His Little Heir

Love... Not Obession

     "Your Majesty?"

     Leon stretched and collected himself, scratching his head. He glanced at the clock: eight ten, making it three hours since he had fallen asleep.

     He shifted over to the door. The king's hands met the frozen gold and widened his eyes; but his father had selected style over comfort as he always had in remodeling Faye. And so, Leon found himself disoriented and his hands cold.

     "Raye?"

     "That's Doctor Raye to you." she folded her arms and tapped her feet, "I didnt-"

     "I know, I know. You didn't go to medical school just to be called Raye."

     "Thank you."

     He rubbed his eyes, "Now what did you need me for?"

     "Oh, I sent Princess Daya off to dinner. Just came up here to let you know.'

     "Thanks."

     "But you know... she might need a little company." Latisha shifted her weight to the wall, "I know you haven't eaten yet either."

     "And what are you trying to say?"

     "Nothing in particular."

     Before he could press for answers, she had already made her way down the hall and given him a half hearted wave goodbye. Her smug demeanor made his eyes twitch. But, Doctor Raye was the best in the business.

And Daya only got the best.

     Using the camera of his phone as a mirror, Leon combed through his hair with his fingers. It would have to do if he wanted to catch her in time. After all, time was all they had.

Plenty of time to fall in love.

     A spark, huh? All Daya needed was his kindling and warmth, both things he had longed to give her for years.

     And the flame would light.

     Leon found his way down the marble stairs. His slippers didn't make the signature click he was used to, but nevertheless, he found himself at the kitchen door in silence.

Or what should've been.

     "I'm not scared of him if that's what you're asking." Her abrupt voice shot out like icey bullets. The sound was curt, but not quite angry. Assertive, but not controlling; a careful balance of practice.

     Only one woman Leon knew could package her words in such a perfect box, and whoever had made Daya's kind voice harden had branded a deceleration of war upon their skin.

     "You should be. If you knew half of what he said-"

Oh, this b**** again?

     Interesting, and what things are you going to tell her, Austin?

     He debated twisting the knob and demolish Austin's chances of getting to her, but Daya's next words caught him off guard.

     "That's just Leon."

     She defended him. Leon's heart swelled; Daya had cut Austin off and taken his side without any question. But, why would she do that?

     "That's just Leon?... You're standing up for him?"

     He leaned closer into the doorframe, anxiously awaiting her answer.

     "Yes I am."

     Austin sighed, obviously (and deservingly) displeased, "You love him, don't you?"

     Leon's breath hitched. Should he go in and save himself the disappointment, and live in the unknown forever?

     Or did good things truly come to those who wait?

     He closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer, and carefully adjusted himself away from the knob.

     Leon could practically feel her mind clicking and calculating until:

     "What if I do?"

She loved him?

     His heart raced, doing double time as it did since the day he met her. Seeing Daya all wrapped up in satin gold had crumbled his perfectly poised demeanor; it was then that he felt this wild thing called love for the first time.

     Watching her had been an obsession.

     But this? This was love, and now, she felt the same.

Or did she?

     Daya's words from earlier in the day echoed and then resonated an answer:

     "Love isn't something that you can learn. I understand that now; it's something you feel and chase after and stick to until you catch it."

Unpacking her tightly knit metaphors had always been a challenge, but better late than never.....

      Right?

     "It starts off as a tiny spark yes, but you have to take things slow before it can catch. I heard you while I was asleep, Leon. Your voice it... it calmed me. Is that odd? Was that the spark?"

     A spark, but no flame.
   

And in her voice, there it was, the tiniest string of apprehsiveness.

     But why? Why would she put on this show for the man she truly loved? Why not just leave?

      "Do you hear yourself? Daya, he's a sociopath for crying out loud! Please, come home."

No, Austin, she had chosen, and this is her home. But why never clicked.

     "No, he's not. Leon has been nothing but-"

     "An a**hole? You mean an a**hole, right? He's-"

Daya returned his interruption's favor.

     "Saving our behinds, whether you like it or not. Why can't you see-"

     Oh.

     "See what, d*** it!?" Austin's chair scraped across the wooden floor, meaning that he was now towering over her.

Then he heard it.

A low whimper.

Then, sobs. No, no, no. Was she crying?

     "Oh Daya, no. Please don't-"

     Leon could only assume that Austin reached out to touch her, perhaps to wipe a tear away from Daya's eyes, but then, her chair followed its destined path as well:

     "Don't touch me."

     "Daya I'm," Leon could hear him click his teeth, "I'm sorry. He just- he just makes me so angry. Did you know I sent men to look after you and he sent them away?"

      "No, but if he did, it was the right decision."

      "And why in your twisted little brain would you believe that for a second?" Austin stepped closer to Daya, most likely forcing her to look up at him.

      "We're engaged, Austin."

     "And so were we Daya, and what happened there?"

     "I did the right thing." Her bear feet peaked underneath the door, moving away from him.

     "You really wanna do this, huh?"

     "More than anything."

Something clanked against the glass table.

     "You were always the noble one, Daya."

      Austin's speed quickened as he blazed an iron trail towards Leon's hiding spot. With the slipper's muffling, he dodged Austin's gaze, but immediately landed in Daya's blurring one.

In the palm of her hand were two matching rings with rose gold bands and single sapphires pressed in their centers.

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     So Austin officially ends their engagement... Wow. Thanks for reading! 💜