Chapter 55 Revelations
Chapter fifty-five
Revelations
Sorin
Ialmost fucking lost her. Again. I stare down at the beautiful, sleeping woman in my arms. I try to memorize every peaceful curve and dip of her still form.
I am just glad that I was able to get to her in time.
Seeing her like that… I kiss the top of her head.
It was torture. It is torture. I knew from the moment we laid eyes on that rock with her prophecy etched in it that her fate was sealed, but it had to be done.
I know that this will only be the beginning of the trials that her life is going to put her through before she chooses, but I cannot help but wish I could steal her away from it all.
That I could hold her here, in my arms, and protect her forever.
That I could warn her. But I can't. I fucking can't. No matter how many spells I cast. No matter how many potions I concoct, this stupid spell leaves me utterly powerless to do the one thing that I need to do.
That I vowed to do, and I need to come to terms with that.
I am in love with this woman. I am in love with Alaceandra, and I can't fucking protect her. A tear trails down my cheek, and I let it fall. I hope one day she can learn to protect herself.
Alaceandra
After a peaceful nap, Sorin walks me back over to my quarters.
"I think you should take the rest of the day easy. We can continue your lessons tomorrow. I need to go collect some wood for Sylvie for dinner tonight. Please stay in your room."
"I will." I hug Sorin. I am feeling a lot better after my nap. I have not been able to sleep with him since our adventures in the woods together. Although the prince has become quite a nice sleeping partner, I really needed the familiarity of Sorin's arms today.
"Good. If you are feeling up to it, feel free to join me and Sam for dinner. It would be good if we are able to go over all that has happened today."
"I think that would be wise," Baldar adds.
"Okay. I will plan on it. Thank you for caring for me Sorin." I place a gentle kiss on his chest.
"Til my dying breath," he says kissing the top of my head. "Now go before I pull you back into bed with me and this time not for cuddles."
I quirk my brow at him, and he gives me a disapproving look. "Fine, fine," I say and climb up the ladder, "See you soon."
"Looking forward to it," he says before turning to go.
The prince waits for me, his hair is frazzled. He looks a bit worse for the wear.
"Woah. What happened to you?" I stop short just inside the bedroom.
His head jerks up to look at me. "What happened to me?
To me, Alaceandra?" He laughs but it is a tinge hysterical.
He crosses over to me and crowds me against the wall.
"Do you want to explain to me why I came back from the border only to hear that you were attacked, little dove?
Not only that, but you were alone when it happened?
Why did you not ask one of us to accompany you?
And why were you so far out in the woods? Planning another escape attempt?"
"No. I-" My mind flashes back to the conversation I overheard in the kitchen this morning.
"I was looking into something." Although internally I may acknowledge that it might have been smarter to leave the whole dream cave alone, the prince's tone has my hackles up, reminding me the whole reason I wanted to investigate in the first place.
He takes in a quick breath, his body a cage around mine. "How many times do I have to tell you, your safety is our priority here. What could you have been possibly trying to 'look into?'"
"Does it even matter? If I would have told any of you about it, you would have surely stopped me."
"The smart move to do, all things considered, don't you think?" His tone is full of condescension.
"No, I do not. Injured or not, I am fine now after only a short nap.
There is no need to get all worked up over what happened.
" I push at his chest. "There is nothing you can do now anyway, except yell at me over it and honestly this whole you must stay locked up in your tower bullshit is not helping your case. "
The prince rolls his eyes. "I am not trying to keep you locked up in a tower, and if I were I doubt you would be fighting me as much as you are now."
"What is that supposed to mean."
His arrogant smirk is back, but it quickly sobers. "All I am saying, Alaceandra, is, until we can get everything sorted out to get out of here, please just make sure you have one of us with you. Today could have gone a lot worse."
My shoulders slump, because unfortunately I know all too well that it could have gone a lot differently.
Try as I might to do my best to train with Sorin and Baldar, I am likely years behind where I need to be.
I still did kick the guy's ass though. A little voice in my head says.
You will catch up eventually you just need to give yourself time. "Fine. I guess that is fair." For now.
"Thank you."
We stare at each other, intensely. Our chests are heaving and there is barely any space between us.
I can feel the heat of the room increasing and my body awakening at being so close to the prince.
I can tell he feels it too because one moment he is staring at me and the next his lips are on mine.
His lips move slow, consuming me with controlled precision.
I find myself wondering just how much it would take to make him lose that control of his.
Soon I am melting in his arms as he pulls me against him.
His cock rubs against my suddenly aching center as my nails clutch at his surprisingly soft strands of black hair.
My own hair lifts as I feel my power strumming to life beneath my skin.
A small moan breaks from my lips when suddenly a sharp sting has me yelling in pain.
I rip away from the prince and look down at my leg to see that Baldar is standing there with a disapproving look. "What was that for?"
"I will not have you summoning anything today, Alaceandra. You will have to save your make out session for another day. Preferably one where I have not already had to save your life?"
"You did not save my life today!" I scold the ferret, and the prince backs away from me watching the exchange.
"Did he bite you?" the prince asks, noticing the tiny spot of blood welling up on my leg.
"Yes!" I answer, indignantly.
"Agree to disagree," Baldar huffs. "Now go shower, you smell like grass and blood."
"You do not have to be rude."
"Just being honest," Baldar says nonchalantly, before walking over to the couch and setting in for sleep.
I huff, but march over to the bathroom anyway, leaving the prince standing by the wall, an amused, but confused look on his face.
I stare at the prince as he hangs up our clothing to dry over the shower curtain bar.
His back muscles ripple as he arranges each piece.
After I showered, he decided he needed one too.
I have spent the last ten minutes sitting on the bed absorbing the events of the last few days.
It would be amazing if we could continue like this.
The training, the comradery, the sex, but if I have learned anything from today, it is that my time with these men is limited.
I have already been found in my dreams and now attacked the only time I have found myself alone.
How soon until my days of growing my powers and strength are over?
How soon until I have to go back to being the meek, controllable princess my father has trained me to be? Until it is all over?
He turns towards me. "I feel your eyes, Little Dove."
I roll my eyes, before dropping them and picking at a hang nail. "How do you suppose this will all end?"
His brows knit. "How will what end?"
"This…" I motion around us. "I mean being here. Obviously, we cannot stay in this dead kingdom forever, especially with the current circumstances. We will need to go back to our royal duties eventually, before someone eventually forces our hand. And then what?"
"Then you will assist me in unseating my father from his throne and—"
I let out a growl of frustration.
The prince gives me a puzzled look. "What?"
"That is all? I get to experience all of this and then I just go back to being a pawn?" Tears prick at my eyes.
"You are destined to play a pawn. Although this respite from doing so actively has been quite entertaining for the both of us, we still have to play out our individual games. That shouldn’t bother you. It is not like it is a surprise. I have warned you from the very beginning."
"I do not know. I think it is amazing how much I have been able to learn here.
I mean I can command fire and summon creatures!
" I let a little flame spark to life in my hand.
"I have a rudimentary knowledge of potions, and I can even take down Sam at least once a training session.
" I let the flame die. "But what is it all for?
So that I can be more powerful for those who use me in the future?
More powerful for you? Or so that on the off chance I get recaptured those who need me to play in their games have inside protection on their asset?
" I choke back a sob. "Being capable and…
" I search for the words. "Independently someone, apart from my kingdom, apart from stifling responsibilities, and even apart from Sorin and Sam's constant protection is invigorating.
I thought that just going out on a couple of adventures in the woods with those two would be the height of my existence, but this?
" I let the flame spark up once again. "This is so much more.
Or it can be, if I can let it grow." The flame grows in my palm, before I once again snuff it out.
I stare at the empty space. "If after all of this I am forced to go back, forced to continue to play that pawn you are so great at reminding me I am, then I do not know how I will survive it.
I do not know if I can survive it and that thought frightens me to my core.
Do you not feel the same?" I look at the prince, his still form taking up the frame of the bathroom.
"Has this experience shown you nothing? Shown you that we can be so much more than-"
"We cannot." The prince's face goes dark. "We cannot, Alaceandra. If we do not play our parts everyone loses. You will lose. This power that you harbor... If it goes uncontrolled…" He closes his eyes and takes a breath, and I feel like my world is shattering beneath me.
"You are right. Sorry." I wipe my tears. "We should meet back up with Sorin and Sam. It is dinner time." I smile at him weakly.
"Alaceandra-"
"It is fine. They will be missing us soon. We should go."
The prince grunts in frustration. "Fine, but we should take the food to them. We all need to talk."
I nod and head down the ladder, leaving Baldar to nap on the couch.