A GROWN-UP KIND OF LOVE
"It's time I leave childish ideals behind me. It will only hold me back." Hayao had on the kind of determined expression that could only spell trouble for me.
"We have our own responsibilities, you and I both." Hayao told me, "Mine is with my family and pack. Together, we will rule all the Mountains, and the glory of Lycan crown would return to this old family as it was when Prince Haruno was king."
"I cannot promise you love, princess, but I will be faithful to you. I will always treat you with respect and kindness. I will grow you a rose garden that rivals that of the Royal Palace, and whatever your pack requires - whether it is the plum wine recipe or healing palm elixirs, I will see to it that it will be part of your mating gift. "
I shook my head, "Hayao, I have a soul mate."
Did he forget about Bell, better known as His Majesty, the Tyger King?
"I will duel him for you." Hayao answered simply.
"You can't!" I exclaimed. Why was everyone in the Colored Mountains crazy?
"This isn't just for you." Hayao said, "It is also for me. No matter what the danger or cost, I understand now, if it is for US, it will be worth it."
No, no, no! There was no US!
"It isn't just Bell!" I admit, I was getting desperate now, "It's not enough to just defeat him. Besides, my luna, there are 9 more."
"9 more, princess?" Hayao looked confused.
Now, how should I explain the harem without saying "harem"?
"Due to various reasons... I urm... You see..."
"I see." Nodded Hayao so I knew he must have misunderstood something again, "You do not have to be so shy, princess. Although your shyness is also endearing."
Who were you calling shy? I'll show you how "endearing" I was! If I were Zara, I'd be cracking my knuckles.
"You're very beautiful, and the Blue Rose of the Colored Mountains. Naturally, you will have a long line of suitors." Hayao reasoned. Oh how I loved the way Hayao could explain even the things that were not there!
Yeah, suitors. (Sorry, Special Team.)
"Then I will duel all of them." Hayao decided, "If this is what will convince you of my sincerity, sacrificing a few years of my life is nothing."
Wait, what? Okay, this had to be something to do with the cost of healing.
I shook my head again, "No, Hayao, they are all strong fighters with powerful wolves, some of them are built like mountains! Others have powerful abilities. And there's Fluffy! Would you even fight Fluffy? Aren't your families good friends or something?"
Everything I said to dissuade him only seemed to fuel him.
Hayao smiled, "I know you are testing me, Princess and I will show you my mantle. Even if it is Prince Heller's heir, I will duel him without holding back."
"As long as we receive permission from our fathers and the duel is carried out honourably, there will be no problem."
Knowing your old Tyger fathers, I felt quite sure they'd be only too happy to approve the evening's entertainment.
Hayao was confident, "Since Prince Heller's heir had come so far, to already secure his place formerly as your suitor, I am sure my father would not want me to lag behind."
"I have not hidden anything from you princess. I have every ambition to be the king who holds the blue rose." Hayao told me, "And I'm sure Prince Heller's heir is the same."
"But I will always treat you honourably, princess." Hayao touched his heart and made a short bow, "This I promise you."
As much as I appreciated Hayao's straight talk and "honourable" intentions, I have to say, Hayao turned out to be just as crazy as his dad!
There was a stirring in the mist around my feet. The magic was moving and it was doing it a little too close for comfort. I stepped out of the little swirls quickly, but almost tripped backwards over Hayao's robe.
He caught me with an arm, for a split second, his face right in front of mine. So I shoved him - hard. It was pure reflex.
To his credit, he didn't fall backwards from the force of it. His sword wasn't just for show, he shifted his weight to his other foot, and stepped forward to brace himself, because he didn't just drop me either. He "parried".
His firm grip on my arm straightened me back on my feet before he let go and straighten himself, "Pardon me, princess."
Then he looked down to the ground and after a moment of regarding the swirling mist, he repositioned himself and indicated for me to stand behind him.
Okay, so he was just protecting me. I moved into his shadow and watched anxiously as the darkness merged to form what I knew was a Tyger's portal. But which Tyger?
If Hayao was putting me behind him, would it be a dangerous Tyger?
I felt my heart pumping. I wasn't scared, just getting ready. It was fight or flight right?
Wrong.
The portal emerged and just stayed there. I watched it carefully, waiting for the moment where the black curse would leak out, heralding it's master. But nothing. It was a dud. (Could portals be duds?)
"My father summons us." Hayao informed me rather calmly. This was when I realized I was the only one who freaked out.
"If it were just that, why did you act like it was dangerous?" I was annoyed, but mostly I was embarrassed about freaking out.
"I was?" Hayao looked perplexed, and then he annoyed me even more, "Forgive me, Princess. I didn't mean to frighten you."
"I wasn't frightened!" I snapped. Grrrr...
"Shhh..." Hayao soothed as if to a wild animal, "It's safe."
Grrrr... Tell me that AFTER I bite your head off!
"I.wasn't.scared." I know it was just for a night, but I hated being treated like a... Like a... helpless damsel or something.
And then Hayao just had to be even more annoying. He laughed and raised his hands in the air, "Yes, of course not, princess."
{He's lying.}
SHUT UP BOO.
"I really wasn't!" I tried again.
Hayao schooled his features in an attempt to look less amused, "Yes, it is exactly as you say."
{He's...}
Grrr... Boo shut up. You know you've hit a new low when you're growling at your own wolf.
Hayao checked his watch, "I'm afraid our time is up, Princess."
Eh? What was Hayao going on about now?
"Indeed time is relative." Hayao made a wry smile, "Until our engagement is official, we should observe all propriety."
When I was with Hayao, it always felt like "One small step for Sam, one giant leap for Hayao."
I didn't remember anything in our conversation about an engagement.
"Pardon, princess." Hayao stepped forward and made a gesture. His robe suddenly wrapped snugly around me and plopped me straight into his arms. Grrr... that was tricky!
"Crossing over can be uncomfortable. I will try to reach the other side quickly." Hayao promised.
Yes, that was true. The void between the portals were uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as being carried princess-style by a guy I just met. Okay, so technically, it was not all that different from being carried by Ben when I'm in his sleeping bag, but Hayao wasn't Ben. I protest! Or at least I would have if the magic robe had not wrapped my hair in its folds. Grrr....
Meanwhile, Hayao decided it would be best to brave the portal. He probably felt my upset was because the portal frightened me. I was a very delicate princess who was frightened of fruit bats, slippery steps, and mist. Maybe he thought getting us through quickly would be the best course of action.
I barely noticed the void effect within the portal. I can't tell if it were because I was too upset at being physically handled by Hayao, being treated like a helpless damsel, or that the robe really buffered most of the raging magic in the void. Anyway, it was only for less than a minute before Hayao stepped through to the other side.
From the sight of the overhanging branches over us (which was the first thing I saw from my position in Hayao's arms), we were back in the Olive Room.
The Olive Room which now hosted not just Haku, Gareth, and Anna. Heller was there too. And Bell who was growling dangerously low and leaking curse like an oil tanker that had been smashed in its hull.
{Mine! ~❤️ }
Not now, Boo. Can't you see he was furious?
"Mine." Bell was so mad that he only managed to verbalize a single word over the growl of his motor.
Uh oh.