Ch 12 "A Hunger Unspoken"

Todays song is I like bad girls like you by Tobii

 ENJOY

Alex's POV

I've been standing behind this door like some coward, hiding from her.

This is my castle. My domain. So why the hell can't I just open the damn door?

My fingers are locked around the doorknob, frozen—ridiculous.

But then—

The door creaks open.

Not by my hand.

She's there. Her.

Her eyes widen for a heartbeat, then narrow. Sharp. Cutting. My chest tightens, and I hate the feeling.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice is cold. Too steady.

"It's my castle, princess. I can go wherever I want," I reply, the words sharp enough to draw blood.

She rolls her eyes.

God, I hate when she does that.

"You know I hate that," I snap.

"And I live for your suffering," she shoots back.

Small. Delicate. Defiant.

Infuriating.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

She tilts her head. "Not running, if that's what you're implying. I'm not stupid."

I almost laugh.

"I know you won't," I say.

She bristles. There's that look again—conflict masked behind steel. She hates me. And yet…

"I was heading to the kitchen," I say, lowering my voice. "In case you were hungry. You only had breakfast."

Her eyes narrow. "How do you know that?"

"You didn't touch your food. Just stabbed it like it owed you something."

That flicker—embarrassment? Annoyance?—flickers across her face.

Satisfying.

And then it hits me—him.

Not now. Not here.

Get out.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asks, voice wary.

I blink hard, dragging myself back.

"How am I looking at you?"

She brushes past me. "Like a creep."

"Where are you—"

"To eat. Starving, remember?"

Cute. Even when she's angry.

Lilith's POV

He's infuriating. Arrogant. Annoyingly observant.

And somehow… impossible to ignore.

We walk down the hallway, silence thick between us.

"What were you reading in there?" he finally asks.

"History," I say simply.

"Of what?"

"Kingdoms. Yours included."

His brow lifts.

"Your father's still listed as the official ruler, by the way. Alfredtand Winslow, correct?"

His face shifts. Cold. Guarded.

"You don't know anything. Don't speak of things you don't understand."

"Just quoting the records."

"Then the records lie."

I raise a brow. "So tell me the truth."

He doesn't respond.

So I change tactics.

"Do you read, or just stare at walls all day?"

He snorts. "I'm not a book person."

Of course he isn't.

"Singer?" I tease.

A glare.

"Poet? Love letters in the dungeon?"

"Death notes count as poetry?"

A twitch. Almost a smile. Almost.

"No, princess. I don't write."

"So what do you do?"

Silence.

Finally, he nods to the kitchen.

"We're here."

Moment gone. Mask back on.

But I saw it. That flicker.

Everyone has a weakness.

I'll find his.

And when I do… I'll make sure it hurts.