Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Uhmm hey princess, I see you are very much better!” Asad scoffed, shrugging his shoulder and trying to sound as though he wasn't staring. “Hello Asad, oh yes I am, thank you for yesterday, the girls told me how you helped” Yara said with her shy smile still on and her gaze on the ground. “So I guess it's settled then,” Asad said with a smirk. Yara looked up at him, trying to figure out what was settled. “W-what don't you mean?” she replied still oblivious to what he meant. “ I didn't get an objection for calling you princess” Asad snickered. Yara’s face turned red and pink “what! Of-of course I did! You just weren't listening” she mumbled. Asad let out a chuckle, he looked over at Yara, she had gone back to watching the ground, but this time, she was making circles with her left leg.

Asad’s pov

I don't get it, Ares, how did that monster birth this innocent beauty? Why do I feel like all of this scheme with my father is just not fair, why do I have to break her? ‘Asad,’ I know Ares, I'm out of line. “Well what are you looking at?” she said looking up at me as though suspicious at my gaze. She's cute. ‘Focus Asad’. “Why are you here Asad?” she pulled her hands to her waist, there it is, the hidden curve, I have longed so much to feel... ’Focus ASAD’ Fine!. “Asad?” “Oh uhmm yes! Why I'm here.. Your uhmm Mazda” I replied gesturing to the beauty that stood behind me, Her pink beautiful face turned pinker as her mouth arched to a wide smile. “Oh, my babyyyyyyy” wait what? “Oh thank you so much, Asad, Aliana showed me a photo of what she looked like before you took her, thank you so much!” she said as she fell on my chest for a hug. I felt her hair rubbing on my chin, there it is, her subtle scent of jasmine. I curled my hands around her and felt her tiny waist, she came closer to me and held on to me tighter. “Thank you” she whispered again. We stayed in that position for what felt like forever, but I got no care in the world right now, it felt right. She feels right.

“I didn't know you had company” our moment was cut short. By a rather frightening voice. We turned around to reveal, him, Basit Makhthum, in a white thawb and a white and black turban. “B...Baba” she stammered. “Oh uhmm, this is Asad, my friend from school” He looked at me with so much suspicion as though he could see right through me. “Hello Asad, my guess is you are not from around here” he paused “I'm afraid I didn't catch your family name” “oh! Sorry father, his name is Asad m...” “yes! I'm not from around here” I caught Yara short “I'm an exchange student at Al hilal, I'm from Egypt!.” I am not about to blow my cover, telling this Man my family name might cause more suspicion. “Oh Egypt,” he smiled. “As a child, we would visit Alexandria with two of my best friends for the summer.” he turned to Yara “your great aunt Nadia lives there”. Wait! I have a great aunt Nadia that lives in Alexandria, I don't get it. “Oh yeah. I miss her, you never let me go to Egypt to see her..” “Amira!” he said as though trying to say ‘this is not the time to bring this up.’ Yara snapped right back from talking about it. So she can be called Amira, but I can't call her princess? Come on pretty cakes. “How about you give Asad a tour of the Castle, it's sunny out here, you shouldn't leave your visitor out in the sun” he smiled, “yes, but Asad was leaving...” “oh nonsense! I would love a tour” I cut her off again. She keeps saying the wrong things. Basit smiled gestured towards his daughter and hugged her, “I will be home in time for dinner, I have some business to handle” Yara made to talk and he interrupts her “I will fill you in when I get home”. They both smiled. “And uhmm Asad, do enjoy the castle’s view” he shook my hand with a sincere smile and walked off. I couldn't help but think how a man who seemed so chill could do so many horrible things to so many people. “Okay! I didn't think you'd stay here for longer, I uhmm thought you and Zev had plans? He had mentioned yesterday ” oh! Zev, I had forgotten completely! “Oh! Uhmm h..he called to cancel” I lied, I don't want to miss an opportunity of touring this castle and getting more acquainted with pretty cakes. ‘Keep your enemies closer. She smiled and “well let's get this tour started!” she dragged my hand off my pockets and led me into the magnificent white and gold castle. Elite.

Asad’s pov end.

Yara looked over at Asad, she has been doing so since the tour started. Asad was concentrating so much on a painting of Basit’s hung up. They are at the Hall of Alphas, He had shown great interest in the family’s history since the beginning of the tour. Yara hoped it was because he was interested in knowing her better. Her lips curved to reveal the finest smile, she was smiling at her thoughts. “Is this painting by ibn Laz?” Asad asked with curiosity and interest written all over his face. Yara smiled, “yes it is, are you a fan of his works?” “to call me a fan is an understatement I am a loyal... “Disciple,” they both announced. The echo of their laughter ran through the halls. Yara had ticked off an invisible thought from her list of why she should be with Asad Malik, we both love ibn Laz she thought.

Asad might have been looking at that painting because he was interested in the work of the artist, but there include the real reason he was looking at that piece so seriously. It was Basit Makhthum and a grey gigantic wolf at the foot of his chair. He had an unexplainable feeling of anger when he saw him. And all that went through his mind was what it would feel like to have ended the infatuation with Yara and Have Basit Makhthum’s head as a price, he smiled, but not his sweet smirk of warmth smile, he had on a smile of mischief. “Oh! they all had to separate from their wolves to get this painting made.” Yara said gesturing at the paintings of her forefathers on the wall. “Oh” Asad simply replied.

They had gone through almost half of the castle, they were standing in the throne room. In front of them were three decorated chairs. Asad quickly understood it was meant for papa Makhthum, mama Makhthum, and baby Makhthum. “And here, is the throne room,” Yara said swinging herself around the graciously big space joyfully. She's been enjoying the time with Asad. “In here is where the magic happens, corporations, town hall meetings, and this,” she smiled “will be the venue for my birthday. And my shifting ceremony” Asad looked at her... “Shifting ceremony?” he was confused. “Aren't Royals born with the gift of shifting from birth?” Yara smiled at his cluelessness. “When I was born my parents opted for my shifting to come later, my eighteenth birthday. They said it was because they wanted me to experience the freedom of self... Whatever that means” Asad's gave went blank. He never thoughts one could do that. “I mean if a werefolk can choose from age 1-18 when to shift then it's okay that I am allowed to not have to shift at birth,” she said smiling after she had read Asad’s confused state. “Yes, I guess you are right”, he replied with a strange awkward smile. “So did you bring me here to formally invite me to your eighteenth? Pretty cakes?” Yara looked at him bewildered by his choice of names. Who said he can call me pretty cakes? What is that?! She turned her head in disgust and muttered “no”. Asad was right, she had brought him to the throne room to invite him to her birthday, but his choice of name put her off. Maybe he is still that jerk after all. She thought. He glanced at her as she turned away from him. He had a sudden urge to grab her and he went for it. He grabbed her wrist to stop her from walking further away and twirled her towards him, her yellow maxi dress gas the most dramatic Cinderella effect which made them look like they were in a scene from an old 50’s romcom. She twirled into his arms and then curved to his chest. They were again, so close to each other now. He held her firmly by the waist and pulled her closer while he brushed off the hair covering her eyes. He looked at her with so much intensity and whispered close to her face “are you sure?” she started to struggle to get out of his grip. “Yes!” she grunted. “It is just a tour!” she added, still struggling. She looked him straight in the eye and just like that, like a tamed lion, she stopped trying to get out of his grip. She went closer to him as though she was attracted by some kind of a magnet. “It is just a tour” she whispered biting her lips. He pulled her to him and started to kiss her, he felt as her soft lips parted away from each other and joined with his., they held on to their grips with their eyes closed, and again, Yara felt that feeling like it was only them in the room. But this time, it was.

The duo seemed to have grown closer after the kiss, they had their hands knotted together as they walked to the main house. Asad had decided to stay for lunch. As they made their way to the entrance, Asad paused, as he had remembered the other reason he had come to see her earlier. “Uhmm hey,” he said as he halted right before the entrance. There's something I need to talk to you about. Yara’s feet had turned stiff. And as she had expected he said “ when I called reena to check up on you earlier, she had said you spoke about seeing a woman in front of you?” Yara stiffened completely she was hoping he didn't hear any of that she had started believing she hit her head “oh Uhm.. No uhmm I didn't see such! Uhmm reena probably said that because she had too much to drink” she lied. Asad’s face fell in disappointment, he had hoped she would tell him about it and they could share their thoughts to understand why the witch came on to them. But in hopes of hiding his disappointment, he replied “oh”. She picked up immediately on his awkward reply and went on to ask “ uhmm why did you ask? Is there something you want to tell me?” Asad was disappointed that she had lied. He wasn't expecting to get her first immediately but he had thought the moment they shared at the throne room would have smoothened them out a little. “Oh, no” he replied.