The Shadow Twin

Chapter 6 - Meeting the Beta

I was standing next to Kaylen as she were introducing me to some Lord and Lady of importance, when someone grabbed my waist. I was then lifted up in the air and twirled around, while my back was pressed against the persons hard chest.

“Put her down now Rylee!” Kaylen’s voice where commanding, but the guy, Rylee twirled me around a couple more times before he sat me down.

“I’m just thrilled to finally meet my sister-in-law.” The guy then hugged me tight, before I was able to actual see his face.

“To tight…” He let go of me the second the words left my mouth and Kaylen dragged me behind her. He then extended his hand to me.

“I’m Rylee, Kayden and Kaylen’s older brother.” He gave me a huge smile, that made his eyes sparkle. He looked a lot like Kayden, his facial features where just a bit older, a bit more mature and his hair a dark brown and not black. And then there was a wicked twinkle to his eyes that told me, he knew he where good looking and were using that to his advantage, as in he loved spending time with females and doing more than just talking.

“Nice to meet you Rylee. I’m Leigh.” I reached around Kaylen and pressed my hand in his. He turned our hands around, brought it to his lips and kissed the back of my hand, while giving me a small bow.

“The pleasure is all mine Crown Princess.” The smile he then sent me where the kind that would turn a female’s legs into gello, just not me. I had my hands full with Kayden’s tantrums already, to let his brother sway me. I just smiled back and gave a small curtsy, before pulling my hand out of his.

“If you would excuse me, I need a minute.” With that I made my way through the crowds towards one of the doors leading outside.

“Look what you did your moron.” I didn’t hear Rylee’s answer to Kaylen comment, but I’m sure he was telling her that it wasn’t his fault I left or something like that. I stepped into the night and goosebumps erupted on my skin the second I where no longer in the warmth of the room. Not caring that I was freezing I ventured out into the garden, there were dimly lit. The garden had not been part of Kaylen’s tour of the grounds, and I had been dying to check it out since I got here. I loved being outside and since this was my home now, I needed to find a safe haven here. Somewhere I could hide from Kayden when he was being too much of an asshole. The pebbles changed into grass, and I grabbed hold of the light pole nearby to take my shoes of with the other hand. I smiled as my feet touch the cold grass and started walking further into the garden, which where even more poorly lit than the part I just walked though, so I didn’t venture to far away from the light.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.” I jumped at the sudden voice and held up one of my shoes as a weapon, with the heel pointing towards the person speaking. The man, that where build as a mountain, smiled down at me.

“I’m not going to hurt you Crown Princess, but I am going to escort you back inside. It’s not safe out here by yourself.” He made a gesture towards the well-lit building, that looked rather spooky out here in the dark and it were so far away. I hadn’t even realized that I had walked that far away. I didn’t mean to, but I lost myself in the feeling of being outside and not in there, where people were staring at me.

“Can I please stay outside just a couple more minutes? I’m not ready to go back inside yet.” He gave me a small smile as he bowed.

“As you wish Crown Princess, but I’m staying by your side.” I nodded and started walking through the grass, but I didn’t go further away from the building. I was kind of circling it instead.

“What’s your name and are you a guest or part of the staff?” I looked up at the guy, who had his arms locked behind his back. He where defiantly a guard or something like that with that posture.

“Deryn and I’m the Crown Princes’ righthand man. So, I’m both a guest and part of the staff I guess.” He looked down at me for a second before he went back to survey the dark around us.

“So why are you not inside partying with the rest if you are a guest as well?” He looked down at me again for a split-second.

“Why are you not inside? The party is for you after all.” I sighed and slumped my shoulders.

“I hate parties even though this I the first I’m attending. I don’t feel comfortable in huge crowds to be truthful.” He gave me a look, telling me that he didn’t expect that answer.

“This is your first party?” He asked questionably and I nodded.

“Aimil didn’t want me attending any of the parties back home. She said I made people uncomfortable because of my scar or something like that. I stopped paying attention when she would talk smack about me. I had already heard it more than once.” I felt his eyes roaming over my body as to spot my scar, so I stopped and turned my left side to him. I pushed my hair back and angled my head with the light, so that he could see it.

“I wouldn’t have notice if you hadn’t showed me. Scares isn’t really a big deal here. Even the princess has one.” I nodded as I were turning around and started walking again. Despite not knowing this man, I felt like I could trust him. Which where the reason I had told him the truth. It was weird though, that I felt like I could trust someone I didn’t know, but my cut told me that I could, so I did.

“I know. She showed me when I first saw her. She told me to not hide it away, but it’s a habit having it partly hidden, so people don’t notice it.” We walked a bit further ahead in silence.

“Can I ask you something? Something personal?” I asked and stopped to looked up at him.

“Sure.” He told me, as he looked around and then took a step closer to me.

“Are you happy here?” I looked at him for a second, to guard his reaction before deciding to be truthful with him yet again and, because I got the feeling he would know if I were to lie.

“I haven’t been here long, but I saw my so-called husband making out with someone on my weeding day and he is treats me like crap, but I just don’t know what I did wrong. I didn’t ask to marry him. I where just as much forced to marry him as he were forced to marry me. I’m fine with the side-chick, but I’m not okay with the way he treats me... His parents and sister seem nice though. I haven’t made up my mind about Rylee and I’m yet to meet the last sibling. The maids or the one I have meet are nice as well and the same goes for you, Righthand man. I haven’t gotten used to be called Crown Princess, but I’m sure it will happen sooner or later. Si I just wondered how others felt about living here?” I gave him a small smile, which he didn’t return, and I started walking again. He grabbed my arm and thereby forced me to stop. He then tensed up and looked around wary.

“You need to get inside now.” He looked around once more and then looked down at me again.

“Somethings wrong, so you need to get inside now.” He told me again, which made me slowly nodded and I turned around to head back inside. He looked worried, so I wasn’t going to argue with him over this.