ততততত

𝐈 𝐌 𝐎 𝐆 𝐄 𝐍

I sit beside my father in the throne room, tapping my fingertips against the velvet arms of a throne that once belonged to my mother. The results of Ruslan's existence have been nothing short of catastrophic, and it has my father's hair turning grey from the amount of stress.

Meanwhile, as the duke of Bluteau reams my father out about the secrets of our family, Leighton hovers at the edge of the room with a pleased smirk on those thin-mangly lips, with Gareth leaning against the wall with arms crossed beside him. They both enjoy observing the slow, bitter destruction of our kingdom. Even I know that Leighton will try to ruin us from within before asking my father to hand over Lagulon to Adorid. By then, I'll be bound to him as his wife.

When the duke finally gives up his rant and excuses himself, my father turns his attention over to Lorcan, standing next to us as a guard.

"I shouldn't have to explain my private family life to the entire kingdom," my father rouses, "but these demands and questions threaten to tear us apart."

Lorcan nods. "I understand, but what you're giving them is only fractions of the truth. If they discover that Ruslan wasn't your true blood heir, they'll—"

My father raises a hand, silencing him. "They'll know what they need to satisfy them. Ruslan was my son, blood or not. I knew what I was getting into when I met him and Adirya."

Hell knew that one deceased prince could bring so much unrest to our once peaceful lands, but it's true, and it's always been true, that the people of Lagulon always preferred a prince to the princess. A damn patriarchy that my father attempts to banish.

Leighton and Gareth both approach my father and I on the throne. The slimy tendrils of unease leach inside of me. Leighton's presence sets me off, making my skin crawl. When Leighton's icy gaze meets mine, I only tip my head towards the archway where his underwear still hangs. It's been weeks, and I bet he's caught on that those will be there on the wedding day.

"Now that you've dealt with that," Leighton's lips curve into a hint of a smirk, "we need to discuss some of the wedding plans. We've been neglecting it, and the wedding is just two months away."

Two months. Has that much time already passed by? I lost a hold of it when Tobin was here, but it's been at least three weeks since he left. These days have been hollow, lifeless, and with the wedding day drifting closer, it's been dull. I meander through the courtyards during the day to distract myself, shooting arrows at targets and trees. Nothing seems to rid myself of the bitter pit growing inside of me.

Leighton continues. "I'm expecting a vast crowd here. I don't want this to be some small, intimate celebration. I'm sure Imogen feels the same."

I feel like throwing up, that's what.

Trembling, I force myself to rise from the throne, keeping my attention locked on Leighton and his slithering counterpart, Gareth. It baffles me that him and Tobin were such close friends, and it's that friendship that let Tobin agree to work alongside Leighton. All I can do is thank the bastard for keeping the romance between Tobin and I hushed.

But I'm afraid he'll let the truth slip when the right time arrives.

"I need some fresh air."

"Bailing on the wedding plans already?" Leighton's eyes spark. He knows just as well as everyone else in this room that I dread this betrothal. "I assumed you would enjoy planning the big day."

The unfiltered words leave my lips before I can catch my rampant tongue. "With a man as opinionated and bullheaded as you, I'm sure you can figure it out just fine."

His brows knit into a scowl, opening his mouth to speak when my father cuts him short.

"She's been cooped up in this throne room all morning, Leighton," he snides. "We'll discuss the wedding in the evening."

Before Leighton can reject, I weave my way around him and Gareth and dash into the corridors. Although the throne room is spacious and quiet of intruders, these halls bring me away from the heavy air in that room. I was suffocating, and now I'm not.

I turn a corner when a voice calls out from behind me. "Princess!"

I frown, my blood turning to ice as I look behind me and catch the blue eyes of Gareth trailing me down the hallway. He shouldn't have followed me, unless Leighton sent him in my direction.

Or worse, maybe Gareth told Leighton about Tobin and I.

I continue walking, not daring to give him the satisfaction of a humbling conversation. "What do you want?"

"A truce," Gareth gives me a smirk, one that would send any ordinary girl swooning over him. Only, I am no ordinary woman who will fall for his charms. "You've pissed off Leighton."

"Let him be pissed," I grumble. "You can tell your king that I think he should rot in hell."

Gareth chuckles. "Noted, but we need to come up with a deal. I can give you what you want, who you want."

I wander into the outer courtyard with Gareth still hot on my heels. The mid-afternoon sun beats down on us, and it's a balmy summer day compared to most. With one look at Gareth, I know any offer he poses is a deal from the devil himself.

"Tobin is in Adorid," Gareth mutters, keeping his voice hushed so none of the guards overhear. "In a matter of months, you'll be there as well. I can have it arranged to have Tobin have some... regular nightly visits if that's what you prefer."

I crook a brow. "Does Leighton know about us?"

"No," Gareth's voice drops lower, "but he's determined to marry you to form the alliance. I'm sure if you follow through with the marriage, he'll be pretty fucking persuasive."

I cross my arms. "So you want me to agree to marry him in order to have Tobin as my personal whore?"

Gareth's cheeks blush red. "Isn't that what you want?"

The urge to slap him in the face has never been stronger. The feelings I have for Tobin are unbearable, a whirlwind of passion and emotion tied up in a giant knot. There's always been an underlying attraction to Tobin, but his kindness and gentle presence lured me in more than the physicality of his kisses. I fell in love with the heart that beats within his chest, not the sway of his hips while he dances or the pressure of his hardened dick in night when the temptation seems strongest.

"You know nothing about us," I hiss, then continue making my way through the courtyard. "Besides, he needs to care for Aspen."

I enter an orchard of apple trees where the blossoms remain in full bloom. It smells sweet beneath the shade, and it would be silent if it weren't for the birds and a large wasp's nest dangling from a tree in the corner. Gareth follows behind me, not even bothering to give me space. Now, I need to get rid of the damned snake of a man before he poisons me with his venom.

"Princess, just consider what I could give you," Gareth whispers under his breath, an almost inaudible plea. "Tobin doesn't have to be gone forever."

"He's with Aspen," I force myself to say again before my mind wanders down a darkening path of a life indulging in Tobin night after night.

And Tobin? He would obey. No, he would kneel. He would submit that soft heart and beautiful soul without doubting a single order. He would bow before me until his lips kiss up between my legs, those strong calloused palms prying my thighs wide open. There, he meets the gates of heaven as his lips devour the taste of a woman with one sweep of his tongue. My cheeks blush at the mere thought of him like that, although we've already been so close to doing just so.

Gareth catches my slight hesitation. "Think about it, princess. I know you want him back, and if he loves you, he'll run to you in a fucking heartbeat."

"I know Tobin loves me," I retort, but my gaze finds interest in the wasp's nest dangling from a nearby branch, "but even I don't compare to the love he has for his sister."

He sighs, because he knows I'm right. Tobin had chosen Aspen since the day she was born, just as Ruslan chose me to be his sister. "Come find me if you reconsider. Go through with this wedding without a fight, and you can have Tobin back. It's that simple."

Gareth finally swivels and leaves the orchard, letting me be with the apple blossoms and wasp's nest. The fact is, I never came out here for fresh air. I knew there would be a buzzing wasp's nest here. The gardeners and caretakers always seem to complain about it.

The mention of the upcoming wedding drove a wedging anger deep within my stomach. Leighton's had it too good these past few weeks. I haven't even teased him in any slight, but if he thought that me spearing his underpants to the archway with an arrow was bad... wait until he meets the wasps in his bedroom.

I search the premises for anything that could contain a wasp's nest, and my eyes eventually settle on a bucket with a wooden lid. If only I had my bow and arrow on me, but unfortunately, I left it in my bedroom, and there's no time to go back and retrieve it. Instead, there's a pitchfork resting against a nearby apple tree. I wrap my fingers around the wooden handle and brace myself for the swarms.

I place the bucket beneath the branch of wasps, careful not to disturb the nest just yet. The last I need is to be swarmed and stung. Only now, I begin to consider the consequences of my ill-prepared planning, but I'd rather be stung by a wasp than let Leighton plow me over with his power.

So I move fast. I spear the nest, only to have it plop into the bucket. I snatch the lid and smash it onto the bucket, only to have a series of enraged buzzes hum beneath my fingertips.

Perfect.

The sight of Leighton stung in so many unruly places brings me more joy than it should, and I almost want to apologize for being so diabolical. Yet, when you try to detain a princess with the chains of a betrothal, she will sting you like a wasp. Literally.

Before anyone can find me in the orchard, I descend into a nearby courtyard entrance into the hidden passages to set my recalcitrant trap.

── •✧• ──

It's about time Imogen was up to one of her schemes again. Time for some bee stings. Do you think Imogen will fall into Gareth's trap before Tobin returns?

Also, has anyone ever been stung by a bee? I have. Twice. Once was on the waterslide in our pool, and the other time was after training for a track meet. I laid down in the grass and got stung on my arm. I am also deathly afraid of bees and run away like a child whenever I see them. I'm not afraid of the honey bees, its more like those bees that hover in your face and have the attitude of "You wanna fight?" and I'm just trying to live my life.

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