Star Crossed

Chapter 16

Prince Mon-El had skipped lunch, deciding to go into town to buy supplies for Aermy that he had previously lied about. Hal-An had joined him, keeping the Prince distracted by talking about his upcoming wedding.

Even though Mon-El was happy and excited for his friend, his mind was elsewhere, and for the very first time since he had seen her, it was not occupied by Kara Zor-El. Instead, he was worrying about Princess Cait.

Once they were done with lunch and buying supplies for Aermy, which wasn't much since the dragon caretakers took care of all the basic needs of the dragons, Mon-El and Hal-An headed back to the castle. The Prince's horse looked rather pleased, as his master had taken him out for a ride. It had almost been a week since he had last left the castle. When they reached the stables, Mon-El got down and patted the stallion's neck. "Good boy! I should take you out more often. For now, you must rest; for a little boy, our esteemed guest, wishes to take you out for a ride. I'll be there, I promise."

Eclipse let out a whine and nudged his nose against his master's head. The Prince chuckled and patted his head once before walking out.

"Where is the Princess?" he asked a guard stationed outside the stables.

"Her Highness is with her dragon, Your Highness," the guard replied.

Mon-El gave him a small nod and made his way towards where Aermy resided. Hal-An had followed him quietly, knowing very well that the Prince had a lot going on through his mind and he would appreciate the silence. When they reached the dragon shelter, they noticed Aermy taking a nap in the middle of the great field, as the Princess sat talking to her dragon, brushing his head lovingly.

"My Lady," Mon-El called, greeting his cousin with a short bow.

Princess Cait stood up and curtsied. "Your Highness. How kind of you to join us! But I'm afraid your beloved dragon is resting right now. We could have had a race if she were awake."

Mon-El smirked hearing that. "Why race when we both know Aermy would win?"

"You have too much faith in your dragon, Mon-El," Cait said, walking towards him.

Arm in arm, the cousins walked back towards the castle. Mon-El had gestured for Hal-An to fall back a little so he could talk to the Princess in private. Both Hal-An and Princess Cait's guard stepped back, letting the royals walk in front of them, maintaining a safe distance.

"If you are here to admonish me about what happened at Aldax, then you can reconsider it, my Lord," Cait said, calmly. "For I do not answer to you."

"Yet," Mon-El added. "You will, when I become your King."

Cait frowned a little. "It is inevitable, that much I know and I respect that too. But now you are just a Prince and my dear cousin, so I do not feel I need to give you any explanation."

"I do not wish to talk about what happened at Aldax. It was a mistake, one we should not repeat. What I am about to ask is if you are aware that only Princes have mistresses. As for a Princess taking a lover, that too a Kryptonian... Let's just say that you would be the talk of the town."

"So this is about Bar-Van then."

"What do you mean?"

Cait shook her head lightly. "Mon-El, I appreciate your concern, but you simply cannot tell me how to act upon my feelings when you can freely peruse them, but expect me to not do the same."

"I do not have a lover or a mistress, if that's what you are trying to say."

"And Lady Kara?" Cait felt her cousin stiffen as she asked that. "Please, dear cousin, I have eyes. I can see the way you look at the young lady. Not just the ball, where you left as soon as she did and we didn't see you till the next morning, but also how you went after her in Aldax. You were concerned about her. You care about her."