16 Chapter 16 (2/2)

I turn my attention back to Azeel and he says, ”I have picked the one I want to be my guide. Everyone else will pick others.” He speaks as if everyone will just bow to his every word. And I have to be one of those people. I bow my head and say, ”Whatever you would like.” He smiles and says, ”Good. Now continue.” Xalem looks pleased. ”Ladies, each of you take a guard. They will show to your rooms after your give your prince a tour.”

We all nod and walk towards the door. I notice Garret purposely counting the lines of people so he knows were to stand to be our guard. When we meet up with him, Azeel puts his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. Making sure that Garret knew I was not an option. His hands were cold on my stomach, almost to cold to be alive. I instantly notice they don't heat up from my body heat.

Garret looks calm and collected, but I can see a hint of rage in his eyes. I hear someone call my name. It is Lilith. ”Kiya. Kiya, wait up.” I try and pull away from Azeel, but he only lets me far enough away to be holding my hand. ”Prince Azeel, let me go.” I say quietly. He shakes his head. ”You, Kiya, will never tell me what to do.” Then he turns towards Lilith. ”Kiya, do you need us to show you around?” I shake my head. ”No, a guard explained it all to me. I know we're everything is.” She nods. ”Okay. Then good bye.”

She walks off, and I start to show Azeel around. I notice that Azeel is staring around me rather then what I am pointing out. I can't help but let out a comment. ”I am not giving you a tour of my body, so you shouldn't be looking at it.” He looks taken aback, and I hear Garret give a small grunt, almost nonexistent. That is how I know he was trying so hard to hold in a laugh.

Azeel however doesn't find the comment very funny and yanks back on my arm. The force of the pull, pulls me right into his chest. He wraps an arm around my waist to keep me from backing up, and looks down into my eyes. ”You know, you have quiet the mouth. To talk to me this way, as if you are better than me.” I can see anger in amusement in his eyes.

”I am no better than you, than you are over me.” I say. He looks taken aback. ”I am the crown prince of Navolin. You are a mere servant.” ”Job title doesn't define greatness. Actions run loops around status, and neither of us have ever done good for this world.” The amusement fades and he shoves me backwards. ”Don't you dare say I have never done anything good. I have trained all my life to take over Navolin. I have given my whole life to make sure they have a leader.” I nearly fall over, but thanks to my trained balance, I manage to stay up. I can't stop my words from flowing.

”And what have you actually done other than sit on some throne while your father orders people? How many of your people live on the streets? How many of them go to bed hungry each night because they can't afford a meal? How many woman have to be servants or courtesan's because they are trying to support there families?” He takes two steps and is towering over me. I try and take a step back, but he grabs my arm. ”It is not my fault that some of you choose to be whores and servants. It is not my fault that some of them are to lazy to get jobs. It is not my fault that some of them can't learn to save their money and buy their next meal.” I scoff. ”Life is harder than sitting on a throne.”

Azeel squeezes my arm harder. ”I have done everything I can. It doesn't matter what you say, a prince will always be better than a servant.” I wince slightly at the pressure on my arm. ”You have never done anything to make you greater than me.” He shoves me backwards, and I feel a wall against my back. ”And what have you done other than prance around in this little outfit that makes you think you can talk to me like this. I sneer at him. ”At least in my job, I actually help people.” He moves to do something, but I am automatically pulled away. I look up and see Garret holding me away from Azeel. ”Prince Azeel, Kiya, I think we should get going.” Azeel stares at Garret. ”And what is your name?” Garret doesn't even flinch. ”I am Avi.” ”Well Avi, back out of this.” Garret gives me a warning look and backs up. Azeel stares at me again.

”And you, don't you ever talk to me like that again. Understood.” I open my mouth to say something that would have probably gotten me hurt, but instead I bow my head, then drop into a curtsy. ”I am sorry Prince Azeel. I don't know where that came from. In my old kingdom, the leaders did nothing to help us. I shouldn't have blown up on you. That wasn't fair. I am truly sorry.” I feel a bitter taste in the back of my throat at the load of lies flowing from me. I hear him take a few steps forward. Then I feel a finger under my chin. I look up and his eyes have soften. ”We both have done things in the past few minutes that we regret. Let's keep going.”

I nod and keep walking while telling him everything he needs to know. When we are done with the tour I turn to Garret. ”Avi, please take us to the princes room.” He nods and leads us towards the guest rooms. When we get to the princes room, he walks in and I stop at the door. ”Avi, you may go.” Azeel says. I turn to Garret and give him a pleading look to stay. I feel a hand on my chin and it is pulled to face Azeel. ”Thank you for the tour. I will see you tomorrow. Okay?” I nod my head and he leans towards me and plants a soft kiss on my lips. ”Goodnight.” He steps back and closes the door. I immediately wipe the back of my hand across my lips trying to get rid of the feeling of just having them there. I see Garret take a step towards me. ”I was told to tell you to meet in the kitchen. You ready?” He asks. I nod. ”Please, just get me away from this door.”

We hurry of to the kitchen and I am the last one there. Lilith comes and stands next to me. ”Someone took a little long on their trip. Couldn't let him go?” I shook my head. ”He spent the first half of the trip staring at me so I had to...go back over it all.” She laughed. ”Well you get to go back up there.” I feel disappoint well inside me. ”Why?” ”We are taking them dinner.” She answered. I fake a smile. ”Okay.” It only takes a few munitets to get his tray and Garret follows me back to his door. When I get outside I say, ”Avi, do you mind knocking?” He smiled at me. ”Sure thing.” He knocks and Azeel takes forever to answer. ”Yes?” He sees me and smiles.

”I brought you your dinner.” He took it out of my arms and stares at me. ”Would you like to come in? Talk for a bit.” By the look in his eyes, I know it is not a question, but more of an order. I shake my head. ”I should really head back to the others. Get ready for bed.” He perks at that last part. ”I heard there are no more beds in the pinks room. You can stay here if you would like.” I shake my head. ”Avi has already offered and had all my stuff moved to my room.” Garret steps forward and nods. ”Yes, and if you want to be at your best tomorrow, we must leave now.” I turn and walk away with Garret, glad to get away.

I quickly head into the dining room, eat, and head back to Garret's room. ”Avi, your bunk mate is here.” Garret walks into the room with only a pair of loose pants on. I turn away and ask, ”Did you have them bring my stuff in here?” He laughs and answers. ”Yes. Right drawers.” I nod over my shoulder's and walk over to my drawers. As I pull the pajamas out, I turn. ”To the other room.” He give a stubborn pout. ”Why don't you go to the other room?” I raise an eye brow. ”Because I have had to deal with Azeel all day, and right now, all I want to do it get changed and go to bed. I promise, if you get in my way, you are sleeping in the hall.” He laughs, gets on the bed and turns his back to me. ”There.”

I make a face to make sure he can't see me then quickly change. When I climb up next to him, I gently shove him over and take the side of the bed I want. ”Are you comfortable in my bed?” He asks. I nod, my eyes already closing. I feel his hand pull me sitting up. ”What?” I ask, well more of growl. ”What is the plan. We have seen the layout and now we need a plan.” I pout. ”I don't want to talk.” He smiles, ”I could think of a few other things I rather be doing.” I hit him in the shoulder. ”Never mind, talking it is.” I can feel some part of me cringe at his words. The same place that tells me things are different between us. We are no longer the kissing, caring pair we were before. I shake the thought from me.

”Okay, since the carriage isn't coming until the night of the ball, I say we make the kills that night. We just have to survive the week. That is all.” He nods. ”Okay. What about Azeel?” ”What about him?” I ask. Garret stares at me. ”What if he goes all mad on you again.” I laugh. ”I won't make him mad anymore.” He stares in disbelief. ”We both know that is a lie. But I am going to step in when needed. Okay?” I nod. ”Now I am going to sleep. If you try and wake me, you just might lose a hand.” He nods. ”Okay. Good night.” ”Night.”

I turn my back to him and lay down while Garret get's ready for bed. When the light go out, my vision goes black, then quickly comes back to me. As I drift off, I smile to myself. It was not good to draw attention to myself by fighting with the crown prince but today during that fight, I felt my old self. I had almost kept going, but I have to stay low, so I had forced those lie's out. I feel Garret's side of the bed dip and him pull some cover over him. When I close my eyes, I fall into a peaceful sleep.