Chapter 21
Iris
Since I wasn’t keen on getting intimate with him, I took a stool and decided to follow my heart. They could do whatever they wanted to me, but I won’t go that route, at least, not without Prince Gradel’s permission.
“Hi, Gradel. I’ll call you by your first name because we are mates and I have something to ask of you,” I took in a deep breath.
“You’ve never liked me. Your hatred for me has always been evident just like the sun in the sky, but today, you did something that no one has ever done for me, not even the people I expected it from. While I was away in the Red Sea pack, I thought of how I might never see your handsome face and that scared me to death. My feelings are conflicted right now so it will be unsafe to admit anything, but one thing I’m sure of is that I’ll always have you in my heart.” I sobbed.
My eyes darted to his thumb which jerked and slowly I reached for his hands. This was the only advantage of his unconsciousness. Being able to talk to him and pour out my heart without getting interrupted.
Without being judged or getting snide remarks in return. His palm became warm when our hands met, the warmness extended to another part of my body.
Suddenly, I didn’t feel so downcast anymore. A flicker of hope was visible amongst the thick mass of despair.
“I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but you are very important to me. You matter too. There’s an invisible barricade, restricting you from expressing your true feelings and I don’t know how to break in, but you should know that you have people that care. I’m on that list, and Hegar too. So wake up, please and tell me what you want. If your recovery is dependent on our intimacy then wake up and tell me that yourself.” I concluded and rose from the stool.
I scanned his lips which were pursed tightly as if he was stopping himself from giving a response, then drew closer to him and merged our lips.
My body sprang to life at the connection and the urge to have him burned between my thighs. Desire flared within my bones as I deepened the kiss and my body went on fire.
I wanted him badly.
If only he could wake up and tell me he wanted me as well, I wished.
Quickly, I broke the kiss as I didn’t want to break my promise then I stretched my body on the rug and shut my eyes, giving in to the subtle call of Mother Nature.
*********
The rays from the sunlight struck my eyes and I stretched my limbs, sitting up slowly while I stifled a yawn.
My eyes darted to Prince Gradel’s bed and a scream escaped my lips. His eyes were wide open, peering at me intently with a small smirk at the crook of his lips.
“Good morning, mate,” He greeted me with the friendliest tone I’ve ever gotten from him.
My eyes reeled in shock and even my lips refused to close as I kept wondering what might have caused this friendliness. Maybe the poison did something to his brain, but whatever could remove his hatred for me should continue doing so.
“Good morning, Prince Gradel,” I chuckled, unable to hold back my excitement. “You’re finally awake. Oh! Thank the moon goddess!”
He rose from his sleeping position and sat up. The paleness that was earlier plastered on his face had vanished and a little color returned to his skin.
“Yeah, your kisses did some wonders too.” He stretched his arm while my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, my cheeks heating up.
I sprang to my feet and tucked my hair behind my ear shyly. “You remembered that? I thought you were unconscious,” I said nervously.
He shrugged and tried to get to his feet. I rushed toward him, offering to help him, but his dead stare stopped me halfway. “I’m just weak, not paralyzed…” He refused.
I wanted to ask more questions but the words hung in my throat as the door opened and the Alpha stormed in.
One second he was at the door and the next second his hands were all over Prince Gradel, who didn’t look to pleased to see him. If anything, the scowl on his face showed the huge effort he was making not to push his father away.
“You don’t know how happy I am to see you awake. I thought you’d never open your eyes again,” He croaked and a snort followed.
And then I realized that his twin was in the room, together with the healer. Prince Devin seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but here and it got me thinking, why would a family like the Alpha’s be filled with so much angst and disgust for each other?
Though my family wasn’t perfect, but we weren’t ready to kill each other any time we met. May could be selfish and nonchalant, but I was very sure that she didn’t hate me.
“Well, I’m fine now and thank you for coming to see me,” He replied flatly.
Alpha Cronus straightened and masked his disappointment with a smile. “Silas will administer some potions to you. Ensure you take them so that you can get better,”
Prince Gradel said nothing as he kept staring at the wall until his father had no choice but to leave. And then Prince Devin approached his twin and whispered some words to his hearing.
If he felt bad, he didn’t react.
“Hypocrites!” Prince Gradel muttered after they all left, including Silas.
“Prince Gradel…”
He raised his hand sharply and then raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Stop calling me Prince. Gradel is just fine, after all, you’re my mate.” He said tiredly.
“I don’t understand,”
Happiness mixed with uncertainty worked through me. It was scary yet exciting how we moved from enemies to me addressing him on a first-name basis in less than twenty-four hours.
What the hell happened to his brain?
“You once asked why I was so bothered about the missing bracelet, right?” He asked and I nodded.
“I did, Prince-sorry, Gradel.”
“You’ll have the answer today,”
“Huh?”
He motioned for me to sit beside him then he leaned on the pillow. “The bracelet isn’t just important to me because of its market value. My late mother gifted it to me the night I found her in her pool of blood.” He admitted.