The Prince and His Princess

Lila’s POV I blinked slowly as I stretched, taking in my surroundings. I had fallen asleep across one of the back seats. It was cozy and warm under Oscar’s jacket. Henry was asleep in Oscar’s lap across from me. I smirked—poor Oscar always seemed to draw the short end of the stick. “Why are we stopping?” I asked, sitting up to look out the window. Useless. The night sky was just beginning to lighten, a pale suggestion of dawn creeping in, but stars still blanketed the sky. I heard the car doors open and shut in the vehicle ahead of us. Something was wrong? Panic began to rise in my chest. Each car had a driver and one passenger—four in total had come to collect us from the Priory. Each of these men was large, muscled, and imposing. I didn’t need to ask—they’d obviously been sent to protect us. But their presence, instead of reassuring me, only fueled my anxiety. I was a walking target. The passenger door opened and I instinctively moved away, tensing. Catherine slid into the seat, and I felt a bit of relief. “We’re just on the outskirts of Aruyios,” Catherine said, looking at us. I only nodded. “Lila, you need to come with us. It would be inappropriate for you to be seen separated from your mate.” I had no words. Seen separated from my mate? So it was okay for him to be separated from me, as long as no one found out? I slid out of the car, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in my dress. Pointless. A muscled guard was holding the first car door open, his eyes carefully not looking at me. I slipped inside. Tobi’s gaze locked onto mine as I sat across from him. I could smell his cologne—woodsy and rich. God, he smelled amazing. Stop! I told myself before I did something I’d regret. Catherine took the seat beside me as the door shut and the car pulled away. “How do you get to Aruyios?” I asked. “If we’re driving there, how come more humans don’t just stumble in?” “It’s protected by the Moon Goddess herself. One either needs to be born there or brought by someone who was,” Catherine said proudly. “So if I just got out of this car and walked down the road… what would happen?” “You’d become confused and disoriented,” Tobi answered, still staring at me. “The closer you got to the border, the worse it would get. Eventually, you’d be thrown off course.” “How did Moira get in, then?” “There are very few places that can keep out Moira Serne,” Catherine said, smiling. “We used to be quite good friends, you know.” “Really?” I was surprised. They had seemed friendly at the Priory, but I assumed it was just politeness. “How do you think she met my brother? I used to work for Moira—sort of,” Catherine explained. “I find it hard to imagine you working, Mother,” Tobi muttered, earning a glare. “I’ll have you know I found her clients, helped with herbs... I was a sort of assistant,” Catherine said, winking at me. I couldn’t picture her in all her finery fetching herbs for Moira. As dawn broke, the chauffeured cars pulled into a seemingly endless driveway. I peered out the windows at perfectly manicured gardens, vibrant flowers, lush hedges, and the largest fountain I’d ever seen—it was practically a swimming pool, with a statue of a woman pouring water from a jug. Then came the palace. Tobi was right—it didn’t look like the pictures. It looked like a medieval castle, but not run-down and grimy like the ones in the human world. The cars crawled along cobblestones toward a giant stone gate. Tobi had tried to describe it, but he hadn’t done it justice. The sprawling palace was like a miniature city—buildings and turrets, narrow winding roads. My anxiety skyrocketed imagining all the people who called this place home. The car drove past the main entrance and headed for a smaller one covered in blooming wisteria. A private entrance, maybe. Three people were waiting outside: a tall, older man with long dark hair streaked with gray in a suit—Tobi’s dad, I guessed. A blond man stood behind him, not quite as tall, holding hands with a model-like woman in a red velvet dress trimmed with gold. I looked down at myself and sighed. Wrinkled dress. Great. Tobi’s POV The cars pulled up to our private family entrance. Father was already waiting, with Matthew and Mariah behind him. I groaned inwardly—was he really not going to give me even an hour to ease Lila into things? The drive had actually been... civil. We’d just talked. No arguing, no glares. I was clinging to that sliver of progress, and now I had to hope Father wouldn’t blow it up in five seconds. The door opened, and Mother eagerly got out. Lila remained frozen in her seat. I stepped out first, offering her my hand. She took it—her small, warm fingers enveloped by mine. Sparks danced at the contact, tiny pulses reminding me of the bond that still existed between us. I led her forward toward the welcome party. “Cathy!” Father exclaimed, opening his arms wide as Mother threw herself at him. “I don’t like it when you’re away for so long.” “I know, my love,” she said, stroking his cheek. Their love was so intense it bordered on inappropriate. “But someone had to go retrieve your son.” Father pulled away from her and turned his glare on me. Mother swatted at him. Oscar and Henry had exited their car and were walking over. Father gasped as he spotted them. They bowed instinctively. Lila, however, stood perfectly still. “You did not bow,” Father said, eyeing her curiously. “You are correct. I did not,” Lila answered, her tone calm, almost bored. “It is customary to bow before the king.” “For citizens of Aruyios. That I am not.” Father narrowed his eyes at her. She held his gaze, utterly unbothered. Then his booming laugh filled the courtyard. “She is a firecracker!” he declared, clearly delighted. I glanced at Lila, relieved to see the hint of a smile on her lips. I'd known my parents would adore her. I just hadn’t known if she’d be able to handle them. “Tobias,” Father said, turning to me. “Let Mariah show our guests to their quarters. I think it’s time we caught up.” “I’ll take Lila to her room myself,” I said quickly, unwilling to let go of her hand. “Tobias. Now.” His voice dropped an octave—no longer requesting. I looked at Lila, trying to read her through the mate bond, but… nothing. Silence. She gave me nothing.I sighed and released her hand, following my parents inside. The palace hadn’t changed. I don’t know why that surprised me. Same antique furniture, same ornate rugs, same family portraits. It was all priceless, yet somehow it felt... hollow. When everything you have is precious, it all starts to feel worthless. We entered Father’s private office—used for family matters only. He and Mother sat on the leather couch. I sat opposite them, bracing myself. “So…” Father began, trailing off. “So…” I mirrored, refusing to rise to the bait. “Why don’t you fill your mother and me in on where you’ve been the last two years?” “I told you before I left. I wanted to find my mate. I said I would travel the world until I did.” I was sticking to the story Lila and I had agreed on… s**t, what was it again? “And who is she?” Father pressed. “Where is she from?” “Her name is Delilah Alden. We met in a small town called Forreston.” “And her family? She’s young. Did they just let her up and leave for good?” “Oh, for moon’s sake—just say what you really want to say and get it over with,” I snapped. His face turned that familiar shade of red he used to get when I misbehaved as a kid. “I demand to know who she is, and why she’s arrived with a criminal and another human!” “Oscar was never a criminal, and you know it. And they’re her friends. Lila didn’t want to come alone.” “What of her family? Who are they?” “She’s an only child. Her parents passed away recently,” Mother interjected gently. Father sighed, the anger momentarily softening. “Well, that’s unfortunate,” he muttered. “But does she have no one else?” I smirked. This would rattle him. “She does. Moira Serne is her aunt.” Father groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Tobias…” Mother hissed at me. “Moira thought it best not to come to Aruyios. But you should also know—Oscar’s mate is her best friend, and a witch in his own right.” That one landed hard. I could see it. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t here to earn Father’s approval. Lila was my mate. My queen. Whether he liked it or not. Silence fell. Father poured himself a drink, knocked it back, poured another. “Wren, darling,” Mother said softly, “Lila just needs time to adapt to life here.” And just like that, Father caved. “I suppose I should alert the butler—there will be events in the coming weeks,” he muttered, refilling his glass. Mother began rattling off a list of balls and banquets to formally introduce Lila to the people. Dresses to be made, appearances to schedule. Poor Lila. She was going to be paraded around like a doll. I groaned and stood. I was exhausted. I just wanted a shower and one night of decent sleep—with my mate beside me. My bedroom was exactly how I’d left it. I stood there, breathing it in. Large four-poster bed. Fireplaces. My carved walk-in wardrobe. Balcony overlooking the Moon Goddess fountain. It smelled stale from disuse, but that would change. Soon, it would smell like Lila—like elderflower and honey. Only… it didn’t. Where was she? Mariah had been instructed to bring her here. My stomach tightened. What had she done with my mate? I stormed out, heading to Matthew and Mariah’s rooms. I didn’t wait—just pounded on the door hard enough to splinter the wood. “WHERE IS SHE?” I shouted. Matthew cracked the door open. “What’s going on?” “She’s not in my room. Where is she?” “Lila asked to be near Henry and Oscar,” Mariah squeaked from inside. “So I found her a room in the guest quarters.” “Take me there,” I demanded. Matthew stood his ground. I softened my tone. “I’m not angry at Mariah. I just need to find her.” He nodded. The door opened wider, revealing a trembling Mariah. “I’m sorry I frightened you,” I said gently. “I’m just worried about her.” “Sir, I would never let anything happen to her,” she said with a small bow. They led the way. I could have found the guest quarters on my own—but there were too many rooms. I couldn’t be sure which one she was in. Matthew kept his arm around Mariah the entire way. I understood it now—the mate bond. He’d turn on his best friend to protect her if he had to. They stopped at a door. “This is hers,” Mariah said. “Thank you. And I’m sorry again.” Once they left, I waited until their footsteps faded. I could smell Lila on the other side of the door—sweet, irresistible. I wanted to kick the door in and pull her into my arms. To make things right. To make her mine again. I knocked lightly. Shuffling inside. Then the handle turned. She opened the door, staring at me. Radiant. Effortlessly beautiful. “What?” she snapped. “This isn’t your room.” “It’s the room I chose.” “You’re supposed to stay in my room.” “I can stay wherever the bloody hell I want, Tobi,” she said, slamming the door in my face. I growled and stormed back to my room. If she thought she could get rid of me that easily… she had another thing coming. I ripped off my tie and threw it to the floor. Stripped down, stepped onto the balcony, and shifted mid-leap—landing perfectly on all fours as I tore off into the woods. God, how I’d missed this.