A Thief's Kiss

13| Care

Chapter 13: Care (Aria's POV)

"I'm not worried," he scoffed. "This is inconvenient for me." 

"Then who asked you to take care of me? I can do it on my own," I rolled my eyes in response, reaching for the ice pack. 

He smacked my hand away quickly. "Don't. Just..." he huffed in frustration. "Just let me do it." 

I leaned back in my chair and watched as he iced it carefully, assessing my ankle every so often. I nearly smiled. 

Nearly. 

After about thirty minutes of sitting under the sun, he stopped icing it for me. I held onto the water bottle Mr. Harry brought earlier and took another sip out of it. 

He shook the can before popping the lid off. "It'll be cold, don't hiss, don't move." He sprayed down on my ankle and I immediately jerked, moving my leg. I thought I wouldn't feel so cold after my ankle was iced. He shot me a pointed look before grabbing my leg, holding it still while he sprayed it on quickly. 

"It's tingling," I whined. 

"It tingles, get over it," he mumbled, tossing the can on the grass with the ice pack. He grabbed the muscle tape and started looking for the point to scratch. 

"Do you want me to...?" I offered. 

He handed it to me with a sigh. I found it and then scratched it with my nail, handing it back to him. He grabbed a piece and then cut and then another of the same size. He peeled off the backing and pulled my skin around the ankle, taping down one piece and then pressing down as he smoothed it. I whimpered in pain. He repeated this with the other piece and made an 'x' with the tape across my ankle. "Give it a few hours. You didn't sprain it so you'll be fine. I'd suggest you stay away from the heels for a while at least. And if it really hurt then don't wear them tomorrow." 

"But your mother said-" 

"I know what she said. But you don't have to listen. She likes you anyway, who are you trying to impress?" I frowned as he stood up, gathering all the things and placing them on the chair he was just sitting in. He lifted my leg and put my foot on the chair. "Stay like this." 

"Out here?" I groaned. 

"Well, you can't walk, genius." 

"Well, you can help me, genius." 

He rolled his eyes. 

"Or... you can carry me." His eyes snapped to mine. I shrugged, drinking more water. He sighed, shaking his head slowly, his hands on his hips. He came forward and made me stand up slowly before putting one arm under my legs and the other around my back. He scooped me up easily and started walking inside. I put my arms around his neck so he wouldn't drop me while he walked in with ease. "Mr. Harry!" 

"Oh dear, yes sir?" he asked, looking at me. 

"Please bring in all the stuff from the seats and my coat is on the chair as well, bring that too, please." 

"Yes, sir," he nodded and then left. 

"Oh no, what happened?" the king asked, appearing from a room I learned is his study. 

"She was learning to walk in heels." I looked up at Alexander as he spoke. "Clearly she failed." I dug my nails into the back of his neck. He sighed, glaring down at me. "I'll drop you," he muttered. 

"Your father's watching, I dare you," I said through a fake smile. "I did, but Alexander is nice enough to help me, aren't you?" I asked, looking from the king to Alexander.