Michael cleared his throat, causing Yasmine to burst out laughing.
“Yasmine!” Tayen boomed. She was growing irritable at an odd feeling tickling her skin. Yasmine was quiet again. “You’re eighteen. The seal is usually broken at that age for a royal after they’ve found their mate. For the sake of this Kingdom, you need to find yours and control that wild energy inside of you.”
Aveena didn’t blink an eye. She didn’t necessarily fear Tayen, but she was a little intimidated. “What about Lavier? He plans on killing me once the seal is broken.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen,” Michael blurted.
Tayen took a deep breath, “You have to break it without him knowing. Hide your relationship. Don’t let him find out that there’s anything going on between the two of you, or whomever you choose. We want to avoid fighting him if we can for now. One quick blow of your power should do it once you gain control of it.”
“And what if he finds out?”
“Don’t let him,” Tayen snapped. Her eyes flashed green, challenging Aveena for some reason. She felt like she was losing control inside. Like for some reason, she was supposed to submit to Aveena, but she didn’t want to. She was a leader, and couldn’t bow down to anyone. No matter how sweet they were.
Tayen and Aveena stared at each other for a moment and the room went quiet. Michael was just as baffled as the others. He knew Tayen got serious at times like this, but tonight she was just being odd.
Tayen noticed the sweat sliding down Aveena’s face and offered a smile. She didn’t mean to let herself get so tense. “I understand that this may be a little difficult to wrap your mind around. I’m asking you to do something that you may not be ready for yet, but it does help all of us.” Her voice was soft again. The room literally sighed after some of the tension was lifted.
Aveena nodded. This was something that she wasn’t ready for. She felt like she was, but wasn’t sure. “I understand.”
The room took another breath. Well, everyone accept Michael. Great, Tayen made their situation even more awkward.
“Good,” Tayen nodded. “It’ll be easier for you to take the crown with control of your powers. I can tell that you would be a great ruler, like your father was.”
Aveena’s heart melted at the thought of her father. She loved him so much. “Thank you,” she said in almost a whisper.
Tayen nodded again. “Well, that’s all for tonight. You two can go back to doing what you were doing.”
Yasmine gave a smug smile, “Like breaking the little girl’s seal.”
Aveena ignored Yasmine and turned to Michael. His eyes were still wide, but hers were calm. She seemed almost okay with the request, which left him a little perplexed.
Joctus nodded before he turned to go back upstairs. Yasmine gave Michael a wink and followed, then Ty’ere.
“You two go out the back so no one wonders what the Princess was doing down here. She’s not necessarily in the organization with us,” Tayen ordered.
Michael nodded.
The two of them went back up the steps and closed the door behind them. They walked in silence around the building.
“Are you okay?” Michael asked.
“A little. My mind is racing just as much as yours probably is. How about we go back inside and enjoy ourselves for tonight?” Aveena suggested.
“Yeah, I could use a drink. Or a sip,” Michael chuckled. Aveena could probably handle a lot more than him. “It’s a human thing.”
They both went into the bar and had a full night of laughter. By the time it was time for bed the bar was almost cleared out, and Tayen was cleaning up.
Michael led Aveena upstairs to his room where Clay was already sleeping. Aveena froze when she noticed that there were two of them, but only one bed.
“What’s wrong?” Michael asked. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the floor.
Aveena’s eyes widened as she turned her head from him. Her face grew hot at the thought of them sleeping in the same bed. She wanted to, but then again, she was afraid to.
Michael chuckled, “Oh come on. We slept together last night. This won’t be any different.”
Aveena’s eyes bulged, “We what? But, I was—How?”
“Wait, what?” Michael was confused for a second. “Oh, no, we didn’t do that. I would never...”
Aveena frowned. What did he mean he would never? So he’s saying that he would never sleep with her?
Michael sighed, “You’re kind of confusing me here.”
Aveena shook her head and climbed into bed. She moved as close as she could to the wall to give Michael space.
Michael snickered. He climbed into bed next to her and faced her back. He almost started laughing at how she was trying to make space in between them by moving closer to the wall. “Relax,” he reached up and rubbed her shoulder. “We’re not going to do anything that you don’t want to do.”
“That’s not what I was worrying about,” Aveena lied.
“Whatever you say Princess,” Michael chuckled.
Aveena relaxed and let her body fall back into his. All that was left for Michael to do was wrap his arm around her, but that may have been going a little too far. He was just going to have to be satisfied with this.
“Goodnight,” Aveena said.
“Goodnight.”
Chapter 15
“So,” Lavier clamped the bridge of his nose. “You ran off and fell? Hit your head and knocked yourself out?”
Aveena only nodded. She and Michael both stood stiffly in Lavier’s office.
“Michael?” Lavier turned to Michael.
“It’s true. I found her passed out in an alley. I was exhausted and took her back to where I stayed in the Ponz Quarter. She didn’t wake up until this morning.”
“Hmm,” Lavier nodded. “I should lock you back in your room, but I guess sleeping in the Ponz was punishment enough.”
Aveena didn’t respond.
Lavier glared at her, “Go along. You’re free to go, but next time, it’s the dungeon for you. Now leave, before I change my mind.”
Aveena nodded, then turned to leave. She was out of the office before Michael could even blink. Now it was just Michael and Lavier.
The knight waited to be dismissed, but instead Lavier instructed him to sit down. It looked like the two of them were going to have another chat about Earth.
Lavier sat down behind his desk and took a deep breath, “That girl is going to be the end of me.”
Literally, if she stuck with the plan.
“Thank you, Michael. I don’t know what I would have done if she actually went missing. I usually don’t get worried about her because of her seal, but when you didn’t return with her yesterday I was starting to panic a little,” he leaned back in his chair with a chuckle, looking as if he hadn’t slept an ounce.
“You’re welcome,” Michael nodded. “It was my duty.”
The corner of Lavier’s lip curved upwards, “Is that all it was?”
Michael drew his brows together, pretending that he was confused on the implication. Tayen made it clear to hide their relationship, or whatever they had going on. “I’m not following.”
Lavier stared at Michael for a moment. He couldn’t read the boy as well as Tayen could. “It’s nothing I suppose,” he sighed, almost disappointedly. Good. “So, I need you to keep a closer eye on Aveena. She can’t go missing like that anymore. It’s important for what I’m trying to put into place.”
Michael’s heart dropped, but he kept his cool. “Is it about Earth?”
“No, not yet. It’s about the Eastern Kingdom.”
Michael sat up straight and waited for Lavier to continue.
“I plan on taking the rest of Raluza under my rule, and then I’m going to go after Earth. I’ll be needing Aveena to do it. I had other plans for her, but...She’s become useful I guess,” Lavier paused for a moment. “I’m going to use her to take over the Eastern Kingdom. As you know, she does have the power of Ralu i
nside of her. A terrible choice for the Raluzian god to give his gift to, but I have to deal with it I guess. It should have been given to her brother. He’s obedient, and would have used his power to better our Kingdom. She on the other hand...” Lavier scoffed, as if the thought of Aveena ruling the Kingdom was revolting.
Michael controlled his breathing, but he couldn’t hide the fact that his chest was moving up and down a little less than natural. That seemed to please Lavier, and so he smiled. “So Michael, tell me a little more about Earth.”
~*~
Anxious and with new information, Michael went straight for Aveena’s room. When he found that she wasn’t there, he panicked. Where did she go? She wouldn’t have gone back to the Zext Quarter without him again, would she? Aveena was stubborn, but she couldn’t have possibly been that stubborn.
Michael walked out onto the balcony and took in the moonlight, just now realizing that it had gotten dark. He looked over the edge in hopes of seeing her walking down below somewhere, but she wasn’t there.
“What are you doing just barging into my sister’s room like that?” Avon growled.
Michael sighed. He didn’t have time for Avon and his crap. All he wanted to do was find Aveena and make sure that she was safe. He turned around to see Avon standing right outside the curtains with his staff out and ready. “Are you going to fight me? Because you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“I should kill you where you stand,” Avon spat.
Michael threw his head back with a loud irritated sigh. His anxiety was building by the second. “What is your problem with me?”
“My problem?” Avon took a step towards him. “My problem is that I saw you the night you came to kill my sister.”
Michael froze, but retaliated by laughing. “You’re mad. I wasn’t there—”
“You were. I remember seeing you fly off on your air board when your friend was being captured. I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am.” Avon took another step towards Michael. “I know that she recognizes you. The only reason I haven’t told anyone is because for some reason, she hasn’t. You obviously mean something to her.” Hatred flickered in his eyes. “Not to mention that my uncle seems to need you for his attack on Earth.”
Michael balled his fists. He wanted to punch the kid, but refrained from doing so out of respect for his sister. Avon was only two years younger than him, but from being pampered and spoiled all his life, he still acted like a child.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about kid,” Michael chuckled. “I really need to find your sis—”
“Don’t play dumb with me you filthy Ponz,” Avon was panting. His heart rate doubled when Michael’s smile dropped and he came in so close that their noses were almost touching. Avon raised his chin, trying to act as if the sensation he felt wasn’t fear, but he wasn’t fooling anyone.
Michael shook his head with a chuckle and bumped passed Avon’s shoulder. “Come back at me when you get rid of those jitters,” he retorted. He walked out of Aveena’s room and went to the next best place that he thought she would be.
The moonlight shined down on the flowers of the garden and cast a blue and white tint to them. Whatever color they were during the day, they weren’t anymore. As soon as Michael stepped into the garden, a weight lifted off of his shoulders. He didn’t see Aveena yet, but he could feel that she was here. After his first encounter with her powers, he had memorized the energy, and this time he only felt a light wave of it. It was warm.
Michael stopped when he saw Aveena. Her back was facing him, and she was working on controlling her powers over the fountain again. He didn’t know when she finally learned how to do it, but she raised multiple droplets of water over her head and shifted them around in circles. After that, they spread out and surrounded the fountain, then danced in circles around it.
Michael couldn’t stop himself. He had been fighting the urge to touch her all last night, and then he had to be away from her for the entire day just to talk to Lavier about, at the time, what felt like irrelevant matters. The only thing that mattered was Aveena. He slowly walked up to her, and was about to just try and get her attention, but his hands did otherwise.
Aveena was flawless as usual. She had on a new change of clothes, which was just her blue skirt and top, and her hair fell in waves down her back. Even though he was used to this magnificent sight, she still looked absolutely beautiful. And that was only from her backside. He had yet to see her from the front.
Michael was right behind her now. He looked up at the dancing droplets that glistened in the moonlight, and then back down at his princess. He knew that she could feel his body heat from behind, and yet she still didn’t turn around. Was she giving him permission to touch her? All he wanted was some sort of contact.
Before he even realized it, his hands were on her. His fingertips lit up with warmth as they traveled around to her lower stomach. He moved in closer to her so that his chest was against her back and his chin was leaning over her shoulder.
Aveena shivered under his touch, but didn’t stop this. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Hell, her energy itself wanted him. She looked down at Michael’s soft hands against her. His fingers tickled her stomach as they slid down the center. Before they reached the spot where she really wanted them to go, she whipped around to look at him.
She wanted to stop herself, but for some reason she couldn’t. Tonight, she just couldn’t fight her urges. Her fingers slid up Michael’s chest, and then up the side of his neck. Her hand rested on his cheek and then up into his soft curls. Her heart fluttered when their eyes met, but then it pounded when her hands dropped and began feeling under his shirt.
Michael let Aveena explore over him. It was a turn on to see how much she wanted to touch him. His shirt raised as her hands moved over his eight pack and then over his broad chest.
“Beautiful,” Aveena whispered.
Michael licked his lips and then used his knuckle to raise her chin. He wanted her lips. He wanted more than her lips, but lips were okay to start with.
Aveena’s mouth parted for him as they moved in closer. Her knees locked to keep from falling, and her hands began to tremble. She felt a different sensation in her stomach that made her want to explore other parts of his body, and her own.
Michael’s lips were almost on hers now, but they were interrupted by none other than Aveena herself. The fountain water had shot out of the fountain, and then rained back down over them. They were both so startled that they just stared at each other. A moment later they burst out laughing.
Unfortunately, the sexual tension had evaporated and they were back to being awkward around each other. Michael had escorted Aveena back to her bedroom, where they dried off by the fire on the floor.
“You know, you have impeccable timing,” Michael sighed with a half grin.
“I had no control over that.” Aveena stared into the fire, embarrassed about the situation. She had gotten so excited that she lost control of her powers for a moment and made the fountain water explode.
“Yeah, I noticed. You made it rain on us,” he chuckled.
“Oh, please. Stop making it sound like you didn’t need a bath. I could smell you when you entered the garden.”
“Yes, but I get the feeling that you liked my smell,” Michael bounced his eyebrows.
Aveena giggled and looked down at her hands. Why did moments like these have to end?
“So, how are you feeling about everything?”
“I’m okay for the most part. I’m a little...nervous...about the seal thing, but I can handle it. It’s for the Kingdom right?” She turned her eyes to Michael’s, but snapped them back to the fire when she noticed how he was looking at her. Was that lust?
“Right. About that,” Michael ran his fingers through his hair. “Who are you...Do you know...Is there anyone—”
Aveena gave a slight smile, “You.” It was always going to be him. If only he knew that.
Michael sighed with re
lief. He couldn’t stand the thought of Aveena being with someone else. The first person that kept coming to mind was Devlin, and he would lose his mind if she picked that guy over him.
So, now to less awkward matters. “I spoke with Lavier today.” Aveena waited for him to continue. “Apparently, the plan isn’t to kill you after your seal breaks anymore.”
Aveena straightened. She knew that there had to be more to it.
Michael continued. “He plans on using you. Lavier has been training Knights so that he could take over the East. Nothing has been put into motion just yet, I’m assuming, because he’s waiting on you.”
Aveena looked away. Lavier wanted to use her power to take over the Eastern Kingdom. Like she would ever help him do that! But then, there was the situation with her brother. All Lavier had to do was threaten to take Avon’s life, and he would have her wrapped around his finger.
“Everything’s going to be alright Aveena,” Michael reassured. He reached over and rested his hand on hers. He wanted to do much more than that, but it wasn’t the right time. “I’m going to get going. All dried off.”
Aveena stood with Michael and walked him to the door.
Michael turned around to face her. They both obviously didn’t want to separate, but it was late and time for him to get to his cabin.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.”
Michael wrapped his arms around Aveena. She felt so fragile in his arms, but he knew that she wasn’t. He kissed the top of her forehead, sending chills down her spine.
Before Aveena could yank him back into her room and throw him down on her bed, he walked away. He knew what she wanted, but was conflicted with feelings. Did she want him because she had feelings for him, or did she want him because she had to want him? Ugh!
~*~
Michael awakened to the sound of a soft knock on his door. Yandel stood outside with a basket of food and clean clothes. He gazed at Michael through his black hair and almost smiled. It had been a while since he was happy to see someone.
Michael offered the boy a smile, “Good morning Yandel.”
Aveena: The City of Gold (The Black Knight duology Book 1) Page 20