𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭

~𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐯𝐮𝐬~

"I'm so sorry about that September" he says in a barely audible voice.
"Technically, I almost murdered you, so it's fine" I say teasing him.
"Correction: you couldn't" he lets out an adorable chuckle.
I give him a death stare, until I lose it myself and start laughing.
It feels like everyone in this room has disappeared. It's just me and him now, laughing like his mother wasn't just murdered, like I didn't plan on killing him, like life was perfect. It was far from that.

The king orders everyone to sleep so we discuss things tomorrow. He reassures us that we're safe, though I doubt he believes that.

I sleep on the ground just like most people. My bloodied and muddy gown being the only warmth I have for tonight.
I manage to steal a corner, far away from everyone. Isolated. Perfect.

As soon as I try to drift to sleep, images of tonight pervade little peace I had.
Crazy that I woke up this morning in the arms of the man I love, to sleeping in a palace with no one but strangers.
Elijah. I totally forgot about him. I feel guilty that I haven't spared him a thought.
He loves me dearly, yet here I am, totally forgetting him at the sight of another man.
Elijah's perfect. He loves me with his life. He makes me feel safe. He's never been anything but the perfect boyfriend.
Not to mention he's absolutely breathtaking. Any sane girl woud he drawn to him. With his perfect curly brown hair, and those greens eyes. Those eyes.
But well, his love is almost... arid. I don't feel alive around him. I simply am living.
He's too perfect.

But then a wicked voice inside of me comapres Elijah to Fredrick.
Fredrick is just as gorgeous. He's a lot more intimidating though.
I wonder what kind of lover he is.
Goddamit Augustine. You barely met the man.

Hours pass by and I haven't gotten a minute of sleep. Sleep was something I used to abide by religiously. But now with all that's going on, I honestly don't care anymore.

I feel some sort of warmth drape over me, turning around I notice it's Fredrick with a warm little blanket in his hands.
"You're awake?" He looks hesitant. Like he didn't expect me to be awake.
His voice is raspy. Making it even more attractive.
"Couldn't sleep. And you?" I ask him
"Me neither" he says while rubbing his temples. "Uh‐ I noticed you were shivering, so I brought you my blanket"
"Thank you" I say while wrapping it tighter around my body.
I didn't feel cold, but I knew that my body was.
"Come" he gets a good grip on my wrist and drags me to an extension of the room we're in.

It's a greenhouse of sorts. An inclosed space filled with greenary and windows. Infact there's a sunroof.
The sky was absolutely exquisite. Like a black canvas scatrered with droplets of white paint. I adore it.
We lay on the ground taking in the view. While the blanket is still on me.
"Oh I love stars" I truthfully state breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"You see that" I point to a group of 4 starts. He nods.
"That's the constellation Corvus! it's beautiful. It looks so stately yet it's so small." It's Perched just above the treetops. "it depicts a raven."
"And a little bit above that to the left, that's Spica. It's the brightest star in the Virgo constellation"
I've always been intimidated by space. But I never got the chance to learn about it other than from the books my mom used to own.
"How'd you know so much?" He ask, slowly turning his head towards mine.
Our eyes meet for a while.
"My mother! She lovef space." I can't help it but tear every time she's mentioned. I miss her dearly.
"What happened to her" he hesitantly questions, afraid he might hurt me by his question.
I turn my sight back to the stars "I don't know! She- left."
And for a couple of minutes we just sit there, absolutely not uttering a word.
"That makes two of us" he laughs at his fresh wounds.
"I'm so sorry for your loss"
"It's fine, you've done nothing"
We hold eye contact for a while. In a way it feels like no words are needed at all. Like we're communicating innaudibly.
"How can you trust that I won't kill you right now?" I can't help it but question him.
"I know you won't"
"That's not a good enough answer" my vcoice slightly gets louder.
"Shhh you'll wake them up."
"Sorry" I back down.
"I just have to make some sacrifices you know" he says calmly.
"On?"
"You?" He says quiter than a whisper. Hesitant.
Me? My stomachc churns. Something in me sparks.
But not love, nor lust.
"Sir!" A swarm of guards storm towards us, invading our little moment.
Goddamit I almsot had him wrapped around my finger.