“Let go of me! You have no idea what the king did to me!” I erupt. Sweat drips down my back and my jaw is so tense it feels like it is going to lock. The person behind me holds me under my shoulders as a tear drops from my eyes. I wipe it away as fast as I can, hoping that nobody saw. Someone reacts calmly.
“I know what he did to you,” a voice breathes. My heart thunders in my ears. “And I am sorry I never protected you like the older brother should have.”
Brother? The words and voice fall together, and I realize who is holding me to the ground.
Zephron.
I talk to that man so little, I didn’t even recognize his voice. I shake my arm, and he lets go of his grip. I stand up and turn around, looking over my shoulders as Zephron just stands there. His black hair waves over his forehead. He looks royal, more than me.
“Well, it is a little late for that now, don’t you think?” I spit out. I stamp away and Zephron gives me a curt nod, before walking towards the king to help him clean up. Who does he think he is? Acting like he cares. He hasn’t cared one bit for me since the day our mom left. Always being the pleaser and perfect son to the king. The ideal prince and heir. Maybe I disgust him even more than the king. In some ways we are both the same.
We want to fulfill our role, have someone that is proud of us. Maybe I even disgust myself more than I disgust him.
I look to the ground as I wander towards the door directing towards the garden. Something inside my body changes and loneliness disappears as fast as it came.
“She is awake!” Annie yells, sprinting towards me, her long brown hair dances as she moves fast. I blink my eyes, trying to make sure I heard what she said. “I looked for you, but I couldn’t find you,” she gushes. She stands in front of me. “She is awake and asks where you are.” Just at the same time, Eliane slips in my mind breaking my walls down brick by brick. The doors off the hiding cabin swing open and light rays burst in.
“Where are you?”she asks, her voice soft and quiet. She doesn’t need to say more. My feet are already dragging me towards the room where she is staying.
I peek through the crack of the door. Eliane is talking to Fintan. The door squeaks as I push him open. Eliane meets my gaze.
“Hi, Brax.” The words leave her mouth and roll over her soft plump lips. She licks her lips with the tip of her tongue.
I really want to taste those lips. Are they as sweet as she smells? Despite the fact that she hasn’t had the chance to shower, theroom smells like her. Like flowers and warmth. It already did when she was asleep, but every time I walk back in again I get overwhelmed by her scent.
Her eyes are bloodshot beneath the swelling, and are thicker and darker, more purple than before. I should have done more damage to the king. My throat feels thick and dry.
“Hi, Honey,” I reply, walking towards her softly. I sit next to her on a chair, the same one I sat on before on the left side of her bed.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” My gaze is on the floor. Her soft skin touches mine as she reaches for my hand. I glare at our hands.
“It isn’t your fault. I should thank you rather than forgive you. You didn’t shoot yourself with arrows or beat me up.” A chuckle raises from her throat about this not so funny situation. “Oh and by the way, you didn’t make us bond,” she jokes.
Well, she couldn’t be more wrong about that.
The only thing Fintan and I didn’t cause or knew about, are the lifetime implications this decision brings with it. I clear my throat and Fintan looks me in the eye. I give him a nod as his eyes wide. Eliane looks the other way.
“I won’t tell her if you don’t want me to,” I silently mouth towards Fintan. His mouth forms into something I would describe as agreement. “I don’t—not yet at least,” he mouths back harsher and director than he looks. Eliane interrupts our silent talking session by throwing off her blanket and stepping out of bed.
“You should stay in bed, Goldie,” Fintan reacts. Eliane points her finger at him.
“I am fine,” she whispers. “You can’t force me into lying in this bed. I am finally out of the mountains, Da.” His expression changes and he presses his lips together. He pulls her into a hug.
The comforting and tight kind of hugs.
The ones I always dreamed of receiving from my mom and dad when I was a little kid. I lock my jaw in place. Fintan brushes her hair with his hand.
“You’re right, Goldie. You’re a strong and independent woman. I could never tell or force you into doing something.” Eliane steps back and I assume she is smiling.
“Thanks, Da,” she whimpers. I sit here in silence as I watch the two of them interact. She spins around and gives me one of those stunning smiles. She looks cute. She strolls towards me and stands behind me. She doesn’t touch me or say anything. Still, a shiver rolls over my spine and goosebumps explode over my body. I stare towards the ground to keep myself and my body in control. I can hear the door open and close again. As I look up, the room is empty. I can feel Eliane is still standing behind me. A cold hand reaches for the hem of my loose T-shirt. The place the hands touch my body feels like it is on fire. I try not to react. ‘Never let them know you, nobody can be trusted completely,’ Mom once said and it’s something I try to keep in the back of my mind.
“Can I take this off?” Eliane whispers quietly.
I nod, not finding the courage to speak out loud. I lift my arms so she can take my shirt off. She throws the shirt in front of me on the bed.
“I always knew you liked seeing me shirtless,”I tease in our mind, too nervous to really say those things out loud.
I should joke about this, or else do something she’ll regret. I can feel her blush and she hesitates touching me again. My heart pounds in my throat.
