The Whisperer

Chapter 8- Dancing with the Devil

I was still talking to Jason when my brother ran into the Prince. He literally ran into the Prince of Funa. I was scared out of my mind.

Prince Damon met my eyes, probably seeing my fear. An immense heat spread over my body. He put his hand on Cain's shoulder. Then he slipped to the side to the ballroom.

I let a breath go, that I didn't know I was holding. Jason didn't seem to notice my discomfort and kept talking.

After a few minutes of arguing about who gets the last strawberry, I finally get it lying about being on my period. Yes, we ate all of the strawberries on the tray.

"Ok ok, gursaed. I didn't need to know that," as he handed me the last strawberry with his nose scrunched. He spoke in Ictean tongue, the native language of Icen.

Once I popped it into my mouth I decided to break it to him. "Em ot un ma periot," I said with a full mouth, while my hand covered it. I still have manners of some sort.

"What! You're not on your period," his face filled with confusion.

I giggled, he could always understand me when I spoke with a full mouth. It was one of the things that made us friends. I remember when we first met. His parents were over for dinner and my parents were resigning the treaty between our two nations. When I was six I had stuffed my face with crackers, cheese, and meat. He asked me what I was doing and I responded with the food still in my mouth. He understood immediately what I was saying. We bond over food, that's our thing.

Jason sighed in defeat, flipping me off as well, and then he left to go find his mother, still sore about losing the strawberry to me.

A green flash ran in front of me.

"What were you guys talking about," Thalia panted.

I giggled "I stole his last strawberry."

She sighed in defeat "So he didn't say anything about me?"

"Nope, we talked about training, his parents, my sister, and strawberries," I shrug slowly eating a grape.

Thalia groaned "What am I doing. What's the point, I should just marry a general or a soldier."

"Don't give up. Jay doesn't know what he's missing," I continue to eat my grapes.

The burning sensation returned and yet it made me shiver in pleasure. I had never felt warmth like this, it was intoxicating.

A tug on my dress woke me out of the daze. I looked down at a little girl.

Her dark brown hair was tied up in a messy bun. She had to be at least five. She had vibrant hazel eyes. She was wearing a sundress with orange and yellow flowers. The colors gave it away.

She was from Funa.

I gave a glance to the girl's parents. They looked terrified. I didn't blame them, I was the princess and the General of Aquila with this little Funa girl tugging on my dress. My look flew back to the little girl.

"Hi Miss, you look very beautiful," she said looking down. She seemed shy.

I kneeled to her level and giggled "what is your name," I asked.

She looked up, her cute little button nose flaring "Katherine, Katherine Flores,"

"Well Katherine Flores do you want to be a princess," I ask

She quickly nodded. My hands slowly wrapped around my neck, unhooking my teal necklace.

"Turn around," I say.

She quickly turned around excitedly. I place my necklace on her. "Absolutely beautiful," I tell her.

"Keep it safe for me," I whisper. She quickly nods her head and runs off to her parents.

The heat on my body intensifies.

"Only you, Sea," Thalia finally cuts in, taking my attention off the heat radiating onto my body.

I shrugged "Hey, I can't blame a child for what her leaders have done."

"Plus she can pull that off more than I can," I didn't mind handing that necklace off or any necklace off. Except for that one that he gave me.

"So how is Jax doing," Thalia raised her eyebrow.

She just knows the perfect subject to get me talking, "He is still a pain in my ass. Yesterday we were training and he got all tough trying to see who's a better fighter. Let's just say he got his ass handed to him," I say with pride.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "What can you expect. Jax has always had a huge ego. I'm still surprised you made him your lieutenant,"

She scoffs.

Right on cue, Jax walks up to us with four crackers in his hand. His dark wavy hair was untouched. "You two are talking s**t aren't you."

My face turns sarcastic, "No of course not."

I want to laugh but I hold myself back when I'm reminded that I'm being watched.

Jax mutters 'f**k' under his breath. It was very quiet, I could barely hear him say it.

"I'll be right back, that Icen drunk is arguing with Jasper," and just like that, he was gone.

We chuckle knowing we are going to continue to talk s**t.

"I see that Denali still hasn't got her feet wet, and I mean literally," Thalia says with disdain.

I match her tone. "I don't know why she is becoming queen. She has never wanted anything to do with the water even before dad died. So she can use that excuse."

"Are you saying you'd rather lead because if you are I'm so down for that," She says excitedly.

I shake my head and sigh, "I couldn't lead."

"What do you mean. Of course, you can."

I don't peel my eyes from the floor.

"If I was to become queen I would have to live hear and I can barely be here for a week."

My heart took a nervous beat with the sad talk about my heavy baggage. I need to change the subject now. "But I did kill two birds with one stone." I paused. "I told my mom that the only way to stop the war is a marriage. Let's hope to the gods that the prince lives through her torture," we laugh.

"We both know you were going easy on Funa. You could have killed them all," she whispered but giggles broke through the whisper.

"Yeah but that would mean I'd still have Denali to deal with. Hopefully, my mother talked to the fire prince about it because I'm done with Denali," I respond.

A tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality. The heat seemed uncomfortable and yet pleasing.

I turned to face a particular brown-haired prince.

Damon looked as if he was fire himself. He looked beautiful but so dangerous. It was easier to see him now. His brown hair was slicked back neatly and his stubble made him look rugged. Damon's brown eyes held flicks of yellow, like a small fire being suffocated by wood. He was tall, a lot taller than me. I estimated his height to be six-four. He was intimidating but something in his eyes told me otherwise.

"May I have this dance princess," his deep voice intoxicating. I quickly size up to my opponent, I didn't want him to think I was checking him out.

He was wearing a pitch-black suit with a black tie. I could see muscles poking out of his thin shirt. Every dip and rise of his pecks. Sharp abs pressed against the buttons.

Ew stop looking at his muscles. What in the name of Jar is wrong with you!

I didn't notice that Thalia was standing next to me until she bumped me with her elbow. I looked at her with an annoyed expression plastered all over my face.

I awkwardly cleared my throat "If we must," I curtly nod my head "Princess Thalia."

I do this when I don't want to show any emotions but she knew me too well. She saw through my mask knowing I was pleading for help. Thalia just slowly shook her head.

"You two have fun," she said with a wide smile.

Taunting b***h!

Thalia leaves and I turn back to my newly found dance partner. His large hand was stretched out and I hesitantly took it.

Burning. A burning sensation started at my hand and went up to my arm. I pulled away with a hiss.

"Is everything alright," he looked down at my hand then back to my face.

"Sorry, you're just really hot," I examined my hand but I saw no marks.

Damon chuckled then smirked. "Why thank you, princess."

I cursed under my breath. "That's not what I meant."

We finally reached the dance floor, it took a while to fight through the crowd. His hands were strong but yet delicate when he pulled me along. I couldn't help but notice that he would look back every few minutes to make sure I was still holding his hand. I had no idea why but every time he did my stomach did somersaults. I was disappointed in myself.

He put his hand on my hip as I rested my hand on his shoulder. I wanted to gag, I was dancing with my enemy, and hopefully soon-to-be brother-in-law. The hand on my hip was commanding me around the dance floor. I was trying my hardest to get back to equal control but his hands wouldn't let me.

"Are you always this controlling," I ask him through my teeth.

A slight smirk found its way onto his face. "It's one of the amazing qualities that come with me," he says.

I let out a laugh "Amazing qualities," I ask.

"Now, now love, I have a great personality. You should try to get to know me some time," his voice lined with a slight accent.

"But of course your highness," I tip my head down in a sarcastic bow.

His hand on my hip tighten, igniting a fire on my skin.

Why is his touch so hot?

"Watch yourself, Princess. I'm already looking for a reason to leave," his eyes flickered with gold "and you're looking very tempting."

My face heated. Why was he getting the best of me? I have more control than this.

"Now, now Prince Damon, we must act professional," I say with a playful tone. I had no idea what had gotten into me. I was only this talkative around my friends and students.

He looked at me with those hungry golden eyes. "Who said I wasn't?"

As we waltzed I felt his hand, which rested on my hip, get tighter. His eyes were looking at something intensely.

I turned my head in that direction. A man about age 30 was watching us. Judging by the color of his hair and eyes he was definitely from Funa.

I turned back to my dance partner. I had a sudden impulse to reassure him.

My hand that was resting on his shoulder now was on his cheek. He had flinched when I touched him. But it got his attention back on me. He released his tight grip on my hip and I let out a breath.

I let go of his face without saying a word but internally I was yelling at myself.

I looked at his hand engulfing mine. I'm so tiny compared to this man. My head barely touched his chin and I was staring at his collar bone. His steps were longer than mine making me sometimes stumble but I played it off well.

Soon he was able to see my struggle and shortened his strides. I thanked him in a quiet voice. 

Why was I so meek with him?

I looked around the ballroom noticing some people were staring at us, this included my sister. A glare rested on her face and her fists were balled. 

Why was she so mad anyways, she'll have him for the rest of her miserable life. 

I scrunched my eyebrows like I was asking 'What'.

"So Princess tell me about yourself," Damon said out of the blue.

I scoffed. "There is not much to tell. My life is not that interesting," of course that was a lie but gods did I need to spill my life story out to this guy.

He chuckled a beautiful deep chuckle. "That's not at all what I heard."

"Fine then, what would you like to know?"

He looked down at me with a smirk. "Well, whatever you can think of. Your favorite color, your favorite hobby, and everything in between."

I rolled my eyes and groaned. "My favorite color is my little brother's eyes. I like to train and teach my soldiers. I am seventeen years old and I turn eighteen in three months. Is that enough?"

"See you are interesting. Could you also tell me about your sister?"

I shot daggers at the mention of my sister. "She's a spoiled brat and knows nothing about the country she will be running one day."

He gave me a soft gaze, "She must have hurt you a lot."

I gave him a confused look but before he could start talking the song ended and claps and cheers filled the room.

I curtsied and rushed off the dance floor.