As stared at them. Meredith didn''t know how long he  had been here, or what he had witnessed, but the look in his eyes was the most painful thing she had ever seen.


    She was sure her heart dropped somewhere


    near her ankle as she looked back at him.


    "Princess, Prince Marcus, how do I owe the honor of you visiting me in my humble abode?" Elvin said as he stood up to greet Meredith and Marcus. He bowed slightly at them while he waited for their response.


    "We will be leaving for the General meeting and the princess wanted to meet you first before our departure tomorrow."


    As''s eyes slid to Meredith''s and she felt her throat bob.


    "Oh sorry princess I have been busy since we came back and I haven''t had the time for us to chat. How is the City treating you? Do you like it?"


    Meredith swallowed and nodded. The lump in her throat made it difficult for her to talk. That was the effect As had on her.


    She couldn''t talk when he was so close to her while Marcus was beside her. She was afraid she would slip out and say something she wasn''t supposed to, exposing them.


    "Good. Let me introduce you to my nephew, As. As, the princess and the prince." Elvin introduced them


    Meredith''s eyes met As''s own and her heart mmed in her chest.


    Marcus gave As a nod, "We have already met at the weing ball." Marcus replied stiffly.


    "Nice to see you again, As," Marcus said.


    "You too." As replied.


    "Princess…I can see you''re better now." As breathed as his eyes shifted back and forth between her own.


    Meredith blinked and gulped, "Y-yes. I''m much better now, thank you for the other day." Meredith murmured.


    "No need to thank me, it was my pleasure to apany such a beautiful woman." As replied.


    Meredith blushed and nced around, avoiding As''s gaze. Marcus did not react, his stony face fixed on As.


    Elvin brows furrowed tightly in confusion, "What happened?" He chimed, his eyes narrowing in wary interest.


    As shrugged as a smirk yed on his lips, "Well, the princess was lonely during the weing ball so I apanied her to watch the stars."


    "Oh I see. d you have already met then. In case anything happens to me, As would take my ce in protecting you." Elvin said proudly.


    Meredith''s throat bobbled as she held As''s gaze.


    "Okay." She nodded while she responded.


    "How about lunch together?" Elvin requested.


    Meredith felt Marcus''s hand slide around her waist. He lowered his head as he whispered softly in her ears,


    "I was nning on taking you on a romantic pic but I guess that has to wait huh?" He was so close to her,close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck.


    Meredith bit her lower lip, her mind and heart at odds with one another.


    She could feel As''s hot piercing gaze on her. All of this was so intense, having your fiancé and the man you love so close to you.


    "Stop biting your lips, princess. You''re tempting my self-restraint." Marcus purred.


    Meredith''s heart was beating in her chest trying to calm down. As she stood there shocked,a few things dawned at her at once.


    Marcus never made sexy remarks or tried to flirt with her ever until now. Was it because of As? Was he proiming that she was his to As? Was Marcus jealous?


    "Also, stop looking at him like you want to devour him. It''s bruising my ego. I look much better undressed, I thought you knew that by now."


    Marcus added  as he pulled away from Meredith winking at her.


    Meredith blushed crimson and gasped. She was sure As and Elvin had heard what Marcus had said. Werewolves were known to have sharp ears.


    Marcus smirk grew and Meredith flushed even redder. She looked everywhere but As''s face. She couldn''t bear to see what he looked like right now.


    "I can see your rtionship with the princess has improved." Elvin mumbled as he tried hard not to smile.


    Marcus grinned and nodded, "Yeah, she is such a sweetheart it''s hard not to fall for her, right As?"


    Meredith stiffened and her eyes widened in shock. She started to speak but no words came out. She turned to look at Marcus but he was grinning smugly at As.


    And Meredith knew why.


    Even though Marcus might not know the rtionship between her and As, he wanted As to know that Meredith was his fiancé and he wouldn''t tolerate him flirting with her in front of him.


    As''s eyes shed crimson in response. Shit, the tension between the two of them was fierce. Meredith shifted ufortably as the two men red at each other.


    Meredith sneaked a nce at As and fortunately his expression was back to the cold and indifference CEO she was familiar with.


    His expression gave nothing away. If he was mad or jealous about seeing her with Marcus, then he was doing a good job hiding it.


    It seems years of running hispany has made him good at hiding his emotions.


    Everyone could see Marcus was testing him..


    As raised an untamed brow in annoyance and replied with a heartless shrug.


    "Yes she is a beautiful woman…" As admitted.


    Meredith froze as her eyes found his. What the hell? He had just fallen into Marcus''s trap,  now he would be suspicious of them. A moment of silence enveloped them before As added,


    "But I wouldn''t dare fall in love with another woman if I know her heart already belongs to another man."


    Marcus''s smirk dropped and at that moment.


    "Good." Marcus replied with a curt nod.


    As''s words might sound harmless but only the both of them knew he was taunting Marcus.


    After all, Marcus was engaged to a woman whose heart belonged to another man.


    Sensing the tension in the air, Elvin finally spoke,


    "So will you be joining us for lunch?"


    "Yes," Marcus said sweetly. "We have a lot


    to catch up anyway."


    "Good, see you at the table then." Elvin said and started walking towards the house.


    "Wait for me." Meredith shouted and left the men alone. She didn''t want to be in the middle of whatever that was going on.