Chapter 34: Truth Vial

KAEL

Two things are on my mind, but I override one with the other. She did not reply my message and then this?

"We found nothing about the daggers and in line with the king’s orders, you are now off this case Lt. Aspen.

Caulder’s words keep ringing in my head. I had gone down to the CPD this morning to ask why I haven’t been sent an overview of the case, only to have Caulder telling me those exact words.

"But what about the messages between the victims you talked about? And you don’t need me to track-" Caulder did not let me finish my question before he had cut me off with a repetition of his statement that I was off the case. It did not make sense. Why seek me out and then suddenly cut me off? But of course the only logical reason was that Father happened. Father had told Caulder to let me off the case with no reason at all, just like he had gotten a wife for me without even letting me know.

Anger ripples through me, threatening to release itself. I do not care for the stupid ass case or even the job in general, but knowing Father had something to do with this has me reeling in defiance. On a normal day, I will confront my Father but that will not apply to this. I decide I will dig out this case on my own.

I an on my way to Carla’s home before I know it, maybe she would have a clue about the crest that actually seems quite familiar and important. Maybe if I finally find something, I will finish off my plan regarding Caulder. I press down on the accelerator, racing through the streets of Lycania, the wind doing just little to calm my raving thoughts. My mind goes to Lilac and I shove that thought deep down. This is not the time to think about my Fated. She has a guard, and she will be fine. Yet I want to see her, but I do not act on my want. You don’t always get what you want.

Carla’s office door is open and today she has a client. Sometimes I forget she is a therapist for others too. I slink back outside, waiting for her to be done. It takes about fifteen minutes before her patient leaves and then I enter in. Carla watches me with hooded eyes as I make myself comfortable on her black sofa. "Why are you here?" She demands. She is not asking in literal sense, what she is asking is why I am here and not with my Fated. But still I give her a smartass answer.

"I thought you were all knowing, shouldn’t you already know that?"

"Kael-"She calls in a warning tone.

"Fine." My hardhead deflates a little. "She has a guard, she will be fine."

"You are messing with the fates Prince Kael." She says, shaking her head. The fates do not exist but I don’t tell her that. If they did, then a lot of things should not have happened, like my stupid cursed abilities.

I shrug. "Much better than messing with the unknown..."

Familiar screeching of tires stops Carla from giving me a reply. I glance out through the open door. It is my car pulling to an halt right in front of this building, and it is Lilac. I feel the Fated bond yank at my chest as she gets down with Roman, walking towards Carla’s office. I glare at Carla. "Did you invite her here?"

Carla loves messing with me, pulling at my strings. She says it is therapeutic, I say it is total bullshit. She smirks, "if I did?" I almost growl at her, but then Lilac and Roman is at the doorstep.

Her scent. Lilac’s scent, fresh raspberries with a mix of cedar and mint. It is unique. I inhale - sharply, ignoring Carla’s smug smile. They enter and it takes all kind of self control not to lunge at Roman because he is standing so close to her. _Be rational._

"Kael?" Lilac’s eyes go wide as saucers as she takes me in.

"Your Highness." Roman lowers his head in greeting and then he does the same to Carla before stepping outside. _Smart kid._

"Lilac Hirav Aspen." Carla says to my Fated, "fancy seeing you here of all places?"

Lilac coughs, dragging her shocked gaze away from me. "Evening, Professor Carla."

"It is Carla outside the campus, Lilac."

"Ah, yes." She swallows, her gaze trying to look everywhere but at me.

"Why are you here, Lilac?" Finally she meets my stare and holds it. I almost get lost in those beautiful orbs. Damn beautiful orbs.

"Really?" She deadpans, there is a resolve in her statement just like when she had begged me not to shun her. I am an asshole to love that she is not slinking into the background and saying nothing like when she had first arrived.

"Really." I stand, towering over her. "You shouldn’t be prancing around the city after what happened at the beach."

Her eyes twitch at my statement, something flashes in them - Indignation. "I am not prancing around and besides I have a bodyguard now Kael."

She does. A fact that annoys me just as much as it put me a little bit at ease. "Does not make it anymore safer." I groundlessly argue.

"So you want me to mope around your house all day? What am I? A captive?"

"I didn’t say that."

"Well, you didn’t have to say it!" She snaps and I hear the frustration etched in her tone. I am still an asshole if this is what I make my Fated feel.

"We should go in." Carla says, cutting off our argument.

Lilac’s lips press to a thin line as she replies Carla. "We should."

We make our way into Carla’s home

"Here. Have some tea." Carla offers Lilac a cup after we have settled down in her living room with Lilac sitting as far away from me as possible. I hate it. Lilac takes the tea with an appreciative smile. I am still wondering what she is doing here and why she keeps glancing at me with those weird expressions.

"I need to get something outside, I’ll back." Carla tells us, secretly winking at me and I almost roll my eyes at the old woman’s tactics. She leaves, thankfully.

"Why are you really here Lilac?" I am asking my Fated again.

"Why are you here too?" She retorts, sipping on her tea gently.

Deciding not to lie or evade the question, I shrug. "Carla is my therapist." She blanches visibly, her fingers gripping the cup ever so tightly.

"Are you okay?" The look on her face reminds me of an hurt bunny. I hate it when people look at me with pitiful eyes, the look that speaks volumes and reminds me of how fucked up I am, but Lilac isn’t staring at me like that. She is staring at me like she understands me, like she knows what it is like to be different.

"You like replying me with questions, don’t you?"

She grins, a full blown grin that makes my chest swell and I feel the Fated bond yank at my chest. Fates! "I actually don’t realize I do that."

"You do it almost every time." I grin back at her. We are enveloped in silence again as she repeatedly sips on her tea while I watch her with rapt attention, you would think I am on a mission to memorize every little detail of her. _Maybe I am?_ My gaze travels to her lips, plum pink lips that seem to shine with every sip she takes. Goddess, how I want to taste her so badly.

Lilac finishes drinking the tea and then her gaze finally bounces back to me. Crimson heat creeps up her neck and tints her cheeks when she realizes I have been staring at her. Her eyes widens but she does not look away. "What?" She blinks.

A grin spreads on my face as I repeat her question. "What?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

I probably took a truth vial today because what comes out of my mouth next is the absolute truth. "I want to kiss you Lilac."

Her jaw drops. _Literally._

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