Chapter 13
Raven’s POV
The plates full of food sat on the ottoman in between both chairs. Rhyland sat across from me, cutting up a steak as a full on laugh left his chest.
“And the crazy part is that we never saw that guard again.”
I chucked and picked up my silverware.
“I’d have to say I wouldn’t want to show up either if I were caught trying on the Queen’s ball gowns.” I looked over at him to find his violet eyes already on me.
Silence engulfed the room for a slight second before he picked up a entirely different subject.
“How do you and Elijah know one another?” My eyebrow rose at his words as he cleared his throat and fidgeted in his seat.
I debated on how I should answer, seeing as I can’t quite remember how I know him.
“Well, it’s complicated actually. He’s an old friend from my home land.” I put simply and smiled with satisfaction at my reply.
“And where exactly is your home land?”
His question caught me off guard and my silverware slipped from my grasp, clasping onto the plate below me.
I let out an awkward laugh before picking it up into my fingers again but his eyes searched my facial features like a hawk, he knew I was uncomfortable.
“Sorry, um, I don’t mean to pry it’s just that I don’t know much about you.”
“I could say the same in return.” I fired back and his lips turned upward into a smirk, one that sent chills raking my body. Those dangerous eyes falling on to every inch of my face.
“That’s fair.” He lifted his glass and took a sip of the red wine that swayed inside of it.
“Could I be honest with you?” His eyes fell on mine and the hooded gaze didn’t escape my eye either. I nodded and leaned forward, maybe this was going to be something good.
“You’ve seemed to slip into my mind, more so than any other woman has managed to do in quite some time.”
My heart beat sped up at his words. Wait! Why am I nervous, this is perfect for my plan.
He stood up and I instantly took a deep breath. His figure still managed to take me by surprise, the leanness and defined sculpture of his body along with his perfectly chiseled face.
But those eyes.. they were the main thing that caught me of guard everytime. Beautiful and alluring yet dangerous.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but something about you... it lights a fire in me I thought died years ago.”
He stepped closer to my chair, one foot at a time and with each passing moment I felt my stomach flip in anticipation.
“I don’t try to.” I admit and a devilishly handsome smile was sent my way in return.
“That’s my point, you don’t have to try and yet everything you do is done in perfection.”
He stepped closer to me, closing the gap between us while towering over me. He slowly leaned down, gripping the side of the chair I was occupying and brought our faces inches apart.
“Prince Rh-,”
“Just Rhyland, please.” His husky voice sent my stomach into a hot frenzy and I nodded, opening my mouth to speak again when the door is opened.
“Raven you’ll never guess wha-,” Cassius’ voice was stalled at our closeness and while I flinched back, Rhyland just dragged his eyes over my body one last time before pulling back.
“See you tomorrow in the training grounds, seven a.m sharp.” He said before turning back and locking eyes with Cassius.
My heart rate didn’t decrease until the door shut behind him, then and only then did I finally let out a breath.
“Holy shit.” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair.
“I have to give you props little sister, I didn’t think you’d have him fawning over you this quick. Nice job.” Cassius smiled and held his hand up for a high five. I faintly held lime up to meet his before dropping it back down to my lap.
I almost kissed the Prince.
And the plan had been the furthest thing in my mind, I was actually wanting it to happen.
I shook my head of those thoughts.
Absolutely not, he was using his powers on me.
But.. I would’ve known if he were. Wouldn’t I?
“Anyways, I really wanted to apologize about the whole Elijah thing. I had no clue his family went into hiding and had just now came out. All these years I was led to believe they died..”
His words pulled me out of my own universe and I snapped my eyes towards him.
“Wait, what? They were in hiding? From what?”
He shrugged before grabbing an apple from the food infront of us and taking an enormous bite.
“I’m not exactly sure, he didn’t get into details but to wrap it up they had only came out because of the news about you and I being in the Royal Affray.”
“That doesn’t make sense, if they were in hiding they had to be hiding from something or someone. Why come out of your safe place for someone you hardly know?”
He just shook his head.
“I’m not sure, but what I do know is I lost him once and I’ll be damned if I lose him again.”
The night fell and everything was silent in my room, the emptiness of it finally catching up to me.
Thoughts rummaged in my mind and not a single one eased my anxiety in the slightest bit.
Maybe a nice bath would help soothe the nerves.
I grabbed a towel that the other maid had dropped off god knows when and stepped towards the bathroom determined to get a good nights rest.
I turned the water on and stuck my hand underneath the faucet to get it to the perfect temperature. My eyes searched around me and found lavender petals in a sealed jar on the counter top near the sink.
“That couldn’t be any more perfect.” I mumbled to myself as I grabbed them and dipped my hand in, pinching some in between my fingertip to sprinkle them into the bath water.
As the purple petals spun around in the water, I couldn’t help but compare the color to Rhyland’s eye color. The resemblance was uncanny.
I mentally smacked myself, get everything out of your head Raven, especially him.
He’s the enemy.
.....But was he really?
I shook off my thoughts and slipped out of the dress I had been wearing for dinner, and took down my hair pins allowing my dark hair to fall like a curtain.
Dipping my toes in first, I eased inch by inch into the steaming water and when my entire body was finally submerged, I laid my head back on the tub.
My thoughts succumbed ever so slightly until I finally relaxed completely in the water and allowed the peaceful scene around me play out.
“Mrs. Ossicor?” A voice came from my room and I could tell right away it was the temporary maid.
“I’m in the bath, come back later please.” I shouted but she just cleared her throat.
“Uh, Mrs J-,”
Her words were stopped by the bathroom door opening and my eyes widening.
“I need to speak with you.” Jasmine came into view and I instantly tried to cover myself.
“What the hell are you doing!? Are you crazy, get out!” I shouted but her lips turned into an amused smile.
“Darling you don’t have anything I don’t have, come to think of it, I’m sure your’s wouldn’t even be comparable to mine.” She giggled and leaned against the sink countertop.
My face coiled in disgust and I looked at her with daggers in my gaze.
“I said, get out.” My voice was low and I felt the water around me grow ten more degrees hotter. My power began to flicker with anger the more she stood infront of me.
“You know, your brother’s cute. Ohhh and just think about it, us, as sisters!” She fake smiled, placing a hand over her heart.
“Go near him again and it’ll be the last thing you do.” I growled which only lit the fire in her eyes.
“I stay away from your brother and you stay away from Rhys.”
“Rhyland doesn’t want you, he told me you aren’t his type anyways so stop chasing a dead end.” I snapped and she let out a laugh that ruptured through the room.
“Did he tell you about the night we spent in his room the day I arrived? Did he tell you how I made him finish in my mouth? No? Seems to me like he doesn’t tell you a lot of things. Only the things that he wants you to hear.”
She smiled and gave me a wink before turning to leave.
I felt my stomach flip at her words.. they were together the first night? I tried to ignore the slight pull in my chest and say that it didn’t effect me, he was a complete stranger.
Maybe now more than ever.
I thought tonight was a good step towards getting to know him, but now I see that I don’t know him at all. I tried to take a deep breath and tell myself it didn’t matter because it was his life and I didn’t want anything from him anyways... but something told me that was a lie.