Chapter 25

The days that followed were filled with training and powers. Arline still drifted away every now and then but Merrick pulled her out of her own thoughts whenever he saw her eyes darken.

And what surprised him the most was when he tried to read her mind, there was nothing for him to see. It was either entirely empty or blocked for anyone to enter.

They could be themselves in the War Room, while she rested next to him and he read, signed and debated. All while holding a quill on his right hand and Arline’s hand on his left one.

She was reading a map with different combat positions of battalions, when she decided to lift her head. Her eyes focused on a corner of the room where Larsin’s ghost was caged against a wall by Merrick’s wolves.

“He is here,” Arline whispered for him, while she tried focusing back on the map.

A quick scan to where the hounds were growling was all it took for him to grab her and seat her on his lap. “Ignore him,” Merrick whispered in her ear and then kissed her cheek.

He continued his labor with a serious temple. And when Arline finished with the map, her head peaked at the papers with curiosity. When he noticed her reading them, Merrick stopped. Laid the quill down and placed her properly on his lap, accommodating her body on his thighs.

“Anything interesting?” He inquired with a smile.

She only nodded and continued reading. Her eyes travelled through the lines and sentences and passed to the next page. “I didn’t know you enjoyed architectural paperwork.”

Arline snorted. “Prick,” she whispered and kissed him quickly and went back to reading.

“You have never been less interested in kissing me than now,” he said surprised. “What kind of kiss is that?” He asked her nibbling on the skin of her jawline. His hands were sliding down her waist to her hips and then he began stroking her thighs.

“You despise not having my attention, do you?”

“I have to fight for you attention with a book and I know I lost.”

Merrick began brushing and braiding her hair, and kissed her neck every time he could. “Why do I feel the need to be with you all the time?” She asked in a whisper as he breathed right on the skin of her nape.

“Do you mean in bed with me?” She elbowed him but nodded with a smile. “Power translates differently for everyone. It amplifies everything you feel.”

“How it translated for you?”

“Pain and loads of anger. I was nine so I didn’t know better than that. I trained it out of me for six months until I could sleep an entire night,” he confessed holding her hands. “I prefer this if I’m being fair.”

Arline chuckled at him and sighed. “Not here.”

“Not here, my love,” Merrick reassured her and stopped teasing her, regaining control of himself and continued his duty as King, with the Heir still on his lap.

While Larsin was trying not to succumb to the fear the hounds were imposing on him, he saw everything play out in front of his eyes. He was disgusted by how his brother treated Arline, such tenderness and love displayed made his mouth to twist. But his eyes showed envy and jealousy at how the Heir smiled at the Dark Prince.

Arline quickly fell asleep and her body moved up and down slowly, while Merrick stayed awake by her side. “Do you know the concept of privacy, Larsin?” Merrick’s eyes drifted to a corner of the room.

Larsin looked disturbed at his brother’s knowledge of his presence but Merrick only fixated on him with hardened eyes.

“Merrick I-” he sounded scared like a little boy.

“Leave her alone… leave us alone, Larsin. You lost, I’m not to blame for what you did.”

“You said you didn’t-”

“She chose me. Don’t act like a child,” Merrick’s tone wanted silence and order. He dared his little brother to defy him. The King was fighting a ghost. “I earned her trust and love. You had it from the beginning and decided to try and kill her.”

“Why did you hate me so much?” Larsin asked slowly.

“Merlina created a rivalry between us on purpose. I wasn’t going to let you be better than me and give that woman the satisfaction.”

“She is your mother.”

“Was. And tried to kill me since I was born,” he sighed and Arline turned around, snuggling on his chest. “What information did you sell to Alaric?”

The Young Prince stayed silent, staring at Arline and stumbled over his words. “Only- only the little bits I heard in the meeting I attended and whatever I knew about Ar- her.” Larsin couldn’t say her name. He might taunt her everyday, whispering it on her ear. But saying Arline’s name to Merrick was like a second death sentence. His older brother would make sure his eternity was hell.

“Leave and never return. You owe her that much,” Merrick ordered him and Arline whispered the King’s name in her sleep. Merrick caressed her soft features. “I will never forgive what you did to her.”

Larsin seemed shocked at that confession and asked. “Not what I did to you?”

“Your betrayal was expected. But how you poisoned her made her doubt herself in every way, it still affects her today.”

They both stayed silent for a while until Larsin sat down on Merrick’s eye level. “Be careful,” he then put his hands on his pockets and dropped his gaze. “They will come after both of you. But she is their new enemy now, Ruang Sak despises her and will make sure she suffers for existing.” Larsin warned his brother, probably the only time he had helped him ever. “You know what to do if you need me.”

Merrick nodded at him and Larsin took one last look at Arline, turned around and left. He disintegrated into mist and left the King to rest.