My Cursed Prince

Four

Lyra

The next morning, I went to school feeling like the moon goddess was against my existence. It was either that or I was going to spend the day with my parents and I wasn't in the mood to talk to them right now.

"Oh my goddess, Lyra. You look worse than a zombie." Mira said, stepping into my path as she engulfed me in a hug.

"I have missed you so much. Are you okay? You look so pale. If I ever get my hands on that bastard, I could cut his balls and feed it to that b***h of his."

I huffed weakly.

But Darian was the least of my problems.

As if we summoned him, he appeared right in front of us with Rosa. Both of them wearing identical smirks. "I never thought you would show your face around here again, Lyra? Come back to beg me?"

Mira stepped in front of me, "Get lost Darian."

"Or what?! She is going to report me to Daddy dearest?"

Rosa laughed.

"Maybe we should remind her of her place." Darian suggested, reaching for my shoulder.

"Touch her again," a voice said from behind us, "and I’ll rip your arm from its socket."

I turned to see Asher walking toward us.

Darian paled, stepping back. "Your Highness... we were just... "

Asher stopped in front of me.

"Let me make one thing very clear to all of you," Asher said loudly. "This girl is mine"

He turned his gaze to Darian and Rosa. "No one touches her. No one speaks to her. No one even looks at her without my permission."

Before I could even begin to wonder why he was protecting me. Asher gripped my upper arm tightly and began to dragging me toward the back exit of the school, toward the sports area.

"Prince Asher, stop! You're hurting me!" I cried out, stumbling to keep up with his long strides.

He didn't slow until we reached the edge of the large swimming pool. A few students froze mid-lap, staring at us.

"You think because you’re now my betrothed, you’re special?" he hissed, leaning close so only I could hear. "You’re nothing. And I’m going to make sure you remember that every single day until I find a way to break this engagement."

Without warning, he shoved me.

I didn't even have time to scream before the cold water swallowed me whole. Swimming wasn't one of my strengths. Actually I had no strength except the fact that I was academically smart. Water rushed into my mouth and nose, and my blazers wasn't helping matters as it dragged me deeper into the pool.

I kicked wildly, as I panicked.

I’m going to die over something this stupid I thought as my lungs screamed for air.

Then suddenly someone entered the pool, swam towards me and carried me bridal style out of the water.

As soon as I was out, I collapsed to the ground coughing up water and shivering violently.

"Are you insane?" A girl with the same dark hair and hazel eyes screamed at Asher, her eyes blazing. "You could have killed her!"

Aaron didn't look bothered. "I can do whatever I want with her, Anissa. If I want to drown her, that’s my business."

He turned and walked away. Anissa glared at the crowd which had gathered, "Does this look like a show to you?" She growled and they dispersed like smoke.

"Here," Anissa whispered softly. She grabbed a towel from a nearby rack, wrapped it around my shoulders and began to lead me away from the pool, toward the locker rooms.

"Don't listen to him. He’s a monster, but you can always come to me for help if he ever bothers you."

We reached the privacy of the locker room and I was still shivering.

I looked at her. "Thank you," I managed to say. "I don't know why you're being so nice to me."

Anissa stepped closer, tucking a wet strand of hair behind my ear. "Because you're special, Lyra. More than you know."

I looked up, startled by how sincere she sounded. Before I could respond, she leaned in and kissed me.

I blinked, What in the name of the moon goddess was happening?

I stood frozen in the middle of the locker room, dripping wet, and a towel clutched around me like a lifeline.

Anissa pulled back slowly, her hazel eyes searching mine with an unreadable expression.

"I..." I stammered. "Why…?"

She laughed. "Because I wanted to." She tilted her head, studying me like I was some rare, fascinating creature. "And because you looked like you needed to be reminded that not every touch in this place has to hurt."

I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "You just… kissed me."

"Yes." Another small, amused smile curved her lips. "I swing both ways, little dove. Boys, girls, neither, both—labels are boring. I like what I like." She shrugged one elegant shoulder. "And right now, I like you."

I was betrothed to her brother!

Anissa must have heard my face because her expression softened. She reached out and gently squeezed my shoulder.

"Hey. Breathe. I'm not going to eat you… unless you ask very nicely." She winked, "Whenever he hurts you, whenever you feel like you're drowning again, literal or not, you come to me. Okay? I mean it."

I managed a tiny nod, still too stunned to form proper words.

She gave me one last look, then turned toward the door. "Get changed before you catch a cold. I'll see you around, fiancée-of-my-brother."

And just like that, she was gone. I stood there for a long minute, trying to process the last twenty-four hours of my life.

When Mira finally cornered me in the hallway ten minutes later, I had changed from the wet clothes but was still shivering.

"Lyyyyra," she hissed, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into an empty classroom. "Spill. Everything. Right now. People are saying Prince Asher threw you in the pool and then Princess Anissa jumped in after you like some kind of romantic heroine and—why do you look like you’ve been hit by lightning?"

I swallowed. "Because… I kind of have."

Her eyes widened to saucers as I stumbled through the explanation: the near-drowning, the rescue, the towel, the hair-tuck, the kiss.

Mira blinked, "How the actual f**k did you get involved with both royal twins in less than twenty-four hours?"

I rubbed my temples. "I'm betrothed to Asher."

"What the f**k, HOW?!"

I opened my mouth to answer, but the sound of the bell interrupted.

"Goddess," I muttered. "We are late for first period."

Mira grabbed my arm. "You are not escaping this conversation, missy. Lunch. You tell me everything."

I nodded frantically and bolted.

By the time I slipped into Advanced Werewolf History, the teacher was already in class. I tried to sneak to my usual back-row seat.

"Miss Lyra," Professor Eldridge's voice cut through the room like a whip. "How kind of you to finally join us. Care to explain your tardiness?"

I swallowed, I opened my mouth to say something about a stomach ache when I saw Asher in the seat behind mine, smirking at me.

How did.....Why was he here?!

"St-stomach ache," I blurted. "Very bad. Sorry...bathroom..."

I spun on my heel and practically ran out.

The ladies' room became my temporary sanctuary. I pressed my back against the cold tile wall and slid down until I was sitting on the floor.

How long could I keep hiding in school?

How long before he got bored of this game?

Eventually hunger and the fear of Mira's interrogation forced me out. So when the bell rang for lunch, I went into the cafeteria at lunch. I found my usual table which was in the most inconspicuous corner of the hall, and prayed Asher had better things to do.

Some prayers aren't meant to be answered because the chair beside me scraped back loudly.

I didn't even need to look because I smelt him first. Soon I was surrounded by him and his gang of friends who were just as cruel as him.

"Caught you, little mouse."

I started to stand but his hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me back onto his lap.

I went still, his arm went round my waist like keeping me in place. "Are you scared of me?"

I shook my head, too afraid to speak.

"Good." He leaned in, lips brushing my ear. "Because I would hate to think my mate to be is scared of me."

Across the room, Darian passed by with Rosa his hands holding hers. Rosa gave me a sneer as my eyes fell on them.

Asher noticed.

"You wishing that was you?" he murmured, "Wishing you were still his little toy?"

"No," I whispered. "I was just—"

He cut me off by pressing his lips to the side of my neck.

I sucked in a breath

I began to feel a second touch. Slipping beneath the hem of my skirt, moving slowly up my inner thigh.

They weren't Asher's hands because they were still around my waist but they felt like his hands.

Was this some sort of power?

The cold hand climbed higher to my inner thighs, skimming close to my panties. Instead of fear, I felt a heat pooling in my lower belly.

And then suddenly I felt a sharp pain as Asher's canines sank deep into the side of my neck.

He was marking me. I tried to twist around to stop him but the phantom hand held me down as his friends laughed.

I should have hated it. Instead my body arched involuntarily, as the pleasurable pain turned into something unbearable.

"Please," I whimpered, not even sure what I was begging for.

Asher licked the mark , "You are mine, Lyra. Until I decide I don't want you anymore."

His grip tightened on my waist tightened.

"Never forget that."