Chapter 49

I hated how I smiled simply in his presence and how my worries seemed to alleviate for a moment. Even though in that same moment I knew well that he was the source of my troubles. It was strange.

It was as if I was on a roller coaster of emotions. Yet it didn't tire me.

"Well before that, pick a date" I pushed the paper his way with a polite smile.

He looked to the sheet and dropped his finger almost randomly, barely glancing down as he said, "this will do".

"And what date is that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Exactly two weeks from now".

"When did you even look?" I complained as I realised he was right.

He didn't verbally reply, instead he smiled and there was a twinkle in his eyes that made him look younger. Like a mischievous teenager.

"I can see a lot of things without having to actually look. I know things that happen miles away. It's just how I am" he tapped on his arm, crossing them.

"So it's a half vampire thing?"

"I can also run fast and I'm quite strong, stronger than most men. I'm also rich… very rich" he leaned down towards me, eyes looking up at me as if he was revealing something unbeknownst.

I snorted.

Was he bragging? A prince to a commoner..

"Me too" I replied, trying to match his strange stare but I couldn't stomach the staring contest and looked away.

"I'm richer".

"I pay you taxes so it doesn't count".

"I'm your employer".

"You're everybody's employer" I chuckled, "you're a leech".

His face froze amid the banter. As if I struck some old dusty rock and it had hit him.

"A leech…" he muttered, eyes looking away. I could see him thinking about something- maybe recalling a memory.

"I didn't mean for you to take it seriously" I quickly intervened, "you've protected this country on many occasions. Even when you were just born". I began to babble, again that strange desperate need for him to not hate me. Was it because he was to be the king?

He looked back at me, breaking away from his thoughts with a soft smile.

"Madeline Colter, you've committed a handful of crimes in the last half hour. I'd say you have accumulated half a life time in my dungeons" he stood up, looking around the office and then approaching one of the display shelves. On it was some family pictures, the only one that had all of us in was one painted a year after I was born. He seemed to be looking at it, clearly looking at the pudgy red face with a wisp of what was once blonde hair. "It seems like you haven't grown much taller".

I gave him an unimpressed face, finding my hand clutching my stamp nervously.

"Well as you can see, my brothers stole all the good genes and gave me their leftovers" I joked, moving to stand beside him.

"I wouldn't say that…" he muttered, voice soft, "I think they left you all the good ones".

I expected some ridicule in his words and when I found none I looked up to confirm it. I caught his red eyes, looking darker as he stared down at me. There was no smirk marring his face, but a strange expression that seemed almost melancholic. His gaze flicked up and down my face until they rested for a moment too long on my lips.

He was first to look away. I was still staring at him, face flushing as I felt that strange bubbling in my stomach.

"I- Um- Thank you, your majesty" I stuttered, trying to come up with something witty to say, but my brain was much too scrambled. Eyes unable to help zoning in on his lips, they looked soft and I could have sworn they smelled nice too.

"Stop staring at me" his words made me blink away, face burning indignantly.

"I would never" I snapped, looking away.

I felt pathetic.

"How about you show me those clothes you plan to sell to me for double?" His voice, portraying the awkwardness of the situation, at least tried to repair our earlier atmosphere.

"In- Instead of me, how about my colleague, Mr Connor Archangel? He's quite capable" I ticked off the date we decided on my calendar of upcoming events. Turning my back to him. I could still feel the tingle of that earlier anticipation, tremor in my body as I was suddenly all too aware of his presence.

"Connor Archangel? He wouldn't happen to be that cousin of Anastasia Archangel that you've been awfully cosy with lately?"

"Ah… you heard that then?" I recalled that uncomfortable dinner party with a grimace. "It's isn't like"-

My words cut off as I turned around to find him leaning against the office door, glaring at me.

I flinched at it.

"Why- Why are you glaring at me?"

"Glaring? I'm not" he frowned, eyes still evidently glaring.