Alec
The courtyard was unusually warm for morning drills, but Alec didn't mind. His body moved with trained ease, the glint of his sword catching the light as he sparred with one of the newer guards, Julian. The younger man was witty, bold, and always had something to say to provoke laughter and Alec found himself smiling, not thinking much of it.
"Come on, Commander," Julian teased, lunging. "Is that the best you've got?"
Alec countered smoothly and grinned. "If I gave you my best, you'd be flat on your back."
Julian chuckled, holding his chest in mock pain. "And here I thought you were gentle."
Alec raised a brow, amused. "Only with the right people."
Julian laughed again, and Alec reached out, brushing dust from his shoulder. It was an innocent gesture, casual but that moment sealed his fate.
Unbeknownst to him, Damien had been watching from the balcony above.
Damien POV
He had only stepped out to get some air, but what he saw rooted him to the spot. Alec's hand… on another man's shoulder. The way he smiled, open and easy. Damien's jaw tensed, breath catching. He'd never seen Alec laugh like that. Not around him.
Who the hell was that guard?
And why did it feel like someone had taken a blade to his ribs?
He turned sharply on his heel and barked at one of his attendants, "Bring Alec to my chambers. Now."
The servant flinched and rushed off.
"You're being summoned," the servant stammered.
Alec narrowed his eyes. "The Prince?"
"Yes, sir. He… didn't look pleased."
That was an understatement. Damien's temper was sharp when provoked. Alec wiped the sweat from his brow, changed into a clean shirt, and headed to Damien's chambers.
When he entered, the atmosphere was thick with something… dangerous.
Alec stepped in, calm as ever, shutting the door behind him.
"You wanted to see me, Your Highness?" he asked.
Damien stood by the window, arms folded, back rigid. "You looked like you were having a good time."
Alec blinked. "Excuse me?"
"In the courtyard. With the new guard. What's his name again?" His voice had a venomous edge. "Julian?"
Alec's eyes narrowed. "Are you seriously angry about that?"
Damien turned, his eyes stormy. "I'm just curious when my personal guard started making time to flirt during training hours."
"I wasn't flirting," Alec snapped. "And even if I was, I don't recall needing your permission to laugh."
Damien crossed the room quickly. "You don't laugh like that with me."
"Because you don't let anyone close enough to see that side of you," Alec said, stepping in. "You push. You bite. You pretend you don't feel anything but God help you if someone else touches me, right?"
Damien's breath hitched, but he didn't step back. "You think you matter that much?"
"You tell me," Alec challenged. "Because if you didn't care, you wouldn't be this angry. You wouldn't be looking at me like I belong to you."
Silence. Heavy. Burning.
Then Damien's voice dropped. "Do you?"
Alec swallowed. "What?"
"Do you belong to me?"
Alec couldn't answer. His heart thundered, and every nerve screamed. He hated how much he wanted to say yes...The question hung between them like fire suspended midair. Do you belong to me?
Alec took a breath, tried to step away...to reset the tension ,but Damien blocked him with a hand to his chest.
"No, don't run," Damien growled. "You always walk away when things get real."
Alec's hands clenched at his sides. "Because every time I get close to you, you shut down and pretend none of this matters."
Damien's jaw locked. "And what is this, Alec? Some forbidden game? A twisted power trip? You look at me like you hate me, but you're the first one at my door."
"I look at you like that because you make me crazy," Alec spat. "You flirt with everyone in that damned palace, let their hands touch you ,but the moment I so much as laugh with another guard, you act like you've been betrayed."
"Because I have!" Damien's voice cracked, raw and loud. "Don't you get it? I—" He caught himself, breathing hard. "You don't even know what you do to me."
Alec stepped closer, his voice dropping low. "Then tell me."
Damien's eyes were wild, his chest rising fast. "You ruin me," he whispered. "You walk into a room and I forget I'm a prince. I forget I'm supposed to keep distance. I forget everything except wanting to tear you apart and hold you at the same time."
Alec's throat tightened. "Then why are you always punishing me for making you feel something?"
Damien didn't answer. His hand still rested on Alec's chest, and his fingers curled slightly in the fabric of his shirt, like he didn't know whether to shove him away or pull him closer.
He hated Alec for this. Hated that the man standing in front of him could unmake him with just a look.
"I saw you with Julian," he said, quieter now. "The way you touched him. The way you smiled."
"It wasn't like that."
"It doesn't matter," Damien said. "Because I imagined it was. I imagined you laughing with him the way I want you to laugh with me. And it made me sick."
Alec stared at him. "I thought you didn't want anyone getting close."
"I don't want anyone else to have you," Damien whispered. "I want you to be mine."
A beat of silence.
Then Alec growled, frustrated. "Then act like it. Stop treating me like your toy one minute and a stranger the next."
Damien pushed himgently at first. Alec grabbed his wrist...The next thing they knew, the push turned into a struggle ,Alec's back hit the wall. Damien slammed his palm beside his head. Their bodies were close—too close.
"Is this what you wanted?" Damien's voice was rough. "To get me jealous?"
"No," Alec hissed, eyes locked on his. "But I can't lie. It felt good." "Bastard."
"You like it when I make you mad," Alec said, voice low. "Admit it."
"I hate how much I need you," Damien confessed, breath brushing Alec's lips.
Their faces were inches apart now. Every word, every breath, was soaked in tension.
"You think I don't feel it too?" Alec murmured. "Every time you walk into a room, I have to force myself not to look at you the way I want to."
Damien's hand slid up, cupping Alec's jaw rough,trembling."Say it," he breathed.
"What?"
"Say you want me."
Alec stared into his eyes, lips parted. "I want you."
That was it...
They leaned in so close, their lips almost brushed. Their breaths tangled. Hearts thundered.
Then.....A knock. Loud. Urgent.
They froze...
"My prince!" a voice called from outside. "You're needed in the throne room. It's urgent."
Damien stepped back fast, like burned.
Alec stood there, chest heaving, lips red, heart pounding...Neither of them spoke.
Then Damien turned to the door and said, voice like stone: "I'll be there in a moment." Silence again. But this time, it screamed with everything left unsaid.