But what was I even battling against anyway? Aladdin was right. I wasn't a suitor in this game. I didn't get a say either way. And I had no right to.
Shit, what is the matter with me?
A demon had curled its way around my heart, pulling the strings, making me feel things that were so forbidden, so wrong.
I released a ragged breath and the candle flame flickered.
There was only one way I'd get through this. Once all of this was dealt with, I'd leave.
If Aladdin beat Kahn I wouldn't be attending the wedding, breathing the same air as the man who claimed Rapunzel as his own. And once Gothel was brought to justice, the Princess would claim the throne and I'd be safe in the knowledge that the kingdom would be in good hands. I'd find some other way to make ends meet. Perhaps I'd join the army...elect to be posted at the Forken base. Leaving Osaria behind wouldn't be easy, but making a vow to go was the only thing that made me feel any better right now.
Yes, I'd love my country from afar once I was sure it was secure. It was a solemn promise and I finally found a little peace because of it. It became easier to breathe and the tension in my shoulders finally ran away.
A door opening snared my attention and I rose from my seat, wondering if Aladdin and Kyra had come to join me at last.
Thanks for the help guys. It's not like the entire kingdom depends on it or anything.
I moved through the aisles, hunting for them. I walked to the edge of the balcony, looking down at the lower level with a frown. There was no movement by the exit, but I'd definitely heard a door...
A flash of gold caught my attention and my heart crashed into my throat. Rapunzel was closing a secret doorway hidden behind a portrait of an old emperor. She glanced around then reached out, running her hand across the closest bookshelf with a sigh. She was dressed in baggy cream pants and a matching vest, her hair loose and falling around her like liquid gold.
My hands curled tightly around the railing as I held my breath, watching as she plucked a book from the shelf and flicked it open, wandering aimlessly through the aisles as she began to read.
It was unacceptable for her to be here unescorted and in the presence of another man. So why wasn't I alerting her?
My pulse thumped in the base of my throat as I continued to stand there, enraptured by her.
How's that solemn vow feeling right about now?
I cleared my throat and Rapunzel gasped, dropping her book as she snapped her head up to seek me out. Her eyes locked with mine as the book thumped onto the floor and my throat constricted.
Say something!
“Forgive me,” I said in a low tone, bowing my head. “I'll give you the courtesy of my absence.” I headed to the spiral stairwell, jogging down it and marching across the tiles toward the exit.
Get out of here, get away from her.
“No wait, hang on,” Rapunzel called and I stilled, not turning back, my training screaming at me to ignore her and keep walking.
Why am I still standing here dammit?!
These weren't the rules. But then I didn't technically have to obey the rules anymore...
Her bare feet padded against the floor as she approached. “You don't have to leave on my account. No one knows we're here.”
I didn't answer but made no move to leave either.
What are you doing now, you shit?
Apparently I'm still standing here like a treacherous dog.
“Please, Cassian, I could use the company of someone who's not an employee for once.”
A ripple of heat surged through my stomach. Did she just say my name and please in the same sentence?
I turned, glancing back at her with an eyebrow raised. She gave me an encouraging smile which melted every last ounce of resolve I had.
Well I still have my promise to leave Osaria. In the meantime, there's no harm in taking pleasure in her company, is there?
Keep lying to yourself and see how that works out.
I shut off my thoughts, turning my attention to my instincts instead. And they wanted me to stay here, so I was damn well going to.
Rapunzel had returned the book to her hands and I moved forward, reaching out to take it, overwhelmed with intrigue. I tilted the spine up to read the name.
Ways of a Warrior.
I pressed my lips together. “That's a poor choice.” I plucked it from her hands and her brow furrowed.
“What?” she questioned like she couldn't believe I'd just taken it from her. But if the Princess wanted to learn about warrior skills, this book was full of more shit than the Osarian sewer system. I moved off into an aisle, placing it back on the shelf and plucking an old favourite from the one below it.
When I turned back, I found Rapunzel right behind me, eyeing my selection with a look of suspicion.
I held it out for her, figuring she might be about to reprimand me. But I knew everything there was to know about training and if she wanted to learn, I knew the best ways for her to be taught. “If you want to read something worthwhile about fighting styles, this is your new best friend.”
Slowly, she reached out and took it, a small crease forming between her eyes in the shape of a crescent moon. Her fingers grazed mine, sending a bolt of heat through me that made breathing impossible.
Her hand lingered there a second longer before she hugged the book to her chest. A flicker of vulnerability passed through her amber gaze before being heavily masked by suspicion. “Aren't you going to question why a woman wants to read such a thing?” she demanded.
I couldn't conceal my scowl as I stared at her, absorbing that high and mighty look she gave me which spoke of all the men who'd ever told her no.
“You're an adept fighter, Rapunzel – or so I hear,” I added quickly. “Why on earth should I care that you're female?” Apart from the fact that I wish for the sake of my manhood you weren't. Then I wouldn't have to struggle with this internal battle.
“You're not like any man in my kingdom if you don't,” she said, her eyes darkening.
“I hope for your sake that isn't true because if you're to be Empress, I would like to think the men in Osaria would gladly bow to you.” A lump lodged itself in my throat as she stepped a little closer, lowering her voice.
“You don't address me formally,” she whispered and my heart lurched.
Shit, why did my tongue keep wrapping around her name instead of her title? That wasn't anything to do with the old me. That was to do with the demon digging its claws into my heart. And right then, I wanted them to dig deeper and gouge out every doubt I had about standing there alone with her.
“Do you want me to?” I asked in a low tone and she inched closer once more. The scent of cinnamon sailed from her skin and snared my senses in a deadly trap.
“No...you're friends with Count Nazari even though he's your lord. I see that. And I like it. If we're to be a part of the same household one day, I'd like us to be friends too. I have enough employees.”
My heart slammed against my ribcage and I stepped back so my shadow fell off of her. “I won't be staying on here if my liege wins your hand.”
“Why?” she asked in surprise. There was that little crescent between her eyes again...
I shook my head, lifting a hand to scrape it over my hair. I didn't have an answer I could give. Why had I said it at all?
Her gaze narrowed then travelled down to my chest and back up again, assessing. She didn't trust me and I would have wagered a bet she didn't trust any man in Osaria. That was why she'd made Aladdin sign a contract. Because promises meant nothing to her. She'd probably had a thousand broken to her before she could even walk.
“You're hiding something, Cassian. You and the Count. I can sense it about you both, like there's a secret in your eyes.” She pursed her lips and the truth danced on my tongue. I swallowed it down, unable to answer.
She shoved the book back into my chest but I didn't move to take it and it slammed to the floor between us. She glared down at it then back up at
me. “I don't need your help to train.” She pointed at the book on the floor. “Put it back.”
Chains tightened around my chest. An order from the Princess. Undeniable. So why did I want to deny it right then?
I knelt down, plucking up the rejected book with my teeth clenched. “Well you're going to end up reading every other book on fighting before coming back to this one and realising how much time you wasted,” I said under my breath, rising to my feet and shoving it back into place on the shelf.
She stared at me in bewilderment for talking back to her and my heart squeezed like it was in a vice.
Holy shit, what did I just do?
I clasped my hands behind my back and dropped my eyes. “Apologies,” I muttered, but it didn't sound that convincing.
Why was I so angry?
The answer came to me in a moment of clarity. Aladdin. She'd kissed him. The Princess who I'd put faith in my entire life, had kissed a man who played games for her hand. She hadn't wanted the pageant, and yet now she was dancing along to the tune of it. And that just got under my skin like nothing I'd ever known.
I bowed a little lower than was necessary and walked away, leaving her there with a confused expression I expected was going to descend into anger fast. She had the power to order my death if she wanted it. But I technically still had a date with a hangman's noose, so I was already on borrowed time.
“So you know a lot about fighting?” Rapunzel asked suddenly, her tone shifting dramatically.
I halted, glancing back over my shoulder. “It's all I know.”
She twisted her hands together in a way that told me she was grappling with an idea. “Can you teach me?”
Her question hung in the air and my mind struggled to process it. “I...” No answer would come. Teach her? That was insanity.
She strode toward me with purpose, her jaw set, her mind clearly decided on this. “No one else will and you clearly have the knowledge I'm looking for, so why not?”
Why not? Because that means spending more time with you, because my heart can't take it and it would be the biggest challenge of my life. “No,” I said firmly and her mouth parted.
My inner self crawled under a rock and died from what I'd just done. Refused her. The Princess of Osaria.
“Well I order it,” she said, folding her arms. “So you can't say no.”
“I can and I have.” I walked on, needing to end this interaction. It wasn't just improper at this point it was downright unlawful. The Princess making smalltalk with a man of lower rank, unaccompanied by an escort and asking something of him that was entirely inappropriate. The Princess could learn to fight in her own time, of her own fruition. But a man who was supposedly from another kingdom taking on that roll was unheard of. And almost certainly illegal.
She hurried after me and caught my arm. Heat forced itself into my veins which had no right in being there. I shook her off – shook the princess of Osaria off! – and marched on.
“Please,” she snapped for the second time in mere minutes. To me. Cassian Lazar. A traitor of the kingdom. Not that she knew that. But she knew full well I wasn't someone she should be begging for anything.
My throat closed up as she rushed around me, planting a hand on my chest to halt me. Flames scorched where her palm lay and I shifted back to remove myself from them.
Her eyes caught mine and my resolve weakened.
“We'll do it in secret. No one will know,” she pressed. “I want to learn, Cassian, and no one will teach me. There’s only so much I can find out from books. It's not the same as being shown.”
“Why do you want to learn?” I asked, sure this was more than a hobby to her. Her eyes flared with passion, a deep need to expand this part of her life.
“Because I...” She dropped her gaze, her shoulders falling too as something circled in her mind. “Because I do,” she finished bluntly, her walls sliding back up as fast as they'd fallen. “Are you going to disobey a direct order?”
My brows lifted as I stared at her. How can I say no now?
The door to the library burst open and Aladdin and Kyra pranced in, soaking wet and laughing their heads off.
I placed some distance between Rapunzel and I, my jaw tightening as I gazed at Aladdin and the genie, their hands clasped tightly together.
Aladdin spotted us and looked between us in surprise. “What's going on?”
He didn't let go of Kyra's hand even though she started tugging to try and free it.
Rapunzel's face had turned ashen as she stared at her potential husband-to-be with unconcealed anger. She said nothing so I cleared my throat, stepping forward to try and cover for his mess. Much as I despised it, I needed to try and save Aladdin's neck right now. Even if what I wanted to do most at that moment was break it.
“I've been here all day reading up about Osarian traditions. Like you asked. So that you might implement them for your wedding day.” I kept my tone level as I felt Rapunzel's eyes on me.
“Right, of course.” Aladdin dropped Kyra's hand, running it into his hair instead. “I just wanted to try and make you happy, love,” he said to the Princess.
Rapunzel looked between us then rolled her eyes. “Liars. All of you.” She stormed toward Aladdin, skirting around him as she headed toward the door.
My gut spiralled as I lost control on the situation.
Aladdin turned, catching her arm and pulling her back.
She glared at him, speaking before he could. “If you want to impress me, Aladdin. Try being honest. I don't know what it is you're all up to, but if you think I'm stupid enough not to notice, then you're just like every other jerk in the kingdom.” She tried to tug her arm free but Aladdin didn't let go.
He looked to me with a terse expression. “We should tell her.”
My heart fell into a rampant beat and I shook my head. Getting the Princess involved in this would put her at risk. I couldn't do it.
“Tell me what?” Rapunzel demanded, finally snatching her arm free of him.
Aladdin gave me a pleading look and my resolve drained away. If we didn't tell her, she was going to walk out of here and never look back. And no amount of damage control was going to win her back to Aladdin. As tempting as that was, I had to put my pride away and try to let them be together. The kingdom depended on it.
“Five seconds,” Rapunzel said, making a move toward the door again.
“We're trying to take down Gothel,” Kyra blurted. “Oh and I'm a genie.” She turned into purple smoke and reappeared beside Rapunzel.
The Princess shrieked, stumbling away from her in horror.
“Holy shit, Kyra,” Aladdin gasped. “Talk about ripping off the band-aid.”
“What the hell?” Rapunzel gasped, backing up, heading for the door.
Aladdin darted into her way, raising his hands. “We're on your side, just hear us out.”
Rapunzel looked to Kyra in fear, seeming like she was about to bolt into one of the aisles. I hurried forward, taking hold of Kyra's arm and pulling her back a few steps.
“Gothel has your father under his control,” I said to Rapunzel in a steady tone.
Her eyes met mine and she nodded slowly, but her mouth was still parted as she stared at me.
“We're trying to stop her,” I went on and Kyra nodded eagerly.
“I'd never hurt you,” she whispered and Rapunzel's mouth slowly closed.
She swallowed hard then turned to Aladdin. “So this is all a ruse? You're not really here for the pageant?” I didn't miss the note of disappointment in her tone and my gut solidified.
“Not quite, love. I'm definitely here for the pageant. But Cassian here just tagged along to bring down Gothel. Though now she's after me too so call it a side project.”
Rapunzel's features skewed as she looked to me again. “Why?”
I sighed heavily, trying to get my thoughts in order as I prepared to say this in the clearest way possible. “I knew she was up to something, so I came here to find out what.”
“I don't understand.” Rapunzel shook her head. “You're Aladdin's guard aren't you? What interest do you have in the Queen of Osaria?”
Kyra chewed her lip, looking to Aladdin nervously.
Aladdin met my eye and he nodded, confirming that he was happy for her to know everything.
“I'm not his guard,” I sighed. “And Aladdin isn't a Count. He's just pretending to be.”
Rapunzel's expression went from shock to anger so fast, no one was prepared for what happened next. She lunged forward and slapped Aladdin across the face. “You lied to me?” she snarled.
He rubbed his cheek with undisguised irritation. “I told you I was lowborn. You just didn't know how low, that's all, love.”
“Don't call me love,” she growled. “Explain.” She folded her arms and waited.
“I was in prison when I met Cassian,” Aladdin said, burying us all deeper.
“Prison?!” Rapunzel gasped, backing up. “Who the hell are you both?” She looked between us in horror and I could tell anything Aladdin said next was only going to make this worse.
I strode forward, planting myself at his side and answering for him. “We aren't here to hurt you. Aladdin and I made a deal. I'd come here, help him act noble enough to pass as a suitor in the pageant and in the meantime I'd figure out what Gothel was doing.”
Rapunzel pressed her lips into a sharp line as she glared at me, then Aladdin. Kyra hovered anxiously behind her.
“And did you find out?” Rapunzel asked at last.
I nodded solemnly. “She's a Shaitan, an evil spirit capable of controlling human minds. She has power over your father.” I decided not to mention the creepy-as-shit beetle right then, figuring that was going to push her over the edge.
Rapunzel pressed a hand to her mouth, turning away as she started pacing. “I knew there was something about her but...” She shook her head, halting as she looked to us again. “You're sure?”
We all nodded.
“But we can't prove it until we figure out a way to expose her,” I said.
“She knows who we are,” Aladdin said in a low voice. “And she wants Kyra. We can't risk anyone else finding out what she is.”
“You won't let anyone take me will you, Princess?” Krya asked in a small voice.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 44