CHAPTER 25
Matthew
Theo kept mumbling that Zeltron sucked because it looked exactly like Draelon; copy and paste- besides the port, of course.
I flipped him off as we stood at the palace gates, sun beating down on us, unusually warm for January, “no. It’s better than Draelon.”
“It’s the same.” Theo whined, rolling his eyes.
“Better.” I insisted, mainly to wind him up because to be honest he was right.
“We’re staying at the palace.” Dean grinned, bouncing happily like a five year old “at the palace!”
Stryker didn’t look interested, waving a dismissive hand. “Not that amazing.”
“Says the fucking prince.” Dean grumbled.
I chuckled.
“We’re only staying because we’re in Johnathan’s group.” Nikolas said gruffly, approaching us “he pulled a few strings. The others are camping out on the border, so you.” He pointed a finger at Stryker’s face “be grateful.”
Stryker shot him a sarcastic smile.
Theo turned back to face me when I nudged his arm. “Want to come to my place?”
I’d had to muster up the courage to ask, mainly because it would mean he’d have to meet my dad, but figured that I’d seen his so it was only fair.
His brows furrowed “with the others?”
“No.” I smirked “just us.”
“And your family.”
“They’re cool.” I shrugged. It was true. My only problem was that introducing him felt strangely serious to me.
Theo hesitated, peering up at me through narrowed eyes “John won’t let us-“
“We’ll sneak out.” I replied quickly.
“Past palace guards?” Theo snorted sceptically.
“Yep.” I replied with a ridiculous amount of confidence “I know them all. They’ll cover for us.” I was sure they would.
Theo blew out a breath. “Maybe.”
I chuckled “that’s a yes.”
“No.” He denied, unable to help the smile pulling at his lips “it’s a maybe.”
“Sure.”
My attention flickered back to the gates as the group began moving. “Think they’ll let us share a room?”
“I’ll be sharing with Stryker.”
“Stryker will swap.” I shrugged dismissively “he’d be alright with that, right?”
Theo winced, nodding “hm. He’s know since Christmas.”
I knew that. I was there too.
“He cornered me about it.”
His head snapped back round to me at the words, eyes widening “why? He promised he was cool with-“
“Calm down.” I chuckled back “and lower your voice. He is. Just told me to be careful and…” I trailed off.
Theo’s eyes narrowed once more “and?”
I didn’t know if I was allowed to say, but went for it anyway. “Don’t get scared off by your indecision.” I said softly “that you’ll come round.”
Theo grimaced “oh. Yeah. That…”
“It’s fine.” I said quickly, taking him by the wrist and pulling him along through the gates and up the steps with the rest of the group “I knew that already.”
“Matt…”
“I understand. It’s scary.” I whispered, avoiding his gaze “there’s no…future. For us. For this. But it’s nice.”
“It is.” Theo agreed slowly “it is nice.”
“Hm. So…” I trailed off once more, rubbing the nape of my neck.
“Dean is too.” He mumbled in a low voice.
It took me a moment to process his words. “I’m sorry…what?”
“You heard. He told me when he apologised for…being a bit of a prat.”
I hadn’t expected that.
“I was shocked too, but yeah. We haven’t mentioned it since, but…maybe I should, some time. Talk to someone who’s actually, y’know, apart from you.”
“Might help you feel better?” I guessed.
“Maybe.” He shrugged.
“You should. If it would help.” I murmured gently.
Theo paused, chewing his lip. “Can you tell Jack?” He asked me “like, would he be cool like Stryker?”
“No.” I laughed bitterly. I wished I had someone to talk to like Theo had Stryker, but Jack just wasn’t like that.
I loved him, but he would not support this.
And I knew that Stryker had offered, but it didn’t feel right because he was Theo’s partner and I needed someone…
who was my friend. Not that Stryker wasn’t, but it wasn’t the same thing. It felt weird.
“He’s awesome, just…Stryker’s been raised differently from a lot of people here. He’s a lot like his dad. Few people agree with his dad about a lot of things.”
Stryker’s dad was supposed to be the heir to the throne, but he refused the role which went to his brother.
During the scandal that had followed, a lot of people began bringing up the series of ideologies of the man that were controversial, and it had ended with a collective agreement that Stryker’s uncle was fitter to rule anyway.
“Hey, you two.” Dean called “stop dawdling. We’ve got to thank the queen.”
We tore our gazes away from each other. I blinked, only now taking in my surroundings.
I’d only ever seen the outside of the palace, never the inside.
We were in a hallway, long and richly decorated with pastel-colored walls, gilded moldings, and large paintings framed by ornate carvings.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and a patterned carpet stretched along the polished wooden floor.
Antique chairs, decorative vases, and wall-mounted antlers lined the corridor.
I trailed behind the rest of the group beside Theo.
Two grand wooden doors engraved with roses and thorns stood open, revealing the throne room, long and dimly lit, with stone arches and columns.
A red carpet run down the center toward an elevated throne backed by banners.
Large fire braziers lined the aisle, alternating with armed soldiers, some of them familiar to me.
The queen sat on her throne in all her glory, surrounded by four guards and her advisor, hands clasped on her knee which was folded over the other, white hair braided and positioned neatly over her shoulder, pale face immobile, grey eyes raking over us.
Johnathan kneeled first; the rest of us followed suit, dropping to one knee and bowing our heads.
“It is an honour to have you in our service.” Her cold voice rang around the large room.
I cringed at the sound of it. She’d always creeped me out a little.
“It is an honour to serve you, Your Majesty.” Johnathan’s even tone responded, doused in respect “and an even greater one to be welcomed into your home.”
A shadow of a smile graced her features and she nodded at him. He rose to his feet but held out a hand to us, indicating for us to stay put. I glanced over at Theo, who met my gaze and shrugged.
“The plan is to move in at dawn on the 17th, hopefully before they get to us. They…”
I tuned them out. I wasn’t interested in a plan I’d already heard a thousand times.
Instead, I concentrated on Theo beside me; his chiselled jaw, clenched, his curls falling into his lowered blue eyes, the uniform hugging his biceps, his darker lower lip caught between his teeth as he chewed on it.
As if sensing the attention, he turned his head towards me.
‘How long are we gonna have to stay like this?’ Theo mouthed.
I shrugged. Who knew?
After more exchange between Johnathan and the queen, her eerily clear voice commanded us to rise. I sighed, rolling my shoulders backwards, hearing them pop.
“I will have my guards escort you to your rooms.” She said, followed by something in giberish to said guards.
Theo snapped his head towards me, who chuckled “native language.” I murmured “Draelon not have one?”
“We do, nobody really speaks it.” Theo frowned “it’s not…necessary.”
“No, we don’t either.” As a matter of fact, I hadn’t understood a word of it.
Stryker popped up beside us, grim expression on his face “their plan sucks. They’ll spot us from miles away.”
“Tell them that.” I suggested “I agree.”
“Johnathan won’t change the plan because of Stryker’s opinion.” Nico intervened “don’t be silly. It’s not even his plan, it’s hers.”
Something about the way he said it made me laugh. “She creep you out, too?” I asked.
Nico nodded, face darkening “she’s all white and… cold, I dunno. Was giving Stryker fuck me eyes.”
Theo pulled a disgusted face “she’s twice his age.”
“I’m hot.” Stryker smirked “and age doesn’t matter when a quickie’s all-“
“Shut up.” Nico groaned.
“She’s albino.” I informed them gruffly “and she’s got a thing for soldiers.” I shuddered as I spoke, shoulder brushing Theo’s.
“Oh?” Nico asked sarcastically “I hadn’t noticed.”
“The guys were having a field day with her last year.” I continued, unperturbed but disgust lacing my tone “I’m not sure if it’s legal.”
“Still obsessing over that, Matt?” Theo asked with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes.
We halted once we’d climbed the fourth staircase covered by the same red carpet bordered in gold.
The guard we’d been following- Josh- made a vague gesture with his hand “this is the floor. You can choose your own rooms. They’re doubles.
” He said gruffly, clasping his scarily big hands.
I left Theo’s side, padding towards the guy.
I greeted him with a clap on the back, “long time no see.”
“Indeed.” He replied, narrowing his dark eyes at me “going off to Draelon and leaving me here.”
I grinned and shrugged “listen, Josh, you down for doing me a favour tonight?”
He raised an eyebrow, prompting me to continue. I lowered my voice “me and my mate have some lady friends waiting for us.” I lied “John won’t let us leave, but if you could pull some strings...”
He smirked, winking at me “lady friends, huh?”
“Hmm.”
“Anything for helping a mate get laid.”
As I’d predicted.
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
I bounced back over to Theo, feeling pleased with myself “we’re good.” I mumbled “for tonight.”
“And for the room. I want this one.” He pointed to the nearest door. I reached for the handle and swung it open.
“Ladies first.” I snorted, standing by the entrance.
“Uh, no. Fuck you.” Theo huffed, folding his arms over his chest.
“Alright. Bottoms first.” My grin stretched wider.
“Double fuck you.” He gaped, making sure to shoulder me hard on his way in.
I cackled from behind him.