My Dear Savior

Episode 15

My cheeks burned again, and I glanced away from him.

“Oh gods,” I muttered as I noticed how the sky outside was beginning to darken. I jumped up and walked quickly over to the door.

“What is it?” He asked, immediately tensing for an intruder.

“I didn’t realize how late it was getting, and I need to check the traps.” I quickly donned my cloak and pulled back my now-dry hair into a low bun. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I flung open the door to be greeted by very deep snow. Some of it fell onto my boots, making my toes cold and wet once again. I groaned loudly and shook them off.

“Looks like you won’t be going anywhere for the next day or so.” Zane commented as he peered over my shoulder. When I turned to see if he was laughing at me, his face was suspiciously bright and tense.

“Fine.” I said curtly as I removed my cloak again. “Leftovers it is. And I need to check your bandage after we eat.”

I managed to scrape together a decent meal for us, which was lucky because Zane’s appetite had returned full force now that he was feeling more like himself. The silence felt awkward on my side because I wasn’t sure where we stood after the kiss. No boy had ever shown interest in me like that before, so I didn’t know what to do or say.

“Tell me about your family.” I said abruptly.

He glanced up at me from his food suspiciously. “Why?”

“I’m just curious. I won’t tell anyone for obvious reasons.” I motioned around with my spoon as if those reasons should be obvious to him. Since our people’s were mortal enemies, I understood his reservations but I was sure he would understand why I would never tell a soul about the things I shouldn’t know.

“Well, I have many siblings, though most of them are illegitimate like you.” He grinned at me endearingly. “My father is as generous in his affections as most of the men among my people are. With a war such as ours, a king can never create enough sons.”

“Doesn’t your mother get jealous?” I interjected.

“No, this is nothing unusual to us.”

I thought about what my mother had said when I asked her why we had to live so far away from my father and Dae. I hadn’t understood at the time that Dae and I were vastly different though we shared the same royal bloodline and haunting eyes. According to my mother, Dae’s mother had ordered us to be banished from the palace after my mother became pregnant with me because of jealousy and fear. She was worried I would be a boy and could potentially oust Dae’s rightful place as heir since our father loved my mother far more than he loved his rightful wife and queen.  

When I noticed that the silence had stretched on and Zane was looking at me, I nodded in response to his statement, indicating that he could continue.

“Of my legitimate siblings, my brother Zephraim is heir. He is probably about 3 years older than you and is said to already be very handsome.” He looked quite proud of this fact.

“Does he look like you?” I asked to be polite, though I knew their bloodline was so strong that all the male and female heirs would be unmistakable.

“You mean is he as handsome as me?”

My eyes shot up to his face in embarrassment, but then I realized he was joking with me when he gave me a small smirk. I let out an embarrassed laugh. “Yeah, definitely.”

“Like all my siblings and myself, he has black hair and red eyes though his are said to be the truest color to our original bloodline and aren’t muddied as it is commonly referred to. He is already a fierce warrior and has never even been touched by an enemy blade in battle.” He let an ironic smirk twist his lips. 

“And your other siblings?” I asked when he paused.

“I have a few sisters, but I adore the youngest one. She will be 10 this year and she has the brownest eyes of all of us with only a few specks of red. She is the only one of us who can pass through a crowd without attracting attention as a royal.” He glanced up at me. “What about your family?”