Forbidden Mate

Chapter 5

After I shower and change into one of my Royal outfits I head for breakfast. But everyone seems bleak. 

"Good morning" I greet. 

"Good morning sweetheart are you ready?" my father asks, trying to put a smile on his face but not reaching his eyes. 

"How was the council meeting?" I'm almost afraid to ask. 

"Um yes well the diamond King has gone back, not happy about the crosslings. He wants a full investigation as to why it has been happening. Whilst you are in France you will need to look at their policy. A few of the crosslings are part shifter which means. They either haven't found their mate or the moon goddess is cross mating us. I hope your powers will help with all of this and allow us answers"  

"Yes Father, where is mother I would like to see her before I leave" 

"Your mother is still in bed. The demon king's appearance has upset her" he says looking down. I know he can feel her pain. "She will be okay. Just please be careful on your trip" 

"I will father" I walk around the table and kiss the top of his head. 

"Tell mother I love her and will message once we land" with a nod I turn and leave grabbing my bag and make my way to the car. 

It's only a short drive to the private airport. I board the plane and no surprise I am the first to arrive. I grab a hot chocolate with cream and cinnamon and take my seat. I look out of the window and my heart drops. I swing my feet up so the Wizard Prince Oscar can't sit next to me. Of all the members of all the royal families it had to be him. I quickly stick in my ear buds to avoid the small talk. 

"Ar so good to see you. Looking as gorgeous as ever" I keep my eyes down and staring at my phone avoiding him at all cost. I hear him huff and take a different seat on the plane I look out of the window again and see another royal vehicle pull up. 

Oh s**t. 

It can't be. 

F##k my life 

Alaric in all his sexiness exits the car and glides his way to the plane. We lock eyes and I can't explain the pull I have to him. I feel my face flush as he flashes me his gorgeous smile. I can feel myself swoon. 

I quickly pull out my contact lenses and stick them in to remove my ear buds. I stand from my seat and curtsy as he boards the plane. My knee length blue dress with a tulle skirt pulls out perfectly. 

"Your highness, so lovely to see you again I greet him as I stand back up straight" 

"Princess Aria, it's lovely to see you too. Call me Alaric" he smiles back.

"Hey Alaric, long time no see" Oscar greets if looks could kill he would be long dead. 

"It is your highness or king Alaric. Know your place Prince Oscar" he sneers. 

"Apologies your highness" Oscar bows his head and returns to his seat. 

"May I?" Alaric asks gesturing to the seat next to me. 

"It would be an honour" I take my seat heart pounding. Questions flying through my mind. Does he know that it's me he courted with? Does he feel the pull I do? 

I pull out my copy of pride and prejudice. 

"You like classic literature I see" 

"Ow um yes. I love to read. The works of Shakespeare are my favourite especially" im cut off before I can finish my sentence.

"Let me guess. Venus and Adonis" he gives me a knowing look surely he doesn't know already. I have to throw him off a little. 

"I was going to say a midsummer's night dream but Venus and Adonis is a classic as is all of his work" he gives me a side glance. 

"I feel like there is a lot more to you than meets the eye" I push a stray curl behind my ear and turn toward the window. I'm sure the heat on the plane has just risen by 50 degrees. Those eyes keep drawing me in. 

"Did I hear you talk about Shakespeare the dude has been dead for years surely you like more current things" Oscar calls from his seat. 

"This conversation does not concern you wizard" Alaric says through gritted teeth. Finally someone who finds him as annoying as I do. 

The plane falls silent as we soar through the sky. I make ideal chit chat with Alaric until it's our time to leave the plane Alaric leads us off followed by me and then Oscar. 

"So how was the flight" Oscar says placing his hand on the small of my back. My whole body freezes at his touch. "So Ar I was wondering if you would join me for dinner this evening. I know a great place" 

"I would sooner dine in hell plus I already have plans" I grit my teeth but try to sound as pleasant as possible. 

"Well how about a nightcap on my room" I swear he has an answer for everything

"Still no Oscar. Ask me one more time and I will maul you to death" I feel violence is the only way to get through to him. 

"Princess Aria after you" Alaric says stretching out his arm towards the rear seat of the car. I climb in as I watch Alaric walk towards Oscar if it hadn't been for my superior hearing I would never have heard what he said. 

"You so much as look, blink, sniff, sneeze or breath in her direction I will have your entire family dethroned and kept as pets. She has warned you now leave her be" I can't help the smile that crosses my face. Followed by anger. "You will ride in the other car" Alaric finishes before joining me in the car. 

"I can stand up for myself you know. I don't need a man to do it for me" I Cross my arms and glare forward. 

"Please forgive me, I hate when wizards don't listen or take no as an answer" his eyes rest on my face as he takes in my profile. My skin heats up under his gaze. 

"There is something so familiar about you Princess. I have a need, an urge to protect you" I can hear the confusion in his voice. 

"It's okay he has been like it since I was introduced to the council at the age of 6" 

"I remember that day well. I told both your parents I couldn't wait for the day I could rule by your side" 

I raise an eyebrow "Ow really" 

"Not like that I mean as in on the council. The day you walked in you turned the council on its head" he looks reminiscing. "You radiate so much power you can see it in your eyes you are a force to be reckoned with. When you turned 16 and shifted in front of the council and we saw you were born with the Moon goddesses mark we knew great things would come from you. We have tried to hide your power from the demon king"

"I really had no idea" 

"You have so many gifts to unlock but there is something stopping them and I can't place it" I look directly into the sea of cobalt blue swirling in his eyes the flecks of violet catching the sun's rays. I'm sucked into a trance now words spoken just this pull to him.

I'm snapped out of my trance as we stop outside the hotel. I dash straight to the check in desk putting as much space between us.