Giovanni

Chapter 15

Thora Hawthorn:

I burst into the small dining room off of the royal wing where I know Rayan and Santiago will be. If dinner was canceled every single day they'd just come here to eat. Away from ears and eyes and totally secluded from work. The perfect hideout. The two of the look up at me, their mouths stuffed with chicken. I roll my eyes and slink over to the chair next the Rayan.

"So," Rayan says between the food in his mouth. I grimace at him and shove his face away from my view. What a gentleman. "I'm just going to jump right into this. what the hell is up with your mate?"

I shake my head "He was blacked out drunk, Rayan."

"Already making excuses for him I see," He grumbles stuffing more chicken into his mouth.

I glare at him with an annoyed expression "You could've handled yourself a little better."

"Better?" He demands almost spitting out his food. He chews quickly and then gives me the same look back. "That is so unfair of you. He attacked me and what I did was defense."

"He's a man with rogue mentality, Rayan. He doesn't have the training you have," I say back just as angry. Rayan stares at the table heatedly and I stare daggers into the side of his head.

"Will the two of you stop it?" Santiago mutter taking a sip of water. He pushes a plate of chicken and potatoes towards me. I ignore it and instead look between the two. "Why was he drunk?"

"He hoped I would reject him," I answer ashamedly.

"Real dedication," Rayan remarks "Did you?"

I give him a look that should answer his question and shake my head. He nods and sighs pushing his mostly empty plate away from him. "So that means we are still doing this," Santiago says more to himself than anyone.

"I'm not his biggest fan right now but he's strong. Almost cracked my jaw with an uppercut," Rayan lazily smiles rubbing his now healed chin. Santiago laughs and rubs his arm.

"Not to mention he bruised up my arm pretty good with that death grip of his," Santiago mutters.

"With training he'd be a total beast," Rayan suggest and Santiago agrees with a nod.

I smile at my friends. I knew they'd be mad but I had hoped that they could see past it. I know my parents won't be easily convinced but I'll have to deal with that in the morning. If Giovanni and I have no one on our side I know Santiago and Rayan will always back us up. That's the good thing about not only their loyalty but their friendship. Rayan might be an asshole but for us he'd give up the world. Santiago might be a uptight hard ass but he'd break every rule in the rule book for this kingdom and us.

"So i've decided that instead of having him overwhelmed with castle life right away I am going to start eating meals in his room with him. Perfect opportunity for us to get to know each other and him to get comfortable with me," I tell them both and they nod. I get up and go to the kitchen attached to the room. I open the fridge and the pantry and start making a ham and cheese. One of the only meals I can cook. . .or prepare I don't know.

"Do you think it'll work?" Santiago asks?

I shrug "Who knows. I want him to trust me and after tonight I can see it was not a good idea," I mutter.

"I fell like this could be good," Rayan says back turning in his seat to watch me "Whatever happened to him must've been something bad for him to be this closed off to even you."

Santiago nods and stands from his chair "I agree," He states grabbing a pen and paper. "I'll take this to him." I look up at him confused. How does he know I am making this for Giovanni?

"How did you-"

"You have food on the table. It's not hard to piece together," He says handing me the pen and paper. I raise an eyebrow "Look, if I am going to do this then I am going to show him that you aren't his only supporter. If he's as closed off as we think he needs all the support he can get." I nod and scribble down a note to him letting him know I made it.

"I'll go with," Rayan says rising from his seat.

"No," Santiago and I say together just as I hand him the note. Rayan slumps back into his seat and watches as Santiago exits the room with a glass of water and the plate with the food. "Night," He calls over his shoulder.

I sit back in my seat and sigh holding my head in my hands. Rayan puts his hand on my back and I look up to see him smiling at me. "You've always been like my little sister," He says. I laugh and shove him off me.

"I'm older than you." This time he laughs.

"I'm taller," His smile drops "I don't want to see you hurt."

"I won't be," I tell him not actually believing the words myself.

"Lets hope you're right," He smirks "I'd hate to kill him," He laughs referring to Giovanni. I shake my head and laugh with him.

I give him a side glance. I can see why people are attracted to him. Charming smile, Crystal blue eyes, Golden hair, and a charming demeanor. He would make a good mate if he wasn't such a hoe. "Wait until you meet your mate." He looks at me as if i'd grown three heads.

"No way," he yells putting his hands up "Don't put that in the air."

"You'll find your mate one day, Rayan." I laugh as he screeches covering his ears

"Mates are cool and all but not for me," He mutters frowning.

I never knew why he didn't want one.Only that he doesn't and thats that. He never expands on the idea and we don't ever push it. We just watch idly as he bags a new girl every night. Santiago also has the reputation. While Rayan is the charming player of every girls dreams and ever the gentleman, Santiago is the opposite. Every parents nightmare for their daughters and the rumored bad boy of the kingdom. The two of them together could ru through the entire kingdom in a week if they wanted to. Santiago has slowed his revolving door of women in preparation for his new title and possible mate. Rayan is still going strong without a care in the world.

"For now," I find myself staying to him and he scoffs.

"Forever," He mutters back and I shake my head. I wonder if Giovanni is like Rayan. A super player who never dreamed of a mate. I shake my head of the thought and stand.

"Come on," I tell him and he rises. "Long day today and we have training early."

"Yeah I better get to bed for the nigh," He winks and I slap his chest as he holds the door open for me.

"You just can't help yourself can you?"

"Hey," He exclaims "I need some emotional healing after tonight."

"Yeah whatever," I roll my eyes with a smile. We walk in silence with Nadia trailing at a safe distance. When we go to split off, me to the royal wing and him to his quarters in the eastern wing I stop him. "Rayan?"

"Whats up?" He asks with a lazy smile.

"Thank you," I smile at him and he nods and rolls his eyes.

"Yeah save it, Big head." He laughs "Night."

"Night," I say back with a chuckle before heading to my chambers.