you as a child?” I asked, my head lying in his lap as he played with my hair. We decided to skip training today and were relaxing in the forest.
“I have a faint memory of only some of it. Being only five years old, it’s all a little blurry,” he frowned as he began to recall his memories, looking off into the distance. “I remember the panic of those around me, my mother’s tears, my father’s rage. I remember being put in my room and constantly being surrounded by guards. They would do a twenty-four-hour surveillance. It wasn’t until I got older that it finally eased up—once my actual training began.
“As far as what happened, I don’t know anything except they found her body in the woods up north. She was only a few months old…” He shook his head. “Just…horrific. Mother was always composed when she talked about her to me, but I know it had to kill her not having her daughter anymore.”
I chewed on my lip. “I’m surprised Ulric can rest not having found her killer.”
“He still tries to, but it’s nearly impossible after how much time has passed,” he said solemnly as his thumb grazed my cheek.
We lay quietly. Silence never felt awkward to us anymore.
“How has public schooling been?” he asked.
After I opened up with Silas, I decided to finally do school with other people, no longer feeling the need to be all cooped up by myself. I knew I would always fear being discovered, but damn, did I feel a lot less scared. If I could have a lover, surely I could have friends.
I smiled at how far I had come. “It’s been good. It’s only been a few weeks, but I think a couple of girls could make good friends.”
“No boys coming after my bride, correct?”
I cackled, rolling my eyes. “Oh yeah, they’re just lining up for me.” I did catch one boy in my class staring at me, but I could’ve had a booger in my nose or something.
“I wouldn’t doubt it. Hopefully, I won’t have to duel for your hand, but I will do it gladly if it comes to it.”
“You buffoon,” I chuckled and pinched his side. He squeezed me back, grinning widely.
“So,” I settled into his lap, looking up at him. “How was your extravagant party, Your Highness?”
Silas grimaced, then smirked. “Utterly boring, considering you weren’t there.”
“Hm,” I mumbled, then remembered something. “I wanted to give you a birthday present,” I purred, and I lightly touched his length beneath me, causing it to harden under my touch. I did it to tease, as I actually did have a present for him, silly as it was.
“Is that so?” His eyes danced with excitement. I thought he’d lean in to kiss me, but he reached into his jacket pocket instead. “I have a present for you, too,” he continued, pulling out a ring box.
I sat up, eyeing the thing in disbelief.
