Together in Silence

"Is that all you heard from everything I said?" Agatha gritted her teeth. "Are you even listening, Liam? Once they learn the truth about me, they will dethrone you. Don't you understand? You will lose the kingdom and—"

"Do you think I fucking care?" Liam's voice was deadly serious. "Do you really think I'll just give you up to keep the throne?"

Agatha fell silent, unsure of what to say.

Liam scoffed. "I hate being king. The only reason I'm still on the throne is because of you. Everyone knows that only the two of us can possess the Crown. I saw in your eyes how much you hate the royals, so I knew you would loathe being one. Even though I don't want to be king, I took the throne so you wouldn't have to carry that burden. Yes, you'll still be my queen, but you'll have easier tasks than being the direct ruler. I'll grant you freedom."

Agatha lowered her gaze, disbelieving his words, though deep in her heart, she felt she had value to him.

Liam softened his tone. "You are more important than the throne, Aggie."

Agatha immediately shook her head. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."

"And why shouldn't I? Where it's the truth? My truth?" Liam stepped closer, and Agatha immediately backed away, but they shared the same bed, and it was easy for him to trap her in his elegant arms.

"Liam!" There was a warning in Agatha's tone, but she fell silent when she felt the intense Fate Pull between them. It was stronger than she had ever felt, maybe because it was finally united as one.

"They'll imprison me," she said.

"No, they won't."

Agatha sighed. "Even though you're the king, you can't break the law. Everyone is subject to it, even the kings!"

"You might be right," said Liam. "Everyone is equal and under the law. Fair and just, yes. Even the Blue Bloods. So why would you be arrested?"

Liam tucked a stray hair behind Agatha's ear, and the touch burned with pleasure, making her jump.

"What the heck just happened?" she thought. "Why did I feel this way?"

"What do you mean, Liam?" Agatha asked, trying to divert attention.

"The law is unfair, Aggie," explained Liam. "Individuals are punished if a Blue Blood is killed, but when a Dirty Blood dies in Etherealis, no one cares."

Liam adjusted his seat but stayed close to Agatha. "When Ludwig became king, we made changes to the law that the Ministers of Etherealium approved. Even if someone doesn't have royal blood, that doesn't mean one life is more important than another. A life is a life, no matter the blood. The importance and worth of someone are measured by their character and actions, not their lineage or blood."

Agatha's eyes widened at his words. Her heart pounded loudly, and she feared it might explode. Could it really be? Was she truly free?

"But even if the amendment hadn't happened, you still wouldn't be arrested for killing Eva…"

Agatha stared at Liam, confused.

"She killed your mother," said Liam. "So she was a criminal. Then she kidnapped you, and you escaped, but she caught you. You pushed her off the cliff in self-defense. The intent to kill was not premeditated. That wasn't murder. And as far as I know, no one has ever been imprisoned in Etherealis for defending themselves."

Agatha parted her lips in surprise. She suddenly felt so foolish. She had believed rumors and her own fears instead of studying the laws of her birthplace. If she had, she wouldn't have hidden for so long.

Only now did Agatha understand the meaning of knowledge as power.

"And if you're still worried about being imprisoned after everything I've said," Liam whispered as he slowly advanced towards Agatha, it felt like she was in a trance.

Liam added, "If you still don't trust my words, feel free to ask anyone to validate them for you."

Liam was so close that she couldn't think properly. He softly brushed his lips against hers, and a sensational feeling erupted within her. She couldn't help but shiver at his delicious touch.

"And you should also know that the news issued another statement regarding your name a month ago," Liam said, pressing his lips against her cheek before returning to her lips. "And if that still won't persuade you to stay, then you should know that you never killed Eva in the first place."

Agatha's forehead creased. She immediately moved away from his soft lips. The spell seemed to break, and she was back, crashing against reality.

"What do you mean?" she asked eagerly. "I saw with my own eyes how Eva fell from the cliff. I was there."

"Well, honestly," said Liam, "I don't know how it happened that she survived, but I know you weren't the one who killed her. Eva was still alive with her husband Philippe when Ludwig battled Amelia to get the Aureate Flame back. And that was just three months ago."

Agatha could not believe what he was saying. "Eva's still alive?"

Liam slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. She was still looking into his tantalizing brown eyes when he suddenly lifted her into his arms.

"Now that we've settled that, will you stay? Huh, baby?" He nuzzled her neck, making her weaker.

Liam's lips moved closer to hers. At first, he just pressed his lips against hers without moving. Once he noticed she didn't push him away, Liam then slowly began to move his lips.

Agatha had already forgotten what they were talking about. Liam bit her lower lip gently at first, then more teasingly. He sucked her lips before plunging his tongue inside her mouth.

Agatha melted under his burning touches. Pleasure sparked at the ends of his fingertips, making her dizzy with each movement of his hands from her back down to her arms.

She had heard that after the Union of Bond, Fates would feel an intense pull of emotions and peace that would lead them to mate, but she hadn't been informed it felt this good.

His hands drew small circles against the exposed skin at her waist, making her writhe in pleasure. His lips moved from her lips to her throat and down to her collarbone, licking her skin as he moved.

He suddenly sucked the skin between her neck and shoulder, making her jump. "L-Liam," she moaned.

Agatha gripped his arms tightly as his body pressed closer to hers. She could feel him against her, making her delirious with needs and wants she had never experienced before.

When Liam returned his lips to hers and she kissed him back, he groaned. It was the hottest thing she had ever heard, and it made her want him even more.

Liam held her waist and suddenly lifted her while still kissing her. She felt the soft mattress against her back but was too far gone to care where they were. She couldn't get enough of him.

She was lost in his kisses, and as he moved his lips to her ear, she drowned deeper until she could no longer resurface. When Liam rubbed himself against her, she suddenly saw an image she had been trying to erase for years.

Agatha pushed Liam away. He wasn't expecting it and fell off the bed.

"Shit!" Agatha immediately went to Liam, but he was already standing before she could reach him.

There was pain in his eyes, but he tried to hide it with a wide smile.

"You really have me falling for you every time we make out, literally." He laughed, but she could see he was bothered by her pushing him away, so she couldn't join in his laughter.

"I'm sorry," said Agatha sincerely. "I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay, Aggie. I understand. You don't want to give yourself to me that way yet, and I respect that." Liam tucked an escaped strand of hair behind Agatha's ear. "It kinda hurts, you know. It feels like you're rejecting me every time you push me away. But despite that, if we breach your boundaries, I will stop, Aggie. Even if it's hard."

Agatha lowered her gaze. "I didn't mean to push you. And I wasn't rejecting you, Liam. I'm just…"

Agatha couldn't find the words to continue, so Liam caught her elusive gaze. "Is there something wrong, Aggie?"

"I'm just… scared."

Liam nodded and tugged her close. His embrace made her feel protected, lightening the burden knowing he was there.

"I'm scared every time we do it. I remember what Nysander did to my aunt…"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were afraid. I'm sorry, Aggie." Liam held her tighter.

Although Nysander was gone, fear and anger would never die inside her.

"It's okay, Aggie. He's dead. He can no longer hurt you or Aiden. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

"But it's not just that I'm scared about…" Agatha's cheeks suddenly felt hot.

"What is it, then?" Liam's voice was charmingly soft.

When she didn't answer, he forced her to meet his gaze. "Aggie, baby, I need to know what else is our problem so I know what must be done."

Agatha couldn't look into his eyes, and her cheeks just grew hotter. But to heck with this. He was right. If she wanted this to work, they had to communicate their feelings and worries. Besides, Liam was her Fate. It was okay if he knew everything about her.

"I'm scared, okay? I'm scared because I don't know what to do! Is there a book I should read? I badly need one."

"Wait… this is your first?"

Agatha nodded. "Why? Do you think not? Is it because I work in a hotspot?"

"Well then," Liam wondered. "Aiden is…"

"Obviously, he's not my son but my aunt's. But…" There was a sad pause. "She died while giving birth to him. So I became Aiden's guardian and his mother. All this time, did you think he was my son? That Aiden was mine? Did you not think our ages were too close for me to have a child?"

Liam shook his head, thinking deeply. "My mother was seventeen when she had me, so it wasn't weird for me to assume Aiden was yours."

Liam then grinned when he saw Agatha seemed ashamed and hesitant.

"But you don't need to worry, Agatha. We're the same. So we'll just experiment in our own way."

Agatha raised an eyebrow. "The same? What do you mean? Wait…" Upon realization, she punched Liam in the arm.

"What the—?" Liam groaned. "What was that for?"

"Don't you dare lie to me."

"But I'm not lying."

"Liar," said Agatha. "That's impossible. You're a freaking prince, now a king, and you're so handsome!"

That made Liam smirk. "Oh, so I'm handsome? Why did you only say it now?" He tried to change the subject, which only irritated her more.

"I hate liars," said Agatha.

Liam caught her fist that was about to punch him again. His face became serious, making her more frustrated.

"Well, like you," said Liam, "I also saw someone being used. In front of me, when I was a child. My mother… Then, this. I wasn't interested. You're actually the first. The only woman who made me…" Liam couldn't finish his sentence.

But Agatha understood fully, and the revelation stunned her. She had never thought Liam experienced something like that.

Agatha realized how much she didn't know about Liam. At the same time, it pained her heart. Sadness enveloped her for what Liam had gone through. That was why, like he did when she was sad, Agatha hugged him, and Liam hugged her back. They stayed like that for a long while, together in silence.