Chapter 4 Roan

Chapter 4

Roan’s POV

“Forgive me.” She falls to her knees immediately, bowing her head.

Her voice is soft but also firm. I can’t help but think about how she’ll sound moaning my name. I push the thought away.

‘Her scent is so intoxicating,’ my dragon literally purrs.

‘Behave,’ I snap at him.

I stared at her long brown hair and small frame. She looked like something I could break. But I’d learned never to underestimate anyone. Especially when they can get into the Crown Prince’ room this late after curfew.

“How did you get here?”

“I- I came to see the third prince.” I paused for a moment.

“And what business do you have with Emrys?” I asked, not buying her shit.

“I-I just wanted to return this.” Her right arm flew up, and I stared at the object in her palm.

A paintbrush.

“We had a discussion earlier and he forgot this.” The third prince talked to no one. It was always just him, him and his paintings.

I snatched the paintbrush. It was indeed Emrys’, stamped with his crest, the crest of the royal family. But still, something didn’t add up.

Why would she be checking a drawer if she had just come to return a paint brush? And why couldn’t she return it in the morning?

“And how would you know this is Emrys’ room?” I asked. She paused for a moment, as though thinking.

“I-I don’t know. I just… guessed.” If truly she guessed, it would make sense that she ended up in Kaelen’s room and not Emrys’.

I stared at her long and hard. Something in my gut made me feel uneasy. And it had nothing to do with my dragon who was yelling at me to go closer to her.

‘Stop screaming in my head, Zyer.’

“You guessed wrong. This is the Crown Prince’ room.”

Her head shot up. But it was a second late. Like she had to remind herself to act shocked. That only meant one thing. She knew already.

“The Crown Prince? Forgive me. I didn’t know.” She bowed her head again, maintaining the posture of someone submissive. She wasn’t. The very fact that she was here past curfew told me that.

“I just wanted to return the paint brush. Emrys would have been looking for it, and I couldn’t sleep knowing it was with me.”

I mused. She was a very good actress. Either that or she wasn’t lying.

‘Let her go. She said she just wanted to return Emrys paintbrush,’ my wolf argued.

‘Shut up.’ I replied.

My dragon was usually as distrusting as I was. But something about her and her warm spicy scent was lowering his defenses. And if I was being honest, mine too.

I should keep her here, question her, torture her, until she says what she really came here for. But I couldn’t bring myself to.

This girl, with long brown hair, shiny black eyes and a mouth that looked perfect for things other than talking would be a huge problem.

“Get out,” I said before I could stop myself. She stood up immediately, rushing out the door.

Her footsteps echoed off the walls of the empty hallway. I stood there, waiting until I couldn’t hear them anymore. For reasons not exactly relating to protecting the crown. I let out a soft sigh.

Walking over to the desk, I looked into the drawer she had opened. Kaelen kept nothing important here. If she had come to find information, she’d have gotten nothing.

“Roan.”

I turned. The Crown Prince stood a few feet from the door, hair messy, eyes red and tired.

“Another bad night?” I asked. He nodded.

Kaelen had been battling nightmares since as far back as I could remember. Nothing had worked for them. Potions, spells, mind training, even therapy.

I’d watched him battle the worst of it and still have to show up the next morning to carry out his duties. Because no one cared what the Crown was passing through. They were the Crown. And the Crown was perfect. Or rather, had to be.

“I heard voices. Was someone here?” I contemplated telling him about the girl. Shit. I didn’t even get her name.

‘Don’t tell him!’ Zyer screamed.

‘If you scream in my head once more you get time out.’ That shut him up quickly.

“Someone broke in.” Kaelen raised a brow.

“Broke in?”

“Yes.”

“Who’d dare?”

“A girl. I didn’t get her name. But I can identify her. She claimed she had come to return Emrys’ paintbrush, but guessed which room was his and ended up here.” I held out the paintbrush.

Roan took it, inspecting it, probably to be sure it really was Emrys’. His eyes softened as it caught the glint of the royal crest at the base of the paintbrush.

“It’s Emrys’, he said.

“Yes it is.”

“How did she get it? These things are like gold to him. He wouldn’t just leave it with anyone.”

“My thoughts exactly. But it’s hard to imagine she stole it either.”

“Emrys would have noticed it was missing and made a fuss.”

“Exactly.”

“So? Where is she?” I still instantly.

“She’s…” I find it hard to make out the words. How do I say I let a potential threat to the Crown go scott free?

“You let her go?” My heart pounds against my chest like it wants to escape my chest.

“I apologize.” Kaelen smirks.

“You like her.” I feel my eyes widen immediately. “Yup! You like her.”

“Of course not, Your Highness. She could be a threat. I’ll take care of it and report back to you.”

“Will you?” He raises a teasing eyebrow.”The Sword Blade Roan, my protector, has a crush? Woah. I never thought I’d leave long enough to see this.” A mocking grin stretches across his face from ear to ear.

“I don’t have a crush,” I fervently deny.

“Then why would you let her go? The Roan I know would have her tied to a chair in minutes, sword in hand, ready to force answers out of her. But you let her go.”

“The academic session just began. I didn't want to create any situations for the Crown.” The partial lie flows out of me and Kaelen raises a brow.

“If that’s the reason, why is your heart beating so fast? We are connected, Roan. Don’t forget.”

“Fuck,” I curse in my mind.

I’d forgotten Kaelen and I were tethered. Not just him and I, it was all the princes. We’d experimented with a spell years back. And now it was like we were all one. Whether we liked it or not.

“I apologize for letting her go, Your Highness. It won’t happen again.” He nodded.

“Look into the matter. Discreetly. We have to be sure it’s something we don’t need to be worried about. Although I doubt that some student breaking into the Heirs’ Wing isn’t something to worry about.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And also… don’t fall in love with a student. Please.”