Chapter 91

I had to stop and mentally repeat what he said.

"You don't… care?" I repeated like a parrot.

He nodded, gaze not once straying from mine.

"I have little affection for this country. I want to change it, and I suppose in some way that would be it's ruin. I would rather be in a ruined country with you than in this one without you".

My heart seemed to pound in my chest at his words and I was sure he could hear it, because he glanced at my neck longingly.

"Then… I suppose it doesn't matter…" I was a bit at a loss. I had been holding back my feeling because of a multitude of reasons. My business. The time traveller. My parents. All of them hardly seemed significant infront of this man.

"What does that mean" he asked, lowering my chair and crouching before me. His chin rested on my knees, and his red eyes seemed wide and childlike as he looked up at me. I didn't let them fool me.

"It means I need a minute to figure out what I'm doing…" I said while holding back a groan.

This is going to be a headache…

I looked down at the man who shut his eyes for a moment, head still on my knees. He looked at peace. His features relaxed and he breathed gently. I was worried he fell asleep for a moment.

A curl fell over his brow and I reached over and pushed it away. His breath seemed to hitch but he didn't open his eyes. My finger played with the curl before slowly settling into the rest of his hair. It was so soft and silky. Every curl reflected a ray of light.

"How does he have such beautiful hair. Is it a vampire thing?" I muttered to myself.

He chuckled, a low hum that vibrating along my legs. He still didn't open his eyes.

"Haven't you heard the myths of vampires seducing young girls with their hair?" He replied and I smiled.

"And then what? They pull off their wigs and bite their necks?" I laughed, tugging it his hair jokingly. It, of course, wasn't a wig so it didn't come off.

"It feels nice when you do that" his voice was lower and I flinched when I caught his red eyes finally open and a sly smile on his face. He rubbed his cheek against my knee and said, "if you do it again I'll consider it an invitation".

I froze. Pulling my hand away immediately. He let out a melodious laugh at my reaction. Standing up while messily patting my head, no doubt a means of revenge.

"I'll let you gather your thoughts but I hope you don't take my warning lightly" he smiled and pecked my head. I was still in my chair.

"Yes, thank you" I flushed at the show of affection and watched how he disappeared.

We hadn't even broken eye contact until he vanished. And I couldn't shake the image of his smile after he kissed my head. It was sweet and warm. I couldn't tell if he was a protective bear or a poisonous snake.

But I stared at the spot he was once at and let an exhausted sigh out. I decided it was best to sleep on it.

Yes sleep on it.

But somehow my dreams were… still plagued by him.

I found myself in a strange park, beneath a willow that released a hollow sound that seemed to fit in the starry night above me. It was strangely lucid, not something I had experienced before. As if I had entered a realm that was between dream and reality. Or … both.

I sat down and admired the sky. The stars were moving. Forming faces unfamiliar to me. They spoke and they moved like a memory. But not mine.

It was when the memories stopped and the sky became a pitch black when I felt someone sit beside me. They leaned on me, shoulder to shoulder. Head bumping mine and an arm wrapping around my shoulder.

I knew who it was, but why did I dream of him. I continued to stare at the sky, enjoying the silence and the warmth.

"Where did all the stars go?" I asked aloud, my voice soft. Like velvet. It was strange.

"I got bored of them" he replied, resting his chin on my shoulder. It should have hurt, but I felt nothing except the warmness of him.

"They were pretty. Was that your memories?" I asked him, knowing they weren't mine.

"Yes. They were. I suppose this means you can wander into my dreams just like I can yours".

"I'm in your dream?" I asked with a logical ness unfit for a dream.

He didn't reply. The sky became a starry mess once again and this time the illustrations made sense.

"Is that me?" I asked, catching the dress I wore to the opening ball.

"It's the first time we met" he spoke in a way that felt full of nostalgia, although it was fairly recent, "I keep thinking, if I hadn't spoken to you that day, would I be like this?"

"You weren't meant to like me that day. I was trying to seem snobby and annoying" I answered.

"Yet you charmed me" he laughed in my ear, his voice softer than mine. His hand brushed through my hair and I allowed it. Enjoying the feeling of it being appreciated.

"I thought you were a bored tax man who could help me. But all you did was drag me in this mess" I rolled my eyes, seeing myself dancing from his perspective was strange. I looked smaller, and I wore what could only be described as a shit eating grin. I didn't recall smiling so much.

"You were so truthful it was hard to forget" he had moved behind me, arms wrapping around me and he tucked his face closer to my nape. "Looking back it was obvious what we were".

I didn't reply to that.

It wasn't obvious to me.

I hadn't even known he was the prince until very much later.

Yet, here I was, snuggled up against him. Wanting him to touch me.

"Have you ever fallen for someone?" He asked, voice low as the sky darkened once again.

I thought about it. I think I had a crush on one of fathers workers when I was young.

"I'm not too sure. Not since an age it mattered I supposed" I shrugged, knowing what his answer would be to the question, but instead I asked, "have you ever met someone you thought you liked?"

He didn't answer immediately, arms wrapping around me tightly and I felt him shook his head.

"Not like how I feel for you. I've made friends here and there, but whatever I feel for you is very much unlike that. If it came to it I would kill those comrades for you".

I hated how my heart warmed at those horrifying words.

"What if I died?" I shouldn't have asked that question. The sky above us began to roar and suddenly a down pour of rain hit the ground. I jumped away to get closer to the trunk of the tree, rolling into Jules as I did.

I had got away from the rain, but as a cost I was sitting on top of Jules in an inappropriate position. My legs spread on his stomach and my hands braced on his chest. I thought this would have lead to something strange but instead I stared at a terrified expression.

"What- what's the matter?" I asked, worry etching my voice as I touched his face.

"Why would you ask that?"

I had forgotten my question due to the rain. I had simply asked because of the whole fated thing. Without the human the vampire wouldn't have a blood source, right? Would they get another fated then?

"It was a dumb question don't take it so seriously. I was simply curious with all this fated partner stuff" I explained. I should have pull away from him, but instead I leaned towards him, until I lay atop him, head on his chest. I could hear his heart beat. It was loud. Maybe louder than mine.

"I suppose one might be curious, but I hope I die alongside you" he said and his arms wrapped around me once again.

"You can't be serious?"

"I wish that were the case" he replied, as the rain eased and the sun suddenly shone on us. He sparkled. His skin glowing. "But you've got me on a leash. If you were to let go then I would probably be lost. If you were to abandon me then I'd search for you until the end of my days". He touched a hand to my cheek and lifted my head to look down on him.

"Isn't that… troublesome?" I asked. I felt touched and even blushed, but I couldn't imagine feeling that way for anyone.

"I'm not so sure. I've never had such a reason to live. It was always to take over this awful country. I hated my own existence, but… life is rather fun these days" he smiled up at me like I was a diamond among stones.

I couldn't stop myself when I leaned forward and pressed my lips on his. I pulled away in surprise a moment after and we stared at each other. My face of surprise and his of pure delight.

"You've tainted this pure prince my lady" he teased and I rolled my eyes. "Please take responsibility for this prince whose purity you've stolen".

"Let's be honest. If anyone's lost their purity it's me. Mr. My first kiss was an enemy soldier" i jabbed a finger into his chest and he chuckled.

"Please, don't touch me so lewdly my lady. I'm but a young boy who knows nothing of the way of women"-

"That- That's enough! Oh my god!" I was a boiled tomato when I tried to get away from him, but our position were swapped and now he towered above me.