Assassins Lover

Ch.18-sparks

Emily's POV:
Spending two full days in a unknown castle was a little strange. But at least Jefferson and Kaden are keeping me company. Kaden usually visits twice a week or more, but nothing is going to happen with him.
I walk in the garden with Catherine as she shifts her white gloves "so I hear the prince is going to find a bride soon. Who do you think that will be?"
"I don't know. And prince?"
Catherine fixes her hair, "Kaden silly."
I fix my eyes on hers "he's a prince?"
She laughs as we walk on, "I feel like you and I are going to be great friends."
   Fixing the gold hem on my dress, I mumble "he can't be a prince, can he?"
"Did you say something?"
Shaking my head, we proceed into the castle as Kaden approaches. I smile as he kisses my cheek "hello beautiful."
I blush, "good morning to you too my prince."

  Catherine just stands there awkwardly, the third wheel; as she crosses her arms. "I'm right here you know," as she clears her throat. I whisper in Kaden's ear "say something to her, she's feeling left out."
  Catherine looks at the ground when a finger lifts her chin and meets these lovely, navy blue eyes. He gives her a wink, "morning Catherine, sleep well?"
Her cheeks turn rosy red as she nods and bites her lower lip, "I did your highness, and yourself?"
   He directs his attention back at me and sighs "eh, slept better."
She smirks at me and pulls his arm away from mine, "shall I see you tonight?"
  He shrugs, "maybe, maybe not. Who knows, my attention might be elsewhere," he grins.

  Walking away from her, Kaden grabs my arm "come with me to the village at 1:00. It'll be worth it, I promise." He winks at me and walks away to train.
Catherine eyes me and walks to her room as I look around the massive ballroom and take off my shoes. Throwing them off, I curtsy and dance around with my invisible partner. A few minutes go by when I hear a stern voice "I thought you were dead."
I twirl around and see the man leaning in the doorway.
"Excuse me?!"
He strolls in as I stop dancing, "I didn't know Damaris had a daughter. A very pretty one, I might add," as he chuckles.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as he takes my waist and turns me around. Feeling his hot breath tickle my ear, he holds me tight "spent all this time hiding. I know who you are Emily Cordova."
I struggle to get out of his tight grasp, "that's not my name, you lunatic. It's Emily Stanson."
His hand wanders down to his short blade as his other hand travels up my stomach. "A new name, new identity. Wait until my son finds out that you're alive, that'll be fun."

Chest heaving up and down, I jab my elbow into his stomach. He lets go of me as he tries to slap me. Dodging it, I grab his knife and point it at him, "listen here. I'm not this person you're talking about." A trickle of blood runs down his dark black shirt as his eyes meet mine, "you are the one we've been looking for. I'll make sure your royal execution is one for the books."
I throw the knife away as my hair comes undone and flows freely. "I'm not royalty asshole, I never was!"
Walking out of the ballroom, I find my way to the training room and spot Kaden in a deep sweat.
He smiles when he sees me and places the gleaming steel sword on the rack.
"Hey Em," as he rubs his face with a cloth.
"Hey, so you're a prince now?"
Walking toward me, he intertwines his fingers with mine and nods "you found out about that?"
I nod and take a step closer, "Catherine told me. I don't know if I should call you Kaden or your highness now," I chuckle.
He steps closer and I jump up and kiss his cheek. He ruffles my hair playfully and looks down at the stone ground, "I don't want you to call me anything except your boyfriend."
I laugh and punch him gently, "that's so cheesy K."
  Raising an eyebrow, he squishes my face "K?"
"You don't like it?"
He sighs, "to be honest, it sucks."
I hug him "at least you're honest."

    He embraces me back and I close my eyes, "I've never felt this way about anyone before."
Kaden smiles, "I feel the same way Emily. I'll go freshen up, then we'll go."
   I let him go, "go where?"
He strides to the door, "you'll see. Wait for me outside my room."
Walking toward his room, he freshens up as I lean on the wall humming a little tune. When he walks out, he snaps his black cloak on and walks toward the brown oak doors. The guards open the massive doors as we walk through. Hearing a whistle, the iron spiked gates open to reveal a cobblestone pathway.
Kaden places my arm through his and pulls me toward life outside the palace walls. Then the yelling begins when a fight breaks out in a tavern.
"So this is the village hm?"
"Yeah, it's lovely."
I roll my eyes as Kaden plucks a rose from a cart and hands it to me. He wraps an arm around me as I sniff it. "You know," he states "behind the crown prince has its advantages."
I lean on his shoulder "yeah, okay."
He grins and makes a tsk noise as a person comes running out of a tavern and throws up.
I close my eyes and grab an apple from a moving cart. Kaden notices and half smiles, when a man slices another mans throat and grabs money from the dead mans pocket.
The man turns around to run when a sharp object digs into his chest.
"Put the money down, and I shall spare your life."
The man smirks, " what if I don't."
"It'll be the biggest mistake of your life."
The man laughs and shakes his head, "listen here pal, I don't know who you think you are but-"
Kaden huffs and swings his leg out as the man falls onto the ground. Still holding the money, Kaden lifts his hood back, "take a wild guess."
"Oh, your highness. I was just-"
I press the edge in a little harder as he winces. "Give the money back or you won't like what comes next."
Throwing the money away, the man gets up and runs as Kaden sheathes his blade and looks at me. "Sorry about that darling," as I pick up the fallen coins and hand them to a small child.
"It's alright. You were doing what's right."
He nods and drags me toward an alleyway. Curiosity strikes me as Kaden pulls me forward and whispers "I need you. Now."
I blush and push him off, twirling my brown hair nervously. He caresses my cheek and gently speaks "you know I care about you right?"
I nod, "I care about you too, why wouldn't I. You're my best friend."
Kaden tries not to blush as I rub his neck and play with his fingers.

He exhales, "I'm glad I met you Emily. I just need to know something about you."
I gather up my courage, "yes?"
He scoots closer until we are inches apart, "have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything for that other person?"
I wet my lips and nod "of course I would."
He chuckles and mumbles "stupid," looking away.
I tilt my head and make him look at me, "what's wrong?"
He looks at me intently as he reaches a hand behind my hair and grabs my arm, "I have a problem."
I feel his breath on my cheek, "what is it?"

He strokes his fingers down my brown locks, "problem is," he said as he leaned in, "if I kiss you, I don't think I'll be able to stop." His warm lips meet mine in an instant and suddenly, everything felt right with the world.