••• Cinzel •••
‘...That day was chasing me thunderingly, I was losing what I cherished before its existence… I was losing Prince…’
We were staying at Nathaniel’s place, I was utterly vexed about what happened so I tried talking about this matter with Nathaniel.
“I think someone deliberately targeted Prince because of me… They know how much he means to me.” I whispered innocently, looking up at Nathaniel.
“Such stupidity is expected from… Zaniel… to see how much extent I could break for Prince.” I said, biting my lips nervously.
“You should silence him before he could cause an uproar.”
“I can’t do it! I am just going to tell Prince everything and he will take care of it.” I said, leaning back.
He shrugged, “Then you better hurry.”
“I should tell Prince, he will be hurt if someone else did.” I said sadly, not wanting him to think I was cheating or something like this.
“You need to do it before things get out of hand.” He was right, I also need to fix that bastard’s mind.
“But…”
“You love Prince, don’t you?” He asked me seriously.
“I do, but-”
“No buts, you have to tell him then. Prince has a short temper, Cinzel. He is lenient with you but that doesn’t mean he will not lose his senses. Betrayal means death,” My throat dried when he said it.
“I know. I have seen how you deal with traitors.” I muttered.
“And him too. When he could kill his own best friend, make his sister a widow, he can do the same to you too.”
My heart skipped a beat in dread when he said it. Prince could think this way but it’s completely wrong. I never considered betraying Prince ever.
“Don’t scare me like this!” I whisper-yelled but before we could continue Prince came so we didn’t talk about that matter any longer.
The next day, I returned home and furiously searched for Zaniel but he was at work so I decided to spend some time with Sky.
“Mama!” Sky whined.
I hummed, “I want a Brother!” She shouted, my eyes widened for a second as me and Astrid exchanged glances for a moment.
“What?”
“I want a Brother too! Minnie also has one. I want a big brother.” She declared, sitting beside.
“Too late for that baby.” I chuckled, patting her head.
“Why?”
“You are the eldest.”
“Then a younger brother. A baby!” She chirped.
Astrid smirked and said, “Well, It’s been six years since we had a baby.”
“Hey!” I blushed, looking away.
“Why not? You are finally in love with Brother.” She smirked.
“Yeah. Yeah.” I hummed, waving my hand to shrug her off.
“Yes! I want a brother-” Sky was about to beam but Zaniel came out of nowhere and picked her up.
“Why do you need one when you have me?” He grinned, picking her up as a sour expression came to my face.
“You can’t come to my school!” She complained.
“You can come to my work.” He said, hugging her and it itched me. I growled when I saw him being affectionate with her.
“Sky, could you find my phone?” I found an excuse, she nodded and got down, leaving.
After she left, I got up with a stoic face, motioning him to stay, “Astrid, could you make sure no one interrupts us for a few minutes? I need to talk to him.” I said she was suspicious at first but after seeing the rage she nodded and left us alone quietly.
“Cinzel-” Before he could speak, I grabbed his collar, pushing him against the pillar.
“Asshole! How dare you target Prince?!” I snarled, glaring outrageously at him.
“What are you talking about?” He gasped in disbelief.
“You can’t fool me. Prince doesn't know what his Brother-in-law and his son are plotting behind him but I do and if… I fucking dare you, If you ever tried to target Prince just to check my reaction, I will kill you.” I threatened direly.
The lone thought of anything hurting Prince is driving me insane and I can’t let it happen, especially when the reason was me.
“When did you start loving him this much, Huh?!” Zaniel growled, grabbing my arms.
“We were lovers all this time and now you are dying over my Uncle huh? You forget our moments as if they never existed. He married you forcefully, he threatened you, he terrified you, he shattered you still you are his. Why!?”
I pushed him away as a tear pricked in my eye, “I loved you, I ran away, I fought with him knowing I can’t compete with him, I declined this marriage all because I loved you and what you did when I left everything and came to you huh? You tried to kill me and how dare you expect me to love you after what happened?! You were using me all this time!” I shouted, bursting the weight of my chest on his. His eyes teared up a little as he came dangerously closer.
“Yes, I did. I am afraid I can’t deny this fact and when I realized my mistake it was too late but believe me, my love was not a ruse. It was not mere passion built upon falsehood, I truly loved you.” He said desperately in a cracked voice, glistening the heartbreak and the love he left for the sake of lust for power.
Closing my arms at my chest, I scoffed, “Right. Love.”
“Please-” He tried to touch me but I moved back.
“Don’t. Don’t touch me.” I hissed, putting my hand in between.
Taking a step back, I gave him a ruthless look, speaking coldly, “This is your last warning, Zaniel Ayle.”
Taking a step closer, I grabbed his collar, pulling his face close to mine so he could espy at the rage flickering in my eyes.
“If you ever dared to hurt Prince again. I will give you the worst death.”
Declaring I pulled away, turning to leave but his voice came stern, “When it was me who connected his heart with you, I won’t let you replace me.”
A smirk came to my lips by his jejune words, looking over from my shoulder at him, “Whimsical; you thought Prince is a replacement.”
“This bond won’t last long, Cinzel Alroy.” His tone came out icy, glistening resoluteness.
With a dry chuckle, I turned away, “Here, I am Cinzel Silvester.” And left.
I walked out, Astrid was quite distressed by seeing me but I just left angrily.
“What happened?” She asked hesitantly when we reached my room and I sat down, covering my face in my hands.
“Your nephew’s so-called love was turning into obsession, it was necessary to stop it.” I said, emitting a long sigh before putting my senses to normal and looking up at her.
“What did he do?”
“Leave it. I just taught him a lesson.” I said, falling back on the bed, stretching my arms, affixing my eyes on the ceiling.
“If you think from his place… it must be difficult. He loved you all this time and now you are married to Brother at the very edge, it must be hard.” Astrid was too pure to be a part of this family.
I mean look at Penelope, this woman never fails her chance to taunt me, always toxic and even complain to Prince about me, making false assumptions.
“It will if he truly loved me.” I mumbled under my breath and turned to her.
“I can’t change what’s in my fate. Maybe it’s for the better.”
I passed her a faint smile, looking up I noticed Prince leaning on the doorframe, smiling at me,
“Hey, Welcome home.” I smiled, getting up and coming to him.
“Hey.” He smiled back, pulling me closer and wrapping his hand around my shoulder.
“Welcome home, Brother.”
“Thanks. How are you?” Prince asked sweetly.
“Fine.” She said and left us alone. Prince’s eyes were fixed upon her until she was out of sight, I wonder why?
I always feel there’s a glitch between Prince and Astrid. Penelope and Prince were bickering and even looked like siblings but Prince and Astrid always seemed off.
I poked Prince's chest, getting his attention and smiled. Taking his bag and taking off his coat.
“How was your day?” I asked, handing the coat.
“Fine. Yours?” He asked, taking off his watch and other accessories. I am kind of used to setting his stuff and doing all this.
Coming to the front, I took his tie in my hands and slowly loosened it. “I was angry that you left without greeting me.” I faked sadness as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Hmm. What was I supposed to do? When my wife was sleeping so beautifully, I wouldn’t wanna ruin her sleep.”
Curling his lips upwards, he leaned to attach his forehead with mine. My eyes were fixed upon his, sensing his presence becoming my lifetime desires, intoxicating my mind and heart.
“Go and get changed, Sir.” I chuckled, pulling away, taking off the tie and moving away. He frowned but left to get change.
After dinner, I was on the balcony, sensing the change in weather, cold breeze inducing a balmy feeling spread in my body, making it light and calm, smiling faintly.
I was looking out with my hands on the railing until a pair of large hands were placed upon mine, a strong addictive scent of my beloved filling my nostrils.
Pressing his chest over my back, he embraced me softly and oh so lovingly that my entire focus was on the endearment caging my heart, being the foundation of my life.
“What are you doing?” He mumbled, biting my earlobe.
“Just looking out. Weather is nice, don’t you think?” My voice came out louder than a whisper, turning to lock me eyes with his exquisite ones.
“Hmm. It is.” He hummed, hugging me securely.
“Cinzel..”
“Yeah?”
“I have placed my heartbeat on bets in exchange for your love. My feelings for you are my faith.” He whispered, learning to my neck, sending a shiver by his lips linking with my skin.
“You have won this bet long ago, Prince.” Whispering back, my heart unknowingly began to find solace in his.
“Stay with me.”
“Don’t worry now because…”
Turning to him, I cupped his cheeks, leveling his face to mine, boring his eyes into mine, creating an intense rhythm of earnest emotions.
“I love being imprisoned in your domain.”