Chapter Four #2
His height makes him tower over everyone in the room.
His body is lithe, but muscular in a simple black button-up and black pants that are tucked into brown knee-high boots.
His outfit similar to his father’s, but the prince does not look as polished.
His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and his shirt is wrinkled and untucked.
Every step he takes radiates with unfamiliar power and everyone in the room sees it. I watch the eyes of each woman follow his every move.
He drains his glass of bourbon before he reaches us, setting it down on the table as he passes.
The king lowers his voice as his son approaches so that only he can hear. “Draven son, I have taken it upon myself while you were gone to well… move things along for you.”
Draven briefly glances over to me, but as quickly as he looks at me, he looks away.
The king continues, “This is your new betrothed I have made for you. What do you think?”
Draven glances at me again, while I stand there absolutely mortified.
“I am not interested. I have another lead I am looking into and do not have the time. But thank you for your thoughtfulness, Father,” he says, voice bored.
He does not have the time. As if I am a new puppy being gifted to him.
If there could be a time I ever wanted to completely disappear, it would be right now. I wish for a hole to form under my feet and swallow me up.
The rush of pressure releases from my body and I blow out a breath of relief.
The king pulls Draven to his chest in what would look like to anyone else, a simple hug from a dad to his son, but I can hear what he whispers in his ear.
“Unfortunately, there is no other option for you. My patience has worn thin and your time has run out. I told you this would happen.” The king releases Draven with a smile.
Draven and I make eye contact once more, then he turns and walks out of the room, picking up another glass of bourbon on the way out.
I feel the overwhelming urge to leave the room as well before embarrassment takes me out fully. I need to get out of here before he starts controlling me again.
King Vesper falls into conversation with a group of people approaching him and I take it as my opportunity to slip out.
All but gracefully, I walk quickly to the exit then very carefully, slide through the open crack in the double doors.
I go to head back to my room, but stop dead in my tracks. There is absolutely no way in hell I am marrying that man.
I am getting out of here. Tonight.
With no sign of Ivorie anywhere, I take a sharp left and book it for the garden. I have already mentally planned out exactly how I was going to do this. Albeit it is a little earlier than I planned.
The garden doors open and I step through, the cold air blowing in my face, cooling my burning skin off. Looking around, I make sure that no one else is out here and walk into the hedge maze.
I face the bordering wall that has vines that have grown up and over the side.
Hopefully on the other side, the same vines are grown all the way down to the bottom.
I have not exactly had the time to double check.
Also, I have not had time to confirm if they are sturdy enough to hold my weight, but what do I have to lose.
I reach upward, grasping one of the vines. My foot finds another as I take my first step up. I blow out a heavy breath, already struggling. This is going to take a while.
After what feels like forever, I get almost halfway up. That is when I hear a bush rustle. I freeze, unable to move due to the paralyzing fear that I have been spotted.
Shadows start to crawl up the wall around me.
“Leaving so soon?” a deep voice says.
I suck in a sharp breath as I look down and find no one other than Prince Draven directly beneath me.
I sigh. “Well, you see, we obviously feel the same way about each other. I cannot be here any longer, just as much as you obviously do not want me here. We can easily put each other out of our shared miseries if you could boost my foot up, just a little. I think I can get over the wall.”
I swear I hear a muffled laugh.
“You see… the problem is my father has this entire castle warded. If you do indeed go over that wall, it will alarm him that someone is trying to enter, or in this case exit, the castle grounds and you will be charged with treason,” he says casually.
I shake my head. “Why is everything I need to do around here an act of treason?”
“Can I please help you down?”
I blow out a heavy breath. “Fine.”
I start making my way back down the vines but as I step down, my foot slips. The vine I am holding slowly starts to peel away from the wall.
With a yelp, the vine snaps and I fall backward, landing directly into Draven’s arms.
I look up at him and my breath hitches in my throat as I study his beauty up close.
His tussled raven black hair falls in waves, pushed back behind his ears.
He has flawless, porcelain colored skin.
His features are made of hard lines, but it only makes them that much more beautiful.
He has a straight mouth, straight nose, and a sharp jawline that makes me want to reach up and trace it with my finger.
What intrigues me the most are his eyes. They are the softest feature of his face. His eyes are the color of honey in the sun, upturned and kind staring back at me.
The only similarity between the king and Draven is maybe their mouth and jaw. Other than that, I wouldn’t be able to tell they were even related.
I clear my throat, snapping myself out of my trance. “You can put me down now.”
“Ah yes, sorry, it seems as if you were staring so I was waiting for you to finish,” he says.
“Yes, I was just in shock from falling.”
A lie. He gently places me back onto my feet.
“Yes, I understand. Falling can be rather shocking,” he says as the side of his mouth lifts up.
We stand in awkward silence for a few moments, then Draven starts to speak again.
“I actually followed you to apologize. I wanted you to know that my apathy was entirely toward my father and not you.”
I stare at him, puzzled at the words coming out of his mouth.
“I hope you will accept my apology, Ms.—” he says, his tone questioning.
“Oh, um Solene. But you can call me Sol for short.”
I am not sure what has come over me to tell him to call me by my personal nickname.
“Hmm Sol, is it?” he asks.
I nod.
“What a dark place for a little sun to be,” he says, his golden eyes brightening.
“Yes, dark indeed. Literally all the time,” I say, waving my hand around awkwardly.
He smirks ever so slightly once more. “Well, have a good evening, Sol. I am sure I will be seeing you around.”
He turns and walks away. I blow out of breath of relief as I feel my cheeks heating at how lame I am.
I jerk my head toward him, the realization of who his dad is, hitting me.
“Wait! You are not going to tell your dad about this, right?”
Draven stops and turns around. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He turns and continues to walk lazily away, his hands in his pockets. He disappears completely as if the darkness around him swallowed him whole.
“I accept your apology,” I shout at him.
I do not receive a reply.
I stomp my foot with a huff as I glare up at the wall and blame it for my troubles. Time for a backup plan.
Tonight was unsuccessful in many ways, but at the same time, Draven surprised me. I cannot decide if this is a good or bad thing.
I did, however, manage to destroy the gown I was wearing. I came up with the lie on the way back to my room that I tripped and fell and that is how it ripped, and also how I got so dirty. After receiving an extensive lecture on my clumsiness, I slip into bed.
For the first night in weeks, I do not go to bed sad.
I go to bed thinking of the Prince of the Vryko Kingdom.