Their Princess

Chapter 1

I'm hiding under my bed when I hear Zed's voice. I giggle at the thought of irritating him. Everyone knows how worried he gets when I'm not around. All four of my guardians do but Zed particularly is more sensitive to the idea of me being away. So I take advantage of this.

“ Princess, where are you? It's time for dinner. Be a good girl and come out.” I hear Zed say.

I refuse to reply and let him look for me. Ever since I teleported to this planet Ethna I've been living with Zed and his 3 brothers. My supposed kidnapper aka scientist gave my guardianship to them believing I can be a hindrance to his experiments. Like he was getting any success before.

I was angry at the beginning that he was handing me over to these unknown guys but later on I came to know that the brothers were funding his experiments and they were somehow related. I was wary of them in the beginning due to their enormous height and muscles but grew to like them all later on. 

They are like gentle giants who love to shower me with affection in their own way. Zed, the youngest one, particularly likes to stay by my side at all times and makes sure I'm well fed and rested. 

The other brothers have also grown more affectionate of me over the month. Elijah, the third brother, is the peace maker of the family who loves to give me head pecks all the time. He will constantly check on my mental and emotional state which was honestly uncomfortable in the beginning but now I wait for him to come and ask me how I was doing.

Rey, the second brother, is heavily built with 6 feet 3 inches height. He is caring and overprotective of his family. When I came to live with them in their castle, he was calculating my every move. But slowly I managed to crawl in his heart. Now he makes sure I'm safe all the time.

Alerix, the first brother, towering them all with his  6 feet 4 inches height and muscles built like vikings is the most confusing brother. He is quiet and keeps to himself most of the time. Whenever he is babysitting me he will go sit by the fireplace with a book and let me do whatever I want. I used to think he hardly cares what goes around him until one day I was proven wrong.

I was painting in the garden when I noticed my empty lemonade glass. Instead of requesting the helpers I decided to go myself and refill it. That's when I saw Alerix’s red face. He was beating the hell out of a man in front of him. I can hardly recognize the bloodied face, frozen in my steps, I didn't notice that glass had slipped from my hands.

Alerix’s rage filled eyes snapped at me and I came out of my frozen state. I rushed to my room and didn’t come out until Alerix left. Brothers have been cautious around me ever since then. They took me to a therapist too, thinking that I might have been traumatized, which was kind of cute. 

I overcame the so-called trauma much sooner than expected with the help of The brothers. But I made sure to remember one thing for sure- Never cross Alerix Dawn.

Earlier, I was planning to gain his love and affection too. So I would draw for him and put the drawing over his office table when he was not around. But after that incident, I maintained my distance. 

I can see Zed coming closer to the bed and held my breath. “ Come on princess, come out. We can play after dinner. I promise.”

No response.

“ How about ice cream after dinner?” Zed bargains. Now that has my attention.

“ Four scoops.” 

Zed thinks for a minute and then relents. “ Fine.”