~Laith~
"Allow me to introduce you to your new security. This is Sezian and Myron, " Prince Caelan introduced the two armed soldiers he brought to my room.
"Are they here to keep me safe or to keep me from leaving? " I couldn't help but ask. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me to see how far Caelan is willing to go in the name of the crown.
It was his newfound obsession. The crown and Princess Zakishi were all he talked about. Like everything else pales in comparison to those two things.
"They are here to do both, " Caelan firmly claimed. He wore a serious gaze, suggesting it wasn't up for debate. "My brother has confused you. He has manipulated you against the crown and Liradia. I can't trust that you wo... "
"I don't trust you either, " I chipped in.
"I'll take it from here," Rhon blocked my view. Standing between me and the second prince. Scared to let the back-and-forth exchanges between us go on. "I'll ensure Sezian and Myron feel at home, " he added.
The nerve of the second prince to hire guards to keep track of my movements surprised me. It was bold and uncalled for. Using his brother as an excuse to try and control me.
He was in luck as Zephirin had taken away my ability to fight back with fire. "My brother attacked you. One would expect you to be wiser after that encounter, " the prince claimed.
I slouched back in confusion. Wondering what nonsense he was uttering so early in the morning. He made no sense at all with his words.
"I was there remember. I saw him point a sword at your back, " Prince Caelan shared. "You used your light to defend yourself and fought back. Zephirin didn't leave on a quest of self-discovery. You forced him on the run, " he reasoned.
I scratched the back of my head. His words started to make sense even though they were utter absurdity. Prince Caelan misunderstood my encounter with Prince Zephirin and somehow concluded that I fought with the deposed prince.
"That.."
"I found his mask," Prince Caelan interrupted. Raising Zephirin's mask and dangling it in the air. A lump formed in my throat. The mask sent my mind racing to the moment I took it off. "My brother has never taken his mask off since forever. It's a pity I didn't get to see it fall myself, " Prince Caelan mocked.
His words tugged at the strings of my heart. He called the deposed prince his brother, however, the way he spoke and acted towards Prince Zephirin was far from how a brother should act.
He treated the deposed crown prince like his enemy. An obstacle that could hinder him from taking the crown.
"It's a pity indeed, " I trailed off.
I didn't dare try to clear his misunderstanding of the situation. The less he knew about the bond I shared with Prince Zephirin, the safer I was.
Rhon ushered Sezian and Myron into the holy house. He guided them away. Prince Caelan watched them leave before inching a step closer. Dropping the serious expression on his face. His face softened as his gaze landed on me.
"Did you consider my offer?" he questioned.
I replied to his inquiry with silence. Every time we spoke of the same subject it ended up the same. With him taking two steps back from me. He insisted on getting a chance to be with me but without having to give up Princess Zakishi.
He expects me to agree to be his secret. To be the one in the shadows, watching him from a distance, waiting for him to be done with his fiancee before he can spare me some attention. It puzzled me how he could be so selfish.
"Laith, I want you to believe me when I say that you are important to me, " he professed.
His words carried the sweetest promise. One that he meant to break as soon as thoughts of the crown crop up in his head. Promises that made my heart race.
"Do you ever stop to think how your words affect me? " words flowed out of my mouth.
"I mean every word, " he insisted. "Give me a chance and you'll see that I can make you happy. You won't have any complaints, " he proposed with a firm tone.
I rolled my eyes at his proposal. His words meant nothing when his actions went contrary to the promises he made. His touch and lingering presence in my life put me in danger.
It tainted my clothes with sin. Endangered my existence and set fear's hands on my spine. I refused to fall into his trap again.
Regardless of how I felt towards him. It was time I accepted that the love I had for him was never meant to be fulfilled.
"I'm grateful for you, Caelan. I am glad that you opened my eyes to more of what the world has to offer but I can't give you what you are asking for, " I stated.
Prince Caelan presses his lips together in a firm line. His head hanging from the rejection. He looked displeased with my words.
I blinked and before I knew it, he had me pinned with my back to the wall. His arms are on each of my sides caging me in. While his gaze intensified.
"What happened to you? You've changed," he spoke out. "Why are you being so stubborn when I can see it in your eyes that you want me? "
"Le..let me go, Caelan, " I struggled to get out of his grip. His hand tightened around my wrist. The more in tried to escape the stronger his hold became.
"Are you having fun hurting me? " he asked. I looked up at him. Tears welled up in my eyes. It was me who ended up in tears every time he crossed my path yet it was his wounds that he saw.
"You don't hesitate to hurt me. You don't feel my pain or flinch when you put tears in my eyes, " I went on to say. "Where is this happiness you say you'll give me? I can't see it and I most certainly can't feel it. "