Reign stood by the side of the bed watching Ares as he made himself comfortable on her bed.
"Are you just going to stare at me all night or are you going to climb in?" He said without turning to her. Reign scratched the back of her head as she slowly got in.
"Are you comfortable?" She questioned as she pushed the blanket towards him. He turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you giving me this, won't you need it at night?" Reign shrugged.
"I'm used to sleeping without it so I mustn't use it so you can have it" Ares rolled his eyes then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. She gasped as she stared at him With wide eyes.
"Your…. Your highness" He covered both of them with the blanket then let go of her hand.
"We can share it, you don't have to give it to me and relax, I'm not going to do anything to you" Reign sighed.
"I'm not used to sleeping with anyone on my bed before. You promise you won't do anything?" Ares scrunched his nose.
"Well…." Her eyes grew wide.
"Ares!" He chuckled.
"I'm just joking and call me Ares more, I like it" He wrapped his arm around her waist then closed his eyes. Reign wanted to yank his arm off her but she couldn't see tired lines on his forehead and it seemed like he really just wanted to rest so she let him be. After some minutes, his breathing turned soft and Reign immediately knew he had fallen asleep so she closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.
~
Reign heard some groaning coming from beside her. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Ares twisting and turning while sweating profusely.
"No…No mother…. No" Reign immediately placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him.
"Wake up Ares, it's just a nightmare" Like he heard her voice. He stilled then opened up his eyes slowly.
Reign gasped when she saw the tears slip down his eyes. She immediately bent down and wrapped her arms around him.
"It's okay, it was just a nightmare. Shhh" She murmured softly but he shook his head.
"I wish it was" She furrowed her eyebrows and wanted to ask him what he meant but she didn't want to pry especially when he was vulnerable.
"I'll go get you something to drink" She wanted to pull away from him but he held her tightly.
"Don't move. Let's just stay like this for a while, okay?" The tone of his voice broke Reign's heart. He sounded genuinely scared and it made her even more curious.
She laid down on the bed with her arms still around Ares.
"I'm here, okay?" She murmured. He flashed a small smile before moving closer and closing his eyes. At that moment, the scary tyrant Prince didn't seem so scary at all, he just seemed like a lost child.
•
The next morning when Reign woke up, she noticed Ares was no longer in the room. She sat up straight with furrowed eyebrows. Where could he have gone so early?
She yawned as she climbed out of bed. As soon as her leg touched the ground, two maids walked into the room and bowed their heads at her. She sighed as soon as she saw them. She had forgotten to be extra quiet when she woke up.
"Good morning Milady" They greeted and she smiled at them.
"Good morning. Do you by any chance know where his Highness went?" She questioned and they shook their heads.
"But he said he would be back to come pick you up and that we should help you get ready. Reign nodded slowly but couldn't help but wonder if he left so early because of what happened last night.
She smiled at the maids then nodded.
"Alright"
•
Ares walked into the King's study with a stoic expression on his face. The King looked shocked to see him.
"Ares? I can't believe you came to see me. It has been so…."
"Cut the crap, I'm not here for you. My fiancé, I want the papers for our marriage" The King sighed sadly at his words, He was used to Ares' harsh words already.
"Why? Don't you want to get married to her?"
"I'm taking the paper over to her parents house so we can finalize the deal" The King smiled.
"Very well. I'm so proud of you for agreeing to do this, it would have meant so much to your mother to see you getting married" Ares turned sharply to him.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to bring her up in any conversation of ours? Give me the papers and I'll be on my way. I can't bear to stay here any second more" The King sighed then handed the paper over to him. Ares didn't bother looking back as he walked out of the room.
He was about to close the door when he saw James walking towards him.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" James questioned as he glared at Ares while Ares just smirked at him.
"I didn't know I needed your permission to visit my father," James scoffed.
"You never came to visit him before so why are you here now?" Ares chuckled.
"James? Why are you so insecure? What? Are you scared that he'll hand over his crown to me instead of you? Poor thing. No matter what you do, you know damn well that if I just tell him I want to be King, the title would be handed to me on a golden platter so If I were you, I'd watch the way you talk to me because I become King, you and your mother are the first people I'll drag down to hell" With one last glare, Ares stalked away leaving James speechless.
James clenched his fist as he barged into the king's study.
"What did you guys talk about?" The King furrowed his eyebrows.
"Who?" James clenched his jaws.
"Ares" The King rolled his eyes.
"What we talk about is none of your business. I suggest you leave if you have nothing to say" James banged his fist on the table which made the King's eyes slightly widen.
"My mother won't like your tone and you know what happens when you make her angry" With that, he walked out of the study leaving the king speechless….