Mortal Fantasy

✴｜chapter five

I cannot tell which is the more perilous circumstance: Queen Auven standing mere feet away from me, or the fact that she is watching the prince kiss me senseless.

"Your—" My words are effectively stifled by Stephen's mouth, and over his shoulder I see the queen smile quaintly. I also cannot tell which is the more embarrassing situation: the queen watching me as I struggle and fail to speak, or that some part of me admits to the fact that the prince is likely an unparalleled kisser.

Stephen finally breaks away, his breathing ragged, and subtly pauses if only for effect. When he turns and faces the queen, there is something brazen about his stance, as if he has proved something to her. Briefly, he mutters, "Mother."

"Your—Your Majesty," I cough, dropping into a barely intelligible curtsy. She regards the both of us, and speaks smoothly to Stephen, "I see you've become acquainted with your courtesan."

Something grinds in his jaw. "Yes, I suppose I have."

"Very well." Her gaze returns to me, and an icy shiver drapes itself across my skin under her eyes. "She might as well be one of the most beautiful ones to step foot in this palace." Sighing as if witnessing a blossoming romance, she adds, "Only the best for my prince."

The prince stiffens as the queen makes off down the corridor, maids materializing by her side as if by magic. Once she has turned the corner, Stephen turns back to me and examines me with... hesitance?

"I'm—" I clamp my mouth shut, trying to formulate a sentence. "Why did you do that?"

He sighs, seeming exasperated, and begins walking down the hallway. "Follow me."

* * * * *

Once we arrive at his chambers, Stephen closes the gilded door and flicks his gaze to mine. "I was about to tell you something rather important before the queen decided to appear."

"Before you decided to kiss me," I point out, still slightly angry at him for it,  but confused as to why I am not angrier. "Could you explain that to me first?"

"It's all related," Stephen growls in annoyance, and rakes a hand through his hair—mussed and perfect. I nearly slap myself for noticing. You need to stop doing that.

"The queen sent you here because she knows how much I hate people of your kind," he continues, leaning against the door. His eyes search mine, briefly, and he says, "If I don't play along, she'll likely dispose of you or give you off to another one of the nobles. And I will have to go through her."

Stephen falters slightly upon the last phrase, even if it is barely noticeable. I inhale and decide that now is the only time I will get answers to my questions, because it doesn't seem that he's currently in any mood to be seduced or return to my lips.

I meet his eyes across the room. "You say that you hate us. Why?"

The silence between us is laced with tension, and finally he puts it off. "I've found your people to be quite untrustworthy." He doesn't choose to elaborate. "Touching you would be a blatant insult to my morality. Not because I have trouble pleasing in women, or pleasing them"—He gives me a deliberate stare—"but because I don't want someone like you in my bed."

So he has indulged in women before—seemingly angels—but I cannot resist countering his statement. "But how can you judge an entire people with one... model? It's not as if I..." I trail off, realizing two things: I judged all of the golden bloods to be dirty, manipulative degenerates, but Stephen has defied my better judgement. And the second thing: How can I argue for him to trust humanity when I plan on taking his life myself?

He looks on as I struggle to find words, and to my shock, his expression softens, ever so slightly.

"Ithena. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I won't deny it, because why deny the truth?"

Something small, like a butterfly, flutters in gratification within my stomach at his words.

Stephen continues, "But you're probably as genuine as a snake."

"Excuse me?" I blurt with unfiltered force. I cannot contain myself—a snake?

I am offended, I am hurt—

I am utterly confused.

"I mean.... a snake? They're unpleasant, but... ingenuine?"

I must be imagining the pinch of red on Stephen's face. "I mean—no. More like a—" He gives up. "You understand what I'm trying to say."

So he thinks I am ingenuine. Well, there is no way to really tell, as he has just met me, but can't people change and prove themselves? After what he has done for me, all things considered, I could at least try and be genuine. Until I am able to lure him to the point of my dagger, it is the least I can do.

"I can prove you wrong," I say.

Stephen crosses his arms. "You can prove me wrong," he repeats, his voice flat.

I stand my ground. "Exactly."

He laughs and walks over to me. He doesn't touch me, but I choose this moment to remember our kiss, and my throat constricts with building heat.

"You know," he says quietly, his voice low, "I haven't been this amused in a very long time."

That means yes. "Fine. I start now."

Stephen grins down at me, for once his golden eyes lighter. "Fine. Beginning from this moment, try me." He cocks his head, auric eyes sparkling.

 "The first thing you can do is probably go bathe, Ithena."

A/N

Hey everyone!

Seems like there's more to the prince than we first thought (as is with all characters!)...

If you enjoyed the chapter, vote, comment, and share! Thanks :)

Icelynn