Chapter Twenty-Eight
Verin POV
I could feel him glancing back to those spawns of one of the whores that my father had laid with. Annoyed, I didn't understand why he would care on what they wanted to say. Those two cause a lot of mischief in the castle and their pranks were very well known. So, it wouldn't surprise me if this was another game to them. Together, I was sure that they had their lies well-built and made to start making the webs grow.
Someday, their pranks will go too far.
Even then, I would still hate their existence.
"Will you stop glancing back?" I snapped at him. Pay attention to me, damnit! "They are liars. Don't allow them the benefit that they have tricked you by expressing concern."
Still, he looked concerned on what they had said. "They aren't bad, Verin. They just want attention."
"They are bad." I growled, growing frustrated. Why doesn't he understand that they cause misery to everyone?
His gaze snapped up to mine and, to my surprise, they glittered in anger. "Why? Because they are children of a woman that slept with your father that isn't your mother? That is not their fault. They are only children, trying to get affections from others because their own family won't give them a time a day. That includes you, their half-brother."
Of course, I reacted to it-good and bad. "Don't you defend them to me!" I hissed, feeling angrier. Before I could stop myself, I had moved to face him and forced him to back against the wall. My hands instantly splayed across the wall on each side of his head.
His gaze flickered his unease, but it disappeared a second later. "I will stand up what is right and true."
It had seemed that the more that my blood boils----the more that I desired him. God, it was honestly a turn on that he was trying to be less nervous. It was adorable. Though, it didn't help that both our chests were brushing against each other, rising and falling in anger. Shoot, our noses were nearly touching. I noticed intimately that his eyes were slightly dilated as his nostrils flared, breathing in more harshly.
I had suspicions that I wasn't the only one, which made me nearly smile. Damn him. I was trying to behave too. But since when did I ever behave? In the end, it caused a stir inside me. Before I could ponder more over it, I swooped in and kissed him firmly against his soft lips.
Not giving him time, I wrapped my arms around him to bring him closer. Feeling him stiffen, I allowed myself to gentle the kiss a bit by staying there. Was it tempting to force my tongue down his throat? Hell yes. But! I didn't want him to hate the experience. Slowly, I started to feel him relax, and to my surprise, he hesitantly opened his mouth against my own.
Feeling excited in many different ways, especially for him to finally cave in, I took this opportunity to put a tad more force into the kiss, where I can truly feel his soft lips against my own. Maybe kissing is an art of lust or something. But I can't get enough of him. I thought, amused.
Gently, I bit his bottom lip, and to my surprise, he made a small groan in response. Faolan slowly moved his arms to wrap them around my neck and simply rested them there while we kissed. That touch alone made my skin tingle. I moved my arms away from him so it rested against the wall around his head as I made myself pulled back to stare at him.
His gaze was hooded, looking dazed and many other emotions had flickered in those eyes. "Verin?" He whispered, hesitantly and unsure.
"I want to do more than just kiss you." I wanted that clear to him. "But I know that you're not there yet." I reached over to lay my hand against the side of his right cheek. "I'm trying my best to take things slow... for you." Despite how hard that will be.
"You'll be... patient?" Faolan asked, shocked. It seems that was the only thing that he got from that.
I wanted to sigh. "Well, yeah." I told him, suddenly feeling vulnerable in that moment. "I grew to like you and I don't want any harm done to you, whether it's from me or someone else." Okay, I did it. I made a confession. Admittedly, it shouldn't have taken me this long to realize my feelings for him, but that was what makes this situation funny and hard.
"I don't want any harm done to you either." He admitted, softly. Glancing up at me, he shyly met my gaze. "Ever."
Not exactly a confession from him either, but I was going to take it regardless. Smiling, I moved his hair back. "I'm happy to hear it." I quickly swooped in and gave his left cheek a peck before stepping back to let him move. "Let's go be in my room and have a chat about what your favorite food and stuff are. I want to get to know you better without everyone hearing about it as I want to be the only one to know."
He blinked up at me. "That's oddly..." He paused and tilted his head. "Normal? Are you feeling okay?"
"Shut up." I muttered, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Isn't it normal to want to get to know the person you like? I mean that is natural for everyone isn't it? Refusing to dwell on it because I was concerned that I'd blush, I grabbed his hand quickly and began to walk forward.
Faolan looked amused but didn't say another word to me as we walked. We weren't that far where my room was anyways. It was only like two or three turns and we were there. So, basically, it ended up being a twenty minute walk at minimum. Though, we did have a hot moment that may have lasted like five minutes...
Once my room was in sight, I grabbed the door and swung it open. "Finally, we can have some peace and-"
Before I could finish my sentence, a small petite thing tackled me. Luckily, I only stumbled a few steps before gaping down at her. "God damn it, Pine! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Stepping back, she shyly pulled her black hair back to look up at me. "I was only waiting for my big brother to return. What took you so long anyway?"
"I went to check on Quorra but I wasn't allowed to see her." I rubbed the back of my neck as I let Faolan go to pat the top of her head. "Is there something that you needed because you were waiting in my room?"
"Um, well..." Pine hesitated. "I haven't seen Cresil lately."
"And why should you care of his whereabouts?"
"Cause he's still our brother." She pointed out. "He likes to hang around specific areas in the castle, but he hasn't been to any of them all day. I know he doesn't leave the castle grounds unless it's with an escort so I'm concerned on where he may be."
I snorted. "He's probably in his room. I think you're being too worried especially when he hasn't shown the same concern for you."
Pine shrugged. "Well, it is our brother." She reminded him. "And I'm really worried about him."
"I'm sure he's fine." I repeated. "I'm more worried about you finding a safe place to hide. Even better if you're with some guards." Reaching over, I ruffled her hair. "Promise me to come back later, okay? I want to make sure you can get some sleep tonight after what has happened today."
"I don't think I'll get any sleep." Pine answered, having a haunted look on her face. "But if you want me to return before bed then I shall."
I nodded. "You can stay a bit longer until you're comfortable about going back to your room." I couldn't spoil my little sister forever. There were just some things she had to learn to get over in her own way like I had to.
Before I could say another word, Pine turned to look at Faolan expectantly. "You don't mind me staying longer, do you?"
He gave a purposeful bow towards her. "Of course not, sweet princess." Faolan said with a smile as he peeked up at her.
She laughed. "You're doing that now?"
Giving a shrug, he straighten up once more. "If it gets you to smile then I have no objections."
Looking back at my sister, I saw that she blushed and shyly looked down. I hid my smile. "Now, now, don't be flirting in front of me. I believe I already stake claim on him, did I not?" I teased.
"I don't know what you mean, Verin!" Pine exclaimed out of embarrassment.
Foalan reached up to hide his face, but I could see how red the tip of his ears were. It made me wonder if he was blushing because I said flirting or because I said that I claimed him. Perhaps? This was an interesting thing I learned in this moment.
Before this amusing tirade could continue, there was a loud five knocks on my door. "My lord, come out at once! We need to speak to you!"
Pine opened her mouth, but I put my hand in front of her face. I shook my head and pointed towards my wardrobe closet. Silently, she nodded and ran towards it to hide inside of it, closing the doors after her.
"It is very late at night." I spoke up. "I wish to go to bed now. Can it not wait until morning?"
"I'm sorry, my lord! If you do not come out now, we will have to force you to come out!" The voice called out again.
Faolan moved closer to me. "It seems we do not have a choice." He whispered. "I'd rather if we not make a scene in here with Pine a few feet away from us. We should leave quietly."
I let out a slow breath, realizing that he was correct. I did not wish to make a scene in front of my sister as I'd rather not have her be found out. Slowly, I went towards the door to my room and opened it. There stood five guards. "What is it that you must speak to me about?"
"We need you to come with us to the throne room." The same voice, who turned out to be a bulky brown haired male in armor spoke up. "We need to make haste and your servant can follow you."
Confused, I nodded and waved Faolan closer as I stepped out. Instantly, the five guards surrounded us. "Well, then, let's go." I told them and began to walk forward without a second thought. The guards easily followed suite without breaking formation.
It was eerily silent in the halls besides the clanking of armor. I kept my head held high as I followed them towards the throne room with Faolan behind me. It felt like ages. Maybe minutes or hours. I don't know as I had not kept count when we finally reached the throne room. The doors to the throne room were pushed aside to show the throne.
I took a deep breath. "Father, what is it now? I seriously don't have time for this bull shit." There was a huge amount of silence after my question. I narrowed my eyes and noticed that oddly the throne has a black barely see through sheet across from it. I could barely make out the shape behind it. "Dad? What are you doing? Can't you answer a simple question?"
"Sorry, Verin, but I am not Drago."
I paused. That voice definitely wasn't my father's, but it sounded familiar... "Then who the fuck are you?" I demanded from the black mass.
Slowly, the curtains were moved to reveal someone at the throne. Someone I never thought would be there. But what I was more concerned with was...
Where is my father?
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Sorry for the EXTREMELY long wait guys! Also I apologize on how short this is.
I had a really hard time writing this chapter and the next and stuff...
The reason why is because it's finally happening. I'm finally going to be finishing this story. Since I'm almost done writing this story, I'm having a hard time getting the ending written out and that is why it's taking so long for me to update.
When will this story end? I'll be honest with you all. It's going to be done at Chapter Thirty.
Yup, that's right! Two more chapters and it's done!
Feeling anxious as I am? No? Okay!