Damien pov
The morning sun spilled through the thick velvet curtains, but the warmth did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. My jaw clenched as I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the golden embroidery on the rug, yet seeing only the scene from last night.
Lady Selene's laugh. Her hand on my arm. Her lips brushing too close to my ear.
But that wasn't what haunted me.
It was Alec. The way his eyes darkened. The fury he barely concealed behind polite silence. He had stood there guard uniform pristine, fists curled at his sides and stared like he wanted to rip her away from me. Like I belonged to him.
And the worst part? I liked it. I wanted to provoke it.
Now, as I stepped into the corridor, I found him already at my door ,stoic, unreadable, his blond hair catching morning light. His mouth was a line, eyes forward. Like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't burned holes into me with his gaze the night before.
"Morning, Your Highness," he said curtly.
I didn't respond, Let him stew.
Alec POV
Damien walked past me like I was invisible.
Good.
Because if he looked at me too long, if he smirked like he had last night teasing me, letting that viper Selene cling to him I might've done something reckless.
The King had summoned us both to the royal study. Apparently, Damien needed to review some ancient bloodline scrolls. And I was to accompany him for safety. It felt ridiculous until I remembered: last week, one of the royal dogs was poisoned.
And then the chandelier.
No, not yet. Not time for paranoia.
We walked in silence. Tension stretched thick between us, like a storm waiting to break.
The study smelled like parchment and time. Books towered along every wall. A fireplace crackled quietly.
He sat by the long oak desk. I stood near the shelves.
And then his voice cut through the stillness.
"Are you always that possessive, or was it just last night?"
I turned slowly. "Excuse me?"
He leaned back in the chair, watching me through narrowed eyes. "Selene barely touched me, and you looked like you wanted to throw her from the balcony."
"She was a distraction."I fired back..
"She was my guest."
"She was undressing you with her eyes."!!!
He grinned. "Jealous, Alec?"
I took a step forward. "Not of her."
He stilled...Silence expanded between us.
Damien POV
He moved closer, and something in his voice made my pulse hitch...Not of her.
I swallowed. "Then what are you jealous of?"
He didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Because suddenly he was right there, both of us standing chest to chest in that old study, old books watching like silent witnesses.
"Do you hate me," I whispered, "or are you just scared you might want me?"
His breath caught....But before either of us could move ,A snap. A groan. Metal twisting.
CRASH....
The chandelier tore from the ceiling, falling in a storm of glass and iron.
I didn't scream. Alec didn't hesitate.
He lunged, grabbing me by the waist, throwing us both down hard. My breath was knocked from my lungs as we hit the floor. His weight crushed against me.
The chandelier shattered inches away.
We were breathing fast, limbs tangled, my heart thundering.
Alec's face hovered over mine his lips so close.
We didn't speak. Couldn't...The moment was loud in its silence..And just like that, everything changed.
Alec Pov
I couldn't move. Not yet. My body hovered above his, palms braced on either side of his head. His breath hitched under me soft, unguarded. We were too close. Again. Damn chandelier could've killed him. Someone wanted it to.
"I…" I breathed hard, locking eyes with him. "You okay?"
Damien blinked. His hand was still gripping my arm, tighter than he probably realized. "You… saved me."
"Yeah," I murmured. "Don't make a habit of needing it."
His gaze flicked to my mouth, then back to my eyes. A charged pause stretched between us. God, this tension was going to snap one of us in half.
"I thought you hated me," he whispered.
"I thought you were smarter than you act," I replied, softer than I meant to. I let my weight shift slightly off him but I didn't get up.
"You're still on me," he said, voice husky.
"Not complaining, are you?"
The look he gave me was unreadable half fire, half fury. Then the door slammed open.
"Your Highness!" Guards rushed in.
I rolled off him just as they swarmed us. Damien sat up, fixing his robe, back straight like a prince again. "I'm fine," he barked. "We're fine."
They scanned the wreckage. One guard examined the snapped chandelier chain and turned pale. "Your Highness, this was tampered with."
Alec's hand instinctively brushed Damien's back an unconscious protective gesture. "Sabotage?"
Another guard stepped forward. "We found… this." He held out a folded parchment.
Damien took it. His lips tightened as he read aloud, "He won't make it to the coronation."
Everyone fell silent.
Damien POV
That night, I couldn't sleep. My bed, my silk sheets—they felt cold and suffocating. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alec's body over mine, the shimmer of dust in the air, the wreckage… that damn note.
Someone wanted me dead.
I stepped out into the corridor, needing air. The halls were quiet, dimly lit by golden sconces. I turned the corner and stopped.
Alec stood outside my door, back straight, arms folded. He didn't flinch when I appeared.
"You always lurk in shadows?" I asked, voice low.
His eyes scanned me, lingering just a second too long. "Not shadows. Just danger zones."
"Afraid someone might try again?" I asked.
He didn't answer right away. Then, "They won't get past me."
"But what if it's someone inside?" I asked, suddenly feeling exposed.
He looked at me then really looked. "Then I'll burn the whole palace down to protect you."
My heart stuttered. I should've said something sarcastic, brushed it off. But I just stood there, watching him. The moonlight caught the scar on his jaw. He looked like a storm barely held back.
"Why?" I whispered.
He hesitated. Then he stepped forward one step too close. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I'd do it without thinking."
We stared at each other, breath shallow. Then he took a slow step back and said, "Get some sleep, Your Highness."
I turned, walked back to my door, and paused. "Alec."
He looked up.
"You didn't answer earlier," I said quietly. "Do you hate me… or are you just scared you want me?"
He didn't reply....He didn't have to...The silence was answer enough.