Chapter 3

Well, the first night out didn't seem to get too bad. After the royal Farwell, including my father, my 3 older brothers, a handful of servants, and half the royal court—because things had to be official— we had made our way through the city. There were so many things I wanted to look at, but Velagh kept me by his side, his hand never far from my arm or my back to either pull me closer when I was about to stray away or push me forward when I was about to slow down.

It wasn't fun. I loved this city with its tall buildings, narrow streets, white brick walls, and opulent elven stone carvings. I loved stopping to look at all the shop windows big and small. I loved to get lost and meet people—mainly men—to find yet another soul to keep me company. But Velagh knew how to keep me on a short leash. Not once have I traveled through our city so fast. He had no patience given his pace and silence. No matter how much I bickered and pouted he didn't waver.

You'd think we would have left the city that day, but we didn't. Elven kingdoms are big, with most citizens living directly around the castle. It could take days to get through a bustling city that surrounded a castle, and as far I could tell Velagh already tried to take the fastest route to get us out of here. We had settled in the outer skirts of the city once the sun had set and to my surprise it was unexpectedly full.

A group of four entertainers were playing music on a small stage, visitors were dancing and singing along. In a corner, a group of shady men played cards surrounded in silence while they tried to read each other's faces. The barmaids were carrying three steins in each hand to supply the thirsty, laughter and loud but indistinct voices filled the room. It was different from what I was used to. And I found it appealing.

The people here were just living. No boring banquets, not being told to go to their room once the sun went down, no reading till falling asleep. No, these people seemed like they wanted to dance away the night and I felt excited. That was until Velagh pulled me closer, pushed his upper body against my back, and guided me through the room.

One hand was slightly raised, ready to catch anyone who was about to bump into us, the other hand—in a very similar manner—rested at my shoulder. It was rare for him to come that close to me and I could tell he wasn't doing it just to be close. He did it to protect me. And yet I found it arousing to feel his heartbeat and the warmth of his body against mine.

I wish he could just push me against a wall, lacing his fingers with mine to keep me in place, strip me of my clothes, and just take me. There I was, fantasizing about him yet again, how he would thrust himself inside me, fill me up with his pulsating erection, and fuck me till I collapsed. Yet this idiot refused to be anywhere near me unless it was necessary. I pouted, offended by my own thoughts.

"Well, what a face," a woman laughed and I looked at her, rolling my eyes.

"I know it's pretty," I huffed. It was only when I realized that she was standing behind the counter, ready to take an order from us, that my expression softened.

She was a tiny but absurdly robust woman, and yet still kind of proportional. I could tell that she was standing on a little stool of box, or anything to elevate her. She was a dwarf and I was fairly unfamiliar with her kin. I knew of them, I may have seen some of them, but I never really talked with any of them.

Her head was full of blond, thick hair, woven into a massive braid, adorned with dried flowers, tiny, sparkly gems, and equally tiny, sparkly ribbons. What dwarf women lacked in beards, they made up for tenfold with the hair on their heads. Her sky-blue eyes resembled glistening gemstones, telling tales of her home deep within the mountains, her face full of freckles like stars in the night sky.

"Of course you are, Your Royal Highness," she laughed again and I tiled my head ever so slightly. Of course, she knew who I was. The whole room probably knew, but no one had paid us attention.

"We need a room," Velagh announced unfazed and I could watch her thoughts running wild for a second. If she was living through her own fantasies just now? Did she picture us in bed, how he would do ungodly things to the king's youngest son? Was she contemplating how much trouble this could bring to her doorstep? I mean, from her point of view, why else would we be here, if not to do something forbidden? My eyes lingered on her, interested and waiting. And there it was, a hint of red crossing her cheeks.

"Sure, just give me some code name I can put on the list and I'll get you a room ready," she winked at the both of us and I could feel Velagh sigh deeply. But he kept his composure. It wasn't his job to correct her, people would always talk, especially about me. Not that it bothered me.

"Fill in whatever you want," Velagh answered and she looked at him with her eyebrow jumping up ever so slightly. But then she shrugged, turned around, and hopped down from her elevation. For a second there, she almost vanished completely from my sight behind the counter. She left through a door behind the counter and after a minute or two she returned to hand me a key. A key I wasn't fast enough to take before Velagh snatched it from her hand.

"Ah, I see"—she giggled—"just up the stairs to the left. Big, violet door, you can't miss it," she added. I didn't even stop to wonder what her previous words even meant. She must have come to some conclusion, but I wasn't in the mood to lose my head over it. Velagh nodded and before I could say anything, he guided me away, his body pushing against mine to direct me upstairs. He didn't even make a step back to unlock the door to our room.

Only once he had guided me inside he retreated, locking the door behind us. I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"You know, if this is how we move through crowds from now on, I won't believe your next rejection." I groaned, stretching my limbs before giving the room a glance-over.

"It must suck to be you," he snorted devoid of any amusement. The difference in surroundings showed immensely. We only ever talked openly when we were alone, which was rare at the castle. Someone was always near and the thick sturdy stone walls had ears and eyes everywhere. But here it was different. Here it was just the two of us and just like that the formalities had taken themselves out for a walk.

"It does, actually. Especially since you refuse to suck me, or me to suck you," I mused. My body still felt hot from his touch. I had given anything right then and there to get him between my legs. But I knew better than to try.

"Pity," he replied in a similar tone and made me roll my eyes.

"Aw poor me. Say, isn't there something you have to do?" I got annoyed real fast. That's what unfulfilled arousal did to me. It made me unbearably snarky and he had to deal with it now. Served him right.

"I do indeed. And you'll stay here. Don't get too comfortable—"he dropped our luggage into a corner of the room—"we won't stay for long."

"Right…" As if I would stay locked into this room while he was out doing the gods knew what. Not that it wasn't comfy though. The room was spacious with short wooden walls. In fact, the ceiling was so low that Velagh had to keep his head low so as not to bump into the ceiling beams. It was adorned and divided by violet curtains with white flowers woven into the fabric. There were two beds, a double and a single one, with a wooden screen between them to give both sleeping corners their privacy.

If the dwarven lady assumed we were to share a bed, she was still thoughtful enough to consider that she might have the wrong idea. She had made sure we'd have separate beds to spend the night in, much to my annoyance. Here I was hoping we wouldn't have another chance but to sleep in the same bed.

"I mean it, Lyron." His voice was deep and serious, sending a shiver down my spine. I needed to get rid of the erection growing within me before it would show.

"We're not home where you have to remind me of my duties and castle rules. So, would you mind giving me my space for the time?"

"Yes, I would mind."

"Oh, for f—"I took a deep breath to keep my calm, but he made it hard to do so. "Just in case you can't tell, you're pissing me off right now."

"Good, maybe that will help you calm down," he ridiculed me and my state of mind. He knew exactly what he had done to me, being so close yet so far. Was this some sadistic trait? Putting me in unbearable situations and then just leaving me to deal with them? If so, it made everything ten times worse. It would have been fine if he had returned to fuck me senseless and tell me I had been a good boy, but that's exactly the thing he wouldn't do. So I sure as hell wouldn't follow his words.

"Go already," I ordered him, my voice so cold it chased a chill through my body. Even I didn't expect how much it bothered me.

I could feel his gaze on me, how he glanced at me, piercing my tender body devoid of all longing. Then finally, I could hear the door fall shut. And then, just like that, I heard the key turn in the lock.