Hate or Love

Prove It To Me

A hand slipped under the soft bed sheets, tracing her naked thighs tenderly, teasing her skin and making a whimper escape her lips.

Her eyes were pleading as she looked at him, her back arching when the thumb rubbed circles on her inner thighs.

"Please," Estelle found herself begging, not able to bit back the moan that came out of her lips.

Victor grinned, cockily enjoying the way he made her squirm and plead with only some feathery-like kisses. But she was so lost to care about his proud nature right now. All she wanted was for his fingers to get inside her and do things to give her her built-up release.

His thumb brushed on her c**t softly, but it felt like a jolt of electricity all over her body. One finger finally entered her while the thumb kept playing with the bundle of nerves, and all the while Victor didn't take his eyes from her face. As if he wanted to enjoy every little reaction on her face, every time her eyes rolled back in her head in pleasure.

He seemed to understand what her chocolate eyes were pleading for, because instantly another finger was inside her. "I thought you hated me, little wolf." His mouth was on her earlobe, sucking gently, making Estelle moan loudly. "I thought you despised me."

"I-I do," she stuttered, rocking her hips on his fingers that changed the pace however he liked.

"You're such a bad liar, you know that, right?" His fingers sped up instantly, making her toes curl and her fingers dig in the sheet.

"Victor..." Estelle moaned as the intense orgasm erupted on her body.

"Victor!" 

Her eyes flew open and for the few first seconds Estelle wasn't able to breathe.

Did she just saw him in a dream? A wet dream? Did he just gave her an orgasm on her sleep?

Instinctively, she touched her cheeks with the back of her hands, feeling them burning up. However, her face flushed red entirely when her eyes met with someone's...

It was an old maid, cleaning around, who was studying Estelle like she was the most interesting woman there could ever be.

For a fact, she felt entirely naked. As if the maid knew everything that had happened in her dream. And most probably she knew, Estelle was sure she had moaned in her sleep and then she had waken up calling his name.

Why couldn't the ground swallow her entirely so she wouldn't face this embarrassment?

"Who- who are you?" Estelle asked, a dumb question because she already knew the elf was just a maid.

"I'm Edith, dear. Just a servant of this palace." Her voice and the smile on her face was sweet, so sweet Estelle found herself instantly adoring her. "I'm sorry if I troubled you in your sleep, I just wanted to clean up before you'd wake up."

"Oh, it's alright, it was not your fault." Estelle smiled at her awkwardly, still ashamed of being caught dreaming of being intimate with Victor. "Wait, why are you cleaning up?" She asked, suddenly revolted. "You're an old lady now, you should be in your home with your grandchildren. Did Victor force you to keep working? I'll go and have a real talk with that infuriating elf―"

"Oh no, dear, I'm staying here by choice." Her words made Estelle's eyes widen in surprise. "I have no children or grandchildren. And I wanted to help King Victor as much as I could. He is the leader we were all waiting for." The woman took a small pause, and then she smiled again. "He is a good young man. We all love him."

Estelle didn't know how to answer to that. She had realized since the very first day how much his court actually loved him; since the party he had organized for them, his guests. It was like they were all blinded by him, and not in the way her court was blinded by her father. Robert had a kind of respect earned by fear.

Victor on the other hand? His people worshiped him.

"I know things are complicated with you two," Edith said, in a sweet grandma voice, yet Estelle was surprised at her courage. "But I think you should give him a chance," she added. "He likes you."

Sighing, she walked to the mirror so she could look at her own reflection. Did Victor really like her? Despite all the promises of making her his, despite the mate bond, did he like her as a person? Did he want her?

"He killed my father," Estelle stated.

"Because he had no other choice." The old elf walked towards her and ruffled her hair.

"He said he enjoyed it."

"My dear, you have to understand that your father did a lot of terrible things to our royal family." Edith took the comb from her hand and started to brush the young Princess' hair herself, affectionately. "It doesn't matter that Victor never knew his family before, they are blood. Your father killed his, and then forced Princess Evelyn in an unwanted marriage." The old maid explained it like Estelle was just a little girl, and she was her grandma. "Your mother would want you to be happy with your mate."

Estelle snapped her head at her. "How do you know my mother?!"

The sweet smile never left the maid's face. "Of course I don't know your mother, my dear. But everybody knows she was the kindest Queen of all Mysticland," she said, still brushing Estelle's hair delicately, like she was a porcelain doll the maid didn't want to break.

"My mother wouldn't want me to give a chance to the one who killed my father. She always taught me to respect him." Estelle didn't know why it was so easy to talk to a stranger about her deepest feelings, but somehow with Edith, it was.

"And I say you leave the past behind and look forward to the future. You might have a bright one if you really let yourself feel for your mate." She left a kiss on top of Estelle's head. "Feelings make us weak."

The Princess narrowed her eyes. "And why would I want to be weak?" She asked, not really understand the strange words coming out of Edith's mouth.

"Because for the man you love, everything is worth it."

Suddenly, the old elf walked out of the room, not saying a thing more.

Estelle didn't know what to think anymore. Instead of giving answers, Edith had made her head more of a mess than it already was.

Getting ready, she decided to forget about the maid's words for awhile. It was no use trying to analyze them when she didn't know what she felt herself.

She walked towards Arthmael's and Evelyn's chambers, with no real reason on her head. She just somehow felt like she wanted to see them.

The bedroom door was slightly opened, and she pushed a little to it. The sight in front of her eyes melted her heart. Evelyn was in Arthmael's lap, her arms around his shoulders and a bright smile on her face as Arthmael rubbed on her big belly and softly spoke to the babies.

It was a kind of love Estelle hadn't known it existed until she had seen them. One that they had fought death to keep. And she couldn't help but wonder, would they really make up such a lie to save each other?

Or was it true? Had her father really done something like that to a young woman, and to his son as well?

Was he such a monster?

Or was he a victim of the love Evelyn and Arthmael had for each other?

"Estelle," Evelyn's voice brought her back to realty. "Why are you standing there? Come inside."

Estelle forced a smile on her face, embarrassed to have been caught starting at such an intimate moment. "I'm sorry, I... will come back later."

"No, you don't have to," Arthmael told her. "The twins were telling me they missed their aunt."

Giggling, she walked towards them and put her palm on Evelyn's belly. "One of them kicked me!" She squealed happily.

"It's their way of showing their love," Evelyn answered, her face radiating pure joy.

"I just wanted to check out on you and the twins," Estelle explained the reason she came here uninvited, in the same time looking around the room, the walls of which were covered with Evelyn's portraits. It was such an Arthmael thing to do, paint everything that he loved. And apparently everything that he loved was Evelyn. "The room is nice," she added afterwards.

"It's just temporary, of course," Arthmael explained. "Once we have the babies, we will move back to our house."

"I will have you closer to the castle then," Estelle said it with a smile, which wasn't met by theirs. Somehow, it looked like what she said disappointed them. Like the idea of her going back to her castle disappointed them.

"How did... the dinner with Victor go?" Evelyn's voice was hesitant.

"Terrible!" Estelle complained, sighing. She noticed the way Arthmael's eyes widened, almost as if he was warning her of something, but she kept talking, "Your brother is an arrogant, narcissist, infuriating man and I can't stand him―"

"Good morning to you too, little wolf."

Estelle closed her eyes, cursing herself for not sensing him near her. The courage to turn back and look at him was all gone. Meanwhile Arthmael and Evelyn were both trying to hide their laughs.

"Please, someone save me," Estelle didn't realize she said it out loud.

Victor chuckled behind her back, and she felt him approaching her more. "Save you from me?" His hand stroked her cheek softly, and instinctively, Estelle found herself leaning on his touch, closing her eyes and rubbing her cheek on his hand like a small puppy.

The way their siblings' eyes widened in shock immediately made her make a step back from him, putting some distance.

Victor smiled, not really hiding how happy he was this morning. Things were going exactly as he wanted them to.

"What have you done to my sister, Victor?" Arthmael's voice was humorous.

"Nothing, I swear." Victor raised his hands in self defense. "I was a true gentleman. Flowers, her favorite food..." He turned at her and his lips curved upwards on a teasing smile. "A goodnight kiss."

Estelle froze, feeling the heavy silence that fell in the room weighing her heart. But he didn't seem to regret saying it one bit.

"Victor, I hate you," she hissed.

"I know, Estelle, you never forget to remind me." His voice was teasing but she distinguished some hurt behind there as well. "That's why I want a favor from you."

"Favor?! From me?! What makes you think I would make you, a favor?"

"I don't know, because you like me?"

"I really don't."

"Because I'm your mate?"

Her heart skipped a few beats at that. "It doesn't matter." Estelle tried walking out of the room, but he followed her.

"It does matter. To me at least," he told her when they walked through the hallway, but when she didn't agree to stop walking, he grabbed her wrist.

"Victor, I have told you the next time you grab me I'll bite your hand off," she threatened.

"Does this mean I will see your little wolf?" The breath got caught on her throat when he tucked a loose curl behind her ear and didn't move his hand from her hair. Instead, he caressed them softly and once again she leaned her face on his hand, not able to resist his touch.

"My wolf isn't small, stop calling me that." Her voice came out weak and needy.

Suddenly, there was some sort of affection in his usually dull-of-emotions eyes. "But you love it when I call you that, Estelle. You love my touch... My kiss."

"Stop." She moved his hands away. "Please, just stop."

"Come with me," he told her. "There is someone I need to visit. An old, arrogant but powerful Lord that owns a lot of lands here in my kingdom. He still doesn't accept my reign, calling me nothing but a commoner, and I need to... convince him I am worthy of a King."

It was obvious this was important to Victor, he looked serious and almost cold, if she hadn't learned to see past that.

"And why would you need me to convince him?" Estelle asked, nothing making sense to her anymore.

"Because you're the wolf Princess. And I need to show him I made peace with your Kingdom even after..." he trailed off.

"...Murdering my father," she finished it for him, not hiding the bitterness on her voice. "You can take Julian, he will be more than happy to help."

Victor stopped her from walking away once again, this time holding her hand instead of her wrist. "I don't need Julian, he isn't... my mate."

Estelle gasped, realization hitting her like a strike of lightening. "You want me to... act like I'm your lover."

Just the idea made a smile spread up on his face. "Just for today. A short trip to his residence."

"No." She shook her head furiously. "No, no, no."

"Estelle."

"No."

"Just a small favor," he insisted, his voice hopeful. "Don't you want to have a trip here in my Kingdom, anyway?"

"Yes, but not with you," she refused. "You'll have to convince your Lord otherwise, I'm not about to act as if I'm okay with you murdering my father and now I am falling for you."

"Aren't you?" The question made her heart stop beating inside her chest.

Because I am, Victor wanted to add, but he stopped at the last second. He had pushed her enough as it was, he didn't want her to go further away from him than she already was.

"Of course not, I despise you just the same." Estelle stubbornly looked away, refusing to meet his eyes and let him know the truth in hers.

"Then prove it to me." He grinned at the sudden idea.

"Prove it how?"

"Come to this trip with me, act as you're my lover for a few hours, and prove it was just a pretend and nothing more." He wrapped one of the curls on his index finger. "Doesn't the idea excite you?" He said in a lower, huskier voice. "I know it does. I know you love proving me wrong. Proving yourself wrong. Convincing yourself you don't want me―"

"Alright," she cut him off, a part of her already knowing she was making a grave mistake. "Alright, I will come with you in this stupid trip and I'll prove to you how much you don't affect me."