Forbidden Royalty

Chapter 3: Whispers of Desire

The palace felt different after that night. Every corridor Amira walked through seemed to hum with the memory of the princes' gazes. Jacob’s voice still lingered in her mind, his words laced with amusement yet carrying an undeniable edge of possession. Jayden’s touch on her hand had been fleeting but intentional, as if testing her reaction. And Jordan—Jordan’s silent, piercing stare had unsettled her in a way she couldn’t explain.

She tried to shake it off. She was a maid, a servant. She had no right to dwell on their words, their touches, the tension between them. The palace had strict rules—unwritten laws that bound people like her to their place.

And yet, her body betrayed her, heating at the mere thought of them.

Even as she went about her duties—scrubbing the grand halls, polishing silver, and ensuring that everything was in perfect order for the royal family—her mind refused to let go of what had transpired. The way they had looked at her wasn’t a mere passing amusement. It was something deeper, something more dangerous.

But that was ridiculous. Wasn’t it?

---

Amira was changing the linens in one of the guest rooms when Laila, one of the senior maids, appeared in the doorway.

"You’ve been distracted all morning," Laila observed, arms crossed. "Something happened last night, didn’t it?"

Amira’s hands stilled for a moment before she continued smoothing out the sheets. "Of course not. It was just… overwhelming, being in such a grand setting."

Laila gave her a knowing look. "Be careful. The palace is not kind to those who step out of place."

Amira swallowed. She knew Laila meant well, but the warning sent a cold shiver down her spine.

If only it were that simple.

---

That afternoon, as she carried fresh linens through the corridors, a voice stopped her.

"You’re avoiding us, Amira."

Her breath hitched.

Jayden leaned lazily against a marble pillar, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. The afternoon sunlight streaming through the palace windows highlighted his sharp features, making him look even more devilish than usual.

Amira quickly lowered her gaze. "Your Highness, I—"

"Jayden," he corrected, pushing off the pillar and stepping closer. "No need for formalities when it’s just us."

She hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I wouldn’t dare—"

"You dare plenty," Jayden interrupted, his smirk deepening. "That’s why we find you so intriguing."

"We?" she echoed, confused.

Before Jayden could answer, a familiar voice joined in from behind.

"Yes, we."

Amira turned, her pulse spiking.

Jacob approached with his usual confidence, a slow smirk playing on his lips. Beside him was Jordan, his presence quieter but just as intense, his dark eyes locked onto hers with unnerving focus.

Amira felt suddenly small beneath their gazes.

Jacob tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I don’t think we’ve properly thanked you for entertaining us last night."

"Entertaining?" she stammered.

Jordan’s voice was quiet, controlled. "You intrigue us, Amira. We don’t know why yet, but we intend to find out."

A lump formed in her throat. Her fingers tightened around the sheets in her arms as she willed her heartbeat to slow.

"You shouldn’t speak to me like this," she said, keeping her voice steady. "It’s dangerous."

Jayden chuckled, taking a step closer. "Dangerous for whom?"

"For all of us," she answered, feeling heat creep up her neck.

Jacob’s smirk softened slightly, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. "Perhaps. But we’ve never been ones to follow the rules."

Jordan didn’t speak, but the weight of his stare was enough to make Amira feel as though he was seeing straight through her.

Jayden reached out, his fingers ghosting over her wrist. "Tell us the truth… do we scare you?"

Yes. No. Both.

"I…" Amira took a shaky breath. "I don’t know what this is."

Jacob leaned in slightly, his lips inches from her ear. "Neither do we. But we know one thing… we don’t want to stop."

The air between them thickened, crackling with an intensity that made her body shiver. The way they looked at her, the way their bodies seemed to close in around her—it was overwhelming.

Jordan’s fingers trailed lightly over her forearm, sending shivers down her spine. "You don’t have to run, Amira."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She was standing on the edge of something dangerous—something thrilling.

And yet, she didn’t step away.

---

The moment stretched, silent and charged. Amira felt trapped beneath their gazes, not in fear, but in something deeper—an attraction she couldn't deny.

Jayden’s fingers ghosted over her wrist, his touch featherlight but burning like fire. “You’re not running,” he murmured, his voice thick with amusement.

Amira inhaled sharply. “I should.”

Jacob smirked, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. The gesture was intimate, lingering. “But you won’t.”

Jordan’s stare was the heaviest of them all, his dark eyes searching her face as if reading her every thought. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t know what I feel.”

Jacob’s lips curled at her response, his gaze dropping to her mouth. “We can help with that.”

The promise in his words sent a shiver through her. It wasn’t just flirtation—it was something else, something more dangerous.

Amira’s head spun. This was madness. She was a maid; they were royalty. This shouldn’t be happening.

"I have work to do," she whispered, her voice unsteady.

Jacob chuckled. "Always running, little dove."

Jayden took a step back, letting her go, but his gaze promised that this wouldn’t be the last time. Jordan, however, remained still, watching her as if he could see straight into her soul.

Amira turned and walked away, her pulse hammering in her ears.

But she knew one thing for certain—this was just the beginning.