POSSESSIVE (MXM)

Six

Elijah was quite ecstatic to know he was going to spend the day with the prince of Larmont. A chance to get to know his soulmate and quite figure out why the gods have set them up to be together. Yes, the prince was absolutely stunning to look at. He had his cute features and strikingly handsome ones which were a great contrast but somehow excruciatingly undeniable. But other than that, Elijah could not fathom the reasoning behind them two being destined to each other.

"You do not have your spear with you," said Nolan, peering from the corner of his right eye, as they head towards the staple.

Elijah's lips curled up into a warm smile as he continued to stare ahead. There was something comforting and warm about the quiet yet deep voice the prince encompassed.

"I did not think I would need it. Surely, you can defend me in a fight," he said with a slight tease in his voice.

Nolan scoffed, half rolling his eyes. A tendency he learnt from Gillian when they were kids, which she probably learnt from school.

"I did not bring my bow and arrows. So, if we are attacked, I am afraid we shall not survive," he said.

Elijah only chuckled. The least of his worries was being attacked.

Nolan stopped at the entrance of the staple, finding the staple boy attending to one of the horses, his back facing them. So, he did not hear the two approach and none of the two disturbed as Nolan released a huge breath, puffing out his cheeks. His eyes scanning the foreign horses. He really loved Valley but he loved his sister more, he could not bare the thought of her riding a stubborn horse and getting injured. He pushed his round glasses up, as Elijah admires him from the corner of his left eye.

The prince cleared his throat walking further into the staple, Elijah following slightly behind. The staple boy was startled, jumping up from the wooden stool he was sitting on while trimming the hoofs of a horse. He bumped into a bucket that encompassed water, toppling it slightly to the side it spilt some of the water on the hay grass that was beside it.

"Oh! Milord!" He exclaimed, his voice higher than he had intended, and quickly he cleared his throat bowing before the two gentlemen. "How may I assist the prince?" He asked, already looking at where Valley was kept.

"I need a horse Henryk," he said, shaking his head when the boy headed for Valley. "Another," he said sternly.

"Oh!" Henryk only exclaimed but made no move to assist further.

"Mind to make a suggestion?" The prince was slightly getting impatient, not really one to like to converse which made others assume he was slightly rude.

"Uhm...sure!" Henryk hurriedly moved forward. "Compared to Valley, Oli is the next closest thing to him. They are actually siblings, mothered by the same horse. I think Oli came a year after Valley," the smile on Henryk face was so bright and pure, the prince found himself spotting a small smile.

"Is that so?"

"Mhm," Henryk nodded his head enthusiastically, as he brings Oli out of the stall. "She is very sweet and behaves quite well. I tried to give her to the princess but she said first time ridden horses are too fussy. Although, I can assure you, milord, she is the sweetest beast," he said.

"You seem fond of her," the prince said calmly which was a surprise to Elijah whose only heard the prince snap more times than he could count.

"I trained her myself. The best horse I've ever ridden," he said fondly, patting the horse that rubbed itself to his palm.

"I'll be the judge of your work then," said the prince, taking the reigns from the boy who smiled back.

"Oh, sir Elijah! Your horse! I groomed him yesterday, I hope you do not mind. I must say, she's my second favourite after Oli. However, the most beautiful beast by far," he cooed, hurrying his steps to get the white mane.

Elijah chuckled. His horse does seem to gather more attention than he himself.

"Which is your least favourite? Please amuse me, Henryk," Nolan inquired, now thinking perhaps the boy just loved every horse.

Henryk chuckled, a blush tainting his tan cheeks as he made his way back with Elijah's horse.

"Eva. She is as stubborn and grumpy as her owner," he said blushing even harder, before dramatically bowing. "Please milord, do not tell the princess I said that about her horse or her," he pleaded, still not rising from his bow.

Nolan could not stop laughing even as he waved his hand. Elijah smiled at him, admiring his childlike glow when he laughs.

"Do not worry Henryk, because you made me laugh, I shall emit this information from my sister," he comforted.

Henryk rose from his bow and smiled at the prince, muttering a small, "thank you," as he gives Elijah the reigns of his horse.

The two bid farewell to the staple boy, and together they headed outside. Nolan took a glance of Elijah's horse and snickered, hiding his eye roll.

"What?" Elijah asked already sounding defensive.

"You even discriminate horses! Only white ones with white hair. Typically Shillians," he said with a slight scoff.

Elijah's right eye twitched at the tone Nolan used to speak to him. A man like Elijah demanded a sense of respect. If things were not as they were, he would have bend Nolan over and gave him a spanking he truly deserves. But since he was still in the courting phrase, he needed to be patient with the prince.

"My father owns a black horse. Black horses on white sand is a phenomenal sight to look at. Just because I own a white one does not mean we have no diversity," he said, as they both started to ride out of the royal premises.

Nolan glanced over at him, brows knitted together. An effect of both the sun and Elijah's attitude.

"Were you offended?"

"Quite frankly I was! Especially since my king is of a different race. And my queen's brother resides here in Larmont. We are quite a welcoming tribe, Nolan," he said.

The prince was quiet although a frown creased his forehead.

"Nolan," he whispered his own name as if it was not his at all. "Isn't it prince Nolan or milord to you?" He questioned, ignoring all that Elijah had said before.

Elijah chuckled, not even offended by the prince dismissing his feelings.

"You're no prince of my own," he declared.

"Yes, however, you are on my land. Which makes me your prince," Nolan declared firmly.

"Logically speaking, you are right," he said.

Nolan's frown deepen, he was more confused than he was earlier.

"Logically? Is there any other way to view this?"

Elijah only flashed the prince a smile, which only annoyed Nolan even more. The prince looked away, shoving his glasses up his face.

"I respect you, giving you a title you surely deserve, sir Elijah," he scoffed, clearly annoyed.

"You can call me Eli if you so wish, Nolan," he declared, running his fingers through his white curls.

"Prince Nolan," the prince said through gritted teeth, turning his face to the sun to hide his irritated face.

Elijah chuckled. Something about annoying the prince brought pleasure to the young man. Whether it was the thought that breaking Nolan and discipling him to being the respectful and thoughtful partner he wants was going to be a fun journey after all.

"Right there! We shall leave our horses right there, and stroll through the town," said the prince abruptly, pointing at a place with a shade where a number of horses were left by their owners.

Elijah did not disagree with the prince, but he rather followed his lead. Elijah can give respect as much as he wanted it. However, sometimes he likes to pull up a fight with people who were like Nolan. Who believed a title came with automatic respect. Although, the prince was not the worst he sure had a few edges to tweak.