《QT: I Bent The Male Lead》


 Chapter 1 - One

    Jason sat comfortably on his bed with the pillow on his back to keep his back straight. He was with his phone in hand ready to read his favorite online novel.


    He was very eager to know how the story ended since he noticed in the morning that the ''completed'' tag was on the book.


    Finally, after one whole year of following the novel, the author has ended the book. He opened his account and checked his coins. He needed to make sure that he had enough to gift the author after he finished reading the final chapters.


    He couldn''t wait any longer, he clicked on the romance novel ''Standing by you'' and started reading the chapter. He had his fingers crossed on crown prince Davion and Lady Sashina getting their well-deserved happily ever after.


    As he read on, he couldn''t help but hold his breath when the second lead-turned villain took Sashina captive. He felt the urge of entering the novel and beating Nedryn to a pulp. He should learn how to let go when he is not loved, he thought.


    He read on to the battle between Davion and Nedryn for Sashina. Davion emerged victorious which was no surprise since he was the male lead of the story while Nedryn fell down a very high cliff to his end.


    Davion and Sashina convinced the king to let them marry, together they ruled the kingdom of Aphidia for many years and lived happily ever after.


    Jason loved the ending of the story. The crown Prince deserved a happy ending from the awful life he had growing up and he was elated to see Nedryn brought to his end once and for all. For a villain the man lived up to his title, he made life miserable for the female and male lead. They lived in constant fear of him, as much as their love blossomed all thanks to him. It still wasn''t fair for the two love birds to have such a cold-hearted man be in their lives.


    The story according to him deserved applause, he quickly gifted the book all the coins he had left. He closed his phone and slithered out of bed.


    He was happy with the book''s ends but also sad since he wasn''t sure if he would ever be able to fall in love with another novel again. The author of his novel mentioned nothing of when her next book will commence and that left him feeling lonely.


    He raced into the kitchen to get himself a snack to eat. He settled for some popcorn and a smoothie. He decided to pass the time watching on Netflix. It was a better distraction to keep him from thoughts of how what he had always wanted to be made him feel so sad.


    He wished the author would have made another plot twist and made Nedryn somehow survive his fall and return to cause chaos in their lives and extend the feud to their children so the novel can keep going.


    He flipped through the movies nothing seeming interesting enough for him to watch. His mind kept taking him back to his novel. He felt like sending the author of the book a request to continue the book or start a new one with the same characters soon.


    He needed to read of the adventures of his girl Sashina who he had fallen in love with for the whole year. It felt like he had been dumped by his girlfriend after dating for a year.


    The thought of never reading of her ever again made him uncomfortable. He rushed back to his room slipped into his bed and vowed to reread the whole book just to get a glimpse of his girl and her beautiful smile.


    Her image was arched to his memory from the description the author gave of her, he was sure he would be able to recognize her in a crowd of a million people if she were ever to be real. What he wouldn''t give just to see her and speak to her.


    He fell asleep a few hours later while reading the novel. A notification popped up on the screen of the author''s page. He was fast asleep to notice the notification.


    ''The author has decided to rewrite Standing By You in a bl version. The characters remain the same only their roles and a few parts of the plot will change. Stay tuned for updates of ''Standing by you [bl],'' the notification read.


    Jason dropped his phone on the bed and turned on the bed to get a comfortable sleeping position.


    ''Author uploaded the first chapter''


    Another notification came causing the phone to buzz but Jason was lost in slumber dreaming about his favorite character Sashina. He dreamed of having Sashina in his arms together cuddling the cold of the night away.


    It was a sweet dream that brought a smile to his face. He smiled like a crazy person holding on to the pillow believing that he was holding his beloved. He leaned in and trailed kisses on the pillow.


    "How wonderful would it be for the two of us to be together in the same world?" he mumbled in his sleep. "Then I would fight for your heart," he added.


    He assaulted the pillow with hugs and kisses continuously. The dream was normal, it was one that he had every day, and was not ashamed of it. He had fallen in love with a character from a book and now all the real girls around him became invisible.


    They could never measure up to his darling Sashina so to him, they were unworthy of his time and attention. He had no dating life, Sashina was his first and with the way things were going, she was most certainly going to be his last love too.


    Everyone in his life was under the impression that he WAS dating a girl named Sashina. Little did they know that she was a character from a book.. His mother would often press him to bring Sashina home to meet her but sadly she had no idea, the girl in question is the creation of an author''s imagination.

 Chapter 2 - Two

    I opened my eyes with a smile on my face, the rays of the sun beat down on my skin sweetly. I had a beautiful dream with my darling Sashina the whole night. She is the sweetest.


    I reached out to get my phone to look at an illustration that I made from how the author described her. It isn''t perfect yet but with just a few more touches it will be. It is my morning routine to look at her first thing in the morning, that way my day would be better.


    My phone was not on the bed. ''Perhaps I left it on the bedside table,'' I thought and reached out my hand to touch the bedside table. As lazy as I am I find it too troublesome to sit up just to find my phone.


    ''It''s not here either,'' I thought. Sighing I forced myself to sit up cause my phone won''t find itself and I need to look at my goddess.


    "Good morning, Master Darkvale," I heard the minute I sat up. Tracing the voice that spoke I found an old man dressed in what looked like a butler uniform standing next to the bed watching me. There were a few young men behind him who had their heads bowed down.


    "Are you talking to me?" I asked looking around the bed to make sure I was the only one there.


    "Yes, young man," he said and clapped his hands twice in the air. The young men behind him exited the room in an organized manner heading to the door behind the old butler dude.


    "What is going on?" I found myself asking.


    "Whatever do you mean? You do know that you need to be in Aphidia before sunset right?" the old man asked me.


    "Say what now?" I asked getting up from the bed. This crazy scene first thing in the morning is enough to get me completely awake and going without coffee.


    "Then what are you have to live in Aphidia for the next six months as punishment from the King," the old man said.


    "What, who paid you to do this?" I questioned him. "Whatever fool paid you to come to my house and do this. I will not spare you or your employer," I threatened.


    "Lower your voice," the old man said in a threateningly low voice. "You might get hurt if you try to run before learning how to walk," he added.


    The nerve of the old man to threaten me in my own house. Does he not know with whom he has come to mess. I will teach him such a lesson that he will always remember to stay within his limits.


    "You.."


    "It''s time for your bath," he said to me. Before I could refute I found that he was already leading me through the door behind him.


    "I won''t go anywhere. You will have to do it over my dead body," I said sternly.


    "That can be arranged," the old man said in an icy cold voice. "How would you prefer to die, poisoning or beheading, or perhaps you would like to be feed to your father''s crocodile pet?" he asked me.


    His words poured on me like ice-cold water, for a man who is old he sure knows how to scare a person to death.


    "Bath him," he instructed after succeeding to get me in the bathroom.


    "Say what now?" I asked again confused. Does he except me, a fully grown man to be washed by these young men in the room.


    "Do you intend to bath with clothes?" he asked with his eyebrow raised. I have no idea what in the world is going on but thank goodness that I don''t have a grandpa. I can''t bear to imagine what my life would have been like if I have a grandfather like this old man.


    I reached up to remove my robe which I was only not noticing that I had on. Gazing at the neat fabric, I can say for sure that it does not belong to me. It''s rich people robe and I am a lot of this but not rich.


    "I enter the warm water and let the young men wash me. It was that or get fed to a crocodile. Which brings me to the next question, who keeps a crocodile for a pet?


    This place is terrifying and the people are no better. Having to stay here longer would drive me mad, especially with the old mafia butler man by my side.


    " A penny for your thoughts?" the old man asked me.


    "No."


    "Don''t even think of playing any games with me. Your father has tasked me to ensure that you stay in line for the next six months and stay in Aphidia so that is what is going to happen, young prince," he said.


    The last statement caught my attention. Prince? Did you he just call me prince?


    "How dare you give orders to your prince," I said getting up with my voice raised. If he wants to role play then that is exactly what we are going to do.


    The young men who were bathing me gasped when I spoke, they moved back away from trembling with fear.


    ''What is wrong?'' I asked in my head getting a bad feeling of the darkening expression on the old man''s face.


    "What. Did. You. Just. Say?" the old man asked. I could swear the temperature of the room went from room temperature to below sea level kind on temperature. I gulped.


    The old man reached for the sword in his waist and raised it. I wasn''t scared that much. I mean this is role play, there is no way that the sword is real. He swung the sword in the air and I gasped.


    Not because of his good sword skills but the dang thing turned into a silver snake with three heads. The snakes hissed at me sending shivers down my spine.


    "I believe you should be finishing your bath, your royal prince Nedryn Darkvale," he said sarcastically and my heart stopped beating.

 Chapter 3 - Three

    ''Did he just call me Nedryn Darkvale? As in Standing by you''s main villain. The man who makes my Sashina''s life miserable?''


    I couldn''t get my heart to calm down. Whatever nightmare I am in needs to end soon. I am not enjoying this anymore, it is a bad dream that I need to wake up from.


    "Let''s get him dressed," the old man ordered. Now that I think about it, he is the one. Nedryn Darkvale''s butler Zanir Silverbrook, popular known, and the snake charmer. Not for the charming snake but for the perfect control of his silver snake weapon.


    He is a very dangerous man and is feared by all including the king himself but that is just extra knowledge from the book. The man himself was not aware, the only person who ever challenged him was the villain Nedryn himself but that was to chapter 500 of the book.


    I was in no way ready to challenge the snake demon at all. Now that I think of things more clearly everything here is just like in the book. Including the trip to Aphidia, which is where Nedryn and Davion get to meet Sashina.


    ''Did I somehow get sucked into the book like one of those transmigration novels?'' I asked in my thoughts. My heart racing in my chest at the possibility of that happening.


    I let the young men dress me up while I try to figure the situation that I was in. The situation up until now is chapter three, where the second male lead is supposed to go to Aphidia and meet both leads of the novel. He falls in love with Sashina at first sight.


    "Wait," I found myself yelling out loud.


    "What is the problem young prince?" Zanir asked me to bring him out of my clothes.


    "I look amazing. That is what I wanted to say," I stated with a weak smile on my face for him.


    It is unbelievable that I got transmigrated into my favorite novel only to become the villain who neither gets a happy ending or the girl. I also know how I am going to die, the ending was fun when it was Nedryn my enemy dying. Not Nedryn when I am the character.


    ''If this is a dream. I would have woken up already,'' I thought. ''If this is real then what?''


    "Can I be left alone?" I asked.


    The butler exited the room but not before giving me the eyes that say, dare to run away and you will surely get it from me. Closing the door I began to think of ways to not just avoid being thrown off the cliff but also get the love of my life.


    This is a chance and destiny screaming to me that Sashina and I are meant to be together. Who am I to just stand by and do evil deeds that send the girl I like into another man''s arms.


    "I need to kick the male lead to become being second fiddle to me. That way I get the girl and the happy ending," I let out.


    I need to work on sabotaging the male lead. I know the novel by heart, being aware of what they are to do even before they think of doing it. So I just have to be at the right place at the right time and spoil whatever plans the prince charming has and sweep the lady off her feet so she would be mine.


    "Sorry author but the story will have to change. I will write my happy ending," I said sternly.


    The author should understand where I am coming from. She best not fix the changes I make, she should consider things from my point of view and let things run it''s a course in the direction I lead them to.


    "Sashina, just a few more hours and we will get to meet each other," I said with butterflies in my stomach. Getting to meet my favorite character from the novel is a dream come true.


    "Wait for me," I whispered in confidence.


    I walked out of the room and joined the butler. We are going to meet my beloved, can''t waste any more time going to Aphidia.


    "Shall we?" I asked. The ace card that I have in my pocket is sure to get me the girl of my dreams. The prince should on to his luck because against me he stands no absolute chance.


    I will hit him so hard he will be erased from the novel forever. Only my story will be told. Since I am the villain, it''s okay for me to resort to cheap tricks to get the girl. I don''t have a stupid reputation that I need to uphold, he should watch out as his worst nightmare is coming to him.


    "We will arrive in Aphidia by evening," the butler informed. I heard him but didn''t bother to reply. My thoughts of Sashina brought a smile to my face, my happy days lay ahead, and intend to capture every moment.


    I closed my eyes to rest and refresh my memory of the novel. I need to jog my photographic memory to make sure that I have all my facts figured out. No matter the cost the life I want would be mine.


    ******


    Davion''s p.o.v


    "We need to get you ready," I heard the annoying voice of my butler say. He whines like a pregnant woman. I can''t stand it. So annoying.


    "The prince of Xeris will be visiting us today. You need to be there to give him a proper welcome," the whining master said again. "Get up."


    "Whining so much isn''t going to get me out of here any faster," I said shutting him up. I wouldn''t dare celebrate just yet. He might whine little a pregnant lady but he is more stubborn than a lady in heat.


    I would know, my brother is a victim of such. He has close to seven ladies in court with who he releases his sexual urges, anyone can pity him with how clingy and stubborn those ladies are. They never take no for an answer insist on having things done their way every time. Poor thing.


    "Davion Draleon Blakemore," he called out in a threatening voice.


    "My name is beautiful and it sounds even more beautiful coming out of your lips," I teased and enjoyed how red he turned before storming off. If only he wasn''t such a thick skin I would smile victoriously at him storming but I''m sure that he would only return to ruin my day.


    I slide back into the warm water and soak my body in the water. The water feels so good on my skin. It would be a waste to get out of the water just to welcome some irrelevant prince from Xeris. My father and brothers can do it for all I care and nothing can get me out of this water.


    "Hello, your highness."


    My ears perked up hearing a female voice on top of my pool. What female dares to enter my bathroom? I remained in the water letting the flower petals keep her from seeing me.


    "I know you are in the water and I won''t leave until you talk to me," she said with her hand playing with the water.


    "Get your filthy hands away from my bath water before I send you to your four father," I warned coldly.


    "That wasn''t so hard. Now that you are up, it''s time to get dressed," she said with a sweet smile on her face.


    "You are so sweet," I said walking towards her. "Wouldn''t you rather getting into the pool with me?" I said in a seductive voice drawing her with my charm. Like a fool she takes the bait and starts blushing, women are such fools. Did my stupid butler think that he can get me out of the water by sending a woman to me?


    "M..my p..prince," she said stammering. Hearing her voice break and watching her cheeks turning red was fulfilling. It is nice to see that my charms work like magic and on anyone.


    "Won''t you accept my request?" I asked her with a pouty face. And just like fairy dust she melted and started tearing up.


    "I..i..."


    "You will accept then," I said waiting for no reply I pulled her into the water. She struggles to swim in the water before she stabilizes and gets on her feet. She glared at me with a piercing gaze. "I know that I''m handsome but could you soften your gaze," I told her tracing her jawline. She shivers in my hand further increasing the smirk on my face.


    "You...," she tried to say but my hand on her face was proving it difficult for her to continue.


    "I can see all your curves perfectly now," I spoke causing her to notice how the dress hugged her body. She hurriedly pushes my hand away and gets up from the water. She dashes out of the room like a deer running away from a lion''s den. I untie my hair and let it down to my waist.


    "What did you do to h..."


    I turned around to look at him and he gulped. I brushed my hair with my hair shaking the water from it. The simple move sent my butler''s mind into chaos. My beauty is such that if I want it then both men and women would bow at my feet.


    "What were you saying?" I asked him in a sweet innocent voice. ''Too cute,'' I thought. I flipped my finger to bring him out of his dazed state and laid back into the water. "No need to stare. If you like what you see then come and get it," I said making him blush. He shook his head like he normally does when I get in his head and glared daggers at me. His gaze was sharp.


    "Get out of the water now," he demanded raising his voice to the fullest.


    "Or what my dear. Will you shower with kisses or pin me down an..."


    "La la la la," he sang trying to keep my naughty words out of his ears. I can''t say that I didn''t enjoy rattling him but I do. It is my morning ritual and I can''t start my day before getting my medicine.


    "Winrus," I called to him. He removed his hands from his ears and looked at me. His eyes were sad, he looked like he was about to cry. My medicine is over, I hate this part.


    "You really must hate me so much to want the king to behead me. If I don''t get you ready then he will have my head," he said and started tearing up.


    I sighed. It was fun while it lasted but I guess I have to get out of the water now. I blame the prince of Xeris for disturbing my morning three-hour bath, I have only been in the water for an hour. I got out of the pool and stood before him ready to get dressed.


    "Stop crying, I''m out," I inform him and witness his eyes light up. He ran towards me and hugs me in happiness. Give it five seconds. ''Five, four, three, two, and one.


    He let go of me and backed away recalling the difference in status and the fact that it is inappropriate for him to embrace me. He looks so cute that I can never bring myself to treat him like a slave. If it were up to me, I would end slavery in Aphidia but I am not the king and the king would never listen to such a topic.


    "Won''t you get me ready or do you need to feel my body once more," I teased and he turned scarlet. His face looks so good with a blush on. He should wear the look more often.. "Get me ready before the king starts asking stupid questions," I reminded him cutting my happiness short.

 Chapter 4 - Four

    Jason''s p.o.v


    "We are here," I heard opened my eyes. I looked out the window to see the great palace of Aphidia before my eyes just like the author had described it. It was more wonderful in person and I can''t believe that I am here.


    Inside my favorite novel seeing everything from the villain''s point of view. I stepped out of the chariot and stood proud before the palace. The men and women of the court came running to the entrance of the palace, they made two lines on each side of the walkway.


    Right after what I assume to be the royal family of Aphidia made an entry in between the two lines. The King stood at the center with his wife by his side a few gorgeous men beside him.


    "Remember, you aren''t just here to stay with but to make the relationship between the two kingdoms stronger," the butler whispered to me. "You are also to form alliances and find a bride, make no mistake alliances change and friends can easily become enemies," he added.


    "I see," I said well aware of life in a palace. All from the knowledge of romance novels that I have read including my favorite one. I just pray to the stars the author is merciful on the outside. She better not complicate life for me or change the plot.


    I took a step forward and led my entourage to meet the king of Aphidia, right after I should go and lock the prince in his room. It is this evening before the party held to welcome in the kingdom that he and Sashina met.


    With him out of the way, I will have all the time in the world to woo my sweet Sashina and make her fall head over heels for me.


    "Greetings to the king of Aphidia," I greeted my right leg halfway to the ground and my left hand in the air across my chest. It was the way to greet the royal family in the novel. Weird but every kingdom has its customs.


    "Welcome to Aphidia," he said to me. His welcome sounded cold but his voice is nothing compared to my butler. The man was more heartless than the devil that I know. "Come," the king said.


    We headed inside the castle, reading about this place, and being here in person is a completely different story. The world is so beautiful when I am witnessing it for myself, the best feeling in the world.


    All readers should be as fortunate as I am to get such a once-in-a-lifetime chance of walking inside their favorite novel and feel what the characters feel in person. Except if they have to deal with a man like Zanir then they should stay in the real world.


    "Saf will lead you to your room. Take some rest, you''ve had a long journey," the king says.


    The man called Saf took my luggage and led me to my sleeping chambers. I had seen so many people but I doubt that either of them was the prince. According to the author, the prince is supposed to be some beauty that both men and women can''t resist.


    It is said that his charms leave men and women dazed and awestruck. I didn''t feel awestruck by either of the men by the king''s side so they must not be him.


    "Listen," I said grabbing Saf''s attention. "I have a gift for the crown prince, can you point me in the direction of his room?" I asked him innocently.


    "Go right from here and then turn left. The door by the end of the corridor is his," Saf explained. I followed the direction and left him to go and find the prince.


    "Just a few more hours and my dreams will be mine," I whispered.


    My steps were rushed, I had to get to him before he leaves his room to go for a walk in the garden. He must not get to the garden at all cost today.


    "Ouch," I heard and closed my eyes at the impact. I clutched my head that had collided with someone and rubbed on it not to swell.


    Opening my eyes, I glanced at the body I bumped into and froze. My gaze remained on her face unable to look away from her, she was a beauty. Her long black hair laid perfectly on her body despite the fall. ''She.."


    "Are you alright?" the pretty lady asked me.


    "I..you...I...you...I..." I mumbled not able to utter a single actual word.


    "So, I have my hair down. Noted," she said.


    "What?" I asked her wondering what she was going on about.


    "That look on your face is what happens when I have my hair down. I''m used to it," she said getting up. I followed after and stood up too. She is so beautiful, not sure she was in the novel when I read it. It didn''t mention a gorgeous out-of-this-world woman in the palace. Had she been part of the original plot then the prince would have fallen for her instead.


    "Are you done staring at me or will you keep at it?" she asked getting me out of my thoughts.


    "I''m looking for the crown prince''s room," I said looking away from her to speak actual words.


    "Why?" she asked in a sweet seductive voice while playing with her hair. I licked my dry lips and gulped at her action.


    "I need to lock him in his room," I found myself saying to her.


    "Why do you need to lock the prince in his room?" she asked leaning her hand on my shoulder, my skin felt like it was placed inside an oven when she touched me, my breath hitched and my throat dried.


    "Is it getting hot in here?" I questioned loosening my shirt.


    "No, but I''m hot if that helps," she said with a charming smile on her face. "Why do you need to lock the prince in his room?"


    "Because I need to stop him from taking the love of my life," I replied and walked ahead. She was making me feel things that I have never felt before and I can''t let myself be distracted from my goal.


    I reach the prince''s room and sneak inside, the water is moving around in the bathroom so he must be taking a bath.


    "Who are you and why are you signing your death warrant by doing this," the lady asked me while I blocked the prince''s door.


    "Nedryn Darkvale, the prince of Xeris," I announced to her with pride. Who isn''t impressed by a person with a Prince attached to it?


    "Oh," was all she said to my announcement. "What did you mean by what you said. When did the prince of Aphidia say that he intends to steal your woman?"


    "He didn''t, I just know he will," I say and he looks at me like I I''m crazy. "It''s true, I know how the story goes and how it ends. I know what the prince is going to do even before he does," I said with a little bit of gloating.


    "You are a seer?"


    "No, you could say in a way that I have lived this life once so I know and with this knowledge, I will finally be the one with a happy ending."


    "So, you are telling me that you''ve lived this life once," she stated and I nodded because I quite don''t trust my voice in front of her. "In short, you liked her tried to impress her, and failed to lose to the prince and you''ve got a second chance and you''re following the same footsteps as the first time."


    "Only this time I know what to do to get her," I say confidently.


    "Insanity is the act of doing the same thing over and over again each time expecting a different answer. Going after the same girl again after losing is insane," she said. "And even if you get the girl, you''d still be a loser since you needed to cheat to have her," she added.


    "Hey," I yelled out loud. I know my plan is crazy but she doesn''t have the right to judge me. She is nothing but a gorgeous flirt who can''t land herself a man. "I. won''t. let. you. speak. me. like that," I spoke angrily emphasizing each word from my lips.


    "Or what?" she asked daringly. The look in her eyes challenging me.


    "Or this," I said right before I landed a kiss on her lips. I couldn''t resist, she is way too gorgeous not to mention her sweetly seductive voice that she uses all the time. Even when she talked down to me, it all felt like honey and flowers showing down from heaven.


    The kiss was short but sweet, I moved back in time. I can''t believe that I have cheated on Sashina with this sexy seductress.


    "You think I am a seductress," the she-devil asked me making me realize that I spoke my thoughts out loud.


    "I need to go," I say to her and make my move. I felt a hand on my arm stopping me in my tracks.


    "You touched me, a noble. You have to take responsibility for your actions," she said her cute seductive side vanishing.


    "My heart already belongs to another," I say to her politely and she tightens her grip.


    "You will pay for this," she said her voice turning colder than the butler''s.. I didn''t know whether to shiver or faint as I watched her elegantly make her exit.

 Chapter 5 - Five

    Davion''s p.o.v


    The door to my room was forcefully pushed open. I knew who it was that came in without even having to check. This has been one eventful day that I want to forget and erase from my memories.


    "What do you think of yourself?" I heard Winrus''s cute voice say to me. He must have his hands on his waist while speaking. He has a habit of doing that when he is angry but today I was too tired to tease him about it.


    "You were supposed to be by the king''s side welcoming the prince of Xeris. And you sneak back here to take a bath, seriously," he scolded.


    I stared at the ceiling, my eyes were burning with anger. The thing that happened today should not have happened.


    "Well, you are just going to make up for it by being a good host at tonight''s party," he says snapping out of my thoughts. Party? I hate parties, why in the world would he say something like that?


    "Not going," I said calmly.


    "Oh, you are even if I have to force," he states in a challenging way. "Since you have already taken a bath, get dressed."


    "I am not attending some stupid party," I said stubbornly. I know I sound like a child but what else can I do, after what happened earlier. The last thing I want is to be anywhere near a crowd of people.


    These parties are always the same for me when I attend them. It''s like being a rabbit amid predators. Everyone wants a piece of me including old people and that doesn''t settle well with me.


    So what if I am handsome, that doesn''t give the men and women, young and old the right to ogle at me all through the party like some trophy they wish to win. It irks me to get much attention from such disgusting-minded people who can''t keep their eyes to themselves.


    On one occasion I even had to get a noble arrested because he dared to lay his filthy hands on my body, he was beheaded soon after which brought me relief and joy. Anyone with the audacity to touch me deserves to die, that reminds me of someone who has also signed their death warrant.


    The so-called prince of Xeris. ''How dare he call me a woman?'' I asked in my mind recalling our encounter.


    My mood went from bad to worse thinking about it, he crossed all his limits when he called me a seductress right before kissing me. I had warned him that he would regret his actions and I intend to keep to my promise.


    He will soon understand the punishment of kissing the crown prince of Aphidia.


    "Done," I heard a chipping sound and came out of my trance. I looked down to see that the stupid butler had already got me ready for the party. I glare at him and he just shrugs his shoulders like he hadn''t done anything wrong.


    "Let me hold your hair," he said. I slapped the hand that neared my head, he never seems to learn even after so many years of service to me. No one touches my hair except for me.


    Taking the comb I brush my hair nicely and tie it in a ponytail. The rest of the hair I braid before holding it together with a hairpin. All this I do in less than an hour. Making certain that it was perfect.


    My hair is one of the things that I can''t compromise on. It is the most important thing to me, that and my bath. I can''t live without the two for too long, I would die if anyone ever dared to mess with these two things in my life but not before I give the person a slow and painful death.


    "You could meet a prospective girl today. It would be love at first sight and then you''ll have your first kiss and then get married and the..."


    "Then you can become a mother," I said and he froze. "Since you can''t get pregnant my darling, I will have to find a woman to do that for us," I added. He pouted his lips and turned away from me.


    "You shouldn''t feel so jealous, my relationship with her is only physical. You are the one I love," I teased. I could see the tip of his ears turning red. ''Too easy,'' I thought my lips curling into a smile. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep my hand off of you.."


    "La la la la," he sang blocking his ears and walking towards the door.


    "Close," I whispered and the door swung shut before him startling the poor butler out of his mind. I slowly make my way towards him, if I am going to go to a party that would make me uncomfortable and unhappy then I am getting my revenge.


    "You have no idea of the naughty things I wish to do to your sweet v*in body," I whispered in his ear. He shuddered at the sound of my voice hitting his ear and my hot breath landing on his skin.


    A flush crept upon his face when recognition dawned on him as what I meant with my words. He moves forward to create distance between us but I stop him by grabbing hold of his hand. I pulled him back causing his back to land on my chest. His breath caught, he closed his eyes and bit his lower lip.


    ''Cute,'' I thought.


    "Never walk away from me," I say in an authoritative voice that made his skin tingle. He shivered slightly.


    The smile on my face only got bigger, there is nothing in this world that brings me so much joy than teasing the poor soul in my arms. He is the only person in the world that knows how to take care of me and I am grateful that he is in my life.


    "Why is your skin so red?" I asked him and he blushed even more. "I would love to continue playing with you my sweet kitty but I have urgent matters with the king," I said letting him go.


    I walked past him and open the door, taking one last look at my butler.. I headed out.

 Chapter 6 - Six

    "You asked to see me father," Davion said entering the king''s chambers.


    "I asked the heavens for a son and they gave me a fish," the king said. The prince rolled his eyes at his statement.


    "The fish is taking his leave," he told sarcastically and walked away. "Ouch," he screeched in pain when the king hit him on the head with a shoe.


    "You little brat," the king yelled out. "Listen to me, you are going to attend the party tonight and you are going to make me rich," the king state in a matter-of-fact manner.


    "What?!"


    "There are a lot of noblewomen at the party, you have to select one to be your future bride. Just make sure to pick one with a good background," the king explained.


    Davion felt dizzy listening to his father. This was the last thing on his mind, he was too young to be thinking about marriage. Getting a life partner would mean cutting his bath hours short as he would have to spend time with them or let them take their bath.


    It meant having less time for himself and that was not a good idea for him. He hated that idea, especially when the person gets personal and starts changing his life from his hair to his closet.


    "No, I am not interested in stupid noblewomen," he declared strongly.


    "Well, that ain''t gonna work," the king stated furiously at his son.


    "Don''t care."


    "Since that''s how you think then how about a nobleman. You don''t like women then try to find yourself a man, to be honest, I don''t care who you bed or marry. As long as I get money, lands, and wealth out of it," the king uttered.


    The prince''s jaw dropped when he heard the words coming from his father''s lips. It disgusted him how that man thought. As long he got money and wealth it was okay for him to ask his son to choose a man for a life partner.


    "What is it going to be?" the king questioned.


    Davion was drained for the day, he couldn''t take any more of his father, butler, or the annoying prince of Xeris. For some reason, it was annoying the crown prince of Aphidia day and no one bothered to tell him about it.


    "You are crazy," he said and strode out of the room. The King threw another shoe at him but unlike the first time, the shoe stopped before it could hit him. He turned around and glared at the king, his cute innocent eyes were gone replaced by dangerous piercing eyes that could kill a person.


    "I will assume that this conversation never happened," he said his aura dominating the room. It was so strong that the kind had to take the help of the bed pole to keep himself on his feet. The prince let the shoe drop to the floor before making his way out of the room.


    The doors closed by themselves after he left. He evened his breath to prevent himself from losing his cool.


    Once his breathing was back to normal his normal appearance returned. He walked majestically towards the royal garden to go for a walk. He felt suffocated staying in the palace with all the stressful things going on. Not to mention the party he was being forced to attend when the last thing he wanted was to be around people who cared only to eat him with their eyes.


    No matter how much they stared at him they never got tired of it. It was irritating, above all that he had to try and pick a life partner at the party. He sighed.


    "They say that sighing is a bad omen you know," he heard and jumped at being startled. He looked back to meet a beautiful lady standing behind him. He was never one to compliment women but her beauty came close to his but by a long distance.


    Beautiful green eyes, long blonde hair that reached her shoulders, and a great figure. She wasn''t too tall but not short either, her figure was refined. Her thin lips were stretched into a smile.


    "Never heard that before," he said contributing to the conversation she attempted to start.


    "Now you have," she said to him. Taking a step forward she was an arm''s length from him.


    "I guess I do."


    "I''m Sashina," the girl said holding out her hand.


    "Davion," he said taking her hand.


    Together they walked the garden talking about anything and everything. He found that he was bored or tired while speaking to her which was new. He could never even hold a conversation with the women in his family as they would always stare at his face and get lost in his eyes.


    It annoyed him how they rarely tried to hide it, that is the reason he prefers being in his room or alone most of the time. Both and women staring at him was fun at the beginning but sometimes it made him uncomfortable.


    But with her it was different, she didn''t make him feel uncomfortable, she stole glances at his face every once in a while but she was okay.


    "It is indeed a pleasure to have met you Sashina," he said honestly.


    "Likewise. I never thought I would ever meet such a beautiful man with very unique interests," she said to him.


    "I would offend you called me beautiful even though I am a man if it weren''t for the sweet way in which you said it," he stated. "Thank you for the compliment," he added to her.


    "Should we go back? The party will start soon," Sashina said nervously. She wished he would refuse her so that they could spend some time together.


    "How can the party start without you?" the prince asked her and she blushed. "But if you wish it then I shall accompany you inside," he offered to put his hand out for her to take.


    She hooked her hand in his and let him lead her back into the palace. Her heart was racing in her chest at being so close to the prince.


    "Could this be love at first sight," she thought.

 Chapter 7 - Seven

    Jason waited at the spot where Sashina would walk to the garden. He remembered It from the novel as he had read from It. He has been waiting since the evening to meet the girl of his dreams but she was no where to be seen.


    As long as she didn''t meet with the crown prince it was fine if she didn''t come. Her not coming also gave his mind time to think of the lady that he had ran into on his way to the prince''s room.


    He subconsciously licked his lips recalling the burning sensation he felt when his lips landed on hers. She was heaven, he was sure the author added her in the book to distract him from breaking apart the female and male lead of the story.


    He had to admit that it was a brilliant plan. She was dead gorgeous, seductive with her words and actions, and what more she was a flirt. She uttered every single word from her mouth with the intent to lure and trap. Her influence on her prey was on point leaving nothing to chance.


    Even he was not spared from her charms. He felt drawn to her and never wanted to leave. It was the excitement of meeting Sashima that gave him the strength to walk away from her and her honey-coated tongue.


    "Her beauty is the one that the authors say can destroy kingdoms," he whispered to himself.


    He continued to daydream and missed the prince and Sashina walking past in the distance. His thoughts were occupied with only one thought, he too had not realised that he was deterring from the his original plan by letting himself the distraction.


    He craved to hear the sweet voice once more, to have his hand on her soft skin and his lips on her glossed lips. It would be a dream come true.


    "Master Darkvale."


    The butler''s icy voice brought him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the old man with questions in his eyes.


    "The party is about to start. Shall we?" the butler ushered and led him inside.


    He was disappointed that he had not gotten to see Sashina but there was plenty more chances for that. From the book, she would show up at the party in a green mermaid dress. So he just had to look for the person wearing the green mermaid dress.


    He walked into the hall where the party was being held and drew his breath. He just realized that he had not thought this through at all. He was at a fancy party filled with nobles and elites where as he was no more than a nobody who transmigrated into a novel.


    He wasn''t sure how to act or what he should or shouldn''t do in such a place. He could tell that he was going to be one of those characters who would blend into the shadows and have people forget they even attended the functions in the first place.


    "Is there a problem my prince?" the butler asked him politely. He shook his head in response. "Your seat is at the high table with the king and his family," the butler added.


    Jason gulped. His plan to go and blend with the shadows went off the table. To make matters worse, he was to sit at a place where all the attention will be on him. He swallowed.


    He took slow steps and walked past the crowd. Women and men dressed in their best stood around the room in small groups making small talk and laughing. He nervously walked past all of them and went on to sit at the table.


    He greeted the king and queen after and turned his attention to the people in the hall. His guts twisted and turned in his stomach making him so uncomfortable. Looking around the room he noticed that the seat next to the king to his right was empty.


    "The prince is still as lazy as ever," he whispered to himself.


    His eyes looked around the room in search of Sashina. His eyes landed on a green dress leaving the room through the exit door. He excused himself and hurried out of the room to catch up with the owner of the dress.


    "Food will be served soon don''t be long," the butler let out to him as he exited the room.


    He ran out of the room and followed the fleeting green robe that was taking a turn down the corridor. He ran as fast as his feet could carry him and the moment he got close to her, he wrapped his hand on her waist and pulled her over to him.


    "Sashina," he called out. Her body landing on his chest perfectly, it was as though she was born to be held in his arms.


    The girl lifted his head and gazed into his eyes. He froze when he saw the same seductive eyes, beautiful glossed lips curled up into an alluring smile. Tempting him to lean in and kiss her, to bite on her lips leaving a mark as an indication to everyone that she was his.


    "Still about your obsession with this Sashina I see," the girl said in a teasing tone. "After what you did earlier, one would think a whole prince like you would mind my my honor and not hold so tightly in your embrace in public," she said and bit her lower lip in provocation.


    "You.." he said disappointed but didn''t loosen his grip on her. He pulled her even closer to their chests touch. "For a seductress, your chest is kind of small," he added.


    "Are you saying you prefer your women plumpy and full?" she asked her breath hitting his skin giving him goosebumps. "What''s wrong? You are breathless," she added with a knowing smirk on his face.


    Jason shook his head to clear his mind. When he got his senses back she blew hot air to his skin causing him to shiver and release a soft moan at how good he felt.


    "I prefer my company a little out of it," she whispered in his ear before hitting Jason''s earlobe gently.


    Jason felt the last bit of self-control leave him. He was completely at her mercy.. And he didn''t seem to want it any other way either.

 Chapter 8 - Eight

    Jason sat on the swing watching the seductress taking a swim at the pool. It was an inside pool in the court with the roof open letting in the sun.


    She looked very beautiful with her olive skin in the water, her long hair floated in the water following behind her. Swimming in the water, she was so precise and accurate with her every move like a professional swimmer.


    "Do you like what you see?" she asked taking a break. Jason looked away after being caught staring. He didn''t know what it was about the woman that made him act like a man with the hormones of a teenager.


    "You shouldn''t swim for too long," he advised avoiding answering the question she asked him.


    "Your attempt to avoid my questions are getting better," she complimented. Getting up from the water, Jason had his eyes on her. She got held off the end of her dress and flipped her finger, wind blew on her drying her immediately.


    Jason frowned, he was looking forward to seeing whether she was curvy or not but got disappointed when she dried herself before he could.


    "Don''t frown, what you wish for comes at a prince. With your heart belonging to another, I doubt you would ever agree to pay the price," the seductress told to him.


    Jason shook his head. He was beginning to understand manipulation from her. She led him on but then acts classy and noble. She seduces him but from the looks of things, she didn''t seem like the type to go further than the flirting.


    "One day someone will make you sorry for the way you act," he warned. Nothing good will come out of what she does. He feared she will one day meet a man who will not let her back away after the seduction. She might suffer a terrible fate of perhaps being r*ped.


    "Believe me, nothing of such can ever happen. I tend to be very scary when my smile leaves my lips," she said while her hands over her hair. "Pray that a day never comes when you wipe the smile from my face. That might be your last day alive," she added coldly.


    Her voice was icy cold as she warned him, it felt like death had visited him. He swallowed hard and put on a brave face. He was the villain of the book, he should be the one who us scary but alas many characters in the novel were proving more evil than him.


    It troubled him how such beautiful lips could utter such cold words. Truly the author had to be messing with him.


    "Shall we? The party will end soon and you might miss your chance at being with your lovely Sashina," she said.


    Her words made Jason aware of his original plan. Once again the seductress had made him forget about the woman he loves. To make it worse he didn''t seem to mind, he enjoyed her company.


    She was interesting. She kept him entertained and made him forget all the troubles of his life. His worries of never leaving the novel left him when he was with her.


    "Let''s go," he said.


    They walked out of the pool, on their way they ran into Zanir. He didn''t look very pleased with Jason''s disappearance or the fact that he took forever to return to a party held for him.


    He didn''t even ask him where he had gone or who the woman was. He quickly ushered the male back to the hall separating him from the seductress.


    Jason found himself seated at his seat in no less than five minutes. The terrifying butler didn''t joke around when he wanted something done. He looked around the room for his sexy seductress but she was not around.


    In his search for the seductress, his eyes met with the beautiful green eyes that he is more than familiar with. Blonde hair held together in a bun complimenting her look.


    His breath hitched, his heart started racing in his chest at the sight of Sashina. She was more beautiful than the portrait he had made of her. His image of her was very close to what she looked like in person. He was breathless.


    Finding his way down from the high table he nervously walked over to be. By instinct, he reached out his hand to ask her for a dance.


    "May I have this dance?" he asked her.


    "Yes, you may," she said blushing. She handed her glass of wine to her friend and took his hand. They moved over to the dance floor.


    Jason kept his hand to her waist while the other he held her hand as they moved to the sound of the music. Sashina wrapped her hands around his neck and let him lead her.


    "You are more beautiful than I imagined," he said to her. He was mesmerized by her beauty. He found himself comparing her to the seductress and on a scale of one to ten. He found the seductress''s beauty to surpass hers by a long-range.


    "Thank you," she replied. Her lips curled up into a smile. The idea of the prince of Xeris thinking of her to the point of creating an image of her in their head made her feel happy.


    It was an honor for her, she could bring home a crown if she was lucky that was if the crown prince of Aphidia didn''t accept her.


    Speaking of the prince of Aphidia, just then the music stopped. The guests seeing this knew from experience what was to come and stood from their seats. The page by the door made the announcement.


    "Arise and show respect to the crown prince of Aphidia as he makes his way into the room. Hail the prince of Aphidia," he announced.


    "Hail," the guests responded in unison.


    The door opened revealing the handsome and well-groomed prince of Aphidia in his purple attire. The purple color brought out his eyes and made him look radiant and pleasing to the eye.


    The crowd gasped at the beautiful jewel of Aphidia who rarely makes an appearance in public. Seeing him was something cherished by the subjects of the kingdom.


    Jason too was captivated by him.. He felt drawn to the prince and for some reason, he had this feeling like he knew him.

 Chapter 9 - Nine

    The prince made his way to his father. The old man looked at him pleased. The prince need not open the king''s head to understand the thoughts that went through his mind.


    He had made it very clear that it was money and lands that he cared about. Whether he settled for a man or woman made no difference to him. But he dared not trust the man. After getting the land and money. Next, he will ask for an heir.


    He took his respective seat away from the female members of the family. His cousin seeing him seat stood from her seat and moved to the chair next to him which belonged to the prince of Xeris.


    As he was on the dance floor his seat remained unoccupied. She turned her attention to him.


    "It is nice to see you too Dav," she said to him calling with his childhood nickname.


    "I never said that it was nice to see you," the prince said with a bored expression on his face. "And that seat is taken," he stated hoping she leaves him alone.


    Just the fact that he said a few words to her made her feel happy. The girls all around the room were jealous of her, she got to seat next to the prince and talked to him.


    "Don''t be rude. I am not leaving anytime soon, you should get used to my presence," she said. He raised his eyebrows. She was his biggest headache, she was persistent and has only ever wanted one thing since they came of age. That was for him to look at her as a woman.


    He is her only desire and the lengths she has gone and was yet to go to get him gave him a headache just thinking of it.


    "Excuse me," the prince said. He got up and down to the dance hall. His eyes searched around the room for someone worthy of a few seconds of his time.


    His eyes met with the prince of Xeris, his gaze intensified when he watched his newest entertainment. He smirked.


    He took slow careful steps towards him. The prince of Xeris was rooted on the ground. He couldn''t look away from the crown prince or back away from where he stood. Before long the prince stood before him.


    "Can I have this dance," the prince asked. He gulped. Before he could reply. "Yes," he heard a cute female voice say beside him.


    Sashina hooked her arm around the crown prince''s hand. The prince leaned next to Jason''s ear. "Don''t look away," he whispered in his ear causing the male to shiver.


    "Shall we?" he asked. They moved to the dance floor, the guests moved away from the dance floor leaving the hall for him and his dance partner.


    "Play my beloved," he instructed the orchestra. The song started playing. It was a song with fast beats. He got hold of Sashina''s hand and twisted her.


    "Ahh," she let out surprised.


    The prince grabbed both her hands and pulled her back. She landed on his chest, he traced her hand from her fingers to her shoulder causing her to shiver, his hands moved to her chest and turned her around.


    They faced each other with their legs moving to the beat of the song. He created distance between them and pulled her to him. With his legs apart, he let her slide under him before pulling her back up. She didn''t get to stand at her feet when he raised her and held her by the waist.


    She held his shoulders for support as he carried her. He set her down and waited for her to regain her balance.


    "Thank you," he said. He ushered her back to Jason''s side. His eyes gazed at Jason.


    "All yours," he told to him.


    He walked back to the table. His cousin was glaring daggers at him. He responded by giving her a sweet smile.


    "What was that?" she questioned.


    "Dancing," he replied uninterested in talking to her. "You should return to your seat. The prince is coming back," he said pointing to Jason who was making his way to them.


    With a pout, she forced herself to get up from the chair. "This Is not over yet," she uttered before leaving.


    The prince of Xeris took his seat. He was confused at what the prince said and why he was asked not to look away.


    He wanted to ask him but something told him that he wouldn''t like the answer that he would get.


    The food was served right after, he chose to have his food in peace. The rest he could think of later.


    "You didn''t look away," he heard beside him. "That is good. I like obedient people," he added in what seemed like a compliment.


    "What?" Jason asked.


    "Nothing," the prince replied him innocently.

 Chapter 10 - Childish Prince

    Jason woke up from his sleep, he had a bad dream that he would be going hunting with the royal family of Aphidia. As it is he was not the real Nedryn. He knew nothing of Archery.


    He sat upon his bed rubbing sleep from his eyes. They were rushed footsteps going and coming from the room. He looked up, his servants were moving up and down the room.


    "What is going on?" he asked.


    "We are getting everything ready for the hunting trip, your highness," one of the servants said bowing their heads to him.


    He swallowed hard. He got up from his bed to stop them when his butler walked in. "You are awake," he said walking in with a bow and an arrow in hand. "Help him with his bath," he instructed.


    "I am not going hunting," Jason refused bluntly. He wasn''t going to make a fool of himself with something that he didn''t know how to do.


    "Whether by force or be chosen, you will go on this trip. You just decide which method you prefer," he stated coldly.


    "You will have to force me but I will not move from here," he said sternly.


    The butler raised his hand and held his arm, Jason felt a sharp pain in his body before he lost his consciousness.


    "Get him ready and get him to his palanquin," the butler ordered.


    The servants wasted no time, they carried him into the bathroom and bathed him. They dried his body and got him dressed for the trip.


    By the time he came around he was already in the moving palanquin. Looking out the window he could see the palace very far behind, he cursed.


    He should have known that he would lose to the butler, the man was good at his job especially if it involved violence.


    "I hate that man," he said out loud.


    "I heard that," the butler''s voice came from outside his palanquin shocking him. He removed the curtain to find his butler on the horse next to his palanquin.


    "The crown prince''s palanquin is seeking to pass," one of the servants informed Zanir.


    "Halt," the butler yelled. They stepped aside and made way for the crown prince to pass.


    "Why am I stopping to let the prince pass, I too am a prince so why is he getting special treatment?" Jason asked irritated.


    His voice was loud drawing the attention of the prince in his palanquin. The crown prince removed his hand out the window and they stopped. He signaled for them to set him down.


    He got out of his palanquin, his servants spread a blue carpet on the floor so he doesn''t step on the dirt. He stood up with the wind blowing on his robes. His hair was neatly plated and held together behind his head.


    He motioned for Jason''s palanquin to be set down. The servants of Xeris obeyed. He got on along with his butler Winrus and took his seat opposite.


    "Let''s go," he said.


    The palanquin was lifted and they continued the journey. "I want my palanquin to be the first to arrive," he announced.


    "But that would mean passing the king," Winrus uttered. "Your madness has no limit," the young man said thinking of how mad the king is going to be when the prince passes him.


    "The prince of Xeris needs to learn just how important I am," he said his eyes staring at Jason without blinking.


    "That is a stupid reason to anger the king," Winrus pointed out.


    "Relax my darling, I swear that I won''t cause you any worries," he said to the man breaking eye contact with Jason.


    Winrus tensed at being called so affectionately by the prince in front of an audience. He flinched and looked away, he kept his gaze outside the window.


    "Don''t feel shy, I''m sure the prince won''t mind us," he whispered to him loud enough for Jason to hear.


    "I.." Winrus turned around to complain and froze finding the prince so close to him. He could feel the man''s breath on his skin. He shivered.


    "Yes?" the prince asked in a seductive voice. He felt goosebumps on his body having to be so close to the man.


    He averted his gaze with much difficulty and stared at the window, the prince was having fun playing with both the men in the palanquin. He didn''t have his eyes on Jason but he could tell his reaction was not far from that of his sweet slave.


    He took hold of Winrus''s face and forced him to turn his head. "What did I say about looking away?" he asked him.


    "Th..that I should n..never look away," Winrus replied in a shaking voice.


    "Good," the prince replied.


    Ha backed away from the man and gazed at Jason. Jason was dazed by the scene before him, he recalled from the novel how the prince was a flirt and liked to tease people. The information was true, the man was shamelessly flirting before him.


    To make things worse he felt himself being affected by his words. His throat was dry from watching their little interaction. He recalled how he was asked not to look away by the man just as he had said to the boy he was flirting with.


    He didn''t understand it before but now he gets a hint of why the prince asked him that. The prince wanted him to see and watch everything, he wanted...


    His thoughts were cut short when he felt a hand on his thighs. He came out of his thoughts and looked at the prince.


    "What are you thinking of?" the prince asked him softly.


    "Nothing that concerns you," he said coldly. He wasn''t going to let the man think that he was one of those people who he could play with.


    From the novel, he flirted with both men and women but was never serious. He never had any feelings attached to them. And he never went far from flirting. That was until he met Sashina.


    "You said that I should talk to the prince and be nice to him. Now look at how he''s treating me," the prince whined in a childish voice and pouted to his butler.


    Jason and Winrus had their jaws drop at his change of behavior. He went from a flirtatious prince to a childish prince in seconds.


    "I don''t want to talk to him and you shouldn''t force me ever again," he said stubbornly.

 Chapter 11 - Stop Staring

    The camp that was set was surrounded by soldiers protecting the royal family. Jason felt no need for his presence at the can''t until his eyes caught sight of the woman of his dreams.


    Sashina and other maidens had made their way into their camps. Camping was a main activity and very rarely women took part but they came to watch and see who gets the most catch.


    He wished to impress Sashina when the time to go hunting came. He took the bow and arrow and took to the small hill near the camp. All the places were full of soldiers so he was safe to go practice. Even though it was the first time that he would be holding the bow he was confident he could it.


    He made it a few distances, he made sure the coast was clear and no one was watching before he started. He didn''t want to humiliate himself before a crowd of any kind. After all, he was the legendary prince of Xeris and he is supposed to have amazing fighting skills.


    He held the bow up and got the arrow on the bow, he tried to pull it back and shoot. The arrow fell to the ground not even going any distance and the bowstring was too hard for him to pull back.


    "One more time," he encouraged himself.


    He tried once more and failed. He kept trying for so long failing worse than before each time. He cursed at how the Arrow made it look so easy on television. He could shoot mad arrows at his enemies.


    He threw the bow to the ground and kicked the ground angrily.


    "The ground has nothing to do with your lack of Archery skills," he heard from behind a few thin bushes from where he stood.


    His face paled at someone witnessing his humiliation. But as he had the title of a prince has thought to scare the man into apologizing for the rude comment.


    "Do you know who I am that you dare say that to me?" he questioned doing an impersonation of his butler''s scary voice.


    "I know that you are a terrible archer," the voice sounds unfazed by his attempt to scare him.


    Angered Jason rushed to the point where the voice was coming from. He was stumping his feet at the ground like a mad child.


    "How dare speaks to the prince like that. I will have you beheaded for sure," he threatened. Threats always got people under control so he thought it would work. He couldn''t wait to reach the man and see him trembling in fear.


    "Behead me? Are you sure you can do that?" the voice asked in mockery. "You shouldn''t go around uttering words that might cost you I''m your life," he added.


    Jason added with a run, he needed to reach the arrogant before the man thought of running away and show him that he was the prince.


    "I am the prince..." he started to say but tripped on a log. As he was falling he felt someone grab hold of him.


    "If you must remind people every time then are you a prince?" the voice asked causing him to glance up. "Those with title need not advertise, the title should speak for itself," he added.


    Jason held his breath being in such proximity with the crown prince. He bit his tongue when the words he spoke to the prince repeated in his mind. Technically, he had threatened the future king of Aphidia that was a crime that might be considered treason.


    He could get beheaded for letting his tongue ran loose. He swallowed hard.


    "If you keep staring, I will gouge your eyes out," the prince warned.


    He snapped out of it and moved away from the prince. He made his attire, the prince turned around and walked away leaving him behind.


    Jason followed behind him. As much as he had not wandered off too far from camp, he couldn''t seem to recall where it was he came from. He assumed that following the prince he would get back.


    It wasn''t his fault he was bad with direction. Back home he had GPS, he never needed to remember such things. He missed his phone a lot, his baby made life so easy for him but the novel is set in an era where the phone is yet to exist.


    He picked up his bow and arrows and ran after the prince. The man had his hair neatly kept and his white robe made him look like he had just descended from heaven. His soft skin was without any marks. The elegant way he strode in the forest made it look like he was floating. No sound came from his steps.


    He had his arms behind his back and he kept walking. Truly the author wasn''t lying when she wrote that he was like an angel. Jason was so captivated by him that he didn''t notice when the prince stopped and turned around. He walked on and bumped into the prince.


    He stumbled back a little after, his eyes. looked ahead. The prince was looking at him. His face was unreadable to him, he tried to imagine how the author would describe the look on his face but that too didn''t help.


    "Why are you following me?" the prince asked letting a word out of his thin pink lips.


    Jason looked at his lips move and felt his throat dry. The effect the man had on him was similar to the seductress, both had killer looks and were alluring to the eye. Just the sight of the prince''s lips made him want to know shat he tastes like.


    "Are you listening to me?" the prince asked him noticing the intensity in the stare he was receiving. He was no fool, he could tell that only intimate thought ran through the male''s head.


    He cursed and took a step closing the distance between them. He raised his hand and knocked Jason in the head to stop his thoughts from wandering off.


    "Stop staring," he warned.

 Chapter 12 - I Will Judge What Is Wrong

    Jason didn''t look away despite the prince''s irritated face. It''s not that he didn''t want, it was more of couldn''t. He took note of the prince''s dashing features and gulped.


    "You are weird," the crown prince said. "From what I heard of the prince of Xeris, he is supposed to be cold and heartless but you aren''t as your reputation says you are," he added.


    "You shouldn''t believe everything that you hear," Jason responded to him.


    "But there isn''t smoke without fire so I''m certain of skeletons in your clos..." he started to say and stopped. He listened to the surroundings and frowned.


    He moved and stood behind Jason. With his hands, he reached out and held Jason''s hands. He pulled back on his hand that held the bow and took three arrows in hand and aimed at the trees and fired.


    The three arrows flew to the trees. Three people fell from. the trees in which he aimed at. "Run," he warned and pulled at Jason''s hand and made a move for it.


    He was flying more than running and all the while taking Jason with him. The crown prince was a fast runner but those after them kept them at their feet.


    He snatched the bow and arrows from the male and jumped up grabbing the branch of a tree and pulling himself on. While Jason kept running to avoid being killed he stood on the tree firing the arrows one after the other at his enemies.


    His arrows hit the target on point but soon he realized that there were more people after him and the arrows ran out. "Just great," he said.


    He lifted off from the tree and floated above them all. He folded his hands in front of his chest and started manipulating the air around him. He made sure to direct the wind at them.


    At first, it was just small wind but soon he was creating tornadoes and sending them in their direction. He opened his eyes and drew his sword before jumping into the tornados, with his skills he skillfully maneuvered through the wind slicing his enemies into pieces.


    His movements were careful, his speed was faster than lightning. When the wind died down. All of his enemies laid dead on the ground and his sword was soaked in blood. His clean clothes were without a single stain of blood.


    "I hate blood," he said. He turned his body around. Jason stood behind him wide-eyed at the scene before him, it was not believable to him that someone so handsome and peaceful could have caused such a scene.


    "What are you?" he asked never remembering the book having any magical elements. The prince was good with the sword but having the ability to control wind was new. He needed to check with the author and see what was happening.


    Maybe he had found himself inside the book that had been stolen. The thief must be the one changing the text from the original.


    He needed to inform the author that someone was stealing her work and changing it from the original plot maybe even sue the thief for attempting such an unforgettable crime.


    "A prince," the crown prince replied wiping his sword on one of the dead bodies.


    "How could you kill them without blinking?" he asked him. Taking a life was something so cold and sinful and he did it without even thinking twice.


    "First of all, it was kill them or they kill me, and secondly don''t stand there judging me with your past," the prince uttered coldly.


    "I will judge what is wrong," Jason said realizing that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. But he felt happy that he had expressed himself. The prince needed to know that killing was wrong.


    "That coming from a person who slaughtered 3000 subjects to prove that he was mighty?" the prince asked intrigued.. "You have some nerve Nedryn," he added.

 Chapter 13 - Good Or Bad

    "What?!" Jason was shocked hearing what the crown prince had to say of him. He couldn''t deny it because even he was confused about the new things in the novel.


    First, elemental magic wasn''t in the book, and secondly, that seductress that he met wasn''t in the original plot either. He needed to get the author to check her book before someone ruined her masterpiece of work that took a whole year to complete.


    "Don''t deny it. The whole world knows of your deeds," the crown prince stated. "I need a bath," he informed.


    Moving past the dazed prince of Xeris, he walked away to head to the lake nearby to wash. He felt dirty after killing people.


    "Are you coming?" he asked in a raised voice noting that Jason was still dazed.


    Jason came out of his trance and followed him, the prince stole glances at the man confused about what to believe. The man before him was very delicate, easy to tease, and sweet but the man from the rumors is supposedly cold and heartless.


    He had encountered the prince once before at war, they weren''t at war with Xeris but Vanar and they joined hands to fight the common enemy. The man he recalled from then was just as the rumors described but he was being proven wrong by spending time with him.


    "Are you good or bad?" he asked confused.


    Jason was too busy thinking of the 3000 people he killed in his mind. It was true that Nedryn was a cold and distant man from the start of the novel but he was not a bad man.


    The man only started crossing limits and boundaries after he lost Sashina to the crown prince. That was when he snapped and lost all senses of his brain. He could only think of destroying the prince.


    They reached the lake soon, the prince helped Jason sit by a rock to avoid him walking into the lake. The man was lost in thought so much that he didn''t even notice where they were.


    The crown prince undressed his clothes and set them aside, he removed the pin from his hair and let his hair loose. His hair fell on his back freely. Rubbing his hand on his hair, he felt relaxed and complete in doing so.


    Walking into the water, he released a sigh as the relaxing lazy him was surfacing. He could feel the crown prince withering into the background as he immersed his body further into the water.


    Once he was fully in the water he moved around making his body get used to the cold water. His movements got Jason out of his thoughts, he looked up to the water with a puzzled look on his face.


    He was sure that he was with the prince a minute ago but now he could see the seductress in the water taking a bath.


    He would recognize the movements in the water from a mile away as her since he had watched her swim before.


    He neared the water eager to meet the sweet seductive woman. Hoping her charms and sweet words would help him calm.


    His mind was stressed from the changing plot of the story and the fact that he hadn''t gotten to spend much time with Sashina. Between the prince and the seductress, he was finding no time for his love.


    He gazed at the water for a while thinking that she might raise her head, the wish to catch a glimpse of her beautiful face was growing in his heart. He hadn''t seen her since they parted ways and he missed her much more than he would ever care to admit.


    Being frustrated that she was not coming out or raising her head, he removed his outer clothes and set them aside before jumping into the lake.


    He swam towards the seductress and grabbed her by the waist and swung her around by the waist.

 Chapter 14 - You Are A Man?

    Holding the seductress in his hand he was breathless when he saw her face. She looked beautiful and alluring up close with water dripping from her hair. He swallowed the lump in his throat.


    "Let go of me before I kill you," the prince threatened in his ice-cold voice. Jason came out of his thoughts when he heard the horse male voice that was the opposite of what he expected.


    He blinked his eyes trying to see clearly. His eyes weren''t deceiving him, it was certainly the seductress before him but why did she sound like the crown prince of Aphidia, she thought.


    "You are a man?" he said shocked by his own words. It was the biggest surprise of his life. The seductress that had mesmerized him so much turned out to be the scary crown prince.


    "Took you long enough to figure it out but it isn''t your fault. I like wearing silky robes, they are just so comfortable," she said to him.


    "I Uhm..."


    Jason''s brain froze when he realized that he had kissed a man, not once but twice.


    "I kiss..kissed you," he uttered feeling short of breath.


    "Not moments am proud of but such is life," the prince replied with a cool attitude like he wasn''t affected by the fact that they were both men and they had kissed each other.


    "Aren''t you at least affected by this truth?" he questioned thinking of the thief that was changing the plot of the story. He might have damaged the crown prince''s head and made him crazy.


    "May I remind you that you were the only one of the illusion that I am a girl. I have known your gender all along," the prince said.


    After the revelation, the prince left the water. He hated his bath being interrupted and having someone else in the water with him so he didn''t feel good staying in the water.


    When he walked on land he could feel the intense gaze from the shocked prince of Xeris piercing hid skin from the back.


    "I know I asked you not to look away from me but have some decency for my dignity," the prince said.


    Jason looked away with his cheeks turning a shade of red. It was unlike him to ogle at a man like that but he couldn''t help it.


    The prince had neat abs that were perfectly arranged in six-packs. His skin looked soft to the touch made his fingers itch to caress his skin.


    He did not even want to move to his thighs. The whole sight was a sight worth a second look.


    He dived down into the water as his thoughts trailed down a path that he could never accept. But found rather hard to ignore, he didn''t dislike thinking of the prince as a subject of affection.


    And the fact that he was a man didn''t bother his mind. "Wait, I am straight. What the hell am I thinking about?" he asked himself and decided to leave the water.


    He made up his mind that it was the water that was messing with him and nothing else. His mind was just a little confused and the one he liked was Sashina and he would win her over and get his well-deserved happy ending.


    "The weather sure is nice today," he uttered trying to make it a normal dude conversation. Because that was what they were. Just two dudes having a swim and chilling out.


    "It''s a bad sign. We should leave before something else happens," the prince said not liking his read on the clouds.


    He threw Jason his clothes and did the final touches on his hair. He used the water as a mirror to make sure that his hair was fine.


    That was when he saw a reflection of a red shadow moving above them in the clouds.


    "I hate being right," he said.

 Chapter 15 - Becoming The Villain

    Jason felt his head hurt, it was thundering. The memories of Nedryn from the book were coming Back to him forcing him to Embrace the fact that he was the villain of the novel.


    He recalled how Sashina was to end up married to the crown prince and their happy ever after ending. He felt a pang in his heart when he imagined it happening.


    The prince and the seductress were one and the same man that he had noted. He had deduced in his mind that the prince had done that to confuse him from his real target.


    He recalled at the party how the crown prince had come and taken his lady right from him. He gazed at the roof finally sending the crown prince''s intention of flirting with him.He was doing so only to distract him from going after Sashina.


    "I will not let you win prince. I will show you that two can play at that game," he vowed to himself.


    He was done with the prince and now all his attention he decided to put on winning over Sashina. He would impress her and make fall in love with him.


    His fury was evident in his face when he thought of the fact that he had unknowingly kissed a man without realizing it. He didn''t think that a day would ever come when he would stoop to such a level.


    Getting up from the bed, he moved find a notebook. He needed to note down all the points he recalled from the book to use them to his adavantage. He definately was going to show the prince.


    He wrote down all the crown prince''s weakness and strengths. He carefully memorized them as his secret weapon against the prince.


    "I know you inside out and you don''t even realize it. Just wait and watch what I do to you," he uttered to himself.


    His eyes had an evil blunt flashing in them. He was going to get the rights that were his and whoever came in his way was going to pay for it.


    His butler walked into the room with his evenning tea. The tea was placed by his team table before the old man approached him.


    "Your team is ready," the butler informed. "Something is different about you," he noted feelimg the change in the man''s aura.


    He had become a little cheerful and light on his arrival to Aphidia but now he could feel him getting colder again.


    "I was a little out of it for a while there bit things are good now," Jason replied to him. He had come to his senses after seeing the crown prince''s true colors and now his eyes were open.


    "I see," the butler added.


    Just then a knock came by the door. They turned their attention to the door to see who it was. The page announced the arrival of the crown prince outside that door.


    Jason frowned hearing the name of his enemy. "Let him in," he told to his Butler.


    If the prince thought that he was a pushover just because they were in his house then he was wrong. He was good at playing mind games too and he will soon realize that.


    The Butler made his way to the door and let the prince inside. He had no idea why it was that he was feeling that something wrong was about to happened.


    He didn''t like the feeling on his gut and the warning signs he was getting.


    "Nedryn, how are you feeling?" the crown prince asked giving him a hug.


    "I am good," Jason replied him. "Privacy," he uttered to his Butler.


    The butler exited the room locking the door on his way out leaving them alone to talk.


    "I came to check on you. I hope seeing the red shadow hasn''t terrified you took much," the prince inquired of him.


    "Tell me the real reason that you are here because we both know that you don''t care about me," Jason said coldly. "You came here to keep me distracted and to find out if I am still going to persue Sashina," he added.


    The crown prince stared at him unable to understand where the accusations were coming from. He had only gone there to check on him.


    "The answer is yes. And if you think that you can stop me from taking her then you are mistaken," get said confidently. "I will do what it takes to make her mine, even if it includes getting rid of you," he added.


    The crown prince was not one to take lightly a threat. He had not expected for Nedryn''s attitude to change so much but now he was able to see his true colors.


    "I will teach you the consequences of threatening me," the prince said to him and left his room fuming mad.

 Chapter 16 - I Came To Say Sorry

    Jason slowly made his way to the prince''s room. He footsteps were soft on the floor not to attract any attention on himself. He sneaked his way into the prince''s room through the window.


    He touched his coat and reached his hand inside, he removed his hand and in it was a scissors. His lips curled up into a smile.


    "You like to flirt and seduce people because of your hair. You distract them and keep them from their goals," he whispered to no one in particular. "Let''s see what you are without your hair," he added.


    He slowly inched closer to the prince''s bed. Crown prince Davion was sound asleep, he took the beautiful plated lock of hair in his hand. He had heard that the prince never allowed anyone to touch his hair. He understood why, it was so soft to the touch that he didn''t feel like putting it down.


    He ran his hand on his hair feeling bad that he would have to cut it off. But if it weren''t for the hair and the buggy choice of clothing the prince was used to wearing, he would not have been distracted from his goal.


    The hair had to go and the crown prince needed to learn that trying to sabotage his plans. He closed his eyes and cut the hair at the tip of crown prince head.


    The hair that he had cut off was in his hand. His heart sank in his chest holding it in his hand. He had a bad feeling about what he had done, suddenly he didn''t feel like it was a good idea.


    He recalled that day when he watched the crown prince by the pool. The way he looked with his long hair in the water floating beautifully following his rhythm.


    His fingers trembled and the scissor in his hands fell to the ground. He came out of his thoughts hearing the sound made by the metallic scissor meeting the ground.


    The sound woke the crown prince from his sleep. He woke up, reached out for the knife underneath his pillow and swiftly flipped out of bed and landed before Jason.


    He moved his knife to Jason''s neck and trapped Jason''s hand behind his back. "Who are you?" he questioned. His voice ice cold and threateningly low.


    Jason gulped. Sweat trickled down his spine from the situation that he had found himself in. The lights to the room turned on. Davion lit the lanterns in the room using his element of fire.


    He was surprised when he saw that it was prince Nedryn that was in his room. He relaxed a little bit seeing as it was not an assassin that had come to his room.


    Jason moved to get a little distance between the two of them but the crown prince''s hold on him was too tight. Davion grinned cheekily. That prince of Xeris had brought himself to his room in the middle of the night.


    There was no way he was going to let him go without a tease but first one question troubled him. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    Jason swallowed nervously. He held the prince''s hair behind his back scared for the male to see it. The fault in his plan flashed before his eyes as he thought of how to get out of the room.


    "I came to say sorry," he told to the crown prince. "I had misbehaved with you earlier and hence I came to say sorry," he added.


    Prince Davion raised his eyebrows. That was another surprise, from what he had heard of the prince of Xeris was the fact that he didn''t apologise to anyone.


    "I must be special then that the prince of Xeris came to apologise to me," he whispered to Jason.


    His free hand reached out for his face. He brushed his finger against Jason''s lip, Jason shuddered. The warm feeling that passed his lips sent electricity through his body.


    He gently Jason''s face to have their eyes meet. He leaned in towards him, Jason closed his eyes and parted his lips slightly in anticipation of the kiss. He lips was craving for the lovely kiss that the prince had given him.


    Davion smiled pleased at his reaction. He brushed his lips passed his, he so fast that forced Jason to open his eyes and stare at him with questions in his eyes.


    He was waiting for a kiss but it didn''t come instead the prince only teased him.


    "What''s wrong my prince? You looked offended, did I do anything to upset you?" he asked knowing well what made the prince angry.


    He let go of the prince and took a step back. He scratched his chin as though he was deep in thought looking at the roof.


    "Apology accepted," he spoke after a while. "I am not interested in that girl Sashina, you can have her," he added.


    Jason choked. The crown prince was smiling at him and offering him forgiveness while he had over reacted and taken such a drastic step. He folded the braid inside his shirt and backed away from the prince towards the door.


    "Have you fallen for me?" the crown prince asked him. He halted in his steps, the sweat on his forehead was flowing down his cheek. His palms had grown sweaty from the evidence that he was hiding from the prince.


    "Wh..what?" he asked his voice trembling from fear.


    "You aren''t looking away from me even though you are leaving," Davion said in a sweet voice. "Are you trying to master the face you wish to dream of tonight," the prince stated.


    Out of habit he reached his hand to brush his hair. He moved his hand to his back but his hand touched nothing. His heart almost stopped beating when he didn''t catch his braid at the back of his head.


    He moved to the mirror to look at his head. His eyes threatened to bulge from their sockets when he saw the state of his head. His body trembled in anger, his breath became heavy as he watched his short hair on his head.


    He flashed his eyes back to his bed, his eyes caught the scissor on the ground. The thing that had woken him up, he moved his eyes to Jason who was frozen in fear.


    "I came to say sorry," Jason''s words echoed in his ear fuelling the flame in his heart.

 Chapter 17 - Broken Crown Prince

    Jason''s p.o.v


    I stood still waiting for the crown prince to react to his hair being cut by me. I watched him stare at his image in the mirror not saying anything.


    I didn''t dare move from where I was, the fear that was coursing through my veins paralysed me to the floor. I don''t know why I thought that doing this was a good idea.


    "Goodnight Nedryn," the prince''s cold voice uttered to me. I gulped anxiously. The crown prince moved from the mirror and returned to bed as thought nothing was wrong. He said nothing about his hair which ass strange.


    "Get out of my room Nedryn," his voice sounded in my ears.


    I moved my eyes to the prince who laid in bed with his eyes closed. The guilt in my heart was eating up at me, it was not fair what I did. And he didn''t even say anything to me which made me feel even worse about myself.


    "I a..am sorry," I said honestly.


    I took heavy steps to leave the room. Despite accomplishing what I had gone to do, I felt no joy or happiness in what I did.


    In that moment I felt like I had become the character that I used to hate in the novel. Nedryn Darkvale had used others people''s weakness to have his way. He had always tried to cripple his opponents by breaking them and at that moment it felt like I didn''t just take his place but I had become him.


    Holding the braid in my hand made my chest hurt. The stinging pain in my heart was out of guilt for what I did. All so that I could end up with the girl and become the make lead.


    I returned to my room and went straight to bed. It was already late and as it is my mood was ruined. I closed my eyes to sleep, all that I could see in my mind was the image of the crown prince when he realised what I had done to him.


    It was a painting image that didn''t spare me. "I am sorry," I found myself saying not knowing why. Was it me trying to fell less guilty for my actions tonight or not.


    ****


    I was woken up by the cold butler early in the morning. The King had asked to have a meal with everyone, hence the butler woke me up to get me ready.


    The sun''s rays were shining into the room eliminating the darkness of the night. The light from the sun looked so beautiful after dreaming about my future wife Sashina.


    Getting up from the bed, I stretched my body. I pushed away the blanket from my body and turned t get up from the bed when my eyes spotted the braid on the bed.


    The memories of last night''s incident flashed through my eyes. ''What have I done?''


    I got up from the bed, my heart was heavy with guilt. The crown prince must be very sad after losing his hair. For a man, he sure treasured his hair more than the world.


    "I will have to make it up to him."


    "Did you offend someone?" Zanir''s cold voice sounded behind me. His face had the look that said, cause another trouble here as you did in Xeris and you will answer to me.


    "Not at all," I said shaking my hands in the air to refute his suspicions. He was on point with his question. I had offended someone but that person was not as scary as the butler standing behind him.


    The prince was charming and playful. He liked to tease people a lot and such people were very easy to console. He would just have to find something to do that would make the male happy.


    "You are needed by the breakfast table in a half an hour, if you are done daydreaming then can we get on with it?" the butler asked.


    I nodded my head. I was ready to face the day and get rid of the guilt in my heart. By doing a good deed for the prince, I would have served my penance.


    I walked to the bathroom to get ready for the meet. Who knew what the king wanted, whatever it was. The prince would be there and I will get to see what mood he was in.


    *****


    Winrus walked into the crown prince''s room early in the morning after getting the king''s order. He braced himself to be teased to the moon and back by the prince.


    His worst part of the day had arrived, getting the prince ready for the day and getting him out of the room. His eyes moved to the bed where on usual occasions, the prince would still be sound asleep.


    But today the bed was neatly spread and the crown prince was not on the bed. His eyes wondered in the room looking for a figure that resembled that of the prince.


    His heart was thundering in his chest. He held his breath hoping that the mad prince had not ran off again and gone for an adventure undercover. The last time the prince did that, the king almost had him beheaded for it.


    In the kingdom, only one person was important and that was the crown prince. He was the future of Aphidia so his disappearance was not taken lightly by the king.


    His eyes spotted the prince sitting by the window already dressed in his princely attire ready for the day. He sighed in relief.


    Upon a closer look at the prince, his breath weakened and he fell dizzy almost fainting. Since his childhood growing up next to the crown prince. This was the first time that he was seeing the male with his hair short.


    His hair looked like it had been trimmed by an amateur who knew nothing about hair. He took a closer look to ensure that he wasn''t daydreaming and he wasn''t.


    The prince''s hair was short and his face was void of any emotion. He looked like a cold form of a man that wasn''t alive.


    "P...prince," he let out.

 Chapter 18 - Broken Crown Prince (2)

    "P...prince," he let out nervously.


    He felt as though an alien had taken the crown prince away and replaced him. The man standing by the window was a man he had never known.


    The crown prince had his serious season but this was not it. This was completely different, it was as though the man was not alive.


    Davion turned his head in Winrus''s direction. His eyes were empty. There was no feeling inside of him. Winrus iched closer to him scared of the change that the prince had gone through in the night.


    He had no idea what had happened but seeing his friend so cold and emotionless made his heart sting. He felt a strong pang in his chest from looking at this sight of the prince.


    "What''s wrong? Can''t stand the thoughts of your desires huh?" Winrus asked trying to get the prince''s happy mood back.


    "I have no desires," Davion replied coldly. His voice touched a different type of cold that the make had never seen in the prince before. "My mind is clear, there are no thoughts disturbing me," the prince added.


    The prince inhaled and went back to staring at the clouds. He was calm and composed.


    "Can I touch your hair?" Winrus asked him. His hair was always a no go zone. It might be short now but the prince was still the same, he was sure that the man would refuse and say something naughty to him.


    "It''s a free kingdom. Do as you please," the prince replied shocking him to the core.


    Winrus was left with his jaw dropped. He was unsure of what happened that triggered the prince to change so much in just one night.


    "The king wants everyone at breakfast," Winrus informed to him.


    The prince nodded and gave no further response. He moved from the window, he straightened his shirt and gazed into the broken mirror on the wall. He saw his reflection in it, a glint of pain flashed before his eyes.


    His eyes folded into a fist and the mirror shattered into pieces. "Arghhh," Winrus screamed ducking away so that the pieces of the mirror don''t hurt him.


    Once the mirror was broken, the crown prince went back to be being cold. His aura forced his servant to step a distance from him.


    The safest place that Winrus could find was far away from the prince. He had changed and was unpredictable. He was nothing like the crown prince that he helped get ready for bed last night. The man before him had woken up on the wrong side of the bed and was worrying him.


    The prince stepped out of his room. His eyes caught sight of the mirror outside the door. Due to his previous love for his looks, he had mirrors placed everywhere in the palace.


    His reflection in the mirror was haunting. An image of the way he looked before the prince of Xeris paid him a visit appeared in the mirror. It had the brightest smile that he usually wore on his face.


    The smile felt like it was taunting him on how he looked now. His heart had been fractured for reasons he knew nothing about. All he did was tease the prince now and then, nothing harmful and yet the male went overboard and cut his hair.


    He closed his eyes, the mirrors in the palace started shattering one by one from where he was. Servants, court ladies/ men, guests and others who were in the palace screamed for their lives as they ran away.


    The palace was filled with screams of children, women and men running for their lives with the glass shattering everywhere. Sine got scratched with the glasses. While others had pieces of the glasses pierce through their skin as they made a run for it.


    He wanted to never see that image if himself ever again. He was a fractured man with nothing left to lose, he had nothing to gain from the world either and hence he had become the most dangerous person in the whole of Aphidia.


    "You fool," the king shouted.


    He was getting a headache from all the screams happening in his palace so early in the morning. There was only one person that he could think of that could create such chaos in the palace and he found his suspicion to be true.


    He reached the prince and forgot the words that he had come to say. The anger that he had built up in his chest vanished in that moment. He froze as he gazed at his son.


    The sadness in his heart was similar to the day that he had lost his wife the late queen. It felt like he had lost his son as he had lost his wife, the person before him stood unmoving staring at him, there was nothing in his eyes.


    He had also noticed that the crown prince''s hair had been cut. He looked passed the prince and glared at the slave standing behind him.


    Winrus shook his head refusing the accusation the king had in his eyes. He was not responsible for cutting the prince''s hair. The man as either cut it himself or someone else had done it in his sleep.


    Which was highly unlikely so the first option was much more believable. Perhaps the prince had just gotten tired of his hair and decided to cut it short.


    "Tell me which sad soul are you going to tease early this morning?" the king asked surprised that the man was even out of his room dressed.


    It was unlike him not to create drama early in the morning. It was normal for them that the change shocked them.


    "I have no intentions of doing that father," Davion replied calmly to his father. "As the crown prince my duty is to the kingdom and that is what I will concentrate on," he added.


    Just then Jason appeared in his sight behind the king. He had his butler with him and both were walking in their direction. Davion looked at Jason, his eyes remained motionless and still.


    He saw the cause of his change, the one who took his soul from him approaching him, a cold engulfed his body freezing his heart further.


    He was broken.

 Chapter 19 - The Letter

    Change is hard to accept for someone who is used to things going their way at all times. The crown prince was seated at the breakfast table staring at his plate. Looking past the food on his plate, he could see his reflection in the plate.


    The short hair he saw melted the ice in his heart, he tried so hard to convince himself that it was a dream that he would wake up to but that was not to be. The reality was a lot harsher than he wanted to believe. His hair was gone all for reasons that wasn''t even valid. All because the prince of Xeris believed him to be after some woman, Sashina.


    Ever since prince Nedryn came to Aphidia, he had been under the impression that he Davion Draleon Blakemore was interested in this woman. His obsession with the girl is the reason for the choices that the prince had made.


    He grabbed hold of the knife beside his plate and held it tightly in his hand. The knife cut through his hand but he didn''t even flinch. He yearned for Jason''s blood. He wanted to hang the head of the culprit over his head to look at every morning before he started the day and every night before he went to sleep.


    He shot his gaze from his plate to Jason. His blood shot eyes threatening him without the prince opening his mouth. Jason looked up feeling the piercing gaze on himself. He gulped meeting the crown prince''s eyes. He knew the reason for that glare, it is for the crime that he had committed against the male.


    He had thought that it was no big deal what he had done because of the reaction that the prince had when they met in the morning but that was not to be. It turned out that it was a big deal and he was affected. The prince looked very mad that his blood shivered from the thought of the things that the male would do to him.


    He looked away from the prince but even then he could still feel his eyes burying holes in his skin. He swallowed hard.


    He thought that he could ignore the crown prince but it wasn''t possible. The table was full of people, all of which were quite not daring to open their mouths to talk and make conversation. The air around was thick with fear and anger.


    The crown prince''s anger and mood was affecting everyone, even the king was not in a mood to say what he had called the meeting for. He might always seem brave have the courage to throw a shoe at his son and joke around with him but it is only depending on his mood. And his current mood was not call for jokes, he was angry.


    "I have lost my appetite," Jason announced to the people seated on the table. He walked out of the room with sweat trickling down his forehead. He had this intense fear in his gut that he had made a very big mistake by cutting the prince''s hair. And that the male was just waiting for the right moment to strike at him and when he did then he will be helpless to stop it.


    "Father," the prince spoke. Everyone at the table raised their heads and paid him attention when he spoke. "I want to go to the border and see if I can contain the problem there," he uttered.


    Everyone drew their breaths, what he mentioned was to actually go to the Seam of the underworld. The source of the shadows that terrorize the world. The Seam was the most dangerous place in the world, day by day they lose soldiers to the monsters that sneak past the Seam and into their and there he was the crown prince of Aphidia volunteering to go there to defend the fronts of Aphidia.


    They all waited to hear the king refuse him and explain the dangers of going to the Seam. "That sounds like a good idea," the king started to say surprising everyone who expected him to turn the prince down. "When would you like to depart?" the king added.


    "Today, as soon my letter arrives," he said.


    "Letter?" the king inquired. The sudden change in his son was confusing and he couldn''t say that he didn''t fear for his life sending him to the seam. But the prince not in a negotiating mood. Whether he gave his permission or not, the man would go there anyway. So he gave his permission, he would feel better knowing he was that guessing.


    "It is nothing, you don''t need to worry about it," he informed to the king. He didn''t touch his food and walked out of the room, his movements were steady and unmoved. His appearance was calm but he was burning with anger underneath it all.


    "Your letter has arrived," Winrus informed to him. The crown prince''s lips curled u into an evil smile. Winrus moved from his line of sight and let him open the letter.


    <<APPROVED>>


    He read above the letter and smirked. He folded the letter and matched in the direction of Nerdyn''s room. He wanted to deliver the news to the prince personally. Winrus walked behind him feeling sorry for the soul that the prince was about to crush. He was well aware of the smile that the prince wore and what it meant.


    They made to the room, without bothering to knock, he let himself into the room. Jason and Zanir were talking to each other when the crown prince''s arrival startled both of them.


    "Crown p¡­"


    "Spare me the formalities snake charmer," Davion rudely interrupted his greetings. He had not come there to chit chat; he came to break Jason''s heart. He handed the letter he had to Zanir, Jason nervously played with his fingers curious of what was contained in the letter than the prince brought.


    He watched Zanir''s face fell and his brows furrowed. Whatever was written in the letter, he was sure that he wouldn''t like it one bit.


    "It''s a letter from your father," Zanir spoke directing to Jason. "You have been ordered to join crown prince Davion to the Seam. And are hereby placed under his command and you are expected to do and say only as the prince says," Zanir added.


    Jason felt his heart tighten, his fear had come true. He had no idea what the seam was as it was not in the original plan but for Zanir to be shaken by it then it couldn''t be good. "This is going to be fun," the prince uttered coldly.. "We leave in half an hour," he added and left the room.

 Chapter 20 - [Bonus ] Krynt

    Jason had a terrified look on his face, he had no clue what the Seam was as it was not a part of the original plot of the book. From the look on his butler''s face he could tell that it was nothing good.


    "What did you do to the prince for him to target you?"


    Zanir questioned to Jason. His voice had a hint of fear in them. He didn''t the prince to confirm his suspicions. As far as he knew, the crown prince of Aphidia was not someone who let go of grudges and he didn''t get upset, he got even.


    "I cut his hair," Jason let out in a hushed tone. His words caused the butler to almost faint. He couldn''t even bring himself to weigh what it was that the stupid boy had done. He had committed a sin so grave that had he been the crown prince then he too wouldn''t spare him.


    "You have signed for your death by doing this to him," he told. "His hair was¡­" he was interrupted when the door swung open revealing the crown prince again.


    Davion walked into the room with a sweet smile on his face, Jason was confused by his return. He had already made him a slave by getting the king of Xeris to order him to obey every command given by the flirtatious crown prince.


    "What are you doing here?" Jason asked mad.


    "Don''t show me attitude this early, you will have plenty of chances with plenty of reasons when I am done with you," the crown prince let out. "But sadly I am here for him," he added turning his attention to Zanir.


    "How can I be of service?" Zanir asked politely.


    "I want to ask you for something, I have a grudge against the prince of Xeris and I intend to settle the score. But I don''t like the fact that you are here as his protection," he said. "That is why I am going to ask you to look the other way," he added.


    Zanir couldn''t believe what the prince was asking of him. It was not possible for him to look the other way when prince Nedryn was in danger. He could not bring himself to do so even if the man in question deserved not his protection.


    "I can''t do that," he replied. Jason drew a breath of relief. He had thought that the crown might be able to persuade Zanir to leave his side and look away when he hurt him but he was happy that it was not the case.


    "I thought that you might say that," he began and reached into his pockets and retrieved a blue card and handed it to the butler. "In the name of Amaia Sin Marivaldi, I am collecting on your first debt of life owed," the prince said in a stern confident voice.


    Zanir trembled hearing the name of the woman that the crown prince just called. It was a name he knew a little too well. A name feared in most corners of the world. No one has uttered that name in a long time that he had forgotten it.


    She was well known around the world as a debt enhancer, she was the person to go to when with a problem and she would fix it in return you owe her a debt. A devil offering people their wishes in exchange for their souls, she was never known to collect but she put measures in place for people who owed her. Every debt was sealed with the devil''s coin, failure to repay the debt comes at a very high price.


    In all her endeavors she left one name behind to collect the debts that people around the world owed her. The Krynt, meaning death. She had left death as the collector of her debts, and for years he as the world had believed that she meant actual death but to see a card of one of many debts he owed the devil, he was shocked to realized that death was a person, hiding in plain sight as someone no one would ever peg as the debt collector.


    "Krynt," he let out softly.


    "That is the name the old woman gave me, my mother hated it so she changed it to Davion, meaning unaffected by the shadows," the crown prince informed. "But to be unaffected by the shadows one need to rise above them. My grandmother did, she had a hand on everyone and everyone''s anyone to make me the king of the shadows," he added.


    He made a move and stood next to Jason, "You see, I have never liked the name Krynt but every once in a while I am compelled to become death to get even with a few offenders," he stated. "I am not going to kill you Nedryn but I will make sure that you pay for your deeds, you hated my flirtatious ways and now you will witness my true nature, welcome to your new nightmare."


    He strode over to Zanir who had his head bowed to the crown prince. He was a man of his word and he had given his word to Amaia that if ever death were to come to collect then he would be more than happy to give his life for it.


    "You are mine now, everything you do,say and think should only be for my interest and nothing more," he said to Zanir.


    "Yes, master," Zanir replied.


    The crown prince gave Jason an evil smile, "We leave for the Seam in fifteen minutes," he let out.

 Chapter 21 - [Bonus ] You Scared Me

    Jason stood still in his room. He was in disbelief over what had just taken place. Zanir, his support and help was now separated from him. In the original plot, the prince didn''t collect on his debts until further along the novel.


    He was beginning to question his knowledge of the novel. The things he had read and how things were taking place didn''t make a single sense.


    Just for cutting his hair, the prince made clear that he was going to regret it for the rest of his life. It was a big price for such a small action.


    "His hair," Zanir spoke out. "His hair held his inheritance by cutting it you''ve stripped him of the right of accessing whatever his mother had left for him," he added to explain to Jason why the prince was overreacting over such little thing.


    Jason looked up shocked. The news was new to him, but how was the prince''s hair connected to his inheritance. He didn''t get what the hair had to do with his inheritance. If his mother had left him something then what role did his hair play in it.


    "I know you won''t understand but the prince is somehow like me," he went on. "I inherited my snake weapon from my mother. I only cut my hair after I received it, but now because of you the crown prince won''t get his."


    His words made it sound like now that his hair was cut short he would get what his mother left him. "Th..that''s impossible," he let out anxiously.


    He wished that the butler was joking with him. The crown prince was sensitive on matters that concern his mother since he never got to spend much time with her before she died.


    And he was always proud of the lightning sword that she left him. A sword that could create lightning in the sky and fire it at his enemies. It was his most prized possession.


    "But it is, you should know this," Zanir said suspiciously. The way he spoke told Jason that something like that, he is familiar with. But he didn''t have Nedryn''s memories or the knowledge of the things inside the book.


    The characters were the same but the plot had changed. Hair meant more than just ordinary hair, people had elemental magic and not to forget the Seam. He had no idea why these things were added to the plot. But it was fair.


    Him knowing how everything turns out made it unfair for all that had to live not aware of what tomorrow would bring. But the unpredictable situation he keeps finding himself in was not something he liked.


    Zanir went around the room packing his clothes and the things he might need for the Seam while he stood there contemplating what to do.


    "Because of you he won''t get a piece of his mother that he has been longing for," Zanir uttered.


    Jason clenched his fist tightly. He only wanted the prince to stop distracting him from getting closer to Sashina. He didn''t mean to take anything important from him, but that didn''t change the fact that he had done so.


    "What is the Seam?" he inquired changing the subject. What he had done was past and there was no use crying over spilled milk. It wouldn''t change anything if he cried about it or kept drowning in regret.


    It was best to concentrate on what was coming than what had passed.


    "The Seam is a border between this and the spirit realm. Demons and spirits get a foothold on our side from the Seam," Zanir informed to him.


    "D..Demons?" Jason asked. His voice breaking as he thought of having to meet a real life demon. The thought of it sent chills down his spine and his skin.


    "Yes."


    Zanir''s confirmation made his stomach turn uncomfortably. He had not expected such a turn of events, on whim he had cut the crown prince''s hair but the male was sending him to a place with demons and spirits in retaliation.


    He wished for the flirtatious prince back, that prince only thought about how he looked and water.


    "We should head out. The prince is waiting," Zanir stated to him. Jason held the helms of his cloth. He swallowed nervously, his mind was trying hard to find an excuse to avoid going along with the prince.


    His father the king had given permission to the crown prince to do with him as he pleased so asking him for help was useless. The King of Aphidia wouldn''t help him since his father had already agreed for the trip.


    Zanir''s loyalty had been bought by a debt that he owed to the crown prince. His mind couldn''t come up with anyone that he could turn to for help to avoid walking to his death.


    He didn''t want to take the crown prince to his promise of not harming him because the male had lost it after losing his hair. He was a mad hungry dog waiting to chew and bite at every inch of him.


    He walked slowly behind the butler thinking. The scary butler worked for the crown prince and that meant that he needed to be careful of the man as well. Since the prince owned him, he might hurt him if the crown prince asked him to.


    "Ahh," Jason groaned. He was getting a headache from all the thinking that he was doing. He was stressed because of the prince and he feared it was only the beginning of his worst days.


    When you see a lion sleeping, it was always best not to assume that it was dead and go poke it. Because it can just be the lion''s trick to get you close to turn you into lunch or dinner.


    Similarly Jason realized that he had made a mistake mistaking the crown prince''s childish and flirtatious ways as his weakness. And now he had dug a grave for himself so deep that he didn''t know how to get out of it.


    "Are you perhaps thinking of me?" he heard next to his ear and jumped. His heart skittering in his chest from how startled he was.


    The prince smirked at him. "You scared me," Jason said.


    "I have yet to begin and you are already so shaken," the prince spoke.. Jason shuddered listening to him.

 Chapter 22 - I Will Wait For You

    Being the villain meant that he should live by his own rules. That is why they were villains, because they didn''t have to do as told or follow rules. Jason didn''t see why he was being forced to go with the crown prince.


    At that point, it almost felt like the crown prince had become the villain while he was the helpless male lead. Since this was his new life, he decided against going with the flow.


    Though all the odds were against him, he had hope that he would be fine. He was not going to break or let the evil flirtatious prince win. He happily packed his clothes, since he was going to the Seam whether he liked it or not.


    He made it a point on himself not to give the crown prince the satisfaction of seeing him sad because of it. He arranged his clothes in order, once he was done he sort out Sashina to bid her goodbye.


    "What you mean to say is that the crown prince is forcing you to go to the Seam with him?" Sashina inquired of him. "Yea, but worry not as I will return soon to you," Jason replied.


    He held her hand in an assuring way with confidence that he would make it back. The prince had promised that he only needed to fear him and not the world. He promised that only he would be the one to harm him.


    "That is kind of you to say Sir Darkvale," Sashina uttered softly. "But the Seam is no joke. Many have lost their lives there and once you leave there is no guarantee that you will return alive," she added.


    Jason gave her a weak smile. He might not know what the Seam was but he had faith in the crown prince. From the novel he read that was different from the one he was in, he was a man who kept to his word.


    And he promised him protection. It had occurred to him that someone was writing a fanfic of the original novel and he somehow got trapped in the fanfic novel and not the original. Which sounded more fun than he would care to admit.


    It meant the future was unknown and absolutely anything could happened. He could fall in love with his beloved Sashina and live happily ever after while the prince becomes the villain.


    "I am sure that I will return," he said when an idea flashed in his head. Could it be that he had become the male lead in the fanfic. Ever so often villains are written as the good guys in fanfics.


    Believing that was not impossible with so many changes in the plot. Everyone knows that the male lead always made it to the end of the novel. Even if he is meant to die, he only does like at the end of the book. That gave him hope that he would come back alive.


    "I hope that your confidence brings you back safely my prince," she let out. "Until then, I hope this gives you strength to come back," she added. She gentle kissed his cheek and excused herself to leave. Jason remained still in his spot.


    He brushed his hand over his cheek where her like touched, his face flushed red. "I will never wash my cheek ever again," he spoke with a foolish smile on his face.


    *****


    Sashina walked out of the room elegantly. She spotted the crown prince with his slave walking towards the entrance of the palace.


    She rushed over to meet him, it was the first that she had heard of the prince going to the Seam. Being close to the prince of Xeris proved useful, she got an inside information on the mysterious prince.


    "Your highness," she called out to him. Davion stopped in his tracks. He didn''t turn around and simply waited for her to reach him.


    "What happened to your hair?" She found herself asking him noticing the short hair cut on him. Winrus looked at her like she had lost her mind. It was signing one''s death warrant to ask about his hair.


    "An arrogant brat cut it to pass a massage to me," he replied to her.


    "He or she must be crazy to pull one on you," she let out. The crown prince released a frustrated sigh. She indeed was right, the prince of Xeris was the craziest person he had ever met.


    Instead of admitting that he just like the rest and couldn''t stop himself from falling for him. He used a girl as an excuse for cutting his hair and that is what irritated him the most. "I should get going," he spoke. He had vengeance to deliver on the crazy prince.


    "Wait," Sashina dared to hold on to the prince''s hand to stop him from leaving. Winrus closed his eyes in prayer for her, she was one daring woman to act the way she was with the prince. "You are going for such a dangerous mission. From me to you," she said and inched closer to the crown prince.


    Davidson moved back surprised by her brave advances. Sashina leaned over and pressed her lips on his. The kiss didn''t last long and nor was it deep. Just a snap kiss to express her intentions. "I will wait for you, so try to come back alive," she whispered to him.Davion was too shocked to react.


    It was so unexpected for her to kiss him out of the blue but he didn''t dislike it. In fact, he loved it especially since it hurt a certain someone watching from a distance. He didn''t even do anything and he got to see tears in Jason''s eyes. It gave him some joy seeing him like that but those tears weren''t enough for the ones that he shed.


    It wasn''t easy to make him cry and when someone succeeded in doing so. He repaid them with more than just a few drops of tears. "I will keep that in mind," he said with a devilish smile.


    He embraced Sashina into a hug and flashed the smile to Jason. He blew a kiss and a wink to the male and wrapped his hands around Sashina.


    Jason clenched his hands into a fist watching the two of them.. A tear fell from his eyes seeing the prince touch what he considered to be his.

 Chapter 23 - Getting Lost

    Jason raced on his horse ahead of everyone. Riding at a fast speed with the wind kissing his skin was the only way that he could handle the scene he witnessed before they left the kingdom.


    It was his first time riding a horse but it came naturally to him. Like something he had been used to doing. He could get used to it.


    It was hard to believe that the girl he liked had placed him in the friend zone. A kiss in the cheek always meant that we are friends, he was so foolish to have read too much into it.


    Seeing Sashina kiss Davion on the lips brought him back to reality. The male and female leads always find their way to each other no matter where they were or what stood between them.


    The faster he rode the more his heart ached. Trapped in a world that wasn''t his home, and having to watch the love of his life embrace someone else. It was all too much for him.


    He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn''t realise when he had taken the wrong turn. He just kept going, his vision blurry from the tears that were brewing in his tears.


    "You are a man Jason. A man shouldn''t cry," he scolded himself.


    "Neheheheghraaahhhh!"


    He came out of his thoughts hearing the panicked sound from the horse. He looked around, sweat trickled down his forehead noting where he was. He was just about to fall off a small cliff.


    One more minute and he would be toast. "Come on boy," he patted the horses and changed direction. The horse stepped on soft ground and down they went.


    They stumbled down and landed harshly on the ground. "Awww," he groaned.


    Jason got up, he looked around. The place he had stumbled into was giving him the chills, there were weird thorn bushes growing everywhere. Some even took a piece at him.


    The horse was fine so he had one thing to be relieved about. "Crown Prince," he called out.


    "Yes."


    Jason''s face brightened hearing a reply. He was just taking a chance at calling his name and didn''t expect the man to appear there.


    "Can you help me up?" He asked not giving it a second thought. In that moment, he forgot about the thing he was so upset about and also forgot that the crown prince hated him.


    Davidson looked down from above and scoffed. He was beginning to rethink even attempting to hurt the prince. Fate seemed to have that covered for him without him having to lift a finger.


    "How do you expect me to do that?" He questioned. He didn''t even put his mind to it to try and think of a way to get him up from there. He just stood there and watching the scene.


    "Aren''t you going to be king one day? Use your head to think of something?" Jason snapped at him. It was unbelievable of him to behave the way that he did.


    "Okay then, wait until I become king and then I will use my head to save you," the crown prince uttered coldly.


    Jason gritted his teeth. He kicked a rock on the ground thinking it to be the crown prince. What he wouldn''t give to have a piece of the cocky crown prince. The man was starting to get on his nerve.


    He just needed to find something to pull him up that too was hard for the lazy prince. He had his elemental powers, he could lift the ground by controlling the earth and get him and the horse up but no, the man has to play dumb and pretend like he was stupid.


    "Will you quit joking around and help me," he said. "Hello," he noticed the crown prince was gone.


    He kept calling for him but there was no reply. ''Did he die out of stupidity?'' Jason thought.


    The man had just left him there and went away. He would be glad, the prince would no longer drag him to the Seam if he wasn''t sure of how to get out of there by himself.


    "Pity," he jumped hearing the crown prince right beside him. "I have heard stories of your exceptional skills in manipulating nature to do your bidding. Was that just a rumor to give name to the prince of Xeris?" He asked to him.


    Jason frown. When did such rumour ever spread? He was sure that it has nothing to do with him.


    "I''m starting to think that the prince of Xeris is nothing but a fake," the crown prince let out unimpressed. "But there is no smoke without fire and your father fears you enough to send you away from home. So there must be some truth in it," he added.


    Jason stopped trying to understand what the crown prince was trying to say. The man was making no sense at all.


    He watched the prince examine the weird thorn plants that were around. There was a flower nearby that stood out from the other plants. Unlike the other plants that were black and had a dark aura to them. It had bloomed and had green leaves.


    "Where are we?" He dared to ask.


    Davidson didn''t reply him. He had been to that place several time before and that was his first time seeing those weird plants. Even the green flower plant wasn''t there before, all of it had seemed to have grown out of thin air.


    There was no way that anyone would be stupid enough to come there just to plant seeds. To get there one needed to cross the old bridge, he was surprise when Nedryn dared to ride his horse at a fast speed across the bridge that was barely holding.


    He touched the flower with his finger, the flower opened and pink pollen sprayed on his face. Davion wiped his face clean with his shirt and glared at the flower.


    To his surprise the flower was gone and the thorny plants started growing even bigger.


    "Ran," he screamed to Jason.

 Chapter 24 - Save Me

    "Ran," Jason heard the crown prince scream. He was speechless, he had no idea why the fool asked him to that. In the moment he was busy trying to figure out how to help himself.


    He didn''t even see where the idiot expected him to run to. There was literally no place to run to unless they find a way to climb back up.


    "Neheheheghraaahhhh!" The horses panicked neigh got him to turn back, his eyes widen with fear from seeing the small plants growing bigger and bigger. The thorns were sharper and bigger, one prick from one of them and he would be dead, literally.


    Davion reached him and the horse and manipulated the ground they were on to move up detaching from the earth. He moved it so fast to avoid getting hurt with the thorns that were growing at a speed faster than lightning.


    Reaching the sky, he froze. The red shadow was hovering above them. The last time they had escaped by staying out of sight and hiding in the trees and not getting in his sight.


    But there was no tree for miles away. And the thorn plants below them were a suicide more than a surviving chance.


    They couldnt go up and landing was also not an option. Davion bit his lower lip, trouble is what he gets for going after the trouble maker of a prince. The man was like magnet for all trouble, everytime he was with him, the red shadow always seem to find them.


    If he didn''t know better he would assume the shadow had something to do with the wicked prince of Xeris.


    "Why did you stop. Those things are still growing?" Jason pestered. He had his eyes below watching the plants getting bigger. Soon even the distance that they had managed would be covered by them and they would be history.


    "Why have yo sto..."


    Jason shivered seeing the cursed red shadow above them. In honest truth, he had no clue what that thing did, the last time they saw it, the prince overeacted and made him maneuver between the trees to not let it spot him.


    And when the king was informed of it''s presence. The trip was called off immediately and they all returned to the palace. He was no fool to wait and find out for himself what the thing could do.


    It was safe to fear it when others did. He looked to the prince for a plan, he was too young to die and the horse felt the same way too as it hid behind the crown prince.


    "This would be a perfect time for you to grow healthy plants on the ground for us to us," Davion stated to him.


    Jason shook his head, he was not of any information that he could do any such thing. He was just a normal person with no powers, he was ordinary and all.


    "Useless," the crown prince said. With one hand he let go of the ground they were standing in and reached into his pocket. He removed a whistle from it.


    The red shadow seemed to have spotted them and started to move down towards them. Jason wrapped his hand around the crown prince and closed his eyes, if death had arrived, he was dying after the crown prince.


    "And here I thought you care for me," Davion placed his hand on his heart feigning being hurt. "That breaks my heart," he added.


    He blew on the whistle. A red and yellow light flashed before them. "Scree...." A shrieking sound was heard from the shadow before it dashed away from them. The plants too stopped growing below them, Davion let go of the ground.


    He brought his hands to his head. The light was making him dizzy, he couldnt stand it''s presence. With him not controlling the earth they started falling.


    "Save me," Davion whispered.


    "Arghh," Jason screamed at the top of his voice. The ground they stood on had called below and they were soon following the same destination. Seeing the thorns that he was going to fall to, made his life flash before his eyes.


    Death gad come knocking and his savior had lost consciousness and was falling even faster than he was. At least the evil prince would die before him, he would follow shortly but at least he wasn''t the first to die.


    His reasoning in such a moment were strange. Being around the prince was corrupting the way that he thought.


    He closed his eyes not to watch as the crown prince was about to land on the biggest thorn yet. It was going to pierce through his heart that was for sure.


    He opened his eyes after a few minutes, to his surprise, he had stopped falling. The horse had also stopped midway and floated around him as though running on invisible land.


    He checked to see if the crown prince had gone to the big guy upstairs yet. Right in front of him was a strange man carrying a woman in his arms. The woman''s black hair floated around clouding the face of the woman.


    The man had short brown hair, he stood on ice carrying the woman. "The sun is shining so hot. How the hell is he standing on ice?" Jason questioned.


    He had entered a weird world. Surorising enough, the dangers that he faced that nearly ended his life made him want yo explore more of the weird world. He didn''t feel like going home, he wanted to discover more of the strange magical world that her had been transported to.


    "Can you help me...."


    He was cut short when the strange man started walking away. Every time he lifted his leg ice appeared under his feet and he stepped on it.


    "Awesome," Jason let out amazed by the power of the man. Strangely, him together with the horse were pulled towards the man. They were moving following him, Jason laid facing the sky and placed his hands under his head and watched the sky.


    "I could get used to this," he said happily.

 Chapter 25 - The Princes Hair Grew Back

    Jason landed to the ground safely. They had landed in a normal forest, he had come close to death and was relieved to have survived.


    He was worried about the crown prince. The crown prince had disappeared when he closed his eyes and the brown haired man appeared with the long haired woman.


    The man didn''t even pay him any attention. He was just busy tending to the women he carried in his arms.


    "Did you by chance see anoth..."


    Jason forcefully shut his mouth when the man turned around. His icy blue eyes sent chills down his skin. It was like ice was sipping out of his eyes too. He thought it best to keep quite than to offend the ice man and get frozen.


    He was not in frozen the movie where a kiss of true love would melt his ice away. In case he gets frozen, it would be the end of him. And he was just starting to see the good in the magical world.


    The man looked away from him back to the woman. ''He could have just let me ask him about the grumpy prince,'' he thought.


    The experience of having flown to the forest was still fresh in his memory. It was an awesome feeling to have the wind in his hair, kissing his skin and he floated around. It was the best feeling in the world.


    He wondered if he could ask the man to lift him off the ground again. And let him fly around like superman.


    "What happened," the icy man talked after a long silence.


    "What?" Jason let out coming out of his thoughts.


    "What happened? Where did those plants come from?" He questioned once more. This time little more clearer.


    Jason had no idea where those plants came from. They were there when he fell down the cliff, they only started growing bigger when the flower the prince touched disappeared.


    "I have no idea," he replied honestly.


    "What is your name?" The man inquired.


    "Ned..." Jason stopped midway. He didn''t know the man, he might have saved his life but he couldn''t tryst a stranger. He didn''t feel it was safe to tell the man what his name was.


    "Ned, that is weird name," he spoke. "I''m Amaru," he added.


    He stood up from the ground and stretched his hands. It was then that Jason got a glimpse of the person he was tending too.


    He swallowed hard. The person he thought was a woman was not a woman but a man. One that knew a little too well, it was none other than the crown prince that he was worried about.


    "The crown Prince''s hair great back," he stated in shock. His long black hair had grown back, this time a little longer.


    Amaru turned his head in Jason''s direction with surprise. What he said caught his attention.


    "What do you mean grew back?"


    Jason could have sworn that the prince''s hair was short before he closed his eyes. He had cut it himself with a pair of scissors and it was for that reason that the prince wanted to kill him.


    He brushed his eyes and took another look at the prince. Nothing had changed, the man still had long thick black hair that stretched to his waist.


    He walked closer to the prince. He couldn''t believe his eyes, hair doesn''t just grow back. If it could then the man would not have gone to such lengths to make him pay for cutting it. He would have simply brushed it off as nothing and waited for it to grow back.


    He squatted down next to the crown prince. He hesitated for a moment before he reached out his hand to touch his hand. He brushed his hand over the prince''s hair.


    "It''s real," he let out shocked.


    "I can see that."


    "Arggh," Jason jumped started by how close the ice man was to him. He scratched the back of his head, he had not noticed him getting closer to him.


    He averted his gaze from Amaru and glanced at the prince. He was left speechless by what he was witnessing. The crown prince''s hair had grown back longer that it''s original size.


    "Be careful," Amaru pulled Jason''s hand back before he could get hurt. Jason took a peak at what scared the ice man and froze. The thorns from the weird cliff had formed from the prince''s hair.


    Had Amaru been a second late in pulling his hand away then his hand would have been done for. They remained still for a few minutes, the crown prince''s hair relaxed back and returned to normal.


    Amaru picked up a stick from the ground and poked the prince''s hair. Unlike before, no thorns grew at his hair but his hair wrapped around the stick and broke it into pieces.


    Amaru and Jason gasped. It was like his hair had a defence mechanism that defended against anything that came close to it.


    "I have never seen his hair do that before," Amaru uttered.


    Jason raised his eyes to him. He didn''t recognise anyone named Amaru from the book. The way the man spoke hinted that he and the prince knew each other.


    He looked back at the prince, there was no way anyone was going to cut his knew hair. And after what he just saw, he was not foolish enough to go anywhere near his hair.


    "Wait, what did you mean by his hair grew back?" Amaru asked.


    Jason gulped. He couldn''t just admit to the man that he was the culprit that made it so. That he was the one who cut his hair and before he came along, they were headed to his doom which was the punishment from the crown prince.


    But he couldn''t lie either, the man would learn the truth sooner or later. "Because I had cut it short," he admitted.


    Amaru looked at him with wide eyes shocked at what he just said. He let go of him and moved back from him.. "That was either brave or stupid," he uttered coldly.

 Chapter 26 - Beautiful

    "Stupid," Jason uttered.


    He had never regretted anything as much as he regretted cutting the prince''s hair short. He went and crossed death for something so silly and in the end had to pay such a heavy prince.


    "I agree."


    Jason jumped on hearing the crown prince''s familiar voice. Davion opened his eyes and firstly glared at Jason. Once again he was thrown into a dangerous situation because of the man.


    He didn''t care that Jason was a prince. He wanted nothing more that to crush his head open and end the matter right there and then.


    First it was his hair, then it was almost his life. The prince of Xeris acted naive but he could read him. He had the intentions of killing him, that he had deduced from the situation.


    It was the only explanation for what happened. Anyone with eyes could have spotted the damaged bridge that Jason rode on and went the opposite way so it didn''t make sense why he took that path. Except for maybe if the man had the intention of ending his life.


    "You tried to kill me?" The crown prince asked in a icy cold voice.


    Jason ran behind Amaru to seek cover. He took deep breaths to calm his racing heart before leaning over to glance at the deadly prince.


    "For you kind information, both of us almost died. If I wanted to kill you, why would I risk my own life?" He asked.


    It was ridiculous that the prince thought the way he did. He had no such intentions in his mind, not that the idea was bad. If he killed the man, he would have Sashina to himself and also find some peace because those are the things the grumpy male took from him.


    "I don''t know, maybe to have an excuse in case I survive," the crown prince uttered leaving him speechless.


    He had to admit, the prince was good with words. Even when he was making stuff up he could put up a good argument but he wasn''t going down for the weird thing from the cliff. He didn''t even have a clie about what those thorns were let alone how to control them and use them.


    "I did no such thing. I swear," he stated.


    "On what?" The crown prince asked.


    "Huh,"


    "You said you swear. On what? What do you hold so dear that you can use to vow that you did not intend to kill me?" The prince asked his tone getting lower and sending dangerous signals to him.


    Jason panicked. It looked like the prince was going to dash forward any second and cut open his neck.


    "I wouldn''t kill you like that," Davion said. Jason froze. ''Can he read my mind?'' He thought.


    "I would cut open your stomach and strangle you with you intestines and watch you bleed out and suffocate at the same time," the prince added.


    Jason''s lips parted in shock. The prince thought so deep about his death that he detailed it. It was so deep and so twisted and the worst part was that the more he thought of it, the more realistic it sounded. The possibility of it working was high.


    "I swear I didn''t try to kill you," he shouted in panic.


    "On what do you make that claim..."


    "On you," he let out subconsciously. Jason opened his eyes after a few minutes of silence. Both Amaru and Davion were looking at him with surprise. He blinked repeatedly.


    He replayed his last words in his head and stiffened. The prince asked him what he valued the most that he could swear on that thing that he was telling the truth and his stupid mouth let out that it was the crown prince.


    "I did not try to kill you," he said clearing his throat and brushing off his words as though he had not said them.


    The place went silent once more. Jason looked everywhere but at the two men that stood there. It was too embarrassing to face Amaru anf his life would be in danger if he met the crown prince''s gaze.


    "Why would you swear on me? Are you trying to mock me?" Davion''s mood worsened.


    "If you done flirting with your wife can you show me some affection," Amaru let in.


    The crown prince turned away from Jason and faced Amaru. His eyes softened after seeing him, he flashed the male a smile and got up from the ground. He brushed his hair from his shoulder and moved closer to Amaru.


    He took his friend in his arms and hugged him tightly. He patted Amaru''s back twice before breaking the gig, he kissed Amaru''s cheeks and stepped back.


    "Are you so free that you came running as soon as I called?" Davion inquired softly.


    Jason watched their interaction with great shock. The rate at which the crown prince changed his colors would put a chameleon to shame. He was so mad a minute ago while looking at him but just the sight of the ice man, he changed and became so gentle.


    Seeing him in that moment one would mistake him for the kindest human being. It was only after crissing him that one truly saw his true colors. He didn''t want to admit it but he missed this side of the prince.


    The fire burnt in his bones, missing the beautiful smile of the male. His kind gentle eyes and his flirtatious ways. Hopefully with his hair back, he might go back to his old self and they wouldn''t have to go to the Seam.


    "Hold on," Davion let out. He had a weird feeling that he had brushed his hand on his hair. He closed his eyes and nervously held the hem of his shirt. He reached his free hand to his back and caressed his hair.


    On his lips the brightest smile of all appeared. His face shimmered under the rays of the sun with his sweet smile. Jason watched him in haze, his eyes couldn''t move away from the magnificent view before his eyes.


    "Beautiful," he found himself uttering.

 Chapter 27 - The Mirror Prince

    In a faraway kingdom. Far from Aphidia and Xeris. A man laid on the floor of the dungeon of the palace with his body chained down to the floor, he closed his eyes and let his soul leave his body. His soul floated away leaving his body behind to go to the moon.


    He stood on top of the moon singing and dancing around to the moon for his beloved, he was dressed in a worn-out white robe that had long lost its color. The clouds darkened hearing his sad cries before it started raining fiercely.


    He wanted his love back and he had sworn to torture the humans until the day that his love is returned to him, the rain soon turned into a storm. Many houses were blown away some were flooded while others are shaken to a point of damage. The humans in the kingdom screamed in despair from the ruins that were their home.


    Ari smiled victoriously when he saw the work of his song, he was proud. He will force the hands of those responsible for separating him from him his long to bring his love back to him. "What do you think of my work?" he asked the moon.


    The moon watched the humans suffering and sighed, there was nothing she could do. The heavens and the earth were responsible for their suffering; it was not her place to interfere.


    The moon had to watch the red shadow and other creatures freed from the underworld by the monster. All of which were set free with one goal, to find his beloved.


    They hovered in the skies and crawled the earth killing and destroying lives all so that they could find their lover. The chaos in the world, all for one man, she was speechless.


    Many lives were taken in the storm, even after he was done dancing the storm continued to destroy the humans down below.


    "No matter how long I have to wait, you will return to me," he uttered. "We are destined for eternity whether the universe likes it or not," he added.


    "Every time I look in your eyes; I see my paradise" he sang to the moon. "All the stars in the sky whisper of my desire," he added.


    He continued to dance to his song letting the storm increase. He was enjoying the screams that the humans were letting out, he was a prisoner in his home but he made sure that those who keep him locked up understood his rage.


    They killed his beloved and took him away, he was destined to be reborn but sadly he was not returning to him which made him very furious. All he wanted was the love of his life back, he would leave the humans in peace if granted his wish, or else he will continue to punish them for eternity.


    "I can do this forever but can the humans survive me forever?" he asked them knowing well that they were watching and listening, the gods are ever-present.


    "The more you stay silent the more they will lose faith in your existence and that is when you will understand that a god is nothing without his/ her devotees," he yelled out loud.


    When he finished ranting to the moon and complaining his soul traveled back and merged with his body. He slowly opened his tired eyes to look around, he has stared at the same walls for years but still, he could never get tired of it. It was filled with runes to weaken him physically so that he doesn''t escape. He was a threat to those so gods.


    "I see that you are not going to stop creating trouble?" he heard the keeper''s voice say in his head and he smiled. His lips were dry and had a few cracks but he still smiled. She was the one tasked to keep an eye on him, she was the only voice he had heard for so many centuries.


    "Trouble will end once I have my love back," he replied to her.


    "Why won''t you accept the fact that your love was never meant to be and that is why you lost," she said to him and he smirked.


    "Check again, the game is still ongoing so how come I have already lost. The chains will break and I will be free. This is a promise from Aricus the great," he struggled to say with his dry lips but he said it. She started laughing in mockery of his statement.


    "Even your name has long lost its meaning, the gods would never bring him back for you. Ever," she stated sternly.


    "Let''s put it to test, which one of us will the gods side with. Is it you their devoted servant or me the heaven''s nightmare, the day I am free you must leave the gods and work for me," he said.


    "Deal but I wouldn''t hold my breath. After all, why would the gods side with you when they haven''t done so for a thousand years?" she asked him in the tone that mocked him.


    "That is a question that I look forward to answering far away from this jail," he said to her and moved his head a bit to the small hole on the roof that provided light to the room, the wind from the hole always soothed his wounds.


    He closed his eyes and recalled how he would run around the palace with his love in the past. The game of catch was their favorite, he was always faster than him but out of love, he would run slower for him to catch him.


    Thinking of his lover always brought tears to his eyes, it was sad to watch him die but even more sad to continue living without him. Every day was torture being away from his beloved, the gods sure were evil. They know how empty his life is without him but they still choose to be this cruel to him.


    "I will torture your dearest humans until you return what is mine," he whispered.


    He closed his tired eyes to rest, it had been tiring to his soul to dance around on the moon will causing havoc for humans. He drifted off to slumber.


    Away from the deserted palace Davion moved down the cliff to where Jason stood. When his feet touched the ground the earth shook, terrifyingly thunderstruck the sky. The moment that he touched the weird flower and it puffed dust on him, the chains around Ari broke.


    "The mirror prince is back," a voice whispered in the room as the runes disappeared. terrifyingly thunderstruck the sky.


    Aricus was free and his freedom promised the destruction of humanity.

 Chapter 28 - Long Hair Turns You On

    The crown Prince turned his head in Jason''s direction after hearing what he said. The two gazed into each other''s eyes with unspoken certainty.


    "What did you say?" The crown prince questioned confused.


    Jason blinked. He averted his gaze from the crown prince. Suddenly it had become hot and his cheeks felt warm. He was so embarrassed at his compliment.


    Women were beautiful and not men, he scolded himself. He looked around the trees not daring to meet the crown prince''s eyes.


    "Did you just call me the mirror prince?" Davion inquired. It was what he heard and he was confused as to why Jason called him that.


    Jason shot him a glare, the crown prince was getting on his nerve with all the accusations. He said that he looked beautiful but the man heard him call him the mirror prince.


    It didn''t make sense at all.


    "If you are looking for reasons to be angry with me. Can you at least find one that makes sense?" He asked in annoyance.


    "How dare y..." The prince made a move to approach him but Amaru held him back and stopped him.


    "He called you beautiful and not the mirror prince," Amaru started.


    Davion narrowed his eyes at his friend and back to Jason. After a few minutes of looking back and forth from the two, he calmed down.


    "I trust you," he told Amaru and backed away from trying to attack Jason.


    Jason felt a pang in his heart. How easily the words of trust came from the crown prince''s towards the mysterious friend annoyed him. He told the truth and for that, the prince was going to attack him and when Amaru spoke, he simply calmed down.


    His anger seems to go away by the influence of the brown-haired man. He didn''t like it one bit, for reasons he didn''t understand, he wished at that moment to trade places with Amaru. So that it was him that the prince looked at like that instead.


    "Can someone explain to me why I have long hair?" Davion questioned. He didn''t mind that his hair had grown back but it wasn''t natural. And he wished to know the sorcery that was used to get it done.


    At his question, Jason turned away. He didn''t want to answer, the prince would just accuse him of being the reason for that too and he was done being the villain for the day.


    "Turning around only makes you look guilty," the crown prince stated.


    "Come on," Jason let out irritated. "If I look at you is wrong, if I compliment your looks you assume I am insulting, if I turn away I am guilty. What can I do to not get accused by you?" He asked. The prince raised his brows at him in question.


    "What?" Jason inquired.


    Davion flashed him a devilish smile, Jason shivered. "You could have just said you wanted to be close to me. Why put on a scene for something so simple?" The prince asked in a sweet seductive voice.


    It was then that Jason realized, while throwing the tantrum he had closed the distance between them and was standing so close to the prince.


    But in his defense, the crown prince was like a magnet that pulled him with an irresistible force that even he didn''t understand. He just found himself drawn to him and saying things he would never say if not around him.


    "I am starting to think long hair turns you on," the prince whispered in his ear. "When I had long hair you never left my side. When it was short, you distanced yourself and now you are back again," he added.


    Jason wanted to turn around and storm out of there but he found his feet rooted to the ground. His body didn''t want to move away from his spot despite his annoyance at the prince''s words.


    "You think too highly of yourself, I am not interested in you," he bluffed.


    He forced an emotionless look on his face not to expose the racing heartbeat in his chest. Or the blush that was threatening to creep into his cheeks.


    "Let''s see," the crown prince challenged. He raised his hand and folded it into a fist and aimed it at Jason''s face.


    "Wait," Jason screamed. "Wh...what are you doing?" He questioned.


    "Finding out if you are interested in me," the crown prince replied. He swung his hand in the air, Jason closed his eyes and waited for the impact.


    In one swift movement, the crown prince wrapped his hands around Jason''s waist and pulled him closer to him that their bodies touched.


    Jason opened his eyes in surprise and looked at him. Davion leaned his head to the side and close the distance between their faces.


    Jason''s lips parted slightly. Waiting in anticipation while carefully watching the crown prince''s lips. He could hear the sound of his quickened heartbeat thundering in his chest.


    Davion stopped right before their lips touched. He paused and met his gaze, his lips curled up into a satisfied smirk. The desire written in Jason''s eyes was all the proof he needed.


    It was so obvious that the prince of Xeris liked him. He was no different from all the others, he acted unaffected by his charm when he was infatuated by him.


    "Amaru do you know what happened with my hair," the crown prince asked letting go of Jason and moving away from Jason''s line of sight.


    Jason''s eyes moisten. His hands clenched into a fist, with his fingers digging into his skin. Disappointment and another bitter feeling washed over his body, he could understand why he felt the way he did.


    He didn''t like men but found that every action the prince made affected him. When the prince came close, his heart would skip a beat and when he went away, his heart would be in pain.


    He had cut the prince''s hair to stop him from distracting him from pursuing Sashina. He now realized that the hair was not the problem but rather his heart was.


    "You are still as mean as I remember you to be," Amaru noted seeing Jason''s condition. He pitied the man, as far as he could see, he was developing feelings for the crown prince of Aphidia but as far as he knew Davion.


    The man only knew how to play games with people''s hearts.. "Why change when I like myself the way I am?" The crown prince inquired.

 Chapter 29 - The Only Man You Are Allowed To Think Of

    "Cut it off," the crown prince insisted.


    Both Amaru and Jason didn''t dare to get close to him. He was asking them to cut off his hair, Jason knew better from experience not to make that mistake. They both knew what his hair was capable of, they didn''t dare go near him.


    The prince held his hair out for them to cut but none of them did. He took his sword and aimed it at his stretched hair. In one swift movement he swung his sword at it.


    "Get down," Amaru shouted and got Jason to the ground while sharp pieces of the crown prince''s sword scattered in all direction. His hair caught the pieces that headed for his face and stomach.


    Davion looked at his hair holding the pieces of his shattered sword and panicked. His heart pounding in his chest at how weird it was that he had hair that could do that.


    The hair held the pieces straight allowing him to see his reflection in it. "Mirror prince," he heard a silent whisper.


    "What did you do to me you cursed prince of Xeris," he yelled out in panic. He took the pieces of his favourite sword and threw them to the ground. He had only one person to blame for everything that was going on and it was the prince.


    "I am not defending myself anymore," Jason let out while standing from the ground. He cleared the dust on his clothes and glared at the crown prince.


    "You are prince Nedryn of Xeris?" Amaru asked to him. "It''s me prince Amaru of Zoltar," he introduced himself once more.


    Jason was surprised. The ice man turned out to be the cold icy prince of Zoltar. In the novel, he and the crown prince of Aphidia were enemies and didn''t get along. He was the cold prince who could freeze everything with his breath and Davion preferred fire to ice.


    Everything about them clashed except for their love for one woman. All the three of them, Nedryn, Davion and Amaru went after Sashina''s love with Davion being the lucky one to get her affections.


    "Good to meet you your highness," Jason said not sure how to respond to him.


    "Have you two...?" The crown prince surprised. He gave off a sinister smile. "Seriously Amaru, couldn''t you find anyone better to put your cock in?" Davion asked seeming disappointed and pleased.


    "It''s good to know what you like," Davion stated with a soft laugh. Amaru scratched the back of his head.


    "It was a long time ago before he gained his reputation. Back when I was sixteen and to be clear, it was purely fun, no strings attached," Amaru explained himself.


    The subject of the conversation stood with his mouth wide open. Amaru was talking as though the two of them had been together intimately in the past. Unlike the flirtatious prince of Aphidia, Nedryn had no such fetishes of mingling in that way with men.


    He never complimented another man on his looks let alone have whatever the prince of Zoltar was insinuating they did.


    "You are lying," he spoke out.


    Amaru turned to him with a devilish smile. He had an evil Flint flash in his eyes as he eyed Jason from head to toe.


    "Are you saying what I think you are saying," his cold icy tone made the air cool down. The grass underneath his feet starting to freeze up into ice.


    The temperature decreased immensely. It was hard for Jason to breath, Jason stared at him and watched how keen the crown prince watched them from behind Amaru.


    He had no idea what to say. Admit that something had happened between them to calm the ice man who could freeze him to death or call him out on his lie.


    "Am I so easy to forget?" Amaru inquired.


    Jason gulped. The cool air sent chills all through his skin. He looked on to the crown prince for help. Davion ignored his pleading and remained quite.


    "It is possible that I didn''t leave an impression on you. Or you are just denying it because we have an audience," he said firmly.


    "Hahaha," Davion laughed mocking Jason''s misery. "I am never going to understand your taste. Of all the partners you could have a threesome with, couldn''t you find a less annoying man," the prince asked.


    "It was his palace and the lady was into him and not me," Amaru began to say. "It was simply hitting two birds with one stone," he added.


    "You would think after making love to a lady together, he would remember you," Davion let out intentionally clearing the misunderstanding in Jason''s head.


    He knew the mortified look on Jason''s face and understood what he was thinking. He was probably assuming that he and Amaru had sex together.


    "I don''t blame him. Shall we head to the palace, I am currently single and in need of a woman in my bed," Amaru let out shamelessly.


    Jason sighed. He didn''t think he would be so relieved to hear what the crown prince had to say. He would not have been able to face the ice prince again if it turned out that the prince had slept with him in that body before he took over it.


    He moved passed Jason and went for the horse. Davion moved closer to Jason, his eyes darkened. "Did you just imagine yourself with him?" He asked.


    Jason shrank back fear crawling at his insides. He shook his head to deny the crown prince''s accusations.


    "Good," Davion lifted his chin with his finger and brought his lips closer to his face. He looked ahead, Amaru was busy talking to the horse.


    Seeing this he quickly pressed his lips on Jason''s lips. He licked and sucked his lips gently careful not to bite him.


    "I am the only man you are allowed to think of so intimately," the prince whispered in his ear.


    Jason gulped and shuddered at his words and from being fanned by his hot breath.


    "Am I understood," the prince uttered sternly.


    Jason nodded. The crown prince was so on edge and scary in that moment for him to refuse. He figured he could take his words back when he gets over the trauma of magical hair and everything that had happened.


    "Words little kitty," he demanded.


    "I u...und....understand," Jason let out nervously.

 Chapter 30 - No Interest In Touching You

    Arriving back to the palace, the crown prince and the prince of Zoltar were given a warm welcome. Winrus and the other soldiers had returned to the palace seeing as thr prince had gotten lost along the way.


    The slave was mortified at seeing the crown prince with his long hair again. It was plain sorcery and that made him want to run in the opposite direction as though he didn''t notice the prince.


    Everyone stared at the three handsome prince''s who walked with confident strides into the building. On hearing about the prince''s return.


    Sashina rushed to meet him and welcome him back. She was happy that the prince had decided not to go through with his decision to go to the Seam. It made him happy.


    "Prince," she called out from the back. She rushed and embarrassed Jason, the last time she saw the Prince he was with his hair short and so she expected him to be the short haired man in the middle.


    Jason placed his hands above hers and smile with glee. It was true happiness to have the girl of his dreams hug him so tightly. It made him forget about the morning scene that shattered his heart.


    The crown prince furrowed his eyebrows. He had halted with Amaru and Jason. The three of them were all prince''s and hence when Sashina called out with the title they all stood.


    "Your highness," Winrus greeted nervously. The crown prince looked to be in a bad mood and he didnt want to get in trouble with him.


    "I missed you so much love, won''t you give your baby a hug?" Davion inquired feigning a pout.


    He wrapped his hands around Winrus and held him tightly close to him. The scene brought Jason from the clouds, he suddenly didnt feel nice about being hugged by Sashina.


    His heart felt as though someone had ripped it from his chest and stomped on it repeatedly. His eyes burnt holes in the crown prince and his slave. Their hug made him uncomfortable, it affected him just as every other thing that the man did.


    Amaru remained a spectator watching Jason''s every reaction to Davion''s actions. He felt bad for Jason but he saw the move coming with the girl holding on to hjn so tightly. The prince was bound to shift his attention.


    He hated it when his toys looked away from him. He had the habit of warning them to never look away and forcing tears in their eyes when they did.


    "My prince, we should get you to your room and changed," Winrus said noting his dirty clothes.


    "You naughty boy. You can''t wait to get your hand on..."


    "I have no interest in touching you," Winrus said sternly. His firm tone of voice shocking the prince and Amaru.


    He was not known to speak back to the prince in such a manner. He was a slave, even if the prince was kind and lenient to him, to speak with authority to him in public was simply courting death.


    "If you are done then can we please proceed," Winrus let out in a serious tone.


    Davion averted his gaze from Winrus. He messed up his hair, he sighed. He marched forward and walked away from everyone.


    Amaru followed behind him and so did Winrus. Jason removed Sashina''s hands from his body and rushed to go after the prince. His heart had not even hesitated to leave Sashina and go after the prince.


    It came so natural to him that he was not even aware of his actions. He just knew that he had to go after the man. He didn''t need a genius to know that Winrus''s attitude offended him.


    The prince entered his room, Amaru followed behind him, Jason entered a few minutes later before Winrus came in. "Arghh," Davion screamed.


    The doors and windows slammed shut at his scream. He was frustrated. Flirting around might be shameless but it was his way of getting things out of his system and in that moment he had a lot on his mind.


    He had hair that could move on it''s own and do things. He had not figured out how his hair grew back and the whispers in his ear. ''Mirror Prince,'' he would hear repeatedly like it was supposed to mean something to him.


    Then there was the irritating hug between the evil prince of Xeris and that annoying Sashina. Their was so much in his mind and Winrus had to go and snap at him.


    "Calm down Davy," Amaru stated. He took a seat on the chair and grabbed a few grape fruits from the table. He ate them one by one, it was calming to his nerves.


    Jason found that he couldn''t bear that side of the prince. He wished that there was something that he could do to cheer up the male and get him to calm down.


    "Why is my sexy seductress so angry now huh?" He asked to tease him. In a blink of an eye, the prince hand grabbed him.


    "Ahhh," Jason gasped finding himself pinned on the bed underneath the prince. The prince had moved so quickly and so swiftly that he wasn''t able to resist.


    He tried to push the prince off of him with his hands but Davion''s hair held his hands and stopped him from making that move. His hair held him so hard that he couldn''t move his hands at all.


    "What did you call me little kitty?" Davion inquired of him.


    Jason looked into his eyes, he wasn''t scared as usually was of the Prince. Deep down in the prince''s eyes he could see pain, confusion and fear.


    The hair was strange and it''s origin was unknown and why it was there too. It was expected that the prince would be afraid, as was the reaction to things people don''t understand.


    The prince looked at him with a chilling look. His mouth ran dry as shivers ran down his spine.


    "Privacy," Amaru demanded of Winrus. Winrus bowed his head to the prince and exited room and stood outside.


    Jason parted his lips slightly. His pink lips begging to be kissed with the prince''s lips. The man was such a good kisser that it made him want more. He was a man and it was strange he liked being kissed by a man but things were as they were.


    "What do you want?" Davion asked his voice becoming softer.

 Chapter 31 - The Calming Kiss

    "What do you want?" Davion asked his voice getting softer.


    He badly wanted to hear the man say that he wanted him. It was the mixed feelings that he felt that was influencing his actions but in that moment he didnt care.


    He waited anxiously for Jason''s reply. Jason looked at him, he couldn''t help but get lost in the crown prince''s eyes.


    The man was just too beautiful for his own good. His face looked better with a smile and a flirtatious one at that. Fear didnt look good in his eyes, he should always be confident and seductive.


    "I want...i want you t...to kiss...to kiss me," he said his voice breaking from how embarrassed of what he had asked for. He was a man and the prince was a man too.


    Even though they had kissed a lot of times before. He couldn''t get enough of the best kiss in the world. He could feel his cheeks getting hotter from blushing. It was strange how comfortable he was with a man laying on top of him with their bodies touching each other.


    Their hips on top of each other connecting the most sensitive parts of their bodies. He swallowed hard.


    Heat was travelling from the prince to his body. It made his manhood react. "Is that all?" The prince asked a smug smile playing on his lips.


    He looked away from Jason''s eyes to his lips. He could think of many ways to ravage those lips, there were many types of kisses and he couldn''t decide which one would be perfect to give the male an unforgettable kissing experience.


    Unknown to him was the fact that he had achieved this from day one. Jason was awed by his kissing skills, one would even think that he gained from experience.


    He just had naughty brothers, not to mention his friends. All of which were skilled when it came to such matters, to his dislike they taught him all that they knew by forcing him to watch as they demonstrated with their partners.


    "N..no I mean y..yes," Jason let out nervously. He wasn''t sure if he wanted the man to stop at kissing. He wished that the man would go further but ''The further'' scared him out of his wits.


    Davion moved his fingers to Jason''s chin. He trailed his hand on his jaw and slowly, nervously moved his finger to Jason''s lips. He brushed his hand over Jason''s lips feeling the rush of the anticipated kiss.


    Jason shook under hus touch. His touch was magic that Jason''s body craved for, desire and linking oozed off of his body as he gazed at the prince. In that moment everything else faded away, his heart beat only for him.


    His mind forgot the woman of his dreams. All that he could see was the out of this works beauty who was only looking at him. In his eyes he could see his reflection, only him. And that is how he wanted it to be, he shouldn''t look at Winrus or flirt with other females and males. He wanted it to be only the two of them.


    Davion gently pressed his lips against Jason''s. Jason gasped the sensation hitting him from the contact. Davion slipped his tongue into Jason''s mouth and light licked and sucked it. He gently wrestled with it for dominance.


    Jason didnt care who dominated the kiss, he just wanted to enjoy the burning sensation that came with their lips locking as one.


    Davion tugged at his tongue with him exploring every corner of his mouth. Jason released a soft hum in satisfaction. Even with eyes closed he could see the image of the prince perfectly in his head.


    The man didnt disappoint on his expectation. He enjoyed every second of the kiss, leaning back to enjoy the bliss that came with it.


    As he was running short of breath, the prince slowly pulled back giving him room to catch his breath. He opened his eyes and flashed his glance at the Prince. The man never seizes to leave him breathless each time their lips met.


    "You look beautiful," he complimented in between panting for breath. The prince flashed a sincere smile pleased with his compliment.


    The smile was contagious, Jason''s lips curled up into a smile too. The stress and fear in the prince''s eyes had vanished. Only he resided in his eyes and it brought him happiness to know this.


    Davion''s hair eased on holding him. With his hands free, he moved it to touch the prince. The scene was too good to be true, he thought that it might be a dream, one that he didnt want to wake up from.


    When his finger touched the prince. He gulped. "You are real," he said relieved that he wasn''t a dream.


    "Why, don''t you believe that I am here?" The prince asked nicely. His voice ever so gentle and sweet music to Jason''s ear.


    "I thought it was a dream," he let out honestly. The prince raised his brows intrigued by his statement. It made him happy and gave him joy to hear that as it meant that the male often dreamt off him.


    The man often went on and on about that girl Sashina that it was becoming irritating. Seeing her wrap her hands around Jason made his blood boil, he was pissed off more than necessary and Winrus''s attitude pushed him to the edge.


    "If you wish for this to remain a reality then you must do something for me," Davion uttered.


    "Anything," Jason jumped at his suggested faster than he expected him to. It made him happy to see how eager he was to remain close to him.


    "Never let me catch you being close with someone else, man or woman," he stated firmly.


    In the moment, Jason said yes without thinking twice on it. He just couldn''t control the need in him that thirst to make the prince happy. His reply made the prince happy and that was food enough for him.


    "Winrus," Davion shouted getting off of him and freeing him.

 Chapter 32 - The Famous Prince Amaru

    Winrus rushed into the room hearing the prince called out to him with anger. He knew that he was wrong in the way he spoke to him and expected to be punished. He deserved it and wanted it.


    It was hard being the prince''s slave. The King had almost killed him when he returned and said to the king that his son was lost. The King was unpredictable and before his unpredictability got him killed he chose to distance himself from the king.


    He walked into the room with his head lowered. If he was lucky then the prince will get a new slave to take his place.


    "You poor thing. What did the king do to you this time that you are so moody?" The prince asked him.


    Unlike the lecture he had expected, the prince didn''t seem mad. The picture looked at him as he always did, treating him not as a servant or slave but a friend.


    "He hanged me with a rope to my neck and ice at my feet in the sun," he informed the prince.


    "Order some tea, how dare the king trouble, my sweet Winrus," he let out shaking his head in pity.


    "Unacceptable," Amaru added.


    Winrus closed his eyes in frustration. The prince was angry to the roof a minute ago, but at that moment he was calm and unfazed by his earlier attitude.


    He figured the crown prince must have yelled and gotten his anger out on the prince of Xeris. His plan was ruined all because of the enmity between Jason and Davion.


    It didn''t occur to him that he didn''t vent his anger to calm down and that he and Jason could have done anything in his absence. It was wrong to bully a guest and he figured that was why Amaru asked to leave in case the king asked for a witness.


    Jason was seated upright on the bed acting naturally. As natural as one could act after having floated in clouds of pleasure. He could still feel a tingling sensation on his lips as a reminder of the kiss that he and the prince shared.


    ''It was bad enough dealing with him. He had to go and bring his famous friend,'' Winrus complained in his head. Feeling dreadful. The last time the prince of Zoltar was around, the women of the court were all driven out of their minds by his charm and beauty.


    It became his job to shoo away all the women that he had played with and no longer wanted. He was just a slave with no martial arts training, the difficulty of the task made him dread working in the palace.


    Keeping away ladies from noble families with titles that gave them right was no joke. He was just a slave against nobles and the man was just a boy of eighteen back then let alone now when he matured into a fully grown man.


    He could already hear the screams of the ladies fangirling over Amaru from the distance and pestering him to pass along a message or gifts to the male-only to be asked to keep it or throw it away by the receiver.


    "After that, you can seat with us. I have missed you Winrus," Amaru said.


    Winrus scoffed. The only thing the prince missed of him was his information on the ladies currently in court and which of him are his type. He just wants juicy details on targets to approach and by approach, it meant sending his poor slave self to talk to them.


    "I didn''t miss you. I won''t seat with you," he said and rushed out of the room.


    Amaru and Davion laughed at him as he went out of the room. The crown prince felt very happy, with him the male always put on a thick skin, he was glad that he could find someone that would send the man running away so fast.


    "What took you so long to return to my life," he let out pleased with Amaru''s skill to shoo off his biggest morning problem. Now he could rest as much as possible without being annoyed to ends by Winrus.


    "I had women in my palace I couldn''t move away from," Amaru replied. He was the prince famous for his playful ways with ladies, fathers around the four lands kept their daughters away from him and kings warned him against the princesses.


    The worst part was that despite all their troubles, their daughters are the ones that came running to him. He didn''t even have to chase them and they come rushing to him to give him whatever he wanted.


    "You and your women," the prince said.


    "What about you and the Prince?" Amaru pointed out referring to the kiss he and Jason shared.


    The crown prince fell silent for a few minutes. He didn''t comment on the statement that Amaru made. He too didn''t understand why with Jason things were different.


    He wanted more than just flirting. He seemed to be attracted to the male more than needed. It was growing strong in his heart and with it, his need to possess him was also growing stronger.


    The passionate kiss was a sign that he had moved past many boundaries with Jason.


    "Your highness, your tea is here," a page announced from the door.


    "Come in," Amaru ordered.


    The maids of the palace walked into the room with the tea and snacks for the three princes. They set down the teapot and the snacks on the table and exited the room.


    "Announcing the arrival of Sashina Albar, daughter of the duke," the page announced. The doors opened revealing the beautiful lady.


    Sashina wore a sweet and gentle look on her face as she walked into the room. She carried a box in her hands, she headed straight for Jason with the box.


    "This is for you my prince," she said with the corners of her eyes watching if the crown prince was watching. She wished to see if the crown prince will get jealous of her showing attention to Jason.


    "Thank you," Jason let out happily. He was amazed by how wonderful his day was going. He was on fire with all the love he was receiving.


    Davion''s mood darkened. He stared at Jason and Sashina with anger in his eyes. His reflection appeared in all the mirrors of the room. His hair was messy and scattered inside the mirrors, his eyes were bloodshot.


    The one in the mirrors screamed death for Sashina for daring to go after something that he liked.


    Sashina brought her hand to her neck. It felt like there was no airflow in her throat or lungs. She was suffocating.


    "Davion, something is wrong with her," Amaru noted waking him up from his haze. When Davion blinked Sashina could breathe again.


    "Mirror prince," the crown prince heard a whisper in his ear.

 Chapter 33 - You Made Your Choice

    "How dare you," the crown prince thundered in a scary voice.


    Jason and Sashina jumped startled by him, Davion moved in one quickstep and covered the distance between him and Sashina, the girl got on his last nerve by pressing her lips against Jason''s cheek. He angrily grabbed hold of Sashina''s throat and pressed hard.


    "How dare you walk into my room without permission?" he asked when the question he wanted was how dare she touch what he had marked as his. He wouldn''t willingly admit that he was growing a soft spot in his heart for Jason.


    He was sure that what he felt would pass after a while but until then, no one was allowed to touch him. Only he had that right, Jason was his and he was prepared to kill anyone that said otherwise.


    His reaction shocked Jason and Amaru. They had not expected his outburst; it was unlike him to lose it the way that he did. Amaru could tell that it was more than just her walking into the room. The prince was calm when she walked in, he only lost it after she got close to Jason.


    ''The crown prince of Aphidia is falling in love,'' he thought with a smile. He reacted like a jealous lover, he more than anyone knew that feeling, so many jealous boyfriends had attacked him because he had gotten close to their women.


    "This is going to b¡­." he froze in shock at what happened next.


    He had not seen exactly what had happened. The next thing that he knew was that the crown prince was lying on the ground to the wall. There were tree vines wrapped around his neck choking him, the crown prince raised his head and moved his hair from his eyes.


    He wanted to come face to face with the person who dared to attack him. His eyes remained col and emotionless as he looked on to Jason who glared to him. Jason had no idea that he could do what he did, he just couldn''t see his crush being hurt by Davion and wanted it to end.


    In anger he found that he could control the plant in the corner. He slapped the prince with one of the big branches sending him flying to the wall, he used its vines to hold him down. Had it been any other time, he would have jumped around happy that the author had not forgotten him and blessed him with powers too.


    He had saved Sashina and that should have made him happy. 75% of the time women fell in love with the men who saved and that meant that his Sashina might fall for him but he wasn''t happy. He wasn''t happy, he was sad and his heart was torn apart seeing the crown prince looking back at him.


    The anger that he felt when the crown prince attacked Sashina faded from his eyes, replaced with pleading eyes. The crown prince''s hair formed sharp edges and cut the vines that wrapped around his neck freeing him from Jason.


    "Leave," Amaru instructed to Sashina. The girl didn''t wait for one more second and dashed out of the room running for her life. She ran so fast as her life depended on it, she regretted dearly thinking that her plan would work. She swore never to enter the room unless invited.


    "Unwanted people shouldn''t be in my room," the crown prince uttered. His eyes averted from Jason, he looked at his friend, he was trying so hard not to lose it and kill Jason. Attacking him was like signing his death warrant, but what made him angrier was the reason that Jason attacked him.


    "Ask this person to leave my room and for his own good, I better not cross paths with him again," he asked Amaru. Amaru didn''t relay his message since Jason heard him. He felt sad for both of them, something so beautiful was growing between them and that one move ruined everything.


    The prince was the king of building walls and burning bridges, it didn''t matter what or who it was. Or how important a relationship was, once he got hurt, he would burn everything and move on like the person never existed. He pitied Jason, the price for being a hero was his relationship with the prince.


    "I am not this person, I am Nedr¡­."


    "An intruder that should not be in my room," the crown prince said. Jason grew short of breathe, his chest was stuffy, his eyes moisten with tears. He bit his lips anxiously, he didn''t mean to attack him.


    He found so painful to hear the prince call him an intruder, just moments ago, they shared such a passionate moment and now he was being asked out by the prince like it didn''t mean anything.


    "I don''t want to leav¡­"


    "What gave you the idea that I care about what you want?" Davion asked interrupting him once more. His voice and attitude cold an indifferent.


    Jason swallowed hard. In that moment, the king''s angry side was better. At least the male acknowledged him then, but now the prince acted like he was a stranger that didn''t belong by his side.


    ''If only I didn''t save Sashina maybe I wouldn''t hurt so much,'' he thought bitterly.


    "Are you waiting for something, get lost," the prince uttered. Jason shook his head, he didn''t want to leave not with the bad blood between them, he wouldn''t be at peace with it.


    ''You shouldn''t have picked her. But how am I not surprised, you have been obsessed with her since the day we met,'' Davion thought sadly.


    "You made your choice," he uttered and grabbed Jason''s hand and pulled him towards the door. "Davion please, I didn''t mean it," he pleaded desperately.


    The crown prince turned a deaf ear to what he was saying. He had given him a choice and asked him not to get close to anyone else, and not even an hour had gone by before he broke that promise with that girl. He had nothing more to hear.


    "Never return," he said, he threw Jason out of the room and locked the door on his face.

 Chapter 34 - A Drunken Mistake

    Davion''s p.o.v


    I had fallen asleep very late last night. I had no idea when I had gone to sleep, the last thing that I recalled was drinking until I couldn''t recognize myself. I have that stupid prince of Xeris to blame for it all.


    What he did yesterday really hurt me, how dare he come close to me when he likes someone else. He claimed that he didn''t mean it but I know that he was lying. People tell the truth when they are drunk and angry and he was very mad about me touching his dearest Sashina.


    If only I could send him out of Aphidia forever, I wish that I don''t have to live him in the same place and run the risk of running into him every day. That would be unnecessary torture that I would hate to go through.


    "Huh," I let out sitting up on the bed. I was tired more than usual. It was not like me to wake up so exhausted especially when I fall asleep after drinking. My head was heavy and hurting.


    "Where is Winrus with some medication?" I asked out loud. I slowly opened my eyes to adjust to the light of room. I pressed them closed once more from the brightness, I groaned displeased. I massaged my forehead with a sigh.


    I laid back in bed and rolled to the side. My eyes shot opened and glared beside me, red eyes looked back at me. I laid there with my eyes popping out of my sockets and my heart throbbing erotically, threatening to break out of its cage.


    Waking up with a naked man on my bed is something that had never happened to me before. And no, I didn''t see his body, when I rolled to the side I happened to roll into his arms. I can feel with my own body that he was without clothes. I gulped at the realization that I too had no clothes on.


    I sprang up away from him and glared at him. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"


    The man looked at me the look in his eyes not changing, he remained silent simply watching me like I was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. I get the look since I get them all the time from everyone.


    "How dare a nobody such as yourself sneak into my bed?" I asked when I didn''t get the answer to my first question. He was getting on my nerve by just staring at me.


    "A nobody?" he asked seeming intrigued by my choice of words. "You didn''t seem to mind that yesterday as you did what you pleased to me," he added.


    I couldn''t say a word; my heart fell to the pit of my stomach. He said it with such ease as though he had no clue what he was saying. He was admitting to sleeping with a man so calmly, I couldn''t believe it. I lowered my gaze and swallowed hard, his chest was filled with bite marks from his collarbone to his waist.


    "Did I do that?" he inquired from him.


    "I must say I was shocked. You look gentle on the surface but are quite rough in bed," the stranger spoke. "Don''t tell me that you''ve forgotten everything?" he asked and I looked away.


    The things that we did last night were coming back to me. Every single detail from how it began to the end, however much I try to forget the incident and pretend that it never happened. It is permanently packed in my memory.


    The first time I lose control after getting drunk I end up in bed with a stranger and the worst part was that I was the one who asked him to my bed.


    "Let''s forget what happened and move on, get up and leave," I said assuming my usual cold aura. I don''t want to entertain him longer than I have to, hopefully we aren''t in my room and he doesn''t know of my title as the crown prince.


    "I gave you all of me yesterday and this is what I get for i¡­"


    I pick my coat from the ground and reach for the pockets and get bag of gold coins and throw them at him. He is just as I suspected, gold digger.


    "That should be enough payment for your services," I said to him firmly. I turned around to look at him, the gentle look on his face had faded away, his cold gaze pierced through my skin like sharp razors.


    "If you wanted a whore you should have gone to a brothel," he bellowed coldly. "How dare you try to put value on me?"


    He voices resonated in the room. I could swear his aura could compare to mine when I am angry. I scolded myself, he clearly didn''t like that I paid him for the night that we shared.


    He stood up from the bed with difficulty. It was evident that he was in pain and no doubt because of me, I just went on and on venting my frustration on him all through the night and not once did he complain.


    "I don''t like that you have insulted me today," he said. He open a chest near the door and dropped the bag of gold inside, my mouth dropped at the amount of gold I saw inside the treasure chest. He undoubtedly was not an ordinary man from how rich he seems to be.


    "I will you soon crown prince," he uttered making frown. ''Did I tell him my name?''


    "And it will sooner than you think," he added. With a snap of his fingers he got dressed and vanished from the room and so did the treasure chest. I checked the room and moved to the roof but he was gone without a trace.


    I have never seen the man before, he was rich and handsome, those two made people very popular yet I had never met him before. It didn''t make sense.


    "Aricus," I recalled the name that he told me when I asked in the night.

 Chapter 35 - Waiting For The Crown Prince

    Jason spent the rest of the day in his room. His heart heavy with regret, he was lost on what to do. His mind wouldn''t stop thinking about the crown prince of Aphidia but he couldn''t go to see him.


    He had tried to meet him alone and explain that he didn''t mean to attack him but when he got to his room. The man was nowhere to be seen, he had gone missing.


    Probably left to not see him. That made him feel even worse. He had spent the night in the crown prince''s room waiting for him to come back but he didn''t return.


    He stared at his hands, in anger his hands moved in ways that he couldn''t understand. He was gifted with the power to control nature and who knew what more. But none of that could make him happy with the crown prince so far from him.


    There were no words that he could say to change what had happened.  He wished that the author would find him and see what happened. That she would have pity on him and edit that chapter and make it such that Sashina never comes into the room at that moment.


    He was her loyal reader, it was the least that she could do for his loyalty. To help him not lose the crown prince, it was his only wish.


    He didn''t care if he didn''t Sashina he just wanted to not have the crown prince hate him and distance himself from him.


    Everything was going fine until she came into the room. He was bonding with the flirtatious prince and his friend but now neither of them was there anymore.


    The prince had left and Amaru was also not to be seen. He was stuck there hoping that one of them would return.


    Dark circles formed under his eyes as he had not gotten any sleep in the night. Tears threatened to flow down his eyes from the pain in his heart. He told himself that he was a man and a strong one, he won''t fall from this.


    He would rise above it and his relationship with the prince would get better and stronger. He blinked his tears away, there was no point in crying when the tears would fall in vain.


    It was impossible to push back the fear crawling inside of him. Warning him that he had lost the fight before even starting.


    Unknown to him was a certain figure who stood by the window watching him. He stood with a cloak on hiding his face, he was unmoving and faced Jason intensely.


    Jason brushed his hands on his arms. Spending the night uncovered when it was chilly made him cold. His own health was no concern for him, the fact that the crown prince was angry with him worried him more.


    A third chance was all he needed. He had gotten his second chance yesterday, the author had helped him by including that weird plant in the plot. Getting his hair back created the perfect atmosphere for them to bond.


    But his stupid self ruined the author''s hard work and now he needed another miracle to melt the crown prince''s heart so that he would give him a third chance.


    He didn''t even realize that the feelings that drew him to the crown prince were getting stronger and stronger with his longing and his yearning.


    Every moment that he spent waiting for the crown prince to return. Was a minute spent waiting for love, the question he failed to ask himself was when did he fall in love with the crown prince.


    He wasn''t interested in putting a label on the relationship that he was forming with the crown prince and hence he has not realized that he had fallen in love with the man.


    He kept his eyes at the door, he didn''t want to miss the prince when he came inside the room.


    The figure by the window flew into the room, he removed his cloak letting it fall to the bed slowly without making any noise.


    He removed his coat dropped on top of the cloak and quietly slid into the bed, he pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes to get some sleep. He didn''t bother to speak to the young prince seated in the middle of his room.


    After having a long night with the mysterious man he was not in the mood to get into it with Jason.


    Jason went on waiting for the prince. He didn''t even look back to see if the man had returned, his mind was tired and exhausted and he needed sleep. But his stubbornness kept him staring at the door hoping to see the beautiful face of the prince.


    ''Just come back,'' he wished.


    He brought his knees to his chest and hugged them. He had never found himself so desperate to see someone as he was in that moment.


    The ache in his heart increased with each passing second, because of him the crown prince slept goodness knows where and he didn''t know whether he was safe or not.


    If anything had happened to the prince he didn''t think that he would ever be able to forgive himself for it. It was his mistake and only he should be punished. For a non-believer, Jason was forced to fold his hands to the man upstairs and pray for him to return the crown prince home safely.


    Feeling a cramp on his legs he got up from the floor, he stretched his hands in the air. "Perhaps I should leave and return when he is around," he spoke half-heartedly.


    He turned around to leave through the window as he came in, his eyes bulging out of his sockets in shock. The person that he was eagerly waiting for slept on the bed so soundly.


    He looked so peaceful as he slept that Jason didn''t have the heart to wake him.. He was just happy and relieved that the male was fine and back where he belongs.

 Chapter 36 - Jasons Jealousy

    The King had announced Aphidia holding a feast for the prince of Xeris. It was meant to be for the king but the man changed his mind last minute and decided not to show up.


    The King didn''t want his arrangements to go waste and decided to put the party in honor of the prince of Xeris. Jason was so happy when his butler told him the news.


    But the butler had more to say. The crown had forgiven all his debt and freed him from his promise. It was a shocking news, but Jason knew far too well why the prince was suddenly to forgiving.


    It was to stay away from him. The only reason he had called to his debts in the first place was to isolate him and torture him but that wasn''t his intention anymore. He wanted to be as far from him as possible and not have anything to do with him.


    This news ruined Jason''s mood. All the signs were there, screaming at him that he had fallen in love but he refused to accept it. Being a man who was often attracted to females, to accept the fact that his heart was beating for a male was a little hard to do.


    He paced around his room. The party was a perfect way to get the crown prince back, knowing the man. He wouldn''t come to the party.


    He wanted to believe that the party was the author''s way of helping him but it didn''t make sense. Even if he went to the party and the crown prince was other, there was no certainty that the male would give him the time of day.


    There was no one more qualified in the art of avoiding people than the crown prince. If he wanted to then there eyes wouldn''t even meet at the party.


    All the tricks he had read in the romance novels wouldn''t work either. The crown prince was built differently. He liked to flirt but not to take things seriously. Letting people go came easy to him.


    Every thought he came up with was a fail. "My prince," his man servant called out. Jason came out of his thoughts and looked at him.


    "Lady Sashina has returned from her fathers house. She is by the garden," the servant informed of him.


    Jason dropped everything that he was doing and ran off to meet her. She had left the palace in a hurry after what went down in the crown prince''s room that he didn''t get to apologise.


    He felt sorry to her for how the prince treated her. The crown prince would never have behaved with her in that way in the original novel. He felt guilty that it was the fact that he entered the novel that caused the book to change.


    He would do anything to make it up to her. He picked up flowers on his way there and rushed to meet her. He thought of what he was going to say to her when they saw each other.


    He wished it to be perfect for his perfect queen. He got more and more nervous as he neared the garden, his heartbeat picked up as though he was going to meet the prince and not Sashina.


    In the last few days, every time his heartbeat picked up he would know that the crown prince was around. The hairs on his skin would rise with fear that the crown prince might push him further away than they already were if he tried to get close.


    His body, mind and soul were no longer his. They moved to the tune of the crown prince and there was nothing that he could do about it. He tried to fight it by convincing himself of lies but deep down even he knew the truth he was trying so hard to bury.


    "From my heart to you," he presented the flowers to her. Her back was turned to him as she started to the distance. Her hair plated and had nicely with a cute hair pin.


    Jason frowned noting her choice of dress. She wore a buggy dress that left so much room and barely touched her body. Even a priests clothes were better than what she had on.


    The material might have been top class but the tailor needed some lessons on how to design a dress for a lady.


    "I am truly sorry. Please will you forgive me," he held the flowers to her. He waited for her to take the flowers from him to show that she had forgiven him.


    The flowers were snatched from him, he smiled happily that he could at least get one angry person to forgive him.


    He found that apologizing to Sashina was easier that the stubborn crown prince. The man simply wouldn''t bulge, he shook his head to clear his mind off thoughts of him.


    He was with Sashina and it wouldn''t be fair to her if his attention was shifted between her and the crown prince.


    "Does this mean that I am forgiven?" He inquired softly. His played with his fingers nervously, he really hoped she would forgive him. Even if they didn''t end up together, they could at least be friends.


    That was all that he wanted. The person before him turned around, Jason''s jaw dropped coming face to face with the crown prince. Davion stood there calmly with the flowers in his hands.


    "I am only accepting the flowers as they are my favourite," he uttered. "But it in no way means that I forgive you," he added.


    It was the longest that the crown prince had spoken to him in days. It wasn''t the words he wanted to hear but after missing the prince''s voice so much he settle for what he got.


    "I''m so happy you spoke to me," he let out subconsciously. Davion raised his brows at his words, if he said that his heart didn''t skip a beat at those words, he would be lying.


    "Really, I thought you cared more about whether or not Sashina talked to you," the crown prince let out.


    Hearing her name from his lips made Jason''s blood boil. Only his name sounded best for the crown prince''s lips. He should only call his name and not hers, he hated the sound of her name from Davion''s lips. He suddenly forgot the guilt he felt towards Sashina and only bitterness was left.


    His name had not come from the crown prince''s lips in days and he easily called her name. He was jealous and he hated that he had to be because of her. He wouldn''t mind becoming a villain to get rid of Sashina from the prince''s life forever.


    "I have to go," Davion uttered and left.

 Chapter 37 - The Engagement

    Jason followed the crown prince from the garden. There was so much that he wanted to say that right there on his lips.


    With the crown prince actually talking to him he figured he should get it off his chest. He rushed behind the male who walked leisurely. With his back turned one wouldn''t even know that he was the prince.


    He thoughts of what he should, arranging the words in order not to screw up. He had one shot of making things right with his crown prince.


    He was too caught up in his thought to realise how possessing he was getting when he thought of the crown prince. In every sentence he uttered of thought, it had stopped being the crown prince to his crown prince.


    He got the courage and stopped his crown prince in his steps by grabbing hold of his hand. Davion flashed him a look that wasn''t surprised by his action.


    "Say what you want to say quickly," he uttered impatiently.


    "I...i...well...i.."


    "If you don''t have anything to say then stop following me," Davion let out and removed his hand.


    Jason looked down constructing the words in his mind. It didn''t matter how much he arranged everything, when faced with the crown prince all the words vanished.


    "Say it," the crown prince ordered.


    Jason gulped, he wanted to say that he was sorry. To express how being away from him had been nothing but torture. The let him know of growing desire to talk to him about nothing at all. And just enjoy his company.


    Thinking of what he wanted to say, his eyes widen with the realisation. He was not a fool, it took him long to figure it out but he finally did.


    All the feelings he felt were the same ones that he used to feel about Sashina. Looking forward to the next time the author would post a chapter so that he could meet her again.


    Crying everytime he read about the bad things she went through and feeling down when the author failed to update the novel for days since it meant not knowing how she was. Or being with her.


    He had fallen in love with a character in the romance novel and after entering the novel he fell for the male lead. It was shocking to realise that he had fallen for the flietarious Prince of Aphidia.


    Nothing could fill up the space that was in his heart after the crown prince had distanced himself from him. He didn''t know how it happened or when but he had fallen in love with a man.


    He backed away from the crown prince. The truth hitting him like ice cold water. It made the hairs on his skin stand straight and chills ran down his spine.


    Not only did he deviate from his original plan of getting Sashina but his heart was beating for a man. He didn''t know what to think or do about what he had discovered.


    "I take it that you just wished to waste my time," the crown prince spoke.


    Jason''s heart skipped a beat hearing his voice. The reality was flashing right before his eyes and he was too surprised to speak.


    They both looked at each other for a while failing to notice the figure approaching them all smiles. She was so happy and couldn''t wait to share the news of her joy with everyone.


    Once she spotted Jason and the crown prince she rushed over to tell them the news first.


    "I''m sorry for what I did," Jason said to him.


    Davion raised his brows at him. He was still holding the flowers that Jason gave him. He released a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak.


    "I forgi...."


    "Greetings to the crown prince," He halted on hearing the annoying voice of the female he hated. Sashina bowed in greeting to show him her respects. She did the same with Jason and moved to stand next to Jason.


    "I have been looking for you everywhere," she said to Jason. Jason moved aside to not offend the crown prince by standing too close to her.


    Sashina moved to cover the distance between them. She hooked her hand to his and flashed him her best smile. "Did you hear?" She asked him.


    "Hear what?" Jason asked trying to get her hand from his body.


    "Your father sent a letter to my house," she said and got both Jason and Davion''s attention. "He expressed that you told him that you had fallen in love with me and wish to marry me," she added.


    Jason averted his gaze from her and looked at the crown prince. The male looked like he was about to swallow Jason whole.


    Jason wanted to explain to him that he sent that letter the night of the first party. After seeing the crown prince''s effect on everyone at the party he felt threatened and wanted his father''s help to ensure that he didn''t lose Sashina.


    He didn''t know that he would fall for the crown prince or regret acting rush about the matter.


    "He proposed our alliance and my father accepted. We are to be engaged at tonights party with all our families present," she let out in utter excitement. "It was to be a surprise but I couldn''t hold it in," she added.


    Daviom crushed the flowers in his hands and dropped them to the ground. When Jason said sorry, he was actually prepared to forgive him. He too couldn''t stand the distance between them.


    Little did he know that the boy was playing games with him again. Giving him attention like he did the first day he arrived only for the witch beside.


    He scolded himself for thinking that Jason had grown past his infatuation for the girl but seeing as he went ahead and got their engagement planned, he got his reply.


    "Congratulations to you both," he let out.


    Jason looked at him with teary eyes. This is not how he wanted it to end, he didn''t want to marry Sashina at all, the person he wanted was the crown prince.


    "May you both always be happy together," he added and made a turn to leave. A tear trickled down his eye with his back turned to Jason.


    ''You are dead to me Nedryn,'' he thought angrily and walked away.

 Chapter 38 - The Engagement (part Two)

    The news of the engagement of the prince of Xeris and Sashina travelled around court like wild fire. In no time everyone was aware of it.


    Jason couldn''t count the number of congratulations that he had received. He had so many people congratulate him that he had grown numb from it.


    His earliest wish was coming true. He was getting Sashina as his life partner but there was no sign of happiness on his face. He was sad, everything was going well before the cursed Sashina showed up and announced that they were getting engaged.


    And now the crown prince didnt want to see him. He didnt leave the palace, he was there with prince Amaru. But didnt even dare look in his direction.


    He didnt even try to approach him, there were no words to explain how much he messed up.


    He stayed in his room to avoid hearing more about his engagement. He laid staring at the ceiling, his heart was crying and bleeding from everything that he had lost.


    He found himself stuck. He couldn''t move forward to the prince where he truly wanted to be. He couldn''t move back to that night and stop himself from writing that letter to the king.


    There was nothing he could say to stop the pain in his heart. Recalling the crown prince''s angered look when he heard the news of his engagement. How much his heart shattered when the man he love congratulated him and linked his name with someone else.


    He had gotten angry and jealous when Davion said Sashina''s name easily but had no idea that it was him whose name would be linked to the girl.


    First they would get engaged and then soon after they would be married and he would have to spend the rest of his life with her. The thought of which made him want to puke. He couldn''t imagine a future with her.


    When he closed his eyes to envision what the future held for him all that he could see was him and the crown. In his hold and arms forever, that is the future that he wanted.


    He was emotionally exhausted from everything. He had spent the morning listening to Sashina go on and on about what dreams she had of their future. It was the most tiresome conversation he had ever been in.


    He didn''t have the strength to get ready for thr party. Memories of the good and bad times that he and he and the prince went through while they were together flashed before his eyes.


    Time was the only thing standing between him and forever going away from Davion. The crown Prince was unforgettable, the man had him stay up all night waiting for him when he had no idea how he felt. Let alone now that he knows the whole truth.


    He didn''t think that it was possible for him to ever forget him and move on from him. Hus heart was missing the male a lot. His smile, the way he played with his hair. The glint in his eyes when he flirted for fun.


    Everything of the man at that moment brought tears in his eyes. He didn''t wish to return back home or to go to Xeris, his heart had found a home in Aphidia.


    He had hope that the author had not abandoned him. He was her biggest fan and he had sent her gifts every single day. He gave her positive comments and reviews to encourage her on her writing. He was loyal to her.


    She wouldn''t let him down by letting him marry Sashina. The author was the god of the novel, she controlled everything that happened to the characters and at the moment he was a character.


    He understood that characters have to go bulbs before they find happiness. He just hoped the current bump in his life doesn''t cost him his happiness.


    Tears flowed from his closed eyes and wet his cheeks. He couldn''t deal with the reality that he was in and the more he gave thought to the matter the worse he felt.


    "Calm down!"


    A loud scream came from the halls. His eyes shot open. He didnt even get enough time to wallow anf already the universe was forcing him to get up.


    He rose from the bed and rushed out of the room. He searched for thr source of the scream but didnt see anyone.


    He shook his head and headed back into the room. "Davion, relax," he heard as he was about to close the door.


    On hearing the name of his beloved. His heart and hand trembled, he halted in closing the door and walked back to yhe corridor.


    "I can''t keep you safe unless you calm do..."


    Amaru and Davion appeared right before his eyes. Davion''s looked like something a rat threw up. His hair was messy and dirty, his clothes were torn and ripped everywhere. His eyes were bloodshot while he gritted his teeth.


    It was an opposite look to the handsome and beautiful man that Jason was used to. The person before him didnt look like his prince at all.


    It was different from the cold look he had when his hair was cut off. The image before him made it hard to breath, his mind wouldn''t stop chanting the same sentence over and over again.


    ''It''s all your fault.''


    He felt guilty and saddened by the sight of the crown prince. He wished his feet weren''t rooted to the ground from shock so that he could move forward and comfort him.


    "You need to relax Davy, please," Amaru pleaded.


    Davion turned his eyes from him and looked away. His eyes met with Jason''s eyes. His silent fears gripped his heart holding him captive. He was suffocating and it was his fault.


    Jason was to blame, he couldn''t get what it was about him that made his heart ache so much after learning about his engagement. It was like someone had set his heart on fire and there was no water that could put it out.


    He would know, he tried controlling water into his mouth to his chest and heart but the pain didn''t stop and he just went on to get hurt. He attempted to fight fire with fire to stop his heart from burning third degree inside his chest. But it didnt help with the pain.


    It only added more wounds on his body that hurt. Every little thing that Jason had done with him replayed in his mind taunting him.


    He was the crown prince of Aphidia, the one that everyone liked and loved. Everyone wanted to either be with him or be him. He was never used to being rejected, to have someone chose between him anf another with him on the losing end.


    But with Jason he learnt what that was like. He understood what it meant to not be good enough and that just added fuel to the fire that burnt in his heart. He was angry, sad, and hurting. He was heartbroken.


    Amaru kept screaming at him to calm down, but didn''t tell him how he should do that. Every inch of his body was screaming to be let out, he wanted to destroy everything in his sight starting with the cause of his pain.


    Jason took a step forward and stretched his hand in the air to touch his beloved. He understood the pain, he felt it in his heart.


    Just as Jason was about to touch him. Davion averted his gaze from Jason and back to Amaru. He didn''t want to see the tears in Jason''s eyes. To him, the man was feigning sadness just to mock. He was probably laughing at him in his head or waiting for him to leave before he did.


    ''I won''t let you have the last laugh,'' his eyes darkened as he thought.


    He went down on one knee shocking the worried Amaru and Jason. They panicked thinking that he might faint, but to their surprise he lifted his head to Amaru.


    "I don''t have a r..ring," he struggled to say in his hoarse voice. The mention of a ring made Jason nervous. The prince was hurting and in pain in that moment, when in such a state, a person could do anything. "But will you marry me?"


    Davion popped the question. Jason stumbled back, his whole being wasn''t ready to hear the crown prince pop the question to someone else.


    Only a few hours back he realised how he felt for him. And then discovered that he was getting engaged to Sashina and wouldn''t be with the one he loves and now he had to witness the man propose to someone else.


    "Davy, I like girls," Amaru said to him. Jason''s heart calmed down a little bit hearing Amaru''s reply.


    "Then you won''t marry me?"


    Davion asked, his hair forming sharp edges which were then aimed at his neck. Seeing this Amaru and Jason''s jaws dropped in freight.


    "Will you marry me or not?" The prince let out once more.

 Chapter 39 - The Engagement (part Three)

    "Will you marry me or not?" The prince let out once more.


    The question came as a surprise. Jason stared at Amaru intently to hear what his reply would be. His heart was thundering in his chest hoping the ice man would say yes.


    At that moment he couldn''t care for his own heart. He just wanted the crown prince to be fine. His eyes looked pleadingly at Amaru begging him to say yes to stop the king from hurting himself.


    He would never be able to live with it if any harm came to the prince because of him.


    "I am not doing this right now," Amaru said sternly. He went down on his knees and touched the prince''s chest. He let out some ice from his hand to his skin, enough to touch him but not hurt him.


    The chilling feeling from thr cool ice gave Davion some of his senses back. He was able to breath again. The ice made him numb, the feeling of pain was still there but his mind was too focused on the ice.


    "We should go anf get you changed, you look horrible," he added.


    Davion encircled his hands around Amaru and hugged him. Everything was going so fast. He couldn''t explain it all and it was affecting him. He broke down into tears and cried his heart out to his friend.


    Jason felt the urge to bend down and wipe the prince''s tears. To take his pain away and assure him that all will be well, that he didnt want to marry Sashina and was only concerned for him.


    Unknowingly, he went down on his knees and took the crown prince from Amaru''s hands and wrapped him in a warm embrace. He poured all the love that he felt in his heart into the hug.


    Davion was too tired to care, he needed a hug and the sweet scent from Jason brought him some comfort. He tightened his hold on Jason too scared to let him go.


    He was afraid that if he let go then he would be left alone and he didnt want to be alone. Jason rubbed Davion''s hair gentle while humming a song to calm him down. He was doing it to help the prince relax but he too was beginning to feel better.


    To see no resistance from the prince was a good sign and he was more than willing to stay like that for as long as it took. He had made up his mind that he would not get engaged to Sashina.


    After seeing the condition the prince was reduced to after seeing his choice. He didnt have any other option but to call off the whole thing. He just needed his father to arrive to explain to him that plans had changed and that he was in love with someone else.


    He now knew well what he wanted, he had made up his mind. No matter what came may, he was going to fight for his love and his beloved.


    He had just realised his love anf he was going to stand back and watch it fade from him before even giving it a chance to bloom.


    Amaru made a shield around them. The two men embracing each other like they were the only people in the planet were both of noble families. They were prince''s and that meant keeping appearances.


    But they didnt seem to care that rumors might spread and people might see them. It wouldn''t look good if people were to see them like that especially since one of them is to be engaged to another.


    He shook his head. He could clearly see that Jason loved Davion, he didnt get why the two can''t just confess how they feel and move on. In his opinion, they were prolonging this and allowing unnecessary complications to arise between them.


    Today it is Jason whose engagement is being fixed and before they know it. Tomorrow, it would be Davion, if they don''t say anything they will end up living miserably.


    But who was he to say anything, it was their love story and he was not going to be a third wheel. He leaned against the wall and tried to ignore the crying lovebirds. His thoughts wondered to the beautiful ladies that he would meet at the party.


    ''Author, please make this love story the best love story ever. I totally ship me and the crown prince and I promise to spend all my money on your next book,'' he prayed.


    "What?!" Davion and Amaru asked.


    Jason opened his eyes and realised he had said his prayer out loud. He gulped, the good news was that the prince had calmed down. The bad news was that he had just revealed to him some important facts he shouldn''t know.


    It was important for characters not to know that they were in a novel. That was the basic rule he had learnt after reading all the times that people transmigrated into novels.


    "Who is this author person?" Amaru inquired.


    "What do you mean when you said you ship me and you?" The prince asked. His eyes narrowed in question. "Are you planning to take me to a different kingdom by ship?"


    Jason bit his tongue holding himself back from laughing. The fact that the prince didnt get what he meant was hilarious.


    "Ye..yes," he said letting out a laugh in between. "I was talking about going on a trip with you," he added.


    "And whose love story should be the best one ever. Yours and Sashina?" Amaru asked.


    Jason dropped his gaze at the prince when Amaru asked the question. He was afraid the prince would react after hearing the girl''s name. And true to that, Davion''s calm mood shifted to angry in no second.


    "I was talking about us," he confessed to clear the misunderstanding. "You and me, not with her," he explained.


    ''Finally, some progress,'' Amaru thought.


    "Can you both move this to the room. I feel this conversation requires some privacy," he ushered. He helped the crown prince stand from the ground and helped him to the room.


    Jason followed right behind them, he was happy. Listening to his heart and helping the prince worked in his favour. He was glad that he didnt ran away put of fear, as now he had a chance at clearing the misunderstanding between them.


    Amaru helped the crown Prince to the bathroom. The bath water was ready, it had been prepared for Jason but Davion needed it the most in the moment.


    "You both talk. I will get some snacks anf changing clothes," he let out eager to leave them alone to kiss and make up. Denial in his opinion didnt look good on either of them.


    He rushed out of the room leaving the prince in the bath and Jason seated on a stool near him. Davion ran his fingers in the water, the feeling was magical. For so long he had forgotten how much he loved the water.


    The way it kisses his skin and calms his body. He let down his hair and it loose in the water. "What were you saying earlier?" He questioned.


    The corners of his lips were curling up into a smile. He was happy.


    "I can close my eyes to things I don''t want to see but I can''t close my heart to what I feel," Jason disclosed. "I like you a lot Davy," he nervously admitted to the prince.


    "Davy?" Davion pointed out with surprise. It was unexpected to hear Jason call him like that, so intimately. Only Amaru had ever had the right to be so close with him. And that was only because no threat would stop him from doing so.


    "Do you mind of I refer to you by this name?" Jason held his breath. His heart beating so loud like he was about to he told the results of the exams.


    "I didnt say anything," Davion let out. He sank his body further into the water, warming it with the fire of his hands, so that the temperature doesn''t decrease. "What of your engagement?" He went ahead and asked.


    "I will call it off," he said without blinking an eye. Davion''s bad mood lifted. He felt as light as a feather. Such simple words from Jason''s lips was enough to get him in good moods once more.


    "Then?"


    "Then," Jason began to say and paused creating suspense in Davion''s heart to know what his next words would be. "You will be mine."


    The words came from his lips so effortlessly. As though his heart needed no convincing of his decision before he announced it.


    Seeing how easy it was for Jason to confess how he felt, it made him confident that it was the truth.


    "What about you? How do you feel about me?"


    Davion lifted his head from the water and gazed at him. He bit his lower lip in a flirtatious way and said, "I will tell you after you call off the engagement.. Be patient sugar lips, I will make it worth your while."

 Chapter 40 - The Engagement (part Four)

    Jason was dressed in a tailor-made suit for the party. The King and queen of Xeris had arrived in Aphidia to witness the engagement between him and Sashina.


    He had made a promise to the crown prince that no matter what happened, he would get the engagement called off. The two of them were in a good place and didn''t want to lose that.


    The choice was simple. It was hardly a choice between Davion and Sashina. Love was more important than all else and at the moment that love went by the name Davion.


    He looked at his reflection in the mirror seeming satisfied with the look. He looked good enough to catch the prince''s eyes and keep them on him the whole night.


    The last thing he would want is to have to fight for his attention with all the ladies and gents at the party. Everything needed to go well and hopefully before the night is over the crown prince would have confessed his feelings.


    "Smiling too much will give people the impression that you are a mad man," his butler pointed out.


    Jason frowned. Ever since the man had been freed from his debts he went back to being his cold heartless self, he said what he wanted and did as he pleased.


    It was annoying but he had gotten used to it. "I am happy," he let out.


    "I once heard of a man who died from laughing too much. At this rate you might join his legacy," the butler noted.


    Jason''s smile dropped, the butler was got his way. He couldn''t continue to be happy with the man breathing down his neck not to be.


    The thoughts of the crown prince constantly running in his mind made him as light as a feather. He couldn''t smile on the outside but his heart was filled with joy and happiness.


    He didn''t know about happy endings but this was his first step towards happiness and he wasn''t going to waste it. He had gone over the things that he needs to say to his father the king in order to get the wedding called off.


    It would require him to badmouth Sashina a little but all was fair in love and war. And not only was he in love but at war to get the love of his life by his side.


    For him, he was prepared to cross any ocean and move any mountain if it meant getting accepted by the crown prince. Not to mention the goosebumps he got from thinking about Davion professing his love to him.


    It would be the best thing ever. To hear Davion''s sweet voice whisper all the words he yearns to hear. It was something to look forward to and he was more than ready to face everything for that confession.


    "Will you sit in front of the mirror the whole day?" His butler questioned. "How will you catch the crown prince if you dont go in front of him?"


    He asked marching towards the door. Jason turned his attention to the retreating man in shock. He hadn''t told anyone about what was going on between him and Davion.


    How the butler came to know about it surprised him. He shook his head and pushed the matter to the back of his head. He had more important things to worry about than what his butler knows and what he doesn''t.


    He stood from the dressing table happy with how he looked. He moved to the door to go and meet his novel parents. They weren''t his real parents since he wasn''t the real Nedryn but as long as he had the prince''s body, he had to own what came with it.


    "Hey, sexy," a sweet seductive voice let out. Chills ran down his spine.


    "Davy," he said in shock. They had just said their goodbyes not too long ago and he left to go and get ready but from the looks of things he didn''t seem ready at all. "What will the king say when he finds out the crown prince wonders the halls in a bathrobe?" He questioned.


    "He would hit the crown prince with his shoe, why?" Davion asked striding closer to him. He encircled his hands around Jason''s neck and pulled him closer.


    "What are you doing?" Jason inquired nervously at the crown prince''s bold move. They were in public and anyone could easily see them. It wasn''t a good thing for them to be spotted in that state by anyone.


    "Just making sure you dont forget what you have to do tonight," he let out unbothered by Jason''s nervousness. "You have to call off this engagement at the earliest," he ordered.


    Jason smiled, the possessive side of the prince was a big turn-on. It was weird how he liked having him act like he was his. And after he gets rid of his engagement to Sashina then he would truly then belong to him.


    "As you wish," Jason replied. "Now go and get ready or you will miss everything," he pushed.


    Davion remained firm unmoving even with Jason''s attempts to push him off. "Give me a kiss and then I will go," he requested.


    "No," Jason replied scared. The fact remained that they both were princes and that came with a handbook on what they could or could not do. It was just the way things were and kissing another man in public was sure to be on top of that list.


    It could cost them so much. They were just getting to this perfect place and he couldn''t get a mistake to ruin everything for them.


    "What? You won''t kiss me?"


    Jason swallowed hard. The crown prince looked at him with eyes that said,'' if you dont kiss me, you will be sorry ''.


    "No..t..that is not it. It''s just that it isn''t the time or the place," he let out.


    "I see," Davion stated.. "I''ll wait until your name is not linked to that woman to get my kiss then," he added.

 Chapter 41 - The Engagement (part Five)

    Jason let out a sigh of relief seeing as the prince didn''t push for a kiss. Davion let him go and walked away in the direction of his room to get ready.


    Jason wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked around to make sure that no one had witnessed them being together. When he didn''t catch anyone around, he rushed off to go and meet his father.


    When he walked away, Sashina stepped out of the shadows. A vein about to pop in her head, she had seen and heard everything for herself without being told. It made her sick.


    She couldn''t handle the truth that she had just seen. To her, the crown prince of Aphidia was using his charms to try and destroy her future. She knew for a fact that prince Nedryn loved her since he took the time to send her the proposal.


    But now Davion was trying to pressure him to change his mind. It disgusted her, she had not expected to see the unattainable prince of Aphidia throw himself shamelessly at a man just to get his way. It was demeaning.


    "I won''t let this happen," she uttered. She looked at both the directions the princes disappeared to. She decided to go after the root of her problems.


    She had landed herself a prince and no one was going to take that away from him. No matter who it was that stood in her way, she will ensure that not just the engagement but the wedding too takes place. That too right in Aphidia so that she could show Davion his loss and her victory.


    She rushed to catch up with the prince. She had a lot she wanted to say to him over his behavior. "Davion," she called out loud.


    Davion''s smile dropped. He didn''t turn around to see who it was, he didn''t need to. The annoying voice was arched into his memory. He could recognize it in a crowd even if everyone was shouting at the same time.


    What was worse was the fact that she dared to call him with his first name as though they were acquaintances or friends.


    He stopped in his steps and waited for her, his hands folded into a fist, he dug into his palm with his nails to stop him from losing his cool with her and hurting her.


    "I wanted to have a word with you," she said after getting close to him.


    "I am not in the mood to talk to you," Davion expressed and stepped forward to leave. Sashina grabbed his hand and pushed him back from leaving.


    Davion stumbled back, he shot a dark glare at the girl. Sashina glared back at him just as intently.


    "I am still talking to you. How dare you try to walk away from me," she barked.


    The crown prince was in shock. He, Davion Drake on Blake more, was actually pushed and challenged by a nobody. His blood boiled to the brim, he threw out all the senses in his head that told him to ignore her.


    She had looked for his trouble and he was going to serve her right there without any hesitation. "Have you lost your mind?" He asked her.


    "I should be the one to ask you that prince. Have you lost your mind," she fired back not backing down from the fight. "What were you thinking asking my fiancee to call off our engagement," she inquired.


    Davion was speechless, he didn''t know how she came to know about that. He wasn''t afraid of his actions and would gladly admit to them.


    "What of it?" He asked getting angrier. Hearing her call Jason her fiancee made him mad.


    "It''s sad, the crown prince of Aphidia. The most eligible bachelor in the kingdom is bent," she said in a mocking tone.


    "You.."


    The prince raised his hand to hit her but she grabbed hold of his hand and laughed at him. "Why are you getting angry at the messenger?" She asked. He furrowed his eyebrows at what she meant. "These are Nedryn''s words, not mine," she added and let go of his hand.


    Davion''s hand fell, his eyes are wide open from shock at what she said. "So desperate for a kiss, you even had to beg. How pathetic," she uttered.


    ''He couldn''t say that about me,'' Davion sang in his mind over and over again.


    "Aren''t you curious how I know all this?" She asked him.


    "How?" Davion asked putting on a cold and indifferent face not to show her that her words affected him. Her words might pierce through his heart but he was not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing him hurt.


    "He told me, he keeps me updated in all the games he plays with you," she said.


    Davion grabbed his shirt with the hand on his back and held it tightly. He looked at her with no emotion in his eyes when his heart was burning.


    "How do you think I came to your room the other day. He told me to come and instructed me on what to when there," she added.


    She recalled how the crown prince had reacted to her presence. She had thought that it was because she went to his room but now everything made sense to her. He reacted out of jealousy and she was going to use that to drive distance between the two of them.


    "What makes you think that I am playing a game with him?" He asked her. "Think about it, Nedryn is already in his father''s bad books. If he is caught with a man, he might just get disowned," he added.


    Sashina''s smile dropped. The possibility of the prince''s suggestion happening was true. Nedryn was not his father''s favorite everyone knew that it was no secret.


    "You know, he planned to reveal your secret to everyone at tonight''s party," she said to him. "Then you would lose your crown. Think about it, who would want a king who can not give them an heir since he can''t touch a woman," she added.


    Davion smirked. "You have met me, who in this kingdom do you think is strong enough to stand against me?" He asked her.

 Chapter 42 - The Engagement (part Six)

    "Nedryn," Sashina replied.


    Davion stared at her coldly. Nedryn wasn''t strong enough to stop him but he knew that she didn''t mean it in the sense of fighting.


    "Interesting," he let out. "I would like to stay and chat but I have places to be," he excused himself.


    "How about a challenge your highness," Sashina stated stopping him. He looked ahead, he was getting on his last nerve with the girl. She was not just annoying but she irritated the life out of him.


    Just that talk alone was enough to keep in bed for days. She was energy draining. "Let it out quickly, some of us have important things to do," he said.


    "Tonight, Nedryn and I will get engaged," she said. He shot his gaze at her. Her confidence was astounding to him. He couldn''t point whether it was simply confidence or overconfidence but she made him nervous.


    Matters of the heart were knew to him. He wanted to trust and believe in Jason''s promise that he would call off the engagement but he kept his kind open to the possibility that the man was playing games with him.


    "And not just us, he himself will get you engaged to another tonight," she challenged. Davion glared at her. He was coming close to ripping her tongue out, talking about her and Nedryn''s engagement was one thing that he could handle but his own. She was crossing all her lines.


    "That will never happen," he said to her sternly. He had no intentions of getting married and no one could force him to do what he didnt want to do.


    "It will, Nedryn told me so himself. For him you will accept this proposal," she uttered with a big smile on her face.


    "I have never met a girl with a dirty heart like you," Davion said to her and walked away.


    Sashina angrily stared at Davion''s back. She didnt expect that the crown prince would dare such thing to her when he was the one with a problem.


    "At least I understand the norm of things. Unlike you who only chases other cocks," she yelled.


    The crown prince stopped walking. ''Mirror prince,'' he heard the whispers. All the mirrors in the corridors had his reflection in them.


    He was upset. His heart was beating fast, never im his life had he been insulted as much as the girl did. She had crossed all her boundaries.


    "You are in luck," he said and walked away. He set everything behind his mind and went to his room.


    Sashina wasn''t happy, she intended to break the crown prince and get him to back off. To make him understand that she was the one calling the shots but it didnt work. The man didnt seem that much affected by her words and that annoyed her.


    She vowed to keep to her challenge and get everything that she wants.


    *******


    The engagement party began. Guest from both kingdoms arrived at the palace to attend the festival. The palace was decorated from the gates. Every inch beautified for the occasion.


    The purple flowers arranged in a spiral outside the palace awed the guests as they got off their respective means of transport. Golden lantern lit the way to enter the palace guiding the guests on where to go.


    The ball room where the engagement was supposed to take place was set. Tables were arranged to hold four to five guests each. Beautiful arrangements were made as per Sashina''s request.


    Purple being the theme of the party, all the decorations were in all different shades of purple. From the flowers, curtains, table cloths and the candles.


    The dressing code was red and white. Chosen by Sashina herself, she had planned out everything to what role everyone would play in her special day.


    She was getting engaged and to a prince for that matter, the matter was made a grand affair. Her father the duke had a lot of money to sponsor all the ideas that she had for her special day. Nothing was to luck.


    The guests settled down in their seats. With their seats marked by name to prevent confusion among them. The ball room filled with more and more people as the time went by but the high table was still empty.


    No one from either of the royal family had made it to the party yet. The maids in waiting tasked to attend to the guests served some snacks to them. To eat as they waited for the royal family to arrive.


    The guests chatted amongst themselves, in wonder if the grand arrangements that had made in the room. Everything to the tiniest detail was done to perfection.


    The trumpet sounded outside the door grabbing the attention of the guests. "All rise, to welcome the king of kings. The great ruler of Aphidia, the king," the page announced.


    The doors were opened, the king walked into the ballroom with his entourage, all the guests got up from their seats and bowed to the king.


    Right behind him the prince''s of Aphidia walked into the room. They followed the king to their seats, Davion had asked the page not to announce him as he didnt want everyone to look at him.


    With their heads bowed the guests had not noticed his arrival. He got to his seat and sat down right beside his father, he looked to his side anf frowned.


    The seat right next to him had that annoying girl, ''s name on it and there was nothing worse than to have to sit beside her for the rest of the night. Amaru arrived right then, he looked at the sitting arrangement, according to whoever made yhe arrangements, he should sit at the end.


    He grabbed his chair and moved everyone else''s chair towards the end and settled down beside Davion. "Aren''t you glad that im your friend," he let out.


    "Aren''t you a bit too cocky," Davion fired back feeling relieved that he didnt have to seat beside the devil dressed in women''s clothing.

 Chapter 43 - The Engagement (part Seven)

    The King and Queen of Xeris were announced, they walked side by side with each other and walked to the high table and took their seats.


    Their was a lot of functions to happen during the engagement ceremony hence all didnt take their time getting to their seats.


    "Now, for the couple that you have all been waiting for," the page said forcing everyone''s eyes to the door.


    "The beautiful Sashina and prince Nedryn," the page announced. The door swing open revealing the couple.


    Sashina stood with her hand hooked around Jason''s hand. She was dressed in a beautiful red coral ball gown, her neck was adorned with a diamond necklace that sparked with the light from the chandelier.


    She had a no make up look, radiant and beautiful she stood elegantly beside prince Nedryn who was dressed in a white suit with a red shirt inside. His hair neatly arranged in place, bringing out his features for all to see.


    They stood by the door for few minutes as the guests admired them, they looked beautiful together. Standing side by side in matching outfits, they couldn''t look better.


    Sashina smiled satisfied with the reaction from the crowd, her eyes shot up looking for the crown Prince. He was her target for the night and she needed to make sure that he was watching.


    She was going to shatter his heart into a million pieces that he would never dare love again. She convinced herself that he deserved it for choosing to love a man when she was available and willing to do anything to win over.


    What more was that he fell for her second option. And now, since she couldn''t have the person she wanted, she would settle for Nedryn and break Davion so that no one else can ever have him.


    If she couldn''t have him then no one else deserved ro be with him.


    Her eyes met with Davion''s gaze. The corners of her lips stretched further up provoking him. The crown prince looked at her I''m bothered by her smile, ge was more concerned about Jason and what he was doing.


    Jason gulped meeting Davion''s eyes. The prince looked at his hand that was intertwined with Sashina''s before returning back to his eyes. He understood that the man was asking him to stop holding Sashina''s hand but he couldn''t.


    He averted his eyes from the prince and turned to Sashina. He flashed her a weak smile, "Shall we?" He asked.


    "Sure," Sashina said and held his arm tighter. Her act annoyed Jason. He thought that she was doing that just to irritate him, little did he know that he was far from her target. Every move she made was for Davion to see and not at all for him.


    They marched into the ballroom together, they took slow steady steps. It was there day and they were in no rush.


    Jason looked everywhere in the ballroom except at the man glaring daggers at him. With every step that he took closer to the high table, his heart sank further and further down.


    He hated being there, if possible he would wish the author to get him out of the book and not let the night play out. He prayed that she would give up on the book and drop it right at that minute.


    If she doesn''t keep writing then everything would pause and he wouldn''t have to go through with everything. He was going to break the heart of someone that he cared about and that made him feel so suffocated.


    "It is a happy day, you can at least pretend to smile," Sashina reminded noting his mood falling.


    Jason forced a smile on his lips. He smiled on the outside but cried deep inside his heart. It was crazy that his life had taken such an unexpected turn. He hated it.


    They walked to the table. Sashina noticed the change of seats with Amaru coming between her and Davion. But she didnt say anything and took a seat quietly. It didn''t matter where she sat. A heart can break from any distance, she just won''t be close enough to see it.


    "We are gathered here today to attand the engagement of the prince of Xeris and the dukes daughter," the began to say. "It is a night of celebration and hence, dont hesitate to have fun," he added.


    "To the king," the duke proposed a toast.


    Everyone raised their glasses, "To the king," they said in unison and took sips of their drinks.


    "We will start off with the ri...ring ceremony," he read from the program that he was given. Everyone shared looks in the room.


    Just like the king, they were confused as to why the ring ceremony was the first thing. It was the tradition of Aphidia and Xeris, that the ring ceremony come after the entertainment.


    But since the king had announced it, the guests clapped their hands together for thr ring ceremony to begin. Jason''s hearts shattered into a million pieces when he heard that.


    He had not prepared himself for it yet. He thought that he would get some food in his stomach and some drinks to prepare him for it. But to his surprise the ring ceremony was the first thing in the program.


    "Isn''t he calling the engagement off?" Amaru asked the crown prince.


    "Apparently not," Davion replied. Sashina''s words rang in his ear. He couldn''t believe that the girl was winning, what more that Jason had wanted that from the beginning. It just too shocking that he had read Jason''s feelings wrong.


    "But what about you?" Amaru asked getting angry. "I cant believe he played both of us," he added.


    The queen of Xeris helped Jason and Sashina out of their seats. She walked them both to the centre of the room and had them stand facing each other in close proximity.


    "As Nedryn''s mother, it is my humble honor to give him to you Sashina," she said all smiles.


    She raised her hand in between them revealing the rings to them. Sashina looked up at Jason.. ''This is just the start,'' she thought.

 Chapter 44 - The Engagement (part Eight)

    Sashina and Jason picked up the rings from the queens hands. The ballroom went quite as the guests watched them with anticipation of the ring ceremony.


    "They won," Davion sighed.


    Amaru turned his attention away from the couple to his friend. He didn''t like to see him in such a state. From the looks of things the engagement was going to take place.


    "Who won?" He asked to him.


    Davion narrated to him what had happened, his encounter with Sashina in the corridors and what she had said. The challenge that she made and the things she said about Jason. He didn''t leave out a single detail in the story.


    "I cant believe this, how dare they," he barked in a hushed voice.


    "It is fine, they deserve each other," Davion said. It hurt but he wasn''t going to keep holding on to someone who lied and cheated him.


    "No! It is not fine," Amaru said standing up. Davion glanced at him stunned by his reaction. "The only game I like to play is one where I make the rules and win. Not one where my friend loses and is made fun of," he spoke out pulling Davion to stand up from his seat.


    The King was looking at them and so were the guests, so Davion had no choice but to get up as not to create a scene.


    "What are you doing?" He asked the ice prince.


    "Changing the way the story goes," Amaru said with a sadonic smile embracing his beautiful lips. "They like games so much. Let''s give them one they won''t ever forget," he added.


    Davion gave a weak smile to his father as his friend pulled him towards the couple at the centre of the room. He lowered his head in embarrassment, he regretted telling the man about what happened.


    Being away from Amaru for a long time made him forget how short tempered the male can be when he was angered.


    "Amaru, you are a prince. Control yourself," he let out in a whisper.


    "It''s my game now," Amaru uttered and stopped right before Jason and Sashina shocking them together with the queen.


    "What is goi..." The queen of Xeris tried to ask but was cut off when all the lights in the room went off.


    "Who did that," the king roared from his seat. His voice reverberated in the room sending chills to the guests.


    The maids rushed with matchsticks and lit the candles to eliminate the darkness in the room. Everyone was relieved when the lights were back up.


    "Just in time, we have exchanged the rings," Sashina announced.


    "Yes, indeed we have," Amaru''s chilling voice sounded.


    Sashina looked up, in place where Jason stood was the ice prince. And in his finger was the ring of fire that she was meant to put on Jason finger.


    "What in the..." The queen was shocked. Because Jason and Davion stood opposite each other with rings in their hands, matching couple rings of the royal family of Aphidia.


    The guests gasped in shock, they had come to witness prince Nedryn and Sashina get engaged but they witnessed two engagements instead. The prince of Xeris with The crown prince of Aphidia and Sashina with prince Amaru.


    Amaru looked at Davion and winked at him. When he blew out the candles in the room, he switched places with Jason and exchanged rings with Sashina and had Jason and Davion exchange their rings too.


    It was easy since Davion already had the rings in his pocket. "My game, my rules and for the cheating couple. I will never wish a happy ending," he noted.


    Davion glanced at Jason, he thought that the moment that he would put the ring on Jason he would feel happy but that was not so. By going back on his word and keeping to what he said, he proved that he didn''t care for him at all.


    Without realising it, he had proved Sashina''s words to be true. The fact that the girl knew what she knew could only mean that the man was the one who told her.


    "What is going on here," the king shouted in confusion. The sight before him didn''t make any sense at all.


    "I will explain," Amaru volunteered to give an explanation. Everyone turned to him to hear what it was that he had to say.


    "Proceed," the king of Xeris ordered. He too wanted an explanation as to what was going on. It was a matter than not just concerned his son but his kingdom.


    "Your highness, the fact is that Sashina and I are in love with each other," he claimed.


    Sashina''s jaw dropped hearing the words that Amaru dared to utter. It was preposterous for him to even say that.


    "That is no..."


    "Not the whole truth, I know baby," Amaru said cutting her off before she finished her statement. He strode close to her and took her hands in his. "Sitting there quietly and watch you get engaged to another was hard. That is why I had to do this, the whole world deserves to know that you are spoken for," he let out softly.


    "Owww," the ladies in the ballroom awed at his confession.


    "The fact is that, you are the beautiful melody of the song that keeps on ringing in my heart and I cant let you go," he proffesed.


    "How romantic," the ladies let out after witnessing hus confession of love.


    "I know that you feel the same so please dont turn from me," he pleaded and embraced Sashina. The kind and sweet look vanished while he hugged her. His eyes glowed with untold schemes of destruction to the girl who had the nerve to pick ok his friend.


    "What are you doing?" Sashina asked him.


    "Uprooting the weeds in the garden," he replied her. "Enjoy the moment, it is the beginning of your punishment," he let out and broke the hug.


    His eyes softened once more as he looked into her eyes. All the ladies watched on with curiosity to see what happens next.


    "Will you marry me beloved?" He asked her.


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 Chapter 45 - The Engagement (part Nine)

    Jason felt a heavy weight lifted off his shoulders. He closed his eyes and thanked hus stars and the author. He didn''t want to go through with the engagement. He was just scared not to make a move, he was glad that Amaru and Davion had jumped to his rescue.


    He had planned to go to his father and get the engagement called off but when he got there, he found Sashina and not the king or the Queen.


    ******


    *Flashback*


    Jason walked into the room that had been reserved for his father and mother. He had arranged the words that he wanted to say to them to make them understand why he didn''t want to get married to Sashina.


    They were his family and so he hoped that they would understand him. That they would allow him to be with the one he loved even if that person was a man.


    He took his time searching around the room for any sign of them. He looked out in thr balcony and to the bathroom but they were no where to be seen.


    When he walked back into the room he found Sashina seated on the bed. She seemed deep in thought as though troubled with something.


    He walked up to the girl, he was hoping that he could speak to her. It would be better for her to hear it from him than from someone else that he didn''t want to marry her. He would lay it down on her easy and hope she understands.


    He was doing both of them a favor. If they went through with everything then all of them would be miserable. He didn''t feel like that about her anymore and it wouldn''t be fair to be with her when his heart was beating for a another.


    "Sashina," he pronounced and nudged her shoulder lightly. The girl came out of her thoughts and faced him.


    "Nedryn, I have been looking for you," she said to him in a saddened tone.


    "I wanted to talk to you too," he told to her. He took a seat right beside her, he thought of how best to tell her what he wanted to say. At the end he decided to just speak. There were no perfect words to let out what he wanted to say in a way that wouldn''t hurt her.


    "I can''t get engaged to you," he spoke out. "The thing is that I like someone else," he added.


    "That is what I wanted to speak to you about," Sashina said in distraught. "I just heard the maids of the palace gossiping about yours and Davion''s affair," she stated.


    Her words poured down on Jason like ice cold water. They were in the palace where even a single rumour could destroy a person. He had watched way too many royal drama to know that but in his case, it wasn''t a lie but the truth.


    "I know that it isn''t true," Sashina said holding Jason''s hand anf giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know you too well to know that you don''t like men. But the world won''t think the same when they hear about this," she said creating doubt in Jason''s mind.


    "Th..the thing is..."


    "This news can destroy Davion completely," Sashina interrupted him. She looked down feigning sadness, "He is next in line for the throne and when people find out that he will never be able to give them an heir since he likes men, they will take away his right to the throne," she added.


    Jason was paralysed with fear. He would never want to be the reason that the crown prince would suffer. Love was supposed to complete people and not to take away from them their rights.


    "I would never want for that to happen," he let out in a shaky emotional voice.


    Sashina smirked, it was so easy to get into Jason''s head as it was for her to get to the crown prince. Either way, she got the reaction that she wanted and was satisfied with the outcome.


    "That is why we have to get engaged, it will prove the rumors wrong" she said to him.


    Jason shook his head to get the thoughts out of his head, he had made a promise to Davion that he would not go through with the engagement.


    "I can''t," he declared sternly. It would hurt to watch the prince lose hus right to the crown but not as much as it would hurt him to see the crown prince lose trust in him.


    It was his last shot to prove to the prince that he cared. He had already wasted so many chances that he couldn''t break the promise that he had made to the man.


    "I understand," she let out. "But I hope you understand the consequences of your choice. You are not the crown prince of Xeris so you have nothing to worry about. Especially with your record," she said and got up and walked towards the door.


    "One, two thre.." She counted until she heard him stand from the bed.


    "Wait," Jason stopped him from leaving. "What do you mean?" He asked her.


    Sashina''s smile grew even more. "You are not to care what your father thinks of you and you do as you please. But Davion is different, he cares and is loved by everyone. If this gets out, that is just how many people that would hate and despise him," she said.


    Jason recalled at the first party he attended how people reacted to his presence. The thoughts of that turning into hate and disgust made his heartache.


    "Get engaged to me, if not for live then at least do it to protect the crown prince," she pleaded to him.


    "Okay, for the crown prince," he said to her. Sashina let out a sigh of relief, she had gotten what she wanted and one way or the other, she was going to win her challenge.


    ******


    Jason looked up to Davion with longing, he desired to be wrapped in a firm lingering hugs tears of joy filled his visage like water from a faulty tap.


    He was truly happy with the outcome of events.


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 Chapter 46 - The Engagement (part Ten)

    "Alright," the king spoke out and everyone went silent. "I can understand that but what is the need for crown prince Davion and prince Nedryn getting engaged," the king asked him.


    Amaru slowly raised his icy gaze at the king. His icy look caused the people around to shiver, filled with anticipation the guests watched keenly not to miss a single thing.


    "Your highness, can you not see how good they look together," he let out.


    The crown looked back and forth from Davion to Jason. The two princes were both good-looking and if they were forgetting the norm of things, most of them found that they could ship for the two of them.


    The King looked at his son and then at Jason. He was surprised that his son had not lost it yet. It told him one thing at last, that he wasn''t forced to put the ring in the man''s finger.


    But opposite to his thoughts, Davion was forced to get engaged to Jason. Amaru had held his hand and made him put the ring on Jason''s finger against his wishes. He didn''t want to get attached to a traitor but his friend had other plans.


    "They might look good together bu..."


    "We are in love," Jason jumped at the chance and confessed in front of everyone.


    Gasps came from the guests. It was a bold move, him coming out and admitting what he felt for the prince. Everyone was impressed except for the subject of his confession.


    "Okay," the king said being rendered speechless. He came to attend one engagement but got the very shocking news that he was lost on how to proceed. "What do you have to say about this son?" He asked the prince.


    Davion glanced at Jason and then to his father. "I don''t...disagree with him," he uttered and glared at Amaru.


    The male-only gave an innocent smile. He couldn''t believe the nerve of the male to pinch him with icy cold fingers.


    "You will thank me later," the man said.


    "Well," the king of Xeris spoke up. He had heard everything that had happened. Frankly, he wouldn''t say that he was displeased. It annoyed him that his son liked men but to see the man that he managed to bag made him proud.


    No doubt that Davion was going to ascend the throne after his father and Xeris being in favor with the next king was not entirely a bad thing. It could benefit his kingdom, with Aphidia standing on top of the four lands.


    It was good to have his hands on the power. He was going to suggest later in the night that the king consider getting his daughter and Davion married but his son had already done the job, he was satisfied.


    "Since they are in love, I dont see why we should stand in their way. They have my blessings," the king said.


    Davion''s father was even more lost. He wanted his son to be happy but he had to think about his kingdom. If his son married a som then the throne would suffer without having an heir. He needed an heir to continue his rule when his son is no more.


    "I guess I also give my blessing," the queen of Xeris let out.


    Sashina was shocked over what was going on. It was supposed to be her day snf things were supposed to work out for her and not for the two men.


    She couldn''t stand to see the love they were receiving, all that she had done proved useless. She had lost both the crown prince of Aphidia and the prince of Xeris.


    She moved forward to stop them and ruin their happiness but Amaru stood in front of her blocking her path. "You aren''t going anywhere. Your job is to watch not interfere," he told to her.


    Sashina gritted her teeth in irritation, Amaru was getting on her nerve, ruining all her plans and making her lose. She could only glare at the man with anger and hatred in her eyes.


    She kept cursing at all of them in her mind. They deserved every single thing that she thought of them. But they had not heard the last of her, if she couldn''t have them both of them, then they won''t get to be happy.


    She vowed to ruin everything for them and make their lives miserable. ''You have only got engaged, not married," she thought and remained calm.


    "Alright, I will accept this union," the king let out. "But on one condition, along with this young man, the crown prince marries another woman to give him an heir," he announced.


    Jason was so happy, no one had hated on them. Or threatened to dethrone the crown prince because of their love. He didn''t know why he had trusted and believed everything that Sashina said.


    Had he been honest from the start then they would have avoided the drama that was right before their eyes. They would have gad a simple engagement and celebrated their love.


    "We have our parent''s blessings to be one," he whispered to Davion.


    Davion avoided his gaze, the male had broken his promise. It took Amaru to call off his engagement with Sashina and had the man not intervened then he would have been forced to watch him get engaged to Sashina.


    "Thank you Amaru," he let out to his friend. He had one true friend who cared about him and what he liked. He knew that he could count on his friend, though his methods were questionable, they brought the desired outcome.


    "Get me six beauties and we call it even," Amaru stated to him.


    "The selection for the girl begins tomorrow," the king announced ending the ring ceremony. With everything that had happened, he didn''t feel the need to continue with the other ceremonies and ordered the food for everyone to eat.


    Amaru and Sashina walked back to their seat hand in hand while Davion and Jason followed behind them. Jason didn''t need the genius to tell him that the prince was mad with him.


    ''I wonder why he is angry. Everything worked out so shouldn''t he be happy?''

 Chapter 47 - The Princess Selection

    The party was ended early due to all the drama that had taken place in the ballroom. The guests had gone home with so much gossip to share with those who hadn''t attended the engagement party.


    Those with daughters were happy and excited with the king''s announcement. They went home very early to prepare for the princess selection the very next day.


    Jason followed the crown prince to get his confession. They had gotten engaged and he didn''t has to worry about a single thing anymore. He had every right to ask the man for his confession.


    He wanted to hear how the crown prince will express his feelings. His heart would flutter at the thought of the words that he would hear him say.


    He got to the lake, the crown prince stood under a very big tree holding the stem of the tree with one hand. He seemed to be deep in thought.


    "I will surprise him," he thought excitedly as he stealthily approached the male.


    "Slowly and slowly my eyes wonder to you. Looking for your presence amid the crowd," the prince spoke out.


    Jason stooped in his tracks, he was going to surprise the prince and ask him for his reward but the man already knew that he was there. The prince had started his confession before he asked for it.


    "My heart flutters as I think of you, look into my eyes and understand how I feel for my lips are too shy to utter my love for you," he added.


    Jason''s lips curled up into a bright smile. Surely there was no one more romantic than him. The words that he said were exactly what he needed to end the night. They were the best words that a lover could hear from his beloved.


    "So cute," he let out.


    He strode forward to meet him. To thank him for the wonderful words that he had expressed to him. He was super excited, this was his first confession and it swept him off his feet.


    "You remember my poem so perfectly," he heard a female voice say before a woman walked out from behind the tree. "Clearly I must be important," the girl added.


    "Mmm," the crown prince hummed.


    "But you have already given your heart away to prince Nedryn," she uttered.


    Jason watched the girl keenly frowning at seeing how close she seemed to be with the crown prince. He wanted to rush there and pull the prince away from her and tell her that they belonged to each other.


    "You do not seem happy, why?" She asked Davion.


    "My heart is where it was the very first time," Davion uttered to her. "I have never given my heart to anyone and I do not plan to do so anytime soon," she added to her.


    Jason was dumbfounded. He had not expected to hear the prince say such words. The truth was that he knew in his heart that Davion loved him a lot. But for some reason, the man was saying otherwise.


    He seemed to be upset with him that he was speaking like that. He had noticed Davion''s mood during dinner. The man had barely said a single thing to him since they got engaged.


    He hadn''t done anything wrong to the man so he didn''t get why the prince was mad at him.


    "Okay, then tell me, who will you select to be your princess tomorrow. Who will the lucky girl to be your wife?" She asked him. The crown prince raised his hand and pointed at the sky.


    "My moonpie," he uttered.


    "I will let my sister know that she should get ready to be the future queen of Aphidia," the girl replied happily.


    Hearing the crown prince called out to someone else so intimately made Jason''s heartache. Only his name sounded sweet on the Davion''s lips. He wanted to walk forward and ask him who this moonpie is but his feet were rooted to the ground.


    "But I am heartbroken tonight," the girl stated in a pained voice.


    "I had no idea you had a heart," Davion said to her.


    "How could Amaru fall in love with that girl. I mean, he had me in his life how can he settle for her," she let out in anger.


    Jason sighed in relief. Hearing that the girl had someone else in mind made him feel happy. He got the strength to move ahead and walk towards the crown prince.


    He strode over to them and stood next to his prince. "Davy, I wanted to ta..."


    Davion''s glare stopped him from completing his sentence. He encircled his hands around Davions arm and flashed him a smile. They were an engaged couple now and that meant that they shouldn''t advertise their fights to the world.


    He could fight with him inside the room but not outside with eyes watching. "I wanted to talk to you. Is it okay if you and I go inside," he requested calmly?


    "I will leave, I need to give my sister some very important news," the girl said to Davion and kissed him on the cheek. She turned her attention to Jason. She eyed him up and down and walked away without saying a word to him.


    Jason didn''t mind her attitude. What was important was calming his prince down and getting on the same page as him.


    "Don''t you ever call me Davy again," Davion expressed and pushed his hand off?


    Jason pressed his lips together. The crown prince''s cold attitude was surprising to him. It was unexpected after the night they both had.


    "Why are angry with me. You and I are..."


    "Nothing," Davion uttered interrupting him. "You and I are nothing to each other," he added being stern in his words. He didn''t care that his words were hurtful, he had been hurt more than enough to care.


    Jason played nervously with the ring on his finger. Just some hours ago, the crown prince couldn''t wait for him to be rid of Sashina and now that he was, the man was acting is cold towards him.. He didn''t know what to think of it.

 Chapter 48 - The Princess Selection (2)

    Jason veered around the bed not able to fall asleep. He was deep in thought, the thoughts of the crown prince ran through his mind.


    Things had gotten better, everyone was accepting of their relationship if he could call it that. But the male had suddenly changed and treated him like he didn''t matter.


    They had gotten close yet seemed to be far apart. Nothing made him happier than knowing that the crown prince belonged to him. But even then he felt a little lonely, he was missing the crown prince''s soothing voice and his angel eyes looking at him like he was the only man in the world.


    His heart was beating for the man, he couldn''t be still knowing that his love was angry at him. The worst part is that he didn''t know what he had done wrong.


    He replayed everything that had happened in his head trying to figure out at what point the crown prince''s attitude changed. But he couldn''t spot what the problem was.


    He had to figure it out before the sunrise so that he could make it up to the male and get things cleared. Before they got worse to a point that he couldn''t control.


    On top of everything there was the princess selection that he had to worry about. The King had given an order that the prince must marry a woman alongside him. And that couldn''t be anymore annoying.


    He got up from the bed and walked over to the window. He couldn''t sleep from all the worry. He stood by the window watching the moon in the sky, his mind could not help but wonder if Davion was awake or not.


    "Why are you so mad at me?" He asked aloud to no one in particular.


    He let out a deep breath when the silence of the room gave him no reply. He wondered how he was going to find the root of the problem when Davion won''t even see him.


    "It is sad," he heard a small soft voice say close to him. He turned his eyes to the room and looked around the room. He tried to locate the source of the voice that had just spoken.


    "Lovers growing apart, truly sad," the voice uttered once more.


    "Who is there?" He asked. There was no reply and he couldn''t see anyone in the room. He had been awake the whole time so he doubted that someone could have snuck into the room. He would have surely seen or heard them if they came in.


    "All because of a misunderstanding," the voice added.


    This time he had been keen and followed the train of the sound. His eyes directed to the plant near the window.


    He slowly sauntered to the plant and lifted it to check if a small person was hiding behind the flower pot but there was nothing behind the flower.


    "Set me down you nincompoop," the flower scolded to him. Jason set the flower pot back and backed away from it. He was beginning to think that the lack of sleep was getting to him.


    "Great, now I am hallucinating," he let out frustrated.


    "What an idiot, you are a nature bender and that means that as much as you can control plants to your will. You can also understand them," the plant let out explaining that he was not being imagined.


    Jason''s eyes went wide with surprise and wonder. He could talk to plants, not what he expected to discover in his lonely night. But at least he wasn''t alone, he had a company that he could talk to.


    "What should I call you?" He asked the plant. He was tired and down, he didn''t even care that the plant could talk. Or bothered by the fact that he can understand what it was saying.


    "Is that what you really want to know?" The plant inquired. "Wouldn''t you rather wish to know why your beloved is angry?" The plant questioned.


    Jason''s eyes lit up on hearing the plant''s words. "Wait, how would you know that?" He called into question.


    "Plants have ears and we do communicate with each other," the plant said.


    Jason nodded, for someone who had entered a novel, he was in place to overrule what was possible and what wasn''t. And in hus life, he was going to need all the help that he can get and that included talking plants.


    If it would help him find peace then he was willing to listen. He gave his attention to the plant.


    "Why is he angry?" He asked.


    Silence followed his question before the plant let out,"He is of the belief that you don''t love him."


    Jason shook his head, he found the plant to be unhelpful, since the crown prince knew how he felt. He had expressed his love for the prince to him. His feelings were clear, it was Davion that was yet to confess to him.


    "That cant be the problem," he stated.


    "You didnt call off the engagement as you promised you idiot, now he thinks you didnt want to," the plant scolded.


    "But the engagement didnt take place," Jason stated out loud. He didnt put thr ring on Sashina''s hand but his, so it didnt make sense what the plant was saying. Or why the crown prince would be angry because of that.


    "Yes, but you are not the one who called it off," the plant pointed it out to him. "Had the ice prince not intervene would have stopped it or not?" The plant asked.


    Realisation dawned on Jason like ice cold water. He had not really thought about it like that. He wasn''t the one who broke the engagement as he had promised the man. And in truth, had Amaru not intervened then he would have gotten engaged to Sashina.


    So technically, he had broken the promise that he had made to the prince.. "By not keeping your word, you have given doubt a chance to grow in his mind and heart and he is drawing away from you," the plant added.

 Chapter 49 - [Bonus ] The Princess Selection (3)

    Jason got up very early in the morning. The sun had yet risen in the sky when he got up. He rushed towards the kitchen of the palace to get started on his mission.


    Out of fear, he had let Davion down and he was going to make it up to him. Breakfast in bed sounded like the best way to start the day after going to bed angry.


    He bumped into Winrus in the halls. The man had the crown prince''s food in his hands carrying it to the room. "Sorry your highness, the mistake was mine," Winrus apologized.


    "Is that for Davy?" Jason inquired of him. Winrus nodded his head to acknowledge and give him a reply. "Give it to me, I will hand it to him," Jason ordered.


    Winrus raised the tray of food and handed it to him. Jason was not just royalty but he was officially engaged to the crown prince. Winrus didn''t feel like he had a choice in the matter, not that he wanted to serve the crown prince his food.


    The male was in a bad mood, he had gone to bed so late and would probably wake up grumpy. He let Jason take the tray and followed behind him, for the first time he was relieved that there was someone else in the prince''s life.


    It saves him the rush of going to meet the man in his current mood.


    Jason was nervous, he had no idea how the prince would react to seeing him. What he would say to his apology and how hard he would have to work to get him to calm down.


    All that he knew was that it would be worth the effort to get Davion to smile with him again. They strode carefully up to the room where Winrus got the door for him.


    "Thank you," had thanked the male and walked into the room.


    He set the tray of food on the tea table and walked to the bed to wake the prince but he wasn''t there. The bed was neatly spread and he was nowhere to be seen.


    "I will check the bathroom," he suggested to himself and walked towards the bathroom.


    He pushed the door slightly open and peeked into the room. His eyes traveled to the pool where the subject of his search laid with his eyes closed.


    He swallowed the lump in his throat and pushed the door further open before he walked inside. His heart pulsated with his eyes fluttering as he moved close to the pool.


    "Help me take a bath," the prince ordered.


    Jason looked behind him but Winrus was not there. Now that he thought about it, the male had not followed him inside the room.


    ''Maybe he just wanted to give us some privacy,'' he thought happy for Winrus''s understanding.


    He strode over to the pool and sat at the edge, watching down to the crown prince. He was without flaws, he was captivating in his peaceful sleeping state.


    His eyes softly shut with his eyebrows resting on his skin. His lips slightly parted as though inviting him for a kiss, and his hair wet from the water. Jason watched him, feeling his love for the male grow from the core of his heart.


    Lowering his eyes, he gazed upon the prince''s collarbone and then to his chest. The flower petals prevented him from seeing the prince''s full chest or lower body. But the little he could see what drove him out of his senses.


    "Are you waiting for a written invitation?" Davion asked feeling the stare. He could feel someone''s presence but instead of the man bathing him, the man was admiring his looks and it was irritating.


    Jason drew the water and poured it on top of the prince''s shoulder. He watched the water trickle down his skin. He gulped.


    It was torture, to sit there, his fingers itching to trace Davion''s skin. But he had to hold himself back to avoid annoying the man more than he already did.


    He still had not apologized and asked for forgiveness. "Winrus, I asked you to give me a bath not pour water on me," the prince complain.


    He swiftly grabbed Jason''s hand and placed it in his skin. Jason stunned remained still, his fingers trembled at the electricity that flowed from the man''s skin to his hand.


    He bit his lip and prevented himself from letting out any noise to not alert that he wasn''t Winrus. "This hand, it isn''t Winrus," Davion mumbled and forcefully pulled on Jason''s hand.


    Jason fell into the water and got soaked from head to toe. He struggled inside the pool and gained his balance, he lifted his head from the water, brought his hands to his face, and wiped the water away from his eyes.


    Davion stood outside the pool already in a robe covering his body. He had an angry look on his face. He glared at Jason. Jason moved to the edge of the pool and slowly got himself out of the water, he was soaking wet.


    Water dripped from his clothes. "Who gave you permission to come in here?" The crown prince barked at him.


    "I am your fiancee, I can come here anytime I feel like," Jason let out annoyed that he was wet. Instead of the man offering him a towel or a cloth to dry himself with, he was asking him for permission.


    "And who told you that being my fiancee gave you the right to enter my room without permission?" Davion asked seriously.


    Jason lifted his chin to examine the mood Davion was in. Seeing that the man was serious, he refrained fr giving him the sarcastic reply that was itching at his lips.


    "I am sorry," he said apologetically.


    "Get out," Davion demanded. "Winrus," he shouted.


    "I''m wet, can I change before I go?" Jason inquired of him. "You are the reason that I am wet," he mumbled.


    Winrus rushed into the bathroom and stood by the door. He looked at the scene in the room and the tension on the prince was high.


    "Change the water in the pool, it''s dirty," Davion let out and exited the room.

 Chapter 50 - The Princess Selection (4)

    "I came here to apologise to you, why are yo..."


    Jason walked into the room in a robe. He halted in his words seeing the king of Aphidia in the room. He lowered his head and avoided his gaze.


    "I''m not even going to ask," the king said to his son. Davion grimaced. "Your mother is not around for the princess selection," the king went on to say.


    Jason neared the table and took a seat beside the crown prince. The conversation was one that he was interested in, it concerned his future with Davion.


    "I think that it would be best if you go and hold the selection yourself."


    The King suggested to him. Davion listened to his father and nodded. He had no problem attending the selection. As much as looking at all those girls would annoy and irritate him to no ends, it was better than being alone with his thoughts.


    His mind seems to lead him only to Jason and that was the last thing he wanted.  He had given the man a chance to make a choice and he wasn''t the one he chose.


    So it annoyed him to even have to look at him let alone spend the rest of the day thinking about him. "Sure father, I will see to it," he said.


    The King was surprised at how easy the prince agreed to hosting the princess selection. He had thought that it would be impossible to convince him to even attend it let alone host it.


    But he wasn''t complaining, he had noticed a lot of changes in his son which no doubt we''re the influence of the prince of Xeris. Good or bad, only time would tell how that influence would affect the future of Aphidia.


    "I will also go," Jason volunteered. He got a glare from the prince for even suggesting that.


    Jason winked at him and smiled cheekily. He wasn''t planning on leaving the prince''s side until he got what he wanted from him. Like glue he would stick to him until the prince''s anger subsides and he gets forgiven.


    "That is great," the king said.


    Winrus arrived in the room. He ambled over to the tea table and served the king some tea, he poured some tea for Davion and his fiancee and dished out some some dishes for them.


    He did everything while avoiding the king''s eyes. Sweat formed on his forehead, the king made him nervous.


    "I have been here for more than ten minutes and you only serve me tea now?" The king complained.


    Winrus swallowed. The King had an unpredictable temper and he hated how the crown prince treated him, he loathed him for him. No matter what he did the man found faults in it.


    "I''m so..sorry," he let out alologetically. The King sneered at his apology. "Did I ask you to speak?"


    "Dad, enough," Davion demanded.


    He didn''t like the way that Winrus was being treated. He might be a slave but he was still human, he deserved some respect in the least. And to top it all, Winrus was his friend and he didn''t like when people close to him were treated unfairly.


    "I have not done anything wrong, you should rather teach your slave to do his job properly," he spoke out.


    "If you don''t stop you will be sorry," Davion threatened. The King and Winrus looked at him with shock written all over their faces.


    Winrus imagined talking a stick and hitting the prince on the head several times. The man''s intentions were right but his methods always proved dangerous for him.


    Threatening the king for him wasn''t the answer. It would only make the king angrier and more hateful towards him and he didn''t like that.


    "What did you say?" The king barked in a low threatening voice.


    "I think you heard me quite clearly," Davion answered meeting his gaze and matching the dangerous look in the king''s eyes.


    He was mad and angry, he was upset over a lot of things and the chance to vent was what he wanted the most. It didn''t matter who he would take on.


    His hair reacted to his mood and started growing. Subconscious to the danger of feeding negative emotion to the hair who''s roots he was still to figure out, he was so concentrated on his father to see the sharp sword like edges that his hair had formed.


    "Naella''s curse," the king uttered.


    Hearing his mother''s name Daviom calmed down. His hair laid back down on his back but it was longer than before.


    "Mother?"


    Davion asked. His father rarely mentioned his mother''s name. It hurt him too much to think about her and the fact that she was gone.


    He had grown to accept that about his father. He respected his wishes, it didn''t make sense why he called her name with the word curse in the same sentence.


    "Father, why di..."


    He wasn''t able to complete his sentence since the king got up. As though he had seen a ghost, he dashed out of the room and ran away.


    The crown prince remained rooted to his seat watching the door. His father had never looked so terrified in his entire life. He didn''t know what to make of his father''s reaction.


    They were talking about Winrus when suddenly his mother''s name came into the subject.


    "Maybe he called out to since you disrespected him," Winrus speculated.


    "I do that all the time, he just throws his shoes at me. This was different," he let out.


    He felt like there was something that her was missing. But he couldn''t put a finger on it.


    "Maybe it is because your hair threatened to tear him to pieces," Jason said.


    Davion looked at his hair and couldn''t help but notice that it had grown. It was possible that the king could have been frightened by it, he shook his head.


    That was something that he could never explain since he too was at a loss. He has no idea why or from where the hair came from.. Or why voices seem to whisper in his ear calling him the mirror prince.

 Chapter 51 - The Princess Selection (5)

    The princess selection was held in the royal garden. All the ladies from noble families carried themselves with grace as they marched into the garden.


    The crown prince, Jason and Amaru we''re already seated when the ladies were ushered in for the selection to begin. The ladies were going to be tested in the all the qualities that is required to be a lady royal.


    All the elders had taken their seats to oversee the princess selection. All the ladies were made to seat one meter away from each other. It was to ensure no cheating during the selection.


    The royal maids stood to the side, their job was to help pass brushes, papers and anything else the ladies may need as the selection went on. To ensure the smooth running of things.


    "Wow, I didn''t expect to look at so many beauties today," Amaru said feasting his eyes at the ladies that had come for the selection.


    "Aren''t you engaged?" Davion teased.


    Amaru ignored his question. There was no way that he could get mad with so many beauties in his line of sight.


    "You are just jealous of me," Amaru let out.


    Jason''s eyes wondered around the crowd trying to find the lady that the prince was speaking too so late in the night. He had captured her face and was wondering if she decided to take part in the selection.


    "I will be jealous of you, the day you grow a beard," Davion declared.


    "Let the test begin," An elder shouted. "The first task is art, to paint that image of his royal highness," the elder announced.


    All the ladies turned their attention to the prince to see what they were going to paint. "There are three princes. Which one of them do we draw?" A question came from the crowd of ladies.


    "The one for whom you are here," the elder replied.


    "I can''t wait to see how they paint your image," Jason said to the prince. Davion''s smile dropped hearing his words. If he could have it his way, he would glue Jason''s lips together with glue. The man''s voice was upsetting everytime he heard it.


    "Who do you think will win?" Jason asked trying to make conversation.


    "Carry my chair," Davion instructed his guards. He got up and walked head of the stage and sat a distance away from Jason. "This way, you can all get a better look at what you are required to paint," he said to the ladies.


    Giving them a better view was just an excuse for him to move away from Jason. Jason felt a pinch in his heart as he saw the crown prince''s reaction. He just wanted to make conversation and get to explain what happened.


    To tell him about his talk with Sashina that made him fearful of acting on his love. It wasn''t that he didn''t love the man, he was just afraid that his love might harm him.


    "You should stop pretending to care about him," Amaru uttered to him.


    Jason averted his eyes from Davion''s back and looked at the ice prince. The man was a player, he was not someone who cared about settling for just one person. He felt that someone like that shouldn''t even comment on other people''s feelings since they didn''t care.


    "I don''t have to explain anything to you," Jason let out.


    He thought that the man understood his feelings and that was the reason that he had intervened and got him engaged to Davion. But he too misunderstood his love.


    "He is like a brother to me. I am not afraid to say that I will not hesitate to end you if you keep playing with his heart," Amaru threatened.


    His warm and kind eyes that stared at the ladies had become cold and dangerous while looking at him. Jason didn''t back away from looking at the man, he was not lying about his feelings and he wasn''t going to cower to accusations that weren''t true.


    "I am not playing with him. I love..." Jason held his tongue.


    "I have fallen for that once but I am not a fool. I have seen your true colors Nedryn," Amaru spoke out.


    Jason turned his eyes away from the man.  It was pointless to try and argue with someone who had already made up his mind on him.


    Amaru would not understand his feelings. Understand that every time he looked into Davion''s eyes he saw stars. More stars than the one in the sky. That every time he was close to the male, time stood still and only him and the prince matter.


    That his heart would flutter at the mention of his name and start racing trying to catch the prince. He was in love with the crown prince and he was sure than once Davion calmed down, he too would see that he loved him dearly.


    It was just a little misunderstand that wasn''t a big deal. He would melt the prince''s heart in no time and get him to admit that he loved him too.


    "He has lost his trust in you. Nothing you do will change that," Amaru let out. He could see the determination in Jason''s eyes.


    The lack of shamelessness in the man surprised him. Even after the things that he had done to hurt Davion. The male was still being stubborn on pretending to care for him.


    "Trust can be earned once more," Jason responded firmly.


    "Trust is like a vase, once you break it. You can put it back together but it will never hold water as it used to," he informed to Jason. "Moreover, lines will always remain to remind you that it was once broken," he added.


    Jason could not disagree. He was right, he had broken Davion''s trust unintentionally and even if he was forgiven. The prince would always have doubt that he might do it. That he will let him down if he chose to trust him.


    "I will take my chances," he said determined.

 Chapter 52 - The Princess Selection (6)

    The crown prince got bored watching the ladies of Aphidia move from stupid activity to the other. He already knew who he was going to choose as his princess. They were just wasting their time and his.


    But since he had given his father his word that he would oversee everything, he had no choice but to not through the whole thing.


    They had been sitting there for over three hours. He just wished the elders would stop the whole thing and ask him who he wanted to male his wife to get the torture over and done with.


    Amaru had already fallen asleep. He wouldn''t blame his friend, even he who loved ladies would get tired of staring at the same faces for so long without moving.


    The only eyes that were still open were his and Jason''s and he too was drifting away. He had not slept a wink in the night, to avoid seeing Jason in his dreams. He thought that it would keep his feelings for the man from growing more than they already had.


    And now he was paying the price. He was struggling to keep his eyes open. Sleep was knocking at his eyes with such intensity that he was unable to resist.


    He leaned his head on his hand and closed his eyes. Jason yawned, he had jumped to the idea of joining the princess selection hoping it would be interesting to watch, but now he understood why women hosted such things in the novels that he had read.


    He was bored to death, the painting task was awesome, and he praised a few talented women who drew the crown prince to perfection. But he had lost interest after the calligraphy part of it.


    A lot of things had happened that he hadn''t noticed, he was so dizzy and feeling very tired. He kept his eyes open despite feeling sleepy, he had to prove to the crown prince that he cared enough to sit through the whole thing.


    "Only a few more hours and we will be done," the elders announced.


    He groaned. His body drained of energy hearing that he still had to sit for a few more hours. ''I can do this,'' he encouraged himself.


    His eyes were open but his mind was already drifting away to the world of dreams. After a while he couldn''t keep his eyes open, he let go and fell asleep. His head swayed to the side and fell on the crown prince''s shoulder.


    Davion opened his eyes feeling the added weighed on his shoulders. He glanced down and saw Jason sleeping peacefully. He would push his head away and scold him but he had no energy left in his bed.


    He laid his head on Jason''s head and went back to sleep. Winrus ushered for the elders and the ladies to keep their voices down.


    Everyone looked down to the stage to see why, "Awww," the ladies let out fawning over how cute the three princes looked in their sleep.


    Winrus arrived with blankets, he covered all the princes and ordered for comfortable pillow to be brought for prince Amaru. Once he had made them comfortable he went back to watching the selection.


    Three maids came to the royals holding fans, they took their positions and began to fan the princes as they enjoyed their nap.


    The elders proceeded with the challenges keeping their voices hushed to avoid disturbing the princes. More and more ladies were eliminated as the rounds went on. In each round at least ten to twelve ladies were sent away.


    The number kept decreasing with the passing time, Winrus wrote down the ladies that were doing the best of all of them. He was compiling a short list for the prince to pick from after waking up.


    Not that the list was needed, one contestant in the group had already won before even the contest began. Winrus had her name on the top of the list, he watched on with interest to see if she will last till the end.


    The lady in question would look up to the stage once in a while watching the crown prince. She had clear eyes that told nothing of what she was feelings, she didn''t show any reaction to seeing the prince and Jason lean on each other as the other ladies.


    The other ladies either thought it was cute or got jealous wishing they could trade places with Jason. But the girl who topped the list didn''t feel any such emotion.


    She averted her gave from them and moved her eyes to Winrus. The look in her eyes gave out a warm and welcoming aura to herself but Winrus knew her too well to think of her as such.


    He was someone who went everywhere the prince went, saw everything that the man saw. He knew everyone that walked into the palace inside out. The masks they word couldn''t fool him.


    The more innocent they looked, the more dangerous they were. They looked virtuous and righteous but they would not hesitate to rip you to shreds if you cross them.


    The minutes turned to hours unto only a handful of ladies were left. Winrus crossed out the potential ladies that had been disqualified. Among the ladies that had managed the selection was the crown prince''s choice.


    And to make matters worse, she had topped everyone in every challenge that the elders had thrown their way. From the looks of things, the prince need not chose her as she had already won the hearts of the elders.


    He looked at the six girls that had managed to remain till the end. They belonged to the noble families of Aphidia, a very fine collection indeed, very fierce anf competitive.


    But compared to the crown prince''s choice they all didn''t stand a chance. The woman was there with a goal in mind and she left no stone unturned to let them know that she was serious.


    "I like this collection," Winrus jumped when he heard a fruity familiar female voice say from right behind him.

 Chapter 53 - The Princess Selection (7)

    Winrus turned around, his body shaking like a blade of grass in a storm. He faced the woman who spoke with his head bowed. He didn''t dare to look her in the eyes.


    The elders saw her and they too went to their knees and laid their heads in the ground to great her. The ladies for the selection kneeled down to the ground and bowed their heads to her.


    "Wake him up," the woman ordered.


    Winrus nodded and moved over to where the prince was sleeping soundly. He nudged his hand to wake him only to have his back whipped. The hit forced him down on one knee, he gritted his teeth knowing better than to let out a voice.


    "Who asked you to lay your hands on the crown prince of Aphidia?" The woman demanded an answer from him.


    Winrus clenched his hands on the hem of his shirt. Replying was a stupid mistake he wouldn''t make, she was not one to take kindly to being answered by servants or slaves.


    "My prince," he called out to Davion. Davion was too tired to even hear him, he was deep in sleep dreaming about his dearest. He had no idea of the storm that had arrived at the palace.


    "My pri..."


    "He seems tired, have him taken to his room," the woman ordered.


    Winrus got up and went to fetch people to carry the prince to his room. From right behind the woman Sashina walked out, she glanced at the couple sleeping in each others arms and frowned bitterly.


    "What did I tell you. The crown prince of Aphidia has been fooled by a man," she let out to the old woman dressed in elegant royal attire.


    The woman looked over to Jason. She didn''t seem happy to see him, the look in her eyes was one that promised pain and suffering to the man.


    "He is playing with his feelings. He doesn''t love Davy in any way..."


    Sashina gulped being faced by the woman''s glare. She had resorted to getting the help of the dragon to help drive distance between Davion and Jason apart but she too was scared of being burnt in the process.


    The woman wasn''t nicknamed the dragon for her kindness. And she was taking the risk of attempting to manipulate her into hating Jason so that she could keep him a thousand miles away from Davion.


    "I..i am just saying that t..the crown p..prince deserves better," she added.


    The woman looked down to the group of ladies that were still bowing to her. No one toyed with the crown prince on her watch.


    "And if you don''t keep him away from Davion then, he wi set the prince astray," she said to her.


    ''Now, I want to see how you convince her of your love,'' she thought.


    Winrus returned with a few men and a palanquin. He helped the prince out of his seat with the help of one soldier and together they got him into the palanquin.


    He guided them to bring the crown prince along, and led the way to go to the palace. Sashina and the old woman glanced at Jason. Sashina was looking at her target, she had not given up on being with him while the old woman was staring at her new target, she could think of many ways to punish him for playing with the crown prince.


    "Help prince Amaru to his room," she ordered.


    "Yes," the maid on the ground rushed out to go and find a palanquin to send prince Amaru away. "What of prince Nedryn?"


    One of the maids asked her. Her voice was small and almost unheard but the old woman heard her quite clearly.


    "Where is he?" She questioned. She had been informed that the prince of Xeris would be coming to Aphidhia but sadly she wasn''t around when he arrived so she had not the pleasure of meeting the prince.


    "I will handle the prince of Xeris, you have just arrived. You should get some rest," Sashina let out panicked.


    She had informed the old woman that the prince was being fooled by a lowlife and couldn''t risk the chances of her learning that Davion was in love with a prince. She would hate Jason more, if she thought that he was a gold digger trying to fool the crown prince off everything the royal family owned.


    She feared that if the woman knew Jason''s status as a prince then she might go along with the idea of the two of them getting married.


    She had made a vow to not let the couple have a happy ending. No matter what came may, if she couldn''t have Aphidia or Xeris then both won''t have each other.


    "You are indeed a sweet child," the old woman let out to her. She gave Jason one last evil glance before she walked away from the garden.


    Sashina sighed after seeing her gone. She looked at Jason, she recalled how he used to chase after her anf give her attention. The crown prince as well, but suddenly they both changed and fell in love with each other when they should have been fighting for her.


    "You shouldn''t have changed your feeling," she said angrily. "Because now, you have to get hurt for no reason," she added.


    The elders got up from the ground seeing the prince had left, they ushered the six ladies to follow them as they too strode out of the garden.


    ''A snake hiding in plain sight, interesting,'' the girl who had topped all the challenges looked at Sashina and thought.


    She had seen through Sashina''s game and didn''t know whether to think her brave or stupid for even attempting to use the dragon in getting what she wants.


    ''Sister would be happy to learn that Amaru is still free for the taking,'' she thought and walked away to follow the elders.


    Sashina helped Jason from the garden with the help of a few maids and took him to his room.

 Chapter 54 - The Princess Selection (8)

    Walking up in his room, Jason found that he wasn''t alone. Right beside him laying on his hand was the girl he used to crush on. He rubbed sleep off his eyes and sat up on the bed.


    He removed Sashina from his hands and laid her on the bed. ''How did I get here?'' He asked.


    "You are awake," he jumped hearing the scary voice of the crown prince. Turning his head to spot the man, he found Davion seated at the chair next to the bed with a book in his hands.


    Jason gulped. "What are you doing here?" He questioned. Davidson raised his eyebrows at him before setting his book down on the bed.


    "Weren''t you the one who said that we are engaged, hence what is yours is mine?" Davion asked to him.


    "I didn''t mean it in a wrong way," he defended. He was just curious as to how long the man had been seated there. If he was the one who brought him back from the garden.


    But the man being in edge took it as an offense. "I''m sure you didn''t," Davion said sarcastically and rolled his eyes at him. "For a man preaching love to me, don''t you think your lies would be believable if I didn''t walk in on you and her," he let out pointing out at Sashina.


    Jason felt a nerve on his head about to pop. Yes, he had made a mistake for which he had said he was sorry over and over again. But the male just didn''t want to believe him.


    How should he know why he woke up with her on the same bed. The last thing he recalled was falling asleep at the selection. For all he knew, the prince could have planted the girl in his bed just to have a reason to be more angry with him.


    "You know, I am done," he uttered tired. It was hard trying to explain himself to someone who didn''t want to understand. The prince was letting his anger cloud his judgement so it didn''t matter what he said. He would always be guilty.


    "Done?" Davidson asked in confusion not getting what he meant.


    "I''m done trying to convince you of my love. You can believe and think what you want, but if you don''t trust then I don''t see why we are engaged," he let out.


    He removed the ring on his hand and angrily threw it at Davion. With his reflexes, the man easily caught the ring. Jason was mad, angry at him.


    Love required trust and that was something that the prince didn''t have. The male didn''t trust him, he spent an entire watching boring stupid ceremony just for him and he wasn''t appreciative.


    He made efforts to try and make things right between them but he realised that no matter what he did. The accusations would never stop. And more was the fact that, if he started proving himself now even before they were officially together what more when they were.


    He would have to explain himself each time and assure Davion everyday. It was too much.


    Davion clapped his hands in slow motion in the air. Jason raised his head to glance at him. Wondering why he was clapping his hands like that.


    "I was wondering how long you would keep up the act," Davion said. "I actually thought that it wasn''t an act and that you truly cared but now I know," the man got up from the chair.


    He pocketed the ring and inched his face closer to Jason''s face. "I hope and pray that no one ever plays with your heart as you have done mine," he uttered in a pained voice.


    Jason found himself feeling guilty. He found his heart squeezing in pain. The look in the crown prince''s eyes was heartbreaking. It made him feel like a villain.


    He opened his mouth to say something but words wouldn''t come out. His chest moved up and down trembling with panic.


    "I have often heard of how heartless the prince of Xeris was. I had no idea that I would experience your cold stone heart first hand," he informed him.


    The cold and indifferent face that the crown prince usually wore wasn''t there. He let down all his walls and showed Jason his true self. His hurt and wounded self.


    He had never felt so bad in his life. Yes, the crown prince did doubt on him but only because he gave him reason to doubt his love. He was impatient and didn''t think before reacting.


    He felt as though someone was ripping his heart out of his chest. The crown prince captured his gaze and had him see all the damage that had been done with his choices and decisions.


    "I thought that I could stop thinking about, get you out of my mind and heart but it''s impossible," Davion stated. "I guess it my curse for being so flirtatious right? You punished me in worst possible way Nedryn," he added.


    Jason swallowed, his throat was drying up listening to the crown prince talk about what he had done. His words crisscrossed his heart like sharp blades cutting at every inch of him.


    "Now you are backing away. Leaving me with all this feelings, what am I going to do with them?" He asked. "I cant direct them at someone else since my heart beat only beats for you," Davion confessed. Hus eyes moistening.


    He was truly hurt by the male.  To him it was a game which he won but for him who never volunteered to play, he got the losing end of everything. And the worst part was that he still loved the male despite everything.


    "Why couldn''t you play with my mind or body?" He inquired of him. "Those parts of me forget things very easily but my heart is just too stubborn. It refuses to give up on how it feels for you," he told to him.


    Jason''s breath hitched.

 Chapter 55 - [Bonus ] I Won

    Jason didn''t have the words to express to the crown prince that it was never a game. He cared for Davion from the bottom of his heart, he was just not patient and that is how they ended up where they were.


    Hearing the confession that he had always wanted to hear from the man broke his heart. Recalking his words and how he threw the engagement ring at the prince made him freeze.


    Words and actions were irreversible, he let out what he wanted without minding if his words will hurt the man. And true to that, his words cut through the crown prince''s mask forcing him to pour his heart out.


    It was unfortunate. Despite all the novels that he had read, he was terrible at love. Love was patient, kind and selfless. But he had neither of this qualities when it came to his own love.


    He didn''t even take a second to think of his actions before he took them. Perhaps that was why he got sent into the book, he used to comment a lot on the authors novel on how the novel should go. The pace and the plot, he was just too impatient even as a reader.


    And now he was getting to learn the harsh reality. Love takes time, true that one can fall in love in a second but it takes year''s of careful nurturing for that love to bloom.


    When love is rushed then only bad things happened. It turns into a tragic story. Just like his love life had become, he was rushing everything thinking of how things should go without considering the outcome of taking things too fast.


    He laid his head back on the bed, the crown prince of Aphidhia had cried because of him. Not just once but many times. He couldn''t make the man smile abs had to go and give him reasons to cry.


    He didn''t give him good memories that would last a life time but regret that he wished to forget. He closed his eyes, the weighted of the pained look in Davion''s eyes was too much for him to bear.


    With his eyes closed he failed to notice Sashina open her eyes. The girl was all smiles, the little doubt that she had planted in Davion''s mind worked wonders.


    The crown prince pushed at Jason to prove that he was telling the truth which irritated him to call off their engagement by giving the ring back.


    ''I promised you a heart break and I delivered,'' she thought.


    She was awake the whole time, she only pretended to have fallen asleep in Jason''s arms when she heard him coming into the room. She then remained still until the drama ended.


    Luck was on her side and she couldn''t believe it, she didn''t seem to need the old dragon anymore since the thing that she wanted had come true.


    She had ruined the love between Davion and Jason. She had shattered the trust between them and created an ocean between them, there was no way that they would ever find a way back to each other again.


    She looked beside her at Jason. Seeing him sleeping gave her some comfort, it meant that he wasn''t too attached to Davion and she could easily get him to forget the crown prince.


    Unknown to her was the fact that deep down Jason was drowning in despair. He had screwed all his chances, instead of handling the matter as delicate as he should gave, he overeacted and ruined everything.


    He didn''t even feel the need to ask the author for help. He had ruined everything by himself and perhaps deserved to get punished.


    He realised that he started making mistakes since day one. By trying to come between Davion and Sashina, he had cursed himself to a life of loneliness and pain. The two were fated to each other and they were to get married to each other.


    And because of him, the prince changed. He gave his heart to the wrong person and that was why nothing was going right. There was no villain in their love but they still couldn''t be together.


    It was fate telling him that it was time to let go. It was the only explanation that he could think of. Of why everything he touched went wrong and created a rift between him and the crown prince.


    ''Someday, I wish someone can love you the way you deserve,'' he thought.


    Tears formed in his eyes and freely flowed down his eyes. It was hard to think such thoughts but he was toxic to the man, he was not of his world and didn''t deserve to mess his life.


    What he should have done from the beginning is look for a way to go back home. At least he wouldn''t get more chances to hurt the man, he would get to read about him and cheer him on from outside the novel.


    He would be his number one fan and spent all his earnings to get the author to give him a happy life with someone who deserved his love.


    "I will get back home," he uttered determined.


    For the crown prince''s happiness, he would return home. He was sure that once he leaves the story then all would be well. The original prince Nedryn would take his body back and he would go back to fancying Sashina.


    Then the story line will go back to normal and the prince would forget that he ever existed. He curled up into a ball and hugged his legs, it was the right thing to do but the mare thought of the prince forgetting him hurt to even imagine.


    Life wouldn''t be the same. He embraced himself, he tried to console himself by saying that it was the best thing for Davy but that just made it harder. Since every time he thought about about the prince''s name the pain increased.


    Sashina was truly happy. Nedryn was thinking of returning to Xeris and she was going to be right there beside him as they leave together as a couple.


    ''I won.''

 Chapter 56 - Going Back Home

    Jason got to the royal lake very early in morning. He had made the decision to go back home. Going over how he got there in his mind over and over again.


    He could only come to the conclusion that he arrived through sleep. But he had fallen asleep many times in the novel and didn''t return home. So he figured that if he died in the novel then he would be safe back at home.


    His soul would leave the book and the real Nedryn would return to the body and write his wrongs. He just had to do it, it was the only solution that he could think of to end both his and the crown prince''s suffering.


    And if he died then the author would have no choice but to fix the problems that he had created in the story between Davion and Sashina.


    Then the two lovers would get their happy ending and he will be back home cheering for the crown prince. While cherishing the memories that they made together. They weren''t much but they were his and he treasured them.


    He jumped into the water.  A big splash formed around the area that he fell from, while his body slowly downed into the water.


    Jason didn''t even put in any effort to get out of the water, the water entered his nose draining the air in his lungs. It was hard to see with all the water in his eyes, he decided to close his eyes and just go away.


    The shimmering smile of the prince from the day they met flashed before his eyes making him hurt over his loss. Seeing the beautiful smile that he would only get to read about and never see again was the worst pain ever.


    It stung more than anything else. Knowing that from that day, he would never get to see the crown prince in person ever again and would only read about his life on a piece of paper.


    The water started getting to his brain forcing him to struggle to swim up to save his life. He didn''t want to rescue himself but their was nothing he could do. His body was moving by instincts trying to get him out of the lake.


    His leg cramped up keeping him from successfully swimming out of the water. His mind went blank before his body stopped struggling and he fell unconscious in the water.


    *****


    "Uhhh," Jason gasped opening his eyes. He was startled as he didn''t expect to survive that. He was only speculating that he would go back home if he died in the book but then he woke up.


    He sat up in the tub and wiped his face dry. ''Wait, bathtub,'' he thought realising that he was seating in a bathtub. He got up from the bathtub and looked around, everything was just as he remembered them to be.


    Just the way that he left them before going to sleep the night he got trapped on the book. He wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom, he looked into the mirror anf saw his old face.


    He had no idea that he would ever get to see this face again. He was so excited to be back home. To have his body back, he strode over to the bed and picked up his phone to check the time anf date.


    He had been in the novel for so long that he couldn''t tell how much of his life had gone by while he was in the novel. He opened his phone and realised that he had a lot of notifications from his favourite reading app.


    He clicked on them forgetting about the time and date. He needed to know about his author and whether or not she was aware that someone had stolen her work.


    If not then he could only imagine how happy he would make the author if he told her that he had found her book being stolen.


    <<The author of standing by you started a new novel, a bl version>>


    He read and froze. That changed everything, his heart remained still, he couldn''t breath. He had just gotten a sweet insight on why the story and setting had changed so much. And why the crown prince suddenly turned gay.


    He stood there stuck on whether or not to click on the new novel. It would hurt to see his tragic love story anf how everything fell apart. His running away instead of facing his defeat.


    "I will just take a peek," he said.


    He made himself comfortable and clicked on the new novel and read from it, the insights that he got from the novel was really eye opening. The author had only updated till chapter sixty and was taking a break.


    He was surprised to see that he himself was the MC of the novel. The author had written the book as a dedication to him as a thank you for all the motivational comments, gifts and reviews that he used to give to her.


    It was to say thank you. ''That explains why my prayers always got answered,'' he thought with a smirk on his face.


    He finished reading the latest chapter and was shocked to see that the misunderstanding he heard with the crown prince was all done by Sashina. He was beyond stunned.


    The novel ended at the part where he fell unconscious at the lake. He set his phone down, his eyes had been opened but it was too late. He was already out of the book and there was no way he could get back inside the novel and complete his story.


    The author had put the book on haitus which meant that she had no plans of updating the book anytime soon. It saddened him. He wouldn''t get to see his crown prince get a happy not will he be a part of the novel along with him.


    All of it made his heart break into a million pieces. He had so many chances and like a fool he blew each one of them.


    He scrolled over to the comment section. It was flooded with comments from readers asking him to see Sashina for who she was. Others advised him to rethink his decision of leaving. Other we''re telling him to take the first step and just kiss the crown prince to get him to stop being angry.


    The comments then proceeded to how stupid he was for letting the prince go. The fans of the book cursed at him saying that he wasn''t good enough for the prince and that the author should replace him with someone who actually had the balls to grab what they wanted.


    As a reader, he got why they reacted like that but as the character he took offense. It was easy for them to judge him because they were in his shoes. If they were they would also see how the pressure would get to them and they too would make almost similar choices as he did.


    He checked his email and found a lot of curses and hate from fans of the book. Everywhere he turned their was hate, on his social media pages there was a lot on messages from the fans accusing him for being the reason that the author dropped the novel and was taking a break from it.


    He had no idea what to do. The author was famous and she had a lot of fans, he couldn''t stand to see so many people hating on him because the book had come to a stop.


    It pained him too to see that the author was taking a break from her writting. Her books had saved his life and gave him purpose and now they gave him first love too. It wasn''t fair for her to stop writing because as a character he failed her.


    "I will find the author and apologise to her," he stated determined. "I will get her to change her mind."


    The truth of the matter was that doing that was harder than it sounded. One, the author wrote anonymously and didn''t use her real name. Second, was the fact that he had no idea in what part of the world she was from since she never revealed much about her life. Third was that she always refused interviews and no one knew what she looked like.


    He had no idea where to find her. He got up from the bed and got dressed. He had a lot depending on him, the fans and his crown prince. Without the author both would be miserable and won''t get to be at peace.


    And it would all be his fault. He just didn''t know from where he was going to start with his search. He decided to look for a hacker and see if they can hack her account and find an address for him.


    "I will get you your happy ending Davion," he vowed.

 Chapter 57 - Starting Now

    The fate of the novel depended on him. Jason had to find a way to meet the author of the novel standing by you, to get her to continue the novel.


    The responsibility fell on him since he was the one who forced the author to go on haitus. He looked out the window and sighed. Being in the novel with no cars and flooded streets, he got to know what peace was.


    He sat by the window at the cafe looking out to the people rushing about their business. It was as though no one knew he was gone. He had been in the book for over a month and no one even felt his absence.


    He had no I miss u texts on him phone. Or missed calls from friends and family. The only notifications he had were the hateful messages that the fans of the novel left on his social media.


    He had no idea where to begin his search. He had left the author a lot of comments on the book asking to have a word with her but she didn''t reply to him.


    "Tough day?" The waiter at the cafe asked him.


    "Not tough. The worst day ever," he replied. He looked away from the window, he didn''t want to be rude and turned around to look at the waiter.


    "Sorry to hear that, what can I get for you," the young man asked.


    "Sour Apple smoothie please," he asked nicely.


    "Not a sweet tooth I see," the waiter noted down his order while saying.


    "I just have a lot of bad things going on in my life right now. I can''t have anything sweet," Jason responded. He was mending a wounded soul but he wouldn''t dare mention that, especially since the person he was in love with was a character in a webnovel.


    A novel he badly wanted to return to but had no idea how to go about it. He was stuck with a broken heart with no way to heal. It was what he wanted and in a way the author gave him his wish. But he wasn''t happy.


    "Talking to a stranger might help?" The waiter suggested before walking away to get his order.


    Jason followed the young boy with his eyes until the male disappeared to the back. He didn''t look that young, he was either a year or two younger than Jason, as far as the man could tell.


    He had shoulder length black hair that he tied in a ponytail. "Even the crown prince had long hair," he said and let out a tired sigh.


    Now he understood why characters in a book were always so miserable when they longed for their lovers. He had always assumed the author was exaggerating to get the expected creation from readers but now that he was in love he understood it.


    He had read the bl version of the novel fifty times since he got back. Memorizing by heart all the scenes that his crown prince was in. Since the man was not real in his word the book was the only way to stalk him.


    He released a deep breath feeling lonely. He felt like giving the book another read just to feel like he was still in Aphidia with his crown prince.


    If only he was granted one chance to get back in the book then, he would take care of the prince''s good heart and love him like he deserved to. It took looking at things from a different perspective to understand how sensitive the crown prince was.


    "I have never met anyone who sighs more than you do," the young waiter said setting down his smoothie.


    Jason sighed sadly. He really missed the crown prince. Their was a fanart about how the prince Davion looked which he downloaded and saved as his homescreen and background wallpaper.


    It was the only way he could feel like they were still together. The photo was nothing close to how good-looking his prince was but he was talking what he got. Beggars weren''t chosers.


    "Want to talk about it, I have a few minutes to spare," the waited stated.


    Jason set down his phone and laid his head on his hand. He could not help but think, had he been in Aphidia, he would be the crown prince. Fighting or kissing, he wouldn''t trade those moments for anything in the world.


    He had gotten a chance that many readers around the world could only dream of. He had gotten the opportunity to date a character and get the sensation of kissing one who really knew what he was doing.


    If one would get a certificate for how good they were at kissing. He was sure the crown prince would have a PhD in art of kissing.


    "You are a fan of Standing by you?" The waiter asked. Jason''s eyes lit up before he frowned. He hoped the waiter wasn''t a fan too, he could handle being hated through the phone but not face to face.


    "Ye..yes," he answered nervously.


    "Many students at my college are in love with the novel. There has been a lot of commotion lately since the author took a break from writing," the waiter said casually.


    "And you, are you a fan?"


    "No, I have never read the novel," the boy added.


    Jason furrowed his eyebrows at him not believing his words. Only a fan of the book would recognise Davion''s fanart from just one look. And yet the waiter claimed not to have read the novel.


    "Then how do you know Davion?" Jason asked pointing at the picture in his phone.


    "Because of that," the waiter pointed at the wall. Jason followed hus hand and found a wall with all the fanarts ever made of standing by you. All the characters were there for the new novel. With Sashina''s looked darkened since she was now a villain..  "The boss is obsessed with the novel and insists we hand those up," the waiter added.

 Chapter 58 - Starting Now (2)

    Jason was amazed by the new art. There were many characters that he didn''t recognise from the arts. One that caught his eyes was the one with all the characters in it.


    He as Nedryn was holding on to the crown prince. Sashina was pulling at his free hand while some strange man with red hair dressed in a coat made of gold pulling at Davion''s hand.


    "Who is that character?" Jason inquired. It felt like he was looking at Aricus but he wasn''t so sure. The man who loved the crown prince in Davion''s past life.


    "Aricus," The waiter replied. "The boss forces us to learn the characters in case a customer asks. And when they do, we are forced to direct them to the novel, he is obsessed," he added.


    Jason could understand the boss''s feelings. He too were like that before he entered the book. He was so in love with the novel that he wanted the whole world to read and enjoy it as much as he did.


    "But the crown prince will never leave Nedryn for him right?" Jason asked. His heart pounding in his chest very loudly. It was heartbreaking to see such a tough competition. Especially since he and the prince had crossed lines that he had not even thought of.


    "That depends on the author, I guess. He or she will decide what happens next?" The waiter replied.


    ''The end does depend on the author doesn''t it,'' he thought sadly. At the moment, he had offended the author and had no clue what ending she would give the novel out of it.


    It made him nervous. It was like offending god, you never know what calamity might befall you because of it. And he for one was more than nervous, his love story depended on the author being happy with him. That is if she will agree to continue writing the book.


    "I am Jason," he introduced himself to the waiter not to be rude.


    "Like from the novel, Jason who transmigrated into the body of prince Nedryn," the waiter said flashing him a sweet smile. "I''m Davy," the boy said to him.


    Jason felt an ache in his heart. His nickname for the crown prince was Davy, it was how he called him for a while he had to leave the book. It was as though fate was mocking him.


    "Like the crown prince from the novel?" Jason joked. He tried to hide his pain behind his smile and joke. It was really hard, it was the first day since he got out of the book and he missed everything in the book.


    "I guess so," Davy stated. Jason picked up his smoothie and drunk a sip of it. It was very sour, but he didn''t mind it though. It helped him to forget a little about the pain in his chest. "So why are you down?"


    "Lost someone that I love, I was stupid and now he''s gone," he let out subconsciously.


    Just before he realized what he said. That wasn''t the book but real life where people hated gay men. And they were not afraid to get their hands dirty.


    He didn''t want the waiter to be disgusted by him because he liked men or start shaming on him for it.


    "I guess from your look that you meant lover and not friend?" The waiter inquired. "I won''t judge so don''t worry."


    Jason nodded, for someone his age the boy seemed mature. He didn''t overreact learning that he was talking to a gay person. Jason himself didn''t think that he would be so cool with it if the situation was reversed.


    Before he entered the novel, he had not even considered a possibility of liking men. He only had eyes for Sashina but now, all that had changed and he was forced to accept that he loved a man and was willing to do anything for him.


    "What happened. Why did you lose him?" Davy asked curious to know the story behind his sadness.


    "I was stupid for not understanding him."


    The waiter scratched his chin as he thought over it. "So he broke up with you since he felt that you didn''t care?" He questioned.


    "More like I broke up with him and now it is too late to fix it," he replied and sighed.


    His heart was bleeding out missing the crown prince. In that moment he could use one of his smirks. His smile that told you that he knew he had your attention but won''t embarrass you by pointing it out.


    The man was a book character but he was real in Jason''s heart. He couldn''t deal with the reality after leaving in a fantasy novel. He didn''t want to forget every feeling or emotion. Before the novel, he had a boring life.


    If it could be called a life at all. The novel gave him a chance to be outgoing and to learn what love was. The author had saved him from fading away, people knew who he was now. Unlike before when he was like a background character that no one noticed or liked.


    That is why even just for a while, the book needed to go on. He had to go back into the novel and live life to the fullest. It felt like his calling.


    "Why do that when you clearly love him?" Davy let out. It didn''t make sense why Jason would leave the person that he loves. It was asking for pain with open arms.


    "I am stupid," he uttered.


    "Don''t judge yourself too harshly," Davy spoke out. "It''s not like he is gone forever. You can still fix it," he added.


    "I hope so," Jason said tired. The whole thing was giving a headache. Davy stood up from his seat, he checked his watch and looked at Jason one more time.


    "I hope that you find a way to appease your lover. Maybe buy him a comb, he might like that for his hair," Davy uttered.. Jason nodded too lost in thought to have heard what the man said.

 Chapter 59 - Alperx

    Jason wondered around the city. Nothing much had changed since he had entered the novel, the only thing that was different was his lack of interest in his world.


    Everything seemed dull to him. He had seen real magic, normal was so boring. Everywhere he turned, he saw the crown prince smiling at him. He would hear his melodic voice speaking to him.


    Mostly flirting, but he wasn''t accepting what he could get. He had a sad song playing in his headphones. Walking the streets alone with no one beside him made him lonely.


    His eyes searched the crowd to try and find his crown prince. The author had to have used someone real to create the image of the crown prince of Aphidia. The only person he could think of that would meet the description of the male a little bit, would be the waiter.


    He resembled Davion in a lot of ways. He had long hair like the crown prince, he was chill and relaxed the way the prince was before his heart was broken. He knew just what to say, the crown prince never lacked a reply for anything.


    That is why he left the cafe, the man was not helping him feel better. He made him miss his lover. He took a deep breath. His heart was racing, without a direction, it was in chaos.


    Everything he felt were all connected to the book. He couldn''t even think about his family to contact them and let them know that he was fine. Find his friends and catch up on what he missed. But he wasn''t in the mood for anyone.


    The only person that he was interested in seeing is the author of the book. Alperx, the user name of the author was the only thing he had to go on.


    He took out his phone and went to the author''s social media page, the last he checked, the author had not updated it in two weeks. But when he scrolled to the top he was surprised to see that their was a post.


    <<Love is the strangest thing ever. Those who find it have a hard time keeping it and those who don''t have it, keep searching for it. It is an endless circle>>


    He read the post. The author had put up the post for only ten minutes and already it was up to a thousand likes. And the comment section was bursting with fans excitement.


    Hearing from their favorite author after two weeks was like a breath of fresh air to them. Jason couldn''t help but read the post over and over again. Funny how he felt like the comment was for him.


    He had found love but couldn''t keep it but now that he had lost it, he was looking everywhere for it. Searching every crowd for a sign of the one he loved. Even though he knew well that the person he loved would never be in that crowd.


    The crown prince was all that he could think about. His love for the character could only grow and that made him miss Davion even more.


    It was funny how much the author understood him. It was almost as if the two of them were soulmates. The way every word the stranger wrote touched his heart made him want to believe in the existence of soulmates.


    If he were not in love with someone else, he would actually think that the author was made just for him. His stories suited him perfectly and now even his thoughts were aligned with everything that Jason was going through.


    He locked his phone and returned it to his pocket. He couldn''t continue to look at the page, it made him think of the novel and that brought back memories of the prince that made his eyes teary.


    He doubted that the author ever such moments. She could write and know what is going to happen next so she is never surprised. She isn''t left broken when she goes on break and stops to update the book.


    Only the readers feel the pinch when this happens. The author creates a beautiful world and gets the readers absorbed in it that they look forward to what will happen next only for her to take a break.


    He walked down the block to his apartment. Reaching the door, he found all his stuff outside the door and the door was locked with a note on the door.


    ''Since you''ve refused to pay rent for six whole months, find a new place to stay.''


    Jason couldn''t believe his luck. He had just gone through a very heartbreaking experience and was barely holding on and now he had become homeless. He folded the note in his hand and dropped to the ground.


    The universe was out to get him. He was helpless to defend himself, he spend most of his earning on the book and encouraging the author that he always skipped out on his bills.


    Of all the times to be kicked out. He had no where to go and lacked the energy to look for one. He couldn''t think of anyone that would take him in.


    What he desperately needed at that moment was a drink. A strong drink to help him drown in his misery but he doubted that he had the money to get that.


    He laid his head on the ground and closed his eyes. He imagined that he was holding a glass of alcohol in his hand, he made a toast to the crown prince and gulped the whole thing in one go.


    Tears trickled down his closed eyes. He was really missing his better half, if only for a moment. He wouldn''t mind glancing at the man one more time. To tell him all the words that he left unsaid.


    To tell him that he didn''t mind if he was angry as long he didn''t disappear. Ask Davion to stay by him and never leave him. "I miss you," he whispered.


    He rested his mind.

 Chapter 60 - Alperx (2)

    "Jason!"


    Jason opened his eyes, the darkness of the night forced him to narrow his eyes to see who it was that called him. In the dark, he couldn''t be sure who it was or where he was.


    He sat up on the hard floor rubbing sleep off of his eyes. He was very tired and all of him was sore from sleeping on the ground.


    "Where am I?" He inquired in a tired tone.


    "Outside the apartment. Why are you sleeping here?" The person asked, a flashlight suddenly lit up in the hallway.


    Jason looked up to find the waiter from the cafe hovering over him. He looked at him with gentle eyes, looking into his eyes, he felt as though he was looking at Davion. His crown prince.


    He blinked to break contact with the man. ''He is not Davion,'' he told his yearning heart.


    His eyes searched around to find that he was outside his door, most of his stuff was still there but some of it was gone. He realised that he had fallen asleep and got robbed too.


    Just more things for him to add to the list of problems that he had in his life in that moment. "I got kicked out of my apartment," he replied to the waiter.


    Not that it was any of his business, his life was falling apart. He didn''t have any savings or backup plan and would probably have to sleep outside.


    "I see," Davy uttered. "Well, I will off then," he let out.


    He directed the flashlight away from Jason and moved forward to leave. Jason looked up, he had expected for the man to at least offer to help him. He would have turned the offer down but he would have felt nice to be asked.


    His indifferent attitude was just like Davion. The man was the king of not caring when he wanted to be and the young waiter was behaving just like him. ''I wonder if the author based Davion''s character on him,'' he thought bitterly and sadly.


    "Hold on," he called out to Davy. Davy stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look back at him. "What were you doing here?"


    Jason asked him, running into the waiter at his apartment building was coincidental but there could have been a chance that the man followed him home.


    "We were short staffed tonight so I came to make a delivery," Davy responded.


    Jason nodded. He was wearing the cafe''s uniform so it was possible that he was still working. He took out his phone, he wanted to call his mother but sadly he run out of airtime.


    "Just great," he cursed.


    "Are you okay?" Davy inquired from him.


    "No I''m not. I have lost the man I love, my house, I have no money and now I have no place to go," Jason ranted. "Arghhh, I hate my life," he uttered.


    He sighed. He was not old but he felt aged. The amount of sighs that he had let out since morning were scary. He was filled with worry, his problems were just pilling up not giving him a chance to relax.


    He wasn''t sure what life wanted from him. For no reason it was dropping everything on him all at once. At the end of the day, he was only human and could only take on so much.


    He closed his eyes and let his frustration flow out of his eyes freely. "If you don''t mind," Davy started to say.


    Jason turned his gaze to the side to see him. The waiter had his eyes pressed closed as though second guessing what he wanted to say. He seemed to be having an internal argument about whether to complete his sentence.


    "Y..you cou..could move in w..with me," the man struggled to say. From the image that Jason had seen of him at the cafe, he seemed different. At the cafe, the man seemed warm and friendly but now he seemed cold and very distant.


    Jason didn''t need a genius to point out that it took a of the young man to get him to offer his place to him. But he was shameless and out of options so there was no way he was going to turn down a place rest his head.


    "Sure," he rushed to say before the young man changed his mind about everything. "Let me get m..."


    "You are not planning on taking those to my house are you?" The waiter asked to him.


    Jason looked at what was left of his belonging and wanted to nod but thought against it. "I was just going to get this," he said picking up a pink teddy bear from the ground.


    The teddy bear had a red heart on it''s chest that had the pen name of the author, Alperx, written on it. He had that made for his author and was going to send it to her when the book ended but he got side tracked.


    Jason walked tiredly towards his savior holding the teddy close to his chest. Davy watched him keenly taking in the teddy bear that he was holding. His lips slightly curled up into a smile.


    It was cute, the teddy bear that Jason was holding. But the colour was a turn off, white would have suited the bear better.


    "Alperx, you must like the author a lot?" He inquired when Jason stood next to him.


    "I''m her number one fan," Jason replied in a pained voice. She was her only hope to get back his life. Finding her was the only purpose that he had left.


    "What makes you think that the author is a she? It could be a man," Davy asked him.


    Jason frowned. Its true that he had never known the real gender of the author. But he had always felt that it was a she, with how well she portrayed the emotions in the book. He had never imagined that his author could be a man.


    "My heart says that the author is female. And I trust my heart," he spoke out.


    "And look where listening to your heart got you," Davy mumbled under his breath.


    "What?" Jason questioned not having heard what he said.


    "I said it''s good that you trust your heart," Davy said and started walking away.. "Even though it''s wrong," he added softly.

 Chapter 61 - The Magical Door

    Jason paced around in front of the blue door. He was undecided on what to do, all of him was pushing him to open the door and find out what lay behind it.


    But Davy''s clear warning rang in his mind stopping him. He was taking shelter in the boy''s house. And he had made it very clear that he was not to touch the blue door.


    Being told not to touch the door only made him want to touch it. He took a long deep breath and pushed the door open. He made a move and entered the room. ''I''ll just take a quick look," he uttered to himself.


    He found himself faced with a metallic door. It looked like the latest model door that is always being advertised on the television.


    <<Welcome>>


    He had while inside the room before he was scanned from head to toe. His heart pounded in his chest, he feared that Davy would be alerted that he was inside the room.


    <<Jason Donoghan aka prince Nedryn of Xeris. Name of the novel please?>>


    Jason froze up. He didn''t expect the mysterious machine inside the room to recognize him. He went in thought and his eyes lit up.


    "Standing by you," he replied going by instincts. He had no idea what to expect at the end of the door but he was very curious.


    The room belonged to Davy''s boss and since he was a big fan of the novel. He thought that it must have been the password.


    <<To travel to Xeris, press one. To travel to Aphidia press two, for further places press three>>


    The machine spoke. Jason looked to the wall and saw the numbers. Davion was in Aphidia so it was only fair to go there and meet him.  That is if the machine was real. He was so excited, even if it wasn''t a magical door to the book, he could at least catch some arts Davy''s boss had collected over time.


    "Two," he let out as he pressed two.


    <<Aphidia, great choice. Password please>>


    The machine requested. Jason was at a loss, he couldnt think of what the password was. He looked at the wall and noticed that he had three chances before the door triggers the alarm.


    "Davion," he spoke out.


    <


    >


    He scratched his head. He was curious to know what lied at the end of the room. Where the door led to.


    "Nedryn," he tried once again.


    <


    >


    He sighed. He didn''t get why the waiter asked him not to touch the door when he couldnt even get passed the second door. He was stuck, his curiosity truly wished he had the way to get into the room.


    "Alperx," he uttered wondering what the author would use as the password, the author was smart and brilliant, she would probably come up with something impossible to crack.


    <


    >


    Jason''s jaw dropped. He had been looking for the author and he just happened to fall into his house. The doors opened right before his eyes.


    He wanted to believe that Davy''s boss had made the voice say that so that he would feel closer to the author of the book but the signs were too many.


    The resemblance between Davy and Davion like the waiter was used as an inspiration for the character. It was just too much of a coincidence to scratch up the possibility that the man could be the author.


    He stepped foot into the room and halted, he watched the lights in the room turn on and lit up the place. All the hardcopy books of the author from her first novel to the latest bl novel were arranged nicely at the wall.


    The room was elegantly furnished like the rest of the house. He couldnt help but wonder how rich the owner of the cafe was to arrange such a pretty home office.


    He took another step and froze, characters from the book appeared in the room like holograms. Their was a pen right before him and what looked like a hologram of an iPad.


    He furrowed his eyebrows. He figured their was nothing wrong with going with the flow, he touched the hologram of the pen and to his surprise as soon as he touched it, the pen materialised.


    He stumbled back and landed to the locked the door. His breath was heavy, he was finding the room more and more strange with each passing second.


    <<You need to start writing. What scene would you prefer? I would encourage smut to patch the strained relationship between Jason and Davion. As humans say, there is nothing a good sex can''t fix," he had the machine one more time.


    His eyes were wide open from shock. Hebcoukdbt believe what was going on, Davy''s boss was stealing the author''s book. Either that or he just walked into the creative space of the author.


    <<Would you like to bring Jason back to the novel or not? If you ask for it opinion I would suggest you extend your break from the book>>


    Jason straightened his back and stood straight. He moved forward and reached out the pen in his hand into the holo Ipad, the pad materialised in his hands. He grabbed it and wrote on it.


    "Prince Nedryn had a cute and loyal dog," he said as he wrote into the pad.


    << Alperx hates dogs, he would never write that down. He can''t even bring himself to say the word let alone create it in his novel>>


    Jason erased the dog part from the pad. He couldnt believe that someone could hate something as cute and beautiful as dogs. They were a man''s best friend.


    <<You should leave, Alperx has read the addition to his novel and he doesn''t seem happy>>


    The machine warned. Jason turned around in a hurry to leave when he bumped into Davion''s hologram. The crown prince materialised and held him before he fell to the ground.


    Jason blinked his eyes filled with disbelief. Just like the pen, his prince had also come to life by touch. He was so shocked. He couldnt believe it, he looked at the man who haunted his thoughts since he left the book.


    Guilt tripping him for leaving, he wouldn''t mind getting lost in his eyes forever. They were just too beautiful to resist.


    <<Welcome Alperx>>


    Jason lifted hus head when the doors opened to see who it was that came in. The machine called the author''s name so he figured it must be the author who arrived.


    He struggled to keep his eyes open to see the person. For some reason his vision was getting blurry, he could barely keep his eyes open. The more he struggled the harder it became for him to keep awake.


    It was as though, the more he strained to see the face of the author, the faster the energy in his body was decreasing causing him to be tired and exhausted.


    "You are the author," he uttered before losing consciousness.


    "What is he of all people doing in here?" Davion uttered to the man who walked into the room.


    "You should get a better password," the man let out.


    "I don''t need it, many people don''t come here. Why is Jason in my house?" Davion asked handing the uncouncious male to the mysterious man.


    "He is screwed because of you. Giving him a roof over his head is the least you can do," the mysterious man spoke out.


    "I was in the middle of something. He interrupted me," Davion complained. He walked over to his bookshelf and picked up the bl novel, he signed it with Jason''s name on it and handed it to the man. "How dare he add a dog to my book?"


    Jason was carried out of the room out of the room back to the main living room. Once Davion had passed through the door, the blue door vanished being replaced by a normal wall.


    "What do we do when he wakes up?" The mysterious man asked laying Jason down on the bed.


    Davion folded his hair and used pins to hold it in place, he covered his whole head with pins before he put on a wig. He removed his Aphidian royal clothes and got into jeans and a white shirt.


    He encircled a jacket around his waist around his waist. "Tell him it was a dream, the door won''t appear here again anywhere. So he can''t probe anything," Davion explained.


    "How do I look?" Davion asked to him.


    "Like a regular spoilt brat," the mysterious man said. He set the signed novel beside Jason and strode out of the room. Davion picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip.


    He watched Jason sleep quietly while enjoying his tea. His phone buzzed in his pocket, reaching into his pocket to fetch his phone, he opened it and saw a dozen messages from fans requesting the continuation of the book.


    <<Love can''t be rushed. One needs to patiently seek it out and wait for it to bloom>>


    He posted it and put his phone back in his pocket.. "Slow hearts win the race of love Jason," he uttered.

 Chapter 62 - Davys Opinion

    Jason opened his eyes from the noise. He started at the white ceiling of the room, he was trying to disearn whether what he saw and felt was real.


    He was so sure that he fell into Davion''s arms before everything went dark. He recalled the magical door and the weird room but why h suddenly he felt so tired and fell unconscious.


    He moved his eyes to the wall where the blue door was, to his surprise, the door was gone. He would think that Davy''s boss must have build a wall there after he trespassed. But the wall didn''t look new at all.


    His experience felt like a dream. "You are awake," Davy hovered above him as he spoke. Jason glanced at him, with his smile he looked like the brightest side of the sun.


    Jason sat on the couch. His mind was deep in thought over what he lived through. He heard the sound of something dropping to the floor. He dropped his gaze to the floor to take a look.


    He found a novel, it was the bl novel that he was the main character. He felt like an actor in that moment, when they see a movie that they acted on. It was truly a wonderful feelings to feel.


    He picked up the novel and held in his hands. He opened the first page, his eyes widen with shock seeing his name signed on the novel. The book was signed by his author.


    A smile bloomed on his face, he just could not believe that the person he was looking for had sent him a book with her autograph in it.


    "It is just a book, no need to be so happy," Davy let out scooting next to him. Jason held the book close to his chest, it was the best thing that had happened to him since he left the novel.


    But one thing didn''t make sense, "how did I get this novel?"


    He inquired from Davy. The male inhaled deeply and rested his head back on the couch.


    "I have read the book," he uttered ignoring the question that Jason threw at him. "And frankly I don''t see why people ship Jason and Davion," he added.


    Jason almost exploded listening to him. The way that he spoke gave off the feeling that he was against his love. He was struggling with everything. Holding on to every little thing to make sure that his story is complete and he dared to say such things.


    It was easier to comment when the matter is not about you. You can say what ever you want, it is only after walking in the person''s shoes can you truly understand what they go through to be where they are.


    He didn''t expect a waiter to understand him. The man was young and had no experience in life or love. It''s only those who have loved that could get what he was going through.


    "He reminds me of you," Davy said. Jason raised his eyes to hear his version in the book resembles him. Oddly enough he found that he loved hearing about himself a lot.


    "Just like you, his love is misdirected," Davy spoke.


    Jason''s jaw dropped. He didn''t expect to be called a fool indirectly by the cute young waiter. In the beginning of the novel, he started off liking Sashina but he truly fell for the crown prince.


    The comment was upsetting. "He loved the crown prince. What is misdirected in that?" He asked infuriated by the man''s comment. The man had no right to give an opinion when he knew nothing.


    "From the start till the last chapter, the man thinks of the author of the novel more than the character he supposedly loves," Davy pointed out.


    Jason wanted to hit his head. The waiter was basing his arguments on such weak facts. The author was the god of the book and he couldn''t say that he doesn''t think of god when everything goes wrong in his life.


    Everyone always thinks of the higher power to help them out when they are stuck and that is what he did.


    "Because he felt like she was the god of the book," he replied to Davy.


    Davy shook his head to his reply. "It was different, the way he praised the author, trusted him or her blindly and counted on the author. I''m no expect but it felt like he loved the author of the book," Davy explained.


    "That is because he is a big fan. Did you not read chapter one?" Jason found him ridiculous. The way that he spoke gave him a headache.


    "I know that he is a fan but his love felt deeper than that. Like a one sided love," he added.


    Jason was speechless, his mind went blank. He couldn''t think of what he should say to the ridiculous man, he was in no way in love with the author of the novel.


    "Why would you think that?" He questioned.


    "I have checked out Alperx''s novels. The character almost appears in all the books. It is the only thing about the mysterious author that is constant," he said to Jason.


    Jason had not even thought about that. Coming to think of it, the first time he read the original version of the novel, he too felt Davion''s character was familiar to Dral from the authors previous book.


    But that didn''t prove that he was in love with the author. "The character seems to be clinging to the crown prince when in fact he likes the author. That is how I felt," he informed.


    "Just like u, when I gave you a choice of what to bring with you. You could have taken anything you wanted but choose the teddy bear," he let out.


    Jason sighed. The author had a special place in his heart for creating beautiful stories but not for the reasons that the crazy fellow was saying.


    He was not in love with the author. He had only ever truly loved Davion and that was the end of it. Their was no confusion in his mind or any turmoil on how he felt.


    It was strange to hear someone point out that he was in love with someone that he had never met in his entire existence.


    It was crazy, the heart couldn''t beat for someone that his eyes had never even had a chance to see. "I promise you that it inst true. I am not in love with Alperx," he denied the claims of the man.


    Jason glanced at the teddy bear, it was a gift for a person he didn''t even know. He had absolutely no idea why he had the teddy bear made.


    "Anyway, if you ask me I think the author of the novel is a coward," he uttered. His insides were boiling with anger.


    He was staring away from Davy so he didn''t notice the look the man shot at him. His words sounded absurd to Davy but he returned to his cool self before Jason turned to face him.


    "She has never shown her face in public. Despite all the requests for her to do a public appearance, sge refuses, coward," Jason explained himself. "I doubt she had any confidence to face people. She must not even know what love is," he added.


    He had pleaded with her to let him back into the novel and the person was refusing to do so. The author understood what he felt for Davion and yet, she went on with her life as though nothing had happen.


    It was unbelievable that she called herself human. He was one of her best fans and yet, she didn''t even take his feelings into consideration.


    "The author is selfish, only thinking about herself in this," he added.


    He got up and took the teddy bear and the book and left the living room. He rushed to the room the waiter gave to him to wallow.


    "How ungrateful," Davy uttered. He furiously got up from the couch and dashed out of the room. He rushed to his room gritting his teeth in anger. The anger burnt his skin so hard that he could hardly contain his emotion.


    He entered the room and locked the door behind him. He rushed to his walk in closet and opened its doors. He entered the room.


    He removed the wig on his head and dropped it on the ground. He released his hair and let it bounce loosely on his back. He picked up the Aphidian suit from his closet and took it with him to the bed.


    He fetched a scissor and began to roughly cut it. "Selfish he said," he ranted and screamed. "Doesn''t know what love is, he added," he spike out angrily.


    He was angered by the man''s choices of words over what had happened. "How dare he say that?" He furiously let out.


    He picked up his phone and went to his social media platform. He took a deep breath before his hands moved and typed something before he posted it.


    <<Due to personal reasons, I would like to inform my loyal readers that im giving up writing. It has been an honor walking down this path with you, yours truly Alperx>>


    "I only think about myself, right?" He let out with a devilish smile in his face.

 Chapter 63 - The Painting

    Jason walked out of his room at 11 am. He had slept in after the terrible night that he just had. He dreamt that he had gone online in the night and found a message from the author saying that he was giving up writing.


    It was a strange dreamt and it kept him on edge the whole night. The novel was his life and soul, he could see himself part with it.


    He walked to the living and surprising enough Davy was still in the house.  He was watching a movie on the television and only turned his head when he heard the approaching footsteps.


    "You look like hell," he commented.


    For someone who slept in, Jason looked like a mess, he heard bags under his eyes. His hair was messy and he looked pale.


    "I had a bad dream," Jason defended. Not ever going to Aphidia again was enough reason for him to lose his mind. The book going on hiatus was understandable but the author gave up writing as a nightmare he never wished to wake up to.


    "You should like my boss," Davy uttered. "He has been overreacting over Alperx''s announcement," he added.


    Jason froze in place. It couldn''t be true. He reached to his pocket to find his phone, he had to confirm if what he read was a dream of a reality. It was just too hard to tell the difference.


    "Alperx gave up writing and now my boss is miserable. It''s just books, I don''t get what the big deal is," Davy said adding the volume of the television.


    Jason nearly fainted, reading it while he was half asleep was one thing. Finding out it was the truth with both his eyes wide open was like being struck by thunder.


    He just couldn''t believe it. "You don''t think Aloerx meant it, right?"


    Davy shot him a sharp gaze, he took in Jason''s reaction with a cool indifferent face. Seeing Jason''s reaction made him feel a little guilty for overreacting. But what was done was done.


    "I think he meant it," he replied. "You should find a new author to follow," he advised.


    Jason heard the news and shivered. Davion could only come to life in the book. Without it, their love story was over. He didn''t want another book or another writer, he just wanted Standing by you.


    "Maybe someone hacked her account and made that announcement," he uttered choosing to remain hopeful.


    ''Still calling me a girl. You both stupid in the book and the real world,'' Davy thought.


    "Why are you hellbent on thinking that the author is a girl. Men can also write romance," he let out.


    His words went through Jason''s one ear and out the other. He was having a crisis and didn''t have time to hear what Davy had to say. He was busy thinking of ways to get the book to be continued.


    "Is it just me or are you of the habit of seeing men and women," Davy inquired. ''You did it in the book and now you are doing it here.''


    Jason dropped his body on the couch. He hated everything and just wanted to drop on the bed and sleep his life off as a bad dream.


    "But I love him," he subconsciously let out.


    "What is his problem?" The mysterious man walked into the room holding a big painting in his hands.


    "He is paying the price of annoying me," Davy uttered.


    "Well, here is the art for Davion and Jason''s wedding," the man presented the art to Davy.


    Hearing the crown prince''s name and his, Jason came out of his dazed state and looked up. He was stunned at the art in Davy''s hand.


    The artist got the image of the crown prince just as he was in the novel. Almost as though he was looking at the real deal when he made the drawing.


    "Burn it, the novel won''t ever be written again," Davy returned the painting to the man and sat back down.


    "No!" Jason shouted and raced to catch the man before he left with the art. He pulled it out of the man''s hand and held it as though his life depended on it. "I''ll keep it if you don''t want it," He added nonchalantly.


    "I don''t want to see that, it has to go," Davy insisted. He was very excited when he drew it but now he got annoyed looking at how it came out. Knowing that it was still there not destroyed made him angry.


    "I won''t let you destroy such a beautiful piece of art," Jason refused. He held the painting behind his back and refused to give it back.


    "My house my rules, the painting goes," he said firmly. His voice was dropping dangerously low.


    Jason blinked, the way he spoke reminded him of the crown prince when he had cut the male''s hair short. It was so similar, the only difference was that they were two different people.


    "You don''t need to destroy it," Jason pleaded. He words a pitiful face at the waiter, his puppy eyes begging him to let him keep the art.


    "I don''t need to," Davy let out. Jason sighed in relief, it was good to hear that the painting of the prince wouldn''t be destroyed. "I want to destroy it," the man added.


    Jason glared at him. He had lost his house, the novel, and now the art. He couldn''t have that. "I will pay you for it," he said.


    "If you had money you wouldn''t be crashing in my house," Davy sounded determined to get his way.


    "You could..."


    The man who brought the painting tried to say but was shushed with the glare from Davy. He kept quiet and looked away from the two of them.


    "Doesn''t this belong to your boss?" Jason asked looking for a way to get to keep the painting.


    "He is heartbroken right now. Seeing that would make him sadder, get rid of it," Davy said.


    Jason rolled his eyes, Davy''s boss should get it together. Just because his heart was broken didn''t mean that the world would also suffer because of it.


    "Look," he started to say.


    "I am looking and frankly I am pleased with what I see," Davy let out and moved forward to get himself. Jason moved away with the painting and ran from him.


    Davy ran after him in the living trying to get the painting back from him. The man who stood idly watching them shook his head at their childish behavior."At this rate, the two will fall in love in reality," he uttered and signed.


    ''The author and the character. Cute,'' he thought and sighed.


    "Give me that painting Jason," Davy ordered fuming with anger.


    "If you catch me I will it to you," Jason said playfully. He was having the time of his life. Watching Davy get more and more angered by his resistance entertained him more than he would care for it too.


    "I am going to throw you into the streets if you don''t give that back," Davy threatened. "So you decide, what is more important. A roof over your head or the painting?"


    Having Jason distracted Davy reached out his hand and held the painting.


    "The painting," Jason replied with a distant look. With Davion gone from his like, he was growing short of things to remember him by.


    The crown prince gave him a reason to smile, he was a man that the whole world wanted but to him, the crown prince was his whole world.


    Davy lowered his head and gazed at the man after hearing his reply. His hand shook and let go of the painting, he wanted to have it destroyed but seeing how much it meant to Jason he was tempted to leave it.


    Jason raised his eyes, Davy stood before him. Up close his eyes reminded Jason of the eyes that he got lost in, inside the magical room that he had stumbled into.


    "Have you ever fallen in love?" He inquired.


    Davy parted his lips, he turned away from Jason and strode away. "Keep the painting but I don''t ever want to lay my eyes on it," he uttered.


    He recalled what Jason said about him not knowing what love was. It was a hurtful comment. But it was wrong, the only reason he was able to understand the emotion so well was that he was in love better than most people.


    "Thank you," Jason''s eyes lit up. He was excited over having to keep the painting that captured him and the crown prince so well. It was so detailed that he suspected whoever drew it might be like him. He might be able to enter the novel and that was why his art was all so real.


    "I don''t know why the painting means so much to you but I''m glad you are happy," Davy spoke out and disappeared into one of the rooms.

 Chapter 64 - Davys Past

    "You lost."


    Davy turned around to face the voice that spoke to him. He was not in the mood to hear anything that the man had to say. He needed to be alone. It was important for him to take some time to relax and get his mind in order.


    "What are you going on about Zillon?" he asked entertaining the male.


    The man walked into his room and closed the door behind him. He didn''t want to be disturbed by Jason. What he wished to ask Davy was personal and only his ears should hear what the man had to say.


    "You aren''t the type to give in to people and yet with so little resistance you let Jason keep the painting. What is so different about him that makes you give in?" he asked.


    Davy had not anticipated the man to ask him that. Of all the things that he could ever talk about, that was a subject that he never wished to touch. He could not even bring himself to think of how to start answering that question.


    "It has been bothering me for a while, the mysterious author who doesn''t even check his account to see who follows his book and who doesn''t. had time to find out the name of his third top fan," Zillion said inching closer to Davy.


    Davy looked everywhere in the room but at him. He just couldn''t face those questions. Zillion was touching on a sensitive subject that he had buried deep inside his heart and has long tried to forget like it was just a bad dream.


    "I have asked you for a very long time to let me enter the novel world but you always refuse. Yet when it came to Jason, you didn''t mind trying out a new genre you''ve never written before," Zillion said getting warmer and warmer to the secret that Davy kept.


    Davy turned and faced the opposite direction. He should have known that a day like this would come. Where he would be forced to talk about his secret. He just didn''t expect the man to catch on so fast.


    "Jason left the novel to find the author of the book. Is it just a coincidence that he found you with such ease?" Zillion went on to ask.


    Now that he thought about it, a lot of things didn''t make sense at all. The male before him has always hated sharing things and that was why he lived next door. And yet when Jason arrived the doors to the house were opened for him without any effort on the man''s part.


    Jason discovered Davy''s writing room and even touched his pen and dared to write in his novel and yet the man was not thrown out of the house. The first time that he had accidentally stumbled into the room, Davy ended their friendship and didn''t talk to him for four months.


    He was curious as why the man downstairs got such special treatment when he and Davy were strangers. ''If you don''t give me an answer then I will ask Jason?"


    "NO!" Davy screamed out.


    Zillon raised his eyebrow. That was the first time that he had seen a panicked look on Davy''s face. He looked more than panicked like he was scared.


    "Then tell me what is going on. What is it about Jason that makes him so special?" Zillon asked taking a seat down on the seat by the mini-fridge. Davy sighed. He strolled over to his closet. He walked inside, he moved the clothes aside to reveal a safe behind them. He put in the password and opened it.


    He took out the box inside and returned to the room. He took a sit next to Zillion and handed him the box. He hadn''t opened the box in four years and hoped never to do so in his life but the situation called for it.


    "What is this?" Zillon asked opening thee box. There was an album and many more items inside the box. He remembered the album. He had seen Davy with it plenty of times when they were in high school. It was before Davy parents sent him abroad to finish his studies there.


    "You have this in school," he let out. The secretive boy never let him what was inside the album no matter how many times he had asked. he picked up the album and opened it. the first picture he saw was of Davy on their first day of school. "Cute," he uttered.


    Davy looked at the picture, he had long hair even back then. He never liked to cut his hair and always preferred it to be long. That is why most people always confused him for a girl. He never got bullied for it either since he came from a rich family and his father adored him to the moon and back.


    As such anyone who made fun of him always found themselves in trouble. He would either never see them again or see them suffering. He didn''t care though as long as they left him alone. Being the heir to his father''s company gave the assurance that he could be himself without worry.


    Zillon flipped the photo to move to the next one, his eyes widen with shock at the next photo. Seeing his reaction, Davy looked down to see what he saw. His heart shattered to pieces at the photo that he saw. It felt like someone was tearing his insides out very hard.


    It was a photo that he took on his first date, he had the photo taken to always have something to remember that day. The day that he had his first kiss, back then. He used to look at the photo and smile but in that moment the memory was breaking him apart on the inside.


    "Is that Jason?" Zillon inquired surprised. He had no idea that Jason went to the same high school as them. He was wearing the same uniform as Davy and the two of them looked so close.


    "Yes, he was a senior back then. That is why you didn''t know him," Davy uttered.


    He looked up to the ceiling, his eyes tearing up at the recollection of that memory. The way the met was somehow magic and he thought that the magic would last forever but it was childish thinking.


    "What were the two of you?" Zillon asked hesitantly.


    "Lovers¡­. or at least I thought so. To him it was just a game, which he played and won," Davy spoke out.


    He had given his all to the relationship. Only to walk down the streets alone with his heart broken into a million pieces. The man had not changed at all four years later. He claimed to love the crown prince but he was the one who hurt the prince the most.


    His way of loving is still as painful as it was back then. Until that day, he was yet to know why the man used him the way that he did. He could never forget the last thing that Jason said to him before. It hurt him so much that he begged his father to take him out of the country.


    He lived his life trying to bury his time with Jason so deep in his heart and mind to never think about him. Then he started writing to express the pain that he was feeling in his heart only to find Jason as his top fan. Always sending gifts and encouraging comments to keep writing.


    The first time that Jason told him who he was, he felt like giving up his first novel. He was writing to pour out the tears that Jason had left him with and Jason reading the book and being of his healing outlet wasn''t helping.


    If only the man could see the tears he left him with, he would have had some shame of backing off. But he didn''t have the heart to tell Jason who he was so he got used to it and moved on. But he was always curious if the man ever loved him.


    Strangely enough Jason''s favorite character was always the constant version of himself that he had placed in the book, it made him wonder if it was because the character was a version of himself, that Jason liked him.


    And so he decided to write a bl just to check his theory. In the book, he gave Jason most of the power to steer the direction of the novel. For the most parts he just wrote what the man wanted. For a moment he thought the man had lied to him back then and that he loved him only to have Jason back away from the crown prince when things got difficult.


    It was like being heartbroken again when he wasn''t even dating the man. It proved the question he always had in his mind. ''Jason never loved him.''


    "What happened?" Zillon asked him.


    "He dated me for seven months, only to call me a faggot at the end of it and ask me to stay away from him," Davy replied.

 Chapter 65 - Memory From The Past

    Zillon scratched his chin and looked up when an idea hit him. He picked up a pen and started scribbling down on a piece of paper. He wrote a few things down and passed the card over to Davy. Davy frowned, the man his mad look on, he couldn''t think anything good of the note.


    He read the note, his eyes widen with surprise at how cunning the man''s plan was. It was sure going to turn a lot of heads and break a lot of hearts. His lips curled up into a pleased smirk, he folded the note in his hand and sat up on the chair.


    "The idea is perfect," he commented.


    Zillon and Davy got up from their seats and headed over to the closet. The magical blue door was there, Davy set in the password and together they entered the room. "Revenge is a dish best served cold. Let''s give Jason a gift that he won''t ever forget," Zillon uttered.


    The two young men looked at each other. Davy grabbed the pen and Zillon set the perfect song to go with the mood. He stood opposite to Davy and took out his own pen and together they started writing.


    Jason sat in his room thinking of the places that he could tour with the prince had he been back in the novel. They could celebrate their engagement silently away from all the eyes that would distract them.


    He looked at the painting that he received from the waiter. The boy was really strange. He had in possession that the fans of Alperx would kill for and he was just going to burn it. he truly wasn''t a fan of the novel.


    He got lost looking at the prince, for some reason he found familiar about the painting. The way that it was drawn, he could feel a connection to the painting. At first he had thought that the only reason he felt like that was because of the fact that Davion was in it.


    But the more he looked at the painting, the more that his heart felt a drawing connection from it. It was a strange pull, like it was trying to tell him something. Thinking about the painting and who could have drawn it took his mind away from the crown prince.


    Since he came out of the novel he had been thinking about the crown prince all through his days and nights. He stood from the bed and approached the painting, he brushed his hand on it. he drew a deep breath, he closed his eyes and ran his fingers along the lines the painting.


    "Jasy, stop it or you''ll ruin my painting," he heard in his head. He opened his eyes and gazed deeply at the painting. It was like fate, it had been four years and he had pushed the voice at the back of his head but suddenly he remembered it.


    Remembered him.


    "You must have painted this?" he thought out loud. The voice that had haunted him since his senior, after the car accident that he had. He had lost his memory and forget most of the things in his life. Of all the things that he was yet to remember was the voice of the boy.


    From the bits that flashes in his mind, he knew that it was a boy, he painted and weirdly called him Jasy. It was hard to believe that after four years of struggling to recall who that was, he found a painting is connected to him. That or his mind was playing games with him.


    He stepped back and looked at the painting keenly. It was strange that it took a boy whose voice is the only thing he recalls to capture the man he loved in perfection. It made him wonder what the painter''s connection was to the writer of the book.


    They had to be connected somehow, he was in search of the author of the novel but he was running into an old acquaintance that no one knew of.


    After waking up in the hospital and hearing his voice, he tried to find him as the male seemed to be important to him. But everyone he knew claimed not to have known who called him Jasy. Nor did he find anyone in his life who could paint.


    He brushed it off to the back of his mind as a side effect of the accident until today when he thought of him again. He traced his hand to the end of the painting and was surprised by what he found at the end of it. There was a signature at the end of the painting. It was too small for anyone to notice without taking a closer look.


    He felt happy for following his instincts and coming closer to take a look. He narrowed his eyes and checked, it could help him track down the boy whose voice haunted him so much.


    "By Alperx," he read. He was stunned, the author had hidden his name so well that unless you were standing an inch away from it, you couldn''t see it even if you tried. Jason was shocked, the person that he was looking for so badly had made the painting.


    He dropped to the round finding the news to be too overwhelming. He laid his head to the ground and closed his eyes, he needed to run everything in his mind and see what he missed.


    He went back to the caf¨¦ where he first saw the fan art. The paintings weren''t as different from the one that he had which meant the author must have painted them. Then there was the mysterious room that he had stumbled in, he could have sworn it was real even though the door wasn''t there when he woke up.


    Not to mention how Davy''s boss just happens to have everything that the author makes from his hardcopy books to the paintings that he had discovered were made by the author.


    "What do you mean a secret identity?"


    A foggy memory flashed before his eyes. He could see himself seated in a room that looked like an art room. There was someone else in the room with him but he couldn''t figure out who it was with how hazy it was.


    "Im saying, what if I have to do something without letting people know that it is me. I will need a pen name right?" the boy asked.


    He nodded, he couldn''t refute when the male was making sense. "So what we''re thinking, D?" he asked the young man.


    "Alperx, its unique, cool and awesome," the young boy uttered.


    Jason gasped as he got up from the ground. His heart was racing in his chest. For the first time since he got better from the accident he had seen a real memory involving the boy who voice he kept hearing.


    He didn''t get to see his face but he got to know something that he had never known. Until date he had thought that it was weird how the author compliments him like he was his soulmate but he just realized that he knew who the author is way before the person started writing.


    "Davy was right, the author is a boy," he said in shock.


    He wiped the sweat from his forehead, the news was too shocking for him to process. Him, an ordinary Jason Donoghan knew the famous author of standing by you among many more of his novels. They were close enough for the man to have told him the pen name he was going to use in the past.


    "Who are you?" he asked himself. Discovering that he knew the author along made him feel stupid. He began to question himself and what relationship the two of them could have had. He looked at the beautiful painting, if the painting was there then it must mean that the author wasn''t so far away.


    He could start by asking Davy''s friend from where they got the painting from. He shot his gaze to the bed and watched the teddy bear he had made for the author. He wondered why he had done that, with all this new pieces coming together in his mind. He could see that things weren''t as simple as they appeared to be.


    "How are we related?" he questioned the teddy bear. "What were you to me?"


    He placed his hand in his heart and found that a new beat was ringing in his chest. Thinking of the author seemed to have an effect on him. It was as though, his heart was trying to tell him something that his mind couldn''t understand. Maybe that was why he was addicted to his books in particular, he wasn''t much of a reader until he accidentally found Alperx''s first book.


    It was like love then, and ever since then. He only reads the authors novels and no one else''s. He was in love with the way he expressed everything in his novels and could connect to the feelings.. As though his heart knew from the beginning.

 Chapter 66 - Memories Of The Past (2)

    Jason and Davy travelled together into town. Jason wanted to revisit his old high school to see whether or not he could remember something more of the person that he used to know. He had all that he needed to track down the author in his head, he just needed to trigger those memories and get recall everything.


    The car parked at the school''s parking lot where they got, seeing the place that Jason brought them to Davy frowned. He had wished never to gaze upon the building ever again in his life. It was a place full of deceit and lies.


    "Let''s go," Jason said excited. He was overenthusiastic about learning more about the author. Just the thought that he went to the same school with the man and that they could have been friends was making his stomach turn with joy.


    He pulled Davy towards the school building not wasting anymore time. Davy watched Jason pull him towards the school, just that simple move brought back memories from the past. There was no one around as it was the weekend.


    It reminded him of the days that the older male used to pull him into the school on Saturdays, it was there thing, where they would spend the day in the library reading and passing the time until noon when they would go to the beach.


    Thinking of such happy times made his heart ache in pain. He had not anticipated that after four years on a Saturday the older male would be pulling him towards the same school. It felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu, of a bad memory he would rather never relive again.


    He followed Jason silently not saying a word. He was curious why the man suddenly dragged him out of bed so early in the morning to go to school. But he didn''t complain. Today was the day that Zillon''s plan would be put into action and he will be able to let go of the past forever.


    ''Why do I feel like I am about to lose something important?'' Jason asked himself.


    He was a step closer to finding the author of the book but with every step that he took. It felt like the most important thing of all was going away from him. The feeling was overwhelming, the only time he ever felt like that was four years ago.


    A few weeks after recovering from the accident. Nothing happened in his life at that time but he felt like something that meant the world to him was gone from him. And today again as he was walking down the same hallway that he used in the past the feeling was growing fresh in his mind.


    "You are going to miss me when I am gone," he heard from down the hallway. ''When that day comes, you will neither be able to hold me or talk to me. Then you will know what I truly meant to you, Jasy."


    Jason froze, he didn''t do anything and the memory just flashed before him. It was like a goodbye message but the person wasn''t talking to him but talking behind him. At the time he ignored it since he wasn''t aware that the person was targeting him with the message.


    It was the day that he felt so low, the day thee he couldn''t help but feel like he had lost something. It turned out that he had lost someone instead. He was too occupied in his own thoughts to see Davy staring at the same place he was looking at.


    He was so sad, that was the place he had said his goodbyes to Jason but the older male didn''t care enough to even try to stop him from leaving. He had just threatened to leave hoping that it would help the older male to finally man up and ran back into his arms but the opposite happened.


    Jason did not even seem affected by his decision. He was forced to live up to his threat, deep down hoping that Jason would send him a text or call him and tell him that he missed him. But none of that ever happened.


    Jason completely broke him and left him with memories that only aided to cause him more pain. He wished that the older male had played with his heart the way that he did. That he didn''t make him believe in forever when he was going to break him in only a few months.


    The older male cleared his mind and pulled him to the library. He figured that he could at least check the year book to see if he could find a person that looks familiar in them. Entering the school library, Davy felt his lungs closing in on him.


    Instinctively Jason led them to their favorite spot and had Davy seat down as he marched away to find the year book. Davy watched his disappearing back and wondered if it was a coincidence or the man brought him there intentionally.


    He had changed a bit in four years but if he could recognize the older male in a second then he was certain that Jason did too. It made him wonder why the male brought him back to the school where he once considered his favorite places.


    He was interrupted in his thoughts when his phone rang. He checked to see who it was that calling and was happy to find his partner in crime being the caller. He answered the phone immediately. He wanted to know the progress of their plan. It was of utmost importance that he be up to date with everything.


    "Yes," he spoke out.


    "Everything is ready," Zillon let out on the other end of the call.


    Davy set the phone down and rested his head on his hand. He closed his eyes letting a deep breath. He had not been to the library in so long, the smell of books and dust surrounded him everywhere.


    Jason returned with a few year books from the time that he was a senior at school. It was the first step to finding out who the real Alperx really was. He was filled with happiness and very nervous. Whatever was waiting for him on finding out who the author is was unknown.


    There had to be a reason why the man was no longer in his life. A lot of possibilities ran through his mind, they could have fought, grown apart, had a very big misunderstanding or grown to hate each other. There were a lot of reasons that could explain why they are apart. He just hoped that it wasn''t something bad on his part.


    The author held his life and love in his hands so it was important that they be on good terms with each other. "This is so exciting," he let out.


    Davy scoffed. He was far from excited, he felt so suffocated in that place. So many memories were made between them on that very table. But all of that seemed to be unimportant to Jason since he didn''t even seem to remember. That offended the man a lot.


    It wouldn''t have hurt Jason to at least pretend that the times they spend their together meant something to him. Seeing him act like nothing happened was worse than being ignored by him years ago.


    It was like being reminded that the most important part of his life was nothing but a joke to the older guy. Unaware of the emotions that were going on in Davy''s mind, Jason went ahead to look at the pictures of the students who attended school with him.


    He started with his class hoping that seeing on the photos would remind of the boy whose voice he couldn''t get out of his head. He was hoping that just as he was pulled to the painting, he would feel the same attraction when he sees the boy''s face.


    "What are you even looking for?" Davy dared to ask. The way that Jason was concentrating on looking at the photo''s one would think that he was going to get tested on who was in the yearbook. It was one if the things he used to love about him.


    When they would study, he would always look so concentrated and it was attractive. He sighed.


    "Someone important," Jason replied.


    Davy removed his head from his hand and glanced intently at Jason. The man sure was strange, he used to think that he was the most important person to him. But then he found out that the reality was worse than what he thought.


    The after the novel, he was under the impression that the crown prince was the most important but now he was learning something else. He shook his head in disappointment, he loved Jason so much that he failed to recognize this side of him until it was too late.


    It was good that he decided to let go.. It was better than holding on to someone who can''t be loyal.

 Chapter 67 - Bye Jason

    Jason laid his head on his hand. Picture after picture he checked but couldn''t find someone who clicked to his as the author.


    He flipped the next page and placed his hand on the book. He was too tired to look up and check the pictures on the page, his hand landed on Davy''s photo.


    Davy looked at his watch to check the time. He glanced at the year book and saw a glimpse of himself, at least what he used to look like before he went abroad.


    He glanced at Jason and realized that the older male didn''t even look at the picture. It made him truly sad. It was as though, he wasn''t even important for the man to glance at.


    "Since that is the case then don''t blame for stopping to care," he uttered.


    Jason blinked hearing his voice. His words were strange to him and he didn''t understand why the boy said that.


    Davy removed a small black box from his pocket and opened it. A message appeared on Jason''s phone. The man was forced to lift up his head to check what it was that made his phone beep.


    <<Congratulations, you''ve received the key to the secret door to Aphidia.>>


    The message read. Jason rubbed his eyes and read the message over and over again, he was yet to find the author and yet he got the door back to the novel. It didn''t make sense.


    The last he checked, the author had given up writing the novel, it didn''t make sense why the person would suddenly send him the key to that place. It was hard to imagine that the author could be so generous.


    He set his phone down on the book and was shocked. His eyes came face to face with a younger crown prince in glasses. He froze in place. In the same uniform as him was the crown prince.


    ''Davion is real,'' he thought.


    He lowered his head to read the name of the boy. Suddenly his eyes became blurry. He could hardly make out the name that was written under the picture.


    "Bye Jason," Davy said. He flashed the light from the black box at Jason before the man fell asleep on the table. He got up closed the picture books and returned them to their right place. He wired money to Jason''s account before he walked out of the building.


    He had always thought that their relationship was up to them. But it was never a relationship to begin with and since he couldn''t have him. Any hope was bound to break as his hands were tied.


    "They say that when you love something, you let it go. I will give you what you want, but it''s a one way trip," he uttered.


    Jason had a choice, either his world or the novel. Whatever the choice the older male made, it will be the choice that he would have to live with forever.


    He had twenty four hours to decided what he wants. Whether it will be go back into the novel as a character or if he gets to choose to live in the real world.


    Davy removed his wig and threw it im the dustbin, he removed the pins from his hair and let it dance freely on his back, he put on his glances and walked out of the school.


    A white car was waiting for him outside, he looked back one more time. "I loved you Jasy," he spoke out.


    He got into the car letting go. Starting now, he will draw the line between him and his past. He won''t try to force down his heart or at the back of his mind. He would embrace it with open arms and free himself once and for all.


    "How did it go?" He asked Zillon.


    "The contest has began. All of them got the key to go back to Aphidia, we are just waiting for one of them to open the door," Zillon spoke.


    He handed Davy the pad, Davy looked down and saw all the characters.Sashina, Jason, Amaru, Winrus and Aricus.


    They were all inactive. They had not been activated yet, he had fixed the novel world and made so many changes that he was sure they were all going to love.


    They just needed the three transmigrants to open the doors to the novel for them to start writing.


    "Do you think they will return?" Zillon asked curiously. He doubted that Jason and the others would want to go back.


    Jason seemed to have something urgent he wanted to find. As far as he could tell, it was more important than the novel, from how it kept him from thoughts of the crown prince.


    "Jason will," Davy said with certainty.


    He picked up his pen and began to sketch. He had to clear his mind to get back to the flow of the novel. He had anticipated that he would start writing again in a few months giving Jason time but he was forced to go back immediately.


    ******


    Jason opened his eyes. A few hours had passed since Davy left, he looked around the room. He couldn''t see anyone around.


    He opened his phone and saw the message about the key. He clicked if without a second thought and saw a key inside the message.


    He clicked it thinking how cute it was. He set his phone down and started thinking, he could recall what he was doing at the library or what the message meant.


    He got up and walked out of the library. He made his way out of the school, he had no clue as to what was happening. He had no recollection of why he was in a school or where he lived.


    His head was getting heavy as he walked out of the school. He dropped on his knees and held his head, the pain was excruciating.


    "I''m Davy, Davion Blakemore," he saw a young boy in a uniform introduce himself before he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.


    *******


    "How is he?"


    "Will he ever wake up?"


    "How will he ever be alright?"


    "Is he ever going to be better?"


    Jason opened his eyes to the many questions that surrounded him.


    "Huh, he opened his eyes," he heard a shout im the room.


    He groaned sitting up on the bed, the last thing he recalled was going to the library with Davy and them finding the photo of the crown prince in the yearbook.


    The crown prince was in junior high when he was a senior. He knew the author of the book and his name was Davion Blakemore just like the prince of Aphidia.


    He had figured it all out. Now all he had to do was look for him. With his name, he could find out where Davy lived and get to talk to him.


    He was more interested in how they met than anything else. It was so exciting that he had figured everything out, he clapped for himself for thinking of checking the yearbooks.


    He now had a face to look for and a name. With Davion''s looks he doubted that it was easy for those who met him to forget him so quickly. So finding someone that good looking wouldn''t be hard.


    "Are you okay love?" He heard the melodic voice of the crown prince ask him.


    He turned to his side and to his surprise, the crown prince sat on the bed next to him. He had a worried look in his eyes, Jason was speechless.


    He looked away from the man and glanced at everyone in the room. He saw Amaru, Sashina, Winrus, Zanir and some maids in the room.


    "No, no no no!" He screamed repeatedly. He had come so close to finding the author. It wasn''t right to be back into the novel.


    He had come so close to piecing together everything from his past. Putting together all the memories that he had lost and then suddenly he was returned to Aphidia.


    "You are not fine?" Davidson inquiries from hearing how much he was screaming the word no. Jason laid his head back into the pillow and looked up.


    Fate was truly cruel. When he desired nothing more than to return to the novel, it didn''t happen and when he wished to uncover the truth about his past, he got his first wish granted.


    He got why he felt like he was about to lose something very important to him. It was because he was set to lose his past, he had let it go once without the memories and now once again he was forced to let it go because of his present.


    "This can''t be happening," he screamed.


    He hated it, he hated the author and the novel. It wasn''t right that he gets to live with a void in his heart forever. He had the right to know his past and the author took that from him.


    "Are you alright?" Davidson asked him once more.

 Chapter 68 - I Dont Play On Losing Side

    Sashina was excited with the news of Jason getting better. She had another chance of fulfilling her dreams of becoming his wife.


    It was a new day and she felt like she could do anything. Her love for the man was so strong that it brought him back to life after the tragedy that he went through.


    It was a clear sound from fate that they were made for each other and she wasn''t going to ignore what fate wanted. Since they were made for each other, it was important that they be together forever.


    For that she needed to get back to her plans of separating Jason from the crown prince. She was feeling even more hopeful since Jason woke up from his sleep.


    The man seemed distant, especially when he was around the crown prince of Aphidia. He acted as though the two of them were not in love, he seem to be thinking a lot since he woke up.


    He didn''t say much or eat much. Some say it was because he was depressed. He was getting everyone worried including Davion. When she is the only one who can get the prince to get back to his old self then Davion will understand that he and Jason were not a good match.


    She was feeling very happy with how things turned out, it was amazing that she would get to him before anyone else had the chance to do so.


    And she knew exactly where to start. It was time for her to make the world understand that it was her time, she was the main character of her story and with her own hands she would write a happy ending for herself.


    She reached the backyard of the palace. The person she was seeking was having tea with someone there. They sat under the tree and chatted a bit.


    She smiled seeing her target. The key to getting everything she desires without having to do so much. She put on her best smile and walked towards them.


    When she got to them she stood there for a minute to get their attention. The two ladies raised their heads, one had a neutral look on her face, that neither told whether she was happy or sad to see her while the other one looked annoyed by her presence.


    She brushed their reaction out of her mind. "I''m Sashina," she introduced herself. She figured the two ladies would be happy to meet her since she was the duke''s daughter.


    She had the beauty, the brains, and the backing. They were lucky that she was showing them some attention and she hoped that they won''t disappoint her.


    "I''m leaving," the younger girl uttered. She looked at Sashina up and down with disgust in her eyes before she walked away.


    "I know who you are," the other girl spoke out. She took a sip of her tea and set it down. She raised her gaze to Sashina with an indifferent look. "What can I help you with?" She asked.


    Sashina took a seat, she couldn''t read the girl before her well. She was good at hiding her feelings and she intimidated her. She had this aura that threatened anyone who crossed her.


    "You have been selected for the crown prince of this kingdom. You are the crown princess unofficially," Sashina began to say.


    The girl opposite her smirked. She could already tell where that conversation was going. She sat back and waited to hear the offer that Sashina was going to male for her.


    "You are only here because the crown prince would need an heir in the future," Sashina uttered coldly hoping to prick the girl with her words.


    The girl simply nodded not reacting to the words. She could read through Sashina like an open book and she could see what she wanted to achieve by the words she selected to use and was reacting the opposite of that.


    "You will have no value in his life as long as he is in love with prince Nedryn," Sashina added.


    She was hoping her words would at least get a reaction from the girl. But contrary to what she expected, the girl remained calm.


    Sashina was starting to rethink her decision. The girl doesn''t seem to care what she was at all. She looked like she was dangerous from the outside but after talking to her, she was getting the feeling that the girl was naive and stupid.


    "I suppose you want to help me change that?" She asked calmly with a sweet smile on her face.


    "I was only feeling sorry for you. If you wanted my help then I could help you," Sashina let out trying to make it seem like she was only looking out for the girl''s benefit at heart.


    "I''m Amberly," the girl introduced herself. "Thank you for your offer but I don''t play on the losing side of anything," she added.


    Sashina glared at her, from her words she was insinuating that she, Sashina was a loser. She had not lost, she simply was looking for a kindred soul who was after the same thing she wanted so that they could team up and help each other.


    Two heads were always better than one. But instead of being grateful, the fool was insulting her. "What?" She asked in case she heard her wrong.


    "You are not a kind person, you aren''t here out of the goodness of your heart," Amberly said. She took another sip of her tea not in a hurry to finish her sentence. She was creating suspense and Sashina was getting irritated.


    "You came here as you are in love with Nedryn and want to use me to get him," she informed her. "True that in this I could get the crown prince to myself but I didn''t trust you to pull anything off and hence I will help myself," she added.


    Sashina was speechless, the girl had figured her out and knew what her goal and motive was. But how could Amberly question her skills. She could get it done with a snap of her fingers.


    "I can do..."


    "Let me just cut you before you go on," Amberly said interrupting her. "You say you love Nedryn and yet your plans led him to the bottom of the lake," she uttered.


    "That was," Sashina couldn''t refute. It''s true, it was because of the difference that she had created between Jason and Davion that the man was forced to attempt suicide.


    She had not expected Amberly to know that. Nobody else knew that it was all of her fault and yet the quite future queen of Aphidia knew it. It made Sashina wonder what secrets the girl hid behind her naive smile.


    "What if I trust you and in order to get what you want, Davion is the one who ends up at the bottom of the lake?" Kimberly inquired from her. "I can go to any lengths to get the one I believe is mine, but will never harm him," she added and got up.


    She walked a little distance and turned around to face Sashina. "You should get your priorities right. You can''t have everyone, so before you lose them all find the one you love," she uttered.


    Sashina got up angrily. That felt like a challenge, she wasn''t interested in Davion or anyone else, she just wanted Nedryn. And that was final.


    "What do you mean by that?" She questioned Amberly. The girl just simply smiled, she couldn''t be her that she was going to lose on all ends.


    Her sister was going after Amaru and from the looks of things, the male was free to take and she wanted the throne, Davion could have Nedryn for all she cared as long as she had her crown and Davion would end up with Nedryn.


    In all that, Sashina had no place in either of the three prince''s lives. She was going to be left alone, without a prince and a crown. And that was just sad with how hard the girl was working.


    "Nothing," Amberly stepped ahead and walked away. A dark glint flashed at the back of her eyes as a devilish smile played on her lips.


    "Without my help, you can''t have Davion," Sashina followed her and taunted.


    Amberly stopped in her tracks, she shot her cold eyes at the foolish spoilt girl. She had some nerve daring her like that, she wasn''t the type to let go of being looked down upon.


    There was only so much that she could brush off and pretend that it didn''t affect her. But there was a line that she rather no one crosses with her.


    "Is that a challenge," she raised her eyebrow.


    Sashins closed the distance between them matching her cold look. She had come to offer a merger to the girl but since that wasn''t happening she would treat her as an enemy.


    "Not a challenge, just the truth," she said.

 Chapter 69 - Putting The Pieces Together

    Jason rested his head on the bench and glanced to the skies. In his hand he held tightly the note from that he found under his pillow. It was from the author of the book.


    <<Complete the story with a happy ending and you and I will get to meet>>


    The note read, he had gotten so close to the truth and now he had a condition to meet in order to learn more about his past and connection to the author of the novel. He had to be best prince Nedryn that he could ever be.


    This time around, he didn''t enter the novel empty handed. He could feel the changes in him, he was stronger faster and much more. He had not tested himself yet but he could feel it. he was taking the time to think.


    Davion was real in the real world and the author was able write him a note inside the novel, he had a feeling that something was amiss. He had gotten what he wanted and was inside the book once again but he still felt lonely.


    His mood was low and he didn''t know why. It was connected to the day he visited his school. He was yet to figure out what he had lost that was so important to him. And it was keeping him from reaching his goals. It was the worst feeling ever, losing something that you never ever knew you had.


    They say that one learns the value of things after they lose it but how does one learn the value of something they never even knew they had. His mind was lost thinking about this. His experience back in the real world didn''t make sense to him either.


    It was far from normal, everything was always pointing back to the novel in a weird way. Like fate was screaming the answers on his face but he wasn''t hearing because he didn''t know what to look for.


    Davion joined him under the tree, he had tried not to worry about the man but it was getting harder to do that when he was acting like a lost puppy. He had received word that the prince had barely touched his food. He had not eaten a single morsel of food since he woke up.


    He had not spoken much to anybody and was keeping to himself always busy in his thoughts thinking from one thing to the other so he decided to find out what the problem was. He didn''t come alone, he was accompanied by Amaru and Winrus who were also worried for him.


    Amaru approached the bench from both sides and laid down beside the boy. Winrus sat to the back quietly. The shade of the tree brought some peace and a breath of fresh air to them.


    "Nedryn," Davion uttered his name softly. The man just attempted suicide not long ago. He needed to be handled with care or he might try to end his life again.


    Jason was lost in his thoughts, the face of the boy with glasses who looked so much like the crown prince haunted his thoughts. Not just his face but even his name and smile on his face was the same as the prince, which meant that he was used to create the image of the crown prince and he knew the author of the book.


    He had seen that very smile on someone else too. He closed his eyes and tried to point where he had seen that smile. He ran the face of the boy with all the people he knew in his life. He eyes shot open when he matched it with the waiter.


    The smile was a perfect match when ran against his, he too was called Davy. If the man had longer hair than the shoulder length one, he had. If he wore glasses, then he would look just like his Davy.


    From the way the boy spoke and the way he acted, it was always so strange. And he knew the author was male before he figured the truth out, he couldn''t help but wonder if Davy was the author of the novel.


    "Goodbye Jason," he recalled hearing at the library. The voice was distant but he still heard it. when he had woken up he was alone and didn''t have any memory of his time there. Like someone intentionally made him forget what happened at the library.


    "Are you okay?" Davion asked. he looked up to Amaru. The ice prince shook his head; he too didn''t know why the man wasn''t responding. "Nedryn, talk to me," Davion added.


    Jason bit his lower lip thinking back on the time that he had met the waiter. When their eyes locked for the first time, he was so lost in his thoughts to see anything out of the ordinary but now that he calmly looked back to the situation, he noticed something.


    He noticed the spark in the younger male''s eyes when he saw him, if he wasn''t wrong, it was the same look that he had in his eyes whenever he thought of the crown prince. It was love.


    He sat up on the bench, the connection to the painting and the way he reacted to it made sense. The talk with Davy where the man claimed that he was in love with the author and wasn''t just a fan finally made sense. It also made sense how the author always reacted and made posts after he argued with Davy.


    He realized that the man he went out to look for was right before him all along and he was too blind to see. He was playing the game but failed to notice the major payer even when all the clues were right by his face.


    He felt so stupid, the magic room that he walked into, he now realized it could have been. And he being the fool that he was could have brushed it off too soon as a dream without even checking.


    "What is wrong with him," Amaru inquired, he was beyond worried about the man. The way he was acting was strange as though he had lost himself in the lake. He had gone insane.


    "How should I know that?" Davion let out. His friend was strange, they had been together since the prince woke and everything he knew about the man''s condition was the same with what he knew and yet he asked such a question.


    "What do we do then?" Amaru asked receiving a glare from the crown prince. "What I haven''t dealt with a depressed person before," he admitted.


    He wanted to help but finding himself in a new situation made it hard for him to help Jason. He had no idea where to begin, he had never had to deal with anyone suicide before.


    "We should just be here for him and be patient. When he is ready to talk about it, we should be ready to listen," Winrus uttered calmly.


    Amaru and Davion listened to him, they were both princes they knew not the first thing about taking care of people as they spent most of their lives being taken care of. They laid back facing the sky waiting for Jason to open up and talk to them about his problems.


    Jason massaged his head, everything he was processing in his head was too much. He had no idea that the author of the book was in love with him. Alperx had an unrequited love on his, it was too much to take on even for himself. The man had it all but had a crush on him.


    Maybe being brought into the book was the author''s way of experiencing love with him without having to confess that he liked him. He felt so happy, of all the fans Davy had it was him, the man fell in love with.


    His lips curled up into a smile, learning that someone he idolized, someone so famous loved him brought him joy. If only the man had told him sooner, he wouldn''t have had such a headache trying to find out what connection they shared.


    "You could have just been honest with me," he spoke out. "I wouldn''t have hated you for it."


    Davy read Jason''s thoughts and almost threw up. He was speechless by the man''s way of thinking. It was stupid that the man even thought that he, ha an unrequited love.


    He felt like throwing the pad harshly to the ground, the fool was really something, he felt like picking up his pen and create a lightning storm to interrupt his stupid thoughts. "You wouldn''t have hated me my foot," he harshly uttered.


    He was infuriated by the man. He wasn''t a lost puppy beginning for his love that he had to put it out that way. They had a relationship for crying out loud and the idiot was acting as though that part of their life never happened.


    "Goes to show how much you meant to him," Zillon uttered from his seat.

 Chapter 70 - I Bent The Author

    "I bent the male lead," Jason let out shocked. "Not just him, I also bent the author of the book," he said proudly.


    He stood before the mirror checking out his looks. He was a devilish handsome man, for him to win the hearts of such great people.


    He felt like giving autographs. He felt on top of the world, imagine the best person in the world and then learn that they liked you. And have silently been holding in their feelings.


    There was a lot of reasons he could think of that would force the author to hide the way he felt. He could have feared getting rejected. Or he was shy to let out what he was feeling.


    Before entering the novel, he was not even sure he could ever see men in the light that he saw them in now. So that too could have forced the man to press his feelings deep down into his heart.


    He figured the author must have gotten her there to check if he was attracted to men at all. To see of the two of them could have a future together.


    It was parts of him that made him happy. Having someone write a novel just for him. To have the person that he idolized have major crush on him, so bad that the man would be forced to attempt to write a bl.


    All just so that he could experience love with him. Since this was for his author and all the fans out there. He swore to do his best to get a happy ending for his and Davion''s love story.


    He checked out his looks, satisfied with how he looked. He had not noticed before how good looking he was, now that he did it was only fair that he took care of himself.


    Like the crown prince does. He could take longer baths and relax a lot, to keep hid glow there. He smiled at how smart he was to have come up with ways to remain handsome.


    When he gets out of the book. Then he wants everyone to look at him and not be able to turn away. "Wait, but this is Nedryn''s body," he thought out loud.


    What was the point of taking care of a body that wasn''t his to keep. When he gets out of thr book. Then he would have his old face.


    Thinking this, his mood went down a lot. His smile vanished from his lips. In real life Davy would get to see his normal face. It was disappointing.


    "He has officially lost it," Amaru uttered from the bed. The things that Jason did and said made no sense at all. And the rate at which the man changed his mind would put a chameleon to shame.


    Davidson couldn''t defend the prince. Even he felt that Jason had done crazy, the male was acting very strange. And he thought that he didn''t know how to handle depressed people, the depressed train had left the station long ago.


    They had reached crazy town and this was even more weird that the depressed he was in. Suddenly out of nowhere the man was obsessed with his look and was smiling ear to ear.


    And the next he seemed heartbroken and lonely. Watching him was more tiring that actual work. He was exhausted, his eyes were screaming to let him sleep. But he feared that if he gave in to the sleep then he might wake up to the man six feet under the lake again.


    "What is he thinking now?" Winrus asked. He was trying hard to understand Jason but it was getting harder by the minute.


    It felt good to be thr smart one in the group but after three conclusions. He too had ran out of ideas of how they should handle Jason.


    He even forgot his status out of exhaustion and slept on the bed with the two princes. They watched Jason keenly while the person of interest was busy thinking about how to go about his new problem.


    "Wait," he shouted getting up from his seat. Winrus, Amaru and Davion jumped at his sudden disturbance. "He loved me for the real me. Not for being the prince. What difference does it make, he would still like me regardless," he said out loud.


    Amaru was held back by Winrus and Davion. The male almost gave him a heart attack with his shout. He was ready to strangle the man to death. Why wait for him to kill himself when he could do it and spare them the torture of worrying.


    "Let me go," he demanded.


    Jason raised his head, he was stunned, the ice prince seemed furious. He furrowed his eyebrows. He hadn''t done anything wrong so why would the man be enraged with him.


    "I want to kill him, let me at him," he ordered.


    Jason backed away. ''Is he still upset that I threw the ring at Davion?'' He asked in his mind and dashed out of the room.


    Whatever the reasons was, he wasn''t going to stand by and wait for death. Winrus and Davion let go of Amaru to ran after Jason. Amaru wasn''t left behind, all of them ran side by side chasing Jason.


    ''Why are they all chasing me?'' Jason questioned seeing how fast Amaru, Davion and Winrus we''re running after him.


    He stopped for a moment and went down on one knee. He placed his hands on the ground and the ground started moving. "That should slow them down," he uttered and kept moving.


    Amaru let out his ice and formed sharp edges with them, Davion summoned fire in his fist and threw it at the plants that Jason had planted in the middle of the corridor.


    Amaru cut the remaining ones before they reached them. "Dang it!" Jason screamed seeing as his plants didn''t do what they were intended to do.


    His eyes turned green as he summoned dangerous mammal eating plants. He figured that they wanted to get a piece of him from the way he acted. He wasn''t going down without a fight.


    "Winrus," Amaru pulled the male into his arms before one of the plants took a bite at him. He froze the plant into ice and Davion broke it apart.


    "He has lost his senses," Davion uttered.


    He stopped chasing Jason seeing how startled Winrus was. He almost became a meal to those dangerous plants.


    "Looks like he had been hiding his true potential all along," Amaru spoke out. He was beginning to believe the rumors of the prince from Xeris.


    "I have known that for a long time," Davion stated. He had heard from his father what the prince was like, he would go to any lengths to get what he wants.


    If it comes to it then he could even cause himself pain if it means that he gets even with his enemies. It was how he was, he didn''t know how to love himself so his father warned him that Nedryn might never be able to truly love him.


    He was worried about Nedryn since the man was his responsibility but he wasn''t going to get sucked into the man''s crazy world.


    The soldiers of the palace arrived and killed the plants and destroyed any evidence of them ever being there and left as they came.


    Davion ushered Amaru inside the room. He went to get a glass of water for Winrus. The man was shaken from almost being eaten.


    "You stand against all my women and stop them from coming to me. How can you get scared from a simple plant?" Amaru teased. The crown Prince handed Winrus the water to drink.


    "Was it an ordinary plant?" Winrus question angrily. It wasn''t that he wasn''t brave but women and those plants are different. "You can''t compare the two situations," he said.


    "You can," Davion stated siding with Amaru. "Women are actually more dangerous than those plants. So how come?" He asked feigning a serious face.


    Winrus drank the water and threw the cup angrily at the crown prince. Davion easily caught it and smirked. "How cute, my baby is venting his love out on me," he teased.


    Winrus glared at him. He stood up with his hands clenched into a fist getting ready to go to war.


    "Such intense look. Davy, how do you resist falling in love with him," Amaru spoke.


    Winrus bit his lip and pouted. He could have died and the two shameless men were turning his near death experience into a teasing moment.


    "What do I tell you Amaru. I can''t deny the urge to kiss him when he gets like that," Davion let out and blew a kiss to him.


    Winrus marched forward in anger to hit him. He had finally crossed all possible bearable limits. He rushed to hit him, Davion ducked causing him to lose balance and fall.


    He landed right on top of Amaru. "He is the one you want then what is this?" Amaru asked him.


    Winrus looked up in anger and froze.

 Chapter 71 - Go Dason

    The royal family of Aphidia we''re gathered in the family room. It was the crown prince''s birthday and arrangements were being made to celebrate this special.


    The King wanted to make the day very special for his son. Davion was growing a year older, it worth throwing the biggest party of the season.


    It was going to be a surprise, so the king had taken the help of Amaru, Jason and Winrus to keep the crown prince away from the palace until the dusk when the party was set to begin.


    As the preparations were going on. Amaru arranged for them to go to the market to see to mingle with the commoners as they kept the crown prince busy.


    Sashina and Amberly invited themselves and joined the group on their trip to the market. They all got dressed in common clothes to fit, the crown prince hid his hair behind a hood.


    "A taste of fresh air," Amaru let out to kill the silent around them.


    "The air or the ladies?" Winrus asked him. Amaru glared at him forcing him to take shelter behind Davion. He could not help but ask that, the ice prince was a shameless flirt.


    When he saw gorgeous women he became worse than the crown prince.


    "Winrus is right to ask this. Amaru, you can''t turn away from a gorgeous lady," Amberly stated. "What do you think Dav?" She inquired.


    Jason raised his gaze to her. She referred so intimately to Davion that it made him uncomfortable. He was the only person that was allowed to be so intimate with the prince.


    He didn''t like that more and more people were getting the rights to be close to him. It wasn''t right for them to get between them. No matter who they were.


    "You are right Am, he can turn away," Davion replied.


    The way that he referred to the girl made Jason a little jealous. He had been occupied thinking about the author a lot that he hadn''t noticed the distance that had grown between him and the crown prince.


    They had not even talked about the fight they had. Or made up, since he woke up. Everything was just not going on like nothing happened and Davion was growing distant with him.


    He looked at his fingers, his hands were empty. There was no ring in his finger. While the girl had a ring on her finger, she was there only for the mare purpose of giving Aphidia an heir but it felt like she was after more than just that.


    He stopped walking, he thought that Davion would notice if he wasn''t by his side but the opposite happened. Amberly closed thr distance and stood where he did and they went on with their walk.


    The four of them talked and played around, with Amaru trying to kill Winrus for constantly taking a shot at him. Davion and Amberly siding with Winrus and instigating Amaru to put more effort in catching Winrus.


    They looked so happy that they didn''t even notice that he was left behind. The reality hit him and it hit hard. While he was outside the book, he was too focused on the crown prince to notice the author right before his eyes.


    And inside the novel, he had been to caught up in his thoughts of the author to realise he was growing away from thr crown prince.


    Where he stood, he neither had the crown prince nor the author. He had divided his attention between them both and lost them both.


    He forgot that one heart can''t chase two people at the same time and win. "It is harsh right?"


    He jumped scared. He had not noticed Sashina right there by his side. He was stunned to find her standing there right next to him.


    "The crown prince seem to be going away from you," she said sadly.


    Jason had seen everything from a third point of view when he got out of the novel. He knew what her intentions with him were. She was a Sly fox that would go to any lengths to stop him from being with the crown prince.


    "We should catch up," he let out.


    He took the first step and headed out to get back to the others. The distance might be there between him and the crown prince but he was going to give up.


    He has vowed to give this relationship his all till the end and that was what he was going to do. No more distractions and no more holding back.


    No matter what he had to do, he was going to ensure that he doesn''t let anyone down. He would live the magical experience without holding back.


    "Why can''t you see the truth," Sashina asked catching up to him. She couldn''t help but be frustrated.


    The distance that she wanted was there between Jason and Davion. But she still wasn''t making any progress with the prince. Jason was always running away from her when she went close to him.


    It wasn''t fair, she went to such great lengths to keep them apart but even then Jason wasn''t giving her a chance.


    "Davion has grown out of love for you," she said. Davion stopped in his tracks hearing what she said, he didn''t turn around or give a response. "Why can''t you see the truth for yourself Nedryn?" Sashina asked.


    She had stood before Jason and blocked his path. She seriously wanted an answer from him. She needed to know what the boy was thinking. Only then will she be able to come up with a plan on how to proceed.


    "Do you still believe that he loves you?" She inquired.


    Jason thought about it, it was his fault, he was the one who took the wrong steps in trusting Sashina. He had created the distance between them by stepping back instead of pushing forwards.


    When things got tough, he had backed away instead of facing everything head on. He chose the easy way out and decided to go back home. He couldn''t blame the crown prince for getting hurt by his choice and choosing to step back to avoid getting hurt again.


    "Yes, I believe that he loves me more than he ever did," Jason responded confidently.


    He was done letting doubts in his mind. If he wanted to get what he believed was his, then he needed to stop giving the world the right to comment on his life. To shut out the opinions others had of their relationship and just follow his heart.


    "He might have taken a step back," he begun to say. "But that that just means that I need to take two steps forward," he added.


    Davion smiled for a brief moment. "You can''t catch such a small man. Amaru, you are letting me down," he commented masking the reason for his smile.


    Jason moved around Sashina and joined them. Today was the day that Davion was born. It had to be special, in a simple way he was determined to find a way to make it memorable.


    "I will catch this naughty boy," Amaru let out. Winrus ducked behind Jason running away from the ice prince.


    Looking at things there, Jason felt happy, they were royals but they behaved like commoners. Never afraid to let loose and having some fun.


    "Can you catch me?" He raised the question to Davion.


    "In a blink of an eyes," Davion replied and grabbed his hand. "See," he raised his eyebrow and said.


    "That''s cheating I had not started running yet," Jason complain.


    "I caught you and that is what matters. Now it''s your turn," Davion let out. He let go of Jason and dashed out.


    Jason was happy, moments like this really made him feel like he was one of them. The crown prince was running with the wind on his hair and leaving dust in his trail.


    It was like a dream coming alive. "Since we are playing this game, you have yo catch all of us," Amaru uttered and followed the prince.


    "That''s not fair," Jason shouted and ran after them. "Wait for us," Amberly shouted and went running after them with Winrus.


    The one left behind was Sashina, she couldn''t believe her eyes. All her efforts gone down the drain in just a blink of an eye.


    What was the point of doing all that she did if all it took was one word for them to start talking again. Davion didn''t even hesitate to he nice to Jason when he spoke to him.


    She was dependent of the crown prince''s ego to ensure they never spoke again. After Jason had thrown the ring at his face, she didn''t think that he would be so informal with him.


    She stayed rooted in place, her heart was boiling with anger. Today was supposed to be her day, where she would spend the day with Jason. Not watch him run around chasing Davion.


    "Go Dason," Jason shouted.

 Chapter 72 - I Wont Ever Let You Go

    "Who is Davon?"


    The crown prince questioned. No one among them was called by that name. He was curious if the man made a mistake in calling his name, since Jason has been going through something of late. He was concerned.


    "Dason is us," Jason replied. "Davion and Jason merged together becomes Dason," he explained.


    "Awww," Amaru and Winrus let out. It was cute and romantic for Jason to have taken the initiative to merge his and the prince''s names together.


    Davion smiled, it was a strange thing to do but he wasn''t against it. He was delighted by the idea of having a name that refers to both of them in one call.


    "It''s nice," Amberly said. She smiled and cheered for the name but had her hands behind her back folded into a fist. "It''s perfect for the baby," she added.


    Davion frowned when he was reminded of the baby. His hand tightened around the ring inside his pocket. He was reminded of how Jason threw the engagement ring at him and everything that took place after.


    "We should move on," he said. His mood had been ruined.


    For a moment, he forgot the side of Jason that terrified him. Sides that we''re selfish and self centered. It was a side of him that he didn''t like at all.


    Amberly smiled at the success of her words. She complimented Jason and showed him support while breaking down the idea of Dason.


    As far as she was concerned, Dason was just a dream that would forever remain just that. Without raising any suspicion on herself, she broke the little bridge that had formed between Jason and Nedryn.


    Davion stopped in his tracks and turned around. Out of excitement, he had overlooked something very important that clicked in his mind.


    "Who is Jason?" He inquired from the male.


    When he asked the question everyone was made aware of the fact that prince Nedryn had merged Davion''s name with a stranger.


    Jason lowered his head, he internally scolded himself. Out of excitement he had accidentally mentioned his name together with the crown prince.


    He forgot that in the novel, he had to be prince Nedryn. Jason pressed his lips together trying to think of what explanations he was going to give as to why he said Jason instead of Nedryn.


    "Maybe he wishes you a companion by the name Jason," Amberly uttered.


    "Oh."


    Was all that Davion had to say. He strode away without looking back. ''Good luck getting the prince back now,'' Amberly thought.


    She followed the crown prince happily hoping around. It was a happy day with the sun shinning brightly yet she was slowly creating a storm without anyone''s knowledge.


    Amaru and Winrus took Jason with them and they walked behind the crown prince. They chatted on the way about everything and anything.


    Along the way everyone forgot what had happened in the past and we''re moving on like close friends. All except for one person. Who had the memories of the time haunting him such that he could neither forget nor forgive.


    "Why do you look down?" Jason asked Davion.


    "I was wondering," the male responded.


    "About?"


    "Why it is so easy for you to take a step away from me," he uttered. "Is it because, I am easy to walk away from or because you don''t like me enough to hold on?"


    Jason glanced at him, he was rendered speechless by his statement. To say that he didn''t expect the crown prince to have such thoughts would be a lie.


    His actions warrant such a reaction. And he understood where the doubts were coming from. Only a heart to heart conversation could clear the doubts that the distance between them had created.


    "It could be fear," Jason whispered to him. "Trying something new in life always comes with fear of failure or getting hurt," he added.


    Jason waited patiently, when the others were busy looking at the things at the shop, he pulled Davion and left. The topic the crown prince brought up was one that required them to talk in private.


    It was hard to express his heart in the middle of the crowd. The feelings that he was getting from the situation was the need to be alone together.


    "Where are you taking me Nedryn?" Davion was confused. He was promised dragon eggs but the prince of Xeris was pulling him away from the shop that sold them.


    "Relax, we just need a little detour," Jason let out.


    He pulled the male away from thr busy markets to the small woods to the back. It provided the mood that he needed for the talk.


    He walked forward, the crown prince''s strength pulled him to a stop from moving forward. Jason looked back surprised by the resistance. He glanced at the crown prince only to be greeted by a mortified sight of the man.


    He followed the trail of the male''s sight and saw a hunter with his dog headed in their direction. "The author Alperx, hates dogs and would never include them in his novel," he recalled the mechanical voice from the weird experience he had behind the magical door.


    The crown prince was the novel version of the author out in the real world. So he figured that the man was afraid of the dog.


    "It''s alright. The dog is harmless," he comforted.


    Davion held his hand tightly. His feet were rooted to the ground, he couldn''t find the strength to move forward or aside as fear ran through his body from head to toe.


    This is why he disliked public places, one could ran into absolutely anything in such places. He was forced to ran into a dog of all things today of all days.


    "Trust me, we should just keep moving," Jason said and tried to pull the crown prince away.


    Davion was stuck. His eyes couldn''t draw away from the dog and his body was unable to get away.


    Jason went deep in though before an idea hit him. If he couldn''t get the prince to move away from the dog then he would simply make the man forget about the dog''s presence.


    He moved and blocked Davion''s sight of the dog. Jason encircled his hands around Davion''s neck, he caught Davion''s eyes. Under his hands, he could feel how scared the man was.


    "Now that I have you, I won''t ever let you go," he expressed.


    It wasn''t the environment he had hoped for, but it was better than nothing. He decided that it was the perfect time to disperse the prince''s doubts on his love. And it helps him hit two birds with one stone.


    "Now that I have you I have only one wish. Won''t you stay a little longer with me," he proffesed wholeheartedly.


    Davion''s mind let go of the thoughts of the dog and concentrated on what Jason had to say. He had to admit that at the beginning of the day, he wasn''t hopeful that something good would come out of going out.


    The situation proved his expectations wrong. Mustakes we''re common between people and it took someone really brave to take a first step to make up for a mistake.


    When he heard the boy tell Sashina that he would take two steps forward towards him. He had not anticipated that Jason would live up to it. But the male proved him wrong.


    "Don''t ever let me go, I will be able to exist without you but won''t be able to live," he admitted.


    Davion felt his anger melting away. Jason told him what he needed to heat to clear the misunderstandings in his mind. To be honest, he too felt the same way.


    Without the annoying prince of Xeris, everything around him lost its shine. He was stepping forward but not moving at all. He was smiling but only to hide his tears so he didn''t have to explain to anyone why he was sad.


    It was easier to fake a smile than it was to explain the unspoken words that came out of him through tears.


    "Why say one thing and do the other. Why say you love me and act as though I mean nothing to you?" He questioned.


    He was happy with the confession he got. But if he was going to give his all to Jason then he needed to know everything. To be sure that when things got hard, he won''t be the only one left to hold on.


    The man had scared his heart, giving it a freight of a lifetime when he jumped into the lake. He was lucky this time but if there was ever going to be the next time then he wasn''t sure his heart could handle that.


    If he lost Jason to an irreversible thing such as death then he would never be able to bear it.. "Why say that you will never let me go when you didn''t hesitate to jump down the lake?" He inquired.

 Chapter 73 - Like A Woman In Heat

    A red shadow hovered over the two lovers. Jason was busy thinking of the best way to answer Davion, he looked up trying to construct his words carefully.


    "Why does that thing only ever follows us," he asked noting the red shadow again.


    "What?" Davion followed his line of sight and saw the red shadow, the demon had never been sighted so close to the heart of Aphidia before.


    The theory in his mind was proving right. Everytime he found himself close with the prince of Xeris alone. The demon from the Seam always sort them out.


    "Did you break it''s heart too? Is that why it seeks you out always?" Davion inquired from him.


    Jason''s eyes widen with shock. The crown was the first relationship in his life as far as he was aware. So how could he have broken the heart of a creature he had never met before.


    "Why do you always associate it with me?" He asked offended.


    The crown prince was the king of pointing figures. The creature could be after him too but no, only he was with fault. He was certain that if the male knew about global warming, he would find a way to make it his fault.


    "It only ever shows up when I am with you," Davion explain the reason behind him thinking as he did.


    "Well, I only ever see it when I am with you. So should I assume you broke its heart?" Jason fired back.


    Davion grabbed Jason''s hand and pulled him towards the woods. To get away from the shadow''s sight. "For your information, unlike you I don''t go around breaking hearts," He uttered.


    Jason almost choked after listening to him. He was tempted to remind the man of why he was wearing a good in public. All the hearts of Aphidia was captivated with him. Even straight men wouldn''t mind getting bent for him and there he was throwing his mouth around.


    He breaks hearts every second of the day and acts oblivious to it. "I can''t argue with you," he let out.


    Davion grabbed his hand and held him by the tree. Surprisingly the red shadow was moving in the trees. It was the first time he witnessed it leave the sky. It was as though it was searching for something and not intending to attack.


    "What do you think it wants. Does it even have a mind or does it just move around looking for helpless souls to attack?" Jason asked looking at the red shadow over the prince''s shoulder.


    "Should I get it''s attention so you can ask it?" Davion inquired of him.


    "I will punch your beautiful face if you dare," he let out.


    Davion went quiet, it was the third time that the prince called him beautiful. He was a man and the future king for that matter, it was offensive to be called beautiful like a woman.


    "Do you still see me as a woman?" He turned his full attention to Jason. There had to be a reason why the male called him beautiful instead of handsome and he needed to know why.


    "Where is that coming from?" Jason folded his hands in his chest feeling attacked.


    He was well aware that he was a man. Yet the crown prince came at him so suddenly that it didn''t make sense to him.


    "You keep calling me beautiful, what is that about?" He asked matching Jason''s stance. Davion mirrored the way Jason stood and asked.


    "What should I say. If you are beautiful I will say as it is," Jason let out unapologetically.


    "I am not beautiful, I am handsome," Davion informed of him.


    "That is where you are wrong," Jason began to say. "Handsome looks like me and beautiful looks like you," he explained.


    Davion inched closer to him, his look darkening. From that statement the man was intending to say that he looked more like a girl. The first time he said that it was cute but in that moment it felt like a shot against his ego.


    "Meaning?" He asked in a low icy cold voice.


    Jason gulped. The crown Prince was getting so serious over such a small thing. He gave the man a compliment on his looks and instead of a thank you. Davion was threatening to start world war three inside the novel with him.


    "What is your problem?" Jason asked him. "Shouldn''t you be happy with a compliment?"


    Davion scoffed. That was far from a compliment, he was a man and to be referred to as a woman was insulting.


    "If you hate being called beautiful then cut your hair," Jason let out feeling cornered with the crown prince''s stare.


    Davion''s eyes shifted from cold to threateningly dangerous. Coming from the man who once put him through the torture of having short hair, he found that statement highly provoking.


    Jason realized the wrong use of words when the temperature around them suddenly went below the sea level. A crown prince without long hair was a Prince he wouldn''t want to be around either.


    Just the though of that side of the prince gave him goosebumps. He was nearly led to his death for it, the Seam. Till that day he had only heard about it but he almost found out what it was like to see it closely after he cut the crown prince''s hair.


    He got to know that the crown prince was also called death for some reason. And was a dangerous debt collector, after making such a suggestion he came face to face with that side of the prince.


    "Why don''t you cut it short then," Davion challenged to him.


    Jason let out a nervous laugh to ease his discomfort. The male was highly unreasonable and it was scaring him. He didn''t want to fight, at the moment he could fight back.


    The last time he raised his hand and attacked the prince, distance was created between them. He wished to make amends not to push the man further away from him.


    "Okay, I accept it. You are handsome and not beautiful," he spoke out waving the white flag of surrender.


    "Why lie, if something is beautiful then you should say it as it is."


    They both turned their head and right before their eyes was the red shadow. It had gathered and was quite huge.


    The two of them had gotten caught up in their fight that they forgot that they were trying to hide. Jason moved behind the prince and hid behind him. The male was the reason they got caught so if someone was dying first it had to be him.


    Maybe that would teach him not to turn a simple thing into a big fight when they were running for their lives.


    "The shadow can talk?" Davion subconsciously let out.


    The day was full of surprises. He was seeing a lot of firsts, things he never thought were possible were taking place right before his eyes.


    "Of course I can talk, what kind of ridiculous question is that?" The shadow inquired of him.


    Davion shook his head, he was going to lose his mind before he turns a year older. It was his birthday and to he honest, he had never had a weirder birthday than that.


    To be fair, the other years. He was not in love with a crazy prince. Wasn''t expecting a child off his childhood friend, didn''t have a villainess haunting his days. Didn''t have a crazy hair that seemed alive, his friend wasn''t engaged and his grandmother was not around.


    All the crazy things came into his life after falling in love. It made him understood why it was called falling in love, one really fell after and during the love.


    "Are you serious?" Jason asked him. Davion blinked getting out of his dazed state. "Death is starting us in the face and you have time to get lost in your thoughts?"


    "You are right. Death is staring us in the face but why are you behind me?" The crown prince question. He grabbed Jason by the shoulder and pulled the man before him. "Since you consider me to be a woman in our relationship, shouldn''t you shield me?" He asked.


    Jason was filled with disbelief, he was sure the shadow was too. The crown prince was being a big drama queen at the moment.


    "You sound like a woman in heat," Jason stated.


    Davion''s jaw dropped. He was frustrated to the moon and back, "I hope you think so because I don''t intend to be anything else. Good luck with the shadow," the prince said and sat himself comfortably on the ground.


    Jason closed his eyes frustration. Of all the times for the man to get angry and throw a tantrum, could it be when they were not fighting for their lives.


    "Will you get up?"


    Davion shook his head, since he was called a woman. He would behave like one and not move an inch.


    "I just came here to deliver a birthday gift for the birthday boy," a box appeared from the shadow.. "From Aricus," the shadow added and dropped the box in Davion''s lap before leaving.

 Chapter 74 - Birthday Gift

    The shock of the outcome of the situation was written in both their faces. The shadow that terrified the world sort the crown prince out to deliver a present.


    Davion was way too astounded to open the gift. Aricus was a name he wasn''t expecting to hear again. It was supposed to be a forgotten memory.


    Jason was speechless, either he had lost his mind or the author hated him. The man had not set him to war but brought him back to the novel in the heart of the battle field.


    He had enemies from each side of his life, he had Sashina one end who was hellbound on having him. There was Amberly who was two faced and was master at playing around with words.


    Then there was the royal grandmother with whom Sashina had created a bad image of his love. She was set on getting him away from Davion and was supporting Amberly to win.


    And now Aricus was coming to the picture. Each of this characters had one thing in common, they didn''t want the two of them to be together.


    Jason couldn''t put his finger on it but even was sure that so many villains so early in the book wasn''t a good sign for the protagonist and being the main character his life was in danger.


    He was certain the author was taking revenge on him for some reason. But he couldn''t find a reason why the man would want to ruin him before the book even reached its climax.


    "Open it," he insisted.


    His curiosity was piqued. He needed to know what gift his major love rival had gotten for the crown prince.


    "Okay."


    Davion opened the box. The only thing inside the box was a note. He picked up the note and read from it. "To my better half and soulmate, the only gift I can grant you is me," he read with a frown.


    The words on the note started dancing around on the paper. Davion dropped the paper on the ground feeling it getting hotter.


    A black mist oozed out from the paper and formed a man right before their eyes. Jason was impressed. "Awesome," he let out.


    Davion was far from impressed, it was another headache that had walked into his life. The day just kept getting worse and worse.


    All hopes that he had of celebrating the day and turning another year in peace flew off the window.


    "Miss me," Aricus whispered in a deep low voice.


    Jason glanced at him from head to do. The painting at the cafe did no justice to the man. The male was way more handsome that the painting made him out to be. Hus physique was amazing and hus grasp on magic was outstanding.


    From what he had read in the book, the man was responsible for the Seam. He freed the demons from the underworld to cause chaos to the world as a way to convince the gods to give him his beloved back.


    For Davion, the man fought for over a thousand years just to be with him once more. All that was not something that could go away easily.


    He was a savior, no chains could hold him for long and their was no line he wasn''t willing to cross to get what he wanted and if he could do all that he did to the gods. Jason couldn''t help but wonder what would become of him now that the man had come.


    Aricus knew how to get the gods to do his bidding, he had the demons under his control and was not afraid to spill blood to prove his point.


    He would rip any place apart and make it rain blood if it pleased his cause, the only thing that mattered to him was his love for Davion.


    Being the hero of the book, Jason was certain it fell on his shoulders to defeat Aricus and send him away. But how where to you send a man who came from hell can''t be accepted by the heavens.


    "Not even a greeting?" Aricus asked.


    Davion got up and walked away, he needed a minute to process what just happened.


    "I am not so bad that you need to run away when you see me," Aricus spoke out at his disappearing back.


    The crown prince didn''t even look back. He dashed off into the woods, nothing could make that day more unpleasant.


    Jason was left with the villain of his love story. Face to face with the man was different from reading about him in the novel.


    It was truly not the best day for him.


    "I''m prince Nedryn," he introduced himself.


    "Oh, the person I need to grind down and break. Pleasure," Aricus let out taking his hand.


    He squeezed Jason''s hand to a point that it hurt. His eyes were soft and his lips wore a kind and friendly smile but his actions proved anything but friendly.


    "That hurts," Jason pointed out.


    "This," Aricus asked increasing the force on his hand. "I haven''t done anything and you are already feeling pain. Imagine when I actually come for you," the man challenged.


    "I am not afraid of you," Jason quoted. It was far from the truth, his heart pounded against his chest in fear. He was face to face with a monster and with no way to escape.


    "You will be," Aricus spoke out. "I will make tremble in fear at the mention of my name. You will break so bad that you won''t ever look at what''s mine ever again," he added.


    "Davion is mine," Jason shouted at him. "I will kill you if you dare go near him."


    "And when did I say I will after him. All I did was congratulate you on your engagement," Aricus let out his voice softening. "I missed my chance and wish you to be happy, so why are you threatening me?" He inquired.


    Jason was tongue tied. The man was the one who was threatening him. He was just fighting back and defending his territory, he wasn''t the villain.


    "Is this how you welcome the guest of the throne to Aphidia," Aricus turned his head to the side. Jason followed his line of sight and found the crown prince with the others behind him standing there. "I greeted your fiancee and he starts throwing threats," he added.


    Aricus reached his hand into his pocket and took out an envelope. He waved it in the air for Davion to take it. Amaru stepped forward and took the envelope from him.


    His curiosity was piqued by the scene that he walked in on. He wanted badly to know who the hunky new guy was and why Jason was at his neck. When they arrived they heard Jason threaten him while his reaction was confusion.


    "I can''t believe it," he uttered.


    He handed the invitation card to Davion to take a look. The crown Prince read it and was shocked beyond words.


    Jason strode forward and glanced at the content of the card, his eyes went wide with shock. It was a letter from the crown inviting Aricus for the party, the king himself wrote that he owed the man a debt and he is to he denied nothing in Aphidia.


    "All I wanted while I stay here was to celebrate your birthday," Aricus began to say. "But after the rude way your fiancee has treated me, I think I will ask for you instead," he added.


    Jason cursed his luck. The author was definitely out to get him, he couldn''t think of any reason why Aricus would walk into his life with a golden card to be with Davion if not for revenge.


    Alperx aka Davy definitely had something against him and was getting even with him. How was he supposed to develop his relationship with Davion when so many obstacles were thrown at him at the same time.


    "This just gets better and better," Amaru uttered.


    Davion was pale, he had not anticipated such a move from the mysterious man. At the least he expected the man to use the night they shared to blackmail him but was proved wrong.


    The man came into life with everything he needed to get what he wanted. "Don''t look at me like that, I am doing you a favor," Aricus said. "We can continue from where we left off that night," he added.


    Davion gritted his teeth, it was times such as these that he wished that he wasn''t a prince. Just when he thought things couldn''t get any worse, the universe proved him wrong and made things much worse.


    "What debt does the king even owe you?" Jason asked. He was certain the male gad no explanation. He had done nothing for Aphidia, the author just needed an excuse to introduce him into the novel early.


    "I saved Aphidia from the monsters of the Seam," Aricus uttered.


    Jason''s jaw dropped. The man who created the problem was calling himself the hero.. He felt a splitting headache coming on.

 Chapter 75 - I Got You

    The crown prince Davion Draleon Blakemore wondered off into the woods. He strolled side by side with Aricus, to make things clear and prevent any problems in the future.


    He thought it best to declare where he stood with the man from the word go. He wouldn''t give him false hopes when his heart belonged to someone else.


    The night they shared was but a mistake, he regretted it and didn''t wish to drag the matter further than it had to be. He was in love with Jason and that wouldn''t change for a long time.


    "You look happier," Aricus began to speak when Davion was still contemplating what to say. "I knew that when you returned to me, I might not be in your heart," he added.


    Davion halted. Aricus spoke with pain in his eyes and voice. His words were as though their encounter stretched far beyond the night they spend together under the moonlight.


    "I had hope that you would love me as much as I love you but I see that it can not be," he spoke out. "I was yours as you were mine but that was another time and life."


    Davion opened his lips to speak but he couldn''t form any words to say to him. The male made no sense, when had they met and when was he his? This questions troubled the prince''s mind.


    "You found someone new and gave your heart away. I won''t force my love on you," he uttered in a pained voice. "But darling, if he breaks your heart. In the way that all lovers do, know that I will always be here waiting for you," he added.


    Davion was stunned. The one night stand man was turning out to be more sensible and romantic than he gad thought him to be. The man understood what he wanted to say before he could say it and took a step back not to inconvenience him.


    He flashed Aricus an apologetic smile. Had it not been for Jason being in his life then he wouldn''t have minded loving such a man, someone who understood his heart and thought of him before themselves.


    "More than that, I will break him apart," he threatened.


    Davion laughed. It would be nice to see that, perhaps when his life is threatened. Jason might learn to value his life and not think to throw it away so easily the way that he did before.


    "Can I have a hug before I leave?" Aricus requested softly.


    Davion saw no harm in giving him a hug. One hardly could control who they fell in love with, but to find someone who respect the boundaries of the one they love was rare.


    Aricus didn''t give him the feeling that he expected his love in return. Or demand that he acknowledges how he feels, he simply expressed his love and left it at that.


    "I will miss you my mirror prince," Aricus whispered in his ear.


    Davion felt a sense of familiarity when he was in Aricus''s arms. But he didn''t read too much into it, he broke the hug and moved away from Aricus.


    "Why do you call me that?"


    "One day when you look in the mirror. You will find the answer," Aricus said. "Goodbye, for now," he added and vanished.


    Davion stood rooted on the ground long after Aricus had left. He had no idea why he felt saddened by the goodbye. He hardly knew the man but seeing him leave like that left him confused.


    Was it his words of understanding. Or the fact that for the first time he was given a choice. He had been confused about his heart and was sure that he loved Jason. He had pulled Aricus aside to tell him just that. So why was he hurt to see Aricus gone?


    He consoled himself that the goodbye wasn''t forever but even that didn''t cheer him up. He folded the note in his hand and held it tightly.


    The more the day stretched on, the wider the situation he found himself in. He stared at the place that Aricus stood holding on to the short memory of him standing there.


    "Happy birthday once more, my dear," a whisper carried with the winds reached his ears.


    ******


    "What the hell?"


    Davy placed his pen down and glared at his partner. That scene was not what he was promised and it enraged him.


    "Relax Davy. Let things pl..."


    "You promised me a great plot twist. You promised me that when Aricus comes into the picture, he will give Jason a ran for his money," he uttered in one breath. "But instead, you made him leave," he added fuming.


    Zillon set his pen down and walked away from the magic room. His calm and composed attitude went to annoy Davy even more.


    "Where do you think you are going? Tell me why did you cave?" Davy demanded stopping Zillon in his tracks.


    He had anticipated to see tears in that scene. He expected Jason to lose not for him to emerge victorious and for Aricus to cower and ran away.


    Next thing would be Jason escorting the crown prince to the birthday ball instead of Aricus. Which was far from what he wanted to read about or write about.


    "Why are you so angry?" Zillon inquired from him.


    "Just tell me why you couldnt go through with your promise. Why let Jason win?"


    "Jason lost today. If you weren''t so angry then you would have seen it," Zillon responded.


    Davy rolled his eyes, he got angry after what he saw not before. He was right there while the scene was being uploaded for the world to see what a cowered Aricus was.


    He was supposed to be Jason''s love rival but he was letting Jason win without putting up a fight and that was truly sad. If he would have known that Zillon would ruin the scene then he would have wrote it himself.


    "Why don''t you tell me how Aricus won. He clearly admitted that he won''t go after the prince," he stated in rage. He wondered what part of that wasn''t in Jason''s favour.


    "For one, Davion''s misunderstanding cleared. Two, the choice for was left up to him and not forced on him. Three, he was seeing love from a different perspective," Zillon said.


    Davy roughly pulled at his shirt, his piercing gaze cutting through Zillon like sharp razor blades. His reasoning was not good enough for he had done, he had everything in his hand and he could have shattered Jason''s heart to pieces but he chose not to do it.


    "Do you like Jason. In his time here, maybe he grew on you?" Davy inquired in disbelief. "And I was of the opinion that you cared for me. That you loved me," he added letting him go.


    "Why make me interested in getting even when you aren''t even up to it?"


    Zillon grabbed Davy''s hand and twirled him around. He pulled Davy into a hug and patted his back. He had not broken his promise, the boy simply misunderstood his intentions and plans.


    He had every intention of keeping his word. But in a way that neither seemed unfair to both parties. "If I hurt him the way you wanted, it would have hurt you," he spoke.


    Davy pressed his lips together. The reality of his friend''s words hit home.


    "You aren''t angry that I made Aricus leave. You are angry because you feel relieved that Jason wasn''t hurt," Zillon pointed out.


    The heart I like the mind was not something one could easily control. At the end of the day he too was human and he had feelings, feelings that he couldnt get rid of by just saying that he wanted to let go.


    "It takes time to forget the one you love, but that doesn''t mean you won''t," Zillok uttered.


    He broke the hug and wiped the tears in his friends eyes. He was certain that by the time the book ends, his friend would have let go of his past.


    "You don''t have to force yourself to forget him or move on. When the time comes, you will find someone new and you will be happier," he said with a warm friendly smile in his face. "But until then, I got you," he added.


    "Why is Aricus so smart?" Davy asked feeling stupid for how he reacted.


    He was like a child too quick to get angry over such small things. He just couldnt control how he felt, maybe after a while he will get better but those feelings were killing him.


    "Because he loves a very intelligent person. He has from the beginning and will do so always," Zillon replied. "Don''t ever think that I don''t care for you. How can I not when you are so needy?"


    Davy laughed at his response. It was a cocky reply that hardly suited the man. "I get you some tea," Zillon said and ran off.


    Davy was left standing there looking at the place Zillon stood, the pain from his past haunted him but Zillon was so warm that it made it fade away.. He stood frozen holding on to the short moment of warmth he felt in a long time.

 Chapter 76 - Birthday Party

    Love is a song who''s melodies plays in ones heart and soul. The feeling as magical as it feels is like a rose. Effortlessly beautiful with thorns that we''re extremely dangerous.


    In the royal palace of Aphidia the game of love had just began. With all the players eyeing their prizes and goals.  Many would stoop to any lengths to get what it is that their hearts desire.


    One gem in particular was the favourite of all players. The crown Prince of the kingdom. He was to be the future King of the kingdom, with a throne, the looks and all the wealth one could ever dream of. He was the cream crop of the kingdom.


    And yes, as the story goes. The King must always bow to his queen but ever so often he only gets such a chance when the queen stands among queens.


    Never has a king only kept one woman to his bed and hence many sort his favour. Tonight being the prince''s birthday party women and young men from all around the kingdom had come to wish him.


    Seeing as he is into men, the young men who shared such similar interest came to try their luck with the future king. It mattered not who gets to be the future queen. What mattered was with whom the prince''s favor remained.


    Jason was getting ready to attend the party. He had purchased a gift for his beloved which he hoped the man would like.  He had put a lot of thought into his gift to make it meaningful.


    With the turn out of events in the forest he could only deduce that someone was plotting against him. And the only person that came to mind was the author. Davy was the only person he had to fear while in the books, the man had the power to control what happens to him.


    But he was not going to quit. He was sure to turn the author hatred of him into love. He would make the man his biggest fan so that only good things happened in his life.


    "I have no idea how you would react to this. I hope you like it," he spoke out loud to himself. "From my heart to yours with love, Nedryn," he let out as he scribbled down the words.


    Walking out of the room, he was filled with joy seeing the beautiful decorations put in place for his love. He glanced at the moon shinning in the sky, the night was off to a good start.


    *****


    "You should put one drop of this in his tea before you serve it," the old woman handed a bottle to Amberly. "With just one drop, you will destroy the love between Davion and Nedryn."


    Amberly took the bottle from her and held it. The bottle seemed simple to the eyes, it confused her how it was the solution to her problems.


    With the children in her womb, the only thing that she lacked was control over Davion. She had already secured her place around him in such a way that no one could ever try to send her from the palace.


    But that wasn''t enough, since she was young, she had always dreamt of being the one the crown prince loved. That was before prince Nedryn came into the picture and stole everything from her.


    "He isn''t a good person, that is not why he had everything I have dreamt of. It''s because he stole what is mine and made it his," Amberly spoke out.


    She pocketed the bottle in her pocket. She was dressed to impress, in her silver white dress and her diamond jewelry, she was sure to stand out at the party.


    Everyone was getting ready to celebrate the crown prince''s birthday but she was getting ready for a different celebrations. The end of Davion''s love for anyone but her.


    "Remember that you must be in his sight after he drinks the tea," the old woman reminded. "And I take it you don''t need help in the art of seduction?"


    Amberly had a sinful smile on her face. Their was nothing she understood better than the art of getting what she wanted. Today, before the whole kingdom, she would be the only one victorious.


    It was her time now. She picked up her gift for the crown prince and stepped out of the room. As she made her way down the corridors, she ran into Jason watching the skies.


    She joined him and looked up at the moon. She could see Davion''s face on the moon. It was from her love that she would always see him everywhere she turned.


    "If you truly loved him and their was doubt on your love for him, I would have walked away," she said.


    Jason sighed, it was a great day. He had no energy to waste on any villain. Just a lot of love to shower on Davion.


    "It doesn''t matter, he won''t ever give you what he has given me. His heart," Jason uttered confidently.


    "Don''t be too confident. Such has cost many kings their thrones," Amberly said. "I can get that to him if you''d like," she offered.


    Jason looked at his gift and shook his head. He was not foolish to trust his gift to a person who was his enemy. Goodness only knew what she would give the crown prince in place of it.


    "I don''t trust you so I will give it to him myself," he let out.


    "Too bad, he would have at least opened it if I handed it to him," Amberly told. She bowed to him before she walked away.


    Jason had a bad feeling about her last words. She was walking in the direction of the crown  prince''s room which got him worried.


    He turned around to go and find Davion. With so many snakes around he was safest keeping his beloved by his side.


    "Nedryn," Sashina called grabbing hold of his hand.


    As the girl kept him there, Amberly walked into the crown prince''s room with her gift. Davidson was doing some finishing touches on his outfit when she walked into the room.


    He looked up when he heard the approaching footsteps. Seeing the person who came his smile dropped, he was expecting Jason to come and see him before the party started but so far only unwanted guests found themselves in his room.


    "Not even a greeting your highness?"


    Amberly made herself at home and welcomed herself into the room. From the disappointment look on his face it was evident that he was expecting someone else.


    "What do you want Amber?"


    "To give you your gift," she let out and handed the gift to him. Davidson threw it on the bed along with the other gifts that ladies had secretly brought for him.


    He had no idea what gave them the impression that he will like it and them if they visited him in his chambers and gave him gifts.


    "Your job here is what is growing in your womb. Don''t try to be anything more than what is required of you," Davion said coldly.


    Amberly walked behind him to the coffee table. She took out the bottle from her pocket and poured the contents in the prince''s tea.


    "Why do you put boundaries between us. There is no harm in me wanting more, right?" She asked him and brought the cup of tea to him.


    "No thanks," Davion rejected the tea. He would have drank the tea but since she touched the cup he found it unworthy of his touch.


    He didn''t look down on her, he looked down on her mind. They had planned to have a child in the future but she seized the chance of Jason jumping into the lake to fast forward things.


    "Will you never forgive me. I accept that I made a mistake," she said unapologetically.


    Davidson pushed the cup of tea away. He just wanted to be left alone, all the efforts being put to win him over was a turn off in his eyes.


    "Fine, I will leave if you drink the tea," Amberly spoke out.


    The first smart thing she said since she entered the room. Davidson took the cup from her and gulped down the contents, Amberly smiled happily watching him drink the tea.


    She congratulated herself inwardly for getting the prince to drink the tea without a hitch. When he was done, she took the cup from him and returned it to the table.


    She stood and bit her lower lip as she let her hair down. "Now tell me, do you still want me to leave?" She asked.


    She twirled around to meet the crown prince that would be only hers, she froze. The one warning she was given, she broke it carelessly and lost her golden chance. She lost the chance of being the one the prince saw first after drinking the tea.


    "I thought to come and give this to you personally. Had I gone to your father and he wouldn''t have let me leave," the man said as he stepped into the room.


    Davidson couldn''t look away.. Everything else, every memory, every thoughts and every emotions he felt before that moment faded from him.

 Chapter 77 - [Bonus Chapter] Birthday Party (2)

    Jason sighed.


    It had taken him forever to get rid of the annoying witch from his side. Sashina was very persistent. It was starting to turn into obsession and not love.


    He was getting annoyed by her, he had made it abundantly clear that he had feelings for the crown prince and wasn''t going to change his mind anytime soon.


    But the girl still chased after him, she was engaged to the ice prince and yet was still unsatisfied. Today was Davy''s day so he set the thoughts of Sashina to the back of his mind and walked into the room.


    His eyes almost jumped out of his sockets at the scene that he walked into. The same expression was in Amberly''s face, both were left stunned by the sight before them.


    "Davy," Jason cried out in shock.


    He strolled into the room and removed the crown prince from the man he was embracing.


    "What do you think that you are doing?" He asked Davy not even bothering to take note of the man he was with. He could careless if that was a king or a servant, the fact remained that Davion was crossing all his limits by hugging him.


    PAP!


    Jason held his burning cheek with his mouth parted. His eyes were flabbergasted by the nerve of the crown prince to slap him.


    "Did you just slap me?"


    PAP!


    A loud ringing in his ear as his other cheek received the same attention. Davion grimaced at the sight of him, seeing Jason made him angry and more so the fact that Jason dared to come between him and his lover.


    "Get out," Davion demanded. "Both of you need to leave my room this instant," he barked in a threatening low tone.


    Amberly jumped startled. Things had gotten far out of hand, instead of getting the crown prince for herself, she pushed him further away from her and a complete stranger took the right from her.


    And to top things off, the crown prince was very mad at her for simply trying to tell him the truth. She bit her lower lip in frustration, the old woman was going to kill her for failing.


    "Me? You are asking me to leave your room?" Jason inquired. He was still trying to process what had happened. The crown prince changed so suddenly.


    At the forest, Davion had expressed how much he loved and cherished him. The man rejected Aricus for him and promised him forever and yet only hours had passed and he seemed like a new man.


    "No, I was to your shadow," Davion let out sarcastically.


    "I will leave," Aricus said and took a step towards the door. Davion held his hand and stopped him right before he walked passed Jason.


    "This is my room. I will decide who gets to stay and who leaves," the crown prince stated coming before the two men. "If I were to choose between the two of you. It''s not a choice at all," he added.


    Jason sighed. The crown prince was simply playing a joke on him, it was a cruel joke but since it was his birthday he would let it slide.


    "Why do I need to choose between you two. Isn''t is obvious that I like you better," Davion uttered to Aricus.


    Jason felt his breath getting heavy. He had always thought that he was strong, he thought that he could fight all the enemies for his love. But how was he supposed to fight Davion himself.


    "You stay, I will throw the gabbage out," Davion said. He turned his attention to Jason, the softness in his eyes withering. He took a step forward and stood face to face with him.


    Jason looked into his eyes trying to find the man who confessed love to him some hours earlier but couldn''t sight him anywhere in the cold eyes that faced him.


    "Davy, it''s me Nedryn. You love me," he said. He grabbed hold of the crown prince''s hand and held them in his. He looked into the prince''s eyes hoping that the love flowing from his eyes would get the man off whatever spell Aricus must have put on him.


    "I know who you are. That''s why I hate you," Davion whispered to him. The crown prince took him by his hand and pulled him towards the door.


    Jason looked back at Aricus, he was the man that stole his happiness, yet there was no emotion in Aricus''s face. He didn''t look proud of what was going on, from Jason''s understanding of the man, he was always proud of his victories.


    He always wore a devilish smirk on his lips with glowing eyes when he successfully went through with his plans. Yet he wasn''t any of those things, he just stood there and watched the scene.


    Davion threw him out of the room to the ground. Jason raised his head to the prince, he watched the man drag an unwilling Amberly out of the room and throw him out to the floor beside him.


    "The next time that I catch either of you here, it will he the end of you," he challenged and locked the door.


    "That was supposed to be me. I was the one he was supposed to fight for," Amberly uttered in irritation. "I am the one who dragged him so how come I ended up outside," she kicked the door.


    She turned around and caught an angry Jason staring at him. He recalled her last words before she left his side. The crown prince wouldn''t even open his gifts if he didn''t send it with her.


    Only the prince didn''t even give him the chance because he seemed to he a different person. "What did you do to him?" Jason asked.


    Amberly found it hard to breath. Jason was boiling her blood unknowingly in his angry state, after all that he had been through, he only wished for a peaceful night to celebrate his beloved''s birthday but that too was denied him so harshly.


    "I will end you right here if you don''t answer me," he intimidated her. The girl backed away to the wall. Her heart was like a balloon ready to pop at any minute.


    She had still not gotten over the fear that Davion instilled in her and there she was faced with another scary side of Jason she had never thought existed.


    The man appeared weak and was easily pushed around. So she made the mistake of underestimating him too much.


    She narrated everything that had happened and how the love potion she gave the prince worked. Excluding the part of the old woman. She was cornered but not stupid, telling on the old woman was asking for a slow and painful death in the palace.


    Jason was tongue tied, he was right about Aricus. This was not his plan. But that still didn''t change the fact that Amberly''s evil intentions worked in the man''s favour.


    The love potion mixed with the past that Davion and Aricus shared, he felt a headache coming on just thinking on how he was going to break the crown prince''s enchantment.


    "As long as the prince has no feelings for him. We can break the enchantment," the princess spoke out.


    "What if he does?" Jason asked to get the full information on what he was dealing with.


    "Then it won''t just act to make Davion believe that he loves him. It would act as a means to sire Davion to him," Amberly said. "Thankfully he looked at that man and not you. Now we just have to break the illusion," she added.


    Jason was lost in thoughts. He had read so much of sire bonds to know how they worked. And he couldn''t know for sure if the crown prince liked the man or not.


    His head was beginning to hurt. The night that once promised happiness brought him nothing but pain and misery. He had come to a conclusion that the author truly hated him.


    Nothing was going right and he had just lost Davion once again only this time it might be forever. Forever was a long time, one that he didn''t think he could handle while watching the prince be with someone else.


    "Are you listening to me?" Amberly asked.


    But Jason was long gone to hear him. His thoughts went back to the forest, cherishing the moment that he had won against Sashina''s schemes and got the prince back.


    At that moment he had underestimated the power of his enemies. He let his guard down after one victory and lost the war.


    "If we hope to succeed, we must try to use the prince''s love for you. I am not proud to suggest this but it is our only option," she said to him.


    Jason reached his hand out, hoping that Davion would take and come to him.. Tell him that he didn''t mean to hurt him and that he was the one he loved more than anything else.

 Chapter 78 - Birthday Party (3)

    Jason walked towards the ballroom alone. Today was Davion''s birthday and yet he was not there with his love. He was forced to attend the party alone.


    He strolled quietly with his eyes looking back to see if he could catch a glimpse of his crown prince and Aricus.


    He bumped into a masculine chest and was compelled to look up. So caught up in trying to find out about Davion, he failed to notice the man that he bumped into.


    "My apologies," he bowed his head in apology. He glanced at the man from his toes to his head. His face almost resembled that of the crown prince. He was dressed in a black outfit, with black well trimmed hair.


    He had his hand gracefully at his back. With smoky black eyes that looked at Jason as though he could through to his soul. He had sharp features that gave him a manly look. His demeanor commanded respect and obedience. The man stood with a straight unmoved by Jason bumping into him.


    "It is no trouble," the man said. He walked around Jason proceeding on his tracks when Jason grabbed hold of his arm and stopped him.


    "Why are you alone?" Jason asked, he was sure he knew who the young man was. He tries to recall from the descriptions of the original version of the novel who he could be but it was hard to put his hand on it.


    "I don''t see you with anyone either," the man turned around and darted at him.


    "My escort left me last minute," he noted recalling the rude way in which the king threw him out of his room. "And you?"


    "I never had an escort to begin with. I don''t like to have company," the man explained.


    Jason nodded, he thought that he could save himself some face if he were to go with the man to the party. But there was truly no way to turn the night around.


    "If you want, we can go together," the man offered taking in Jason''s expression. Jason''s eyes lit. It would hurt less to see Davion and his date walk into the party with Aricus if he had someone to walk in with.


    "I would love that," he said and flashed the man a kind smile.


    "I have to see someone, shall we," the man invited of him. Jason thought why not, the party was not going to be that fun either so the more he didn''t have to be at the party the better.


    "Are you a guest of the throne or just a guest at court?" The man asked politely.


    Jason thought about, before he had been the guest of the throne. But that was before he had gotten engaged to the crown prince. Now he was a part of the family, he was no more a guest or an outsider. But he wasn''t sure how long that would last.


    The crown Prince was under an enchantment of the most dangerous kind. He might even get sired to the man forever and that would be the end of him.


    "Family," he responded to the kind stranger.


    "Likewise, in fact it is why I am here. From the report I received, the palace was crowding with trash. I am here to clean everything up," the man informed him.


    Jason lived in the palace, he had not seen a single spot of trash around. The servants were very good at their jobs even though he never really see them working.


    It was like they clean when everyone was asleep. It was difficult to catch a maid working in the day. So he figured the man was referring to people.


    "Are you a guest of family?" Jason asked to satisfy his curiosity. The man seemed familiar with the way that he carried himself, it was unlike the side characters, he was an important part of the plot.


    Yet, he could not point to who the man was. Strangely enough the man was going towards the crown prince''s room. Jason held his breath and crossed his fingers, to at least get a view of Davion as they walked past the room.


    The closer they got to the room the more excited his heart got. Just a glance of the man, that is what he wanted.


    "Both I suppose," the man let out. "Ahhh," Winrus screeched out as he bumped into the man. He was rushing out of Davion''s room when he ran into the man.


    "Are you okay?" Jason asked worried for Winrus. The male went pale, he bowed his head and apologised repeatedly.


    "I apologise for my mistake. I should have been more careful your grace," Winrus uttered.


    Jason raised his head to the stranger. He was even more curious about the man''s identity now more than ever.


    "It''s alright. Don''t make a habit of it," The man said and straightened his shirt. "Tell Davion that I wish to see him and his engaged boyfriend right now. Instruct Amberly that I wish to understand why she has enchanted the prince, the queen grandmother must also answer to me why she allowed her such dangerous potion," he uttered.


    Jason was surprised. The man was giving orders so effortlessly like it was something that he was used to doing. He was concerned about the title of the people he was talking about, he just went on and on.


    "Ask the king for an audience as soon as possible and by that I mean this instant," he demanded of Winrus. "I want everyone by the family room," he added.


    "Yes your grace," Winrus replied and rushed back into the room to inform Davion of the man''s orders.


    Jason was impressed. He too wanted to be able to command the same amount of attention and respect that the man did. He didn''t beat around the bush and went straight to the point with what he wanted to say.


    It was remarkable. Jason walked away from the room and followed the mysterious man that had just walked into the palace. Five minutes in and he was acting like the king of Aphidia.


    "Why we''re you abandoned last minute?" The man inquired.


    The scene from Davion''s room a while back flashed before Jason''s mind. How was he to explain that the person didn''t mean to leave his side, he was compelled to by whatever Amberky gave him which turned out to be from the queen grandmother.


    His situation was pitiful yet he didn''t want anyone to pity him. Firstly off, he and the crown prince had a big misunderstanding and then he fell into the lake and woke up to the distance that had grown between them.


    After clearing the misunderstandings and seeing that they were on the same side. Then again an issue arose. With Amberly spelling him, the only mistake was that the spell went wrong and instead of her Davion was now stuck by Aricus''s side.


    It was an irritating fact but the reality nonetheless. "It was on purpose, something came up."


    "Hmm."


    They sauntered to the end of the corridor. The man pushed open the door and ushered Jason inside.


    "May I ask who you are?" Jason question. The man stopped walking and gazed into the Jason''s eyes.


    "Am I to believe that you do not know who I am?" He asked intrigued.


    Jason shook his head. Even after walking with the man and hearing him talk, he couldn''t say who the man was. And if he was going to the dance with the man, he figured there was no harm in asking him for his name.


    "Malcer," the man said.


    Jason ran that name to all the names in the novel but he was still unable to say for certain who the stranger was. The man chuckled from the look that Jason had on his face.


    "You look cute when you are confused," he uttered between his laughs.


    "I still don''t know who you are," Jason uttered scratching the back of his head nervously.


    "I could tell," the man admitted. "Prince Malcer Valeon Blakemore," the man informed.


    Sweat trickled down Jason''s forehead. He was shocked by the identity of the man. He was the youngest prince of Aphidia. But in the first novel, he equalled the crown prince in combat.


    He was the ice prince of Aphidia. He didn''t control ice, his element of control was the four elements, only he didn''t play by the rules. Where normal people would manipulate water, he manipulated blood.


    Where people manipulated fire, he played with lightning for fun. He was a man who didn''t entertain jokes and rarely laughed. Despite being the youngest he commanded respect and abidance from all members of the royal family.


    "I take it from your reaction that my reputation preceded me," he spoke out.


    Jason nodded, he couldn''t believe that he actually initiated a conversation with the prince. The man was bad news with flaws, and he had the most at the moment.


    No wonder the man said he was there to clean the palace.. Part of that meant him and it didn''t make feel any better that they were on laughing terms.

 Chapter 79 - Birthday Party (4)

    Jason stood in the middle of the room with Davion. The orchestra started playing a slow love song for them. The guests stood close to each other to watch the couple dance.


    They made a circle around the room, with enough space for Jason and Davion to move around to their hearts content.


    Crown Prince Davion took one step forward and took Jason''s hand. He pulled him close and encircled his hand to the man''s waist.


    The light of the chandelier fell on the two of them giving them the spotlight. The crowd gasped at how beautiful the two of them looked under the shimmering lights in the room.


    Jason took a deep breath, he let the prince take the lead, his body knew the dance even though he himself had never ballroom danced before.


    He gazed into Davion''s eyes with love. The chances that hr would get the crown prince''s first dance when the night began were low but fate had worked in his favor and he was there in Davion''s arms dancing with him.


    He moved to the music following the prince''s movements as they waltz around the space in the dance floor.


    Jason closed his eyes and leaned his head on Davion''s shoulder and let the music take him to the land of bliss. As he danced and enjoyed the comfort of the crown prince''s smell. His mind and body relaxed allowing him to enjoy himself.


    "I can believe how good you are at this Jasy."


    He opened his eyes as he heard the author''s voice in his head. He found himself in a beautifully decorated glamourous room with him on the dance floor.


    It was only him and Davy in the room. There was no one else there, no shadow of a waiter or any other being. Davy held his hand and led him to move to the music that played in the background.


    "Here you were telling me that you didn''t know how to dance," Davy let out to him.


    "I only gave it a try since it is your birthday. Happy birthday love," Jason found himself saying.


    Tears rolled from his eyes as he watched the male before him. The scene didn''t feel like a dream. It was way too real, like a memory.


    "Am I so good looking that you won''t stop staring?" Davy teased and winked his right eye at him. Jason''s lips parted. He wanted to ask him how they knew each other but the answer was right before him.


    Just friends don''t call each other love. They stood so close to each other that it would be uncomfortable but he didn''t seem to mind.


    "Since it is my birthday, won''t you give me a gift?" Davy raised a question. "Do you want to know what I want?" The boy whispered in his ear.


    Jason nodded unable to form words to express the surprise and confusion that he had in that moment. His head was running so fast trying to make sense of everything.


    "I want you. Naked in my bed while I to..."


    "You never miss a chance to let your thoughts ran wild."


    Davy laughed.


    "Ahhh," Jason gasped. He glanced up and met with Davion''s piercing eyes.


    "You seemed glad to dance with me. But you have the nerve to fall asleep?" The crown prince inquired harshly in a hushed tone.


    Jason stared at him and didn''t say anything. How could he, his heart and mind were occupied with the feelings of what he had just seen in his head.


    Doctors had told him that doing things that he used to do before the accident might trigger his memories. The dance with the crown prince triggered his memory of his dance with the author.


    It got him wondering how he could forget something so important. Until that moment, he thought that the love from Davy was unrequited but it turned out that the feelings were very much requited.


    He and Davy could have been in a relationship with each other. The accident had made him forget but the author knew all along. He felt trapped, like he was suffocating.


    The crown prince in the novel was the version of the author in the book. He was unsure what sick game the author thought to play with him. From the beginning he was under the illusion that he got to enter the book because of his support for the author and his work.


    Now he was finding out that the he and the man had a past together. They shared an intimate relationship, yet the man never bothered to tell him. He didn''t bother to visit him in the hospital when he had the accident and didn''t even try to remind him.


    He chose the easy way out and decided to leave when things got difficult. It was his life and he felt every inch of it. In that moment he couldn''t be happy, he was looking at the crown prince but all he could see was Davy.


    The two were different, one was his past and the other his future. He was with the prince and through him he was leaning about his forgotten past. He felt confused.


    Since the two were practically the same person. He didn''t know which one of them he loved. Unaware of everything that went on during his time in high school he could only cling to the little that he knew.


    Every chamber in his heart was in pain. He had sat with the man and had a meal with him, plenty of chances for Davy to tell him the truth but he didn''t.


    He didn''t realise when he had started crying until his cheeks were soaked. "It was only a question. There is no need to be dramatic," the crown prince spoke out.


    He thought that Jason was crying over what he said. "I can''t do this," Jason stopped dancing and took a step back from the prince.


    He placed up to him. "Happy Birthday love," the words rang in his ear making his heart skip a beat.


    He closed his eyes in pain letting the tears flow freely. Entering the novel taught him that even men could cry. They felt pain and broke just like women and sometimes they weren''t strong enough to hold their tears back in front of everyone.


    Everyone was surprised by the turn out of events. Jason dashed out of the room unable to contain his emotions. His feet kept him moving, even he wasn''t sure where he headed.


    He was stuck between two points. Not sure which turn led to his destination. The novel was a live story between Davion and Prince Nedryn. He transmigrated to the body of the prince. But neither the life or the love was his.


    Yet the thoughts of the real world brought him no comfort at all. How was he to accept the reality of things? He had a relationship that he knew nothing about and was trapped in the novel of his ex boyfriend.


    Jason found himself scoffing, calling Davy his ex boyfriend sounded strange. Mostly since he didn''t remember the boyfriend part of his life. Without the knowledge he looked Davy in the eye and treated him like a stranger.


    It was all turning out to be a little too much for him. "Arghhhhh," he screamed his heart out.


    He fell to his knees and glanced up. Thoughts ran in his mind, the author had to have added the scene of him recalling the past. He was haubting him of the memories that he had lost.


    His life seemed like a joke to the man. He didn''t care how what he did would affect him, as long it made pages of the story and it added word count to the plot. Davy just added it, he was disappointment.


    So many emotions flowed through him. All taking him back to the flashback that the author had taken him back to.


    "I hate you," he shouted.


    Just for one night. He wanted things to go well without any hitches but despite all the twists that he had added the book. The author wasn''t satisfied. He kept pushing until he couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Congratulations, you win."


    Jason dropped his head to the ground exhausted. He couldn''t count with words how many battles he had fought since the sun rose that moment. At the end of the day, he was only human and he too had limits and he had reached him.


    Amaru, Malcer, Sashina, and Amberly arrived at the scene. To say that they weren''t shocked by how the man was behaving, then they would be lying.


    "I danced with him as he requested. What is his problem now?" Davion asked from the distance. The crown prince didn''t seem moved by Jason''s situation. He was just happy that Jason ran off, that way he could spend the rest of the night with Aricus instead.


    "You should go and check on him," Aricus pushed concerned.


    "Why should I? I don''t care what happens to him," Davion replied.

 Chapter 80 - Going Into The Novel

    Zillon rushed into the house in a hurry. His legs racing to reach the room to inform Davy of what he had discovered.


    It was some bad news which he was sure the male would not like. He knocked on Davy''s bedroom door and opened the door without waiting for an invitation to be let in.


    When he entered the room, the unsuspecting male was fast asleep. Unknown to him was the chaos that went on around as he was deep in slumber.


    Zillon jumped on the bed startling Davy. The man opened his eyes and closed them again returning to sleep. Zillon nudged him to get up to show him what he woke up to.


    Davy rested his head on the pillow not waking up no matter how much his friend put into waking him up. He was exhausted.


    "D, wake up. You need to see this," Zillon let out shaking the young man to get him to wake up.


    Davy pulled the blanket over his head and ignored his calls. He had just fallen asleep not so long back, he couldn''t be to wake up.


    Zillon reached out his hand and grabbed the jug of water from the bedside table. "Forgive me," he said apologetically and splashed the water on his friend.


    Davy opened his eyes stunned. He caught Zillon''s hand and shifted their positions. He hovered over the man with one hand holding Zillon down and the other hand holding the jug ready to bash it in Zillon''s head.


    "Do you want to die?" He asked. His eyes cleared, he let go of Zillon and dropped back on the wet bed. He was too tired to be concerned about the wetness of his clothes and bed.


    "You should see what happened after we went to bed yesterday," Zillon spoke out. He held the the reading pad for the male to see.


    Davy kept his eyes closed trying to fall back to sleep. The world was not ending, so whatever it was could wait until he gets some rest.


    "Jason hates you," Zillon uttered scrolling the words on the pad. Davy opened his eyes and snatched the pad from his hand.


    He sat up on the bed and read through the text. "This is the party chapter, I already checked it earlier. It was fine," he said after reading the first sentence.


    "It is, but it doesn''t end the way we wrote it. Jason changed the plot and gave the scene a different ending," Zillon informed him.


    Davy frowned. He didn''t like it when things didn''t go as he planned them to. He most certainly didn''t appreciate someone changing the plot of his novel from the way he planned them.


    The party scene was supposed to have only one thing. The dance, in which Jason would tap into Davion''s heart and remind him of the bond they share.


    He narrowed his eyes and read through the script to see the changes that we''re created. After reading the whole chapter, he went back and read once again.


    Every time he read through what happened at the party. His heart was burn with anger, the man didn''t just change the plot, he ruined the whole party.


    "I think when he entered the magical room. He must have created a malfunction to it," Zillon let out his opinion on the matter.


    Davy was fuming mad, the man didn''t just ruin his perfectly romantic scene but he had the nerve to say such hurtful things about him. ''You win,'' Davy scoffed.


    How was it his win when his readers had to read that junk instead of the romantic night he had planned. How could it be called his victory when he was being accused of things he never did.


    Never in his life did he ever witness Jason in an accident and yet the man was accusing him of not being there for him.


    He recalled a memory from their time together and started messing with the plot. He was rewritting the novel from inside the book and giving it a turn that made Davy the villain of the story.


    "How dare he so this?" Davy barked and threw the pad to the wall. He was irritated, angry and hurt by the things that Jason said.


    "You didn''t even read the comments from the fans. They are going crazy over this new twist," Zillon announced to him. "They are asking you to enter the book and clear the misunderstandings," he added.


    Davy glared into the distance thinking over what he just read. "He just wants attention. He is pretending not to remember to seek me out," hr uttered bitterly.


    "What are you going to do. Fans are curious to know what will be next," Zillon commented taking Davy''s hands in his. "They want to know if you will stand by Jason or not," he let out.


    Davy pulled his hands back and got up from the bed. Jason and the fans were curious of his reaction and he was going to give them a befitting reply.


    Jason crossed the line by messing with his book. He had corrupted everything else in his past, Davy wasn''t going to seat by and watch this go on. If Jason was going to wallow for sympathy, he was going to give the man exactly what he deserves.


    "What are you doing?" Dillon asked.


    He knew Davy would lose it but didn''t anticipate how mad he would get. The young man looked like he was inches away from exploding.


    "Leaving you in charge. I''m going into the novel," he said in an icy cold tone. "Until I fix the problem Jason created. You will write the book."


    Davy changes his clothes and out on the clothes from Aphidia. He had heard enough now. He would face Jason and clear things up once and for all to end things.


    "Do I get a say in the matter?"


    "Of course you do," Davy declared. Zillon sighed, he did not want to have the fate of the novel rest on his shoulders. As he wasn''t the author he felt it best Davy writes the novel. "And I''m glad you''ve agreed," Davy added.


    Zillon massaged his forehead. The situation was getting out of hand and he was starting to regret showing the man the changes when he was sleep deprived.


    Now, Davy was determined to enter the novel as prince Davion to counter the accusations that Jason made on him.


    It was ridiculous and crazy. He told Davy so that the man could fix the problem but he was decided on entering the book and fighting Jason himself.


    "Aren''t you overreacting?"


    Davy shook his head. The decision that he just made was the best solution to their problem. From the very start he had always hold on to Jason, it was the older man that let go of him.


    Jason doesn''t get to turn him into the villain of the story that he ruined with his own hands. He could still recall clearly the day that Jason broke his heart and walked away without even looking back.


    For a long time he tried to think of that moment as a joke so that he could move on with his life but how could he move on when he was haunted by it until date. Yes, the man was right, he was getting his revenge.


    But he was only going to make things extremely difficult for the man. Jason had no right to bright out his past out in the open for the world to see.


    "From his reaction, it seemed like Jason doesn''t remember what happened between the both of you," Zillon let out.


    He had tried to make sense of what the man said. Why he thought the way he did but it didn''t make sense. He had heard the half part of the story from Davy but half the truth wasn''t the whole truth.


    Maybe there was some sort of misunderstanding going on between the two men. Jason truly seemed like he was confused by how close he and Davy we''re with each other.


    "Lies, he is the biggest liar that I have ever met," Davy screamed out at the top of his voice. His reaction shocked Zillon. "I can''t help but ask why I was stupid enough to love someone like him."


    He was only letting out his opinion. He didn''t know that his friend would be hurt by his words.


    Davy took deep breaths, Jason had no right to think of the memories that he insulted. Ge definitely shouldn''t have used them the way that he did.


    Davy got dressed and opened the magic door. <


    > the door demanded.


    "I hate Jason," he spoke out.


    <


    >


    "I need a key to Davion Draleon Blakemore''s body," he let out sternly.


    He pressed his hands on the wall where the key formed. He closed his eyes, ''You want answers right.. I will give them to you Jasy.''

 Chapter 81 - The Confrontation

    The crown Prince Davion left Aricus''s side and sauntered over to where Jason laid. "Privacy," he ordered from the eyes that stood watching the scene.


    Everyone was forced the leave the area. Only the two of them remained, Jason didn''t even bother to turn to look at him.


    He didn''t have anything to say to Davion. Everything was too complicated in his mind for him to give any attention to the man.


    "Get up," Davion commanded in a deep threatening tone.


    Jason''s eyes shot open. He felt irritated by the man''s attitude towards him. The crown prince was the last person that he wanted to hear from the crown prince was how threatening he could make his voice because two could play at that game.


    He got up and shot a threatening glare at the man. He was not in his right set of mind to bear anything from the man. It didn''t matter how much he loved him, there was a limit to what he could take.


    "If you came here to argue with me, I would suggest that you.."


    "Shut up," Davion barked.


    Jason gritted his teeth annoyed. He was still to forget the harsh slaps that he had gotten from the man. The crown Prince was treating him like a punching bad to land his attacks on and that wasn''t acceptable.


    "You should just leav..."


    "If I want an opinion on what to do with my time. Trust me, you would be the last person I would take advise from," Davion said interrupting Jason in his statement.


    Jason stared at him with confusion. "Why are you here then?" He asked in one breath to prevent Davion from cutting him short.


    "I''m here to show you the real face of the villain of this novel," Davion stated.


    Jason blinked. He was stunned and surprised by what Davion said. ''Since when did characters know they were in a novel?'' He thought.


    "Oh yeah, and who might that be?" He inquired entertaining the idea to see where the crown prince was going with things.


    Davion inched closer to him and grabbed hold of his hand. He brought his hand up between the two of them and halted. He looked at Jason in the eyes with nothing but pure hate in his eyes.


    Jason gulped. He felt a shiver ran down his spine. The look in the crown prince''s eyes wasn''t the same as before. He could sense that something was wrong, he was being mean because of the enchantment.


    Yet Jason couldn''t put his hand on why the man would be mad at him. All that he did was ran away from the party. Which he thought the crown prince would appreciate since it meant that he could spend that time with Aricus as he had originally wished to.


    "What is the matter Davy?" He questioned getting worried for the crown prince. Without knowing why he felt a pang in his heart as he gazed into his eyes.


    The same feeling that he got at the school. Like something bad was going to happen and he was not going to be able to stop it from happening.


    "I don''t why I still held hope in my heart that one day you would miss me the way that I have missed you," Davion uttered in a pained voice.


    His stare didn''t soften at all. Only difference was the tears that flowed freely from his eyes. The tears that let out all the unspoken words that he had silently held in his heart. Which he had vowed to let out before the night is over.


    Jason blinked. He was confused by the direction that the conversation took. It was strange how quickly the atmosphere of their conversation changed. He wasn''t even sure what the crown prince was going on about.


    "I was afraid to fall in live with you. Because I feared that I would be the only one to fall and I was right," he let out. "Yet, I still allowed myself to trust all the sweet words that came out of your mouth. Hoping deep down they weren''t lies but that was all they ever were," he added.


    Jason''s eyes moisten. The pain in his heart increased ad though trying to tell him something. He had told the crown prince on several occasions that he was in love with him so it made no sense where his accusations were coming from.


    "I had always believed that I love you meant that you and I will stay together forever. But I forgot to imagine that you could have a different definition for the word," he said.


    Lightning struck the skies and the dark cloud gathered around threatening to pour heavily on the land but neither Jason nor Davion moved from their spot.


    Jason tried to make sense of everything that the prince was saying. Where they were coming from and why he was saying everything like he had broken his heart.


    If there was anyone who''s heart was broken then it was him. He was the one who lost the crown prince to an enchantment and that very night he found out a past of his that nailed the knives in his chest right in.


    He was the one with the shattered heart that couldn''t be fixed. Nothing could fix the pieces that had been broken down in his heart.


    He looked at Davion with a pained expression. He hardly found it fair that he was being made the villain when he hadn''t done anything wrong.


    "You were born to be real and not perfect, you said to me," Davion spoke out his voice breaking as expressed himself. "But then you made me despise the real me. Made me want to change to perfect. Why?"


    Jason''s breath hitched. His eyes were filled with tears. He shook his head against the accusation made against him. He hadn''t done any such thing, he wouldn''t do that to someone that meant so much to him.


    "Davy I..."


    Davion pulled him closer and brought his free hand to his face. He placed one of his fingers on his lips and stopped him from talking.


    The rain started pouring down on them. The crown prince glanced into Jason''s eyes unable to bear the things that Jason had said about him.


    "You brought heaven to me with your smile and laughter only to turn around and shove me to hell with the very lips," he let out to him.


    Jason gasped. Never in his life had he ever heard someone say such things to him. Not did he ever hope that someone would, he had always loved to only bring happiness to those around him.


    But in that moment, he could refute what the man was saying. Because the emotion in the man''s voice was real. Even with the rain drenching them, he could see the tears in the man''s eyes.


    He was left speechless. He couldn''t defend himself or accept what the man was saying since he was clueless on how he had made the male feel the way he did.


    "I loved you from the bottom of my heart but I now realise that you were never mine to love," Davy admitted.


    Jason parted his lips to say something but the words remained on his lips. He let his tears fall with the rain and let the man go on, it wasn''t as thought he couldn''t speak. He didn''t have the words to defend himself.


    "I told myself that one day I will be able to forget you. I tried my best to hate you and to get you out of my life," Davion went on to say.


    Jason listened attentively to everything that he said. He tried to place in his mind what he could have done to the male to get him to say such hurtful things to him.


    "Today, as I stand here in front of you. I have to ask, did you ever love Jasy?" Davion asked.


    Jason''s eyes went wide from shock. He stood there with his eyes popping out of his sockets. His heart throbbed erotically hearing the way that the crown prince referred to him.


    There was only one person in the world that ever called him that and it was the author. The real Davy, he was the past that he had forgotten. The man who''s voice gr could never get out of his head for as long as he could remember.


    The person for him he was feeling down and broken. The man that was responsible for everything that her was going through.


    Jason pushed him away. He couldn''t tell where the energy came from but he suddenly felt strong. "How dare you make accusations on me after everything that you''ve put me through?"


    Jason found the strength and the words to speak. He had kept quite because he thought it was the crown prince that was speaking to him but now that he knew the real person, he also knew what to say.


    "You said you hate me. Then please tell me, why did you built months of memories with me if you felt like that?"

 Chapter 82 - You Pushed Me Away

    Jason found himself in a place he had never been before. The questions that Davy asked him were all hard for him to answer.


    Without the memories of the time that they had spent together and the memories that they had with each other. He couldn''t refute or argue out anything.


    The rain got heavier and heavier. Yet, he felt none of it. His body was numb to the cold of the rain with the pain in his chest.


    "If you loved me, you wouldn''t have left," he told the man.


    After waking up in the hospital, the man''s voice was all that he had to go on. Not a face, no memories, just a voice that he couldn''t make sense of.


    It was hardly fair to blame him alone when the man left his side. He didn''t fight for him when he was down, so why pick a fight after four years.


    "I never left. You pushed me away," Davy informed him. "But I guess you won''t believe me until I show you," he uttered.


    Davy got a pen from his pocket. He raised the pen in the air and started scribbling words in the air. Jason averted his gaze from him and looked at what he was writing.


    ''Jason stood in the rain faced with the darkness of his past. He acted naive until all the memories came clashing down on him,'' he read before the man set the pen back in his pocket.


    Jason felt his heart hurt. He clutched the sides of his head trying to endure the pain. "Arghh," he screamed to the pain.


    Davy watched him fall to his knees without moving an inch. Since the man wanted to play him, he was simply going to play.


    In the real world Jason had the power to pretend like their past never happened, but in the book. He was the one who had the final say. Now the man would be forced to recall everything that he claims to have forgotten.


    "Maybe this will jog your memories on how you broke my heart," he let out unaffected by Jason''s screams.


    Jason panted for breath as ge gritted his teeth, his head felt like it was going to explode. The headache was extremely painful, so many things were running through his mind.


    Visions, voices of conversations that he didn''t recall, all of which brought him pain and hurt.


    Davy walked a few steps ahead, as Jason was struggling with the memories that flooded his mind. He tried to find the problem that made Jason able to rewrite the scene from inside the novel.


    He ran his thoughts through the previous scenes to see where things went wrong. Jason was free to have thoughts of the real world as much as he wanted, that wasn''t enough to trigger the plot to change so much.


    He could reflect on his memories of the real world to survive in the book. So it didn''t make sense why the plot changed and it drifted off from thr birthday party.


    He had planned at least ten chapters of the birthday party. But thanks to the fool, they would have to redirect the destinations of the storyline.


    "What did you do different at the part..."


    Davy held his words noting that Jason had fallen unconscious. "What a weakling," he uttered.


    He strode over to the palace and ordered the male servants of the palace to help him to his room. He made sure that Jason was helped to his bed before he left to go and attend the party.


    Davy suddenly felt like he was in the mood for a drink. In the real world, he would never dare touch anything alcoholic but that was a novel. Hence he rushed in his steady steps to reach the ballroom.


    "I''ve been waiting for you," Amberly uttered taking his hand before he could push the doors to the ballroom open.


    She pulled him aside. Amberly brought his hand to her stomach and let him touch her.


    "Your child develops in here. At least for him, can''t you be nice to me?" She inquired from him.


    Davy rolled his eyes. The woman was annoying outside and inside the novel. He couldn''t believe that of all his lovers the crown prince was going to choose her to settle down with after Jason kills Aricus.


    She was beautiful in appearance but her heart was as black as the night. It almost reminded him of a certain someone that that he knew. Very handsome, face like an angel and heart like the devil.


    "When am I ever nice?" He questioned. As far as he knew there were only a handful of people that he was nice to. The lust shortened after he was betrayed and forced to question who to trust in his life.


    Now the list consisted of Zillon, his parents and his secretary. Other than them, he didn''t believe a single word that anyone else said to him.


    "What do you mean D, you are always nic..."


    Amberly was forced to hold her tongue and stop talking from the cold icy glare that she received. Davy wasn''t too happy about being called that. It was how Jason used to call him when they dated and he absolutely hated it.


    "If you want me to be nice to you. Then you need to learn not to do things that I don''t like," he let out and removed his hand harshly from her stomach.


    The baby had just been planted in her stomach no less than a week ago. There was no way that he could feel it in her, it was a stupid excuse to get him to touch her.


    For someone who created her and brought her to life, she hated her type very much. All the villains in his books were based on his impression of Jason, that way he wouldn''t feel bad when he made bad things happen to them.


    Just the thought of Jason got him to feel better with all the bad situations he pushed his villains to. Until date when he got tempted to write a novel where the MC was the one to suffer.


    A novel without a happy ending just for his lovely ex. "I apologise if I have made a mistake your grace," she said with a hurt look on her face.


    Davy sighed. All the things she would do for attention didn''t surprise him at all, he softened his gaze and flashed her a smile.


    "You are my best friend Am, you need not say sorry to me," he said for the sake of the plot. So much of it had already been ruined, one more wasn''t going yo affect the book so much.


    "Thank you for saying that Davion. Lately it didn''t feel like you cared for me at all," she began to say with crocodile tears running down her face.


    Davy took her hand and pulled her along with him. If she was going to bore him to death with sappy stories that didn''t interest him, he was going to get some wine and flood his system before he loses it.


    "Will you save me a dance my lord?" She asked him as the page announced their arrival. Kimberly coukfnt be more happier with how things played out, the prince was giving the right attention that the deserved.


    He seemed to have broken from his enchantment and their names sounded so good when introduced together.


    "I will think on it," Davion let out even though he had no intention of setting foot on the dance floor, he had stopped dancing since he got heart broken.


    He had stopped doing may thing, as long as he did it with Jason in the past. He made it a point to himself to get rid of everything in his life that connected him to his past.


    "Can I stay by your side for the evening?" Amberly requested him.


    "As long as you don''t annoy me," Davy said. He walked into the room. Many of the guests were dancing while others mingled in the room, ge dared not set foot close to thr Hugh table and sent straight to the buffet to get himself a drink and some food.


    Dealing with Jason had made him hungry for food, he craved a lot of dishes. No one minded him, they went about their business as usual.


    Amberly on the other hand enjoyed the attention she was receiving. The crown prince was pulling her of his own will leading her to go with him wherever he went.


    Her eyes met with Sashina, she smirked. She had gotten her prince while Sashina was alone, Jason didn''t even look her way. It gave a sense of satisfaction to win while the girl lost.


    Amberly caught sight of her sister behind Sashina, she was reminded of the real reason that she tried to charm the crown prince.


    It was so that she could ask him to let her live in the palace with them.. Since Davion was giving into her tonight, she decided to give it a shot.

 Chapter 83 - Why Cant You Be Mine?

    The sun was shining brightly on the manicured lawns of the palace. The rays of the sun shimmered into the room presenting a new day to the awfully long night that the residents of the palace had.


    Rumors of a fight between the crown prince and his fiancee circulated around the palace walls to everyone who had the ears to hear it. Everyone was taking about the wonderful dance that the crown prince had with crown princess Amberly.


    The sparks they saw flying around. On one had they spoke about the end of the relationship between Davion and Prince Nedryn, while on the hand hands they marvelled at the perfect pair that Davion and Amberly made.


    The two groups were almost coming at each others throats. The group that was shipping Davion and Nedryn to be together forever didn''t like the gossip going around of the prince breaking up with his fiancee.


    While those that supported the bond between the crown prince and the crown princess were rooting for Davion to leave Nedryn as first as possible so that he could run into the sunset with princess Amberly.


    The palace was on fire, from guards to maids to slaves. No one was spared from the gossip and the fight to pick a side.


    As the day was beginning things had already heated up on the servants of the palace. They had found something to entertain themselves with and it was getting juicer and juicer with every debate.


    Sashina strode down the corridors feeling very happy. The night didn''t go as planned for her and she missed out on a chance to dance with prince Nedryn but the way things played out was even better.


    She had been fearful when Davion requested to have a word with prince Nedryn alone in the night. The rain made her even more anxious, it was a romantic setting that could have helped the two love birds rekindle their love for each other and finally settle everything that kept them apart.


    But to her surprise the crown prince showed up at the party with Amberly and gave a night that left the whole kingdom in gossip. They all were wondering about the love triangle that surrounded the crown prince.


    Debating on who looked best with Davion and between prince Nedryn and crown princess Amberly who was going to win over the crown prince.


    With prince Amaru out on a trip, she was free to work on a plan to get prince Nedryn to like her. Since he went to bed sad from the tears the crown prince had put in his eyes, Sashina was certain that prince Nedryn won''t turn down her shoulder. Which she would offer for him to lean his head.


    It was a wonderful day for her and she was all smiles because of it. There was no denying the things that she felt because of him. Her feeling were growing intense with each day, and it was getting out of control.


    Her love for the man was slowly turning into obsession. She missed the awkward prince that first walked into the palace of Aphidia. The boy who tried to win her heart, she regretted having tried to win over Davion.


    Had she given prince Nedryn the attention that he needed from her, then he wouldn''t have fallen prey to the crown prince''s charms and fallen for the man.


    The man would still be hers and the two of them would float around in the clouds of love. When she arrived at prince''s Nedryn''s room. She told the guards not to announce her presence as she was a surprise for Nedryn.


    They nodded seeing as by marriage she was going to become a royal. So they opened the door for her and let her in. Sashina made her way into the room, she glanced at the mirror and checked her appearance.


    She smiled satisfied with how beautiful she looked. Turning on her heels, she walked over to the bed where the prince was sleeping peacefully.


    Her mood shot to the skies seeing prince Nedryn in that state. Her heart fluttered and skipped a beat at the sight of the prince that was that of an angel.


    She couldn''t resist the urge to trace her hands on his perfectly flawless skin. And hence she went for it, she took a seat by the bed and gently rubbed her hand on his hair.


    Sashina held her breath, being careful not to wake the prince. She ran her finger on his cheek feeling the softness underneath her fingers, it was a blissful moment.


    Jason moved his head feeling the disturbance. Sashina lifted her hand and remained still for a moment to see if he was coming around. A few minutes passed and the man didn''t open his eyes, he just slept on like she wasn''t even there.


    "Why are you so handsome. You make yourself so irresistible to me and you won''t let me come close to you," she stated feeling her heart race in her chest.


    She lowered her hand to him once more and continued to gently move his hand on the prince''s hair as she daydreamed of their future.


    She could picture herself as his wife with two lovely children by their side. A boy who would take after him and a lovely daughter that would take after her. Together they would all make a perfect family.


    "Why can''t you be mine?" She questioned.


    "Davy," Jason gasped as he woke up from his sleep. Sashina moved a side to give him room, her lips curled up into a devious smile. She was glad to see that Jason was only having nightmares when it came to the crown prince.


    It meant that there was hope for her to come between them and be the person that he loves. Jason took slow deep breaths to calm his racing heart, he didn''t have a dream but had to relive all his memories from high school in his sleep.


    He raised his head and found the snake smiling at him. He sighed.


    Jason was regretful, when he entered the novel as a side character, he wanted nothing more than to become the main character. Forgetting the troubles the main characters had to handle.


    So many love rivals so many suitors and obsessed villains. It was only now that he saw the flaw in his thinking. Despite telling her in clear words that he could never love her or be with her.


    Even after announcing to the world that he was into men, the girl was still there being persistence in her love for him. She wasn''t ready to accept defeat and frankly, it was a big turn off for him.


    "What are doing here?" He asked her coldly. She was the bane of his existence, never giving him room to breath.


    When he wanted her and was doing everything that he could to have her, she was only looking at the crown prince. Now that he had moved on and wanted nothing to do with her, she was sticking to him like glue refusing to leave him alone.


    "I came to cheer you up. Do you see, the crown prince didn''t even bother to come to you," she said trying to discredit Davion in order to make herself look good before Jason. "He spent the night with Amberly enjoying every moment of it. While you were here hurting," she complained.


    Jason rubbed his head, he didn''t blame Davy for the things that he said and for the way he reacted. With all the pieces together in his mind he felt guilty for picturing him in a bad light.


    He had been unfair to the man, and the accident was just an excuse that didn''t justify the things that he had done. He couldn''t claim that he hurt the man by losing his memory, that was just an addition to what he already did to him.


    Out of fear of being discovered as gay, he chose to break Davy''s heart than to allow the world to know his secret. The accident gave him a chance to forget everything that happened.


    When Davy said goodbye to him. He was giving him a chance to take the first step and fix thing but at that time. Jason had no memories of his past and wasn''t able to take the chance offered to him. And hence the male left and lived away.


    Four years later and they met once again in a novel. His life was an adventure with a complicated past that brought his life sine excitement, he didn''t think was possible.


    "I have to go," he said to Sashina.


    He got up from the bed in his robe and marched towards the door. Sashina raced after him and stopped him from walking out on her.


    "Do you know that Amberly is pregnant?" She asked him. Jason turned her eyes to her in shock.. He had not known that but it didn''t matter, he had to apologise to the author before Davy leaves the book.

 Chapter 84 - Like The First Time

    Jason managed to ditch Sashina and rushed out of the room. He had to find the author before the man exits the novel. The differences between them had to be resolved for them to move forward.


    The mistake was with him. The whole time, he thought of himself as a victim that he didn''t think on his he could have hurt him.


    Not having the memories of their last got him to believe the half-truth that he knew.  He forgets that a half-truth is as good as a lie because it doesn''t shine a light on the whole matter.


    In his mind, he was putting his words together on what he was going to say to the man. He was praying that the younger male would give him a chance to explain the things that happened.


    Davy saw things from his point of view and was hurt. He would blame him, but he needed to explain his sides so they don''t misunderstand each other anymore.


    Jason arrived at the garden where the crown prince had decided to have his breakfast. He stood in the distance and watched him, the male rested his head on his hand and stared into the distance.


    Letting the rays of the sun rain down on his face. It brought a certain appeal to the male, he looked magnificent.


    Jason''s eyes were glued to the man. The way he sat and watched the world was the same way that Davy used to do during their school days. And it enticed him towards the male even more.


    He was so caught up in staring at the prince that he didn''t notice the crowd that was gathering around the garden. Curious maids and servants of the palace gather behind bushes and flowers watching the scene with interest.


    They were waiting in anticipation to see if the two love birds could save their love or break up.


    Unlike Jason, Davion felt the eyes on him from all around. He looked around, with his sharp eyes he was able to place all the people in the palace.


    Davy was flabbergasted. The side characters were moving against the plot. They weren''t supposed to gather around the garden like that, it wasn''t like they came to attack him. So he could understand.


    It was when he raised his head to the entrance and saw Jason that he got a clue of why the servants were not so secretly watching them.


    Jason played with his feet nervously when Davy made him. He lowered his gaze in guilt and didn''t dare move from where he stood.


    It was understandable to him if the man didn''t want to talk to him, he wouldn''t want to talk to himself if he were in the crown prince''s shoes.


    The situation was quite awkward. He hadn''t come up with a single word to say to Davy over what had transpired between them in the past. Now with the recollection of everything, he found that he too hadn''t truly gotten over his past.


    Maybe that was the reason he kept screwing things up with the crown prince. The male looked and acted exactly like the man that he loved but at the end of the day the character was the real deal.


    At the end of it all his heart wanted the real person and was always conflicted. His life was complicated, it was something that being in a novel couldn''t fix.


    Jason''s breath caught when he saw boots before him. He didn''t need to look up to know who the person that had approached him was. It made him nervous.


    "Did you want to say something to me?" He heard Davy''s clear voice ask. There was no hint of anger, hatred or sadness in his voice.


    And that made Jason even more anxious. The person was hurt because of him and for the last four years he lived without even knowing what pain he had caused. And he would have probably continued to live the same way forever if he didn''t enter the novel.


    The book didn''t just help him live life, it brought him back the pieces of him that he had lost. Pieces that he knew, if he didn''t fix them. He would never be able to move on with his life.


    He bit his lower lip and drew on the ground. His was scared to meet the man''s face. He was looking at the man in a whole new light, one that scared him.


    Davion took a step closer to him. Jason found his heart beating in slow motion, it reminded him of the first day that he had seen the younger male for the first time.


    The way his palms got sweaty from nervousness. Thr slow way in which his chest moved up and down as he counted the steps before the younger male reached him and walked passed him like he wasn''t even there.


    It was the most nerve wrecking five minutes of his life on that day. He had never been as nervous on anything as he was on that day.


    He gulped.


    Davion reached out his hand and held Jason''s jaw with his finger. He raised the older man''s chin and got him to look up at him.


    Jason shut his eyes close. He didn''t dare look Davion in the eyes after the mistake that he made. He felt bad for the things that were said in fear and the uncalled for distance that created between them.


    Davy clenched his free hand into a fist. It was hard to maintain his stance and act mad when the older man was so cute.  Jason was just as he remembered him to be, the face was different but the way he acted was the same.


    The reaction was something that he was used to. It wasn''t the first time the male had reacted like that after making a mistake. It was how he reacted when he didn''t have the words to express how sorry he was.


    Funny how after four years had by between them, nothing much had changed. His Jasy was still the same as he always was.


    "If you came here to say something then say it," he insisted and let go of Jason. He reminded himself of the reason he was in the book.


    He had come there to remind Jason that he wasn''t the villain of their story and to find the loophole in the novel that gave Jason the ability to rewrite the way the story was meant to go.


    He had completed the first task, only the second remained. He couldn''t allow himself to be side tracked by a past that remained his past.


    "Since you won''t talk, I''ll leave," he stated. Jason did the first that came to mind in panic and embraced him.


    Davion raised his hands startled by how the man reacted. "Awwww," he could hear from all sides of the garden.


    He was frozen. Of all the ways he anticipated the talk to go, hr didn''t think that the older man would hug him. And that his heart would skip a beat as he did.


    ''This is the crown prince reacting,'' he told himself.


    Yet it didn''t help his heart from thundering in his chest, he was certain that Jason could hear the sound of his heart beat since the man had his head to his chest.


    He was lost on how to reach, was he to hold him and hug him back or just leave him be. He thought to push him away but his heart couldn''t bring him to do that.


    The moment flashed a harsh truth before his eyes. He was still floored by the man in his arms, he felt no different for the man in that moment than he did in the past.


    "Let go of me," he uttered coldly. The man he was before actually believed that Jason was sincere with his feelings and that was why he got hurt to begin with, he wasn''t going down the same road again.


    Jason let go of him, he was hesitant but he respected the man''s. In his heart he was happy, thought unintended, he got to hear the younger male''s heartbeat increase at his touch.


    What that meant both scared him and made him happy. On one hand he was happy as it meant that the younger male still felt the same way he did back then but on the other hand it meant that he must hurt badly from it.


    To see him fall in love with Davion. To sit together and speak about the crown prince must have been hard for him. Even if the crown prince was a character created of him.


    He must have felt that he preferred a fictional version of him. And that wasn''t true. "I have to go," Davy spoke out.


    Jason stepped aside for him to leave, yet the man didn''t move from where he stood.. Jason watched with wondering why he was still standing there. "Won''t you go?"

 Chapter 85 - A Clouding Sensation

    Jason and Davy stood side by side with each other in silence. There were so many words to be said that remained unspoken by both of them.


    It was holding them from taking a step from each other. Jason had things that he wanted to say and Davy was interested in learning what the man had to say.


    Conflicted they remained there standing in awkward silence.


    Davy took a step closer to Jason. Seeing as the man wasn''t going to speak, he decided to do so himself. He closed the distance between them so that he didn''t have to speak in a raised voice.


    Jason feeling nervous by the sudden movement from the man found his feet taking a step back. Davy moved to close the new distance created by Jason only for the man to move back once again.


    Jason kept moving back until he hit his back on the pillar. Davy was forced to follow him and just to make certain that he doesn''t run away. Davy trapped him on between his arms at the pillar.


    Gasps could be heard in the background. The spectators were feeling the air around them change. The mood suddenly became romantic between the crown prince and Jason.


    Those who were shipping the two of them to be together could feel their hearts about to explode from the love they were seeing. The sparkes were flying around the two men, they were starstruck just watching them.


    It made the people that we''re voting for Davion and Amberly very sad.


    "I have to tell you something," Davy began to say in a hushed tone so that only the two of them could hear what he wanted to say.


    "Wh..what is it?" Jason inquired his voice breaking as he spoke. The closeness between them was affecting him in all the wrong ways. Something that hadn''t happened to him since their parting happened.


    The warmth from Davion''s body made heat travel down his abdomen. And caused his shaft to rise to attention.


    "Now that you are sorry. I think that it will be better if we never speak of the past ever again," Davy let out.


    His past with Jason had haunted him for long enough. All that he ever wanted was to see the man regret the way they parted ways. That was all that he needed, now that he got that, he found his anger fading away.


    He could move on with his life and close that chapter for good in his life. "So let''s stay friends, okay," Davion said with a smile. He took a step back to offer the male a handshake but Jason pulled him back to himself.


    There were many eyes watching and he didn''t want anyone to see that he was turned on by the crown prince.


    "Weren''t you listening to me? We can''t be like this, friends don..." Davion shut his mouth feeling something poking him.


    He raised his gaze to meet Jason''s eyes. The man was burning with embarrassment. Davion bit his lower lip to prevent him from laughing at the older male.


    He was a funny outcome, to see that he still had the same effect on the man as he did back then.  Jason wished that the ground would open and swallow him whole.


    It was better than standing there with his problem. Davy wasn''t helping matters by holding in his laugh. It was evident from his eyes that he was amused by his situation.


    Jason wished that he could punch the man''s smirk off his face. "You can keep the audience from watching but what about the readers?" Davy asked him.


    Jason gritted his teeth. The prince was having way too much fun for his comfort. He just had to remind him that more people were witnessing his embarrassing moment.


    "Will you please get me out of here," he pleaded to the man.


    "And ruin this perfect chance to get revenge on you?" The man asked him. "You broke my heart, the least I can do is embarrass you," Davion let out.


    Jason held on to him tightly. His nightwear wasn''t that right but it would still be visible if Davion was to move out of the way. Everyone would get to see him in that state that he was in.


    Flame hit his cheeks.


    Davion lowered his lips to his ear. His hot breath hitting Jason''s skin did no justice to the situation he found himself in.


    "Should I help you," Davion inquired softly? Jason felt a shiver run down his spine. The younger man''s voice had suddenly become hoarse and deep.


    The feeling was strange yet so familiar in his memory. The thought of the man was getting him out of his mind. Davion kissed his earlobe lightly, while Jason was distracted by the feeling on his ear.


    Davion slid his hand into Jason''s pants and grabbed his throbbing manhood. Davion wrapped his fingers around Jason''s shaft getting the man to gasp for air.


    He moved his other hand up Jason''s chest and massaged his nipple. "Ahh," escaped from Jason''s lips.


    He was conflicted, he enjoyed the attention that he was receiving from the younger male. But many eyes were watching them, the maids had boldly raised their heads from the bushes to get a clear view.


    "The..there is pe..people watching," he nervously let out.


    "Then we should put on a good show," Davion uttered shamelessly next to his ear.


    The man trailed kisses from his neck to his neck. Jason leaned his head back and granted him more access. Davion trailed passionate and hot kisses on the nape of Jason''s neck.


    "Uhh..." Jason moaned in pleasure. The hot kisses on his skin. The sweet pleasant caress on his chest and the lingering feeling of Davion''s hand in his manhood got him in ecstasy.


    He was floated in the clouds of pleasure. "You seem to like that," Davion noted, his voice alluring and seductive to the ears.


    Jason felt his lips dry. Craving those tempting lips on his, dancing to the same rhythm in a passionate kiss but he didn''t voice it out.


    Jason felt his knees weaken under the influence of the dominating man. He moved his hips to Davion''s hand. The crown prince held his waist in place.


    He paused for a moment and glanced at Jason in the eyes. "Not yet," he ordered. He smirked and the point that he received.


    Jason needed a release and he was refusing him. The older man was unhappy about that.


    Davion was feeling very excited. Teasing Jason was just as fun as he remembered it to be. The end of his lips curled up into a devilish smirk.


    "Jasy, do you think I will it so east for you?" He asked and Jason shuddered.


    He felt the threat and it got him scared. But a flame ignited in his heart that he had long forgotten existed. A flame that enjoyed being teased by the devious younger male.


    The man made his heart quicken in his chest. It was a feeling that burnt all through his heart. A bigger crowd was gathering in the garden, the news of the crown prince in the garden had got everyone''s attention.


    Aricus, Amberly, Sashina, and everyone else were attracted by the news and came to the garden. Seeing how intense things were between the lovers, Aricus moved to get everyone out of the garden to give them privacy.


    "Tell me Jasy, how could I get my vengeance?" Davion asked increasing the pressure of his hand on his shaft.


    Jason bit his lower lip and lifted his toes from the ground bearing with the pain. He grunted and moaned at the pleasure of being dominated by him.


    It brought back memories of heated moments that till that day, he never knew he had the honor of experiencing.


    Davion locked their lips together. Engulfing the man in a passionate kiss, moving his lips to lick Jason''s tongue and tickle the top of his mouth.


    Jason closed his eyes and let the man lead him in the blissful experience. Davion moved his hand up and down Jason''s shaft to the same rhythm and intensity as his kiss.


    The emotions that flowed through him burnt throw his skin. Increasing the temperature of his body, he was getting hotter and hotter with each passing second.


    Jason cuddled him tightly as he arched his back against the pillar. His eyes were clouding with lust and desire.


    "Uhm..." Jason moaned through the kiss.


    He was on the moon with the emotions that Davion brought him, his moans became uncontrollable as he neared his climax.


    Davion felt him coming close and increased his hand movements, the joy and excitement that he felt was one that he had long forgotten. It felt nice to rekindle such a moment with his beloved.


    "Ahhh," Jason let out. An electrifying wave caused his body to jolt in pleasure.. A clouding sensation hit his eyes as he released sperm onto the man''s fingers.

 Chapter 86 - Im Seeing Someone Else

    Jason''s p.o.v


    "Just admit it," I pressed.


    Davy shook his head walking away from me. The younger male is way too stubborn for my liking. It wouldn''t kill him to just accept the truth for what it is.


    "Why won''t you accept the truth?" I inquired refusing to drop the subject. I know that we have had our differences but I had seen it in his eyes.


    There was no need for him to pretend that it didn''t matter to him. I know that the truth is something different.


    "Just because you think it''s true doesn''t mean that it is," he said.


    I chased after him. I refuse to accept his pathetic excuses. I know what I saw and heard. It wasn''t just my thinking but the truth. I couldn''t accept his denial.


    "I know that I am telling your truth," I uttered firmly.


    "It doesn''t matter what you think. Once I am done I''m leaving," Davy said not breaking his resolve.


    It is so hard to reason with a man that doesn''t want to accept the truth. But my eyes weren''t wrong, I saw it, the spark in his eyes.


    I understand why he would think like that, why he would try to deny feelings that he clearly has for me. There was no way to say that he didn''t enjoy my company.


    "Why can''t you just accept that you enjoyed helping me out earlier?"


    "Because I didn''t," Davy spoke out without batting an eye.


    I hooked my hand around his hand, if the younger male won''t admit it then I won''t let him be. The thrill I saw in his eyes when he got close to me was real.


    The feeling was mutual between the two of us. It would be easier if he were just to accept that he liked it.


    "Sticking to me won''t change my mind," he let out. I shrugged, he doesn''t know that. It might change his mind and get him to admit that he still cared for me.


    "You have every right to be mad at me. But I had reasons for everything that happened," I stated.


    Davion continued on his walk, he didn''t seem concerned about my words. Life sure was strange, it brought us together but it the distance between us was bigger than the ocean.


    My side of the story doesn''t matter. It won''t change the fact that I intentionally hurt yin for my own selfish reasons. I had hurt him in ways that he didn''t deserve to be hurt.


    I wish that I could change the way that things played out between us. He was the last person that I ever wanted to hurt, if only reality wasn''t so harsh back them. Then maybe I wouldn''t have made the choices that I made.


    I wasn''t like Davy, I was too much of a coward to stand by him. I gave in to the fear and let it break us apart, called him names to avoid being called that myself.


    It wasn''t right but it was what it was. "If you could go back in time. What of the past would you change?" I found myself asking him.


    I held my breath as I waited in anticipation for his reply. In my heart I knew the answer to my question. The thing that he wants to get rid of the most is me. Our past and our memories, that is what he would wish to change.


    "Be more clear with what you really want to know?" Davy said looking at me.


    Taking a deep breath I braved myself and asked him directly, "If you could go back to the past. Would you change our time together?"


    "Interesting question," Davy replied and averted his eyes from me. He shot his eyes to the sky and scratched his chin.


    Minutes passed and he didn''t give me an answer. He didn''t say a word, he didn''t look at me either. He just kept on walking ahead while I followed along.


    His silence was killing me, the question was so simple. It was a yes or no question that didn''t need that much thought.


    "D.."


    "No, I wouldn''t change anything of the time we spent together," he confessed interrupting me.


    His words comforted my heart. But also made me feel a lot more guilty over what I did. Had I been in his shoes I wouldn''t have given the same answer. Then again he was always the mature one between us.


    "I had some good moments with you that made me happy, I wouldn''t want to lose that," Davy added.


    Nothing I could say would ever be enough to make up for the fact that I broke him to pieces. The accident happened at a very bad time, I wasn''t able to explain why I said the things I said thanks to that.


    And after the accident, I didn''t recall who Davy was. I wasn''t able to fix everything before he left. The distance and time that passed made the small mistake of mine become a bigger issue.


    "Why do you ask. Would you change it?"


    I shook my head. How could I ever let go of the joy and the misery that brought us close to each other. Everything that we ever had to go through together was the foundation of our relationship.


    But there were some that I could change. If our story was a novel, there were some parts of it that I would erase. The parts that I had caused the younger male pain.


    I would rewrite them, that when include my eyes, he should by there by me side. To have and to hold him in the comfort of the blanket and cuddle throughout the day.


    It is a moment that would be worth any amount of waiting. To get that back would a blessing in this world.


    "Davy," I called out to him. "What would you say if I declared that I want to court you?" I inquired.


    "I would object from the word go," Davy responded.


    "But you and I have dated before. Getting back together would make the readers happy," I tried to persuade him.


    "Thank to you, everyone now knows who I am so this is the last book I write," the man dared to say.


    Sturborn was an underestimation for the man''s hard head. He won''t even bulge when I am asking nicely.


    "Don''t you think that''s growing old. You write so well, can''t you just enjoy the ride?" I let out walking before him and blocking his view. "Think about it, how much your fans will enjoy to see you live as the crown prince."


    "I''m already a prince in real life," he uttered walking around me. I sighed, I was tempted to crack his head open and check what was inside his brain.


    His mind wasn''t even open to any of my suggestion. "You won''t let me court you. You won''t live in the novel, why?"


    Davy let out a deep breath. He ran his hand through his hair, his eyes darted to me.


    He was so breathtaking standing there like that. There was literally no difference between the two men, the novel version and the real person were the same in every way.


    "I''m seeing someone else," he muttered. "I can''t be with you with someone else in my life," he added.


    I felt a pang in my heart when he said that he had someone else. It was not the words that I expected to hear from him. My eyes dropped to the ground, the leaves on the ground weren''t at all interesting but I couldn''t look away from them.


    The pain in my heart surprised me. All the no''s he gave didn''t affect me but learning that he was seeing someone else did.


    He had given me the best few months of my life. Yet I threw it away, he had every right to move on. But why did it hurt to hear that he was, surely I couldn''t have expected him to wait for me.


    Four years was a long time to be alone, I would know since I had been just that for the last four years.


    "H..how long?"


    "A week."


    "What?"


    My eyes lit up at his words. One week, he had been seeing someone else for such little time. Which meant that it hadn''t gotten serious and he wasn''t attached.


    I could still make things right and...


    "Let me stop your train of thought. He is important to me and I want it to work," Davy said and went on his way.


    I stood rooted in place debating whether or not I should respect his wishes and stand down. It wasn''t like I wanted to be parted with him, things just happened to get out of control and we were forced to go our separate ways.


    I can''t be expected to give up after getting a second chance. Clearly, fate wanted me to give us one more try.

 Chapter 87 - Stuck In The Novel

    "Who is it?" Jason asked for the millionth time.


    Davion ignored him. He had to hand it to Jason, the man had grown resilient. Jason had followed him around the whole day asking the same question.


    Each time hoping and expecting an answer from him. The man had exhausted his energy. Davy never knew how hard it was to just go by ignoring someone, it was hard work, especially with the person being ignored refusing to take the hint.


    The fact that Jason wasn''t giving up made his head hurt. He walked into the room, the day was a complete fail. He neither got to work on finding the problem in the novel and with Jason around taking his ear off, he found that he could use some rest.


    A relaxing long lasting bath sounded like the perfect solution to his problem. He walked straight to the bathroom since the crown prince loved taking many baths a day. His pool was always with clean water.


    Davion couldn''t see anything else other than the water, with a few touches from his hand. He had warmed up the water, the red petals in the water were enticing to look at. He could see himself playing with them as he bathed.


    He dropped his clothes to the ground. "Wow," Jason admired from the side.


    Davion sighed. He regretted not locking the door behind him and giving the annoying man a chance to intrude in his personal time.


    "Don''t you have anything else to do? You''ve been following me the whole day," Davion complained.


    "We live in a novel love, a romantic story of us. Basically, my life revolves around you so..." Jason said and left the rest for him to fill in for himself.


    In short, he had no intentions of leaving him alone. He could do what he wanted, nothing was getting Jason to leave his side.


    Davion entered the water and let him be. Feeling the water kiss his skin made him feel alive. No wonder his father always insisted that he gave birth to a fish, him and water were soulmates.


    Davion couldn''t see himself without water to soak his body to get rid of the troubles of his day. He immersed his body in the water and let it relax his muscles.


    He could see everything with his eyes closed. Everything good in his life played in his mind giving his mind some peace.


    Jason sauntered close to the pool. His eyes glowed with satisfaction. Seeing Davy in the water was like watching a dolphin in its a natural habit. It was both calming and soothing.


    "Tell me, who is the man that you love?" Jason asked again.


    Davy splashed water in his direction. He was in the zone, he didn''t need his annoying voice in his ear repeating the same things like a broken record.


    "Why must you stay stubborn?" Jason inquires wiping the water from his face. Just then he recalled a memory from his past with the man.


    Davy was always annoyed when anyone disturbed the peace of the water that he bathed in, even he wasn''t allowed to touch it when they dated. The man loved his water more than him.


    "If you don''t tell me, I will do something that you will regret," he threatened.


    "What is the worst that you could do?" Davy asked him not even bothering to open his eyes.


    "How about I join you in the water?" Jason challenged softly.


    Davy''s eyes shot open. He flickered a threatening glare at Jason. "You wouldn''t dare," he let out.


    Jason lifted his leg and placed it at the edge of the pool, Davy watched him silently. He called the man''s bluff, he wasn''t going to tell Jason the name of the boy that he was seeing at all costs.


    Jason waited to hear him give in to him. But the man sat there with a look on his face like he won. He didn''t even look like someone that was being threatened and that made Jason more daring that he actually stepped his foot in the water.


    Davy got up from the pool, he picked up a towel and wrapped it around his waist, and strolled past Jason without saying a single word.


    Jason gulped, he was just playing around. He had let himself get carried away by everything that he completely ignored Davy''s feelings.


    "I''m sorry," he said walking out of the bathroom. Jason didn''t find the male in the room. He had disappeared and gone. "Geez, take a chill pill will you," he let out.


    Jason walked out of the room tired. He could never seem to win against Davy''s stubborn nature. Once the man put his foot down there was no changing his mind.


    It troubled him, the younger man had set his mind on someone knew while he was still not ready to move on yet. He just wished that Davy would stay in the novel, so that he could get the chance to fix his past mistakes.


    In the novel, the other guy couldn''t come between them. Then it would just be the two of them and the feelings that they had for each other.


    He wished that Davy would come to him and say that he wanted to with him a little longer. That her had changed his mind about moving on and wanted to be with him again.


    The novel would spark to a whole new level if that were to happen. A new level of love would be witnessed through it, he wouldn''t mind crawling through hell for Davy.


    As he walked down the corridors of the palace he saw a sight that shocked him. His mother, the queen of Xeris talking with Princess Amberly.


    As far as he knew, the two didn''t know each other and didn''t have any matter that concerned the both of them. There was no grounds for the two of them to be talking in hushed tones behind the pillars of the corridors.


    It made him curious about what they could be talking about so he inched closer to listen. "Ahhhh," he gasped at the sudden appearance of Davion before him.


    His loud noise startled the queen of Xeris and the crown princess. The two of the raised their gazes to check where the noise was coming from. On seeing the crown prince and Jason, the two of them bid each other farewell and left before they could be noticed.


    "Are you fucking crazy? You could have given me a heart attack," Jason let out.


    He placed his hand to his chest. He inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm his nerves. He was scared of his wits by the man.


    "If th..this is your idea of revenge for the water. It''s sick," he uttered meeting the crown prince''s gaze.


    Davy was fuming mad. Jason could see a vein about you pop on his forehead, it way too much anger for having his bath interrupted.


    "Do you love your water so much that you would get so angered, huh?" He asked to him.


    Jason chuckled nervously. The man was making him anxious, he preferred it when the younger male ignored than now that he was being confronted with a piercing gaze and silence.


    "First you messed with the birthday scene and now you are preventing me from leaving the novel. What is wrong with you?" Davy raised a question. The man looked like he was getting ready to explode.


    Jason was clueless, all he did was wish that Davy should stay in the novel. He hadn''t done anything else, it wasn''t his fault that the novel listened to him and stopped Davy from leaving.


    On the surface he looked at the man with confusion. But internally, Jason was jumping up and down with joy. His wish had cone true, the man was stuck their with him. Giving him plenty of chances to rekindle the love that they once shared.


    "I have no idea what you are talking about," he let out.


    "Cut the crap Jasy. I know you did something again," Davy uttered sharply.


    Jason lowered his gaze. He looked like he was hurt by the man''s scolding but in fact, he had just lowered his head so that Davy wouldn''t see him smiling.


    The man had not realised but he had slipped up and called him with the nickname that he used to refer to him with. Davion could deny it as much as he wanted to but Jason knew that he still cared for him.


    It could be that he still felt the way he did for him back then. And was fighting it so that he could move on. But Jason wasn''t going to let that happened.


    "What now? Look, if you don''t want me to get mad then you better undo what you did," Davy threatened.


    ''And let you leave, no chance,'' Jason thought.


    It was Davy''s novel but it was his story and only he will decide how the plot goes and who gets to play the main character.. And the author sounded like the perfect choice for the role.

 Chapter 88 - Freya

    Night soon arrived and the corrupted bustling of the kingdom reduced drastically, only thieves and guards being anywhere on the now dangerous streets, since at times like this did the murders happen.


    Freya herself sat patiently in a quiet alley for that period of the day to arrive, and when she saw the time fit for her next actions, she didn''t hesitate to move.


    Glancing a few hundred meters down the quiet street, Freya caught sight of her partner, who also waited, but in an inn instead.


    Signifying to him her desire to move, Freya nodded when he responded with key gestures only those in service of the royal army could know.


    Focusing her gaze on the wall a bit far away, Freya could see that the patrollers had increased far more than expected, which was something that caught her attention greatly.


    Hopping on top of a building with a slight tap on the ground, Freya ignored the cracked ground and proceeded to move multiple buildings close to the wall while ensuring that her actions weren''t noticed.


    ''Why are they so many?'' Freya questioned herself, after counting over 30 men on the wall and patrolling the length of the wall.


    ''There must be something atrocious going on in there,'' She concluded, ''But how do I enter without making myself known,'' she wondered while browsing through the many things she had been taught.


    Sighting a lone guard patrolling the east side of the wall, she immediately knew what to do.


    Her eyes glowed a blue light when she suddenly vanished, no sounds being made by that Incredibly rapid movement.


    Her figure suddenly flashed behind this lone guard, and she didn''t hesitate to snap his neck with a slight gesture.


    Grabbing the man''s body to not allow it to make any noise, since there were two guard''s a few hundred meters ahead, Freya took the guard''s attire, before placing her mask on the man''s face, which is then morphed to the man''s facial features.


    Freya moved around the palace being careful not to attract any more attention. She had a goal to achieve and she needed to get it done as soon as possible.


    She sauntered into the palace. Freya looked around, her eyes could see through the walls, she searched for the target she was hired to kill.


    Her eyes locked on Jason by the royal pool. The man was alone seated with his legs in the water. He had a lot of thoughts crisscross his mind as he tried to figure out what he was to do about the crown prince/Davy.


    The male was angry with him, it was cute at first but with the distance, Davy placed between them it wasn''t fun anymore. Davy blamed him for not being able to leave the novel and had resorted to keeping away from him.


    He was left alone with his thoughts with nothing better to do. Unknown to him was the danger that was looming over his life.


    Freya stealthily made her way into the pool house without being seen. Her movements were calculated and the estimated time was met. She had a few more minutes to complete her mission and leave.


    She approached Jason from the back. Her hand on her back reached out for the golden knife in her pocket. She maneuvered the knife in her hand as she got closer and closer to the boy.


    Jason lowered his head, he was really stressed. He had no clue about how he could convince the crown prince that being stuck with her in the book didn''t have to be that bad.


    Freya stood right behind him. She squatted to the ground and held the knife to Jason''s neck. She went to hurt him, her hand froze.


    The hand couldn''t move. The target was right there, everything was in order yet she couldn''t move her hand. Her hand glowed, the snake around her hand moved around and about.


    ''Shit,'' she cursed.


    She stood up pushing her plans to kill Jason back. Freya marched out of the room to go and find the person that was making her soul get out of control.


    Her feet guided her. Walking through the corridors invisible to avoid getting caught, the further ahead she walked the stronger the reaction she received from her snake.


    Her heart skittered. There were only two reasons that her snake would react the way that it did. One, her soulmate was around, and second, a treasure of the olden ages lurked around her.


    She strolled about and came to the fountain. She hid behind one of the pillars and glanced about the area, her eyes scouting for the person that was affecting her.


    She noticed two silhouettes by the fountain. One male and the other female, her eyes could tell that the female was old, her aura was that of a legend that she had heard of.


    The legend of the mirror prince. A legend that she had been trained to serve with great efficiency since her childhood yet, she had thought that it was simply a myth.


    But that wasn''t all, the man beside him, made her snake slither with happiness and excitement.


    She had found her duty and her soulmate on the same night and at the same place. In the presence of the man, no matter how far he was, as long as she could sense him. Freya was incapable of harming a single soul.


    Her blood wouldn''t allow her to hurt a person when he was around. It was how she was formed and there was nothing that she could do about it.


    ''Crap,'' she cursed.


    She had been tasked to kill prince Nedryn before midnight. But now a problem had occurred, all she could be waiting for the man to walk away and hopefully leave the palace before she attempts to kill Jason again.


    The people that hired her weren''t very nice. They were powerful and held rank in the palace, she didn''t fear with them but they were clients and that meant that she couldn''t let them down.


    "What do you think?" Amaru asked the crown prince.


    The crown prince was occupied with thoughts of Jason. But his mind was clear, he could feel the sharp beautiful eyes that were watching them. He knew that it was a woman and from experience, he could tell that she was very attractive.


    To be capable of spying on them, he found that she was brave indeed. He had just returned to the palace from his home. He found the palace to be worse than when he left it.


    Yet, the presence of the girl lifted his mood. "I don''t know, in some ways you are right I suppose," the crown prince replied him.


    "Then why not sleep on it. We can continue this in the morning, I am also tired from the trip," he said making excuses.


    He was anything but tired and could go on for the whole night. But he did not wish to keep a beautiful woman waiting. The crown prince''s problems on the other hand could wait until the sun rises.


    "Good night my friend," Davy let out with a smile. Amaru reminded him of Zillon. The friend who stuck with him through it all, never complaining about anything that he ranted on about, he just listened.


    "Night your grace," Amaru teased and bowed his head. Davy shook his head and made his way to leave the grounds and return to his room to get some rest.


    Freya felt her heart beating loudly when Davy walked close to her. Her hand holding the knife shook with desire to rise and fall for the crown prince.


    Amaru caught her hand before she dropped the knife and announced her presence to Davy. His cold fingers caused the girl to shudder and lean further to the pillar.


    Amaru glanced at his eyes, it was so nice to see a new face in the palace. One of the rare ladies that were granted the true power. Seeing Freya''s glowing blue eyes, his blood heated up in his veins.


    Freya looked at him, the light of the moonlight bringing Amaru''s features to light. She couldn''t deny that he was good looking. More dashing than the men that she had the honor of meeting.


    Meeting his gaze drew her in, he had her full attention. Smart smirked. He could already imagine Winrus''s angry face when he learns that a new lady had caught his interest.


    "Don''t you know that spying on people is bad?" Amaru questioned to her. The dagger that Freya held in her hand started losing its color, it turned silver, it''s the original color.


    Freya''s jaw dropped. The man was undoing her magic and getting her submission without even so much as a command. Just his presence around her was making her weak.


    It lit a flame in her chest. A flame that burnt for the man that she had just met.. Amaru looked into her eyes and all that he could see was the flames in her eyes.

 Chapter 89 - Freya (2)

    Amaru took the knife from Freya and dropped kept it in his pocket. The girl was beautiful beyond words and he was attracted to her.


    But he was still a man with brains and she didn''t seem like she was there for a party. The way she sneaked around the palace and watched people from the shadows was already enough red flags for him to be cautious of her.


    He placed his hand to both her sides, creating a wall for her in case she tried to escape and flee from him. He peered deep into her eyes, her strength surprised him and intrigued him to be curious about her identity.


    There was no woman that he had met that made him feel like that. They interested him but never enough that he wanted to know about them, the only information that he cared for when it came to his women was whether they liked him or not.


    Most of the time, he didn''t even care to catch the names of the ladies who warmed his bed.


    He was of the element of fire, Freya was a flayer. The type that control all types of flames. She was his opposite and the fueled their attraction to fe even more magical.


    To see the flame in her eyes and for her feel the coldness of his hand that brushed against her skin. Made the two of them not want to move away from there.


    Freya and Amaru glanced into each other''s eyes. And it felt like they were both gazing at the most beautiful thing in the world. One that captured their eyes and they couldn''t look away.


    They were so caught up in looking at each other. None of them noticed the footsteps that approached them from each side of the hallway.


    Prince Amaru leaned close to Freya. The girl''s breath hitched, she didn''t blink for a second and watched the man before her keenly.


    Her powers were useless against him. And his presence weakened her, technically, he was the only person that she had ever met that could weaken her. It was just the way that things went with a flayer''s soulmate.


    They had the keys to a flayers heart and life. They were a flayers worst enemy because their soulmates could cause them harm but they couldn''t return the favour.


    It made her cautious of Amaru but she couldn''t move away from of stop him from getting closer. Neither could she control how his closeness affected her.


    The approaching footsteps stopped a few feet from them on each side. With Winrus on one side and Amberly''s sister on the other.


    Elayne watched the scene before her eyes, her heart burning with anger when she saw the way that Amaru stared at her.


    She had known the man to have desires and to be of the habit to pick up women in court for his pleasure. But it was purely that, entertainment. He never took the time to gaze at any woman the way that he gazed at Freya.


    And that was what made it okay with her. Because she dreamt of melting his shielded heart and be the one that he marries.


    To be the future queen of Creassa was her dream since she was just a child. Yet, the moment she turned around a strange blue eyes girl had snatched that chance from her.


    It burnt her.


    Winrus stared at the two, he couldn''t even think about anything in that moment. He wasn''t angry that the man had found another woman that he will have to chase for him.


    The man stood there rooted to the ground. All that he could concentrate on was the way that Amaru looked at Freya and how Freya looked at Amaru.


    He felt a pang in his heart as he continued to watch the two of them. He couldn''t understand what it was that he felt or why he felt that way towards the ice Prince of Creassa.


    Elayne marched towards at full speed angered by the sight of Amaru staring at another woman with such gentle eyes. She got to them and forcefully pulled Amaru away from Freya.


    Prince Amaru turned around to score the person that dared to touch him. Only to calm down when he saw who it was. "Cutie, what are you doing here?" He asked her.


    "Getting engaged to help Davion is okay but this is not," she complained to him.


    Amaru raffled her hair with a smile. Elayne blushed. His action filled Freya with anger. Her heart was in flames but for a different reason. Her hands twitched with the urge to slit Elayne''s throat right there and then.


    Yet, she remained in her place and didn''t move. It wasn''t like she would be able to land a punch on her with Amaru being there. It would just be embarrassing for her to even try to do so.


    Elayne hooked her hand around his. "I came here to see you, I missed you Amu," she said calling him with the pen name that she had for him.


    All this to show Freya how much closer she was with the Prince, so that the woman would back off. Amaru was hers and for his hand, she was willing to go to any lengths if it meant having him.


    And they were childhood friends so the man was sure to care for her. Even if he didn''t love her, there past gave her a chance to get close to him and make him look at her the same way that she saw him.


    "I missed you too," Amaru said.


    Unaware of how his words was hurting the others. Freya lowered her gaze at the same time that Winrus did, the both of them were not at all too happy with the way that Amaru spoke with Elayne.


    His words were like sharp razors cutting at their hearts as they stayed put. But neither of them could move from their place and walk away from there.


    "Is that so," Elayne said turning her head to see Freya''s reaction. She knew that Amaru said those things to her as he considered her to be his friend but it still made her happy to hear them.


    She also knew that Freya wasn''t aware of the reality of her relationship with Amaru, so she was bound to think that something was going on between them and hopefully she would leave her beloved alone.


    "We should..."


    "Tomorrow, I promise to find you and spend time with you. For now I have to escort this young lady to her room," Amaru stated.


    Freya raised her head, she had never had anyone call her a lady before. Growing up a fighter instead of a lover, she was often treated like men instead of a lady.


    As much freedom as that offered her, at times she couldn''t help but wish that someone would see passed her upbringing and adore the lady in her.


    Her heart felt warm to see that her soulmate didn''t treat her different because of how she dressed and because she had magic.


    Prince Amaru removed Elayne''s hand from his and reached that very hand for Freya to take. Freya glanced at Elayne, she was calm on the surface but deep down she was so happy to see that Amaru chose her over Elayne.


    The possessive way that Elayne had pulled Amaru away from her had annoyed her. But now her good had lifted, she took his hand and witnessed the fire of jealousy burn in Elayne''s eyes.


    It made her heart glad to see the girl shown her place without her having to remove her knife out.


    Winrus turned away from the sight and wiped the tears that had flowed down her cheeks. So many feelings ran through him that he didn''t get, but he wasn''t too foolish not to realise why he felt that way.


    He had seem so many people fall in love in the palace, somehow he had become an expert in such matters.


    So he knew exactly how he felt but why he felt such things for the prince was what troubled his mind. The man took Freya''s hand and ushered her away from Elayne. He walked with her so comfortably, it felt like something that was right.


    "Winrus," Amaru called out surprised to see the man there. The crown prince had gone to sleep already, he figured the man must not know this.


    "Did you come in search of Davion?" Amaru questioned. Winrus nodded with his back turned to Amaru.


    "He already retired to bed," Amaru informed to him.


    "I will take your leave then," he stated and stepped forward to leave only to have Amaru grab his hand to stop him.


    "I need your help. Can you arrange a room in the crown prince''s wing for her to rest," Amaru requested.


    Freya''s jaw dropped. She couldn''t believe it, the man didn''t know her and yet he was offering her a roof in the palace.. She was an assassin sent there to kill Jason, but Amaru wasn''t even asking her who she was but was opening 5he doors of the palace to her.

 Chapter 90 - Freya (3)

    "Why is she here?" Elayne asked Amaru at the breakfast table.


    She took her sit beside her sister glaring daggers at Freya. Amberly and Sashina raised their heads to look at her.


    Davy and Jason too we''re curious about the mysterious woman that had come out of nowhere. Everyone at the table looked at the ice prince and the woman he had with him wondering about her identify.


    It was the first time that the prince had displayed a girl before them. Holding her hand before an audience, it wasn''t something he had ever done with the many women that he slept with.


    Jason watched them, his eyes found their way to the male beside him. He wouldn''t mind if the man held his hand like that in front of everyone. To announce to the world that they belonged to each other.


    Yet, at that moment that was nothing more than a fleeting wish. The man was mad at him for something that he couldn''t even control. It wasn''t his fault that the novel listened to him and kept the man from leaving the novel.


    He just wished for it and it happened. Blaming him for that was like saying that he was responsible for global warming.


    "She is here to have breakfast with me. And she has a name, Freya," he introduced her while giving Elayne a reply.


    Smart walked over to the crown prince and pulled a chair beside Davy for Freya to sit on. Freya was speechless, when the man asked her to join him for breakfast, she didn''t expect that the man would ask her to sit beside the crown prince of Aphidia.


    Or that the crown prince would remain quite as everything happened. She was an orphan who had to learn to fight and become a killer to put a meal on her table.  She never anticipated in her life that she would ever get to be invited to the royal dinning table for a meal.


    "I''m prince Nedryn," Jason reached out his hand with a kind smile on his face.


    Freya hesitated to take his hand. The man was the reason that she had come to the palace. To kill him, that was the purpose of her entry into the golden gates of the palace.


    Little did she except that she would get to shale the hand of the man she was sent to kill.


    "He is harmless, you can take his hand," Amaru urged her.


    Freya took Jason''s hand and shook it. She was conflicted. How was she to kill the man after getting to know him? The reason she killed people at night was because, not putting a face to the person she was meant to kill helped her get through taking their lives.


    Davy glanced at Freya. She looked pretty and had a dangerous aura around her, like a character he had created to be the future queen of Aphidia. That character was supposed to come after the crown prince and since she had a connection to Davion''s mother.


    Davion was to welcome her with open arms only for her to shatter his world to the ground and send Jason packing. He couldn''t help but frown at the thought that Zillon introduced the second most evil character in his novel into the book as a support for the MC.


    He could see friendship bobds forming between his villain and Jason. It irritated him. Another part of his plot ruined without his permission.


    But in Zillon''s defense, the author had just left everything and rushed into the novel without even telling what the plot was supposed to be or what the already designer characters were supposed to be.


    It was a novel in progress which not even he could say what was going to happen next. He was stuck as the ML to his novel without any knowledge of the future of a right to exit the novel at will.


    "Mydrede would have been a better name for you," Davy said to her.


    Everyone looked at him surprised by his remark. It had no base or reason. It came out of nowhere and that is what stunned them all.


    "Yes, your grace. I suppose Freya Mydrede would make a beautiful name," she replied not knowing what else to say.


    "You don''t have to pick up that terrible name. I prefer your name just the way that it was," Amaru said.


    He foresaw everyone being rude to Freya but not the crown prince. It was unlike to be dramatic or dislike people so easily.


    The man had no idea that Davy was upset because a villain character that he took three weeks to craft was being used to be a sweet girl that fell in love with an ice prince and supported the mc.


    "Freya is better than that name," Amaru defended.


    Freya glanced at Amaru, it was the second time that he was standing up for her. That too to a the future king of the kingdom. It was a bold move that got her feeling like she was flying in the clouds.


    She didn''t wish the moment to end, she desired to see him stand by her.


    "I agree with Davion, the name is awful," Elayne stated out loud. "Mine is prettier than hers," she added.


    "That depends of you. According to me, Freya is prettier than Elayne," Amaru said.


    He found himself wanting to prove all of them wrong, he saw something in Freya''s eyes that he hadn''t seen in other women, he wanted them all to know.


    But rather than giving him the chance to share this with them, they were picking a fight with him.


    It wasbt just Elayne, but her sister and Sashina didn''t like the answer that Amaru gave. They all threw sharp piercing gazes at Freya wanting to eat her alive.


    "Shouldn''t you say that about your fiancee?" Sashina asked getting irritated about her morning turning into the spotlight for Freya to feel better for herself.


    The fact that Jason easily shook her hand was nice to her, was already a good enough reason for Sashins to hate Freya''s gut.


    "The last I checked that was me," Sashina said.


    Freya''s eyes fell. Little did she foresee her soulmate to he engaged to someone. It made her feel blue so suddenly.


    "I would if I loved or cared for you. It is no secret to everyone at this table that I despise you to the core," he uttered casually.


    Sashina clenched her first around her fork. She didn''t like being talked down on and especially for someone else. It made her look at Freya with a dark glint playing at the pupils of her eyes.


    "I agree with Amaru, the name suits a pretty maiden such as yourself," Jason uttered.


    His words added fuel to the fire of anger that Sashina felt towards Freya. She was bewildered that Jason would call the girl beautiful when he had stopped seeing her as such.


    "Then why don''t you do as all a favor and marry her," Davion let out in anger.


    Jason peered at him, he swallowed the words he was going to say next to Freya. Davy was ready so mad at him, he didn''t want to make things worse by boldly going against him and supporting Freya.


    Amaru glanced at his friend, he was tongue tied. There was never a time that his friend didn''t need him that he didn''t leave everything and go to him.


    And he wasn''t even asking him for anything and the way he male was reacting shocked him.


    "Have the two of you met before?" He found himself asking Davy.


    Davy stared at Freya, his eyes without any emotions in them, he looked at her with tired eyes. It was like watching a masterpiece paint being displayed in a preschool where it''s true value couldn''t be appreciated.


    Where the children could draw on it and tear it without a care. That hurt him, he looked away from her and sighed.


    What difference would it make to comment. Things would happen out of his control and he would be forced to go along with them helplessly.


    "No, I haven''t had the honor of ever meeting his grace," Freya let out.


    "He hates you and you''ve only just met. There must be something wrong with you then," Amberly commented.


    "Not something, but all of her is wrong," Elayne added on top of her sister''s comment.


    "It doesn''t matter how much sugar coating you do Amaru, the truth won''t change that she is not a likable person," Sashina let out hatefully towards Freya.


    Jason felt bad. Everyone was ganging up on Freya and it wasn''t right. The girl had done nothing wrong and Davy was only reacting that way because he was mad at him, it wasn''t fair.


    "Davy doesn''t hate her. He is simply angry with me," Jason said in Freya''s defense. "You''ll see Freya, once I get him to calm down.. He''ll go back to being his usual happy self," he explained.

 Chapter 91 - Set The Palace On Fire

    Davy got up from his seat and matched forward to leave. He had lost control of his life and the book, the only thing that was left for is wallow in sympathy. He was not going to live as the prince, it wasn''t the life that he wanted and no one could tell him otherwise.


    Especially when the subject of his affection was none other than the boy who broke his heart and stumped on it with a victory dance. No sorry was ever going to fix their past, he had been hurt for far too long to care anymore about his past that connected the tow of them.


    It was said that if a person was capable of hurting once then they can do it again without hesitation and he didn''t want that. He would be a fool if he were to invite the same pain that Jason put him through in the past. He wasn''t going to let the man sway his heart and make him believe in a fairy tale that wasn''t real. There was only one story that he trusted.


    That was the story that he could control by himself. A story that he came up with by himself and controlled what would happen next in the story. That is why he loved writing, he could get to live life through all his characters being the judge of everything that happened in their lives.


    It helped to heal most of his wounds, the talk with Jason helped to clear his conscious. Now he could stop asking herself what the man had to say on the matter, he had his answer.


    Jason had nothing to say for hurting him. Even he had nothing to say about his offer about getting back together. He sauntered through the corridors tired beyond words. He didn''t get any sleep, he kept having recurring nightmares about being stuck in the novel for the rest of forever.


    It was one thing for him to create characters and becoming one, he worked best with a pen that being the story. If the novel was a movie, then he would function better as the script writer than the main character which he was now being forced to play.


    A silhouette marched before him blocking his path and preventing him from moving forward. Davy raised his eyes to meet with the only sane person that had remained constant in his novel. The true villain of his bl version novel.


    The man was staring down at him with an emotionless face. "Why do you seem unlike yourself?" Aricus inquired from him. The man folded huis hands before his chest in a way that it told Davy that he wasn''t leaving without getting a reply from him.


    "I need a few things from you," Davy uttered his eyes coming alive.


    Aricus raised his eyebrows intrigued by the sudden request but seeing the way Davy''s spirit lifted up on hearing on talking about it he felt curious to know what the man wanted.


    Davy took steady steps forward and leaned his head next to the man''s ear and parted his lips. "I need you to set the palace on fire," the man requested. "I want everyone to lose their peace of mind and watch it from the sidelines as their worst nightmares come to life,'' he added before slowly stepping. He looked the young man deep in the eyes with a glint of evil playing in her eyes.


    If Jason wasn''t going to let him leave the novel, then he would make the man''s life in the novel so bad that he would have no choice but to release him from the novel and the chains of their past.


    "I promised the king peace," Aricus said. He figured that the man was only saying that because he was angry for some reason. It would be a choice he may come to regret after calming down and he didn''t want to be a regret for the male.


    "And a few lifetimes ago you promise that my wishes were your command," Davy uttered to him. "Do you serve the king of Aphidia or love the mirror prince?" Davion questioned.


    Aricus smiled. An open invitation such as that was one that he couldn''t give up. He had thought that his beloved might never remember who he was, to hear him talk of their past made the devil in him awaken, he couldn''t wait to reign his terror down on Aphidia.


    His king had spoken so he had to deliver. Aphidia had yet to see evil. He was everyone''s nightmare created in the most beautiful of daydreams. The world should ask the gods that tried to keep him captive and had the nerve to try to and keep his beloved from getting reborn.


    If he could turn the hands of the gods to his will then the people of Aphidia were a piece of cake that he could do in his sleep. "I know you say that I should set the place on fire but¡­"


    "You cant do it¡­"


    "You didn''t mention what level of fire I am allowed to set on Aphidia," Aricus uttered with a devilish smile adorning his lips. Davy had never seen anyone look hotter while plotting someone''s doom.


    He had pictured the look on his villain''s face while they whispered in the dark about the down fall. But he hadn''t anticipated how hot a character could look while being evil.


    Aricus was a scary person but he found that appealing more than a reason to worry and to ran away. "Surprise me," Davy let out.


    Aricus raised his fist and a dark energy oozed out of his hand, he touched the ground with his hand. Aricus couldn''t wait to see what evil monster the king of hell would bring out to cause pain and suffering in the novel.


    A black portal opened up in the corridor and through it a beautiful woman walked in. she had dark brown eyes. "Ilara, ready to serve my master," the girl announced.


    The thing about not being in controlled meant that Davy had no idea what the girl could do. He was interested to see what the demon from the Seam would do to the people of the palace, it was fun and exciting to be on the villain''s side.


    The day was cold, the aura in the air had lowered so suddenly and rapidly. Just some moments back Davy felt hot. The only that had changed in that moment was the arrival of the girl.


    "Set your eyes and feast on all that the Aphidia has to offer," Aricus ordered from her.


    Another girl appeared before the male, she didn''t seem pleased with what Aricus had done. She opened her mouth to object to what the male wanted to become of the subjects of Aphidia.


    "Before you speak, I would like to remind you that you work for me and not the other way around," Aricus roared in a deadly evil voice. "Try to interfere and I will send a servant of the gods to unleash her wrath on them instead and in case you are wondering, the servant will be you," he added firmly.


    The girl kept her mouth shut and turned to glare at Davy. Her eyes were pointing the blame for the disaster that was about to happen on him. The man gladly accepted all the accusations that the girl had on him. He was no saint and it was a matter of getting his life back on the track that it was supposed to be in.


    "Unless you want your eyes removed I would suggest you lower your gaze," he ordered to the girl. he was the creator of Aricus and all the bad people in the novel. So if she thought any of them were then she should give him a try, he could take anyone in the novel, except for his past that roamed around in the name of Jason.


    "Impressive," Aricus let out proud seeing the darkness in Davy''s eyes. All the hope that he had lost on ever getting the man that he loved back returned to him flowing through his body sparking a new flame inside his chest that he was more than certain. Was capable to burn down the world for him, the man was charming with his dark side.


    "Your wish is my command," the summoned demon let out to the man. She walked away from them, her dress dancing in the wind as she moved.


    Davy watched her leave wondering what the woman had plans, finally they were going to get the fun that the novel deserved. It had been way too peaceful for his own liking. He couldn''t wait to see the faces of everyone when they realize her presence.


    That was sure to get Jason off his back for a while. Two maids were approaching the woman from the opposite side of the corridor.. The woman brushed her hands on them and the two maid dropped down to the ground lifeless.

 Chapter 92 - An Epic Love Story

    Jason watched the lady of the lake walking awake. He was in shock. He was stunned that Davy disliked so much to have sent a monster to innocent people for fun.


    He watched Davy with Aricus from the corner. The person he saw was different, the Davy that he knew was selfless. He put other people before himself, it didn''t matter if those lives were of characters.


    Seeing him in that sense hurt him. The man wasn''t angry with Aphidia, Davy was bad at him and was resorting to burning everything down because of it. It beat facing him which was something Davy couldn''t do.


    He turned around and saw Freya. He blinked nervously before her, Freya stepped forward and patted his hand in a comforting way.


    "You are right, he is angry and if you are going to do something about his anger. You''ll need my help," she suggested to him.


    She could not tell what it was about the royal family. She was born to serve one, was the soulmate of another and couldn''t help but have a soft spot for the last man around.


    "I can destroy that monster," she informed him and ushered him to tag along. Together they dashed away from there and sprint after the lady of the lake.


    "What is the plan?" Jason inquired excited to get some action.


    "This," Freya lunged up into the sky and did three flips in the air before landing in front of the lady of the lake.


    The girl brushed her hand over Freya to let her succumb to death of the poison that oozed out of her and braced her skin.


    "Wrong move," Freya said with a mischievous smile on her face. "My turn," she stepped closer to the lady of the lake and embraced her.


    Freya''s eyes glowed as she hugged her. The girl gasped parting her lips, her body was rendered weak and her body returned to normal.


    "Thank you," the lady whispered before she turned into sand.


    Jason halted and shivered in fear. The girl had moves, he was relieved that they were on the same team. The way that she reduced the death girl to sand with just a hug made him worry about the pat that she gave him earlier.


    "Relax, I do not possess such powers. I have read about her kind and know their weakness," she announced.


    Jason didn''t trust her. People didn''t just turn into sand and the girl/ the sand had just killed four people by touching them. Someone like that surely wasn''t so weak that could be defeated so easily.


    "Why do people fear death?" Freya asked him.


    Jason gave her question a thought. There was so much that he hadn''t done yet, so much to experience and find out of the wonders that he was yet to discover.


    Those would be his reasons to he scared of death. Death was the ultimate, there was no turning back from that, once one died, it was the end of their story.


    Their would be no more chapters left to add on since they won''t be there to write those chapters. Dead people only had stories of the life that lived but can''t tell it since dead is the permanent silence.


    "Because I want to live," he responded.


    "If you look death in the eye without fear it is a sign that you aren''t clinging to life. Death doesn''t take those who don''t want to live, at least not easily," she answered to him. "And if you help it to realise that you understand it, you free it," she added.


    Jason furrowed his eyebrows. There was nothing about what the girl said that made any sense. It was literally the most co fusing explanation in the history of confusing.


    "Uhm..." Freya let out using her nose to point behind Jason.


    Jason turned around, he caught sight of Davy and Aricus behind him. They were watching the sand on the ground, Davy seemed disappointed by how things turned out.


    He had expected more harm to he caused into the palace but it was hardly what he had in mind. He shook his head for expecting that to go his way. Everything was going against him trying to break him.


    Davy turned on his heels not bothering to stay a little longer to watch the epic fail that was his life.


    Jason saw him leaving and got on his toes to chase after him. He understood what Davy was going through, he had been through that before when the novel was suffocating but he learnt to look at the bright side and now he wanted to built a home in the novel with the people that he cares for.


    He rushed to catch up to the man. Perhaps he had gone the issue wrongly. He realised that had he been alone then he would have sort a different approach to the monster problem, one that might have taken a long time and probably not worked.


    Death needed to be set free from being the villain of life and that was what helped to fix the problem. In the same way, he understood that forcing rhe idea of staying in the novel on Davy wouldn''t be a good idea. The best thing that he could is let the man fund his truth by himself.


    "You are the love that walked into my life without a warning," Jason raised his statement.


    His words forced Davy to stop. He had heard those words way too many times to feel different. Confesding love was easy, it gets better with people who are good at lying. Hence he didn''t believe it.


    "But perhaps you weren''t mine to love. I won''t force you to stay if you wish to leave," he said to him.


    Davy''s eyes glowed as he felt the hold that kept him grounded lifting away. He twirled his body around and peered at Jason.


    "You are right. I am not yours to love," Davy said and left the body of the crown prince. Jason rushed over to Davion and caught him before he fell to the ground.


    That was not how he anticipated the conversation to go. He thought that if he gave Davy a chance then the man choose him, choose to stay behind so that they could be together again.


    Yet, Davy didn''t waste a second to leave the novel. If he said that the man''s decision didn''t bother him then he would be lying.


    It hurt to see how fast the man would ran from him. Not that he didn''t feel like he deserved to be abandoned by the man. He was a jerk and Davy had every right to be cautious of him since he had hurt him once.


    He had the chance to apologise but no sorry came from his lips towards the man, another bitch move from his part.


    Jason found that he wasn''t just a terrible boyfriend but also bad at giving apologies. He sighed.


    "But I can''t leave the novel yet," Davy said returning to the crown prince''s body.


    He opened his eyes and glanced at Jason. The man was right before, he still had some kinda, sorta feelings from the past they used to share.


    Not that it made a difference to him but Zillon strongly objects to it. Now his freedom also laid in the success of their love story. It had to be epic.


    That is what he gets for leaving someone to run things. He made himself the character and the new author decided what happened on the book and at the moment that was that he couldn''t leave.


    "You are running away from your problems, he said," Davy uttered and scoffed. "So I guess you are stuck with me, so what stupid romcom lines did you have prepared for me?" He asked.


    Jason blinked his eyes surprised. The man had decided to stay after, he knew that his love was true and that it would get the man that he loved to say yes to him.


    It was the best thing that he had heard all day. His face lit up and a bright sweet smile bloomed on his face.


    "If you smile so much, I will leave," Davy threatened. Jason stopped smiling immediately. He wanted things to work out. To live everyday like it was his last so that when he looks back there would be no regrets.


    "I didn''t say you stop smiling. I just said don''t smile too much," Davy let out feeling bad for making Jason drop hid smile like that.


    The man had the chance to be with anyone he wanted, the book was ongoing and he could change the plot however he wanted. Yet, the fact that he persisted on him made him have a small soft spot for him in his heart, as friends.


    Things could never never what they were but that didn''t mean they couldn''t create a new spark.  That was what he planned to do.. An epic love story.

 Chapter 93 - Like A Stranger

    Jason opened the curtains and looked outside, what he saw was a beauty waiting for him to explore. He was in the middle of the woods with the gang ready to enjoy a weekend out in the wild without adult supervision. They needed that after how far apart they had all drifted from one another.


    Camping was the best way to rekindle the feelings that they each had for each other and hopefully get the real magic back. It was not going to be an easy foot to get everyone on good terms again but they had to give it a try.


    It was morning, they had arrived there at night and all hell had broken loose on sleeping arrangements. Everyone had an idea of whom they wanted to sleep with in the few tents available and that conflicted with what the others wanted.


    So in the end they decided that it would be best if the boys were better off pairing while the girls did the same on their end. Jason ended up sharing a tent with Amaru since most of the girls were against him being alone at night in the same tent with Davy.


    In their defense, they were either into him or Davy and wished to keep them apart as fast as possible. "Did you fix your issue with him?" Amaru opened his eyes to the chirping sounds of the birds around them.


    "I think I did," Jason responded not really sure what to say in the situation that he found himself in. He didn''t know if the light talk they had earlier had made the male change his mind about their relationship or whether he should be worried about the new man that Davy mentioned.


    "He didn''t particularly object to the two of you not sharing a tent. Are you sure you two are good?" Amaru asked concerned.


    He worried about Freya. Against his better judgement, he had gotten the girl to come with them on the camping trip. There was something about the girl that made him want to take the extra effort with her.


    He truly wished that his friends would like her. The camping trip was a chance for them to get to know each other better. Something that he very much wanted to be successful but feared that it might not be so with the crown prince being on edge around Freya.


    "It''s a working progress, but I can''t really be so sure if his heart is still mine," Jason let out with worry.


    He had been thinking about the other man or woman that Davy could have been seeing and how that would affect his relationship. He wasn''t much for sharing with anyone what he loved and at the moment that was Davy.


    "You know what they say, if feelings are taken for granted for so long they tend to fade away," Amaru let out.


    "What happens if the feelings fade away?"


    The ice prince smiled at him. He sat up and looked out the window. "Then you have to look at him as though you''ve just met. And try to win them over like they are a stranger to you," he let out. "If you try to rekindle what was, you might lose what is," he added.


    "How is that?"  Jason asked.


    "Because, if what was is so effective then it would not have ended. You already know how the past goes so why relive it. Do it differently the second time and hope for a different ending," he advised to Jason.


    Jason had his face light up as he thought about how to start a new chapter of his life with Davy. He would look at him the way that Amaru had suggested. Like a stranger he had just met and see if they can ever reach the level of epic that they once had.


    Everything was so perfect before, he was in love and had the best person to experience it with, they had there ups and downs but they made it to the other end because they didn''t give up on each other.


    That was before he got cold feet when his secret about being the gay almost got out. Instead of facing it bravely, he took the easy way out and threw Davy under the bus. There was no going back from that. And if the two of them had any chance of being together again, it had to be a different love story. One between prince Nedryn and the crown prince of Aphidia.


    "Thank you for the advice," he let out and opened the curtains by the entrance point. "Ahhh," he stumbled back shocked to see Sashina outside the door waiting for him.


    "Good morning Ned," she greeted intimately. Jason gulped. It was too early in the morning to be dealing with her, goodness knew that he would wish for nothing more than for the stop chasing after him. He had nothing to offer her and had enough romantic problems as it was to add her to the to do list.


    "I came to invite you for a walk," she let out.


    "There is trying and then there is desperate, quite the latter suits you a lot," Amaru commented at the girl. Sashina shot him a piercing glare to stop him from taking any further.


    "I''m so scared," the ice prince said shivering.


    "I would love to walk with you but as you know. I have a fianc¨¦e that I intend to marry someday,'' Jason told to her.


    "This is a royal my darling, unless you are married every relationship is like a political alliance that can shift at any given moment," Sashina let out confidently.


    "What does that mean?" Jason asked not getting what the woman was trying to say.


    "She means that as long as the prince and you aren''t married. You shouldn''t be too confident that you will get married, it is a royal, the danger zone for getting your heart and hopes broken," Amaru informed him.


    The man stood rooted to the ground. The two had a point, most royal relationships didn''t last very long. It anacondas lurking at every corner of the palace, it was impossible for relationships, either of political or love bound to survive.


    "So yes, until the two of you officially tie the knot. I am never going to stop trying to win you back," Sashina confessed. The male felt a headache coming on. He had so much to worry about with Davy and now the villain was admitting point blank that she was never going to let him go.


    "I will also confess to you darling, I will never give up on Davy," he said with utmost confidence.


    Sashina just offered him a smile. There was something about her smile that made Jason fill up with worry, it seemed like she was up to something with her plans and schemes. He could swear some people just don''t give up, even when it was clear that they were going to lose, they still pushed through with their plans.


    He pushed passed her and moved on to find Davy. The morning would be better after seeing his beautiful face. The man was the best part of the story that he couldn''t live without. "As long as I don''t lose sight of what I want. I will get Davy to be with me again," he spoke out to himself.


    He marched the crown prince''s tent to find him in order to have a word with him. To wipe the old slate clean and start afresh with everything. Have an epic love story as the man had hoped to have. It would be a win win situation for everyone.


    He would find love with him, the readers will get to read a fantastic love story and Davy would get to be free from the book. And everyone gets to be happy and get on with their lives. But with the epic love story, he had his fingers crossed that he could get Davy to not want to leave after everything was over.


    The villains could try all they wanted but he had made up his mind and there was no changing it. "Someone seems happy this morning," Jason heard and stopped in his tracks, he turned around and saw Freya standing before him with a sweet bright smile.


    "I am, lets just say that I am going into the battle field to fight for someone important to me," he said to her.


    "Crown prince Davion, I presume. You must like him a lot to be willing to fight for him, I envy that," Freya replied to his statement. She truly meant it when she said that she envied him. He had a love that he could hold on to and fight for. Something that she dreamt of her whole life, she hoped that Amaru would be that for her.


    But was afraid that she might be getting her hopes up with all the people contending for the man''s heart.

 Chapter 94 - Like Strangers(2)

    Jason found Davy resting under the tree enjoying the peace that the forest had to offer. He folded his hands into fists and marched forward to speak to him.


    ''Like a stranger,'' he practiced as he moved towards him. To start afresh, that is what he desired to have from him.


    He had to take Amaru''s advice and approach the crown Prince as though the man was a stranger to him. It was the only way, at provided hope for the future. And he had to seize every moment of it.


    Davy had the footsteps approaching him and opened his eyes. He turned around and looked at Jason, the man seemed too nervous for some reason. He look like he was getting into the battlefield.


    Davy sat up from the ground and looked over at him. His eyes when narrowed trying to find a clue in Jason''s eyes to see what he wanted.


    They have not had much of a conversation since he failed to go back to the real world. He didn''t know what was there to be said, the lives we just too complicated.


    He waited to see what the man would say and hopefully she would give her reply depending on that.


    Inhaling deeply, Jason took the first step to him. He stood there right beside him thinking of how to start up the conversation.


    Since he had to act like the man was a stranger to him. He was forced to think of ways of talking to him without bringing up the past together.


    " Hey stranger," he spoke out nervously.


    Davy raise his eyelashes and glanced at him confused. " Why are you calling me a stranger?" he asked.


    "What am I supposed to call you when he does the first time we''re meeting?" Jason let out. " I can only call you by your name if you tell me what it is," he added.


    Davy sighed. He messaged his forehead feeling a headache coming on. The man had come up to the new drama and sadly he could see it ending badly.


    " What are you doing?" Davy inquired.


    Jason took a seat next to him and hissed. He was trying.


    "I want to work. I can''t bring back the times that we have lost, but I most certainly can make use of all present to build a brighter future for us," he informed him.


    The male was curious about what he was going on. How does pretending not to know him to build the future that he was talking about? It was one thing to wish for them to find a way back to each other but it was another thing to try and make that dream come true.


    The pain that he had caused couldn''t go away just because he wanted it to. It would take a lot of work and determination to demand the wounds of the heart that he broke.


    "Tell me, do you think what you did can be erased simply because you want to start afresh?"


    Jason didn''t reply, there were no words he could use to express how bad here behaved with Davy. The wounds couldn''t even heal after four years apart. It went to show that Davy truly loved him and his betrayal truly hurt him.


    It was the only thing that made sense. Jason wanted to create a new story. One without the bad memories where they could live happily together. What better place to do that than in a novel of man''s creation.


    "Nothing I do can have a chance that and I don''t expect it to but I can''t least express how sorry I am," Jason confessed with a guilty heart.


    "Let''s suppose that I am interested in this plan of yours. What would it include?" the Crown Prince asked him?


    Jason''s eyes glowed with excitement as he could see the interest in Davy''s eyes. It made him happy to see that the man was interested in what he had to offer.


    It meant there was hope for his plan to succeed. To win his heart and build a home with the foundation being love.


    "Why don''t we start afresh. Like strangers who have never met and get to know each other once again," he proposed.


    Davy smiled at the suggestion. The man was surprisingly good is coming up with new ways of making the lives interesting.


    "If that is the case then I believe that you should court me. Since I don''t know you, you should convince me of why you should be with you," he said happily. " but I should want you but I have a lot of suitors, and you might not be so lucky. I suggest you up to your game," he added.


    Jason felt a shiver run down his spine. He felt like he had just dug a grave for himself by suggesting the idea to the man.


    The man was enjoying the idea on little too much. Which made him wonder just how difficult the man will make the task. Since he was the one who offered, there was no turning back to what Davy would have in store for him.


    But he had faith that he would succeed and hopefully get the love that his heart desires. He had to play the game no matter how dangerous it is.


    He could not believe it, " I should warn you that I''m not one to give up so easily. I will win you over if it is the last thing that I do," Jason told very confidently.


    He was sure of himself and believe that he had what it takes to defeat all that competed with him for the man''s heart.


    *******


    Winrus strolled away from the campsite. He had a lot on his mind, the most important thing the feelings that he had discovered to have for Amaru.


    The ice Prince that he would never have, one that taking control of his body, mind, and soul. Leaving him defenseless and hopelessly in love.


    He had fallen and the reason for his defeat was none other than a man, he never expected his heart to beat for. Since he had known the ice Prince, the money irritated him to no limits. He hated him well the way he chose to live his life. And how those choices messed with his image.


    The ice Prince was flirtatious, out of control, and had eyes that didn''t know how to stop staring at anything that crossed his path wearing a skirt.


    Yet, he could not deny what his heart was feeling. He had been tossing and turning for the whole night trying to find a solution to his problem. Find a way to convince himself that what he felt was a lie.


    That his mind was playing games with him. Thinking but he was in love when it was the opposite of that. But the reality was harsh and the truth cannot be changed no matter how much you tried to. He was forced to face the fact that a lowly slave such as himself how to allow his heart to like someone that he would never have.


    The ice Prince wasn''t his to love, he had a group of ladies waiting in line desperately trying to impress him. Not to mention the new girl that he had taken an interest in. The same goes he was invited to the same camping trip.


    Which ended up making things a lot worse. Winrus could not see the two of them together, even just staring at each other or holding hands. Everything they did irritate him in ways that he had never thought possible.


    He had never known love, this was the first time that his heart was falling for another, and as luck would have it that others didn''t feel the same way.


    Fate is too cruel to him. In terms of status, he and the ice Prince were worlds apart, there was nothing that connected them except for the crown Prince of Aphidia.


    In terms of love, the man in question preferred women. He would never look at a man, let alone a slave such as himself. The relationship between a slave and a master was considered forbidden. No Kingdom in the four lands would ever allow such a relationship to exist.


    Especially since one of the people involved is a prince. The heir to the throne of Zoltar or also known as Cressa.


    Winrus sighed. He could not change his fate, what was done was done. All that was left with for him to pick up the pieces and forget that the man ever entered his heart.


    "I will have to get rid of the feelings but I feel for you. It is wrong, I I should not love you Amaru," he left out in a raised tone of voice.


    " I must let you go. It is important that I find a way to erase you from my heart," he added.


    He turned around to head back. As much as he would have preferred, to take a walk for a long time he had duties to the Crown Prince.


    He stood frozen as you witnessed the ice prince standing right before him.

 Chapter 95 - In A Different Light

    Winrus stood frozen, the ice prince had heard everything that he said. It made his heart skip a beat, he was scared and worried over how to explain everything that he just said.


    His body shivered from the fear of accepting his reality before an audience. The man right in front of him is royalty and as such someone of his status should watch what I say or think.


    The fact that his truth was discovered so early. It made him nervous, scared even.


    "What are you doing out here?" Winrus in an attempt to play it casually. Attempt to pretend like he had no idea what the prince could have heard.


    He was tasting waters to see whether or not he was being paranoid, or Amaru did hear what he had to say while he whispered to himself.


    "I came to see you. I... Well.... I wanted to ask you a favor but I''m fine without it," Amaru said.


    The way he spoke how cautious he was, made Winrus believe that the man overheard everything that he said.


    And the fact that the prince was going an extra mile to pretend he didn''t, made his blood run cold.


    His life was on the line because he couldn''t keep his heart in check.


    "I heard what you said by the way. Tell me that you were lying, you didn''t mean anything you just said," Amaru let out.


    Winrus wish to but it was a lie. He hopes that he could change everything by believing it not to be true. That was not how the heart worked.


    Unlike his mind, she couldn''t just instruct to stop feeling and expected to. He was human, a human that love Prince he would never have.


    Amaru inched closer to the man. Winrus was forced to back away, the moment felt like a confrontation. One in which you will be helpless to defend itself, the ice Prince was royalty on order from him with his to obey.


    At that moment, the only thing Winrus wanted was a chance for his feelings to be just his own. To not have to explain himself to someone who wouldn''t understand.


    The Ice Prince was used to getting everything that he wanted, from the horses he preferred, to the ladies that he wished to be with.


    As for Winrus, his choices were limited.


    The two of them stood there staring at each other. No and willing to talk, there was tension between the two of them. A love that goodnight expressed, and the subject of the love that did not understand.


    Amaru had gone looking for Winrus to have his help in making a date with lady Freya. Something special that the two of them can do separate from that others.


    But he happen to have heard something that you never even considered possible. Yet, he found that he wasn''t angry. The fact that Winrus had feelings for him neither annoyed nor irritated him.


    He looked into Winrus''s with a threatening gaze. Not to scare the man but to check whether they were honest in his eyes or not. He could not tell why it mattered to him to find out if Winrus was honest and what he said.


    Since the man had said it without expecting anyone to hear it. It pointed out that, it was a truth, a secret that Winrus wanted to keep.


    As such, he felt the need to end the matter there. His heart was attracted to Freya. He could not bring himself to even consider what the possibility could hold for the two of them if the matter with Winrus wasn''t sorted.


    "You are my friend. I need you to be honest with me," he pleaded in a soft voice. "Is its true that you have feelings for me?" he questioned.


    Winrus swallowed hard. He did not anticipate for Amaru to direct the question at him. He parted his lips to answer, no words came out.


    He didn''t want to explain himself but since he was put on the spot, he found his other option is to answer the question. It was either that I have the male call out the crown prince to help with the interrogation.


    Something that he would very much like to avoid. "No, I do not have feelings for you," he let out blinking his eyes nervously.


    The Ice Prince stared at him, he had known Winrus his entire life. He knew him well enough to know that He blinks whenever he''s lying.


    The lie confirmed it. The truth that Winrus was keeping from him. Amaru felt the need to back off. He didn''t know what to do with the information that he had received.


    He decided to leave the matter at that for the moment. " I don''t know how to react to the knowledge that you have feelings for me. I will think on it and get back to you," he spoke out.


    Amaru was a believer, who believes that all feelings should be given a chance. He did like Freya but he couldn''t dismiss the feelings that Winrus had.


    "What does that mean?" the male asked lowering his head. He didn''t dare meet the prince''s eyes.


    "It means that until I figure out how I feel about this information. I wish that you would keep it to yourself," Amaru requested.


    The camping trip was supposed to be a calming experience where he gets to bond with the woman that he likes. Where he gets to help his friend, the Crown prince with his complicated love story.


    Instead what he got was a harsh taste of reality. Where he goes to learn that one of his friends. Close companion and someone he holds in high regard in his life, seen him in a different light and that of a friend.


    Since it was his friend that was concerned. He had to go deep inside himself and see if there was any part of him that could ever return the feelings of love.


    To give Winrus the answer that he needed. To keep him from constantly wondering, what if. It was a quest that would help him. If it was possible for him to love Winrus then it was only fair to give him a chance.


    And if it wasn''t possible then he could at least give the man a reply and help him move on. Because Amaru believed that it was unfair to have another love him for the rest of their life when he wasn''t capable of returning the feelings.


    According to him, everyone deserves a chance to be happy. And the first love is not always made for everyone. But simply because it doesn''t work out does not mean that you cannot find someone else who will love you the way you deserve to be loved.


    That is what he wanted for Winrus. If he wasn''t the man for Winrus then he will clarify that as soon as he can. So that the male would keep his options open and be free to any love that may come his way. Instead of holding onto something that can never be.


    " I can do that," Winrus let out softly.


    Amaru made the first move and walked away. He was deep in thought as he wandered through the trees trying to find a way back to the camp.


    He noted to himself to stay clear of both Freya and Winrus until he had his feelings sorted. To avoid hurting either of them.


    "Are you okay?" Elayne greeted him as he was on his way back to the campsite.


    Amaru sighed. He didn''t have time to deal with her at the moment. He had a lot to think about and so much to do, talking to her would only add to his problems.


    But the girl was not so easy to get rid of. Elayne had gone looking for him for one reason alone. To bond with him and get his mind from thinking about Freya.


    Amaru massaged his forehead. Elayne stood before him refusing to leave or move out of the way.


    "I am fine. Please let me pass?" Amaru requested nicely.


    Elayne flashed him a bright smile. She particularly liked it when Amaru spoke to her in a soft tone of voice. It made her feel how much she was considerate towards her.


    But she could not forget that for Freya, the man before her had gone against her. She objected to Freya joining them at a camping site, but Amaru invited her still.


    That made her very angry. And on that note, she decided not to heed his request. She stayed put and didn''t move, "Why would I do that, I want to talk to you," she expressed to him.


    She glanced at him with a gentle look of longing and desire. She had been in love with Amaru since she was a child. As such, she felt that only she deserved to be loved by him.


    " I have a confession to make.. I have to tell you how I feel, please spare me a moment," she begged sweetly.

 Chapter 96 - Plans And Worries

    Davy set the breakfast so that they could all eat as the family that they were. He and Jason had worked on cooking the food since Winrus had disappeared on them.


    Once the food was ready, Winrus, Amaru, and Elayne walked into the campsite together to join them. Amberly and Sashina we''re the happiest to see Elayne and Amaru coming around together.


    It felt like a win against Freya. And their smirks and knowing looks they flashed to the girl told Freya everything that she needed to know about what they were thinking without having to hear them say it.


    "The morning has started on a good note. If we are lucky we might get to end it well too," Sashina said looking at Jason.


    "I couldn''t agree more," Elayne spoke out taking a seat away from Freya and Amaru.


    Davidson dished out some food to his plate refusing to entertain whatever evil the three women were plotting. An author trapped in his book, standing in the middle of all the villains of his creation.


    There was nothing more horrifying than that. Since he designed the villains, he knew the level of darkness that they were willing to talk into to try and get what they want.


    Since villains never have a happy ending, their chapters never end since they never get their tasks done. It was an endless circle of obsessions that only grew deeper with time making each one of them more and more dangerous with every failed attempt.


    Because in their minds they believe that they have a chance of winning when their destiny was decided from the start.


    The breakfast was moving on quite well. So far no one had attacked anyone either with fists or insulting words.


    They all tried to mind their business, all with plans on how to spend that camping trip. Davy wanted some peace to think. To plan carefully how he was supposed to get the epic love story and get out of the book.


    Jason had to find a way to romance the prince and get his happy ending. His love was on the line, he needed all of him to think of a solution to get the author to agree to give him a chance and marry him.


    Amaru had a lot on his mind concerning the the matter with the Winrus and Freya. He didn''t like to stand between two people. Or have the power to decide who gets to be with him in the end.


    In his opinion, he believed that both of them deserves to be loved. Since their hearts were capable of feeling that way for him. But there was no denying that for one to be happy the other had to we heart broken.


    As painful as it sounded. It was the harsh reality of the world. To keep the balance of nature, for one to get another must lose. For one to live another must die, and hence in order to give one of the two love you would have to break another''s heart.


    He didn''t take pride in the position that he was put in. It worried him so much he didn''t even touch his food.


    Sashina on the other hand was busy coming up with a plan. A way to get her prince charming and get rid of the competition.


    She was formulating a plan to get to rid of the crown prince from Jason''s life once and for all. She was certain that once the crown Prince was out of the way, he would get out of Jason''s mind and she would be free to slip in and take his place.


    After all all was fair in love and war. Whether or not she killed someone to get love was a matter she would have to worry about later in the future.


    To her side, Amberly brushed her hand over her stomach. The crown prince''s child have been planted in her stomach. It was was her golden key to getting Davion to be hers.


    She believed that she could manipulative the prince to take her side and embrace her love by using the baby. He wanted an heir which she was ready to give but in return she wanted him.


    But he also was formulating a plan B. In case the baby doesn''t work then it was decided in her mind but Jason had to go.


    Accident happen, especially when someone was in the forest. A prince for that matter who could be attacked or harmed accidentally buy a wild animal or rogue bandits.


    It didn''t matter what excuse you would have to give. The most important task was insuring that at the end of the day she had the crown prince.


    If she couldn''t have him then no one else would.


    Freya was getting worried. She had been sent to kill Jason but after spending a day in the palace. She had grown to be friends with him, that didn''t change the fact that someone badly wanted him dead.


    She was helpless on how to warn him. Because if she tried, she would have to admit that she was also an assassin sent to kill him. That would make her lose a friend and possibly the love of her life.


    She liked Amaru so much. It was that attraction of the soulmate bond that pulled had to him. But deep in her heart she wanted to stay with him.


    He was afraid of light in her dark world. He looked at her not judging her what embracing who she was without asking any questions. Not many people would do that for her, the reality of the world was simple.


    Everyone was always pushing to know everything about someone else. Filled with endless curiosity, no one truly accepted anyone without a story.


    While some stories can be acceptable, others are considered to be abominations in society. Especially a girl with her past. She had no family and was raised as a killer, trains to do other peoples dirty jobs as a way of putting a meal on her table.


    It wasn''t a decent way of life. But that was her life, it would not change who she was born into or the things that she had done to survive. No one ever cares about what pushes a survivor to do with they do, they only look at the deed and judge.


    So it mattered to her, to have the one person who is never cared where she came from not hate her. Even if it is just for a while, she wanted to know what it feels like to be like other normal ladies and experience love and Acceptance.


    Such a deal was too good to be true for someone like her. But it was a chance for her to grow. To learn to be compassionate and perhaps change from the ways that the world had trained to be.


    But with Elayne in the way. She felt threatened, as so she might lose Amaru to her. It made her bitter inside.


    She could not even bring herself to thinking what you was going to do about Davy. She was born and trained to serve him. Yet, she was more concerned about us soulmate than her master.


    Elayne stared at Freya. She liked to see them worried look on the girl''s face. It was a perfect way to start her day even though she was far from getting what you wanted.


    She could feel it, something in Amaru was different. It wasn''t just how Freya affected him. She had this gut feeling that there was another reason why Amaru was so lost in his thoughts.


    ''No matter what I have to do. I promise you that you won''t go back to Aphidia alive,'' she vowed in her thoughts.


    Everything was so clear to her. In order for her to get the man that she loves, Freya will have to die. Without her around, she had confidence that she could get the ice prince to love her.


    She believed that with Freya out of the way then it would only be her that Amaru will have to look at. And when she is in his sight, you will have no choice but to fall in love with her. Then she will have her long deserved and awaited happy ending.


    While everyone else was thinking about the love life. Winrus was busy being worried over how having the feelings of love in his heart was going to ruin his life. He was a slave as such he was bound to the Prince for the rest of his life.


    There was no space for love in his life. As it was the law in Aphidia, slaves were not allowed to have love life. It would shift the loyalty, because when it came to a matter of choosing between the one they love and their master. The hesitation in itself might cost them masters life.


    To avoid such a scenario. The King put a law for forbid slave from falling in love.. And a slave who dares to defy such a law will die.

 Chapter 97 - The Imposter

    Jason stood before Davy with his hands to his back. He had a gift made for the prince, to show him how special he found him to be. Every inch of his body was yearning for Davy to open his heart for him.


    That is why he went to great lengths to get in the gift that he had. It wasn''t much but he had put a lot of thought into it and hoped that Davy would like it.


    "What is it?" Davy asked him.


    "I got you something that you have always wanted," Jason let out happily.


    "Really?" Davy sounded enthusiastic. "Let me see. The gift will determine whether or not you understand me," he said in a challenging way.


    Jason opened his hands revealing a knife that had some words engraved in it. ''Every ounce of blood in my body is for you,'' Davy read.


    He didn''t seem happy with the gift. He kept looking at the knife without any emotions on his face.


    Jason held his breath, he had anticipated that Davy would like the knife. Yet, from where he stood that seemed far from it.


    "You don''t like it?" he inquired from the man.


    " No, that is not it. I just don''t understand why you would think I would want this," he let out to him.


    "Its your thing, you know from the cursed love," Jason admitted to let the man know that he still remembered everything even though they had being apart for four years.


    "Cursed love? What is that?"


    Jason chuckled. He could not tell whether or not Davy was pulling his leg. The man was obsessed with the show since high school. It was his favorite and the words on the knife were from that show.


    From Davy''s favorite moment in the series. It took him the whole evening to remember that line and to have it written on the knife.


    "The line that Zaka said to Henrik after he almost died," Jason let out to prove that he knew what he was talking about.


    "What?" Davy asked him. "Who are those people, where ah they from and why do you think that there words are important to me?"


    Jason was speechless. The younger male that he knew would never forget that show. It was his second home about from writing and painting which went hand in hand with each other.


    He knew where those people came from and loved them. It was the first bl movie they ever watched it together and the man was the king of cherish firsts. First kiss, first love and first of everything that he experienced.


    It wasn''t like him to forget something so important. Which made Jason suspicious, he said that there was something wrong with Davy.


    "You know what, you are right. I do love the knife and Zaka," the younger man said. "I was only trying to put your leg," he added.


    Jason could tell that he was lying. His mouth was saying one thing but his eyes what deceiving him by giving him away.


    The mind before he mad no idea what he was going on about. As such Jason was forced to think about what was going on. The crown prince had disappeared after breakfast and vanished into the forest.


    He decided to find out what was truly wrong with Davy. "Do you remember the first time we kissed. It was under the moonlight, very romantic," he spoke out in a haze as the deep in thought.


    He moved closer to Davy as he spoke. "Yes, how can I forget such a beautiful night," the younger man replied.


    "You pulled me in your arms and confessed you undying love to me. You promised me forever and sealed it with a kiss," Jason went on to say.


    " Yes, it was the most beautiful nights of my life. The night that we bonded as one," he let out happily.


    Jason frowned. No such night had ever happened between him and Davy either in the novel or in the real world.


    He was making it up to see how the man would react. And as expected the mine went along with everything because he wasn''t the crown Prince.


    Jason''s heart pounded in his chest in fear. Davy was not around and had disappeared after going into the woods. And suddenly they imposter arrived in his place, it made him worry about the whereabouts of his beloved.


    He moved forward and pinned the man to the tree behind them. Davy gulped. Jason stood so close to him at the bodies were touching.


    It made him nervous as a result he moved away. But there was no where to move to, Jason had trapped him in between his hands.


    "Can I kiss you?" Jason ask doing the final test.


    Davy wasn''t his biggest fan of the moment. The man would not even let him hold his hand let alone kiss him. So if truly the man was his Davy. Then his request would be denied that he was sure of.


    "You don''t need to ask. I am yours, all of me from my body, mind and soul belongs to you. You can have me and you don''t have to ask," the man replied in the sweetest seductive voice possible.


    Jason swallowed hard. He did not imagine that answer, it was the last thing he expected to hear from the person pretending to be the Prince.


    He had no idea what the motive the person had for impersonating the Prince but they clearly how to no problem with getting close to him.


    "Tell me, why do you belong to me?" he found himself asking.


    "I have love in my heart for you and that is the reason that I accept you," Davy uttered.


    Jason was left speechless. Whoever it is that was pretending to be the prince was gifted when it comes to words. He was saying exactly what Jason wanted to hear from Davy.


    He clearly had no idea that Davy was in no position to utter such sweet words to Jason at the moment. Davy was angry at him for their breakup and he was still to earn his place back in the man''s heart.


    "But I broke your heart. How can you trust me after that?" Jason asked trying to see how well the person will played the game.


    "What?!"


    As expected, the man was surprised by his confession and question. Since only Jason and Davy new about the relationship they shared on the real world. It was something that an imposter would not know.


    "I broke your heart. That is the reason why you''ve been avoiding me lately," jason said giving the man a clue to see how he twists the story.


    Davy lowered his gaze looking everywhere but at him. Jason waited patiently he didn''t seem to be in any rush for an answer. He could wait, to call him out on the lie and ask him what he did with the Prince.


    His eyes darted to the man''s neck. He happens to see something that was very familiar. A mark but he had seen somewhere before. He just could not tell where he had seen it.


    He closed his eyes tried to imagine all the people in his life in the royal palace he had seen with a birth mark on the neck.


    But nothing was ringing a bell. "I know that you hurt me but I love you enough to overlook all of that as long as you say that you love me," the man spoke out.


    His words was very shocking to hear. If only the person knew Davy well. He would know that''s the man wasn''t big unforgiving or forgetting.


    He was very much for getting even with every pain that was inflicted on him. It was his way of getting closer for everything that was ever inflicted on him.


    " Are you sure, that is how it works. Do you love me so much that you can forget everything and just move on?" Jason asked.


    The reason for his questions was to try and find out who the person was by the way of their thinking. He had narrowed down the search to the people around him.


    The prince had only gone missing for a few while. If someone was planning to switch places with him, it was only possible for the people at the camping site.


    He didn''t know the reason for the deceit but now he had a list of who it could be. And after careful consideration he figured it out.


    The only person who loves him so much. The overlook everything to be with him. Even the fact that he was in love with someone else. And that person was none other than Sashina.


    The girl was crazy and she seems to be up to something when they met that morning. It wouldn''t surprise him if she found a way to pretending to be a man just to get close to him.


    They were in a book full of magic.. Anything was possible and that included shapeshifting.

 Chapter 98 - Wander Off To The Prince

    Prince Amaru replayed the moments in his mind that he had spent with Winrus. When he was with the man conversation was easy. They got along quite well and teased here and there but his heart didn''t feel anything more than that for him.


    After thinking about it for so long he realized that he only cared for him as a friend and nothing more than that. He had been waiting for something new that would make his heart skip a beat and that was Freya.


    Now that he had found what he wanted, he didn''t want to let her go. He hoped that she would stay a little longer with him so that they could get to know each other better.


    She was the one that his heart was calling to. He wanted to be fair and gave it a proper thought but no matter how hard he thought about it, he found that he was willing to cross the seven seas if it was what it took to get closer to Freya.


    He would do the same for Winrus because they were friends. Since he had figured out how he felt, he didn''t wish to keep any of them waiting.


    Now he could stop avoiding Freya and tell her the truth. He stepped outside of his tent. Before seeing Freya he decided it best to break the news to Winrus. The man needed to hear it from him where his heart lies before he asks Freya out.


    He strolled towards the crown prince''s tent. It was late and during such times the man preferred to take a nap with Winrus reading a book to him. That was why he decided to check the crown prince''s tent for the man.


    When he arrived there, he caught Winrus in Davy''s arms. Davy was rubbing his hair while the make cried to him. Amaru halted.


    "It''s alright, I have you," Davy comforted him.


    Winrus held onto him as though holding on for his life. He let his tears flow down his face.


    It was heartbreaking to love someone that he could never have. Whether or not Amaru accepted him or not, there was no way for him to be happy. Every choice held nothing but pain and suffering for him.


    He was born into who he was and that meant that he didn''t have the right to be happy or find love. And that fact was tearing him apart. It wasn''t fair.


    His fate had never troubled him much until the thoughts of the ice prince started running through his mind. There he was, with his heart racing chasing a path that wasn''t written for him and all he could do is cry over it.


    There were no words that could explain what he was feeling. One moment while thinking that Amaru might say yes, he found himself on top of the stars with all of him coming alive but the next the reality would hit.


    He would remember that the man was interested only in women and already had eyes for someone and his heart would shatter into a million pieces.


    He couldn''t follow his heart. His mind was a mess, he couldn''t even think properly and had his mind racing over his predicament from dawn.


    "You don''t have to be strong alone. I will hold your hand through this," Davy said to him.


    The man could understand the situation that Winrus was in. He had floated on the same boat when Jason broke his heart. He was stuck on what to do. He couldn''t go back or move forward. The confusion and heartache were unbearable especially since he had no one to hold his hand.


    He couldn''t see someone else go through that pain. He blamed Zillon for Winrus''s pain. The man was responsible for introducing Freya into the picture and making her Amaru''s love interest.


    Amaru and Winrus''s love story only had one rival, Elayne. But now thanks to that idiot friend of his Freya was threatening a beautiful ship that he had made.


    He wouldn''t be shocked if Amaru picked Freya. He was team Amarus all the way, the two made a cute pair and would look together.


    That is what he gets for giving someone else the power to interfere with his book. They change the plot and change cute ships by pairing two wrong people together.


    Prince Amaru watched the scene and felt a pang in his heart. It hurt him to see how weak Winrus was crying out his heart. It pained him to know that he was the reason that the man was in pain.


    Amaru couldn''t bring himself to walk inside and tell him his decision. It would shatter him more and break him further than he already was and that was the last thing on his mind for the male.


    He took a step back and stepped on a dry that broke with a cracking sound.


    Winrus lifted his head to look at the entrance. His teary eyes met with Amaru''s eyes and paused. Right before his eyes was the reason for the conflict inside of him.


    The man responsible for the sleepless nights he had since that night that his heart skipped a beat for the first time. The person is liable for making his heart desire what his destiny didn''t have in store for him.


    Winrus stood from the ground and stepped away from the crown prince and rushed out of the tent. He wiped his tears as he moved passed Amaru without looking back.


    "What are you looking at? Go after him," Davy spoke out to the dazed prince staring at him.


    "Ah..yes," Amaru let out and ran after Winrus. His mind was filled with a lot of thoughts running through his mind.


    Trying to come up with the right words to say to Winrus over the situation they found themselves in. He was confused when he had gone to seek the man out. He was sure of what he wanted to say but at that moment, he didn''t know anymore what he would do.


    He raced over to the direction that Winrus disappeared to. His feet froze when he saw Jason in the distance speaking to who looked like the crown prince.


    He looked back to the camp where he had just left the prince. It made him wonder who the person was that was posing as the crown prince and why they were doing that.


    Amaru pushed the thoughts to the back of his head and moved ahead to chase after Winrus. He could think about the fake crown prince later.


    He dashed deeper into the forest leaving the clearing away. It was time for him to step up and fix the situation that he was in.


    "I hope that you understand what I am saying," he heard Elayne''s voice before the scene before him become clear. "Don''t you think it''s embarrassing to let those dirty eyes of yours wander off to the prince?" She questioned.


    Prince Amaru watched the scene. His eyes moisten, no one had the right to speak like that to Winrus. At the end of the day that man was still human and had a heart, his status didn''t give anyone the right to insult his feelings.


    "Don''t you think it''s undeserving that you are making him worry over irrelevant feelings?" She raised the question at Winrus.


    The man clenched his hands around the hems of his clothes and kept his eyes to the ground.


    "You should have done that from the start," Elayne went on to say. "To keep your eyes from ever looking at the prince by facing down. But it''s too late for that isn''t it?" She questioned as she held his face in hers.


    "Disgusting," she said and pushed him.


    Amaru''s eyes darkened. Ice started moving from the point where his feet were. In every direction of the forest, he was beyond mad.


    "Who are you to decide who gets to look at me?" He roared making his presence known.


    Elayne twirled her head in his direction. Her jaw dropped on seeing there, she shivered seeing how mad he was.


    "I asked you a question. Who made you the judge of who gets to love me?" He barked at her. "And who gave the right to belittle Winrus?"


    "He is a slave an.."


    "I dare you to justify your wrong deed before me," he said stepping forward. The temperature decreased. The whole area was freezing from the ice that his steps were creating.


    The ice prince was too occupied with Elayne that he had not even realised that he was freezing everything.


    "Here I thought that you were just being insecure with Freya but that isn''t the case is it, Elayne?" He asked to her. "The problem is not your insecurities. You have a heart made of stone and that''s the real truth," he uttered making a stop in front of Winrus as his shield.


    Elayne was shocked. She hugged herself from the cold.. Her face was full of disbelief over what she had heard.

 Chapter 99 - Mistake

    The cold from the ice Prince was freezing everything in its path. The man was very angry, he had heard enough of everyone giving the opinion even when they want not needed.


    Especially, Elayne, she had been at his throat from the very moment that Freya came into his life. He didn''t know where the jealousy was coming from, never in his life has the indicated any interest in the girl standing before him.


    She was being entitled to no reason. Their friendship was not enough for her to act like he was her property.


    "I am not a house or a horse to be owned by you or anyone for that matter," he said.


    The kind of behavior being displayed by the girl disgusted him. She was becoming more and more like her sister overlooking one fact. The girl was using her wicked ways to try and get the crown prince to like her, greatly failing at each turn.


    "Perhaps you should tell that to do Freya and the slave. They''re the ones who don''t understand that fact," Elayne spoke out in anger.


    Prince Amaru was tongue-tied. Neither of the names she mentioned acted the way she suggested. She was the only one who is behaving as though, he was a property and such no one else could look at it let alone try to have it.


    But as expected she was refusing to see the truth that was right before her eyes. Amaru felt very stupid for trying to reason with her.


    "Let me make myself clear. You don''t have any right to have any feelings for me and I refused to give you the right to judge anyone whose heart beats for me," he let out in a cold threatening voice.


    Elayne stumbled back. Amaru''s words pierced through her heart, cutting deep into her wounded soul.


    To hear the man she loves to tell her that she had no right to have such feelings for him was heartbreaking. But not as heartbreaking as knowing that the reason why you were talking to her like that was because of a slave.


    She was furious. In her fury, she walked up to the Prince and pushed him into the side. Once she was faced with the person she blamed them for everything that was happening.


    She reached into her pocket and retrieved a knife. She was hoping to use the knife on Freya but was provoked to use it on Winrus instead.


    The knife was poisoned. "Arggh," Winrus screamed when the knife was plunged into him.


    His scream attracted the attention of everyone. Davy and the rest of the group that was at the camp. Did not hesitate to dash in that direction where they had the scream.


    Jason and the fake Davy also heard the scream. Jason released the fake Davy and run in the direction of the scream to find out who it was that made the noise.


    He didn''t even bother to check whether the fake Davy was following him or not. The only thought that ran into his mind was the fact that. The person you screamed could have been the real Davy.


    That was all he needed to run with all of his might in the direction of the scream. The more that he run, the harder it was to keep up the pace with the ice on the ground.


    The weather was cold. That only made his heart beat faster. There was only one person he knew that would make ice, and after the scream, you were even more worried about why the man was forced to create ice in the middle of summer.


    "How dare you?" Amaru uttered and shot ice towards Elayne. The girl moved to escape the attack and the ice ended up hitting Winrus on the heart.


    Winrus fell to the ground. Blood oozed out of the wound that Elayne had inflicted on him. While the ice moved around his body freezing everything in its way.


    "No!" Amaru screamed. His voice reached far And wide. It was hard to imagine what had taken place. He had gone there to try and mend Winrus''s wounded heart but ended up freezing the man''s heart completely.


    He was stuck. The prince couldn''t move. He frozen place unable to move forward or backward. His eyes stared at Winrus''s body tears of despondency clothing his visage.


    Elayne looked at the scene with a smile on her face. She was happy, the obstacles in the way were gone. Winrus was dying and it made her extremely happy, her heart was filled with joy as she witnessed the blood flowing out of the slave.


    There was no ounce of sadness in her eyes. Without even trying so hard she had eliminated one obstacle from her way to finding true love.


    With Winrus out of the way. She only had Freya to worry about, the girl would be a piece of cake.


    Davy arrived at the scene. He was dumb stuck, his feet rooted to the ground preventing you from moving forward. It was a sight that shocked the life out of him and made it impossible for him to think clearly.


    Prince Amaru fun some strength inside of him. He walked over to the man on the ground and squatted next to him. He picked Winrus from the ground and carry him.


    He lifted off the ground and flew away with him. The others who arrived late did not see what had happened. They could only spot blood on the ice other than that, there was nothing more for them to see.


    Davy jumped from the ground and flew after his friend. He had to find out what had happened and why Winrus ended up in that situation.


    "Goodbye Winrus," Elayne said happily.


    Amberly walked over to her sister to find out from her what are taking place. She did not like what she saw, Winrus was the heart and soul of the crown prince and Amaru.


    As far as she knew, Davion always stood up for the slave even against the king. She had to make sure that her sister had not made the mistake of attacking Winrus.


    The slave was a simple man who commanded the protection of both the three princes. Prince Davion, Prince Nedryn, and prince Amaru, as such one would be signing the death warrant if they were to attack or take him as an enemy.


    "What happened to Winrus?" Amberly asked.


    "I made sure that he won''t be a problem on my side ever again," the girl without happily.


    She was glowing with happiness. There was no limit to her smile, her heart was pounding with the joy of knowing that, the reason for which the prince insulted her was no longer going to be alive for much longer.


    She had gotten her revenge on the humiliation that the prince had put her through because of the slave.


    "Have you lost your mind?" Amberly inquired from her. "Why would you make such a stupid mistake?"


    Elayne glared at her. She was having the time of her life and instead of her sister being happy for her. The girl was busy reprimanding her for no reason, she didn''t like that at all. All of her was screaming to give her sister a tight slap to remind her where her loyalty lay.


    "I have gotten rid of one obstacle in my path. Instead of being happy for me, you are calling me?" she asked her face full of disbelief.


    "What do you think will happen. Which part that broken brain of yours believes that the Prince will look at you after what you''ve done?" Amberly asked. "You hurt him right in front of Amaru and showed him that you are not the person he believes you to be," she added in frustration.


    Elayne backed away. The Prince had said that she was a cold-hearted woman. That statement hurt her but with her actions, she went ahead and prove to him right.


    Thinking about it like that she started seeing the reason white was wrong of her to attack Winrus.


    Slave or not the man was very important to the Prince and everyone else in the royal family. Yet, she had just stabbed without mercy.


    The thought of how the Prince with going to retaliate to that made her tremble. Her heart that was beating with happiness some moments back was thundering in his chest with fear.


    Everything was ruined. She had not gotten rid of one obstacle but had cleared up a path for Freya to win over the Prince without any competition.


    If something bad happened to Winrus then she would lose a chance with Amaru forever. And that was not something she was willing to agree to.


    "Sister, I made a mistake. Please you have to help me think of a solution to this problem that I have brought upon myself," she cried and pleaded.


    Amberly took her hand and held her in her arms.

 Chapter 100 - Tending To Winrus

    The crown prince and Prince Amaru got Winrus some distance away from the campsite. The ice was traveling all across his body at a very high speed.


    Davy waited for Amaru to set the male down before squatting down beside Winrus. With his in-depth knowledge of the book. Davy understood well how his powers worked as he had written them.


    He took hold of Winrus''s hand and closed his eyes focusing on drawing the ice from the man and into himself. He removed the ice from the male turning it into shards of mirrors.


    Amaru stood to the side. His hands shaking a lot from worry. He had hit Winrus by accident when the person that he was aiming for was Elayne. Seeing Winrus in that condition where he was forced to fight for his life made his heart skip a beat. He couldn''t bear it.


    His heart hurt. It was as though someone had taken a sharp dagger had plunged it into him. It was heartbreaking to know that he could have prevented the male from getting hurt.


    Nothing else mattered to him at that moment. the only thing that he cared about was making certain that the male gets better. He owed it to Winrus and to himself to make certain that nothing happens to him.


    Amaru reached out his hand into the air trying to hold on to Winrus. He did it in the hopes that the man would reach out to him and take his hand.


    "Elayne will rue this day for eternity," Amaru vowed.


    Davy turned all th ice in Winrus into mirrors and shattered them away from the male to prevent the broken pieces from hurting any of them.


    he siphoned some energy from himself and transferred it to the male. WWinrus was one of his favorite people, the male was loyal, friendly, kind, easily teased, caring, and had many more qualities that he could state in words.


    he was one of the characters that Davy was fond of. the gay best friend to the gay prince who would go to any lengths to protect the ones he loved. his tolerance makes him the perfect friend.


    "We need to get the poison out of his system," Davy said. unfortunately, poison was one of the things that he couldn''t siphon. not that it was impossible but it could kill him since he would be taking it inside of himself.


    "What kind of poison is it?" Amaru asked him.


    Davy couldn''t tell. All he knew was that the man was poisoned. he felt some of the poison enter his body while he was transferring his energy into the male.


    "I know an efficient way to get the poison out," Davy proposed. "It will require a lot of wood, fire, and some herbs," he added.


    "I''ll get the wood," Jason said making an entry.


    "Took you long enough to get here," Davy said. "I guess your job is to put pressure on the wound," he added turning towards Amaru.


    the ice prince didn''t waste any time switching places with Davy. He placed his hand on Winrus''s wound and applied some force to keep the male from bleeding out too much.


    "Get a lot of wood," Jason jumped at the opportunity to help.


    it felt nice on his part to be able to contribute. It would help to take his mind off a few things that were troubling him and he gets to earn points with Davy and save Winrus. it was a win-win situation for everyone in his opinion.


    He moved in the direction of the wind. Letting the wind brush against his skin gently as he contemplated his future.


    Davy went in the opposite direction from Jason. he went in search of some herbs that might help to increase the speed of removing the poison from Winrus''s body.


    knowing the forest like the back of his mind, he went straight to the small hill north of the camp where the flowers of the forgotten grew. he scrunched down to the ground and picked the herbs that he needed and got a few leaves of the forgotten flower.


    He could think of a few people that needed to forget a few things about their lives. Elayne had hurt his baby and there was no telling that she won''t be able to do it again if the chance presented itself.


    It was up to him to make sure that the woman didn''t do it again. He had to make sure that the attack was a one-time.


    Once he had everything that he needed he moved back heading to his friends. Being the author, it was easy for him to find the herbs since he wrote them in the place where they grew. It was a little like a god walking around the earth.


    He rushed back to Amaru with the herbs that he had collected. The main ingredient had yet to arrive, Jason had not come back yet with the wood.


    No matter, the two of them simply required the wood to finish the job. The main thing that had to be done could be accomplished with just the herbs anf a little bit of magic.


    He found his beloved friend crying over Winrus''s body. From where he stood the feelings that Amaru had for the male seemed to go deeper than the ice prince made it appear to be.


    Either the man was in denial of what he was feeling or it had just not occurred to him that he could be in love with Winrus. it was obvious from the way that he was crying like a baby whose favorite toy had been snatched away from them.


    Davy dropped the herbs on the grass. he picked three green leaves of one of the herbs that he had collected and got it in his hands where he crushed it with magic.


    he brought the herbs to the male''s lips, he got prince Amaru to freeze some of the herbs. he melted the ice with fire and rubbed his hands together. Making the ice mix with the water and making it liquid, the water sipped through Winrus''s lips and into his body.


    the same was done with three more herbs. Davy manipulated the water to Winrus''s chest t try and heal the wound that the man had.


    Elayne had stabbed him deep in his chest. it was taking all of him to try and repair the damaged veins, nerves, and skin that had been torn.


    "I dont care who she thinks she is. Once Winrus gets better I am sending that girl to hell," Amaru threatened.


    "Right now concentrate on Winrus getting better, I will ensure that Elayne doesn''t get away with this," the prince said to him.


    Jason continued on his task to gather would. He did with this whole heart. Winrus was his friend, the man had his back when he and walking back up in the book.


    The advice he gave, the concert that he brought to Jason buy just made him feel like you were not alone. Was more than enough to get in Jason''s good books.


    The man was also very close to Davy. The author cared about him, he figured seeing how panicked Davy was when he arrived.


    Winrus was important to his beloved and that made him work harder on getting more wood. Jason had no idea what the wood would be used for. All he knew was that his beloved needed it to save the male.


    He had the song stuck in his head as he went about his business. A song that used to be his and Davy''s. They heard it on the first date, it became special to them and before they realize it. It had become their song.


    When he had enough wood. He traced back his steps. To find the Prince and the others, he used his natural ability to carry the wood back with him.


    They would be too much for him to carry alone. As such, it didn''t take him much time to get back. Davy was excited to see him. He was happy that Jason had made it back in time for them to start the next step of getting rid of the poison from Winrus.


    With Jason''s help, they arrange the wood and made a bonfire. Davy had Amaru help him to lift Winrus from the ground and on top of the fire.


    They swung his right to left letting the heat of the flame hit his body. It was indeed an exhausting task.


    The herbs that the man had inside him were already enough to push the poison out of the pores of the man''s body.


    And the heat from the fire aided to increase the speed at which the poison was being pushed out of the man''s system.


    The two of them were at it for hours. Winrus''s body was covered in green goo that was oozing out of the man''s body.


    The male was sweating from head to toe. Jason took over from Davy who was beyond exhausted and continued to move Winrus around.


    An hour later, Amaru and Davy switched places with him deciding to take a small nap.. The three men kept switching places as the hours of the night went by.

 Chapter 101 - Im Yours If Youll Have Me

    Davy took his time to get ready for bed. His body was sweaty and he reeked from all the work that he was forced to do. But it was worth it, to be able to see his friend getting better. It gave him a satisfied feeling that he could not explain.


    He loved having a pen in his where he would be able to create as many words as he wanted but most of all he had not felt magic at that moment.


    Living in a world where everything is possible, having no limits to the things that he can do. Having the power to save his friends from any tragedy that may befall them was truly an enlightening feeling.


    He was starting to understand why Jason was in love with the life in the novel so badly. Not knowing what was ahead since the plot was changing and having the thrill of anticipation on what new adventure could be waiting upon the new dawn was unpredictable and fun.


    "You were amazing today," Jason complimented as he got ready to enter his tent to sleep. He wasn''t sure what he wanted to hear from the man that he stood there waiting.


    But at that moment, anything would be awesome. It would be nice to hear Davy speak to him nicely again.


    Davy raised his gaze towards Jason. He flashed a smile to the male, he was tired of being bitter and keeping his distance from the male.


    Seeing Winrus alright in one moment and fighting for his life in the next made him realize that they won''t always be around forever. Instead of wasting they had to be apart and different from each other. They could just skip all the unnecessary bad times and fast forward to the good.


    He moved a step closer to Jason, the male raised his chin seeing him approaching. Davy came and stood right before the male.


    "I hate you," he started to say. Jason''s eyes fell to the ground. He wanted to hear from the man but the words that the man said weren''t what he anticipated to hear from him.


    He would be lying if he said that those words didn''t hurt him. Every word that the man let out bruised a part of his already broken heart. it was hard to keep his gaze on Davy after the man let out that clear confession that shattered any dreams that he could have had for their future.


    "I hate the way that you broke my heart when all I ever did was love you," Davy explained himself.


    Jason bit his lip. that mistake was going to haunt him for the rest of his life at that rate. There was nothing that he could do to make them forget the pain that he had inflicted on him four years ago.


    It was heartbreaking to know that any chance of a future with Davy was not possible because of the past.


    "But I like being around you," Davy admitted. He closed the distance between him and Jason. "I can''t say that I love you but my heart is open to you," he confessed.


    Jason raised his head unable to make out if he had heard him correctly. He had not anticipated that the younger male would say that after admitting that he hated him for the breakup.


    "Treat me soft and tender since this is the only chance that I can ever give you," Davy let out to him.


    Jason could comply with that request. All that he needed was a chance and knowing that he had that was more than enough for him.


    "So I have your permission to come after you?" Jason inquired from the man.


    "No," Davy let out to him. he moved a step closer to Jason that their bodies were touching. "In case you didn''t get what I am trying to say to you. Let me let it out to you in clear words, I am your''s if you''ll have," Davy added.


    Jason felt his heart almost explode from joy. He had this blissful feeling flowing through his body. It was a feeling that he couldn''t explain in words.


    His heart thundered in his chest. It was calling out the name of the male standing by him. He didn''t dislike the beat, he loved the direction of their conversation. He didn''t know what it was that pushed Davy to change his mind and he didn''t care.


    All that mattered to him was the fact the man had given him a second chance to right the wrongs that he had made in the past.


    "What about the man that you are seeing now?" Jason raised the question. He wanted to be certain that he was getting the whole of Davy and not just parts of him.


    Davy went silent, he seemed to be deep in thought. it wasn''t fair to open his heart to Jason with him in the picture. It wasn''t his nature to play with people''s feelings or lives.


    Having suffered such love before he knew how much such a betrayal felt like. He wouldn''t be such a pain to his enemies let alone someone who cared for him.


    "An epic love is my only way out of the novel. So let''s not talk about the outside world while we are here, just concentrate on the now," he spoke out.


    Thanks to th man he left in charge of the novel, he couldn''t leave unless he reaches the end of the book. it could be a while depending on how long Zillon decides to make the book.


    Until he got to that point, it felt useless thinking about things that might be. For the moment he wanted to enjoy his journey, no matter what destination awaited him at the end of it all.


    It was not the answer that Jason wanted to hear but anything was better than nothing. If he understood the man, until they were in the book then he would get all of him.


    It was all that he needed. He could feel butterflies in his stomach at the thought of what that meant.


    "Can I make a request?" Jason raised a question wrapping his hands around Davy''s neck.


    "I haven''t even given myself to you for ten minutes and already you are pulling favors with me," Davy said with a pleased smile.


    He loved how eager Jason was with him. It was just like before when they were together. Despite being the younger one between them, he was always the mature and dependable one of them.


    While Jason was the childish adorable man that Davy couldn''t help but want to spoil. "Can you love me like before?" Jason asked of him.


    Davy messed his hair with a sweet smile on his lips. It was hard to deny that he was impressed with Jason''s ability to stay so cute even in a different body.


    The older male had the talent of having cute adorable puppy eyes. "I can''t make any promises I can try to love you as best I can," Davy let out honestly.


    Hee didn''t want to tell a lie. Or give the male false promises, he wanted to be true to himself.


    "That is all that I could ask of you," Jason said in a whisper. "For now," he added and stole a kiss on Davy''s cheek.


    He let go of the man and turned around to leave and enter his tent. Davy grabbed his hand and stopped him in his tracks. Jason''s breath caught as he inhaled and exhaled deeply.


    His heart jumped with excitement as he waited in anticipation at what the younger male would do. His ears were perked out ready to hear whatever sweet words of good night Davy had for him.


    Davy pulled him back causing Jason''s back to land on his chest. Jason closed his eyes and grabbed hold of the hems of his clothes. His chest was moving up and down in slow motion.


    Jason was pleased that Davy took him into his arms and held him close. He needed to know that the man was serious with what the man said. Everything was falling in place.


    the night was complete. there was nothing more that he could ask for from the world. He was a prince with a kingdom, had a palace and wealth, and to top things up his prince charming had come home to him.


    The man had swept him off his feet before and there he was offering the same deal over again. It felt like heaven, and he couldn''t wait for his wings to grow as he flew in the melody of love.


    "Good night, Jasy," Davy said. He planted his lips at Jason''s neck before stepping away.


    Jason opened his eyes, a new glow glistened in his eyes as he stared into the distance. It was something that he had yearned to hear from the man.


    To have Davy call out to him with his gentle voice. While he was held in his warm hold and the soft kiss on his skin.


    "Good night, D," he found himself saying softly.

 Chapter 102 - I Burn For You

    Jason slept under the moonlight watching the sky. His mind talking him back to the day that he confessed his feelings for Davy.


    ******


    ~Flashback~


    Get a room you two," a deep voice echoed from the door.


    Jason and Davy lifted their eyes from each other towards the door. They were startled by the person that spoke. Davy''s smile bloomed when he noted the people that had arrived at the house. The day that seemed dark before kept getting better and better.


    First, he had discovered the irresistible attraction that was developing in Jason for him. He wasn''t sure about the depths of his feelings but certainly enjoyed the feeling of knowing that some of what he felt for the male was requited.


    "Brother," Davy called out exited to see his half-brother and his wife by the door. He had not seen them in a while and it was certainly nice to see them there. They had come at the perfect time.


    "Did you miss me?" the man strode into the room and gave him a hug. "There is no media in the country and beyond that isn''t talking about you at the moment," he added.


    Davy could not help but shake his head. It was not that he wanted to become the talk of the nation, he just couldn''t help it. Whether or not there was anything interesting to report about him, the world talked of him.


    It came with being born a Blakemore, the heir of the country''s famous family and being the CEO of such a big company.


    "How else are they supposed to start their day, Matthew?" he questioned.


    "Smooth," his brother replied. His wife, Joy walked into the room. She greeted Jason while the brothers were having their moment.


    "Joy, how are you?" Davy inquired approaching her.


    "How can I be good when you have ghosted me?" she asked feigning a pout.


    Davy lifted her from the ground and swung her in the air. "How can you say that about your favorite brother?" he asked her.


    "Say I''m forgiven or I won''t let you down," Davy challenged.


    "I''m good with not forgiving you for a few minutes," Joy said enjoying being carried.


    Jason watched their interactions and felt a pang in his heart, he understood that it was the way that the two of them normally fooled around with each other. It was how they showed that they cared for one another.


    Normally he didn''t care what the two of them did together since they were just friends but things had changed.


    He looked at Davy differently and as such he didn''t want to see him get close to any other woman or man other than himself. It was a possessive side of him that Jason had never seen before. The need to go to them and tear that girl away from Davy was burning inside of him making him angry and bitter.


    He had always thought that it was a sign of his maturity and the fact that he wasn''t like normal boys to fool around with girls but his situation was different.


    Until that moment when all of him burnt with jealousy, he had always looked down on such people who were constantly on edge when they saw the guy that they like in the arms of another woman or man, who didn''t mean anything to the man.


    Now that he stood in the same spot as such women and men he understood it, it wasn''t that they weren''t sure of the man or that they didn''t trust their partners. They just didn''t want anyone else being close to what was theirs.


    "Are you okay, Jason?" Matthew asked taking note of his changed mood. Davy looked away from Joy for a moment to check on him.  Jason was his guest and needed to be cared for more than ever.


    "Yes, I am fine," Jason replied. Davy set Joy down and walked over to Jason''s side. He figured that even if something was wrong the boy, he might find it hard to say it in front of his brother and his wife.


    "Come with me," he said to Jason. "We will be back, bro. you guys make yourselves at home," he turned to his brother.


    Davy pulled Jason away from the living room towards the stairs. Jason had his eyes at the hand that was holding hiss. The warmth that he felt from him was comforting. It lifted his mood and spirit and made him happy again.


    Seeing how Davy left what he was doing and rushed to him when he thought that something was wrong with him, filled his with joy. It was something that only he ever did for him. Neither his mother, his father, his friends ever made her feel so special. When it came to them, everything else was more important than Jason.


    Yet with Davy it was the opposite. He made time for everything but when it came to Jason, he was more than willing to set all those things aside just to let him know that he was there for him. It wasn''t that he was less busy that everyone else, his priorities just made Jason more important than everything else in his life.


    To know that she meant that much to someone made his heart warm up with love. After getting hurt by the wrong person, his eyes opened to the perfect person before him.


    Davy led him to the nearest room on the second floor. He ushered Jason into the room and locked the door behind them to avoid being disturbed. He brought Jason to the bed and sat him down.


    "Are you alright?" he questioned to him with a worried look in his eyes.


    "Are you in any pain?" he inquired from him reaching for his phone in case he may need to call the doctor to come and check on her.


    Jason gazed at him with tears in her eyes, he had always been nice to him.


    He smiled at the realization, the man loved him so much he didn''t know how to do anything other than to be good to him. He took such great care for Jason and was concerned for his wellbeing.


    But he didn''t feel alone because he was with her. Davy raised his chin to ask again in case Jason didn''t hear him the first time, he found tears in his eyes. "Is it that bad? I will call the doctor," Davy said panicked. He dialed the doctor on his phone but Jason held his hand before he could call the doctor.


    "I have caused you so much pain. You were ready to walk away from me, why didn''t you?" he questioned him.


    Davy wiped her tears and held Jason''s hands in his. He met his gaze and smiled. Yes, he couldn''t deny that the last few days had been the most trying times of his life. And he had reached a point in his life where he was ready to throw everything away just to ease the pain he felt.


    But he forgot all that when he came close to him. His heart surprised him, he wasn''t the most forgiving person and when it came to those who hurt him, he can be the most ruthless person. But with Jason it was different, he was the one person that hurt him the most yet he loved the male nonetheless. He loved every part of him, even his flaws and mistakes.


    All it took was one sign of love from the male and he let go of all anger, sadness and pain that he was feeling. He was his kryptonite, his weakness that he couldn''t walk away from.


    "I couldn''t hate you even if I tried," he confessed to Jason. "just like, you couldn''t love me even if you tri.."


    Jason stopped him in his speech. That was the problem, he never tried to find out if the two of them could be anything more and failed to notice the feelings that were always there in his heart for Davy. She loved him, maybe not as much as he loved him but she burnt for him deep in her heart.


    "Anyway, I am not angry anymore. So tell me, what is the problem with you?"


    Jason took his hand and brought it to his chest, he placed his hand on his chest above his heart. "The pain is in here," he said to him.


    Davy''s lips parted to say something but no word came out. He didn''t know the advice that he was supposed to give him.He was going to tell Jason that it will get better and he will move on one day but when he could never move on from Jason for all these time how could he tell him that.


    It was heartbreaking for him to see Jason in that state. He wished that he could take away his pain and make her smile again the way that she always did.


    "Someday, you will meet someone new and fall madly in love with them. Then, you would have moved on without even realizing it and you forget¡­"


    Jason shushed him. He wasn''t getting her point. He was in pain because of him. "I hurt because of you," she let out in words.


    Davy bit his lower lip. He felt guilty over all the words that he had said to Jason in anger.


    "I burn deeply for you," Jason uttered.


    Davy raised his head, he blinked his eyes. He didn''t think that he heard Jason correctly, either he was imagining things and had lost his mind or the man just said that he burnt for him. He couldn''t believe his ears.


    "What was that, I didn''t get you the first time?"


    Jason looked him in the eyes. He held back a smile seeing the man''s reaction, Jason had just confessed to having feeling for him and he seemed shocked. Yet he found it cute instead of annoying, he leaned next to Davy''s ear. That too without removing his hand on his chest.


    "You have given my heart a new beat. It pounding in my chest calling out your name. Can''t you feel it?" he paused and met his gaze. Davy could have sworn that he was dreaming, there was no way that Jason would say that to him in real life.


    He could feel Jason''s heart beating against his chest through his hand. He swallowed the lump in his throat, he made him nervous.


    "A flame burns in my heart, the fire that only you can extinguish," Jason began to say to him.. "I will tell you every day, I burn for you, Davion Blakemore," he confessed.

 Chapter 103 - A New Season

    The morning opened doors to a new season. It was the summer season in the kingdom of Aphidia. The season of mating and securing alliances.


    Such was the busiest season and the court was busier than ever. It was the season of love and new discoveries.


    Prince Amaru opened his eyes, the bags under his eyes were a clear indication that he had not had much of sleep in the night.


    He had been worried sick over Winrus''s health and kept awake the whole night watching over him in case his health were to take a turn.


    He had not even eaten a single morsel of food since the male was injured and even then he did not feel hungry.


    The morning sun was shining so brightly but sadly his day didn''t bring any good news. Winrus was yet to wake up which was a worrying sign. He trusted the crown prince to have treated Winrus better.


    Yet, the man was not getting better. The things that he was seeing was making him more hateful towards Elayne. He truly wished that there was a way that he could do more for Winrus.


    All that he had done didn''t seem to be enough. He had not even realised that over the course of the night, his mind had not thought of anyone but the male. He didn''t even take a moment to think of how Freya must be being left behind all alone with the evil women.


    He was only concerned for Winrus. "His temperature is normal, he should wake in a while," Davy said joining him.


    Prince Amaru let out a weak smile. He was worried, the assurance didn''t lighten the worry in his heart either. Until he sees Winrus awake and hears from the male that he was fine, only then would he he able to calm down and be at ease.


    Just then, a bird flew to them. It landed on Davy''s shoulder. Davy took the note tied around the crow''s leg and opened it.


    It was a summon from the palace reminding him of festivities to come. His father urged him to cut his trip short and return to the palace immediately.


    Since he was yet to marry like the rest of his brothers, his father had decided to put his name up in the list of eligible suitors in the kingdom. He and his brothers were going to be introduced to society for the new season to seek a bride.


    Davy''s jaw dropped. He couldn''t believe what he had read, the thing was that he was engaged. He had a woman in his life who carried his and Jason''s child and even so he was being put in the market to find a bride.


    It was the craziest thing that he had ever heard of. He passed the note to prince Amaru since his name was also mentioned.


    It was the royal family, an engagement was simply just an engagement until a proper wedding was conducted. Seeing as the two of them had been engaged for nearly a season without getting married it was becoming a problem to note.


    The King was taking matters into his hands to ensure that they marry soon. It meant that the alliances formed until that very day was considered null and void.


    New relations were required, one that had a future that Aphidia could depend on.


    "What madness!" Amaru let out in anger. His father had sent note that he wishes for the king to ensure that he finds a suitable bride and weds before the end of the new season.


    It was unbelievable, that was not the only development of the letter. The King of Xeris has had a change of heart and is calling off the relationship between Davy and Jason.


    He wishes for his son for find a bride from a good family and be wed by the end of the season. After which, he was to return to Xeris permanently.


    "Are you okay with this?" Amaru questioned to him.


    Davy shook his head, he didn''t know what to think of the new plot twist. It was dangerous and exciting. It made his stomach turn. He almost wanted to get out of the book and give Zillon a kiss. The plot twist was unexpected, unpredictable and full of many possibilities.


    He was impressed and jealous that he didn''t think of it himself. That twist was sure to keep everyone on their toes. It gave all the characters, villains and all a chance to get what they want.


    The future was untold and it was not certain how thing would turn out which was thrilling to his heart. On the surface he wore a confused face while internally he was screaming with joy.


    It was nice to see someone making good on his masterpiece. Giving it a new level of interest even if that twist was going to give him the biggest migraine of migraines.


    "It''s a new season. What else can we do," Davy responded to him.


    Jason came out of his tent. He had a good night sleep, the memory of the night''s conversation still lingering in his mind. Unknown to him was the storm that had hit with the new season.


    A storm that was bound to make his heart race in a frenzy. There was no telling what the new season would bring their way but one thing was certain, it was going to be one hell of a ride.


    "Good morning," he greeted happily.


    Prince Davion and Prince Amaru stared at him. They had no idea what was so good about the morning that got him all smiles. Their lives were about to be turned upside down with the festivities of trying to find a good wife from the lot that will be chosen and he was happy.


    "What?" Jason asked unaware of the reason why the two men were looking at him as though he was an alien. All he did was greet them, the least they could do is return the favour.


    "Here, maybe this will drop that smile of yours," Amatu said handing him the note from the king.


    Jason took the note with a bright smile on his face. He had thought that nothing could ruin his day and take away the beautiful moment of happiness that he had but he was so wrong.


    Once he finished reading the note he was furious. His eyes turned to the side to find Davy looking at him. The man was the author and if any changes were being made to the book then he was responsible for that plot twist.


    Davy raised his hands in surrender. He was not responsible for the storm that hit them. But he was responsible for leaving a madman with a pen on his book. And the madman didn''t disappoint, he was leaving up to the expectations of the novel.


    Going all out to test the bonds of the people in the book. "What did you do?" Jason raised the question. He folded the paper in his hand and threw it away.


    He was not going to go through with such plans. He was not going to participate in that season festivities.It was the last thing on his mind, he already had everything that he wanted, he didn''t need anything else.


    Not a woman or a new alliance and certainly not a bride to take home to his father. He had not been to Xeris for more than a few hours since his arrival so as far as he was concerned, Aphidia was his home and he wasn''t going to leave it for anyone else to take over.


    "I am not taking part in this," he said firmly.


    Davy shook his head. The man was clearly new to royalty. "You are a prince, you should know that your fate is decided for you. Not the other way around," he said to the young man to explain the situation to him.


    The situation being that the man had no say in what he gets to do. They were not being asked for their approval but being informed of what they were supposed to do.


    "You don''t have a say in the matter. You have to do it," Amaru added.


    It wasn''t supposed to be fun. Being a Prince was the worst fate that could fall on a person. There would be no freedom left for the person, everything of their was decided on by other people.


    It was like being a puppet in your own life. Even after becoming a king, you don''t loose the strings that pull your movements, you just get fooled into thinking that you can loose them.


    That you are in power so that you don''t question the hand that pulls the strings. "You should get ready, court is going to be a nightmare until the season is done," Davy advised.


    He had written enough royal romance to u understand that what was coming was far worse than death.