Hidden Secrets

Chapter Seventeen

"Does it still hurt?"

    "Kind of? If I move it a certain way, I'll get a sharp pain. But the sling helps from moving my shoulder around a lot."

    Four days have passed since Theo has been back at the palace. His arm was still in a sling, but the nurse had said that it would take ten days to fully heal.

    Mehdi and Theo were currently situated on Mehdi's bed, taking a day to heal and fully catch up on the time they've missed together. Theo sat with his legs straight out in front, his back resting against the headboard, while Mehdi laid on his back, head resting in Theo's lap and legs hanging off the bed.

    "Does this hurt?" Theo asked as he pressed gently at the healing bruise on the side of Mehdi's head. It was starting to fade into a greenish colour.

    Mehdi grimaced at the pressure. "Only a little..."

    Theo smiled softly and bent his head to place his lips on the bruise, giving a light peck. "Better?" He asked, pulling away slightly.

    "A lot," Mehdi responded in a small voice, a tint of pink colouring his cheeks, his ocean blue eyes shining like pearls in the sunlight.

    "Your uncle has been distant, I've noticed."

    "I think he got shaken by you being shot. He did say blood makes him sick, so maybe he is staying away until you're fully healed."

    Theo furrowed his brows. "But the bandages cover the wound..."

    "I guess you would have to ask him then."

    It was strange. Why wouldn't Blythe come see Theo or even his own nephew? The last time Mehdi saw his uncle was when he wanted some fresh air and went to the garden. On his way there, he saw Blythe speaking with some of the guards on duty, and he knew his uncle saw him because he was looking right at him. They had addressed each other's presence with a nod of their heads, and that was it. No conversations. Nothing.

A knock at the door roused Mehdi from his thoughts.

    "Come in," he called.

    The door opened to reveal a maid. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Highness, but Queen Kara would like your presence," she explained.

    "Thank you," the prince acknowledged. The maid smiled, giving a curtsy before leaving.

Mehdi stood from the bed, blowing out a sigh. He turned to Theo and leaned down to give him a sweet kiss. "I'll be back," he mumbled against Theo's lips.

"And I'll be waiting," Theo said after they pulled away, giving Mehdi a cheeky wink. The prince shook his head, smiling at the ground.

After Mehdi moved out into the hall, he paused, mentally slapping himself for not asking where his mother was. He continued on anyway, deciding to check the lounge room first.

However, his steps faltered on the balcony stairs when hearing a yell. Mehdi walked closer to the railing only to find two guards a couple of feet from each other. One was reaching for something at their side, while the other threw threats.

And then an object was being thrown. It struck the one guard in the neck.

Mehdi stood there in shock, a gasp leaving his lips as he watched in horror as the blood squirted out and the guard dropping to the guard. He quickly covered his mouth, noticing how loud his gasp was in the quiet surroundings. The traitor guard heard him and looked up at Mehdi. The prince's eyes widened as he realized the man in the guards' uniform was Elias. Elias' mouth spread into a wide, sinful grin as he started to move towards the stairs.