Alexander

Two and a half weeks. It took two and half fucking weeks to finally be rid of Amberley Da Ville and her little boy drama.

I have to give her something, she was a badass when it came to putting that kid in his spot and she's nothing like the stories I've heard of her but she still was a pain in the ass.

I felt a nudge. Micah was grinning up at me slightly. Usually I didn't have to put up with his constant talking but since my back injury, I couldn't fly. I was walking like some peasant.

"Yes Micah?"

"What's going to happen when we get there?"

I scowled but considered his question. Hell if I knew! Our two trespassers would be out of my hands as soon as we got there. And thank God for it! What happened to them was up to my father and his associates.

"It's not up to me..." I said dryly.

Micah stomped his foot frustratingly. "Well if it was up to you... what would you do?"

I answered without even thinking. "I would immediately execute them both. If the rest of the people under the Iniquitous saw we were taking in refugees, we would be overrun in a day."

Micah scoffed and glanced to Amberley. She was glorious today. Betty was braiding her hair loosely back and had tied her own blue ribbon on the end. It matched the color of her eyes. She glanced over at me and cocked an eyebrow. I purposely scowled and raised a ungentlemen like gesture. Her eyes widened for a split second before she glared and raised the same gesture back at me.

Micah was watching me when I looked back to him. He was smiling like an idiot and I could tell Amberley was watching us. I could feel her intense gaze on the side of my face.

"You couldn't kill her, you little bastard!" Micah exclaimed.

I sighed and slapped him on the back of the head with my wing. He cracked a grin and rubbed the back of his skull.

"I am the heir of Vex Mafia... do you really think I couldn't kill a insignificant little princess?"

I was perplexed. Why didn't Micah think I could kill her? I had wanted to do that exact thing since before I even met the girl.

"For starters, she is badass. For seconds, you like her," Micah said.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I don't know what you're referring to but in every instance, world, land, memory: I've never liked Amberley Da Ville..."

Micah only grinned harder at this. "Okay, no need to get frisky! Let's get back to what you would do..."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "I would kill them and hang their bodies on our walls. The Iniquitous heir and Princess Amberley of Adana... they would be a good way of showing how much power Vex has," I said.

Micah finally frowned. "That's pretty harsh. You know you're talking about my brother and my friend right?"

"Since when is she your friend? And last time I checked, you're brother turned against you without a second thought... I doubt you would mind..."

A heard footsteps behind me. "He's right Micah, you either run the day or the day runs you."

Amberley was now walking besides Micah. She smiled at him warmly. I didn't miss how she avoided my gaze and the hurt behind her eyes. So what if I hurt her delicate girl feelings?

"Well, I want details. Beck says we're almost there and I can't help but feel like I'm walking into my own execution..." she explains.

"Maybe you are." I said under my breath. Amberley's ocean colored eyes snapped to mine. I could tell she was holding back her fury. Looks like I hit a nerve.

"I'm sure you would like that, Alexander..."

I scowled but answered her original question. "I don't know what you and your boyfriends fate is. My orders were to retrieve you from Clandestine and bring you to my father,
that's it."

She didn't seem to like my answer because her eyes narrowed even more. I noticed her glancing nervously ahead of her, no doubt looking for Vex Headquarters.

"I really enjoy you're company. All of you are great. Alexander, even you have grown on me a bit. But I really need to be reassured that I won't be fighting for my life the moment I step foot inside Vex."

The idea of Amberley fighting for her life pleased me beyond words but I couldn't help but feel slightly bad for the girl. She probably had never truly felt safe and content in her life. But then again, in this world, have any of us?

"Do you really think these people will protect you, Amberley? My father's told me stories. These aren't people you want to be associated with," the blonde bastard calls.

Amberley seemed pained by his voice and it made me unnaturally disdainful. I stoned my features and turned to him with a scowl.

"And would she be safer with your people who burn hundreds of innocents at the stake every month?"

Amberley glanced at me with a thankful expression before turning to look at him over her back. She took in his appearance. He had been tied to the back of the horses saddle and was being hauled by the hands as we moved closer to Vex.

"And what would you suggest, Sterling? Go back to Adana? To Clandestine? Oh I forgot! You burned both of those places to the ground..." she replied before turning her eyes to the path we were strolling along.

"We could leave the borders of my fathers conquest! I've heard past the lines is nothing but peace and freedom," the blonde bastard says.

"You talk about peace and freedom but just smashed five hundred people under stone and metal only a few weeks ago. Just stop talking, idiot," Amberley said. We all could tell that was her final statement. Her voice was rough and demanding. Even the blonde bastard went quiet.

Everyone was quiet for the final hours. We were all hungry, fowl, and tired of the days of walking with minimal food and water. I almost screamed with glee when we caught a glimpse of steel beams of our outer gate in the distance. Then reality washed upon me.

I stopped the group and grabbed Amberley's arm roughly. "Listen to me, not everyone is going to agree with you being in Vex. But the Reapers pledge to...to protect you from anyone who wants trouble," I stated. The words hurt coming out of my mouth. I didn't want anything to do with her but I know my friends wouldn't allow me to let her walk in alone and unprotected.

"Thank you, really, thank you all. I've heard people say that the best people come from the worst situations... I didn't believe it but after these past few weeks...I could agree more..." she said. I was horrified when a tear came streaking down her smooth cheek.

"The best? I'd rather call us...mediocre," Micah said lightly before pulling her into a bone crushing hug. She giggled and slapped his back. The rest of the group took turns pulling the Princess into intimate hugs.

I glanced at Sterling. He finally seemed to let reality sink in. He looked defeated... like he couldn't believe she was choosing us over him.

Suddenly Amberley stepped in front of me with a mischievous grin on her full lips. I sensed what she was going to do and I shook my head with wide eyes.

"There's no way in hell I'm giving you a hug!"

She scoffed and surged toward me. "Oh shut up, fairy boy."

She stood up on her tippy toes and wrapped her slim arms around my neck. The contact seemed to alight something within me. Something bad! I stiffened. She embraced me lightly before I finally reacted. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her waist and take in her sweet scent. I hated her for smelling so good after so many days of poor hygiene. She squeezed me before unwrapping her hands and stepping away.

I could of sworn I saw a blush creeping on her cheeks as she grinned at me.

"This day should be a national holiday," she said to me before turning to the group.

"The fairy boy gives hugs!" She exclaimed.

The Reapers burst into cheers as they rushed towards me. I was soon tired of human contact entirely. I hated hugs.