My Forbidden Guardian

Chapter- 3

Aria's POV

His interest started to arouse like the dim flicker of a candle that snuffs out its last dying sparks.

His fingers began to tap on the table; his silent drum beating was louder in my head as if he counted the seconds before he could get out of that room.

He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. He glanced around, as if something more interesting had caught his attention.

Kael was then hanging over his shoulder. One grand marble pillar rested upon; he would be making this leaning-on-things sort of habit.

Crossed arms on him had this huge grin on the face, his eyes already sparkling with this mischief inside them.

When he finally met my eyes, one brow was raised on him like a challenge; this pure amusement said as he posed: "Really? That's what they're dishing out to you?

I bit back a chuckle, especially when Kael lifted a hand up to cover a mock yawn, stretching in this ridiculously over-the-top motion that only he could execute with such charm.

It was hard not to at least smirk as my "gentleman" seated before me remained clueless, his fingers now running absently over the crystals on the chandelier above like they might hold some clue for him.

He left with one last awkward glance.

"I have some pressing family business," he mumbled, rising and hurrying away without even trying to conceal the look back.

I didn't feel that pain of disappointment-not this time, at least.

Instead, I let it go softly as I straightened and smiled, really and truly now, at another glance at Kael.

It was warm as it was, understanding; but in that one instant, I knew he saw everything.

It was the only soul, just him, who realized this was all just a joke-the show, the expectations, the parties gracing each suit with his presence.

And in that silent, unspoken connection, I smiled for the first time that evening.

Another one bites the dust? Kael's voice came from behind me, barely able to conceal his amusement at my awkwardness.

I spun around, blowing out my breath. "Kael, come on."

"My lady" he chuckled, shaking his head. "The guy seriously looked like he was about to fall asleep while sitting up."

"Maybe I'm just cursed," I muttered half-meaning the words. "They take one look at me and run for the hills."

He angles his head, folding his arms across his chest. "Or maybe they are just not brave enough to handle a princess who doesn't fit their neat little package."

I try to hide the flicker of warmth at his words, but before I can speak up he's smirking and adding on, "Or maybe they all sense the real threat is in the room.

Must be tough knowing they're competing with me."

You? I huffed, folding my arms, imitating, mocking his pose.

"Why not?" he leaned in now and whispered. "Would you deny it, my lady?"

The way he said my lady was such that a strange chill sent down me, forcing me to take my gaze elsewhere, out of the line of shot, to regroup, collect myself.

"I'm pretty much positive that the last thing I need is you to run off every suitor that's having a hard time to sit down with me."

Not even his smirk cracked. "What do you say? They make it too easy."

After that a week later, my mom once again arranged a time to meet this young Alpha, Felix.

A feint impulse curls his hair slightly rebellious against the bounds of formality and his smile a bit hesitant.

Almost as though he'd rather be anywhere else but still trying to make a good impression.

I was about to start with the usual small talk when the consciousness of Felix's eye wandering past my shoulder awakened me to curiosity.

And I turned over to catch Kael leaning against the entrance once again, as nonchalant as ever.

Felix's smile tightened, then his eyes shot back toward me to Kael, and back again.

He tensed up, too, in a sharp c***k of his posture now as if the threat that was sitting alongside him only came to its realization.

"Oh, s-sorry, I uh, I think I'm going to check on my family."

And he didn't even give me time to react as he vanished like a ghost in seconds. I turned around, and Kael was grinning like the winner of a prize lottery.

"Couldn't you at least not look as if you wanted to plan their death or something?" I asked, irritated.

He stood his ground. "Hey, I was just standing here."

The look in his eyes told of something else, though.

"And giving him that look, I said.

"Fine, fine. Perhaps it isn't such an awful thing, laying down a little intimidation to get what you want around here. Saves you both the problem of blowing a lot of extra time with these windbags of idiots, wouldn't you say?"

I suppressed my grin into my cheek and rolled my eyes. "You are impossible."

"Oh no, I think you need, irreplaceable," he said, coming in a little closer and grinning. "Come on, own up to it: without me, you'd get lost."

His words struck me at a spot deeper than I had assumed them to reach and for a moment made me off-kilter, and the realization unsettled me.

I laughed to get over the feeling. "You're ridiculous."

"Perhaps," he shrugged, untangling. "But that doesn't change the facts, does it?

As the days turned into weeks, every new suitor followed the same pattern: good small talk, awkward looks, and then an embarrassing hasty exit.

I was endlessly entertained by the repeated failures, often roaming around just for entertainment.

It wasn't too long before I spoke with him.

"Are you scaring them off, Kael?" I demanded, crossing my arms as I glared up at him.

He gave me the disgusting face of wide-eyed innocence, 'Me? Scare them? Me?

Supportive. Isn't that what I said?'

'Supportive,' I said deadpan.

'Oh yeah,' he said, working to suppress the grin.

"Well, try not to scare them off. I might actually want them to stick around sometime."

He pauses and looks at me as if something there comes to stir and his smile grows dim, almost contemplative. "Perhaps they don't see it."

And in the space of that breath, in a moment so sudden, I felt a crackle in the air of a possibility I was not ready for.

I try to brush it off with a laugh. "And what is that?"

He locked his eyes on mine, the intensity a little too much. "Someone worth staying for."

Another suitor disappeared into the night, and Kael and I ended up in the garden one evening when twilight cast everything in soft, shadowed light.

The air was filled with the scent of night-blooming flowers as we laughed together.

"Ah," said Kael with a twinkle in his eye. "Tell me, my lady. What is the ideal man for you?"

I shot him a look. "I have no idea. Someone. Brave, I suppose. Loyal. Kind."

He smirked at those words. "Sounds like someone I know."

"Pray tell," I replied dully. "Oh?"

Dramatic hand went to his chest. "Why, myself, naturally. Brave, loyal, and utterly charming."

I shook my head when I laughed so hard. "You? My perfect match?"

"Who else would have the nerve to put up with you?" he teased, nudging me gently.

Words hung there between us, but I found myself looking up to him as warmth sprayed through me which neither of us had expected.

With Kael, everything was plain; and effortless, like he was the only one who sees me, beyond all the titles and expectations.

And every way, despite all that I was fighting for, I felt deep inside myself that possibly, just possibly he was right.

Then one day Lina came like summer storm, threatening to break over the sky.

She wandered into the garden; her laughter ring like bells, and it echoed off as if announcing she was coming.

I rolled my eyes and tried not to laugh; I certainly didn't need that kind of chaos today.

I could not even remember when Lina and I had first started fighting.

It felt as if we had been at each other's throats forever, like two wolves from rival packs.

We began with the smallest of things: competitions over who scored the highest in leadership classes or who wore the prettiest dress to birthday parties.

But as we grew older, those little contests became sharper, more intentional barbs.

She would flash a smile at me that wasn't exactly even a smile at all but, more or less, kind of smirk, saying inside her head silently that it was her victory-but whatever she said, I saw that.

She just kept pacing a little closer in my direction, entering her invading space where she knew no touching was happening, and, among it all, sugar-coated words dripping thorns at my ears.

There was one memory that was crystal clear.

I was nine years old, trying to set up the dinner table, and I remember my chest swelling with pride at being entrusted with responsibility.

Lina came in and scoffed at me for carefully arranging the silverware.

She let out a dramatic sigh loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Really Aria?" she'd said, her voice all innocence, but her eyes glinting with mockery.

"It's just a table setting. But then again, I suppose not everyone is born with a sense of elegance."

I clenched my jaw, biting back a retort. That was her way: criticizing, digging little claws into my confidence while making it seem as though she were offering helpful advice.

And it worked. I found myself doubting, hesitating, wondering if maybe I wasn't as poised as her, wasn't as naturally graceful.

Years of these light, burning prods threw up walls between us, harsh and awful.

I caught up with her by instinct and felt the shift in the sound of her voice.

There is a look on her face that smugly passes toward me as if I'm merely playing this game that exists only in her perspective.

It was exhausting; but not then, nor particularly now, was I to give up.

I got back from my thoughts when I heard her voice. Aria! Lina cried out, the voice dripping with faux sweetness as she rose.

"Here you are! "I was just thinking about you." Her blue eyes went pepper than ever and my stomach flared up with unease.

"Thinking about me? "How sweet," I said, crossing my arms. Is it because you heard I was looking for a new favorite punching bag?

Her smile wavered for a moment before settling again.

"Oh, come on, I'm just joking! You know you're my only favorite friend."

I snorted at this, but her tone was intriguing.

She used the same honeyed voice she did when she had something on her mind. "What are you here for, Lina? Did the gossip mill need an update?

She smiled, but that was farthest the smile went.

"Gossip? Oh, you must be wrong. I am only worried about your well-being. After all, it is a hard thing being in the spotlight, isn't it?"

A faint smile was trying to creep across my lips as I saw the trap she had set. "That's what you call it? Because I have heard it called jealousy."

She narrowed her eyes a little and drew back the smile by inches, so I could see the hard edges of her intentions.