We don’t even have an hour here and I already want to leave. I want to grab Akane, put her over Zayon and get out of here. I would rather spend another night without sleep than another second in this castle. Of course, I can’t always get what I want. Princess Ixia and Isabella haven’t stopped sighing each time I say something, even though my attention has been focused on Akane, and they know it.
I’m trying to focus only on Akane while I send some deadly glares to that prince, I don’t like the way he looks at Akane.
Your jealousy is so annoying. Says Nyssa through the bond.
Well maybe if that prince wasn’t looking at Akane as his next trophy, I wouldn’t be jealous. I reply to her, while around me the conversation has been focused on Zayon.
Wow, and I believed that your confidence wouldn’t be affected by a prince whom you could defeat with your eyes closed.
Ouch, low blow, Nyssa. I tell my groj.
I totally miss Nyssa’s answer when I heard my name, is the crown prince, Xavier. Everyone stands while the king asks me to go with his son. I’m about to object but Hazeel speaks first.
“If you allow me, father, I would like to escort Princess Akane back to her room and then join you.”
Oh no, no, no. I don’t even have time to think something when the king agrees right away. I take a step toward her, if things go south at least I’ll be next to her to escape, but before I can take a second step, Akane’s gaze stops me.
I’m still indecisive, I don’t think is a good idea that she is alone with Hazeel. Of course, she can fight, she can defeat every single one in this room, and still, I don’t want to leave her alone. However, her smile calms me down a bit. Sighing there’s no other option than following the crown prince and the king.
“A drink?” The king offers me.
“No, thank you. I'd rather avoid any alcoholic beverages during the mission.”
“Wise decision, I’ll have one.” Replies the prince. I still don’t know what I’m doing here, but I try to calm down my impatience. “How’s your brother? I heard that he was interested in my sister.”
“Killian hasn’t taken a decision yet. I think he is checking all of his options first.” I reply as I walk to the edge of the balcony and lean against it.
“It would be an honor having you as my family, of course, if Killian choices Ixia as his wife.”
And I would throw myself from this balcony before calling this dude family instead, I reply. “Sure, our kingdoms can do great things together, but that’s not my position to talk, I’m not the crown prince, just a prince."
“You will need to change your mind if you want to be with Akane. She needs a king on her side, not just a prince.” Says the king.
Once again, I move to one of the edges of the balcony, I need to go back inside, being here without her is causing me anxiety. “When you will take your crown?” I ask instead.
“I still don’t know, we are waiting to see what’s going to happen around us, no one from the new generation has taken their crown, Luken from Lanor should have taken it years ago, and Ricarda from Auhsoj, I don’t know what she’s waiting for either. We prefer to see how things unfold first.”
“That’s a good idea. The current monarchy has been doing a good job.” I reply to the prince. “But if you excuse me, I would like to go back inside, we were traveling last night and I would like to get some sleep…”
I don’t wait for an answer. I start walking right away.
“Not yet, Prince.” Calls the king. I have no other option than to turn around and look at him.
“Why did you bring me out here? Let’s be honest.” I answer holding King Woden’s gaze, I know that I’m walking through dangerous waters.
“You and the princess don’t want to talk about the items, why?”
“A better question would be, why would we? People have been trying to kill us, we won’t be walking around giving information about them. Why are you so interested in them?” I ask the king, I know I’m crossing a line here.
“One of the items, the cup, belongs to my kingdom, when you guys find the items, you will need to give them back to each kingdom, so I just want to make sure that, what’s ours, is in good hands.” His tone is cold, defiant, is almost as if he is waiting for me to fall into his trap.
“Akane’s future, everything she ever prepared for, each training, it has been for this mission, those items. So I’ll say they are in the best hands. She is an amazing warrior and huntress. And if we ever get our hands on that cup, I can assure to your Majesty, it is going to be safe.”
With that, I don’t wait any longer, I walk inside, and this time nobody stops me.
As soon as I’m inside the castle, a servant shows up and guides me to my room, but instead of going to mine, I call Akane’s door.
“The princess isn’t in her room.” I hear the servant behind me, I thought he left.
“Where is her then?” I ask right away.
“She is with prince Hazeel.” I can feel my blood freeze, of course he would take this opportunity. “Is there anything else you need help with, prince?”
“No,” I barely reply before entering my room, I need to think.
Nyssa. I call my groj right away. Akane is with Hazeel.
And? What’s the problem with that? It’s not like you put a ring on her finger, and even if you did, she has the right to spend time with whoever she wants. Don’t make me take you to the highest cloud and throw you from there.
Wow, so helpful. I reply to her.
It’s because you are being irrational, Ashton. I can feel her frustration through the bond.
I’m not… It’s just… I wish you were here. I tell my groj while I walk from one side to another inside the room. Akane is wearing this blue dress, which fits around her waist highlighting her figure, and exposes her shoulders and part of her back, when I saw her for the first time with that dress it was like seeing the most beautiful star in the sky, that one that even overshadows the moon.
It’s official! We have lost you… And I get your point, she looks beautiful, but what does Hazeel have to do with it? Nyssa interrupts me, making me go back to the main point, I let myself fall in the bed.
Hazeel had this look on his face when he saw her with the dress, I swear in his head they were already married with children, but then the king did this comment, about how Akane is going to be a queen, I think they are going after Akane’s throne.
And still, she is a smart girl to know if someone is going for her throne. Also, have you seen her? It’s impossible to get close to her, you have been trying for a while and until today she hadn't opened up with you, that prince won’t get it in a couple of hours.
But… I try to complain.
Enough, Ashton. You need to trust her, go and get some fresh air, you are driving me crazy with this. Replies Nyssa, I can tell she is really frustrated.
Following her advice, I open the double doors in my room just to find a balcony. A tree is really close to it, I can easily climb it and reach the roof. I try to think about anything else, the team, Killian, Raven, my parents, but it’s impossible, my mind keeps going back to Akane.
I force myself to stay on the balcony as long as possible. When I can’t stay any longer I go back inside, walking to the bathroom, but I quickly dismiss the idea, I want to be ready for when she comes back. I walk a few more times in my room until finally, I hear voices in the hallway. I immediately head for the door.
“Get some rest, precious.” I hear that jerk’s voice, his words make my blood boil, I want to open the door and face him, but I know that will only make Akane walk away from me, so I stay with my forehead against the door until I hear him walk away. At that moment I open the door.
“Akane…”
“Ashton…” She replies, her voice quiet. I can notice her light green eyes studying me, at the same time I notice there is a guard at the end of the hallway so I take her hand and I bring her inside, closing the door. We don’t need a public for this.
A thousand words come to my mind, but at the end, I ask where she was. That seems to upset her, so I stop walking around to look at her. She is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life, even right now when she is about to jump on me and kill me with her own hands she looks beautiful. After an exchange of words, I decide to tell her the truth.
“My problem is with that jerk, who hasn’t taken his eyes off you since we got here. He said he would bring you to your room, but when I finally got rid of the king and got here, you weren’t in your room. I didn’t know where you were and knowing that you were out there with him… it was driving me crazy.”
The urge to touch her is too strong, but I know I must take my time with her, so I force myself not to separate my hands from the wall as I continue to speak.
“You are beautiful, Akane. And just tonight you’re dazzling, that prince is just seeing that. How your body is defined with this dress or the future queen without a king. An empty throne. That’s all he sees, and it infuriates me to know that as soon as I turn around you run out with someone like him, you can do better.”
“Ashton…” Her voice is soft this time, insecure. But I haven’t finished. If I don’t tell her now, I don’t think I’ll have the chance later.
“No, wait. I know I’m not the best candidate, but at least I’ve been there when you were screaming in pain, it has been me the one fighting your battles alongside you.” A chill runs through me at the horrible memory. “I’ve taken time to tear down your walls. I have been there when you smile, believing that no one sees you. I think you should give me a little more credit, Sirena.”
“I give you more credit than you realize.” She starts talking, her voice is still soft, and her eyes are close, I take advantage of the moment and move my hand just inches from her cheek, I can imagine her smooth skin under mine, but I end up returning my hand to the wall, I don’t want to distract her. “You are one of the few people who has seen me in my moment of weakness. When Axah was injured in the cave, you were the first to see me cry. Apart from my family, for as long as I can remember.”
Each of her words I keep in my heart. I want to hug her, but once again, that would make her stop and I don’t want her to stop talking.
“You say you know me, so you should know by now that I like to be the one in control, and even so, I have let you command my team, I have taken your opinions into account, and all that without mentioning what happened before dinner.”
Once she finishes, she opens her eyes. My brain is still stuck on what happened before dinner. Which makes almost every single negative emotion vanish.
“I would kiss you right now if it weren’t for the fact that I don’t want our first kiss to be caused by a horde of jealousy and anger,” I say truthfully while I smile at her, I don’t know how she is going to take that.
“Ashton..”
“Akane…” I reply smiling even more.
Her next words make me laugh, Nyssa will definitely hit me when she realizes that I did this whole scene for nothing, but at the same time I don’t regret it, the things she said gave me assurance that I’m on the right path, and, she didn’t try to hit me when I mention the fact that I wanted to kiss her.
As she tells me what she discovered, I can’t resist it anymore and I bring my hand to her face, her skin is soft, just as I imagined it. Minutes later I decide to take her outside, I know she has a certain obsession with being up on the roofs. For a moment I doubt, but of course, she doesn’t let a dress stop her.
Soon we are on the roof. She is right next to me, seeing the stars. It’s unreal, days ago it seemed so impossible to have something with her, it was as if she hated me. But now, after today, I know that no matter how difficult it is, I will do the impossible, I will fight against every hunter, warrior, prince, or king for Akane. And I will wait for her, no matter how long, because she is worth every second of my existence.