Queen Time Twist

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

 "Stay," she said as the Prince rose from the bed.

"Pardon?" His shock wore off quickly as he schooled his features into one of indifference.

"The couch is uncomfortable and the bed is big enough for two." Her guilt gnawed at her when he repeatedly yielded the huge bed for her comfort. It definitely eased her mind to pretend a complete stranger wasn't in her room, but it felt inevitable when it was clear that she wasn't going back to the present any time soon.

"I'm fine-"

"It's not for you, don't for a second think it's for you." She huffed as she pulled the covers tight against her body, turning away from the gaping Prince. "I'm doing this because it's highly inconvenient to handle your grumpy attitude in the morning."

There was a pregnant pause before she felt the other side of the bed dipping under the Prince's weight.

"Sure, Princess."

It unnerved her to hear her public title, a very endearing pet name if it wasn't for the circumstances but melted deeper into the feathery pillow.

The rustle of the covers made her flinch, reminding her of the proximity she had willingly allowed. And she forgot her snoring. She groaned inwardly.

With the lantern no more giving light to the room, darkness enveloped the two Royalties, filling in the silence. It was only a few minutes after the Prince settled in when said Prince opened his mouth.

"As I've answered your question dutifully, may I ask you one as well?" His voice carried through the wind, his deep velvet voice tickling her ears and giving life to the butterflies inside her.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes.

"Why are you risking a rift in your family?" Scrunching her brows, she pondered his question before answering.

"I did say I can be loyal to you. I'm just proving it."

And the fact that the history book says so, but she didn't tell him that.

"I have to say, you go to great lengths to buy my trust. From ridiculing Alexander by telling him he is of no use anymore to sharing a bed with a man who implied that he will take revenge on your family."

She rolled over to face him, and as if he sensed so, he turned accordingly to meet her moonlit eyes.

"I'm not buying anything, Prince. I'm earning it."

His usually hard eyes hinted at softening before the Prince had the audacity to outright scoff at her face. He turned his back on her once again.

"Well, excuse me if I doubt your words, Lady Elise. You have been very intimate in the Garden with Lord Alexander."

"You are jealous!" She exclaimed.

"Hardly." He bit out.

"You are." She huffed in finality before really closing her eyes, surrendering herself to sleep, and praying to Mother Luna to cure her snoring.

"Maybe." He whispered lightly before she could fall into the depths of slumber.

===

The grunts and harsh breathing rang throughout the vast training room, promptly giving the Prince a headache.

As he slipped out of the bed Elise had generously offered to share, he quickly retreated to his favorite place in the Palace: The Armory.

His Beta, Chester, was already at the head office sorting out the method-training books they were writing. They acknowledged the other with a nod as he pulled a chair to oversee the publishing and training in general.

"I heard there was a slight commotion in the Gardens this evening." He should have known Chester would be nosy.

"Was there?" Trenton feigned aloofness.

"A certain she-wolf caught in a crossfire between two Alpha males. You would be surprised- how fast rumors fly." When the Prince labeled the last papers, he raised to meet his friend's knowing eyes.

"Your point?" His jaws locked in faint annoyance and concentration as he resumed his task by searching the next pile of papers.

"Alpha." This time, his Beta caught his attention by using formality.

"Alpha, your sudden interest in Lady Elise is becoming dangerous."

"It isn't sudden when I courted her for half a year, and am currently wedded to her." He attempted to lighten the mood but figured he failed when Chester's face remained stony. His Beta was usually stern, and excessively serious in any setting and it seemed this was no exception.

He set his work aside as (determination flitted) over his features.

"Chester, you know better than anyone that I will never trust anyone from the lu Pavel family. Why do you think Lady Elise is any different?"

"I do know that, Trenton. But you have to admit your act of intimacy with the Princess is- quite real."

Ignoring the hard beats of his heart, he replied steadily, "For me, that only sounds like a compliment for my acting."

"Don't forget to put Rosaline in the equation of your newfound emotions. I advise you to forget about it before it becomes unavoidable." At the mention of Lady ba Ruslan, the Prince couldn't help but feel guilt consume him.

"You know I can't do that." He spat out as he eyed his Beta wearily.

"We have gone over this, and you will. For the Kingdom." The Beta's gaze slanted over to the empty spot over his shoulder, unable to meet his friend's eyes. He was stubbornly resolved, giving the Prince no space for negotiation.

Selfless Jerk.

"I am Alpha, Chester. You will not order me how to reign." His voice slipped into a tone he rarely used in the day, making it that much easier for the Prince. He knew he was dumping his pent-up frustration on his friend but with his friend being blinded by duty, it was time he utilized his powers.

The command underlying his tone forced the Beta to crane his neck in submission, and the other warriors training in close proximity stop. They took the brunt of their superior's stress and stood stock still due to his unconscious call to order.

The Prince gripped the table and braced his arms as his form trembled at the intensity of the surge of dominance. The taste of his potential was borderline delirious. He willed to restrain himself.

As he regained his composure, he waved apologetically at the small crowd to resume their fights, while running a hand through his ink hair in irritation. When the final wave of his authority washed over them, Chester blinked and sucked in a breath as he collected himself.

"Sorry." The Prince grit out.

"No problem." Chester nonchalantly replied. It was not the first, nor would it ever be his last. He understood his job was to push the Alpha to not let him deviate from his track and this was merely a taste of his future. Inescapable, and a job he took pride in.

"Alpha. Will Lady Elise become a hindrance to our plan?"

The Prince was rather drained at the turn of their conversation, and the question stalled him longer than he liked. The pause was unwelcome and he was aware of his Beta's doubt lingering and intensifying by the moment.

"Don't worry, Chester." His steady voice broke faintly at the end as he prayed to Mother Luna for forgiveness, "When she poses to be one, I will kill her myself." 

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