-Jade-

William didn't stop, but she didn't want him to... On the other hand, if someone saw them... This felt a bit ... too private. Considering how Elizabeth had reacted to the sight of the two of them just talking, how would she react if she saw them now?

It was probably the sight of me in no clothes talking to him that made her so upset... But what would she say if saw us here? Does she even come out here? Jade wondered anxiously.

If Elizabeth saw them, would she leave them be as she had when she saw them kissing at the ball, or would she be upset like last time?

"Where are you?" William asked while kissing her cheek softly. There was something in his voice that made a pleasing shiver go through her. All the way down to her stomach, and a little bit further down.

"I..." She stopped talking when his eyes latched on to hers in a lustful gaze. "I think we..." William's right thumb silenced her gently. She noticed how his eyes swiftly changed their focus from her to something behind her. His hands fell from her neck to her back and the right one drew her closer. They protected her like walls.

Damn it, he smells good even when he's sweaty. She thought frustrated.

The moisture from his partially drenched shirt did however not send shivers down her spine. Quite the opposite actually.

"Loren." He said the guard's name like it was poison, but he relaxed his arms around Jade.

"My prince." Loren said apologetically, as if he knew that William didn't appreciate his presence. "The king has summoned you. He awaits you in his study."

"Thank you. Tell him that I will be there in a moment." William answered. "After that you will return to your post." He instructed Loren.

Return to watching me. Jade thought and pouted her lips in discontent.

"I have to go." William said when they were alone again.

Jade raised her eyebrows. It was obvious that he had to leave. William smiled when he noticed her reaction.

"I suggest that you get back to your room before Liz notices that you're not there." He said. A warm smile played on the lips that had been on hers a moment ago.

"Liz?" Jade asked confused but intrigued.

"Your governess." He answered and a look of embarrassment flew over his face. He looked down at the ground and then met her gaze again. "Elizabeth."

"You call her Liz?" Jade asked with a playful smile on her lips. It was so sweet that he had a nickname for her. They obviously knew each other very well, better than Jade had expected. She had assumed that William just trusted in Elizabeth because she was a very good and strict governess. There was apparently something more to their relationship. Otherwise he would have treated her like the rest of the staff. "How come?"

"Can I tell you another time?" William was visibly uncomfortable and avoided her question. "I have to go and see my father."

Jade tilted her head to one side and smiled a little more.

He is embarrassed.

"Fine." She laughed and crossed her arms.

William drew her closer with his hand placed on her cheek. Jade felt her body awaken all over again as he leaned in over her and took the liberty of kissing her painfully slow.

"I'll see you later..." William whispered before leaving her.

Jade snuck back to her chamber and Elizabeth would never know what she had done. Jade got out of her clothes and went to bed again. Even though it felt silly to go to such lengths to keep her meeting with William a secret.

. . .

In the evening Jade was reading in the library by herself, if you didn't count Loren's presence outside the door. She had asked him very politely to leave her alone, and since there was only one exit he had obliged her wish. It seemed that as William softened, so did the guard.

The light from the last summer nights were dying outside. The nights had become colder and so had the days. They were still warm at midday but as soon as dusk came closer so did the cold. Jade didn't walk through the gardens as much as before, mostly because the flowers were reaching the end of their lifespan for now. The snow white roses were clinging to life for as long as they could, but a few had turned into a yellowish rotten mess. Jade almost wished for the rim frost to take them when they were still white. Then they would stay beautiful for a while longer.

Jade sat close by the fireplace, still reading, when the door opened, Surprised Jade found that the Queen had entered. The stern look on her face made Jade swallow nervously and she looked down at herself. She had sat down on the carpet in order to stay warm by the fire.

"I thought you would have known better than to sit on the floor by now." The queen hissed. "Or do you not see Mrs. Coen every single day? Has my son allowed you to roam freely?" she continued. Jade got on her feet and breathed out slowly to maintain calm. The woman in front of her, walking towards her, had a look of distaste in her face. Almost disgust.

"I was cold." Jade answered politely even though she wanted to hiss back at her. She decided not to, it wouldn't do her any good. "Your grace." She added and nodded at the queen.

"Don't expect me to reciprocate." She hissed as Jade looked at her again.

I am not, do not worry. I wouldn't think you had a kind bone in you so why would you acknowledge me? Jade thought to herself, but only to herself. If the words slipped out from her lips, she feared that she might not see tomorrow.

The queen stopped when there was two meter between them. Her eyes' gaze on Jade looked like they were trying to burn Jade until there was nothing left.

"I hope you understand that this so called wedding will never happen." She finally said after a very long moment of silence.

Jade felt her whole body tense up. The queen's lips were in the same strict line as always and her words didn't seem to have been hard to utter.

"Are you deaf or dumb? Answer me." She demanded. Jade grabbed the book she held with both her hands in front of herself. Carefully, she scraped its back with her nails, trying to keep calm and leveled.

"I am not the one you should be talking to." Jade sighed. The woman in front of her terrified her. "It's your son and your husband." Jade continued. "This was never my idea."

"Maybe not, but you are still here." She muttered coldly. I will not have my son marry a peasant, do you hear me?" The queen raised her voice and frightened Jade. "Either you leave by your own free will, or I will make you." Jade couldn't keep her disrespectful chuckle in. It slipped out and caused the queen to frown.

"I am sorry. Did you not hear that I tried to leave?" Jade snapped back. "I tried to be free of this place, and you. I was almost free!" Jade raised her voice as well now. Her temper was awakening. I was on my way to where I came from and your son dragged me back!"

"How dare you speak to me in this manner?" The queen hissed.

"Since it is just the two of us and your son doesn't appear to be very fond of you, I don't think it will matter how I speak to you." Jade answered in a very rude manner.

The expression on the queen's face turned sad but it returned to the mask of ice, she usually wore, just as fast. "Nothing you say seems to matter to your son." Jade continued. "He is a very stubborn-"

"Don't speak of-"

"I will speak of whom I want, and whenever I want!" Jade screamed and her outburst left the queen in shock.

Suddenly the door opened and the person they had just talked about entered.

William had a worried look on his face but as soon as he saw Jade's company the mask came on. That was obviously something he had gotten from his mother. Following him, the king entered. There was a worried look on his face as well, but not because of the fact that Jade had just screamed at his wife. No, there was something else worrying him.

Why are they both here? Jade wondered.

"What's this about?" William asked as he walked with determination to Jade.

"I could ask you the same question." His mother responded and arrogantly put her nose up in the air. "Why are you barging in here?" William ignored her and placed himself in front of Jade to obstruct his mother's vision of her.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice was low and husky.

"Your mother came to inform me that the wedding you want, is not going to happen." Jade answered loud enough so everyone could hear. "She also told me that if I do not leave, she will make me." Jade continued and suppressed her body's impulse to let her knees give in.

A feeling of relief washed over her now that William was here and could take care of his mother and her threats.

"What?" He asked through gritted teeth. "She said what?" Jade locked eyes with him and nodded.

When he had gotten the confirmation he needed from Jade he turned around. His movements were ice cold and slow. But Jade wasn't afraid. Not now when she no longer was at the receiving end of it. Her thoughts ran off with her anger, she closed her eyes. She wanted to be rid of his spiteful mother and all of the things she thought and said about Jade. Without thinking Jade put her right hand between his shoulders and leaned her head against him. The protection he provided was all she wanted right now.

-William-

Jade leaned on him. He could feel her hand against his back and how she took shelter behind him; making him her shield. It made him feel warm and wanted, but he didn't let his feelings reach his eyes as he put his mother in his center of attention.

"You told her that you would make her leave?" He enunciated every word slowly. Not because she wouldn't understand him, but because he had to talk slowly to keep himself from bursting with fury.

"I only told her what I have already told you." His mother responded chilly. "I want her gone."

"I know. Is that why you sent one of your leeches to kill her in her sleep?" William growled. "Will you confess to it now?"

-Jade-

There came no answer from the queen. Silence filled the room. Jade could feel William's body move slowly. Like an animal ready to pounce it's pray at any second.

"You two will have to slit each other's throats another time. We have graver matters to take care of." The king called after them both. "William." He demanded his son. "Do what you came to do and let us be on our way." Jade opened her eyes.

What? They're leaving? I will not be left here alone with that witch!

"You don't think that mother's attempt on Jade's life-"

"Do as you are told, boy! I will not tell you again." His father's voice rumbled through the library. It made Jade flinch and she was glad that she was still behind William. But for how long? When would they leave? "Come on, Eleanora." The king ordered. It was the first time Jade had heard the Queen's name.

"Do not speak to me like that." She answered him and Jade heard her leave the room.

"I will speak to you as I like. I am the king, remember?" The king sighed but there was still a tone of amusement in his voice. Jade wasn't amused, at all. He acted like nothing had happened even after what Jade had just told them.

William turned around as soon as the door was closed behind his father. The dark blue eyes examined Jade's face closely.

"What is happening? Are you leaving?" Jade asked and hugged the book she was still holding to her chest.

"There is a problem..." William sighed. "I have to help father."

"A problem? Is this the same problem as last time you left?" Jade asked. William shook his head. "Then why did you leave then?"

"Last time I had to leave to attend an audience with my father." William explained.

Jade was curious about what the audience had been about since he had been gone for two weeks last time.

"This... I have been putting off for a while." He said.

"Why?" Jade asked. William met her eyes and he looked a bit unsure whether he was going to answer her or not. "What is this about?"

"I will walk with you to your chamber. We can talk on the way." William said and offered her his arm.

While they walked through the darkness of the corridors Jade didn't get an explanation. William was dragging it out for some reason.

"You are awfully quiet." She pushed the words out of herself as he followed her to her chamber.

"I have a lot on my mind." He said and she could hear that he was far away in his thoughts.

"Are you going to tell me where you are going or are you just going to leave like you did last time?"

"Last time you didn't want to talk to me."

"You were the one breaking things in your chamber." Jade answered quickly when she remembered. William had brought her back from when she almost managed to escape and he had warned her not to leave again. After that they had both gone to their chambers and Jade had heard how he broke something.

"How-"

"I heard it." She interrupted him. "Are you going to answer me or not?" she asked. William sighed in defeat but they had already reached her chamber.

"Can I come in while I do it?" he asked. Jade frowned. "I know that it is not... appropriate, but I don't want the staff to hear."

"Fine. But keep your hands to yourself." Jade said suspiciously and opened the door. She hadn't minded his hands earlier today, but if she were to remain focused now. She couldn't have him distracting her like that.

"You have my word." He chuckled and followed her inside.

The room smelled of melted wax and soot from the candles that were lit in almost every corner. There was a calm fire lit in the fireplace. Elizabeth had made sure that Jade would come back to a warm and nice room. Jade yawned as soon as she saw her bed. The sound of William closing the door behind him echoed in the room. Afterwards he just stood there. He didn't seem to plan on moving away from the door.

"So?" Jade urged him. William smiled faintly.

"My father suspects that there will be a war." William began. "Right before the ball - after we came home from the audience - he told me that we would have to leave again and now we have to. He won't let me delay it anymore."

"Why would you do that if it concerns something as serious like war?" Jade whispered and took a seat on the edge of her bed. She was too tired to care if it was wrong or not.

"I didn't want to leave you here alone." He answered quickly. "I was worried about my mother trying something again."

"And what do you think will happen now? On both parts?" Jade asked and became upset. She got up from the bed. "Your mother just told me that she will make me leave if I do not leave out of my own will. If you leave me here alone with her, there is no doubt that she will try something again. And as if that wasn't enough, there's a war coming and-"

"I can't stay for long, Jade." He sighed. "I have to be by my father's side." He continued and took a step closer to her. "I don't expect you to understand, but I have to be there so I can learn from him." His interruption made her lose track of what she was going to say. All she could focus on was that she did not want to be left here, all alone with that woman.

"You cannot leave me here with that woman!" Jade exclaimed frustrated. She felt her heart pound on the inside of her chest. "You just cannot!" A sigh left William and he lowered his gaze, he didn't want to do this. It did not bring Jade any comfort though. She wanted him to stay...

"Then what do you suggest?" he asked and Jade could sense a hint of agitation in his voice.

"Take me with you." Jade said and watched as the color disappeared from his face.

"What?" He asked. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I will not-"

"You will stay here and if you even think that I would consider bringing you to a..." He went quiet and his eyes closed. Jade shook her head.

No. No, she was not going to stay here and be part for the queen's next plan for her.

"Jade, I am serious." He warned her.

"I don't care." She breathed out. The look in his eyes turned dark. Why was he getting angry?

"You better be here when I get back." He growled and put his hand on the door handle.

"Or what?" Jade snapped back when he opened the door. "If I am not here when you come back, what could you possibly do?"

William closed the door, walked over to her and towered over her. The dark eyes burned into her.

"If you aren't here, I will send out every guard, every hound and soldier after you." He said with the darkest version of his voice she had ever heard. For some reason it didn't affect her. "I mean it."

"You still can't tell me what or what not to do." She reminded him sternly but couldn't help feeling defeated. The darkness in his face went away partially and left room for a look of affection in his eyes. One of his hands seized her cheek and pulled her close to his face. She could feel his scent and swallowed quietly.

"I can't stay any longer. We are leaving now." He muttered.

I won! Jade thought.

"I expect you to be here when I get back." He added and kissed her on the forehead.

"No, William. Take me with-" His lips silenced her. They pressed demandingly against hers, craving her response.

"Don't talk back." He breathed against her lips between two kisses. The last one was prolonged as long as they were able to hold their breaths. "I'll miss you." He breathed.

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