I wake up with a silent yawn followed by a stretch. My hand automatically goes up to my lips. Last night had to be a dream, right?

No, it was real. The handsome eyes that locked with mine and the perfect hair flowing in the wind as he swept me off my feet and danced. It felt like he was taking care of me. I was being taken care of for once. I didn’t have to think about what Darkness’ next plan was or when he will strike next. All I got to think about was that moment, with that very handsome man, and that kiss.

It felt good being taken care of. I don’t know when I will ever be able to feel that again. I am so busy taking care of everyone else by protecting them from Darkness that I never have any time for someone to take care of me.

Maybe when Darkness is finally balanced again, I could find someone who is willing to take care of me for the rest of their life, but why do I have a feeling that that is not going to happen in Xavier’s life time.

I get out of my bed, forcing my mind to think about something else. I can’t afford to have such depressing thoughts in my head so early in the morning. We can worry about that when the time comes.

A knock on my door makes me jump. How long have I been staring at myself in the mirror?

I answer the knock with a simple, “Come in.” A guard pushed through the door slowly and tells me that my brothers are waiting for me in the dining room where breakfast is ready for me. My stomach growls in response to the news and I follow the guard down the hall and into the dining room.

I don’t just see my brothers but I also see Xavier and his friends sitting down all at the same table. “Sorry I am late.”

“June thought it would be nice to have all of us join together and get to know each other a little bit more. You know, because we are going to be seeing each other for a couple more weeks. I said it was okay, I hope that is alright with you sister,” Theon smiles at me.

Leave it to Theon to have a soft spot for mortals. Even if they are the worst criminal in history, Theon would always open a spot for them at the dining table. There is a reason that he is the mortals’ favorite prince when it comes to generosity. I have to admit, though, I am also grateful that he is this way because there are plenty of things that I have done that could have made him not talk to me for a long time but he always opened his heart and forgave me. It makes me wonder how much patience does he have when it comes to this and when will be his breaking point?

I clear my throat before responding, “Not at all. After all we do have to keep an eye on them. This will be easier for us overall.”

“That chair over there is open,” Theon points to the closest chair to the group. Of course, the chair is right next to Xavier and of course my face betrays me at this very moment and decides to heat up as hot as the flames I produce.

“What’s wrong sister?” Strider asks. There is a hint of concern in his tone.

“Nothing,” I say quickly while dashing towards the chair next to the man I kissed last night. I look over at Xavier but he has his head turned the other towards Pierce, who is sitting on the other side of him, making conversation. His head snapped so quickly to Pierce that it was obvious that he didn’t want to make any sort of eye contact with me. My brothers obviously noticed too because when I look at them, their eyes are furrowed with confusion.

Now that everyone is at the table, the servants are able to serve the food for breakfast. There is a bunch of different kinds of food like eggs, meat, bowls of assorted fruits, and even some biscuits and pastries for us. There are also a bunch of different drinks like apple juice, orange juice, and all kinds of milks.

There is a bowl of fresh fruit right in front of me and so I reach out and grab it. At the same time, Xavier is also grabbing the bowl. Our hands collide and his hand even holds mine for a second. Xavier pulls his hand away from mine. I do the same, but when I pull my hand away, my elbow bumps into a jug of juice and it shatters all over the ground.

Everyone is staring at me. Every single set of eyes is on me. All their attention is towards me. My face heats up like a volcano about to erupt.

I get up quickly enough for my chair to fall behind me but I don’t care. I run past the guards at the doors, who were also staring at me, and run to the training room where I know no one will be at.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I run into the empty room which has mats all over the floor, practice dummies scattered everywhere, and wooden weapons mounted on the concrete wall. The ring where a lot of sparing matches happen, is empty except for one practice dummy in the corner. Someone must have been training one-on-one combat.

I go straight to the wall to grab a wooden weapon because I can feel my anger already boiling over. How could I have embarrassed myself in front of everyone? I am supposed to be a queen but instead I asked like a jester in there.

I bend my body to get into the ring where the practice dummy is staring back at me, mocking me.

You looked like a fool back in the dining room. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously now? You’re supposed to run a country? How can you do that when you can’t even control yourself?

I can hear the echo of its laugh faintly in my ears until I slam the sword as hard as I can into its neck. Over and over again, I hit and stab, kick and punch, grunt and scream. Somehow I can’t seem to get the embarrassment to leave my body.

“Shut up!” I punch its head over and over again until the head pops off and flies across the room.

“Woah, woah, woah, why so angry soldier?” Theon asks from behind me.

I didn’t hear my brothers come into the training room but both of them are standing right in front of the doorway. Theon is smiling while leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest, but Strider looks more concerned as his eyes are still on the head of the dummy that flew across the room.

“Are you okay?” Strider asks me.

“I’ll be fine,” I reply.

“Sure, you will be fine, but right now you are not. What is going on with you? I have never seen you act that before,” Theon says.

“It’s nothing,” I punch the body of the dummy since its head is no longer there. Harder and harder the punches come until all of a sudden all energy leaves my body and my arms go limp. I look down to my feet with a long sigh and then look up to my brothers. “I kissed him.”

Tears start to form in my eyes when I see my brothers’ reactions.

“Kissed who?” Strider says.

I close my lips tighter knowing that if I said his name out loud then the tears in my eyes would fall uncontrollably.

“She kissed Xavier,” Theon says quietly.

Strider whips his head around to look at Theon. “No, she knows better than that. Right sister?”

“Well obviously not if she just admitted that she kissed someone. Open up your ears brother,” Theon nudges Striders shoulders.

Strider slowly turns his head back towards me.

My lips hurt from closing then so tight. I shake my head and Strider’s eyes grow wider than I have ever seen before.

“Sister, you know better than this. You can’t fall in love with a mortal. I mean look how painful it was for Theon when the love of his life died. I can’t stand to see another one of my siblings get hurt like that again.”

Tears start to well up in my eyes and they are so hot that they burn my cheeks as they come down.

“You need to promise me that you will not pursue this relationship. This could be dangerous for you, Xavier, or even the whole earth.”

“Brother, don’t you think you over exaggerating a little? Look at her. Let’s give her some space and let’s get you to some air. You are obviously to anxious about this situation,” Theon says. He puts his hands on Strider’s back and starts to push him out the door. Strider continues out the door but Theon stops right before exiting and turns around to look at me.

“I think you should do whatever your heart desires. Yes, I was devastated when my love had to end but while it was happening, it was one of the best things in my entire life. Strider is just trying to protect you. I don’t want to see you hurt either, but I will be supportive if you choose to follow through with this. I will always support my sister no matter what.”

Before I have time to respond, Theon turns around and heads out the door to catch up with Strider.

It’s nice to know that my brothers are here for me even if they have completely different opinions. One day, I hope to return the favor of being protective and supportive.

For now, I have to focus on being able to fight my father while dealing with the feelings I have for Xavier. These feelings feel weird. It feels like there is something fluttering in my chest whenever I see him. I can’t seem to breathe when I am around him and my palms get sweaty.

Xavier, what have you done to me?