The Rebel (#Wattys2016)

23. Hiding and Bruising

Author's note:

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Skander was asleep almost all morning.

Adeen lied besides him. He didn't wake up for at least two hours, not for meetings, not for a shower, not for breakfast. Everyone must have been freaking out, searching his room and possibly every place he could be in the palace. They didn't search Adeen's room, though, and so she continued to lie besides Skander, calmer than she'd ever been.

She didn't give a damn the entire country was panicking.

He lied on his belly, the sheets covering him up until his lower back, where Adeen knew he wasn't wearing anything. He had his head turned to Adeen, both his arms underneath his pillow. His jet black hair was messy, and as he slept, Adeen could have sworn he smiled.

Adeen ran her fingers down his back, grazing his scars. She stopped at a wiping scar, her fingers lingering there. She had an almost exact replica of it in her back. Skander's back heaved upward with a sigh and then he opened one eye.

Smiled.

Opened the other.

"I could get used to this." He said in a sleepy voice that made Adeen smile.

He turned and lied on his back. His left arm reached for her and Adeen sank into the place between his shoulder and his chest, where her head fit perfectly and he held her tight. He laid a kiss on her forehead.

"Good morning, Ade."

Adeen smiled and looked up at him. Two seas looked back.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." He smiled, then dropped it. Skander frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure you are the reason Illea's in absolute mayhem."

He rubs his eyes with the back of his right hand.

"What did I do now?"

"It's eleven o' clock."

Skander smiled slightly. "They must have had an aneurysm by now." He shrugged, looked at Adeen. "I don't think I care enough about my father to get out of bed."

Adeen smiled at him. A noise in the room besides Adeen's startled both of them, making Skander sit up and stiffen. Adeen waved it off.

"It's probably a girl. Or a maid." Skander nodded but when he looked back at her his eyes kept drifting to the door. Adeen put his hand against his cheek. "It's not him."

She sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest, although Skander had already seen it all. She kissed him, slowly. Skander's hand was inches away from Adeen's when her door's knob twisted. Like a cat when it's toes touch the water, he jumped up at least half a foot and landed on the floor besides the bed, the bed keeping him out of sight from the door. Adeen gasped and clutched the sheets closer.

"Okay Adeen I need your help." June said as she came in. Adeen relaxed slightly. "I really, really need your help."

She held a hand to her neck and furiously massaged it.

"Couldn't you knock?"

June stared at her. "I'm sorry I woke you up. Now, can you please help me?"

Adeen stared at her, then to her right, where Skander was looking at her, clutching a pillow to cover himself.

"What do you need?" Adeen asked, deciding the sooner she helped her friend, the sooner she'd be gone.