"And your sister, the princess, if she—" Before I could complete the sentence, the prince had cut me off.
"Never. All hells of Riaan would be brought to Terran if she became Queen. She is like my father but so much worse. She is... cruel. And she takes joy in it, too much joy. She'd set the whole city in flames and bring it down to ash if she were allowed to," the shadows inside me swirled and whispered.
"I'd sacrifice anything, do whatever it takes, even if it costs me my life, or the life of savage Apollon soldiers and everything I hold dear if it means preventing her from becoming Queen. If it means saving this kingdom and the people in it, I would do it; I'd risk it all." My throat nearly closed up and I couldn't help but see the prince in a much different light. He wasn't simply a prince who wanted to be king, he wanted to be a protector, and he was more than willing to have that heavy weight put onto hisshoulders, something that I could perhaps never be able to do. It made me believe in him.
"To protect my people..."Is what he had said. The admission made me want to help him accomplish whatever it is he needed to ensure he sits on that damned throne. He would be able to help so many… even the Duvessans who need safety. He sounded just like the prince I once knew; determined, unsure of himself yet also certain, brave and most of all.
Just as how I remembered him as kids.
I knew he’d make a great King one day...
The thoughts of my past life slowly wormed its way in my mind, and this time. I didn’t stop it.
Admiration trickled all the way from my heart to my hand that reached out to him.
"I vow that you shall be the ruler of Apollo. As your warrior. I swear it, Your Highne—" I stopped myself there and then corrected myself. "As yourwarrior and friend, I swear it, Adrion." The prince looked at my palm, blinking in surprise. And after a while he took it, accepting it in his bigger palms. "With you by my side, Morana, I believe it."
I smiled and looked away, emotion swelling in my chest. “When I was small, I used to be petrified of swimming. I would force my brother and father to come with,” I suddenly admitted.
The prince came closer. “You remember your family?”
“Bits and pieces.” I lied with ease, but Adrion thankfully did not press further and I was grateful.
He stepped toward me, towering over me. He looked deep into my eyes, and I was scared that he might see it... see the damned soul within me. "Your eyes, they look like brightest gold under the light of the cave." His words brushed me soothingly and his palms caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes and then opened them to him pulling away, he looked as though he was in pain and with a flash, it left his face.
"So tell me, what do friends usually do?" he asked, further away now, stretching his arms above him. Flashes to when Ezra and myself were kids went through my mind.
"Well, sometimes they try to drown each other," I answered.
"What?" Adrion gave a horrified look.
I laughed, a true unfiltered laugh and swept water over him, golden droplets hitting him instantly. Our laughter and splashes echoed through the cave walls where it must have carried over. Letting the cave know that there was happiness that occupied it. I could have sworn, from the corner of my eyes, that there were black-blue scales slithering out of the entrance we had come through, almost too small to be noticed.
Rhey...?
The cave was dim, it shone and made everything look like something it was not. So I continued to use my time with Adrion, laughing and savouring every moment where things were just—
Simple.
Chapter 49
Gold and Glory
"I do not wish to break her heart, for it will shatter my very soul. It gets quite lonely to always be protecting her heart from the savagery of my own."
King Sirithian's private Journal.
Once I had gotten back from the activities of swimming in the caves of Crosshaven with Adrion, I diligently made my way back to the castle to meet Inanov who assessed my windblown hair and my rumpled clothes, he frowned and grumpily went over the castle plans. From the different wings of the castle to the different hidden escape doors that royals used whenever there was danger or simply wanted to go unseen. I took them in and memorised them name by name. He would think me a fool if he thought I wouldn't absorb all this information the first time he explained it. I had mastered the maze of the Oakenhold Forest and I would surely master this castle plan with ease even though it has different levels and many designated rooms.
Inanov was already on his way out before I could thank him, but spending time with the prince had visibly upset him. I let out an audible sigh, tonight was the night where there would be a grand ball with guests invited by the king and others who would be performing.
My family...
The sooner I was there, the better.
As if my shadows were also pleased with the thought, they assisted in opening the door to my room without my control. I froze, my shadows vanishing as if they were never there. I controlled my shocked gasp when my door opened to show Lorian lounging on my bed.
That damned demon. How did he get here?
