MINE.

Chapter 7: The debt

-Kingston-

I have checked out. My mind wanders as I sit in the large tub. The smell of the cleansing herbs are meant to calm while also arouse. But all I feel is cold since the moment The Empress conceded. It was not a warm moment it was as if I stole his son away. Dion's family is desperate now. He hasn't woke in days and the physician says this is Dion's last hope. But what if it doesn't work.

We are to be married. I should be overjoyed but the fact that Dion  has no choice is what matters most.

I contemplate this stoically as the servants wash my entire body starting with my hair. I hate this but I don't complain I have done enough to cause Dion and his family distress. The thought makes me feel more guilty. They are the closest thing I ever had to a real family and I have betrayed them. It was never intentional but I'm constantly being confronted by what my actions caused.

I never wanted to leave Dion but even today I don't know what I could have done differently. From the second I laid eyes on Dion I knew he was special.

After the Empress gave birth to the twins no one was allowed to see them for entire month apart for the Physician back then and the Emperor.

I was ten at the time I had been taken in by the Imperial Family just a few months prior when Dion and Deanna were born. It was strange how despite me being a fugitive basically how simple life was. Amani was nine and Swari was seven. We got along fine. I had never had siblings my own age and everyday was an adventure with them.

Also, the Empress was kind. He treated me the same as Amani and Swari despite me having lost my birthright. I wasn't a prince anymore but was treated as one. It never seemed that Hazel ran out of love in fact he gave us all more love after the twins were born despite doting on them day and night.

My bedroom was across from the nursery and I was often awoken in the night by one or both of them crying. One particular night I stepped out of my door and saw light coming out of the cracked door.

I knew I wasn't allowed to go in the Empress had made it clear that no one can see the twins yet. He had joked that they needed a bit color. But I was curious and I found myself tip toeing into the nursery.

I was surprised to find it empty. The twins were in their crib crying but the Empress was nowhere in sight. I didn't like that they were crying alone so I peaked my head into the crib just to let them know they weren't alone.

It wasn't a particularly interesting sight. Two pudgy little ball humans crying.

"Hi there." I said so they knew the weren't alone. Deanna kept right on crying as if deciding I was not who she called for but Dion. The moment I spoke he slipped his thumb into mouth and opened his eyes to look directly into my face.

My heart thumped out of beat. It was so afraid cause all a sudden I could feel my heart beat slowing. It was uncomfortable but I could hardly blink as I stared into eyes of blue violet that held me.

Now in that moment I won't say that I knew he was my mate. What my child's brain told me then was that Dion was important. Maybe the most important person I will ever know. I was so transfixed I hadn't heard the Empress come in.

"Naughty boy." He said and I looked up at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry." I said bowing my head.

"Were you worried?" Hazel asks.

I nod.

"Then don't apologize you did the right thing. If you ever worry it is best to check on babies." He says as he leans over the crib and scoops up a still wailing Deanna.