Bronze

This chapter was edited on September 29, 2018

"I love hanging out with and all, princess" Brent started, "But I'm actually really busy planning out the menu for a wedding and honeymoon. And if it wasn't already obvious, I have literally one month"

Lucas laughed, "Fine, then jump out the carriage"

They were five minutes away from a hotel in Yawa. Lucas and his father were to formally meet with Jenine and the chief. Lucas, not wanting to feel uncomfortable and lonely (and definitely not wanting to have Jenine's company), asked Brent to come with him.

Brent said yes without any protest, yet that didn't stop him from complaining the whole carriage ride.

By the time the carriage arrived in the hotel meeting room, Brent had the stalest expression on his face and Lucas was trying to contain his laughter from it. They sat in a boardroom with a long table and old wooden chairs that were very uncomfortable. This only added to Brent's bad mood.

The chief of Yawa a very tall and skinny man, with long brown hair that ran down his back. His eyes were a dark brown and he had the shadow of a beard around his strong chin. He was a white man, but he had a subtle tan. One that made him glow and looked like it was from natural sunlight. This was a stark contrast with his daughter's skin and hair, which were both pure white.

No matter who her mother is, Brent suggested that magic must be in play with this genetic mystery.

To Brent's surprise, the royal fathers both wore suits.

Brent didn't own a suit. Even if he wanted one, he couldn't afford it before. So Brent just wore his red hoodie over a t-shirt and jeans. He didn't even wanna be here anyway.

Lucas looked immaculate in a white dress shirt and black pants. Jenine wore a bright orange maxi-dress and red flip-flops.

At least Brent wasn't the odd one out.

Chief Bron cleared his throat for attention, "King Michael Charming" he said in a surprisingly deep voice, considering his weight. It sounded like the low grumble of a tiger before it pounces, vibrating deep into the follicles of hair under your goosebumps. He spoke slowly, and clearly. Even though the Charming clearly had more power than him, he spoke as if he could command the world anything. "I thank you for coming here to speak with you on the conjoining of our two cultures"

"Yes" Michael sat up, head held high, "I am very excited to have my son marry your wonderful daughter and have the Yawa territory part of the Western territory and under the rule of my boy, Lucas" he clapped his son on the shoulder, knocking the breath out of him. Brent suppressed a snicker.

"Indeed" the dark brown eyes locked onto Brent, "And you seemed to have brought company"

Lucas piped in at this, voice much higher than the others. "This is my personal chef, Brent Lucas" Lucas said, putting a hand on Brent's shoulder. Brent couldn't help but be reminded of the prince's father and smiled.

"I asked him to come just for the company me on a trip. I don't plan on going back home after this meeting" He explained

Brent's eyes widened, "You don't?"

"No, we're going to the Northern Kingdom to meet Will and Ella," Lucas said and then turned to the chief, "Do not mind him"

"Oh, I don't mind him" Jenine squeaked from the corner. Her eyes landed on Brent and she beamed, "I'm sure we've heard of each other but we've never formally introduced ourselves"

"No, we haven't" was all Brent said, not wanting to speak to this woman more than he needed to.

She giggled, "You're so weird. Are all people from the continents like that?"

Brent resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "No"

"We should talk more, I think you're such a cutie!" she squeaked

***

Prince Lucas blocked out most of the conversation after that and hoped they wouldn't ask anything of him.

He couldn't help the slight prick in the back of his mind that stung every time he thought about the way Jenine looked at Brent. Or the way she talked him.

It was like jealousy clouded over him everytime he imagined Jenine giggling at Brent.

Wait a second. Jealousy? No, of course there was no jealousy. What is there to be jealous about? It's not that he was jealous of Brent, because he surely didn't want Jenine flirting with him either. He didn't even want to hear her speak any more; Lord knows she does too much of that.

It wasn't as if he was jealous of Jenine...

No no no no no no no of course not.

Why on earth would he want to flirt with Brent? Brent was his friend, a friend that he had just met. He was getting married anyway, so it wasn't like it mattered.

No, there was no way he was jealous of Jenine being able to flirt with Brent so easily. It's not as if he was attracted to the chef anyway. Even though the chef was quite handsome.

He did have a strong jawline and a muscular neck that made the prince's breath hitch. His eyes that were so bright and green, he could see them even in his dreams. And not to mention that voice. It was like velvet. Dark and soft, that tickled the hairs on his skin.

No, he wasn't attracted to that at all.

"Won't he, Lucas?" Jenine asked

Upon hearing his name, Lucas's eyes snapped up to the annoying princess.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" He asked, looked around at all the eyes that were on him

Jenine smiled, "I asked if Chef Lucas will be staying with us at the castle once we're married. He will, right?"

"Um, yes" Lucas nodded, looking at the man next to him. Again his breath hitched and found himself wanting to break eye contact. His face suddenly flushed with heat when a small smile graced the chef's face.

"Yeah, I'm Lucas's head chef. So I go where he goes and makes sure that he doesn't get poisoned or something like that" Brent added, turning to Jenine

"That's great" SHe gushed, "Having a cutie like you in the castle will be refreshing! Just don't let the servants try and seduce you, they're all skanks"

"Jenine, language" Chief Bron rumbled

"Oh that won't be a problem" Brent assured the princess, "I'm not into women"

"You're gay?" Jenine's eyes widened, "That's surprising"

"Is it?' Brent raised an eyebrow

"Yeah, I mean," she shrugged, "I don't know why a handsome guy like you would choose to be gay. But I respect your choice. Maybe I can change that" she winked

Lucas swore he heard a low growl from somewhere. It almost sounded as if it was coming from Brent. In fact, it almost sounded just like the growl that sounded like it came from Brent when he hit his knee and fell.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Jenine persisted, not understanding how insensitive she was being.

Brent narrowed his eyes, mouth curling up in a snarl, "I don't think this is relevant to the meeting topic"

"True. I'm just very interested in you. I've done a lot of research" Jenine grinned, "The history of your parents and all that" she waved her hand

Brent practically growled at her "My parents? Why did you-"

"I really think we should get on topic, don't you, Chief Bron?" Lucas butt in

The chief stared at the prince and then turned to King Michael, "I like this boy"

The conversation then went back to planning the wedding and Lucas was relieved that Brent didn't jump over the table and strangle his fiancee. He would've loved it, but Brent would probably get arrested, and Lucas didn't want to deal with a war with Yawa.

He just couldn't help but notice these new things about Brent that he didn't notice before. Like how he growled and snarled like an animal.

Lucas thought he might've been a werewolf at first, but remembered there was a full moon on the day of their meeting and Brent didn't turn. He also couldn't have been a vampire, because he wore a silver watch. Or at least, Lucas thought it looked like real silver.

Then what the heck was he and why did he have these animalistic tendencies. But more importantly:

Why was Lucas so interested in Brent in the first place?