Prince's Assassin Mate

Chapter 20

The moonlight strode gracefully through the night, lighting up the rising path and highlighting her features, making her even more beautiful. She was already the most beautiful person for him but standing on the balcony with her by his side and the moon shining brightly in the night sky made her glow even more. He's been admiring her beauty the entire time she's been looking at the moon. Her slightly parted luscious lips, her hazel eyes glowing under the moonlight, and her long red hair flowing gracefully with the soft breeze took his breath away. He was stunned when one of the workers' mind linked him, informing him that the room was ready for them. When she placed her hand hesitantly on his, the simple touch sent tingles through his body, he knows she felt it too. He escorted them out of the room and into his home office. She assumed he was taking her to his office, but he came to a halt outside the door just beside his office. He opened the door, and the contents inside made Ariel stare in awe at him and the room. He simply smiled and led her into the room. She hasn't been here before, but she knows this room was recently renovated. The walls were a light gray color, and they were covered with the paintings that had been destroyed in her studio. It was filled with art supplies, canvases, a working table made out of wood, and the studio was all decorated with lovely lights and a few green plants here and there to make it look fresh. One of the walls was demolished and replaced with glass, providing a view of the woods and mountains overlooking a beautiful lake. There were a few more mahogany furnitures, which contrasted nicely with the gray wall and colorful paintings. She moved closer to the paintings and lightly traced them with her fingers; the tears were barely visible and they appeared new. He kept his promises, recovering all of the destroyed paintings, and what made her even happier was that he considered providing her with a lovely art studio. She smiled to herself and turned around to see a tense Prince. He said as he rubbed his neck.

"I tried to replicate your studio with a new feel, at first I wanted to replicate it but then I thought maybe a few changes would be nice, and it's okay if you don't like it, you can change it back to look like your previous studio." Her expression was ambiguous, and he couldn't tell if she liked it or not. For the first time in a century, he was nervous; she made him feel emotions he didn't even know he had. She took a few steps towards him and smiled as she stood directly in front of him. She gave him a genuine smile for the first time since he brought her here.
"It's beautiful, thank you," she said, kissing his cheek. He stood there trying to process the fact that she actually liked it and not just that she kissed him on the cheeks as she turned back to check out all the supplies and her paintings. He had no idea that a simple act of admiration from her would make him so giddy inside. He saw a new spark in her eyes as she looked around the studio and he went closer to her. She felt him coming closer but she didn't mind, she still can't believe someone actually kept a promise made to her, and not only he recovered the paintings he gave her new studio. For the first time in all this year, someone actually thought about and did something for her. She didn't know that such a small act from him would make her so happy. Happy! She is happy for the first time in all this year she was actually feeling somewhat happy. He was just behind her admiring the painting more like admiring the artist when she asked
"This is why you've been so busy the past weeks?"
" Yeah, I had work, and decorating this took away my time." He said and she nodded with a hum. She went on checking out all of the paintings with Aiden following her. She was silently checking the paintings and he was silently admiring the artist.
" Where were you last night?" She suddenly asked out of the blue breaking the silence. He didn't respond so she turned around to look at him. His face was neutral but not cold
"You didn't come to your bedroom last night, so. It's okay if you don't wanna answer it's not like you're bound to answer me or something." She went on Blabbering and he kept staring at her. He didn't answer so she tried to leave but he caged her by the wall, holding her steady with one hand on her waist and another by her head.
"Were you waiting for me?" He asked looking at her beautiful hazel eyes
"No, why would I wait for you." She looked away and he gently grabbed her chin making her look at him
"Look at me when you're answering, I know you're not one of those who fear to look at someone in their eyes while speaking the truth." She sighed looked at him and said
" I woke up in the middle of the night and saw you weren't there so I asked, it's not like I was waiting for you or something." She didn't lie as it was half-truth but deep down she actually waited for him to return.
"I had sent a few warriors to look for a witch but they didn't co-operate with them so I went there personally and when I returned, the sun was already up." He answered and she hummed
" I would have tried to come home sooner if I knew my beautiful mate would be waiting for me." He said lightly caressing her cheek.
" I wasn't waiting for you, I just couldn't sleep and woke up to see you aren't there."
" So you couldn't sleep because I wasn't beside you, holding you in my arms?" He said arching his brow and a small smirk formed on his lips when he found her trying to think for an answer
" It's not like that!" She huffed and tried to push him away not using her strength, he caught her hand. She tried to wiggle out of his hold but he just chuckled in amusement
" You're so adorable," he complimented and she gasped
" You didn't just say that I'm adorable!"
" I did and you are adorable,"
" I'm not adorable," she huffed again and he loudly chuckled. The sound of chuckle made her ease up in his hold and look at him intensely. Her eyes traveled from his perfect blue eyes to his plump lips. He caught her action and looked at her lovingly. Her eyes met with his and she lightly traced her dried lips with her tongue. His eyes followed her movement and they got a few darker. He leaned towards her, their lips just inches away, she could feel his warm minty breath over her lips, and her heartbeat quicken. She closed her eyes for their lips to touch but their moment was interrupted when the Gamma of the pack burst through the door. Aiden growled and shifted into a defensive stance, hiding Ariel behind him. Liam bowed deeply and exposed his neck in respect.
"Please accept my apologies, Your Highnesses. There is an issue at the southern border that requires your attention. We couldn't reach you because your mental barrier was up."
"Rise, wait for me outside the office." Liam stood up and walked away from them before bowing once more.
"Stay in your room or here and please don't leave; I'll return as soon as I can." He kissed her temple, she nodded, and he was gone as fast as the wind. He made her feel butterflies in her stomach, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in. And his sweet gestures towards her were complicating things for her. Being deprived of any affection from anyone her entire life, only to be the one at the end of every torture, his sweet gestures had her walls crumble. She didn't even realize it but they were crumbling slowly but surely. She decided that it would be best if she kept herself occupied in the world of colors.