Bloom: The Kingdom of Archer Series: Book I

by J Rose

  “I love you,” I say to her.

  At my confession Lyric remains quiet, her eyes flicker with something that’s too fast for me to catch. Even so, I can’t help but continue to speak what I feel for her.

  "I love you and I know you don't feel that way. Maybe you never will. And I know it's my fault," I tell her.

  Once again I can feel the guilt weigh my shoulders down and my heart tightens with a familiar pain that I have caused both of us. My mind flickers back to that broken Lyric of five years ago and I find myself looking away from her unable to meet her eyes again. Lyric had been lost and broken and I broke the dam that already had way too many cracks with just a whisper of poorly chosen words.

  "I promised myself that I would respect your decision. If you chose him. Then. Then I'd let you go," I tell her.

  I realized walking away was going to be hard had she chosen him, I would have retreated if she’d asked me to do so. Simply because I knew more than anyone, I had no right to demand anything of her. Still, I was selfish and for now, I would make my plea to her even if she did reject me in the end.

  "I know you're afraid of me. I know you hate me. I know I don't deserve you. But all I'm asking for is a chance Lyric. A chance with you," I tell her.

  For the longest of times, she remains quiet and though I try to decipher what she’s thinking by gazing into her eyes I find no answer.

  "I don't expect you to answer now. I just hope you consider it." I say to her. Part of me wants to reach to place a kiss on her lips but I know I can’t. Not when she has not given me an answer which I know will take time. Moving away from her I know there’s nothing I can say anymore. Not at the moment so instead I turn to leave closing the door behind me and hoping that she gives me a chance even if I don’t deserve it.

  CHAPTER 13:

  MEMORIES

  (Lyric)

  “I Love You.”

  Love?... There was that word again. Shutting my eyes tightly I tried to shake those thoughts out of my head. It had been an entire week since then. Since those words had been said to me by the most unlikely person in the entire world. Parker.

  “Ms. Lyric. Are you okay?” Hearing a knock at my door again I tried not to jump the way I always did and tried to find my voice.

  “Yes. Oliver. I’m alright,” I managed to say before the quiet ensued once more.

  Since my decision. Since the council. King Thomas and Parker had increased the number of guards around the castle and around me. Oliver had been assigned as my personal bodyguard. According to Crystal, he was the best at what he did. Oliver was like us, young, his hair was black styled neatly and professionally and he had olive colored eyes. His face looked kind and gentle but there was also a serious demeanor that he carried himself with. His built was tall and lanky. Physically he didn’t look as strong as Parker or Spencer for that matter but he was the best Nova warrior the Kingdom had.

  “Human form doesn’t matter. Nova form does,” Crystal had explained.

  From my understanding, Oliver was a giant, majestic eagle. I’d never seen him shift, but I realized he must have been great if Parker and King Thomas trusted him so much. Remembering our first official meeting really made me curious as to what type of person Oliver was.

  #

  I’d pondered Parker’s words the entire night. Love? Did he love me? How was that possible? Had he not hated me since he set eyes on me five years ago? Had he not hated me being his mate? Where was the Parker that had said so many harsh things to me?

  “I didn’t mean it.”

  Those words more than anything confused me. Why? Why was he acting like this? Obligation? Guilt? What could drive Parker Archer to say those words of want to me? More than that; why was I feeling like this? A small part of me as much as I didn’t want to admit it, was happy.

  “You can’t like him Lyric. Liking him would mean much more. And then. Then where would that leave you when he hurts you again.”

  “Ms. Lyric," Hearing a knock at the door before it opens. I see a man standing there. He’s wearing a dark suit and his face is tight, his olive green eyes are piercing and intimidating.

  For a second I look away but when he bows, I look back at him in surprise.

  “My name is Oliver Bennett. King Thomas and Prince Parker have assigned me to you. I will guard you with my life Princess.”

  “Princess?” I question to myself, the words feel so foreign and unlike myself. There were other words to use but Princess? Why was he calling me Princess?

  “Lyric. My name is Lyric,” I find myself saying. As he looks up at me something flickers in his eyes and a small smile is shown on his lips. Just as fast as it comes, the smile goes and his gaze turns cold and professional.

  “Ms. Lyric,” He corrects himself.

  “If there is anything you need of me, don’t hesitate to ask,” He tells me.

  “Oh. Okay,” I find myself dumbly saying unsure of what to answer.

  “If you don’t need anything I will retreat,” He says his voice is so formal that for a second I almost forget how young he is.

  “Why is he acting this way?” I think to myself. Bowing once more he turns to leave the room again only to stop when his hand reaches the doorknob.

  “Princess,” He says turning to look at me. The look in his eyes is completely visible that it makes me blush at the change in his tone. Just a few seconds ago he seemed well beyond his years. Now. Now I feel like I’m talking to someone my age.

  “Yes,” I say quietly.

  “I don’t mean to overstep but. Prince Parker is a good man. He cares deeply about you. He stays every single night outside your door to guard you himself.” He says quietly. His words make my heart jump, Parker’s name makes my heart do its usual pitter patter and I hate myself for it. Still, Oliver continues to speak.

  “You should talk to him Princess. He will tire himself out if he keeps this up. And then he might not be ready when the time comes to protect you."

  “Protect me? From what?” I question myself

  “She has no choice!”

  “Right. Maxwell,” I think to myself.

  “Princess,” Oliver speaks again.

  “Why do you keep calling me Princess?” I question and his eyes look at me again, this time in surprise as he looks back down at the floor. Why is he acting like this? Why was he refusing to meet my eyes when he speaks to me?

  “You are Prince Parker’s mate. Therefore, by being so you are his Princess. And one day when he is King you will be his Queen,” Oliver speaks.

  “I shall leave you to rest some more.” He adds quietly before bowing once more and leaving.

  #

  “Princess…”

  “Queen…”

  I had not wanted to think of that status again since that welcome party. How could I be… a queen? How could that be? I couldn’t even control my own feelings much less help rule a kingdom. My life was a mess as it was. And then… there was Parker. I’d known he was a Prince all along. But somehow I hadn’t really seen him as that. He was always just… Parker. Then again what was he really to me?

  “I love you.”

  “Love?” I thought, shutting my eyes tightly trying to stop those words from circling my head on and on, buzzing about like bees.

  “Obligation more likely,” I convinced myself.

  “You’re getting it all wrong again.” Looking up I could see a distinct pink orb floating in my room and I sighed. Was she right? Was I really wrong? I did not get the chance to ask her this out loud because the moment I did she vanished in the blink of an eye and without a trace.

  “I need to think,” I told myself before getting up from the bed and reaching for my journal. Passing through the dozens of poems I’d written I opened the journal to a blank page. Setting aside the letter from him. Whoever he was, and placing it carefully on my bed, the flower with it as well. Maybe it was odd to certain people but I found myself the most confident and even a little safer when I had this letter around me
. Somehow it centered me and allowed me to think, and right now I needed to be centered more than ever. Using the pen I’d stuffed inside the spiral of the journal, I began to write, feeling a bit ridiculous but needing to sort out my jumbled thoughts and feelings.

  While Parker made me feel safe from Maxwell, he also made me feel insecure. This had nothing to do with the way he treated me now. In fact, it was because of what happened in the past and what Parker knew of my past that made me feel this way. Then again, Parker had been the one to save me back then and now.

  Even when Parker hadn’t known who I was or who I was supposed to be he was always there for me. While his constant bullying at school did cause me grief things felt different now. Could people change?

  “I love you.”

  “Love?” Whether that was anything at all I didn’t know. How was he sure about that? How could I be sure that he had been serious about saying those words to me?

  I had so many questions on my mind but I wasn’t sure how I should ask them. I was a coward in front of him for so many reasons that I wasn’t sure I could say anything.

  “Lyric.” Hearing his voice from outside my door made me gasp, and I felt myself blushing once more. Looking at what I had in my hands I felt stupid, childish. Immediately, I closed my journal stuffing my letter and flower in it. Quickly I hid the journal under my pillow just before Parker opened the door.

  “Good. You’re up,” He said. But I simply bit my lip and looked down trying to suppress my flustered look which I was sure he could see.

  Parker hadn’t come to see me the past few days after his confession and I wondered if that was more for his sake than mine. Looking up at him, he simply chuckled rubbing the back of his neck his hazel eyes looking back at me.

  “I. Morning,” He said before chuckling again nervously.

  “Why are you so nervous?” I wanted to ask.

  “I love you.” Hearing his words in my head again I looked down, my blush once again heating my face up.

  “Morning,” I whispered quietly unable to phrase any more words, feeling my throat dry and my stomach churn.

  “I. My father wants us all to have breakfast downstairs.” He explains.

  “Oh. Okay,” I say quietly, before getting up to gather my things in order to shower. I tried not to tense so much around him. So many things were running through my head that it was hard to keep my composure at all; much less keep my blush in check.

  “Lyric,” He spoke before I could reach for the bathroom door.

  “Yes?” I asked quietly turning to look at him.

  “About what I said. About. What I asked?” He said, his words made me bite my lip nervously.

  “I know it’s only been a few days but. Have you thought about it? Giving me a chance?” He asked.

  For a second, I felt myself blushing harder and simply turned away.

  “He was serious about that?” I thought to myself feeling my heart rate increase. My flaming cheeks felt so hot that I felt like I was in a sauna.

  “I-”

  “Never mind,” He cuts me off.

  “You don’t have to say anything. I. Forget I asked right now,” He says quickly.

  For a moment, I felt myself relax again but when I turned to look at him, there was something in his face that told me he wasn’t done yet.

  “Just. Think about it. Please,” He spoke before leaving the room. Sitting in my bedroom alone I could still feel my heart pounding loudly in my ears.

  #

  *Bump, Ba-Bump, Bump*

  There it was again. My stupid heart. Why had this always been my reaction to anything Parker Archer said or did?

  “It’s nothing,” I thought to myself after undressing and turning the bath on. I simply wanted to relax. Instead, I found myself feeling too much of everything and not knowing what it was. Taking a deep breath, I submerged myself in the water thinking back so far that I hadn’t realized I still had that memory.

  #

  It was the first day of school. The halls were busy with people walking in and out of school. I tried to ignore the sting in my back from his belt and the hurt my legs felt at my own weight. The bag which I carried on my back only made the ache on my shoulders intensify. The added baggage that came with my life only made me feel miserable. I’d been given a scholarship to attend this school for the rich. My mom felt so proud knowing that the royal Prince’s both attended this school. Not that anyone talked to me. At one glance everyone knew I had no money. My clothes, my shoes. The old backpack I had with me. I felt like a small mouse in a gigantic house. Everyone seemed older than me, taller than me. Mean. Condescending.

  “It doesn’t matter I came for school not to make friends,” I comforted myself.

  *Bam*

  Colliding with someone I fell back only to be caught by the shoulders in order to steady me.

  “Sorry.” He said. He didn’t really give me a chance to answer back to him much less give a second glance before he ran off. Looking up at him I only saw his back. Dark hair and black leather jacket. For a few moments, I stood still, trying to steady my heart that had somehow skipped a beat from fear. Shaking it off, I continued to my locker finding myself following after him reading off the numbers on each locker trying to find my own along the hallway. Finally, I found my own locker just as he himself stopped at his own.

  *Bump, Ba-Bump, Bump*

  His locker was next to mine, and I found myself unable to move. Studying his face, I could see him talking to his friends. His locker was open, and he was stuffing books in and taking others out. He was smiling, laughing along with the boys next to him. When he smiled. His hazel eyes sparkled and his eyes crinkled a little. His entire face relaxed and depicted every emotion on his face. His head turned to me and I immediately dropped my gaze avoiding his own by hiding my face in my hair, glad to have let it down.

  *Bump, Ba-Bump, Bump*

  With shaky nervous hands, I turned to my locker trying my best to get the combination right without messing up because I could feel his eyes on me.

  “Don’t look at him.”

  “Don’t look at him,” I chanted in my head.

  “Are you new here?” He asked his voice low and soft. The soft click of the locker sounded, but I refused to speak to him. My chest and my throat both tightening at the same time. My heart was racing, and I didn’t like that. Why was I reacting this way?

  “She’s the scholarship Parker.” Someone spoke. Parker? Was that his name? Why did that name sound so familiar?

  “Come on man. We’re going to be late for class.”

  “Yeah. Sure” He said before the locker next to mine closed and then his voice along with his friends faded.

  By the time I was done stuffing my books in my locker and calmed my nervous racing heart he was long gone and I was alone in the hallway. The first few classes were okay. Nothing I couldn’t handle or understand. The people, however... They weren’t so nice. A few girls glared, other laughed, boys teased. It was all so… expected. Right now, I didn’t care what they thought of me. I had a lot more serious things to care about than my social status at school. By lunchtime, I was sitting by myself, having a sandwich I’d packed, a small juice pouch and an apple.

  “Hi. Can I sit here? I’m Crystal Mane. We have English Class together,” She spoke up. Looking at her I was a bit star struck. I had seen her throughout my day. She’d been sitting with a group of girls like her. Blonde, Blue eyed. Pretty. Popular. Was this a trick? Why was this girl talking to me?

  “So can I sit?” She asked again.

  “Why?” I blurted out and when she laughed I could feel my face turn 50 Shades of Red.

  “I want to be friends silly. You’re new here right?” She questioned, and I found myself nodding dumbly.

  “So can we be friends?” She asked again a smile on her lips.

  I didn’t have much experience with friends or with people in general but somehow I felt she was being genuine. She had been the only girl in school who had no
t called me “The new girl” or “The scholarship kid”

  “Okay,” I answered softly before she smiled and extended her hand out for me to shake which I slowly shook.

  “What’s your name?” She asked.

  “Lyric. Lyric Mason,” I managed to say.

  “Crystal! Come on why are you sitting over here. Come sit with us,” A tall lanky boy with wild curly hair spoke up waving to her with a bright smile on his face.

  “I’m sitting here today Spencer,” Crystal called out to him.

  “You don’t have to sit with me if you don’t want to,” I wanted to say to her.

  Deep in my heart I'd known this was a bad idea and now I was feeling exposed.

  “Oh. Okay.” The boy said before making his way toward our table and sitting with us. He offered a smile to both Crystal and I before motioning with his hand to someone else that I couldn’t quite see.

  “Spencer this is Lyric. She’s new here,” Crystal spoke up.

  “Lyric. Like a song Lyric? That’s unique.”

  *Bump, Ba-Bump. Bump*

  I didn’t have to look up to see who it was. In fact, my heart reacted on its own and I found myself looking down again to avoid eye contact.

  “What was this? Why was I behaving this way?”

  “Hi. I’m Parker Archer.” He spoke up again, his name made me realize who he was. I could see his hand out but I couldn’t seem to move and then he slowly dropped it when I did not respond.

  “She’s just shy,” Crystal spoke up for me and I found myself biting my lip at the uncomfortable silence.

  “Archer. Parker Archer as in the Prince,” I thought to myself, my cheeks reddening.

  Now more than ever I realized I could never actually talk to him. He was Prince Parker Archer the future king, and I was just… nothing.