Forbidden Lovers

To You and Me

One week.

One week and Evelyn had never once stepped foot outside of her room. And it was alright, it was not like she had missed the rest of the palace or people who lived in it one bit. The only people she cared about besides her mate were the princes and the princess, and they had visited her in her room everyday.

Nonetheless, despite how much they had asked and demanded to know, she never told them what took place between her and her father. And she wouldn't. Because of so many reasons, because she didn't want to hurt them, but mostly because deep down she was scared they weren't going to believe her; that she would end up alone. Evelyn had never been frightened of loneliness before, but in this foreign place that'd never feel like home, being lonely, or abandoned, was terrifying.

But the strangest of the things was the fact that her husband hadn't once stepped foot inside her room. Now that her powers were suppressed, she believed he'd try his best to show her he had her now, that he could do everything he desired with her and she could do nothing about it. However, Robert had kept silent. And she didn't know if she had to be relieved or anxious because of this silence.

It was a beautiful morning, the sun shining and the birds singing outside of her room when Evelyn decided to put an end to all this hiding from the rest of the world. This wasn't like Evelyn; she didn't hide, she was a fighter. And she'd fight even without her magic powers if it was necessary.

Right now though? Right now she didn't want to fight, right now she wanted peace. Just a little bit of peace and a day out of this hellhole.

Firstly, she took a long relaxing bubbly bath, mostly so she could take Arthmael's scent off her body, who had sneaked inside Evelyn's room and slept with her every night just because she couldn't seem to fall asleep without him anymore. A shy smile spread up on her face at the reminder; at the way he held her every night, the way he put her needs and her feelings above the fact that they could literally get caught, and that would be a catastrophe.

Putting an old, grey dress on and a lilac cape above it, Evelyn tried sneaking out of her room and out of the palace without being seen. Maybe she'd be lucky, maybe no one would see her...

Only that King Robert happened to be right in front of her, his eyes narrowed at her outfit, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. "Look who I mistook for a maid here. My own beautiful wife has decided to finally step foot outside of her room. We must throw her a ball."

Evelyn made a great show of rolling her eyes. "Get out of my way, Robert," she hissed.

"I see not even suppressing your powers stops that sharp tongue of yours, am I right?"

It took Evelyn a second or two to stop herself from trying to pull his eyes out with her nails only. "This," She gripped the golden collar she so much hated. "This won't last forever, Robert, I promise. When I get this off my neck I'll make you regret you even put it on here."

Robert laughed in an obvious sarcastic way. "Oh, how I love it when you threaten me. It makes this all more fun."

Calm down, Evelyn. Just calm down, she told herself over and over again. "The fun hasn't began yet. Now, get out of my way."

Robert gripped her forearm right when she was about to move past him. "You don't think I'll leave you alone out there, do you? How many times do I have to tell you that I need you, ideally alive, for my own plans of course." He gave a casual shrug, letting her know that there was absolutely no other reason that he needed her alive but that. "Which means you'll get guards with you."

"Never," she spat. "I'm going alone and you can't stop me―"

"Arthmael, right in time." Her gaze snapped to where Robert was looking, being welcomed by a clearly mad Arthmael that was looking at the hand that had grabbed her like he wanted to burn it with his eyes only. "The Queen wants to get out in town today and I want you to accompany her."

Arthmael's black eyes almost shone too brightly.

"That's really not necessary, I'm sure Arthmael has work to do―"

"I'll gladly take her Grace out, my King."

Evelyn almost swore under her breath if she didn't know better than that. A whole day alone with Arthmael wasn't good. Actually, it was so so bad.

"Then it's done. I want her back before sunset." Robert spoke to Arthmael as if she wasn't even here. "And I don't think it's necessary for me to tell you to protect her, it seems you like to do that job more than I do."

A shiver ran down Evelyn's spine. She didn't know what had taken place that night, but it had obviously put a distance between them, that maybe, it was never going to close again.

"You shouldn't have," she whispered as soon as they were out of the castle. "You should've found an excuse, anything."

He arched a brow, a smirk appearing in his face that she wanted to slap and kiss away at the same time. "Why? You're scared you are not going to resist my charms all day long?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes, acting annoyed which she wasn't one bit. "I didn't take you for the flirty type." She smiled, teasingly, and it was so beautiful to Arthmael to finally see her smile.

"Didn't you?" He gave a lazy smile that weakened her knees instantly. "Then for what type did you take me, Evelyn?"

Acting as she was deep in thoughts made him smile even more. "I don't know, the grumpy type?"

Arthmael threw his head back and laughed. It was probably the first time Evelyn had seen him laugh so much, it swelled her heart with happiness. 

"Grumpy type, huh?" He teased.

"Uhm, I don't know. Maybe grumpy type with a hero complex that can be a little sweet when he wants to."

The grin on his face only grew bigger. "A little?" He whispered, making her nod once. "I didn't take you for the funny type either."

"Ouch, that hurt." She put her hand on her chest, acting offended. The truth was she hadn't had much in life to let her be the funny type, but today all she wanted to be was happy. Only happy.

The road to the town wasn't as long as she imagined it to be, or maybe it was that she was with Arthmael. 

Probably the last.

A gasp escaped her lips when she looked around. The town was nothing like her hometown, yet it was still beautiful in its own way.

"It's pretty," she said more to herself than him.

"You're pretty."

Her eyes found his and she could almost see her reflection in those pools of black. And in his eyes, she felt pretty. Maybe prettier than she had felt in the most extravagant of gowns, fanciest of jewels. In just a lilac colored cape than hid her body and her hair, she felt pretty, just by the way her kept looking at her.

"I'm starving," she said instead, making him give that usual lazy smile. She was cute when she was shy; even more when she tried to hide it.

"I have the best idea," he said.

"Which is?"

"Street food."

She blinked several times. If someone would tell her just some months ago she'd eat street food in a werewolf town she'd have laughed in their face. However now, with him, it sounded nice. Even more than nice, actually. "As long as there's no meat." She shrugged.

Screw their healthy diets, table etiquette and everything else, street food was amazing, Evelyn couldn't get enough of it. And Arthmael couldn't get enough of her smiling carefreely and talking the whole time and walking around as if she wasn't a royal who had spent her whole life inside palaces, surrounded by maids.

"I'm guessing you're liking the day so far," he stated, actually knowing the answer to that, but wanting to hear it from her mouth instead. Something of the fact that he was part of her happiness made him proud.

"Liking it? I'm loving it! Honestly I'd love anywhere if I was with you..." she trailed off, realizing she had talked too much with the way the tension grew in the air. She always did this, saying things she wasn't supposed to.

Arthmael tried hiding his smile but it was practically impossible, not when she awkwardly looked down on her hands, her cheeks taking a rosy color. She was just adorable. "Come, I'm taking you somewhere else."

"Where?" She asked, curious.

"It's a surprise."

She pouted and only now he was reminded she was just a twenty year old girl. "You could give me a hint... please." She made some doe eyes and he almost gave in.

"Nope." He shook his head stubbornly. "A surprise it's a surprise."

Evelyn groaned. "You're no fun, Arthmael."

"Believe me, little mate, I am."

Only when they were in front of a literal third-class party Evelyn understood what Arthmael meant when he said he was indeed fun. It was wild. Wild and mind blowing and nothing like the royal balls she was used to being in all her life.

"Arthmael..."

"You take that back, don't you?" He winked, running his hand through his darkest shoulder-length hair.

Evelyn couldn't swallow down the shock at seeing people dancing to some loud crazy music, drinking that big amount of beer and having that much physical contact. "Oh, definitely."

Arthmael suddenly took her hand in his, filling the gaps between her fingers with his fingers and sparks shoot through her body, dragging her inside until they reached what seemed like a bar.

"Arthmael."

He laughed at the fact that wasn't scared to face people like King Robert but she was intimidated by a little party.

"Do you trust me?"

She nodded immediately. "I do." And she did. More than she had ever trusted someone in her life.

Arthmael handed her a glass of beer. "Then be happy with me today. Only with me, let's make this our day. Let's dance and drink together and forget everything else but you and me."

Evelyn was so happy, tears filled up her eyes. And until now, she didn't know someone could cry out of happiness; let alone cry out of just some words someone could say to her. But he was Arthmael. He wasn't just someone, he was her beautiful, grumpy but sweet mate.

She raised the glass of beer, all the while looking at his eyes with so much love. "To you and me."

Arthmael smiled to her, warmly. "To you and me."