Alex led Annie to the room they were sharing and left her to shower and get ready for bed. He snuck out as soon as he heard the showers running and walked to his old room, feeling the need to go back to a memory before everything exploded in front of him.
He found his bedchamber the way he left it. His hands automatically felt the silky covers of his bed and when he laid on his back, he felt at peace.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” a familiar friendly voice teased.
“Zach,” Alex sighed, smiling as his friend returned a goofy smile.
“Hello mate,” Zach grinned. “It has been a while since I have seen you. I am afraid I was a little busy helping some ladies if you know what I mean,” he winked. Alex scowled, giving his friend a dirty look.
“Are you trying to tempt me?” Alex scoffed.
“Possibly,” Zachariah laughed in all honesty.
“Why are you here? I thought you would have already retired to your bedchamber… or another lady’s,” Alex said slowly. No matter how hard his friend might tempt him to turn back to his old ways, he knew he couldn’t break Izzy’s promise.
“I was just on my way to see Isabelle when I thought I should be a good friend and see you first,” Zach smiled. “I did not have the opportunity earlier to greet her and wanted to give her some company.”
“Why? Do you fancy her?” Alex said suddenly, a flash of anger and possession washing over him. Zach laughed and patted his friend’s shoulder.
“I can not be chained by one woman. I am sure by now you know at least that much about me, mate,” Zach grinned. Alex dropped his shoulder and sighed.
“Sorry,” he mumbled in apology. “Many things are stressing me lately.”
“I see you are overprotective of Isabelle,” Zach noted. “You were always like that although you acted like you hated her and teased her too much.”
“Things change,” Alex mumbled but realizing the truth in his words. He did change a lot since he came back and he suddenly had the feeling of loving another woman who could give him much more than physical contact.
“So they have,” a new voice entered the conversation. Zach and Alex turned around to see Timothy walk in with a grim line stitching his thin lips.
“Why so glum, plum?” Zach chuckled, giving his friend a pat. Timothy stayed silent and Zach stepped back, knowing this side of Timothy very well. He was very angry.
“Why are you mad?” Alex asked his friend, ushering him to come closer. It was rare that the three grown men got to be in one room anymore.
“You bloody filthy man,” Timothy growled, lunging for Alex. Zach intervened at the last second, using every ounce of muscle to push Timothy back.
“Timothy! What are you doing?” Zach grunted, feeling his muscles burn. Zach knew he couldn’t hold his friend off forever. His cry for his friend stopped Timothy from pushing and he backed off, puffing in anger.
“Timothy, what are you doing?” Alex asked confused. He didn’t know what made his friend suddenly burst into anger. Usually he composed himself well.
“What’s wrong with me? You mean what’s wrong with you!” Timothy growled angrily.
“Come on mate. You are not being rashtionable but fueled by anger,” Zach said serious. “Tell us why you are acting this way. Are you drunk?”
“Drunk?” Timothy spat. “No, I’m quite fine but Izzy isn’t.”
“Did something happen to Izzy?” Alex asked, feeling his heartbeat grow faster.
“Yes, you,” Timothy said grimly. “You are distracting her from her duties. She cannot focus when you have your eyes all over her!”
“Alex, you sly prince. You told me you were done with our silly games but I see you playing with Isabelle?” Zach gasped, astonished and a little hurt. He trusted Alex to tell him everything as his father did to his father.
“What, she fancies me?” Alex scoffed, mildly amused by Timothy’s words. Timothy grimaced as if he wasn’t supposed to say it in the first place but his eyes still held its intensity.
“So stop playing with her or else she will get demoted,” Timothy warned. “I can’t risk you distracting her. It will cause her to fail her job of protecting you which means both of you can end up dead.”
“You cannot just assume that,” Alex said calmly. “She does not fancy me at all.”
“I never cared about who you had your affairs with but pulling Izzy into this takes it to a whole new level,” Timothy said, giving Alex a murderous look.
“I am not playing with her, okay? I fancy her,” Alex said, swallowing his pride. It was the first time he had genuinely confessed and the words seemed foreign on his tongue.
“No, you don’t,” Timothy cried, putting his hands up in a sign of giving up. “You are about to be a married man. First, you cannot screw this up for your kingdom and second, Izzy is not to played around with.”
“I am afraid he is correct, mate,” Zach said, giving his friend a pitied look. “This is Izzy we are talking about. She might as well be counted as family.”
“I know what I feel is not right but I cannot help feeling this way,” Alex gritted, hating the realization that he could never have Izzy. “I’m terribly sorry but I cannot just stop fancying her. I do not even think I can ever change how I feel.”
Timothy paused for a while, mostly shocked from Alex’s deep confession. He finally saw his friend in a different way than he had ever saw him as. He was finally getting it in his head how ladies should be treated.
“Something’s different about you, comrade,” Timothy said with a new level of respect. He was still angry at his friend but he understood his decision. They were rivals and he didn’t even know it. However Timothy knew he had no chance up against Alex so the only thing he could think of doing was protecting Izzy in whatever choices she may make.
“I am not like what I used to be,” Alex said calmly, making sure he captured both his friend’s eyes as he said this. “I know you fancy her too, Timothy.”
Alex’s proclamation caught Timothy off guard but he recovered quickly. “What are you suggesting, Alex?”
“I see the way you look at her. You two are very close, anyone can see that,” Alex pointed. “Plus you are not exactly good at hiding your emotions when it comes to jealousy.”
“Alex, you are treading on dangerous water,” Zach said carefully but with an amused excitement.
“I know what she wants and that is you. I will support her in whoever she may pick although I know that it can never work between you two,” Timothy said with a straight face.
“Are you challenging him there, mate?” Zach snickered, sitting down in a regal chair and flaunting his hands. “Please, do go on.”
“No, I am not,” Timothy chided Zach. “You ignorant child. I know where my place is. I just came to warn Alex that he should think about the future before he acts upon his instincts. His choices determine the future for this kingdom.”
“He is your friend, your mate, your comrade,” Zach said, slapping his friend’s back playfully. “Support him with whatever choice he makes also.” Zach continued to smile but Timothy narrowed his eyes. Timothy felt the only one mature enough for this type of situation. He gave up everything in his life just to keep this kingdom running but lately, it seemed too tiring. He wanted to be somewhere else, do something else like become a blacksmith and father three children however, he knew he would always stay as the king’s best soldier.
“No, Timothy is correct,” Alex mumbled. “I will try to restrain myself for my affection towards Izzy but it will be hard, I warn you.”
“Fine,” Timothy said, getting ready to leave. “I hope you live up to keep your promise.”
“I said I would try, Timothy. I have no garuntee if it will work,” Alex said truthfully.
“Good enough,” Timothy said with a tight smile. “Good night, Alex, Zachariah.”
“Good night.”