EVANDER POV
"It's I , princess isadora." With her mouse voice.
I just stood there, in the middle of the room staring at that heavy wood door like I could set it on fire with my eyes. Beside me, Ember got up from the bed and her fingers were gripping her silk gown tightly. Her face was pale and her eyes were huge. She looked like she wanted to crawl under the titles and never come out.
"Evander?" should I leave." she whispered. Her voice was tiny.
"Stay put," I told her. I tried to make my voice soft but it came out like a growl.
I turned and walked back towards the seating area. I pulled the door open just enough to see out. Kaelen was there. He had his arms crossed over his muddy chest and he was leaning against the stone wall with a look on his face that said he was about ten seconds away from laughing.
"One man , two women," he chuckled. "Indeed, you're king." He muttered
"Idiot." I replied, giving a mean glare.
Princess Isadora was standing there looking like a painting. Not a hair out of place. Her dress was that light blue color that always reminded me of ice. She had her hands folded in front of her and she was smiling that sweet smile looked fake.
"Your Majesty," she said. She gave a little dip. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"You are," I said. I didn't move to let her in. "I'm tired. It's been a long day."
"Am so sorry, it wasn't intentional." She bowed.
"Why can't I have any moment of peace," I muttered.
She didn't miss a beat. She looked over at Kaelen and then back at me. "I can imagine. Dealing with family can be so draining. Especially when they arrive unannounced and covered in the North's dirt."
Kaelen snorted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of dried meat. He popped it in his mouth and chewed slowly while he stared her down. "It's good dirt, Princess. Keeps the skin fresh. You should try it sometime. Might help with that stiff neck you got going on."
Her smile twitched. Just for a second. I saw the flash of heat in her eyes. She hated him already and she must have even known his name from the borders of the north since she is a princess and he's my army commander protecting my portion of grains in the north.
I looked at her. "What do you want, Isadora?"
"The Council sent me, Our King Alpha," she said. She used the title like it was a weapon. "They are worried. You left the infirmary in such a rush. And with... well, with the girl. They wanted me to check on you. To make sure you weren't feeling the effects of the madness."
I felt my wolf stir at that. My claws wanted to come out. She was poking at the one thing she knew hurt.
"I'm fine," I snapped. "Tell the Elders I'm sleeping."
"Oh, I will," she said. She stepped a little closer. She smelled like lilies and expensive soap. It was a suffocating smell. "But they also asked me to bring this. It's the final draft for the grain treaty. It just needs your seal. They thought maybe we could look at it together. Over some wine?"
She tried to peek past me into the bedroom. I moved my body to block her view. I could feel Ember's heart beating fast through the link. She was scared.
"I don't do business at night," I said. "And I don't need help reading a contract."
Kaelen stepped forward then. He moved like a cat. He got right in her space. "His Majesty already has wine, Princess. And better company. Why don't you head back to your wing? I'll even walk you there so you don't get lost in all these big, scary shadows."
Princess Isadora looked at Kaelen like he was a bug she wanted to squash. "And who did you say you were again? A guard? You seem very bold for someone who looks like they sleep in a stable."
Kaelen grinned. It was a mean grin. "I'm the guy who spent the last six months watching your brothers try to sneak extra wagons of wheat past the border. I've seen your 'perfect' kingdom from the muddy side of the fence, Princess. You don't scare me."
She went stiff as a board. She looked at me, her eyes wide with fake shock. "Your Majesty, are you going to let this person speak to me this way? I am a Princess of the Northern Reach. This is an insult to my house."
"He's my cousin," I said. I felt a weird bit of joy seeing her so rattled. "He's the Commander of my scouts. He says what he wants." I fired at her.
"Oh I see, alpha raelen." she mumbled.
"Yea, you can tell my name to your family, it will be a pleasure , to sign my autograph." Kaelen replied, provoking her even more.
She took a deep breath. I could see her counting to ten in her head. When she looked back at me, the mask was back. "I see. Well, I suppose the North will have to hear about how their Princess is treated by the King's family. I'll leave the papers with the guard at the end of the hall. Goodnight, alpha evander."
She turned on her heel and marched away. She didn't look back
.
Kaelen waited until she was gone before he burst out laughing. "Man, she is a piece of work! Did you see her face when I mentioned the wagons? She almost choked on her own spit."
"It's not funny, Kaelen," I said, even though I wanted to laugh too. "She's going to go straight to the Elders. They're going to use this to push the wedding date up. They'll say I'm being influenced by 'bad elements'."
"Let them talk," Kaelen said. He clapped me on the shoulder. "They're old men with nothing better to do. Go check on your girl. She's probably thinkin' you're out here making wedding plans."
I nodded and went back into the bedroom. Ember was standing by the window now. She had her arms wrapped around herself.
"Is she gone?" she asked.
"Yeah," I said. I walked over to her. I wanted to touch her but I didn't know if she'd pull away, so I stopped. "She's gone. She was just being a nuisance."
Ember looked up at me. Her eyes were searching mine. "She's always everywhere." She said with frown.
I smiled seeing her reaction. "You don't like her ?" I asked.
"Did I say I hate her? She replied, finding her way to the bed.
"You don't have to say it, to actually mean it . I jumped on the bed beside, "you know right?
"Won't you sleep in your chamber?" She replied, giving a huge space between us.
"Why should I?, you don't trust me." I moved closer.
She moved away. "Not like that, just that …she lowered her gaze. "It won't be nice if someone walks in on us like this." she stood up .
"Nobody can come in here". I replied.
"Tell that to Isadora." She looked uncomfortable.
"Why do you think so?" …you think I like her."
"Well it's your business, what do I know?" She wrapped her arms together.
"I don't like isadora, she irritates me, especially with her no respect for my boundaries".
"Uhmmm….okay." She moved towards the mirror and started removing her little accessories.
I watch her flip her hair , packing it up. She looked very beautiful. She goes into the bathroom and wears my mother's night robe. Then she steps out saying:
"How does it look?"… I found it in your wardrobe." She spun around feeling the flair in the nightgown.
The gown was decent but blue and it matched so well with her skin. She looked like an angel and also my mom in a younger version.
"Seems you're speechless, guess it's not good. She turned away, "Am going to change it." she's about to walk out. I grabbed her hand pulling her towards me.
"Seat." I said.
"Where?" She looks confused . Then moved a bit to the side of the bed.
"Not there." I whispered.