Royals (Book 1)

Chapter 20 : The Perfect Option

Once I realized Alarik had snuck out again, I retreated back to my room but I decided to leave the bag in his room. It was already a risk lugging it around where someone could catch me, and I doubt anyone would have a reason to go through his room. I tip-toed through the halls, checking every corner before proceeding into the hall where my room was. I thought I was safe as I opened the door, until I felt the presence of someone behind me. I slowly turned around to see Angelo standing there with a scowl prominent on his face. I let out a sigh, he wasn't the worst person to encounter in this moment.

"What are you doing out of your room Rayna?" He asked, his voice low with disappointment.

"You know I cannot sleep sometimes, I went to go get some warm milk." I offered my usual explanation, except this is the first time where it was not true.

"Well it can be quite hard to sleep when you are leaving a boy's room." My eyes widened, I felt my ears heat up from being caught in a lie. "Rayna, what are you doing in Alarik's room this late?"

I wondered how much he knew, how much I should say without being caught. Had he found the bag of books, did he realize what pages were cornered and that I was on to them? These questions rushed through my head as I stammered a bit, fumbling over my words as I tried to think of a valid explanation. "We just had to talk about something."

"Rayna, he is bad news. I know he might be your future husband, so perhaps it's better to save certain talks until that time comes." My brows furrowed slightly until I realized what he was suggesting, I was so thrown back by what it was when I realized that I began to cough. Perhaps it was better that he thought we were doing something inappropriate instead of what I actually went over there to do.

"Angelo, I promise nothing inappropriate was happening. We did really just have to talk." I tried to deny it, to make it more believable.

"Okay, just go to bed." I could tell he did not believe me, and for now I was okay with that. I quickly escaped to my room, the embarrassment burning my cheeks.

"Well that seemed like a fun conversation." I heard and looked over my shoulder, Alarik sitting on the ledge of my window. The bag I had originally left in his room was in his hands now, and I let out a breath of relief. "Would you like to tell me why Angelo was going through my room?"

"What?" 

"You're lucky I got there before he did and swiped this, I had already climbed out of my window to come talk to you since I guessed that you left it in my room when he came in and started moving some stuff around." He explained. "Maybe try not to leave whatever evidence you found in plain sight in a castle where you're constantly watched."

"Noted." I nodded, suddenly nervous about him being in my room. I never had a boy in here before, I knew I should not be thinking about these childish things right now but I could not help myself.

"So what did you find?" He asked, his tone a little too disconnected for my liking. Yet I knew that's how it should be. I took the bag from him and pulled out the history books.

"I know you're sick of hearing it, but I needed definitive proof that what the Serpents are saying is true. There is different information about the largest rebellion against the MultiCountry Union Act in both books, the year and death count is different." I told him as I showed him the pages, pointing to the information I'm referencing. "Whether only one or both of them are wrong, that is a rather large mistake from a distinguished publishing company."

I still felt the anger lighting up my skin when I looked at him, the fact that things such as my trust and my body were things that he thought were at his disposal. I could not stand that he had to be one that I had to report to but I did not have an option anymore. If I could go back in time and take away all of our moments, I would. Perhaps then I would not hate him so for being a part of the Phoenixes.