Picking Petals:

Chapter 6: The prince

"Rise and shine Princess, I'm coming in," I heard Rone call out from the depths of sleep. The stupid man almost startled me to death, I scrambled for the sheets to cover my bare body. "Don't worry I didn't see anything I haven't already," he said wickedly as he opened my curtains. It was still fairly dark outside so Rone lit my torches. I was bewildered as he stood before me, as if he hadn't just now been so intruding. Was he raised in a barn? Was that it?

Infuriated at how rude he was being, I threw a pillow at him but annoyingly he caught it. "I was kidding no need to be so dramatic, I have only seen your legs, they're very nice legs Ms.Nadia," he winked, his cunning lips curved into a devilish smile. He was enjoying my humiliation. Maybe it was because I was half asleep, but his violet eyes seemed to have a certain alluring pearl glow this gloomy morning.

"Rule number one you don't barge into my damn room," I snarled. "And how in the hell am I going to get out of bed if you're still here?"

"I thought it was improper for a woman to sleep nude,'" he said lastly before leaving my room, "I didnt know Trax woman could be so prude," he was enjoying every bit of this. "Be ready in twenty I have a school meeting."

I didn't know exactly what that meant, but I got out of bed and wobbled into the bathroom, and stepped into the cobbled stoned shower. The water ran over my belly making me wince, I was still in pain even though I had been healed. My entire body felt drained and sore.

I dried my long black hair and looked at my reflection in the mirror. The Queen was right I had kind eyes but my eyes were such a deep striking blue they could look grey. I never took the time to look at myself, I never really cared to look. Personally, my nose is too small, my eyes are too big. My legs are too long and let's face it, I don't have the flattest stomach. The mirror to me was one of my worst enemies. I could stare forever and find more things that I could hate about myself. The entire world could tell me I'm pretty and I still wouldn't feel it.

In a fluffy white robe, I opened the walk-in closet and scanned the closet for a simple dress I could still be comfortable in. After a few minutes of debating on a knee-length light blue summer dress or the black one. I chose the black and paired it with my leather boots and some white stockings.

I pulled my long dark black hair back and wove it into a messy version of a french braid. The braid-covered my horns for the most part. I took my sword off the desk and strapped it over my back. I also strapped a dagger to my thigh and tucked a bottle of poison in my breast. I normally carried more gear on me but there weren't many places to hide weapons in a dress.

I knocked on the conjoined door that lead to Rones's room, "Come in."

He was already changed into a white simple shirt and blue jeans which we also inherited from the humans, with some black boots. Before we started living with the human's men wore slacks and most of the time no shirt, women always wore dresses but the humans also changed that over time. After all its impractical fighting in a dress, I don't know what we were thinking.

"So what's this school meeting about?" I asked scanning his room. His bed was underneath a large window across the room, a mini study for his work, a living area a fireplace, and a plush red carpet that took up the entire entrance. It was plain but kept clean and organized his books on one shelf, and his desk and papers all in files. Maps were stacked carefully beside his bed with a pen.

"Just have to discuss some budgeting. You can stay out front though, no weapons allowed," he said pointing at my sword, raising a judgy brow.

I shrugged, "I don't go anywhere without protection, plus this was a gift," I smiled.