Chapter 17
Raven’s POV
Groggily, I flipped around in bed still not satisfied with the amount of sleep I had gotten. My body was achy and the need for a few more minutes of shut eye was overpowering.
“Want breakfast?”
I nearly jumped out of bed completely at the sound of Cassius’ voice. The memory of him staying with me last night fogged over and I had completely forgotten about it.
Rubbing my eye with the back of my hand I groaned.
“Sure, I could eat an entire buffet alone right now. I probably wouldn’t even use silverware I’m so hungry.” I murmured and he barked a laugh up as he came up to me and ruffled my already messy hair.
“You got it, I’ll be back in a few.”
With those words, he stepped out of the room quietly and shut the door behind him. I took the time to pull my weak body out of bed and to the bathroom for a quick shower and to brush my teeth.
The water rushed down into the bottom of the tub ater I had turned the water on, the temperature slightly cooler than I'd normally have it to wake myself up.
Running the shampoo and conditioner through my hair, I allowed the water to move through the strands and rinse away the suds it had left behind. After taking the body wash and scrubbing away at yesterday's events left on my skin, I wash the rest off and hop out.
After I had finished throwing on some clothes and brushing my teeth, I stepped out of the bathroom to find the room still empty.
Hmm, It's taking Cassius a little longer with the food than I thought it would.
I pulled open the french doors that led out onto the balcony and pulled a seat up under me, looking out into the distanct.
The sun was barely in the sky and the coolness of the morning air blew my wet hair around gently. How could someone as lucky as the Royals be so full of hatred when they had the chance to see the world like this?
Well not all royals, I reminded myself.
A sound came from inside the room and I chuckled, still casting my gaze out in the distance.
"Took you long enough, I'm sure I felt my stomach begin to eat my backbone-," I smiled and turned to find someone completely different than who I expected. I expected Cassius' dirty blonde hair but instead received illuminating violet eyes staring back at me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." He spoke up and I had noticed that my mouth had been slightly ajarred so I quickly clamped it shut and cleared my throat.
"No, no intrusion. After all this is your home." I state and he chuckles lightly before stepping out further onto the balcony with me.
"You have no idea how wrong you are about that." He spoke quietly as if only speaking to himself and I watched as his smile faultered, falling into a displeased frown.
"Is this not your home? Are you not the Prince that will someday rule over all of this?" I gesture out into the land that the sun's rays cascaded over and I glanced over at him in confusion only to spot him looking out into the world.
"I am, but I never asked for it." He said truthfully and my eyes widened in surprise at how honest his words had came out to be.
"Everyone is born into something they didn't ask for, broken homes, poor families, abusive parents, but I don't think being a Prince would fit into those. In my opinion you got pretty lucky." My words came out a tad bit more harsh than I had originally hoped but it got the point across.
His jaw clenched as anger flooded his features.
"Pretty lucky? I am told who I will marry before I'm able to walk, I am told how to speak and when to speak, I am told how to eat and dress, I am told how to think in regards of my kingdom and what will soon become my people. It's not a life of riches and luxury items Raven, it's a lifestyle and it's not for the faint of heart." His teeth were clenched and I am distintly aware of how close he had gotten during his little speech.
His face was inches from mine and his breath had become somewhat rough. I could clearly tell the conversaton was one he had not planned.
"You can make it better."
"What?" He furrowed his eyebrows at me and his nose crinkled up a tad as his eyes searched my face.
"When the kingdom falls into your hands, you can make it better."
I looked into his eyes and the sight of them softened at my words before falling to the ground.
"You don't owe me anything, but when that happens would you be willing do me a favor?" His tongue swept out and wet his lips before he nodded and I stood up, facing him completely. The sun rising above the valleys that hid it moments ago, now hit my skin.
"Treat your people with the respect they give you and not the kind they give your father out of fear, but genuine respect. Earn it and your empire will be stronger than anything anyone has ever seen."
Rhyland's POV
I stared down at her, a girl that wanted to kill any royal in sight when we first met. Now she was standing here giving me advice.. Advice I needed to take.
My eyes followed the curve of her face and down to her light pink lips, her damp onyx colored hair looked like it had a tint of chocolate brown in it as the sun beamed onto her like the Goddess she is.
"What is it?"
Her words caught interuppted my thoughts and I had noticed that I was creepingly staring at her without saying a word, but the slight pink blush that rushed to her cheeks told me that she didn't mind.
"I- well I just wanted to check and see how you were feeling after yesterday." I changed the subject and she smiled sheepishly.
"Better, although I wish Cassius would hurry with the food because-,"
"Because your stomach is eating your backbone?" I jokingly repeated her words from earlier and she let out a small laugh, her smile reaching her eyes. Something that I had yet to see until now and it made my heart beat harder against my ribs.
"I'll let you enjoy the view without interupting this time."
I turn to leave when a small hand grips around my arm and holds me in place.
"Wait!"
My eyes find her's and she hesitantly let go of my arm, allowing it to drop to my side.
"Uh, you never agreed to the favor I asked." Her eyes fell to the ground and I smirked a tad bit.
"You have my word." I spoke and her wide eyes flew to me while her legs moved, her entire body crashed into me full force as she gripped me into a hug.
"Thank you." She spoke softly and I eased my arms around her petite body to hug her back. I couldn't help but notice how tiny she was compared to me or how perfectly her head fit under my chin as we embraced.
A throat cleared behind us and Raven jumped back in surprise.
"Cassius! Thank the heavens I'm starving." She said as she rushed into the room without a second thought and left me on the balcony with a pissed off brother.
"What are you doing in my sister's room?" His voice was low and threatening which almost made me laugh.
"I was just coming to see how she was feeling." I answered truthfully and his eyes hardened even more which I thought was impossible seeing as he already looked pissed off and constipated all in one.
"Did you have to touch her as well? I'm certain words would have sufficed to check and see how she was feeling."
"Cassius calm down, why are you so mad that Rhyland stopped by to check on me?"
That seemed to light a fuse on Cassius as he turned to Raven, his face burning bright red at her words.
"You're calling him by his name now?"
"He asked us to when we both first met him! Or do you not remember? What has gotten into you, you were perfectly fine this morning?" She asked and I took that as my que to leave, not wanting to spark the flame deeper in Cassius for Raven to handle.
As I opened the door I could hear him apologizing before I slipped off into the hallway. Finally alone in the empty are, I lifted my hand to my shirt that had Raven pressed against it just moments ago.
Damn, that girl is doing something to me.
"Rhyland! There you are, I've been looking all over for you!" My mother came scurryng down the hall towards me.
I stood up away from the door and walked over to her, worry and hurt washed all over her face which make me uneasy instantly. My mother was one of the strongest people I know and for her to be worried put me on edge.
"It's your father, he has something he wishes to speak to you about."
Alright everyone! That's another chapter down!
What are you all thinking about Rhyland and Raven?