***
The prince either had not noticed that I stepped into the carriage or had simply not cared, since I knew he could scent me. It was odd seeing the prince like this. Lying across the cushioned seats, hand on his head and breathing in and out rhythmically, controlling his breath intake. With a jerk that nearly had me toppling over the prince, the carriage began moving. The prince didn't seem to notice and I thanked the goddess for it.
"Why are we going to Viridis Aurum first?" I felt confident enough to ask.
"Important business." Was his curt reply.
"Why not go to Abdera first?" I asked. The land was closer and much vaster than Viridis Aurum.
The prince roughly sighed. "Why must you know? You are to protect me. That's it."
I bit my cheek. The prince rubbed his face and finally sat up. His eyes remained closed. No sight of those red eyes. He looked almost innocent, his long dark eyelashes in contrast with his platinum hair kissing his forehead. He looked devastating.
"Why must you know," he asked softer this time.More gentle.I thought of my words carefully.
"If I am to protect you, I need to understand what lies out there that I may need to be concerned about. As a bodyguard, fighting is not my only responsibility. I need to be strategic, be able to plan with you if there are enemies that await." The prince was quiet. He seemed to process what I said thoughtfully.
"And why do that, when I am the one that took you from your family."
"Because you threatened to slaughter all of them if I don't," I answered back without skipping a beat. His sudden chuckle made me ease my tensed shoulders.
"That does make more sense. Alright then."
"Alright, then what?"
"Alright, I will tell you." He sighed. I listened carefully, interested in what he had to reveal. "There were some... unexpected visitors that I had gotten news of that are currently visiting Abdera."
"Are they enemies of yours?" I couldn’t help the scepticism in my words. Wherever power travelled, enemies were sure to follow.
"Of sorts, they are well connected with my father. But I do not trust them; their presence feels...wrong."
"Wrong?"I ask.
"The blood within me dislikes when they are near. It's just a feeling." More questions flood my head, wanting to ask morepersonal questions as to why his fae instincts reacted that way. Or who these visitors were. But I stayed in my lane.
"Why are we going to these places?” I asked this instead.
"My, my, if you are asking all these questions, I should at least get to ask some about you." He smiled, his eyes still closed. It kept me at ease.
"You may ask," I answered with some confidence. There is not much to know anyways.
“Is that so...?”The shadows inside me crooned, making goosebumps arise on my arms.
“Sweet or savoury?” the prince asked. My thoughts could not comprehend what he was asking.
“Excuse me,”
“Food warrior. Food.” Was the prince’s glorious explanation. I could have almost laughed.
“Spicy. And sometimes sweet,” I answered truthfully. I loved spicy food and I loved my desserts even more. The prince only chuckled, smirking slightly.
“What about you?” I asked and was taken aback when the prince softly licked his lips and answered. “Sweet. Always sweet.”
"Why is your hair that colour?" I nearly reeled back from the next question. Remembering the dream, I had last night, I tried to keep my heartbeat under control, else if it is irregular, he might assume I was lying.
"I am not fond of the natural colour. Brighter, more fun colours were also used for aesthetics in the performance arena." I shrugged.
"Interesting. Why do you not like the natural colour?"
