The Last

Amira waited and waited for Caldwin, but he didn’t show. Fed up, and assuming he wouldn’t come, Amira undressed carefully, hanging her dress once more and walking into the bathroom. The door had yet to be repaired, but she didn’t care. She’d gotten quite used to it by now, besides, it’s not like anyone else ever came in here. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed slightly before reaching to turn the silver handle causing water to fall from the showerhead as well as directly from the ceiling above. She waited a few moments before climbing into the soothing warm water.

Another sigh left her lips as she wrapped her arms around herself in a comforting hug. She closed her eyes and remained that way for a while before she opened her eyes once more. She began to wash methodically, taking her time to enjoy the warmth from the water. She sang softly to herself a simple tune she enjoyed as she smiled softly going about her routine. She didn’t hear the door to the room open or close behind the Crown Prince as he finally entered.

Following the sound of her voice, he walked towards the bathroom. He paused by the door frame for just a moment, his silhouette filling the structure. He was exhausted, but his eyes left the floor to drift upwards to look through the foggy glass at the other side of the small washroom. Her blurred skin was visible through the panes of glass and he watched her for half a moment before he began to move. He was moving before he was truly thinking about what he was doing. He was quiet in his movements as he stepped fully into the bathroom approaching the shower pulling off his shirt and tossing it aside, but not bothering with his pants. It was too much and took too long. He needed her, and he needed her now.

Amira caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw the Prince, but did not have enough time to react as he pulled open the glass door and stepped into the water causing her to step back into the wall behind her. Her breath caught in her throat and she forgot what it was like to breathe as he placed his hand on the wall beside her head and leaned towards her. His head tilted down, eyes intent on hers pinning her between the wall and his perfect body.

“Don’t you ever. Do that again.” He growled softly water streaming down from his now soaked hair over his face and down his chest. He was pissed, he realized almost as a second thought as all the ways tonight could have gone wrong came to the forefront of his mind. How easily someone could have taken her away from him. He couldn’t let that happen, not when they had just begun to get to know one another. Not when she was his mate, naked, gorgeous, and irresistible. His thoughts became distracted as he fully started to take her in before him, eyes akin to a starving man laying eyes on a feast.

Usually, the Princess would have been horrified to be this exposed in front of someone she hardly knew, especially as his eyes roamed her body hungrily, but something sparked in her chest and urged her not to back down. She tilted her chin up slightly daring to meet his gaze straight on which he met, but only after he was finished observing her.

“Oh?” she tilted her head slightly allowing her eyes to travel up and down his body slowly as well before lazily returning to his gaze her heart pounding in her chest at just the sight of him, “and what are you going to do about it?” she purred toeing that dangerous line that kept them apart. He was gorgeous, the Prince’s body was sculpted as if straight from her fantasies. He was not bulky but yet not lean, his muscles smooth and well defined. She had a hard time looking away, especially from that plunging v-line that led to mysteries she’d yet to uncover.

His nostrils flared at the challenge before a small devious smile tugged on his lips and he leaned down slightly so his lips were right next to her ear,

“Wouldn’t you like to know, Princess,” he mumbled nipping at the soft skin of her ear before drawing away. He felt torturing her was only fair, especially after she dared wear that damn dress in front of so many people. He had barely avoided cutting the people down that had separated them. Seeing her like that had driven some primal part of him over the edge. He’d regained his control by the time he reached her side, but any sooner and the results of that ball may have been entirely different.

Amira’s lip curled slightly in displeasure as he backed off; she took a step after him into the stream of water only for him to snatch her arm and spin her around. Faster than she thought he could. Pressing her back into the wall, this time her back to him, his own body pressed against hers to hold her in place. She could feel the answer to her question, his desire obvious, and smiled smugly before he pressed a bit harder forcing the air out of her chest.

“Finish getting cleaned up,” he commanded his head beside hers his nose slightly pressing into her temple he pulled back slightly breathing in the sweet scent of her that had called to him since the first time he saw her. “Then maybe we can explore the consequences for your actions,” he said softly letting go of her swiftly. Stepping out of the shower he picked up a towel and dried himself off. Peeling off his soaked pants, back to her, and wrapping a towel around his waist. He went to sit on the edge of the bed with a clear view of the shower. He licked his lips and bit his lower one slowly as he observed. “Continue,” he instructed with a small jerk of his chin and surprisingly, Amira found herself obeying.

The heat of his gaze was far hotter than the water; she didn’t need to look at him to know exactly where he was looking. She finished her shower and wrapped herself up in a towel of her own before drying her hair, taking her sweet old time in each action. She entered the main room and stood before him.

“Better?” she asked tilting her head slightly allowing some sass to enter her tone, not entirely challenging him, but not conceding either.

“Mmm not quite,” he said, standing effortlessly. He stood and took a step forward to be directly in front of her, he tucked a loose strand of damp hair behind her ear and smiled softly, “There. Perfect.” Amira couldn’t help it, she laughed softly, the action shaking her shoulders slightly.

“I’m always perfect,” she corrected him before leaning forwards placing her hands on his broad shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to speak in his ear, voice soft and sultry, “and don’t you forget it.” She predicted his movement before he made it, and danced out of his reach and grip. Laughter light and carefree left her lips as she moved towards her closet pulling out an oversized t-shirt and sliding it on over her head. “Not so fast pretty boy,” she scolded him pulling on a pair of underwear as well before crossing the room to sit down on her side of the bed cross-legged looking to him expectantly, “you have some explaining to do.”

Caldwin groaned leaning back onto his heels looking up to the ceiling as if he were praying for strength, “you… you are evil,” he huffed fingers tapping against his leg as he expelled some pent-up energy. He had to shove away all the emotion and excitement she had just brought to light and with an annoyed huff crossed the room to put a pair of loose sweatpants on himself. He didn’t bother with a shirt which he found was to his advantage as he often caught Amira’s gaze drifting to his chest throughout their conversation.

He sat facing her cross-legged on the bed and began to explain, “The rebellion with the witches is getting a bit more serious, that party was meant more of an interrogation than a proper party. Rue was torturing some of our more esteemed guests with my father while the rest of us kept up face and Zara was hunting undercover.” He took a breath running a hand through his damp hair. “I didn’t want you there because if anyone found out what we were actually doing that room could’ve turned very ugly, very quickly… do you understand?”

“Yes,” Amira nodded, hesitantly reaching out and taking one of his hands in hers. “But I would have rather you had this conversation with me beforehand, instead of after,” she pointed out. He opened his mouth to say something and she cut him off. “Also. I have said it before and I will say it a million times over again, apparently, as you seemingly need the reminder. I am strong. I can fight, and I can protect myself.” She reminded him, raising her wrist to show him that the gold bracelet was still in place, “This is the only thing that is potentially dangerous to me,” she explained pointing to the piece of jewelry, “as it prevents me from protecting myself, but I will happily continue to wear it and weaken myself, but only if you’re honest with me.”

Caldwin ran a hand down his face and nodded, “I know, I know I’m sorry I just… I can’t help it.”

“You have to trust me,” she said softly, but she knew what he meant, her instincts when it came to him were slightly aggressive as well. “Besides,” she added with a cheeky smile, “I can be useful, I got some information you may want.”

“You did?” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “but Vincent didn’t tell us anything?”

“Perhaps you just needed a pretty face,” she said with a playful wink.

“Well go on, what is it?”

“Oh no, you don’t get this information for free” Amira tsked, “I want something in return.”

“And what, pray tell, would that be?” Caldwin asked, almost nervous to hear the answer.

“I want a proper date. Out of the castle, somewhere the two of us can enjoy some uninterrupted time together,” she said crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. “I hardly know you, and I don’t think that’s acceptable at all.”

“Done,” Caldwin agreed easily, he wasn’t exactly thrilled that she specified it had to be off castle grounds, as it only increased the danger of the situation, but he owed it to her anyway. “Now what did you learn little dragon?”

“My sister is supposedly alive,” she said, eyes brightening with excitement, “They say she may be allying with the witches and apparently they think I am here in cohorts with her.” she divulged all the information willingly and quickly. She wanted to see what he thought if he had heard any information confirming the fact. She was near desperate to find out if her sister was in fact alive, but the way his face fell… her excitement quickly turned to confusion and worry, “what? What is it?” Caldwin took a deep breath before squeezing her hand in his gently before he spoke.

“She is alive,” he confirmed and Amira’s heart leaped in her chest, overwhelming joy flooding her. How on earth could this be a bad thing? Why had he looked to forlorn? “She has pledged her allegiance to the rebellion, and personally promised to destroy my family.” Amira blinked, that didn’t make sense, that didn’t sound like her Gwen, always the sweet gentle flower, the perfect lady of the family. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.

“No… No, she couldn’t have said that,″ Amira said confused drawing back from him slightly, but remaining where she sat, “and-and if she did I’ll talk to her, I’ll tell her that you’re my mate and your siblings aren’t half bad and it’s not your fault.” Cal covered his mouth and looked away. His face was sheet pale and looked like he was going to puke. The Princess did not understand why. “Cal?” she said softly angling her head to try and look at him but he stood quickly dropping her hand and creating space between them.

He knew he had to tell her, even as the fact was eating him alive from the inside out and had been for the past couple of weeks, one of the main reasons he’d stayed away was to avoid this very conversation.

“I am… so, so sorry…” He started unable to bring his gaze to meet hers instead it remained fixed to the floor as he plowed on with the information that he knew would hurt her, and therefore tore him to shreds to have to tell her it. “But she knows Amira… She knows that you’re here. I reached out and offered to meet with her myself.” He swallowed painfully, “but she said....” he took another deep breath, “She said that if fate had paired with you as a monster like me… That you… you weren’t her sister anymore.”

Silence. Then a quiet roar slowly built up within her. The sound rushing past her ears drowning everything out even as Cal came to kneel by her taking her hands in his once more and apologizing a thousand times over she heard none of it, felt nothing, as her mind dragged her back to their childhood. Her relationship with her sister had been strained at best, but only because Amira would follow her around everywhere trying to be just like her. She looked up to her greatly, and only became the warrior she was today thanks to her uncle’s influence.

“No,” she breathed softly and Cal’s head dropped hanging below his shoulders closing his eyes tightly as he gathered himself the best he could.

“I tried everything I could Amira I swear it,” he said looking up to her eyes glossy with emotion he had not felt in a very, very long time, “We can try again, you can reach out to her” he offered but solemnly added, “but I do not think it will do much good.”

Like a switch had been flipped that sadness converted into a rage. She let out a shaky breath, hands trembling slightly as she tried to hold it within herself. “How could she?” She hissed her voice somewhere between human and beast. “I am the only family she has left,” she paused, eyes flashing around the room, suddenly feeling like it was too small like she needed to get out. Her breathing accelerated hands curling to fists as she stood up suddenly, Caldwin having to quickly shift out of the way as she paced back and forth. No more than ten steps in either direction, that small fact he noted to remember to bring up later, but that wasn’t important now.

“She’s the only family I have left,” she stressed, her voice very nearly a roar. Her eyes shifted into their violet color, reptilian slits taking the place of her irises. Scales began to slowly creep up her arms, the more worked up she got the further into the shift she progressed. “It’s not-it’s, not my fault I was mated with you!” She snarled accusingly at him, her anger taking whatever outlet it could find, she didn’t truly mean it. Her wings snapped out behind her back and talons ripped out from her still clenched fists.

She put her fist through the wall and felt slightly better at expelling some of the anger. Her eyes suddenly became panicked as she realized how far her control had slipped. “I can’t- I can’t,” she gasped before suddenly it all stopped. The panic, the anger, the sadness, gone in the blink of an eye. Amira straightened to her full height and her wings flared slightly as if whatever it was adjusted to her. A low rumbling growl rose from her chest as her violet eyes focused on Caldwin who had slowly and carefully risen to his feet.

“It’s okay,” he said gently and the half-made creature tilted its head as it listened to him. He swallowed nervously, “I’m not going to hurt you, I want to help,” he said reaching forwards slightly, a mistake. Amira lunged and Caldwin had to leap backwards over the bed to avoid her snapping jaw and flashing talons. The door to the room flew open as Rollo heard the commotion.

The male had two seconds to assess what was going on before he had to duck and roll past Amira’s beast lashing out at him perceiving him as a threat. He sprung to his feet in between her and Caldwin and opened his mouth. Just as before, the words came easily, harsh and broken sounding Caldwin watched in absolute shock as the thing that had taken over Amira began to sway slightly in time with his weird noises. He saw her knees starting to give and moved instantly. He caught her right before she hit the ground and moments later she had returned fully to her human form, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Caldwin slowly looked up from Amira to a sweating and exhausted-looking Rollo and demanded, “What the hell was that?!”