The Prince and the Thief

Chapter Nine

"It healed all the way?" Vic laughed at me.

"Of course it healed. It's been a week."

"But you've been moving around. You didn't rest or anything." I let my feet dangle into the water. We were sitting on the dock while Vic continued fishing. I had given up on trying to catch any fish awhile ago. Its like I could physically not catch anything. He on the other hand, has caught six. I was poking where his side use to be hurt. It had healed with small scar.

"I had to keep moving. Everyone pulls their own weight." I sat up to kiss his cheek. He hasn't kissed me in a whole week. But it's understandable. According to what gyspies believe, you aren't intimate until marriage. Unless you sneak around. His hand rested on my upper thigh. He looked up to where the sun was high in the sky. "Come on. We have to get back. Grabă." I laughed.

"I love your accent but what does that mean." He picked up the fish that were attached to the wire as he stood up.

"It means hurry."

"Why?"

"There is to be a celebration today." I began walking right next to him.

"Really?" He flashed a proud smile.

"One of our sister camps has won back their own land."

"My father took it didn't he?" Vic placed his free arm around my shoulder, kissing the top of my head.

"It doesn't matter Cariño. We will win and the Great Queen will rule with you by her side." I shifted uncomfortably.

"What will happen to us?"

"That can only be known with time." When we came to the gate of the village, Vic removed his arm from my shoulder. He explained to me that if anyone were to know that our relationship was beyond a friendship, I would be removed from the caravan we share. And I didn't want that happening. Since Vic and I were unwed every time we were outside our little home, we were watched. If our hands got a little too close to touching, someone would yell at Vic. He told me they were telling him he knew better than to get attached to an outsider. His only response was to roll his eyes at them. He call them old fashioned, even more old fashioned than he was. Rankè skipped up to walk next to Vic.

"Are you going to let him drink wine this time?" Vic elbowed her.

"Shut up."

"This time?" Ranké gave a triumphed smile.

"He didn't tell you he switches your drink to water when we eat. All of us drink wine except you." I know she was trying to make me mad at him but I found it kind of sweet. He didn't want me to get drunk off my feet.

"It's because he would be staggering back to the caravan." She scoffed.

"At least you would get some." He glared at the girl as she walked away.

"Curvă." He murmured.

"And that means?"

"She's a whore." I laughed at his bluntness. A woman came up and took the fish out of Vic's hands. He washed his hands in the nearest bucket full of water. He was cursing in a different language.

"Why did you switch my drinks?"

"I've built up a tolerance. You haven't. We drink it to keep us warm during the night." I bit my lip.

"Why would I need wine to keep me warm when I have you?" He looked up at me with a big smile. He straightened up to put his lips near my ear.

"You're too cute for your own good." I blushed.

"I want to try it tonight."

"Okay." I felt something wet slid across my hand. Soare was wagging her tail. She was covered in mud. "Come on girl. Let's clean you up." He winked at me before disappearing with Soare following close behind.

"You know Vic is to be married to a pure blood right?" I spun around. Rankè was standing with her hands on her hips.

"What?"

"We are a dying breed. You are just a sweet Vic keeps on the side for fun. It's his duty to marry a pure blood girl and have children with her." She forced her sharp nail down on my chest. "You are nothing but a toy to him." I shook my head. I couldn't believe her but the seeds of doubt were already planted in my head. Then something sparked in my mind.

"You want him to marry you." She smirked.

"Of course. Our parents made a promise that their first born children were to married." She grabbed the collar of my shirt in her fist. "In other words, he's promise to me. Back off." She shoved me back, walking into a different direction. I rubbed my hand where her nail use to be. That hurt.

"She's a bitch. Don't listen to her." A guy I have never met before stood next to me. He had paler skin but not as light as me. He was only half. "I'm Marike." I put my hand forward to shake his.

"Kellin."

"I know you. You make a different light come into his eyes you know that?" I shook my head. "He's not promised to her. Anciano would never make Vic pick someone he didn't truly love." He smacked my back and walked off to help someone out. I was tackled to the ground while a tongue licked my cheek.

"Soare!" Vic pulled the dog off of me. "Shit Kellin. I'm sorry." I took the hand he held out for me.

"It's fine." He scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Your shirt. It's dirty."

"So?" He motioned towards our caravan.

"Go change." I could see the smile he was trying to hide. I ignored how weird he was being and went inside our small home. I began pulling on my new clothes. The door opened right as I picked my shirt up from the bed. I looked back at Vic. His eyes were trying to stay off of me. I smiled. He let his hand brush against my chest. "Your skin is so beautiful."

"What's wrong with your skin?" He traced his fingers over some of his scars. He cupped my cheek. I remembered the scars on his back. "What happened to your back?"

"I was caught and.......tortured." My jaw dropped.

"Tortured?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds Kell." I was about to question him more but the nickname stopped me.

"Kell?" He pressed his lips against mine. I circled my arms around his neck as he pushed us back against the wall. I kept my eyes closed when he broke the kiss. "Yep. Kell works."

"I was hoping it would."