Chapter 51

"My… apologies" Connor replied, voice as stunned as he looked.

I could not move, not even when I felt the prince place a hand on my shoulder. Whatever had happened earlier deeply messing with my sense of reality. It was as if my body could not hold itself for a moment. I had seen Jules appear, but I could not even turn my head.

This was him.

This was the war monger prince. The grim reaper of the war fields. The rumours I paid no mind to pouring into my ears at once as fast as they diminished when I recalled Jules words.

'Every time I want to run away'.

He didn't choose this.

But this- this wasn't it. This was wrong.

"Madeline" I looked up to find those red eyes staring down at me, hand still on my shoulder as if to shake me awake. His voice melodic as he said my otherwise plain name. He made it sound like a symphony.

"Your highness", I echoed back, eyes staring up at him.

I noticed Connors jaw clenched at the sight of his hand on my shoulder.

"You seem close to each other despite what you say".

I could hear my heart thumping in my chest as I felt his finger trace my cheek. I just stared at him. That was all I could do.

"I thought you said you were simply business partners- yet he calls you by your name? I wonder why that angers me?" His hand grasped my face, tracing my cheek slowly again, eyes glowing and I could've swore his fangs grew longer.

"No. We aren't anything more than business partners" I don't know how I was even speaking, but the words felt like gravel on my tongue.

"She's - Shes right"- Connor tried to speak but his throat made a noise that made me snap my head towards him and I gasped.

He was holding his neck tightly, veins bulging as his lips were turning blue. His eyes were starting to look bloodshot as they were trained on the prince.

"Don't speak" it was a single command. Connor was silent.

"What are you doing to him?!" I cried.

"His voice irritates me. No. His entire being irritates me" he turned to Connor and I could only watch in fear as he looked at him, glaring brazenly down at the man who looked like he was choking. "You dared lay a hand on my future queen… you've threatened the legacy of your country. I could have you killed right now and no one could bat an eye".

"J-Jules" I gulped, feet planted by an invisible force.

He turned at the sound of me calling him and smiled. Not kindly.

"This is simply a preview to the worst, Madeline. Don't get too excited" he turned back to Connor.

"Please- Please don't "-

"That'll depend on how you behave, Madeline. I want to kill him, but seeing your reaction is much more..." He let out a chuckle, cutting his words halfway and stepped away from Connor. I didn't dare feel relieved.

"Thank you" my voice shook and he noticed, reaching a ginger hand to tuck a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Maybe you're right to fear me".

His eyes lowered to my neck and he narrowed eyes, lips trembling as if he was internally arguing with himself. He leaned down and lay a kiss on my cheek. Chaste and cold. But he lingered there, deeply inhaling against my skin.

And then he was gone. He didn't disappear. He simply walked out the door. Whatever he had done to us was gone as both I and Connor hit the floor, collapsing after that strange hold on us was now gone. The air around us once again normal. A concept foreign to us.

We were both gasping.

Minutes must have passed of both of us trying to comprehend what just happened. Neither of us moving an inch.

"I'm - I'm so sorry" I finally mustered.

I couldn't look at him.

"Don't- Don't be. Shit." He let out a deep breath, "sorry for my language".

"Don't be" I replied, finding the courage to look at him.

His neck wasn't bruised like I expected. It was so clean you would think nothing had happened. But his eyes were wide and his hands trembled, yet despite it he looked at me, concern evident in his eyes.

"Is- Is that what you wanted to tell me?"