I wanted to run to him so badly. “I’m going to head to my room,” Cade said. “I’ll see you in the morning
okay?”
I nodded and walked in the direction of Lexus’ room. From a distance I saw the door open, and he was
there. He looked at me and I held back the urge to run. When I got to his door he pulled me in. He
closed and locked the door. “Lex-“ He kissed me before I could get a word out. I pushed away from
him. “I didn’t come for that.” I wish I had but I was still upset with him. “You ditched me, you didn’t
speak to me for a month, and I went through hell here.”
Lexus stared down at me. “I know. I heard it from your mom and the old human woman you stayed
with. Do you know how hard it was for me to leave the castle without taking you with me?” He ran a
hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’m not going to let anyone separate us. We’re back to our last plan.
We won’t get married, but we’ll still be together, just in secret. Everyone else will just think you’re my
adviser.”
I shook my head. “No I can’t do that. I can’t work here at all.”
“It’ll be fine Aqua. I won’t overwork you the way my parents did. While you’re working for them I won’t
let them over work you either.”
I explained to him my dream with Diana and what Ruben and Calvin told me about the truth about
holders. “That’s why I can’t stay. I came back with Cade so I could see my family and you.”
“You’ve been hanging around Ruben and Calvin the last few days?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes but it wasn’t like that. It was just for protection and planning.”
“I could protect you all by myself Aqua.”
“You didn’t talk to me for a month! What was I supposed to think Lexus? You said we shouldn’t be in
contact, so we weren’t.” I sighed. “Seriously, I want to be the kind of holder that holders were meant to
be not the puppet to the royal family. I’m leaving in a few days or maybe even tomorrow.”
“Then I’m coming with you. I get it okay. My family fucked Diana’s vision up to make their job easier. I
don’t want to be a part of that.”
He seemed so sure so soon. “But you’ll have to give up the throne,” I said.
“I don’t want to be king Aqua. I realized that while I was gone, it meant nothing to me. I said we’re not
going to separate again, and I meant it.”
I smiled. “Okay… now we can make out.” So, we did make out and passionately. We undressed each
other and his hands glided all around my naked body. I felt hot and wet all at the same time. My body
never wanted him the way it wanted him now.
When we finished I got out of the bed and picked up my clothes. “What are you doing?” Lexus grabbed
me from behind.
It felt good to be in his arms. “I’m going back to my room.”
“You don’t have to go. We don’t need to hide anything. Everyone who works here already knows about
us.” He kissed my neck.
It was weird not having to sneak around. “Okay, I’ll sleep here tonight.”
In the morning I woke up before Lexus and looked around his room. I noticed a scale on his desk. “Hey
that isn’t yours right?” I pointed at it.
Lexus sat up and yawned. “No, I was gifted it while I was away.”
“Oh. Was she pretty?” The scale was beautiful so she must have been.
He got out of bed. “She was about fourteen Aqua. A kid from the elf village I stayed at. She was a
hybrid.”
I wondered what made her give him her scale. My mom made it sound like you really had to make an
impression on someone for them to give you their scale or feather. “I’m going to take a shower. I
grabbed some clothes from my room earlier.”
“I’ll join you.”
I blushed. “You’re getting too comfortable.”
“Too comfortable? We had sex last night, twice.”
Now I was really flustered. “You don’t have to say it.” I whispered.
Lexus laughed. “I’ll shower after you.”
I took a shower then he did. Once we were ready we left his room and went to my father’s. “Oh, I
should tell you something.”
I knocked on the door. “Tell me what?”
When my Dad answered I noticed it right away because he was in his pajamas still. He had a tank top
on, and his shoulder was clear. “Where’s…” There was no mark and when I looked at his hand there
was no ring.
“Lynn rejected me and moved out. She’s with her parents for now. Grays going back and forth but he’s
here now.” Dad explained. He didn’t look too bad, but he wasn’t dressed, he usually got ready early
even if he didn’t work. He hugged me then invited us into the room.
“So, when’s Mae moving in?” Lexus asked bluntly.
Dad sighed. “I’m not with Mae, it’s too soon.” Lexus and I were both a little confused. “It’s too soon for
Gray.” He clarified. “I don’t want to introduce him to someone new so soon. Plus, it would get back to
Lynn and hurt her more. Let’s stop talking about me, Cade told me about your holder dream and
everything else. If you leave I might go to. I’ve worked here my whole life based on a lie. I’m not as
close to the king as I used to be and most my children are leaving the castle. It’s time for me to move
on too.”
I looked at the door leading to Grays room as it opened. “Aqua!” He ran to me and hugged me. “Where
were you??”
I rubbed his back. “I went to my Gram’s house for a little while to get better. I’m fine now.”
I ended up hanging out with Gray for half the day and Lexus stayed with us. Cade opened the door and
it seemed urgent. “Aqua, you’ll want to see this.” There was a lot of yelling coming from down the hall,
so I left with Lexus.
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