Crown Of Hearts

"Your...highness?"

Alexander's deep and low voice sounded within the dark corridors that lead to the crown prince's private chambers.

The prince that was walking before him had suddenly stopped moving and he stood still.

"Prince Damon?" He repeated, this time calling him by his name.

It was something he was told to do when they were alone.

"I feel hot..." Came Damon's bothered voice as he tugged at his shirt, trying to unbutton the cloth that made him feel uncomfortable.

"Your highness, you cannot remove your clothes right now." Alexander, noted his voice stern but the man paid him no attention as he unbuttoned his white shirt and removed it to reveal his toned and lean torso.

Alex had seen plenty of male upper bodies during his time at the war camp but he found himself averting his gaze, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

This man's body was less muscular and appeared to give him an agile and nearly predatory look.

Maybe the light alcohol he had been argued to consume was messing with his head.

He wasn't one to notice such details on another man's body.

Alex coughed lightly in an attempt to discard the uncomfortable feeling in his gut.

"May we continue the journey to your chambers, your highness?" He asked, his tone calm when he felt the weight of his prince's stare.

"Of course." Damon replied, voice low and smooth, a smirk adorning his lips as he looked at his honorable knight.

He was a big man, slightly taller with a wider torso that was perfectly hidden behind his breast plates.

His midnight black hair was trimmed to his shoulders and his emerald green eyes were quite the sight to behold.

They had a few golden freckles that seemed to gleam whenever their eyes met in a heated argument.

Damon liked this man.

Unlike other people that walked on egg shells around loyalty, he was one to voice his opinions with little regards to title.

It could have cost him his neck centuries back when royals were much more haughty.

He had a confidence that Damon found strangely attractive.

Yes, he wanted to have this man, claim him too but he did not seem to be interested in him.

At least not in the way he wanted, Damon was certain but he wanted him and tonight, he was going to seduce him after two long weeks of discovering his feelings.

Damon had been surprised when he got a new knight to guard him a month back.

He had insisted to have his old knight back but Clara was of age and she was ready to move on and get married.

They had been friends and he was quite unhappy to see her go.

Damon had thought of having a word with his father but his mind was instantly changed once he saw this man.

Strong, intelligent, confident...oh and good looking too.

Damon was convinced enough and let him stay.

They had grown quite comfortable with each other's company but Alexander still kept quite a distance from him.

Damon trusted his looks to sway both men and women but this man had never looked at him longer than necessary.

Maybe he was indeed immune to his magnetic charm.

With a soft sigh, he stopped moving and turned the door knob to his bedroom.

He briefly glanced back at Alexander who had resumed his post at the wall, his stance steady and alert.

Once he was in his room, he shed his remaining clothes and wore a white night robe before he proceeded to pour himself a glass of wine and at a second thought, another one for the man that stood outside his door.

"Alexander, come and have a drink with me." He offered an invite and the man before him hesitated.

Alexander's fine brows furrowed into a small frown as he looked at the outstretched glass and back at the prince before him.

Why did he feel like having a drink with this man was a totally bad idea?

"I am sorry to turn down your offer, your highness. I have to stay sober in order to properly protect you." He apologized and Damon secretly smirked, he knew he was going to opt for this excuse.

"It's just a drink and besides, this wine is light. You won't get drunk." Damon reasoned, his voice deep and a touch hypnotic.

Alexander was torn between running away and making another excuse that was clearly going to be refuted.

"Just one glass." He compromised and Damon smiled, his gaze meeting his.

"Okay." He agreed and headed back into his room.

Alexander slowly followed him inside and his breath hitched when the man before him leaned in, his close proximity stirring up the heat within his body.

He stood still, trying to ignore the sensation going through his body as he held his breath.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice tight as he stood his ground.

"Locking the door." Damon replied, his voice serious and seconds later, Alexander heard the door click shut and he nearly sighed in relief when the prince pulled away.

"So, Alexander. Tell me more about you. What were you doing before you become my knight?" Damon asked as he made his way to the nearby table.

Alexander noticed his every movement in disturbing detail.

His bare legs, his thick silver hair that seemed to glow in the moonlight that illuminated the room, and his eyes...that clear shade of blue that was rare yet strangely captivating.

He gulped down a mouthful of wine in an attempt to get rid of his thoughts.

"Alexander?" Came that low alluring voice that seemed to remind him that he had a question to answer.

He nearly choked.

What had he gotten himself into?

"I was one of the soldiers that returned from the Everton battle. I was honoured by the king and was knighted with a few others upon our victory." He explained and Damon was thoughtfully silent as he looked at him.

The man indeed had the strength to fight the monsters that lodged in many of the kingdom's forests.

"Did you have no wish to return to the battlefield?" Damon asked, truly curious as to why this man had chosen to become a guard to a crown prince in a castle that was rarely attacked by any monsters.

He was not going to have any real action soon.

Alexander's face paled slightly at the question, not truly wishing to devulge his reasons.

He had chosen this post solely because he had people depending on him and returning to the raging battlefield could soon ensure his untimely demise.

He had to remain alive for his family. His mother and younger sister had no one but him to provide for them in a world where men and a few women ruled.

Alexander's mood lightened as he remembered his ten year old sister's face. She wanted to become a knight, just like him.

Damon sensed the invisible dark cloud looming over his companion's head and he decided not to pry any further.

He tactfully moved closer to him with a jar to fill up his glass.

"You don't have to answer." Damon whispered as he stopped a step away from him.

Alexander blinked, inwardly wondering how his prince had moved so close without him realizing.

"Have some more wine." Damon said and Alexander swallowed hard as his eyes met the pair of enchanting blue ones.

"I told you I was going to have only one glass." Alexander reminded, his head already feeling a little fuzzy as he placed down his glass on a nearby table.

"You are no fun, my friend." Damon groaned.

Alexander was slightly irritated at being called boring but his retort to the accusation got stuck at his throat as his eyes followed the swallowing movement of the man before him as he drank some wine.

The way his Adam's apple moved up and down was oddly appealing.

Alexander felt the tips of his ears heat up as he averted his eyes.

He had to get out of here.

His heart raced as he reached for door knob, feeling the intense look that was fixated on him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Damon asked, his voice stern and authoritative as he stepped closer to him.

Alexander flinched slightly as he willed himself to turn around.

He nearly bumped into the man behind him.

"Your highness...?" Alexander opened his mouth to reply but then again, he was speechless as his eyes met the stormy and intense eyes that were gazing at him.

"I am going back to my post." He hurriedly replied and Damon smiled, a slow tantalizing tilt of his lips.

"Or not...I have an idea." He breathed as he inched even closer.

Alex's breath caught at his throat, every nerve in his body dreading yet anticipating this idea.

"Idea...?" He questioned and a tingle ran through his body when a finger landed on his chin.

"You could kiss me." Damon breathed as his thumb grazed over his lower lip.

Alex momentarily froze.