The king and queen's faces reddened while the other two siblings tried to hide amused smiles.
Queen Eleanor recovered from her shock and was left to wonder how her daughter had got to know of love marks!
Proper young ladies weren't supposed to know of such things unless they were married or engaged.
Alexander watched the interaction unfold with bated breath, trying hard to stop his cheeks from flushing.
Once the Queen was assured of her son's safety, she left with her other children while the king stayed back.
He beckoned Alexander to come closer so that he could whisper something.
"Do you have any idea on who my son's lover might be?" He asked and Alexander blinked, surprised.
"I am just curious. You are with him most of the time so...I was wondering whether you know who his lover is." The king explained and Alexander blushed lightly.
The king took it as sign he was embarrassed.
Unknown to him, Alexander was the mysterious lover they all wanted to know.
"Oh, you don't have to answer that, it's not as important." The king relented and walked away.
He had had his fair number of lovers when he was younger, at least before he met the love of his life and had a family.
In a way, it was okay for his son to have a few secrets of his own.
Alexander nearly sighed in relief when he watched the king walk away. He could have had to master up a lot more courage if he was to lie to the king.
Such a crime could have you hanged or thrown into a dungeon if you were ever discovered and Alexander surely, didn't fancy both options.
Alexander watched over Damon for the entire day after everyone had left so that he could get all the rest that he needed.
His worry for Damon was still evident as he stood by the large window by nightfall, overlooking the vast palace gardens.
This prince had quite a good view to look at.
Alexander dozed off in a chair by his bedside and when it was nearly dawn, he woke up and adjusted Damon's covers.
Thankfully, the prince's complexion was a bit livelier when the royal physician came by to check on him again by midday.
"How is he doing?" The Queen, who was the most seen visitor, asked the physician as she adjusted her son's pillows.
"He is getting better." The physician assured and she left shortly afterwards.
It was nearly dusk when Damon's eyes fluttered open to the sight of the ceiling above his bed.
His body ached all over from staying in the same position for too long as he tried to sit up.
Alexander, who was standing by his window rushed to his side.
"How long have I been out?" Damon asked, his voice sounding hoarse from both sleep and thirst.
Alexander handed him a glass of water.
"You have been unconscious for two days, your highness." Alexander replied.
Damon frowned as he sipped down the cool liquid.
His condition was indeed getting worse but that wasn't what bothered him the most. The fact that this man called him by his title even when they were alone, annoyed him.
It served to increase the distance between them. A distance that he wanted gone.
Damon placed the glass on the bedside table as he averted his eyes from Alexander, not intending to speak his thoughts.
"I will go and inform your family that you are up."
Alexander said as he looked at the grumpy expression on the prince's face, wondering whether the expression was because he was from waking up.
Damon regarded him with a long stare.
"No, you will stay here, send someone else to do it." Damon demanded as his icy blue eyes met his.
Alexander felt the tips of his ears redden as he wondered why this prince wanted him around. Not risking to ask the question, he went and did as he was told, sending one of the soldiers on patrol to go and inform the prince's family that he was awake.
Once Alexander had clicked the door shut, his eyes landed on the prince's back as he got out of bed.
Alexander's treacherous eyes took in the slender shaped physic intently.
Broad shoulders, a waist a bit too slender for a man and long legs that where hidden beneath a pair of black trousers.
Alexander quickly averted his eyes as Damon turned, cursing himself inwardly for staring when he wasn't even drunk.
"Why don't you listen to instructions, Alexander?" Damon asked as he stalked towards him.
"What instructions?" Alexander asked, genuinely confused as he remained rooted to his spot, having no reason to back away since the prince was still quite a distance from him.
"I told you to call me by my name whenever we are alone." Damon noted as he paused to stand in front of a mirror that was near his bed.
Alexander was surprised.
"I didn't think it was really relevant." He admitted and Damon glared at him.
"It is." He said with finality and Alexander nodded, not really wanting to urge with Damon over something so trivial.
A silence so heavy hung between them and Alexander wanted to find an escape but he could not leave.
Damon brought his hand to his abdomen, his fingers tracing over the wound lightly only for a small frown to settle on his face once he remembered his hickeys that had slightly faded but were still visible. His family must have seen them.
He turned to face Alexander.
"Look what you did to me, Alexander." He complained lightly, his voice a little flirtatious as he turned to him, showing him the faint red marks.
Alexander followed the movement of his fingers, swallowing hard as he looked at those hickeys that reminded him of their single night of passion.
He was lost for words as he looked away, preferring to look at Damon's face instead.
"We were drunk..." He whispered, not really knowing what to say.
Damon looked at him for a long while, his eyes twinkling with a mischievousness that made his breath hitch.
"That doesn't change the fact that you did what you did." He pressed on and the tips of Alexander's ears reddened.