Ah, Rykerian, the knight. I wasn’t ever going to kill him; I was just trying to get information out of him. It's nothing he hasn't done to his enemies before, or even to Shad, for that matter. But I do apologize for the pain that it has caused you.
And what about Shad? What about stealing his melody?
My brother, ah, yes. He was always the beloved one. I am not sorry about his fate, yet I am sorry for the pain that it has caused in you.
I can’t ever forgive you for what you have done, no matter how you justify it.
“You can, Emma. You, so very much, can.” I moved her face so that she was an inch away from me.
“Please, I love him,” she pleaded as if that could discourage me from finally tasting her lips.
“Shh, I know you love him, Emma, but you could love me, too.” My lips touched her soft cheek. The warmth and shivers made me nearly unable to control myself. I kissed her cheek, softly, inhaling her. She tried softly to move away, but I held her firm. I wasn't going to let her go—not until I was done. “You could love me, Emma, if you tried. We could be everything.” My mouth got closer and closer to her lips, and just as I was about to finally taste her lips, my brother’s name and image popped into my mind over and over again.
“That is a buzz kill,” I said, moving away from Emma, but not letting her go, not yet. I was in control. “I am not the biggest fan of having the woman who I am trying to kiss thinking about my brother.”
She made an attempt to move away again, and that time I let her.
“I love him; I will never get over him, or what you did to him.”
“I am not the man you think I am, Emma. You will see, very soon.” I gave her one last look before I turned, grabbed my camera, and walked out the door to a chime. I couldn't be in there any longer. I wasn't a gentleman like Shadrict—my perfect brother, and the things I wanted to do with Emma were not mere sweet kisses. I had other ideas, like going into the back room and getting lost together. But I needed to remain in control. I needed to be able to walk away. She could not control me. I held all the cards, well, except for the one note from her melody, which I desperately needed.
Chapter fourteen
“Okay I have called you both here today because I need you to tell me how I can get Emma to fall in love with me.” I stared at Kara and Aiden who both sat on the couch with deep frowns. There was an irritating silence as I waited a few minutes for them to take in what I had said.
Aiden spoke first.
“Sorry, highness, but doesn’t she hate you?”
“Yes, but that does not suit my needs. It would all run much smoother if she were in love with me.”
“She isn't going to love you,” Kara added, sinking into the couch and pulling a pillow onto her lap.
Aiden flared his nostrils at her with widening eyes.
“No need to worry, Aiden. I need honest opinions. That is why she is here,” I said with a wave of my hand at Kara’s words.
“You may have a hard time convincing her that you actually care, because she doesn't really know you—Perhaps, you could tell her about yourself. Woo her that way?” Aiden said, looking from his sister to me.
“This is ridiculous. I am seriously contemplating locking her in one of the cells downstairs and forcing her to—”
“Forcing her to do what?” Kara asked, a smirk on her lips as she sat up, as if on the edge of her seat.
“Force her to love me the way she loved Shad. You know.” I pursed my lips, attempting to appear sad. I knew I couldn't get her to fall in love with me with a forceful plan. She needed to know there was more to me than power and fierceness. I was playing a calculated game. I wanted to make Aiden and Kara feel more a part of things, build up their trust a bit so that they would not double-cross me. If I confided in them—although I didn't need their help, if I asked for it anyway—it was a way for them to feel valuable, or well, at least for Aiden. He was the only one with a melody after all. I rolled my eyes while they weren't looking; it was tedious work, but necessary. Emotions are, seriously, so much work. Why are things not so cut and dried?Melodies complicate everything, I thought.
“Sire, I would not advise you to do that.”
I nodded, still playing the part of the wanna-be lover, rejected. They were eating it up like cake.
“Of course, yes, of course.”
“Just don’t push her,” Kara said, and I looked at her for a few moments. She shrugged. “I am hungry.” She stood and left. Aiden followed shortly after with a slight bow and an apology, which I didn't need.
There, they felt included, possibly appalled at my ill-advised ideas. I smiled, laughing to myself, just wondering what Aiden could possibly be thinking of me and if my plan was working.
I walked into my bedroom. Regardless of what was said, I had already decided that I needed to show her a different side of myself—one that she hadn't seen. I planned on bringing her to my house, showing her the things I liked about Earth. I did love the beauty of its nature and its landscapes. I picked up a stackof pictures from off my dresser and flipped through them until I stopped at the one of Emma silhouetted in the window of the flower shop. I was right to have blown that up to an eight-by-ten. I walked into my closet, chose a frame from the dozens I had stored away just for such occasions, and framed the picture. I placed it on my nightstand as I sat upon my bed. I ignored the emotions that tried to escape their confinements as I stared at Emma in the image.
Yes, this melody and all that came with having a soul was a challenge–but I was excellent at the impossible.
