Their Princess

Chapter 84

Life is meant to take some major turns to throw us on the sidelines and make us look at our decisions that we made without thinking of their consequences. Some we feel proud of and some we regret to date.

I'm experiencing the latter one as I eat my breakfast with the Dawn family and two added members.

Shafira and Sesqi.

Daddy and Rey told me that Kai has agreed to bond with Shafira and adopt Sesqi. Although Shafira didn't like the idea at first but accepted it when she saw no light from the brothers side.

Their bonding ceremony is scheduled for next week, which no one looks really excited about. In their eyes, it's just a mere formality that they need to fulfill.

What they are really excited about is the money and assets they will receive from this arrangement. And by ‘they’ I mean Roman and Rufus. Rest are just listening to their overenthusiastic chatter silently.

“ Neri made Missoi for you.” My face brightens at the sight of my favorite dessert. Eli offers me the first bite, and it melts into my mouth instantly. I moan as my taste buds continue to explode with the sweet flavor. 

I jump on Daddy’s lap excitedly, waiting for the next scoop. 

“ I'm glad you're liking it.” Eli chuckles, offering me another spoon.

“ Do you need anything else, sweetheart?” Daddy asks.

I nod fervently and point toward a dish near Shafira. “ Love, that's…… I don't think that much spice is good for you while you recover.” 

“ Daddy, please. I want to eat that.” I pout. Sighing, he gives up, mumbling under his breath something along the lines ‘not fair’.

“ Alerix, have you heard anything from Ronan?” Rufus asks, sipping his tea.

“ I did. Dacotah has been charged guilty. All the evidence Shafira provided made the case easier for us.” 

“ I told you I had enough evidence.” Shafira says, passing the dish toward Daddy.

“ Now that you did. I wonder how we can benefit more from your company and this arrangement.” Roman is way too excited for his own good. And from where I'm sitting, I can see Shafira is not liking it either.

I just hope everything turns out well and they don't end up killing each other.

—-------------------------------------------------------

One step ahead, two steps back then twirl. Sway to your left two times, then one to your right. Now twirl.

My body is oozing with energy due to the medicine that I'm currently on. Only God knows what effect they're going to leave on me once I recover. So, before these effects wear off, I'm making the best use of it. And i.e. by practicing my dancing skills.

Although I suck at it, I can't help but let my body flow. 

“ Wow!!” I freeze hearing a voice behind me.

I glare at the intruder for intruding on my privacy. “ Why are you here?”

“ I was just wandering. And I'm glad I did because otherwise I would have missed an exceptionally beautiful performance.” Shafira praises.

“ Thank you?” For some reason, I'm uncomfortable around her. My panic sets in when she approaches me in her confident stride.

“ Well, aren't you pretty?” She kneels before me and plays with the end of my hair. “ You know you've always fascinated me, even before I met you. I didn't know why back then, but now I do.” Her voice is just above a whisper.

When I don't reply, she continues taking my hand in her own. “ I was skeptical when I heard that the brothers had got a soft spot for a tiny girl. I didn't believe the rumors. I wanted to see it myself, and that's why I started to look for you in the castle. I was aware they were hiding you somewhere in here. My radars sensed you. But I couldn't get past that floor.” She points up.

“ Ultimately, I gave up when Alerix started to threaten us about canceling the deal. Trust me, I didn't want to leave you alone back then. But I had to. I was relieved to see that you were indeed happy with the brothers when I saw you with them with my own eyes at the party before you got kidnapped.” She sighs at the end.

“ I'm sorry again. I couldn't save you. My hands were tied, and I had Sesqi to take care of. Anyway, I'm here now. I'm here for you. If you need me anytime, I'm just a call away. Okay?” 

I can only nod. I don't know why my vocal chords forget to function in circumstances like these.

“ Don't be afraid of me. Just tell me what you need and I will provide.”

Before I can reply, Eli appears from the corner. “ There you are. I've been looking for you. Princess?”

“ Eli.” I ran in his arms, grateful for his interruption. 

“ You okay? Did she do anything?” He is asking me, but his glare is directed at Shafira, who is fidgeting at her place.

“ She is weird.” I whisper in his ear.

“ Stay away from our girl. And why are you in the castle? I guess we alloted you the guest wing.”

“ Umm…. I… Sesqi was getting bored, so I thought if I could borrow some of Raelynn's toys. If she doesn't mind?”

“ Princess doesn't like sharing her stuff. Besides, Kai is his caretaker now. He will help you out. Go ask him.”

“ Okay.” She says, looking disappointed. 

“ And do not enter the castle without our permission. I will inform the guards too to keep you restricted to the guest wings.”

“ I thought I was family. So I…..”

“ You thought wrong.” Eli says icily. “ It's just an arrangement. Nothing else. Don't keep your hopes up, else you will leave disappointed. You're already aware of our family's reputation. It's still the same.”

Eli turns without waiting to hear her reply. “ Princess?”

“ Yes?”

“ Please don't tell me you like her.”

My poor Eli.

I cup his face and smash my lips to his, answering all his questions in my kiss.

“ I love you, Eli.”

I giggle as he rubs his beard on my cheek. “ I love you more, baby. So much more.”