City of Starlight

Chapter 8 - Weeping heartstrings

(Daniella's POV)

It caught me off guard. Although I could feel it within my bones that our feelings were mutual, I never imagined that I would receive my first kiss this way. No sooner had I flinched back upon impulse, I reddened, for I feared the kind of message that it might send. My gaze immediately snapped onto Rhys'. In the pools of his pupils, my reflection looked back at me in a questioning and confused gaze. I didn't know what to say, but I knew if I looked down or turned away, he might have taken the wrong meaning.

Slowly, I wrapped my arms around him, burying my head into his chest. I could feel his arms tightening around me, but I was able to raise my hand and gently place it on his chest where his heart was. I could feel the hammering pump of the organ just beneath my fingertips. It raced with an energy I hadn't felt before. Sure, the rhythm of his heartbeats were just as fast as that of a terrified peasant, but there was a warmth to Rhys' beats; a lively, passionate spirit thump. 

I looked up from my hand and murmured, "I don't understand."

Rhys chuckled and said, "Can you blame me? I just took my chances at the fairest girl in all the lands."

I mulled over his words in my head but I couldn't think of a reply. "Why me?" I finally murmured in between shaking breaths.

"I think I might need more time for that."

A smirk lifted the corners of my lips. "I'd like to believe that you've thought things out before leaning over to kiss the Evil Queen's daughter."

"I had to take my chances, even if it means I might get blown up into a million pieces." 

I raised an eyebrow. He caught my expression and asked reciprocally, "You know, I could ask the same for you."

I chuckled and replied, "If I remember correctly, Mr soon-to-be-knight-of-the-round-table, you kissed me first." When the shock of receiving the kiss started to subside, it occurred to me what this meant. "Is it alright if we keep this as a secret for now?" I could feel my voice quicken as I tried to explain, "Everyone is really stressed and busy at the moment, and I'm not sure how my mother, or even father for the matter, would react."

"Yeah that's fine." It took him another moment before he asked, "You're not promised to anyone are you?"

I widened my eyes and swiftly replied as I shook my head, "Oh no, definitely not! Well, there has been some efforts by neighbouring kingdoms to pair up their princes with me, but mother had declined all of them before I could even hear about any potential matches."

"Has any of the choices ever interested you though?"

"Of course not! Although I'm sure not all princes are inherently bad, an arranged match would still be orchestrated by something other than love. If everything goes well, it would no doubtly strengthen ties between our kingdoms, but if not, it would turn sour very quickly. Besides, many princes are born to be rather dominant and they could easily forget their place."

"As consort you mean."

I nodded. Something seemed to twist and turn in Rhys' mind so I prompted gently, "Hey, what is it?"

He gave me a smile before laughing it off and saying lightly, "I wonder what your mother would think of me."

I squeezed his hand and said quietly, "She wouldn't judge, given who my father is. I know that coming from me, it might not be entirely assuring, but she's not as scary as you might imagine. Besides, your family is on our side right?" I added after a moment of silence, "Don't worry, when the time comes, we'll tell her, ok?"

Rhys gently placed a kiss on my head. 

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