A Lover and A Liar

Don't Die, Witch

"Hmm, where could the little Prince be?" Alina tapped her index finger on her chin, acting as if she couldn't find him. But his heavy breathing gave him away instantly, she only wanted him to believe she didn't know where he was hiding.

Luis giggled when Alina finally moved the closet using her magic, finding him hidden behind it. She ran to him and started tickling his tummy with her fingers as he squealed and laughed on the floor, until tears of joy ran from his eyes.

Alina stopped, and suddenly wrapped her arm around his tiny body, surprising little Luis who stopped laughing too.

"Alina, I cannot breathe," he said, but hugged her right back with as much strength as he could.

If there was something, something so pure and innocent in this twisted castle, it was Luis. And she had to thank him and his company for being able to go through the past few days, when she barely even saw her mate, almost never looked him in the eye, and found no way to make things better for him. To stop his enemies.

If there had been a chance for Alina to gain his trust so she could tell him the truth, it was gone the second Julian had said he wouldn't put a random witch's words above his own family's. And that he wasn't going to let her mess up with his head anymore. That she was dangerous to him.

So the only one who genuinely liked her in this castle was little Luis. The only one that brought her food on her room when she refused to leave, too focused on her unsuccessful spells and too afraid to face Julian again, after she had kissed him and he hadn't even moved his lips to kiss her back; the only one that brought a smile to her face, however small and sad it was, and the only one who brought a little joy to her days as they played hide and seek around the castle together.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to give you a hug." She smiled sheepishly, and the smile on his face that mirrored hers was even bigger. He was such a smaller version of Julian, it almost brought tears to her face.

If only his older brother loved her and trusted her half as much as Luis did, things would be much easier for both of them. But instead he thought she was a worthless witch who loved to fool him around only to leave him for a wizard that did not exist to begin with. If that wouldn't break her heart that much, Alina would have laughed at how oblivious he was.

"I like hugging you too," little Luis admitted. "You're sweet and funny and I wished you could stay here with us forever." The smile on his face was fast replaced with small, sad pout, and with some big green eyes that would break a thousands of ladies hearts as soon as he was a grown man. "I wished you were Julian's mate."

Alina's eyes widened in shock. "But, Luis―"

"No," he cut her off, still pouting. "He needs someone like you, not her! She makes him feel alone. I hate to see him unhappy, he isn't happy with her."

How was it possible for a nine-year-old kid to be smarter than half the people that lived here?

"There are things you do not understand, little man." Alina tousled his hair affectionately.

His shoulders fell in defeat, and he didn't say a thing more. He stood up and instead, and got ready to leave. "I'll take part in the Council Meeting today!" The smile was back on his face. "Julian says there will be no meeting without the Prince in it."

She couldn't help but smile. "And he's absolutely right."

Luis became serious once more. "Julian says that if something happens to him, I should be prepared. I'm the only heir that can take over the throne."

Panic gripped her senses immediately as millions of scenarios that kept her awake at night rushed through her head all at once. "No!" Alina suddenly said, tears threatening to spill down her face as she felt her heart race quickening. "Nothing will happen to him. I'll never allow it. I'll never let any harm come to him!"

Luis tilted his head in one side. "Why?" he simply asked, but the answer to that could never be that simple.

"Because..." she hesitated, "I care about your brother, Luis. A lot."

For her surprise, he grinned. "I know, Alina," was the only thing Luis said, before he left her in the middle of the room, confused.

Of course he knew. The only one that didn't know that was Julian.

Sighing, she opened the door, attempting to leave to her own chambers, but she stopped abruptly as soon as she saw a big man in front of her.

Alina could feel the blood leaving her body as she studied the expression on his face and the realization in his eyes.

"Maximus..."

"Is the King your mate?" he asked, as bluntly as ever.

She swallowed her saliva, closing her eyes once so he wouldn't read the truth in them. "What kind of question is that? Of course not," she lied, but didn't sound convincing to her own ears.

"Do not lie to me, witch!" Maximus growled lowly. "I heard you."

Her hands had started to tremble and so had her body. No, this couldn't be the end. Not when Alina hadn't done much to bring an end to all this madness for her mate, and reverse whatever she had put him through.

"Max," she whispered his name desperately. "You cannot do this. Please, don't tell Vincent. Please," she begged.

He turned his hard face on one side, refusing to meet her pleading eyes.

"You don't want to do this," Alina said, something she was aware of. "You aren't cruel. I know you."

"You. Do. Not. Know. Me," he gritted, his jaw tight with anger and what she thought was uncertainty.

"I think I do." Alina took his hand in her much smaller ones, but he pushed them away as if she had burned him.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me. Witch."

She felt anger burst inside of her all of the sudden, finding some courage she didn't know she could have when hers ans her mate's life was slipping right through her fingers at the very right moment. "All right then!" Her voice rose. "If you want to tell him, go ahead. If you want to see me dead, go ahead, tell him."

His lips thinned even more, and for a second Alina thought the idea of her dying pained him.

But the idea of him telling Vincent pained her too. Not only because she would most probably be killed, in the worst way possible, but because she would feel somehow betrayed too. And it was strange to feel betrayed by someone you knew that worked for your enemy.

Tears filled up her eyes before she was able to blink them back properly. "There are many things I regret in my life, Max. But falling in love with my mate and trying to protect him isn't one of them." Alina realized Maximus was the first one she had openly talked to about Julian, and somehow, for the first time it made it feel more real. Like it wasn't in her head and in her heart only. If she died, at least there would be someone that knew the truth. "So don't worry, I'll not use any spell upon you. If this is my end, then so be it."

She moved past him, but in the last second, a grip in her forearm stopped her. "Alina," Maximus said, for the first time calling her by her name. "I don't want the King to die," he finally admitted. "But mostly, I don't want you to die. There is no use for a spell. I will not betray you."

Only then, Alina breathed. And it was a deep breath she hadn't taken in awhile. She took his hand in his once more, and this time he didn't push her away. And there was no doubt he was telling the truth. Her magic could feel the truth just from holding the palm of his hand. It was a magic trick her grandmother had taught her. 

"Thank you," Alina told him. "One day I will repay you for this."

Maximus shook his head. "There is no need. Just don't die, witch," he sighed. "Don't let my Master kill you."