The Archer and Her Prince

Time For Some Answers

Edwin's Pov

I watch Edores' still sleeping face on my chest. I don't think she noticed that she latched her entire body onto me overnight. It was pretty cute though and nice to wake up to. Erm, in a platonic way of course. It's good to know she takes comfort and warmth in me, her trusty good friend

I glance at the clock on the side table, 10:42, maybe I should wake her up now, I've been staring at her for too long. Ah-just to make sure she's okay, obviously. I hope she rips off the band-aid and talks to her mom today, she's a strong woman and she knows it. She just needs to have more of a drive to talk to her mom. A reason to just get it over with. I should come up with something before she wakes up.

Hmm, maybe I could bring up that something happened in the kingdom? Nah, I don't want to lie to her. That's the last thing I want. Maybe I could have my parents call her back home. Hey, her words not me. I was on top of the world when she called my home her home. God that was. Yeah, you know what I mean.

I feel shifting and look down to see Edores' face twisting into a yawn. That's my cue.

"Good morning Edores." I smirk at her slowly opening her eyes. She notices she's on my chest and jumps off of me while I chuckle.

"Shit, I'm so sorry I came onto your side. And was I like that all night? So sorry." Her face starts to redden even more so I decide that's enough teasing her.

"No don't worry I just woke up too. I assumed you wanted me to comfort you so that's why I was holding you." I smile genuinely. Edores just keeps pacing nervously. God this girl drives me insane. I jump out of bed before holding my hands on her shoulders to get her attention.

"Edores, it's fine, really, I was comfortable anyway." Now I feel my own face heat up, damn it, "Now stop your nervous pacing and let's meet Leon and get you some breakfast."

"Okay. Good morning." She smiles and goes to the bathroom to do her morning routine. I could get used to this. Her waking up in my arms every morning. Um, like I said, platonically of course.

Edores walks back into the room fully dressed with a small grin.

"Whatcha thinking?" I ask packing up my bag.

"I'm ready to talk to her. I went through dozens of scenarios in my brain and all of them ended well...okay."

"Good. Now stop overthinking, let's get some food, then head to see your mom." I sling my arm in hers and exit our room seeing Leon already there waiting for us. Shit I hope he wasn't waiting too long.

We grab sandwiches and then take a taxi to her mom's place. That's right. Her mom's place. Not her place. Because her place is my place which is my palace. There's that giddiness again, now's not the time dumbass.

We three get out of the cab and stare at the house. I watch Edores waiting for her to make her move.

"Edores if you aren't ready-"

"I am, I just, I need a sec." She looks down in thought.

I can't imagine what she's been going through these last few days, so I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to back out again and try another day.

"I'm ready." Edores looks at me with a determined expression on her face. "Come with me, please."

I look at her in surprise, "Really?"

"I need your support to help me not chicken out again." She chuckles nervously while I smile at her. It's happening. Someone finally needs me in their life. I mentally cheer then sober up. Again, now is not the damn time.

She grabs my hand, and I lace my fingers through hers. This is nice. Hand holding. Her hand feels so warm and perfect in mine. We've only ever linked arms, never hands so this is new to me, and I love it. Platonically of course.

Edores takes a deep breath then walks me to the door. She rings the doorbell and a few minutes later the door swings open revealing an older woman looking like an older version of Edores. Edores just squeezes my hand and I squeeze back staying silent.

"Edores! What are you doing here? I thought winter break didn't start for another two weeks!" Her mom exclaims pulling Edores into a hug, who doesn't let go of my hand, so here I am awkwardly standing holding her hand when she's in an embrace with her mom.

She pulls away then looks at me, then our laced hands, then me again. "And who might this be?"

"Mom, this is Edwin, Edwin this is my mom Evelyn." Edores introduces, her hand tightening on mine. Okay so we're going to stay like this for now, got it.

"It's nice to meet you Ms. Nicholson." I offer my other hand to shake and she takes it.

"Oh please just call me Evelyn." She smiles back and I nod.

"Now Edores, will you explain to me why you are here when you should be in college right now?"

"About that..." Edores trails off before meeting my eyes, looking like she wanted my permission for something. She doesn't need my permission for anything she knows that. OH I think she's asking about my palace and the whole blackmail ordeal. God her mom's going to hate me now. But it's okay, whatever Edores wants she gets. I squeeze her hand tightly and nod gesturing for her to say whatever she wants to say.

"We should sit down for this Mom." Edores says and pulls me to their couch sitting me down next to her, firm grip on my hand as if it was a leash and I was a dog fulfilling her command. I wouldn't mind though, it feels nice having her in control of me. Totally platonic obviously

Evelyn sits down on the chair in front of us and Edores starts telling her everything as to where she's been, what she's done, she does not mention me blackmailing her (thank god) and just says she wanted to help me so did anyway. I squeeze her hand before she enters the portion about when the whole ordeal with her birth dad started.

Edores takes a deep breath. Evelyn has been silent up until now, just fully listening to her daughter speaking.

"Mom...I found out about," She gulps hard, "The God of Life and Death and King, Arginon." She pauses and Evelyn's jaw drops, and her eyes widen. Oh, she was so not expecting that.

Maybe I should give these two some privacy so Edores can get all the answers she needs. I start to get up, but Edores just pulls me back down and decreases the space between the two of us, the sides of our legs touching now.

Okay, I guess she feels comfortable with me being involved in this. I stay silent and watch Edores breathe heavily thinking about what she needs to say next. I squeeze her hand again and she squeezes back.