“You deserve someone that would never knowingly hurt you. Someone that would be proud to have you by their side,” he continued and raised his hand to wipe away a stray tear that ran down my cheek.
“Percy, I know we haven’t known each other for very long, and we don’t know each other that well, but I feel connected to you. Like we were meant to meet. And I would never throw away your love. I’m not the smartest, but it’s a true fool that would deny you,” he finished and leaned down pressing his lips against mine softly.
He pulled away after barely a few seconds and looked at me with pleading and pity-filled eyes.
I was in shock. I stepped back.
I shouldn’t have kissed him. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me. But I knew he would when he closed the space between us.
Dylan was dangerous. He was warm and familiar, a reminder of a past life that was so recent yet felt so long ago. He could make me forget, if only for a moment, the way my heart ached for the Princess. But it only took a moment to find yourself lost and confused.
“I’m not sorry for kissing you. I won’t apologise,” Dylan told me, as his eyes filled with hurt at my silent rejection.
“It won’t ever happen again,” I told him.
Dylan deserved everything he told me that I did. He deserved someone who would love him. He deserved someone that would place him high above all others. That someone wasn’t me. Because he was familiar, but he wasn’t home…. Not anymore.
My home, my place, was with the Princess, and without her, I was lost. His kiss settled any doubt I had. I wanted and needed her. No one else could ease the pain that such wanting created in my chest.
“I have to go,” I said, making my way back home as quickly as possible. He called for me once but didn’t pursue me further.
7. There’s No Hiding
Persephone Flores
The guard greeted me with a slight bow of his head and held the door open for me.
I stilled as the Princess stood waiting on the other side of the door.
“Come inside, Percy,” she instructed. My legs moved and I crossed the door's threshold and flinched when it loudly closed behind me.
“How did you get here?” She had been at the café when I left.
She took a step toward me. “I saw my pet running off into the grove, chased by a filthy mutt. I followed.” She reached out to me, her fingers lightly pulling at my tie.
“You saw?” I whispered. She hummed in confirmation, her eyes beginning to glow. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”
“Was it not?” She gently pulled me closer to her by my tie, and I stepped forward.
“No.” I could barely breathe, this close to her, with her eyes locked on mine and getting brighter with each passing moment. It felt like I was in the eye of a storm.
“What was it?” she asked; a soft growl rumbled in her chest as her nostrils flared.
“I, I was, uh, upset,” I stuttered and swallowed the lump in my throat. “You and, and Lord Halvorsen.” She had kissed him again. The image was seared into my mind. I hated it. I hated him. I hated that she wanted him.
“Like you and that boy,” she hissed lowly.
“No!” I raised my voice, anger making me brave. It wasn’t the same. The two were nothing alike! She lifted her top lip and snarled in response; her fangs elongated. I tried to step back but was stopped by her hold of my tie.
“You are mine,” she growled lowly. “All of you belongs to me.” She pulled me closer, even as I tried to stop her. Her free hand gripped my hair, tilting my head back. “Your lips, your mouth, are mine,” she stated and pressed her lips to mine, mimicking Dylan’s chaste kiss.
Her softness stunned me for the briefest of moments before I pressed my lips harder against hers in return, my hands grabbing her hips. How could I be so upset and angry with her and still want nothing more than her touch?
She pulled away as I parted my lips to deepen the kiss.
“Who kissed you better?” she asked, her eyes glowing brightly and fangs digging into her bottom lip.
“You,” I answered. “I didn’t kiss him back, you know,” I told her. “But you did,” I accused and dropped my hands from her waist.