Chapter 12

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I storm into my room, wanting to violently close the door, but having it being closed by Davi before I could.

"Calm down, Addy," Davi says. "He is already in prison. Can you explain to me what happened?"

My jaw has been clenched for so long that it is starting to hurt. I feel the anger corrupting me inside, making me feel completely out of control, which makes me angrier. The scene plays again and again in my mind while I walk from one side of the room to another, hoping it would make me calmer. But probably driving me to be even more furious.

"He tried to take my throne from me!" I scream at Davi while pointing at the door.

"But how? He needs a motive for that, right?"

"They showed me this document that said I should have an heir by now."

"But that's ridicu ⏤"

"I know, Davi!" I scream louder, making him stop talking and take a step back.

"Hey." Davi stands his arms and pulls me closer, hugging me. "Everything is okay now. He is in prison and there is nothing he can do anymore."

I place my face in his chest and try to allow him to comfort me. With time, my breathing goes back to normal and tears start running from my eyes, staining his white shirt of mascara. I try to recall when he took off his blazer as I see it laying on the dressing table chair. I start to shake and Davi makes me sit on the bed.

"Do you want tea or something?" He starts to walk to the service button but stops himself in the way. "It's broken."

"What?"

"I broke the button today," he says looking down. He then walks to the door and opens it. "Adelaide, why there isn't a guard in front of our room?"

"Hmm, he's the Cleaner, he must be on Earth," I say. "That's okay, I don't need tea. Just hold me."

I wonder why those words felt so weird in my mouth, making me feel the need to cover my face with shame. I just want to be held. Davi closes the door and quickly craws into bed, wrapping his body around me.

"Why don't they like you?" he whispers to me.

"Because I am a woman."

"That can't be true."

"It is." Tears start to run down my face again. "I'm the first woman heir to the throne and, because of that, they won't respect my birthright. They don't like being told what to do by a woman."

"You don't have to worry now," Davi says after kissing my shoulder. "There is no one that can replace you."

I turn away to face him and place my hand in his chest. "Can we sleep now?" I instantly feel his heart beating faster. "We've talked about this, Davi. You don't need to be afraid."

"I know. I... I know." His voice shakes. "But can't we just watch something? Until I fall asleep, you know?"

"Yes."

I grab the remote on his nightstand and put the tv on the royal channel. We start watching a program about a town in Aminour, while I turn to the side, trying to find the most comfortable position. I need to have an heir, as fast as possible. It may be reaching a point in which this could be the only thing to save me. Alastair Bonavich's attempt to take my throne tonight was ridiculous, giving that the document he chose for it has not been followed for generations now.

So yes, it was ridiculous, but it only happened because he does not respect my claim. He does not respect my legitimacy. He said I'm a woman of questionable birth to my face, in front of all the other dukes. Even the guards heard that. I feel my heart beating faster as I wonder if everyone around the palace wonders about my legitimacy. This is ridiculous. When my mother was arrested for treason, I was eleven, which means I am definitely my father's daughter.

"How don't you care about that?" Davi asks me, turning his attention from the tv to me. "How don't you care about dying?"

I slowly take a breath. "I guess I just feel like I will live forever, you know. Like my memory will live forever because I will be remembered. Just like you will too."

"But being remembered and being alive is not the same thing."

"I know, but there is nothing you can do about death," I say. "Everybody is going to die, Davi."

"It's just so uncertain, you know?" he says. I can feel his heart increasing its speed. "I don't know what is going to happen or when. I could die in my sleep."

"You don't have to worry about that. Your stone will decide when you die and then your power will be given to somebody else."

"I don't use my power. Not ever." His eyes fill with water. "So, I will have more time to live."

I look straight into his eyes. "That is a myth, Davi."

"But it makes sense, you know," he says. "The lower classes, who normally work with their powers, have a life expectancy of thirty-five years old."

"Davi, you can't spend your life worrying about that."

"How do I stop?"

I look away. "I don't know."

Tears start streaming down his eyes and he wipes them as they appear.

"I'm glad I have you, Addy." He holds me near. "You were right, my mom didn't come again."

"She is probably very busy."

"You don't have to lie to make me feel better."

He turns back to the tv and I watch as he tries to focus on it, placing my head on his chest. Tears keep falling down his eyes silently. We fall asleep holding each other while the tv performs as background noise. 

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