Xavier walked to the purse I pointed out with long strides in an attempt to be confident, but I completely saw through his facade. He was absolutely embarrassed that we had heard everything that happened. But I mean, how could we not? They weren't exactly being discreet. We all tried our best to drown out the noise with conversation, but it became too much.

Queen and my mother began laughing together and I tried to keep my focus elsewhere. Elsewhere being Queen's chest, but how could I look anywhere else when she was this close to me? She caught me a couple of times and nudged me, but I could tell she liked it.

Xavier scurried back to the restroom and the servers brought out the food. "The first course tonight will be Parmesan Risotto with Roasted Shrimp," a man with a chef's hat said as the servers placed a plate in front of everyone. Since Nate's arrival took away someone else's dishes for the night, Queen and I decided to share-she wasn't sure she'd finish anyway. With that, she remained on my lap and the chef set a single plate in front of us.

"Wow," she said in awe as she looked down at the dish.

Cleo, Caspian, and Xavier walked out of the corridor and took their seats. We acted as though we heard nothing and they stole secretive glances at one another. Xavier cleared his throat and looked down at the food. "This looks amazing."Cleo and Caspian agreed with him and the three of them dug into their food quickly. I supposed I'd be hungry as well if I-

"We need another spoon," Queen said to me as she raised the one we were given.

"No, we don't," I replied as I took the utensil from her hand and scooped up a bite sized amount, holding it up to her mouth.

"Ooh, I'm being fed?" She wiggled her brows.

"Open up." She glanced at me seductively, her brown eyes pulling me in like always and opened her mouth for the food. I fed it to her and she nodded appreciatively. "Is it good?"

She nodded and I took a scoop of my own. Admittedly it was delicious. The chefs under Genesis had done an amazing job. I mean if they didn't, she would've gone crazy.

Queen shifted on my lap to position herself more comfortable and my breath hitched as her hand grazed my cock that was already hard from her sitting on me this long. Noticing my halt in movement, she turned to me. "What's wrong?"

I met her eyes to see her smirking at me playfully and I scoffed. She was doing all this on purpose. I lifted the spoon to her mouth and she opened it once again. I moved my lips to her ear and kissed it. "Tease me again and I'll bend you over this table and fuck you in front of everyone, Princess."

Queen began coughing and I sat back, gently patting her back as everyone turned to the commotion. I glanced up at them and shrugged. "She was very excited to eat."

My mother looked at Queen with eyes full of concern and frowned. "Are you okay?"

Queen sat back up, her eyes watery, and nodded slowly as she caught her breath. "I'm fine," she stated in a small voice.

My mother smiled at her and everyone returned to their dish, satisfied with her response. Queen slowly turned back to me with flushed cheeks and I reached for her strawberry lemonade. "Here you go, this should help."

She scoffed and shook her head as she took the drink and relaxed again into my hold. By the time all of us finished our food, the servers came out again with another dish. "Here we have our famous lemon ricotta pasta with chicken," the chef said. They placed the food down and once again retreated to the kitchen. Queen looked down at the food again and did a mini dance.

"Do I need to feed you again?"

"I got it," she said as she lifted the fork and scooped up pasta. Satisfied with the food on the fork she held it up to my mouth. "Open up." I scoffed at her when I realized she had copied my words, but I obliged. "Good boy."I sent her a death glare and she tapped my nose before continuing to eat.

"Since no one else is speaking up," Xyla spoke up, dropping her utensil to the plate. "What the hell are you two doing? You have an obligation to marry me, Syn. My parents wouldn't appreciate this and you, Queen, as little as I think of you, I still never thought you'd sink so low..."

"Xyla." I sighed. "Now really isn't the time."

"I think it is," she said, taking a sip from her sixth glass of wine tonight. "This explains why you haven't been focused on the matters of the Kingdom."

"I've been handling things personally," I stated. "Don't think that just because I want nothing to do with you that I'm neglecting my duties."

"Is this even allowed?" Felix gestured at us. "Jonathan is a man of God. He wouldn't allow-"

"Don't start with me about the things that Jonathan would allow," I warned him. "If I recall, you're in a relationship that he wouldn't deem acceptable either. I don't want to hear your voice again, Felix. I already have an issue with you that's making it hard to not kill you."

His lips pressed into a thin line and I rolled my eyes. All I wanted to do tonight was have dinner for Queen, and go home with her. That was all. I wasn't in the mood to argue with the theatrics of the royal class.

"Wait, what?" My mother spoke up. "Felix, you're in a relationship?"

"You didn't know?" Jess asked.

"What?" My mother shook her head.

"Jess, shut up," Felix said through gritted teeth. "Whoever I am seeing is nobody's business but my own."

"It's her, isn't it?" Caspian pointed toward Xyla making the entire room freeze. "What?" He shrugged in response to Felix's glare. "She's been playing footsies with me instead of you for the past seven minutes and I'm uncomfortable."

Xyla gasped, moving to look under the table, and after a few seconds, she rested her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. "Wait," my mother started, "you and Xyla?!"

"Hmm, you should've kept your mouth shut," I directed toward Xyla.

"Shut up," Felix snapped at me. " Does it make you feel better about yourself to know that you're ruining my life, Syn?"

"It's not intentional." I sighed. "If it was, you'd know."

"You think you have the upper hand right now, but just wait. You'll regret it all. That's a promise."

My jaw clenched at his threat and I balled my hands into fists on Queen's lap. When she noticed, she placed her hand on mine and looked at me. 'Breathe', her beautiful lips mouthed. The things I fucking imagined doing to her in the worst moments were insane. If I were capable of being the man she needed, my mind would be free of dirty thoughts and filled with intentions to get her out of this mess I was about to start...but again...

I was far from what she needed.

I ignored her instructions and let my instinct overpower my better half as I turned back to Felix, letting his threat repeat in my mind. "Has my calmness these past few weeks made you forget who I am, brother?" I raised a brow, tilting my head.

"It is such a sin- an atrocity to have a brother such as yourself," he spewed in disgust.

"As horrible as I may be, Felix..." I sighed, removing my arms from Queen and reaching into my jacket, "you can't ever say that I've tried to take what belongs to you...unlike you." I laid the engagement ring box flat down on the table in front of me, and when his eyes zeroed in on it, shock took over his hateful expression. "Looks familiar, doesn't it?"

Queen tensed in my lap and I let my lips graze over her shoulder to calm her. I could hear her heart pounding out of her chest at the way I was bringing up this conversation, but it had been long overdue.

She peeked over her shoulder at me with a hurt look in her eyes and I averted my gaze. We had an "understanding" that we'd be returning the ring together to Felix in private at some point, but I knew he was coming tonight. I didn't give her a proper heads up and I wasn't going to do it in front of everyone, but I was provoked.

"Oh my gosh!" My mother squealed, puncturing a hole in the thick tension surrounding us. "Syn, are you proposing?! Ahh!"

"No," I said simply, glancing around awkwardly at everyone who mistook what I was doing. Their shoulders dropped and I scowled at them before snapping my fingers in Felix's direction. "Tell them before I do."

"Tell us what?" Xyla asked him. He buried his face into his hands, making Xyla slap him on the head to get his attention. "Tell us what, Felix?!"

He blew out a long breath as he lifted his head and looked straight at my direction- yet, not at me. His eyes were firmly planted on Queen, making my blood boil even more. "I didn't want to have to explain this way," he started, "but a couple of weeks ago, I had a ring made for you...Xyla." His head swung to her, making her angry features soften. "I wanted to propose to you and I told your sister."

Queen shook her head softly. "What..."

"I told her my plans," he repeated, glancing at Queen. "It's my fault for being in such a weak state of mind that day, but she convinced me that you were going to leave me." Queen's mouth dropped in shock, but I cautioned her from speaking with a tap to her thigh. I wanted-no, I NEEDED to know what he was going to say. I wasn't there that night, and I was never sure when it came to Queen.

"Her idea was that we marry instead of you and I since she was adamant that you and Syn would be leaving the both of us," he said, reaching for Xyla's hands. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," Xyla seethed, shooting lasers at Queen. "It's my fault for having her as a sister. I can't believe you, Queen."

Queen shook her head quickly, running a hand through her hair. "Everything he just said was a lie. I promise you guys I would never do that. He's the one that came to me and went on about how we should get married. I-"

"Get off of me."