Prince Kylian prided himself in the fact that he was known to be articulate and very put together. But as he walked back to his own quarters, he couldn't shake the sight he had seen.
Marius Favier had recognized his new bodyguard. Even said his name. But that wasn't the chilling part. The part that wouldn't stop replaying in his head was how the boy had looked at Rem. Like he was the personification of light in a world of darkness.
Kylian couldn't understand why that seemed to stick to his brain. He didn't understand why that image bothered him so much, why it lingered in his mind like a thorn that wouldn't dislodge. The way Marius had gazed at Rem with such intensity, such desperate relief… it stirred something in him, something uncomfortable and unnamable.
As they continued down the corridor, Kylian's curiosity got the better of him. He glanced sideways at Rem, his voice casual but carrying a sharp edge. "Do you know the Omega, Marius?"
Rem's response was immediate, almost too quick. "No, Your Highness."
Kylian's eyes narrowed slightly, his instincts telling him there was more to the story. He pressed further, his tone deceptively light. "You mentioned earlier that there's someone you need power to protect. Who is it?"
Rem stiffened, his face remaining impassive, but Kylian could sense the tension in his body. "The life of a sentinel shouldn't concern an Alpha like yourself, Your Highness," Rem replied, his voice carefully measured.
Kylian's gaze remained fixed on him, his curiosity deepening. "You're a subject of this kingdom," he said evenly. "Your life does matter to me."
Rem's expression hardened, a flicker of something dark passing through his eyes. "With respect, Your Highness, that has never been the case, and it never will be."
Kylian's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "I could have you killed for speaking to me like that," he said, his tone almost teasing.
Rem's response was steady, unflinching. "Then you would only be proving my point."
Kylian chuckled softly, intrigued by the boldness of his new guard. "This person you want to protect," he said after a moment, his voice turning more thoughtful, "why do you care so much? Why do you need power to protect them?"
Rem's gaze shifted slightly, his eyes becoming distant. "Because I'm all they probably have right now," he replied quietly, the sincerity in his voice unmistakable.
Kylian studied him for a long moment, trying to unravel the enigma that was Rem. "Is that why you care?" he asked, a note of curiosity threading through his voice.
Rem turned to look at him directly, his expression firm. "What other reason should there be?"
Kylian didn't respond immediately, his thoughts swirling. "Nothing at all," he said finally, though the answer seemed to satisfy neither of them.
Before either could say more, a group of servants hurried past them, their voices hushed but urgent. Kylian caught fragments of their conversation:
"Did you hear about the new Omega in the Queen's court?"
"Being beaten, I hear!"
"Shh, keep your voice down! The prince!"
"Fuck, do you think he heard?"
"Walk faster."
Their voices faded as they rushed away, leaving Kylian with a sense of unease about what he'd just overheard.
Kylian stopped in his tracks, his senses sharpening. "Did you hear that?" he asked, turning to Rem. But before he could get a response, Rem was already sprinting down the hall, following the servants who were rushing to see what was happening.
Kylian scoffed, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Dammit," he muttered, quickening his pace. The idea of running irked him—he didn't want to appear desperate or alarmed in front of anyone. What would they think of the Crown Prince running through the halls of the palace?
By the time he reached the scene, the crowd had already gathered, murmuring anxiously among themselves. But Kylian's attention was immediately drawn to the center of the commotion, where Rem stood, his sword drawn and pointed at a group of dissenting Omegas.
Rem held a half-conscious Marius in his arms, his protective stance unmistakable. The anger in his eyes was barely contained as he faced off against the group, his expression daring them to come closer.
One of the Omegas, his voice dripping with venom, stepped forward. "He's the reason my sister is dead, and you protect him? Isn't he traitor blood?"
Rem's grip on his sword tightened, his voice dangerously low. "Anyone who comes closer will be cut down for harming a property of the King."
Kylian watched the scene unfold, his eyes narrowing as he observed the way Rem held onto Marius, how fiercely he defended him despite claiming not to know him. The prince felt a strange twist in his chest, something akin to jealousy, though he wouldn't have recognized it as such. Why would he be jealous?
The Omega who had spoken hesitated, his anger battling with fear. But the sight of Rem's unwavering stance, and the realization that they were up against someone trained to kill, made the group rethink their approach. One by one, they began to back down, their anger dissipating into murmurs of frustration.
Kylian remained at the edge of the scene, a slow smile spreading across his face as he watched Rem hold his ground. "Seems like I have some competition," he whispered to himself, the words laced with amusement and something deeper, something that unsettled him.
The crowd began to disperse partly because many began to notice the presence of the Prince, leaving Rem and Marius in the center of the courtyard. Kylian approached slowly, his eyes locked on Rem, who still hadn't relaxed his grip on Marius.
"Interesting," Kylian said softly, his voice carrying just enough to reach Rem's ears. "You seem quite attached to someone you don't know."
Rem didn't respond immediately, his focus still on ensuring that Marius was safe. But when he finally turned to face Kylian, there was a guardedness in his eyes, a determination that Kylian found both frustrating and fascinating.
Kylian's smile remained, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps there's more to you than I first thought," he mused, his tone light but edged with something sharper.
Rem met the prince's gaze, his expression unreadable. "My duty is to protect, Your Highness," he said simply, though the words carried more weight than they appeared to.
Kylian's gaze drifted from Rem to Marius, who was now bloody, trembling, and barely conscious in Rem's arms. The sight stirred something within him—an unfamiliar mix of emotions that he couldn't quite name. There was anger, yes, but also a gnawing sense of protectiveness that surprised him.
"Thd Omega needs tending to," Kylian said, his voice suddenly colder, more commanding. His eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed the boy's condition. The blood, the bruises—they were a stark reminder of the cruelty that lurked within the palace walls. And something about seeing Marius in such a state unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
"Take him to my quarters," Kylian ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And call for a physician to tend to his wounds. Make sure he is properly cared for."
Rem's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and understanding, but he merely nodded, shifting his hold on Marius to better support the injured boy. Kylian watched as Rem carefully lifted Marius, cradling him as though he were something fragile, something precious.
"I'll go have a much-warranted talk with my mother," Kylian added, his voice laced with a steely resolve.