Everglow

Chapter 3

We had nearly reached the opening to the city built in the caves and had not talked once, though Xand cleared his throat. "Now my people, the fae, have certain rules that you're not going to like," Xand smirked at me, the points of his teeth sticking through his plump lips as he spoke. I groaned at him, scraping my fingers through my hair as I glared up at him with a huff. Signalling for him to continue.

"Well, the fae are natural beings, and so no alcohol in Astaria, especially not within the hidden kingdom inside," he said lowly and quickly as I stopped in my place, throwing a punch so hard that it knocked him onto his feet. He chuckled as he looked up at me from the rocky path, a scowl still on my face as I crouched down next to him. He had not only taken me to a place that caused immense physical pain but had also taken away the one thing that would give me a brief reprise from it. 

"Don't be bitter Flynnie, I'm a prince, I'll just whisk you away across the sea to one of the port taverns." He chuckled, finding my distraught state rather hilarious as I sat down, putting my hands behind my head as I took a deep breath. I had destroyed my reputation for this man, I sure as hell would be getting my alcohol.

"Besides," he grinned, crouching up quickly and leaping over me so that I lied on the hard rocks with his body pressed close to mine, "there are other forms of," he stopped again to glance down at my body, winking at me suggestively, "entertainment we could get up to." He finished, standing and pulling me up with him as I let out a flustered huff, hand going to the blade that rested on my hip as I glared at him, continuing the walk. I pulled at it slightly and felt a flame light my hand as I pressed it against his throat, watching as he jolted back with a chuckle. 

"There will be no such entertainment on my behalf Xand," I muttered angrily, my face falling into a flatlined anger as we moved closer to the entrance of the cave. He looked at me with the stupid grin, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as he moved me toward the opening of the cave with a laugh. He had never hidden the fact that he was enamoured by me, though I had no clue as to why. He was attractive and as he had reminded me, the only prince of a nation that had been dwindling in numbers for years. 

"C'mon, we aren't in their realm anymore, we are in mine, interspecies relationships aren't illegal here." He grinned down at me as he spoke. I gave him a shove and sighed, wandering toward the gates that sat at the mouth of the cave, tall swirling things of a beautiful glistening metal.

"I'm an assassin Xandro. The last thing I need is somebody my enemies can use as leverage, regardless of that I am part Magi, I am the enemy lest you forget that," I whispered to him as he began to take his clothes off in front of me. I wouldn't deny him his good looks, and he had worked hard to get the rippling muscles along his entire body. He grinned at me as he pulled the dark jeans he was wearing off, looking me up and down. I had forgotten the fae were natural beings in more way than one, choosing to exist in little to no clothes and without shame for a single fault on their bodies. I remained in my outfit from the night before, glancing at myself in the mirrored doors with a sigh. 

My black hair was coated in a grim layer of dirt and blood, with a flicked of purple Magi blood dried to my cheek where it had splattered on me the night before. The tight black leather of my pants hid any stains from the night before, and though my white t-shirt did had some remains on it, I hid it quickly pulling the khaki jacket tight over my chest to hide my job. Looking over to Xandro, who stood in only his underwear now, I winced silently, pulling myself straight with a shaky breath.  He grabbed hold of my hand, pulling me with him through the glittering portal screen that was disguised as glass. 

I gasped in shock as I looked at the city before us. It was not rocky but was instead filled with pools of water and gorgeous forestry that was concealed by the thick walls around us. It was a beautiful oasis, and the castle sat at the top of the large trees, a glistening white crystal against the lush foliage. The only downside for my otherwise awkard countenance was that everybody was practically naked, and I noticed, with shock, that all of the fae folk lacked any gender-specific organs, glancing to Xand with a curious expression.

"Mine is from my Dad Flynnie," he winked at me with a laugh as we moved swiftly toward the castle, people gasping and crying his name. I'd almost forgotten that he was a prince one again, and not just a person I had spent my life calling a friend. I felt incredibly uncomfortable, hands moving to cover myself and the bloodstains on my body more as he pulled me through the streets he had once grown up in, remembering them from all of the years ago. We had to clamber up a tree to get to the castle which I was not happy about, I was assured that it was simpler for fae folk, they had wings, the path up the tree had only been made when Xandro was born, for he lacked the wings his people had. Xand pulled me up the final step, pulling me in close as he walked up to the open doorways of the castle that I was certain were closed. Xandro pressed his lips together nervously as he pulled me into a grand hallway of white crystal and high ceilings.

"I may have told the Queen that you were a Princess of the Magi Order and that we were engaged," he hissed at me quickly as I saw the glittering of purple silken material before a woman entered, looking at us from the balcony. I felt him quickly slip a ring onto my finger as I looked to him with shock, nails biting into his arm with anger. I feigned a smile as I held him close to me, watching the beautiful woman swanning down the stairs, gorgeous wings stained reds and oranges and purples, fluttering as she cascaded towards us. I swore to myself and stole a brief glance at Xandro which told him that he was in deep trouble the second we were alone together once more. I turned back to the angelic beauty flowing down the stairs towards us in total awe. Her hair was long and plated, reaching her hips in a vibrant red that offset the pinks in her eyes beautifully, shining as they met her sons.

"Prince Xandro, I am glad of your return, our situation is most dire," she hummed softly, voice angelic and musical and she took him into her arms, hugging him tightly to her. She smiled at me too, that smile gorgeous and graceful, her eyes glittering happily. I saw where he got his cheeriness from certainly.

"Come, we must discuss the matters at once."