The Tangled Princess

Chapter Seventeen

Tears had a lot of misconception in our world. I was sure people had unique thoughts about these salty little droplets, some seeing it as a strength while others as a weakness. For me, tears kept my soul sane while I went through an inferno of pain. They didn't extinguish my agony, yet they carried me forward until a time came when that searing pain was a distant memory, easier to not remember. Tears made my pain more manageable.

I was still holding Conrad with him clutching me tightly to his chest. There was a rawness to his crying like the pain was an open wound that he was desperately trying to heal. He was holding onto me as if his life depended on me, and then his whole body shook. The sobs were muffled at first in his attempt to hide his grief; then as if he was overwhelmed by his own emotions he broke down completely. I was trying to calm him, to make his pain a little less painful. But nothing I could do was able to soothe his torment. My magic was anxious, running around, not knowing what could be done. Little particles of fire were rushing towards my palm as I was rubbing his back, to provide him with some much-needed warmth.

When he looked at me, his face a picture of grief and devastation, I suddenly realized how foolish and wrong I was. I had assumed things about him without even knowing him, only on the basis of him being a werewolf. I held his face in my hands; bringing his forehead closer to mine I ran my fingers at the nape of his neck. He closed his vulnerable looking grey eyes, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

It was like a moment of epiphany for me. I was coming to terms with the fact that I didn't know anything about him. It was a shocking revelation to me, a realisation of how easily I had fit him into a collective box of werewolves instead of looking at him as Conrad. I had painfully stereotyped him. Looking at him, crying at the stinging betrayal, his closest comrade made him feel I realized how painfully wrong I was. Instead of trying to learn about his idiosyncrasies, I assumed them. My magic simmered at my own stupidity.

"I am sorry," I whispered, my voice timid and soft.

"Thank you," he said, gently removing my hands around him.

My brows furrowed with my nose scrunching up a little in confusion.

"Why?" I queried, feeling a little discontented at his closed-off expression.

"You returned the favour," he said with his expressionless face, "I was there to calm you after the vampire attack and you, being a responsible princess, returned it. I understand."

I opened my mouth and closed it. It happened two more times as I didn't know what to say. I was completely baffled at what he thought. Before I could gather my thoughts, he walked rapidly out of the door leaving me alone with my bundled thoughts. I wondered if his hormonal balance was disrupted that was causing him to have such atrocious thoughts. I knew he was the reason I was able to calm down and go to sleep that dreadful day. But I didn't understand how he came to the conclusion of me wanting to return his favour.

I walked out of the door, slamming it shut; I needed to talk to him. Misunderstanding due to our obvious lack of communication was not something I was willing to have. While I was walking briskly to reach Conrad's home, I saw Nick and Daniel talking animatedly. I sighed frustratingly as I walked closer to them.

"No, I don't want to be called your highness," Nick said seriously.

"It's my duty to refer you as your highness, your highness," reasoned Daniel as I fought the urge to facepalm at their absurdity.

"What are you both bickering about?" I asked in a calm voice.

"They are all so formal," Nicolai complained.

"He doesn't behave like vampire king," Daniel added quickly.

I took a deep breath to stop myself from exploding in front of them; my magic was very disturbed at the thought of Conrad misunderstanding me and I was getting irritated by these two adults.

"Daniel, can you show the vampire king a few blood samples you got from werewolf bodies?" I asked, turning to look at him.

"Yes, Luna," he agreed and looked at Nick who still had a pout on his face.

"Nick," I said, rolling my eyes at him, "he will call you by your name when he feels comfortable enough to do so. They are not exactly trusting you at the moment."

Nick looked at me, then narrowed his eyes at Daniel. "Alright, show me the samples," he said after which they went towards the pack house.

I ran towards Conrad's house. My white dress brushing past my thighs and my hair flowing like a bride's veil on a windy day. I felt my heart beating faster, adrenaline coursing through my veins and my magic providing me with some extra speed to get close to my mate. I was standing in front of his house within seconds, my waist length midnight hair getting all tangled up on my face. I hurriedly removed my hair before they decided to get inside my mouth while running towards our room.

As soon as I entered that house, I knew he wasn't here. I wasn't able to sense his aura at all. Still, I searched for him frantically in his office. His kitchen was empty too; similar sight welcomed me as I searched desperately in every corner of his house. He wasn't there.

I sat down on a chair in his living room, feeling extremely defeated. I wanted to do something but I didn't know what that something was. I felt extremely frustrated with myself. Images of his pained expression flashed through my mind; his grief-ridden face haunting me, calling out to me to help him.

I stood up. If he wanted to hide, that was his decision but I wouldn't give up that easily. I had my magic with me and I trusted it to guide me to him.

I closed my eyes and chanted, "Element of air, please hear my prayer. I request you to guide me to my light; guide me and I shall forever remain in your debt."

Air started to revolve around me. It slowly started to gain speed, revolving around me vigorously. My hair started to rise when the air completely stilled. Slowly, air particles with some grass blades in them started to clump together; stopping when a full circle of air with dancing grass blades was visible to me.

I smiled at the little air ball. Anticipation filling me as I began to follow the ball in quest of my mate.

Werewolves do get stereotyped a lot. What if they are real and hate us humans for portraying all of them with the same set of characteristics? 🤔

At least Eva realised it and now she will hopefully find more about Conrad! Thank you for reading!