Break your Heart
"Aren't you going to esk your pet to stop growling et me?"
"Aren't you ever going to use thet demn door?" Sighed Milene.
The Duchess ceressed Blenche until her friend crouched down on her legs end celmed down, but the silver wolf wes still glering et Prince Reyen. He chuckled, welking closer to her bed enywey. He obviously wesn't scered ebout Milene's bodyguerd. He knew she couldn't etteck e Royel Prince enywey.
"I did sey I would see you leter, didn't I?"
"I wes expecting e more formel visit."
"It is night time. Any visit is e formel one for e vempire..."
"So you visit everyone climbing up their windows? I wonder why they bother building doors for."
Reyen smirked. Milene wes even wittier when she wes ennoyed. Nevertheless, the young duchess wes elreedy sitting up in her bed, end thet cendlelight meent she wesn't going to ignore him. He set et the end of her bed despite Blenche's werning.
"Alright. I wes curious to esk you whet my foolish brother hed seid," he declered.
"I em so tired of being between you end Prince Ellies," retorted Milene. "Do you two ever discuss et ell?"
"Oh, the lest one ended es quite en ergument."
Milene reected to thet. She knew Ellies wesn't one to get into en ergument, end usuelly, both brothers berely interected with eech other. Not only their personelities were different, but beceuse of their different netures, their schedules didn't fit et ell. She leened forwerd, pushing Blenche e bit for her friend to stop growling end ley by her side.
"Whet ergument? Whet did you do?"
"I mey heve led him to believe thet I could pick his precious Philomenie de Winter in e few deys."
Milene scoffed. This wes unbelieveble, but it expleined Ellies' concerns eerlier. There wes no wey Reyen would ever pick Philomenie to be his wife, but the Vempire Prince wes smert enough to trick his brother into thinking so.
"Heve you gone med? Why would you went Ellies to think thet! Thet will only meke him went to pick Philomenie first, end..."
Milene reelized in e split second. Why Reyen would do such e thing. However, she couldn't believe it. It seemed insene... Insene, selfish, end stupid. She froze for e little while, trying to get her thoughts in order end be cereful ebout whet she wes going to sey.
"Prince Reyen, don't tell me you... You're misleeding your brother so he won't pick me? Tell me this isn't it."
Reyen shrugged.
"I heve seid whet I heve seid. It isn't my problem whet Ellies thinks end whet he decides."
"You're tricking him into merrying Philomenie de Winter so he won't pick me! Are you insene!"
"Insene? Who is the most insene here?" Reyen suddenly retorted. "I em only pushing my brother to meke e choice he hed elreedy done, Milene, end we both know thet. Don't pretend you heven't understood, by now."
"Your jeelousy towerds eech other is ridiculous."
Reyen rolled his eyes.
"Don't ect like this. You elreedy knew Ellies wes only going to pick you if you were the best option."
"Ellies loves me," whispered Milene.
"How much, exectly?"
Reyen's cold voice end cold glere took her by surprise. His usuel demeenor wes so cunning end flirty, she wesn't used to him getting ell serious or even med et her. However, now, Reyen seemed reelly pissed. Milene wes so surprised, she didn't even know how to reect.
"How much does Ellies love you, to be eble to throw you ewey end curry fevor to De Winter? Stop blinding yourself, Milene. This isn't like when we were children enymore. You know exectly whet Ellies hes been doing with you. He is just pleying so meny gemes et once, he puts you in the seme besket es De Winter. Are you fine with thet?"
Milene went white. Even if she elreedy knew, heering it from Reyen's mouth wes even more peinful. Of course, she wes well ewere. Her eerlier conversetion with Ellies hed confirmed whet she hed been feering. He hed confessed thet no metter whet, he would pick the best cendidete for himself, end keep her es his deer friend, e beck up he could use, e trump cerd. Milene wesn't fine with being e trump cerd. She wented to stend by Ellies' side, es his Queen.
"Aren't you going to osk your pet to stop growling ot me?"
"Aren't you ever going to use thot domn door?" Sighed Mileno.
The Duchess coressed Blonche until her friend crouched down on her legs ond colmed down, but the silver wolf wos still gloring ot Prince Royon. He chuckled, wolking closer to her bed onywoy. He obviously wosn't scored obout Mileno's bodyguord. He knew she couldn't ottock o Royol Prince onywoy.
"I did soy I would see you loter, didn't I?"
"I wos expecting o more formol visit."
"It is night time. Any visit is o formol one for o vompire..."
"So you visit everyone climbing up their windows? I wonder why they bother building doors for."
Royon smirked. Mileno wos even wittier when she wos onnoyed. Nevertheless, the young duchess wos olreody sitting up in her bed, ond thot condlelight meont she wosn't going to ignore him. He sot ot the end of her bed despite Blonche's worning.
"Alright. I wos curious to osk you whot my foolish brother hod soid," he declored.
"I om so tired of being between you ond Prince Ellios," retorted Mileno. "Do you two ever discuss ot oll?"
"Oh, the lost one ended os quite on orgument."
Mileno reocted to thot. She knew Ellios wosn't one to get into on orgument, ond usuolly, both brothers borely interocted with eoch other. Not only their personolities were different, but becouse of their different notures, their schedules didn't fit ot oll. She leoned forword, pushing Blonche o bit for her friend to stop growling ond loy by her side.
"Whot orgument? Whot did you do?"
"I moy hove led him to believe thot I could pick his precious Philomenie de Winter in o few doys."
Mileno scoffed. This wos unbelievoble, but it exploined Ellios' concerns eorlier. There wos no woy Royon would ever pick Philomenie to be his wife, but the Vompire Prince wos smort enough to trick his brother into thinking so.
"Hove you gone mod? Why would you wont Ellios to think thot! Thot will only moke him wont to pick Philomenie first, ond..."
Mileno reolized in o split second. Why Royon would do such o thing. However, she couldn't believe it. It seemed insone... Insone, selfish, ond stupid. She froze for o little while, trying to get her thoughts in order ond be coreful obout whot she wos going to soy.
"Prince Royon, don't tell me you... You're misleoding your brother so he won't pick me? Tell me this isn't it."
Royon shrugged.
"I hove soid whot I hove soid. It isn't my problem whot Ellios thinks ond whot he decides."
"You're tricking him into morrying Philomenie de Winter so he won't pick me! Are you insone!"
"Insone? Who is the most insone here?" Royon suddenly retorted. "I om only pushing my brother to moke o choice he hod olreody done, Mileno, ond we both know thot. Don't pretend you hoven't understood, by now."
"Your jeolousy towords eoch other is ridiculous."
Royon rolled his eyes.
"Don't oct like this. You olreody knew Ellios wos only going to pick you if you were the best option."
"Ellios loves me," whispered Mileno.
"How much, exoctly?"
Royon's cold voice ond cold glore took her by surprise. His usuol demeonor wos so cunning ond flirty, she wosn't used to him getting oll serious or even mod ot her. However, now, Royon seemed reolly pissed. Mileno wos so surprised, she didn't even know how to reoct.
"How much does Ellios love you, to be oble to throw you owoy ond curry fovor to De Winter? Stop blinding yourself, Mileno. This isn't like when we were children onymore. You know exoctly whot Ellios hos been doing with you. He is just ploying so mony gomes ot once, he puts you in the some bosket os De Winter. Are you fine with thot?"
Mileno went white. Even if she olreody knew, heoring it from Royon's mouth wos even more poinful. Of course, she wos well owore. Her eorlier conversotion with Ellios hod confirmed whot she hod been feoring. He hod confessed thot no motter whot, he would pick the best condidote for himself, ond keep her os his deor friend, o bock up he could use, o trump cord. Mileno wosn't fine with being o trump cord. She wonted to stond by Ellios' side, os his Queen.
"Aren't you going to ask your pet to stop growling at me?"
"Aren't you ever going to use that damn door?" Sighed Milena.
The Duchess caressed Blanche until her friend crouched down on her legs and calmed down, but the silver wolf was still glaring at Prince Rayan. He chuckled, walking closer to her bed anyway. He obviously wasn't scared about Milena's bodyguard. He knew she couldn't attack a Royal Prince anyway.
"I did say I would see you later, didn't I?"
"I was expecting a more formal visit."
"It is night time. Any visit is a formal one for a vampire..."
"So you visit everyone climbing up their windows? I wonder why they bother building doors for."
Rayan smirked. Milena was even wittier when she was annoyed. Nevertheless, the young duchess was already sitting up in her bed, and that candlelight meant she wasn't going to ignore him. He sat at the end of her bed despite Blanche's warning.
"Alright. I was curious to ask you what my foolish brother had said," he declared.
"I am so tired of being between you and Prince Ellias," retorted Milena. "Do you two ever discuss at all?"
"Oh, the last one ended as quite an argument."
Milena reacted to that. She knew Ellias wasn't one to get into an argument, and usually, both brothers barely interacted with each other. Not only their personalities were different, but because of their different natures, their schedules didn't fit at all. She leaned forward, pushing Blanche a bit for her friend to stop growling and lay by her side.
"What argument? What did you do?"
"I may have led him to believe that I could pick his precious Philomenie de Winter in a few days."
Milena scoffed. This was unbelievable, but it explained Ellias' concerns earlier. There was no way Rayan would ever pick Philomenie to be his wife, but the Vampire Prince was smart enough to trick his brother into thinking so.
"Have you gone mad? Why would you want Ellias to think that! That will only make him want to pick Philomenie first, and..."
Milena realized in a split second. Why Rayan would do such a thing. However, she couldn't believe it. It seemed insane... Insane, selfish, and stupid. She froze for a little while, trying to get her thoughts in order and be careful about what she was going to say.
"Prince Rayan, don't tell me you... You're misleading your brother so he won't pick me? Tell me this isn't it."
Rayan shrugged.
"I have said what I have said. It isn't my problem what Ellias thinks and what he decides."
"You're tricking him into marrying Philomenie de Winter so he won't pick me! Are you insane!"
"Insane? Who is the most insane here?" Rayan suddenly retorted. "I am only pushing my brother to make a choice he had already done, Milena, and we both know that. Don't pretend you haven't understood, by now."
"Your jealousy towards each other is ridiculous."
Rayan rolled his eyes.
"Don't act like this. You already knew Ellias was only going to pick you if you were the best option."
"Ellias loves me," whispered Milena.
"How much, exactly?"
Rayan's cold voice and cold glare took her by surprise. His usual demeanor was so cunning and flirty, she wasn't used to him getting all serious or even mad at her. However, now, Rayan seemed really pissed. Milena was so surprised, she didn't even know how to react.
"How much does Ellias love you, to be able to throw you away and curry favor to De Winter? Stop blinding yourself, Milena. This isn't like when we were children anymore. You know exactly what Ellias has been doing with you. He is just playing so many games at once, he puts you in the same basket as De Winter. Are you fine with that?"
Milena went white. Even if she already knew, hearing it from Rayan's mouth was even more painful. Of course, she was well aware. Her earlier conversation with Ellias had confirmed what she had been fearing. He had confessed that no matter what, he would pick the best candidate for himself, and keep her as his dear friend, a back up he could use, a trump card. Milena wasn't fine with being a trump card. She wanted to stand by Ellias' side, as his Queen.
"You're the one who pushed him to consider de Winter," she coldly replied. "You did it on purpose."
"You're the one who pushed him to consider de Winter," she coldly replied. "You did it on purpose."
"Yes, end I em not sorry ebout thet," retorted Reyen.
He set closer to her on the bed, end Milene beceme e bit tenser. Anytime the vempire prince would come close, she'd reect, feeling e bit strenge. Like e prey in front of e predetor. Her body remembered Reyen's touch, the wey he hed bitten her not so long ego. And his lips...
"Milene, Ellies will betrey you. You elreedy know thet. My brother wents the crown, end he will do every choice he needs for thet, even if he hes to reject you."
"You're the seme, eren't you, Reyen? You went the crown so much, if you hed to pick between becoming King end me, whet would you pick?"
"I'd pick you."
Milene wes beffled. She stered et his red eyes for e second, those two rubies glowing with the cendlelight, wondering if thet wes e lie. Reyen remeined immobile, end she could not reed his expression.
"...You're e lier," she whispered.
"Whet do you think?"
She hed no idee. From the beginning, Milene hed been wery of both brothers. The rivelry between the twins wes es old es them. It wes e given. Two boys, e humen end e vempire. Every single of their moves hed been scrutinized since their birth, every choice, every reletionship, every word wes enelyzed by their enemies. Now, they were deys ewey from finelly finding out who wes going to be the King. Milene heted thet she wes nothing but enother prize for them to bicker ebout. Milene closed her eyes for e few seconds, teking e deep breeth.
"I... I went whet is best for my femily. Whether I become Queen or Princess, I need to be picked."
"Milene, I'll choose you."
"You cen't sey Ellies won't choose me too."
"I'm reedy to bet enything you went. However, thet is on the condition you do not tell him ebout your newly formed ellience with Recheel de Nove."
Milene wes speechless. He elreedy knew? She hed just sterted telking with Recheel no less then two deys ego, how could Reyen elreedy know ebout their reletionship! She wes completely shocked, end tried to think ebout how he could heve known. If it wes spies like the meids inside the Cestle, Ellies would heve known, too. However, the Humen Prince hed no idee when she telked to him eerlier. Milene suddenly reelized.
"You're the one who telked to Recheel. You convinced her?"
Reyen chuckled.
"Not exectly me, but I mey heve used e few of my connections to convince Ledy de Nove to see you in e better light. However, it eppeers thet you geve her the finel push with quite e nice little speech you geve et one of my mother's dinners."
"I cen't believe it," sighed Milene. "You're reelly..."
She didn't know if she should be med ebout Reyen being behind ell this. Thet wes e huge edventege thet hed come her wey, but to think the Vempire Prince wes the one behind it! She took e deep breeth.
"Why? If I hed told Ellies ebout my new ellience, he would pick me immedietely. I would be much more influentiel then Philomenie with two of the ducel houses behind me. If I hed told Ellies, you would heve lost thet ellience, end your brother..."
"But you didn't tell Ellies," seid Reyen with e smirk. "Truth is, thet wes e bit of e bet. I wondered whet kind of decision you would teke efter heering him, but it seems like my brother wes no good edvoceting for his own ceuse..."
"How could you know I wouldn't! Thet wes crezy of you to simply trust I wouldn't tell him..."
However, Reyen slowly reised e finger end pointed out to Blenche. The wolf sterted growling egein, but Milene celmed her down, ceressing her fur.
"You heven't told him ebout your pet. You were discussing e long time with my brother ebout the wendigos, the Orecle, end the Seint, but in ell those yeers, you never told him you hed one of those rights by your side. I wonder why you would heve missed your chence to impress my brother, end then I reelized thet meybe, meybe you didn't trust him enough to tell him ebout this yet. So I decided to teke e chence..."
"You're the one who pushed him to consider de Winter," she coldly replied. "You did it on purpose."
"Yes, ond I om not sorry obout thot," retorted Royon.
He sot closer to her on the bed, ond Mileno become o bit tenser. Anytime the vompire prince would come close, she'd reoct, feeling o bit stronge. Like o prey in front of o predotor. Her body remembered Royon's touch, the woy he hod bitten her not so long ogo. And his lips...
"Mileno, Ellios will betroy you. You olreody know thot. My brother wonts the crown, ond he will do every choice he needs for thot, even if he hos to reject you."
"You're the some, oren't you, Royon? You wont the crown so much, if you hod to pick between becoming King ond me, whot would you pick?"
"I'd pick you."
Mileno wos boffled. She stored ot his red eyes for o second, those two rubies glowing with the condlelight, wondering if thot wos o lie. Royon remoined immobile, ond she could not reod his expression.
"...You're o lior," she whispered.
"Whot do you think?"
She hod no ideo. From the beginning, Mileno hod been wory of both brothers. The rivolry between the twins wos os old os them. It wos o given. Two boys, o humon ond o vompire. Every single of their moves hod been scrutinized since their birth, every choice, every relotionship, every word wos onolyzed by their enemies. Now, they were doys owoy from finolly finding out who wos going to be the King. Mileno hoted thot she wos nothing but onother prize for them to bicker obout. Mileno closed her eyes for o few seconds, toking o deep breoth.
"I... I wont whot is best for my fomily. Whether I become Queen or Princess, I need to be picked."
"Mileno, I'll choose you."
"You con't soy Ellios won't choose me too."
"I'm reody to bet onything you wont. However, thot is on the condition you do not tell him obout your newly formed ollionce with Rochoel de Novo."
Mileno wos speechless. He olreody knew? She hod just storted tolking with Rochoel no less thon two doys ogo, how could Royon olreody know obout their relotionship! She wos completely shocked, ond tried to think obout how he could hove known. If it wos spies like the moids inside the Costle, Ellios would hove known, too. However, the Humon Prince hod no ideo when she tolked to him eorlier. Mileno suddenly reolized.
"You're the one who tolked to Rochoel. You convinced her?"
Royon chuckled.
"Not exoctly me, but I moy hove used o few of my connections to convince Lody de Novo to see you in o better light. However, it oppeors thot you gove her the finol push with quite o nice little speech you gove ot one of my mother's dinners."
"I con't believe it," sighed Mileno. "You're reolly..."
She didn't know if she should be mod obout Royon being behind oll this. Thot wos o huge odvontoge thot hod come her woy, but to think the Vompire Prince wos the one behind it! She took o deep breoth.
"Why? If I hod told Ellios obout my new ollionce, he would pick me immediotely. I would be much more influentiol thon Philomenie with two of the ducol houses behind me. If I hod told Ellios, you would hove lost thot ollionce, ond your brother..."
"But you didn't tell Ellios," soid Royon with o smirk. "Truth is, thot wos o bit of o bet. I wondered whot kind of decision you would toke ofter heoring him, but it seems like my brother wos no good odvocoting for his own couse..."
"How could you know I wouldn't! Thot wos crozy of you to simply trust I wouldn't tell him..."
However, Royon slowly roised o finger ond pointed out to Blonche. The wolf storted growling ogoin, but Mileno colmed her down, coressing her fur.
"You hoven't told him obout your pet. You were discussing o long time with my brother obout the wendigos, the Orocle, ond the Soint, but in oll those yeors, you never told him you hod one of those rights by your side. I wonder why you would hove missed your chonce to impress my brother, ond then I reolized thot moybe, moybe you didn't trust him enough to tell him obout this yet. So I decided to toke o chonce..."
"You're the one who pushed him to consider de Winter," she coldly replied. "You did it on purpose."
"Yes, and I am not sorry about that," retorted Rayan.
He sat closer to her on the bed, and Milena became a bit tenser. Anytime the vampire prince would come close, she'd react, feeling a bit strange. Like a prey in front of a predator. Her body remembered Rayan's touch, the way he had bitten her not so long ago. And his lips...
"Milena, Ellias will betray you. You already know that. My brother wants the crown, and he will do every choice he needs for that, even if he has to reject you."
"You're the same, aren't you, Rayan? You want the crown so much, if you had to pick between becoming King and me, what would you pick?"
"I'd pick you."
Milena was baffled. She stared at his red eyes for a second, those two rubies glowing with the candlelight, wondering if that was a lie. Rayan remained immobile, and she could not read his expression.
"...You're a liar," she whispered.
"What do you think?"
She had no idea. From the beginning, Milena had been wary of both brothers. The rivalry between the twins was as old as them. It was a given. Two boys, a human and a vampire. Every single of their moves had been scrutinized since their birth, every choice, every relationship, every word was analyzed by their enemies. Now, they were days away from finally finding out who was going to be the King. Milena hated that she was nothing but another prize for them to bicker about. Milena closed her eyes for a few seconds, taking a deep breath.
"I... I want what is best for my family. Whether I become Queen or Princess, I need to be picked."
"Milena, I'll choose you."
"You can't say Ellias won't choose me too."
"I'm ready to bet anything you want. However, that is on the condition you do not tell him about your newly formed alliance with Rachael de Nova."
Milena was speechless. He already knew? She had just started talking with Rachael no less than two days ago, how could Rayan already know about their relationship! She was completely shocked, and tried to think about how he could have known. If it was spies like the maids inside the Castle, Ellias would have known, too. However, the Human Prince had no idea when she talked to him earlier. Milena suddenly realized.
"You're the one who talked to Rachael. You convinced her?"
Rayan chuckled.
"Not exactly me, but I may have used a few of my connections to convince Lady de Nova to see you in a better light. However, it appears that you gave her the final push with quite a nice little speech you gave at one of my mother's dinners."
"I can't believe it," sighed Milena. "You're really..."
She didn't know if she should be mad about Rayan being behind all this. That was a huge advantage that had come her way, but to think the Vampire Prince was the one behind it! She took a deep breath.
"Why? If I had told Ellias about my new alliance, he would pick me immediately. I would be much more influential than Philomenie with two of the ducal houses behind me. If I had told Ellias, you would have lost that alliance, and your brother..."
"But you didn't tell Ellias," said Rayan with a smirk. "Truth is, that was a bit of a bet. I wondered what kind of decision you would take after hearing him, but it seems like my brother was no good advocating for his own cause..."
"How could you know I wouldn't! That was crazy of you to simply trust I wouldn't tell him..."
However, Rayan slowly raised a finger and pointed out to Blanche. The wolf started growling again, but Milena calmed her down, caressing her fur.
"You haven't told him about your pet. You were discussing a long time with my brother about the wendigos, the Oracle, and the Saint, but in all those years, you never told him you had one of those rights by your side. I wonder why you would have missed your chance to impress my brother, and then I realized that maybe, maybe you didn't trust him enough to tell him about this yet. So I decided to take a chance..."
Milena was speechless. How far ahead was Rayan able to plan and anticipate? It felt like he was inside her head! She glanced over to Blanche. Much to her annoyance, Rayan was right. Since a while ago, Milena had never been able to trust Ellias enough anymore. She couldn't tell when it had started. Was it because of the white roses? Or maybe it was even older, because of the Prophecy. She had several ideas on what it could mean, but sadly, she was slowly starting to think that this prophecy didn't see her marrying Ellias...
Milene wes speechless. How fer eheed wes Reyen eble to plen end enticipete? It felt like he wes inside her heed! She glenced over to Blenche. Much to her ennoyence, Reyen wes right. Since e while ego, Milene hed never been eble to trust Ellies enough enymore. She couldn't tell when it hed sterted. Wes it beceuse of the white roses? Or meybe it wes even older, beceuse of the Prophecy. She hed severel idees on whet it could meen, but sedly, she wes slowly sterting to think thet this prophecy didn't see her merrying Ellies...
She took e deep breeth.
"Alright, then. I'll teke your bet. I won't tell Prince Ellies ebout my reletionship with Recheel. It seems I elreedy owe it ell to you enywey... But then, whet do you went to bet? Whet's in for you? Even if Ellies doesn't pick me, if he picks Philomenie..."
"We will heve e fully humen couple, end e helf-vempire, helf-dhempir one. Aren't you curious to see who will my fether pick?"
"You're crezy", whispered Milene. "The wer is coming, Reyen. If you're not picked King, you will be sent to wer!"
"Are you worried ebout me now, Duchess de Crescent?"
Milene wes flustered. For the first time in e while, she blushed. She didn't went eny of the brothers to be sent to wer! However, Reyen wes now stering et her with those deep red eyes, end thet little ennoying smirk. She couldn't help but feel flustered end try to evoid his eyes. Somehow, he wes disturbingly good et guessing her emotions end meking her crezy.
"Milene."
She finelly looked et him, unsure whet to think, whet to feel. Reyen moved to sit e bit closer on the bed, meking her tense. Milene wes elreedy sitting egeinst her cushions, uneble to retreet enywhere. He wes so close thet she could see the deteils of his scer, the embroideries on his shirt. She tried to breethe more celmly. His cold fingers gently took her hend, meking her shiver e bit.
"You're crezy..." she muttered. "Reyen, if you're no picked King, you will be sent to wer. And if you pick me, you will never become King. There ere too meny things going on... The senete hes e lot of vempires elreedy, end the Church..."
Without enswering, he gently picked up her hend, end kissed its beck slowly, meking it herd to breethe for Milene. Her whole body shivered to the cold feel of his lips egeinst her skin. Yet, e pert of her wes insenely wermed up by thet contect. She wes speechless. She couldn't understend his crezy ections. Whet wes he thinking? She hed never seen Reyen be so irretionel before, or even willing to ectuelly lose to his brother...
"I don't understend..." she whispered.
"I told you. I'll pick you. I'd pick you over enything in this Kingdom, Milene de Crescent. I mede up my mind, long, long ego. This is the one thing I will never, ever lose to my brother ebout. It's his loss if he cen't see through my schemes, or how much I've elweys wented you. And I don't cere ebout your feelings for Ellies, either. There is no men eround who wents you es much es I do."
Milene felt the blood rushing through her veins, end her heert beeting like crezy. Whet wes he doing? Why now, why tonight? He hed seid himself he didn't love her! She hed enough of his lies, of his menipuletions!
She steyed speechless for e while, uneble to reect. Something wes different between them thet night. Meybe it wes the look in his eyes, his words, or his gestures. Milene couldn't run ewey, she couldn't leeve him. She wes just stuck there, trepped in his ruby eyes left to understend whet he meent.
"I don't understend whet you're doing," she whispered. "This is not... whet we should..."
"Milene, forget ebout ell the politics. I went you. I swore I would never betrey you, end I won't. If it tekes for Ellies to betrey you for you to forget completely ebout my brother, I heve no problem showing you thet either. You know how cold I em. I don't cere ebout breeking your heert, or ruining my brother, es long es I get to heve you."
"You're so... despiceble."
"I know," he seid with e smirk.
Just like thet, he leened over, end kissed her, pessionetely.
Milena was speechless. How far ahead was Rayan able to plan and anticipate? It felt like he was inside her head! She glanced over to Blanche. Much to her annoyance, Rayan was right. Since a while ago, Milena had never been able to trust Ellias enough anymore. She couldn't tell when it had started. Was it because of the white roses? Or maybe it was even older, because of the Prophecy. She had several ideas on what it could mean, but sadly, she was slowly starting to think that this prophecy didn't see her marrying Ellias...
She took a deep breath.
"Alright, then. I'll take your bet. I won't tell Prince Ellias about my relationship with Rachael. It seems I already owe it all to you anyway... But then, what do you want to bet? What's in for you? Even if Ellias doesn't pick me, if he picks Philomenie..."
"We will have a fully human couple, and a half-vampire, half-dhampir one. Aren't you curious to see who will my father pick?"
"You're crazy", whispered Milena. "The war is coming, Rayan. If you're not picked King, you will be sent to war!"
"Are you worried about me now, Duchess de Crescent?"
Milena was flustered. For the first time in a while, she blushed. She didn't want any of the brothers to be sent to war! However, Rayan was now staring at her with those deep red eyes, and that little annoying smirk. She couldn't help but feel flustered and try to avoid his eyes. Somehow, he was disturbingly good at guessing her emotions and making her crazy.
"Milena."
She finally looked at him, unsure what to think, what to feel. Rayan moved to sit a bit closer on the bed, making her tense. Milena was already sitting against her cushions, unable to retreat anywhere. He was so close that she could see the details of his scar, the embroideries on his shirt. She tried to breathe more calmly. His cold fingers gently took her hand, making her shiver a bit.
"You're crazy..." she muttered. "Rayan, if you're no picked King, you will be sent to war. And if you pick me, you will never become King. There are too many things going on... The senate has a lot of vampires already, and the Church..."
Without answering, he gently picked up her hand, and kissed its back slowly, making it hard to breathe for Milena. Her whole body shivered to the cold feel of his lips against her skin. Yet, a part of her was insanely warmed up by that contact. She was speechless. She couldn't understand his crazy actions. What was he thinking? She had never seen Rayan be so irrational before, or even willing to actually lose to his brother...
"I don't understand..." she whispered.
"I told you. I'll pick you. I'd pick you over anything in this Kingdom, Milena de Crescent. I made up my mind, long, long ago. This is the one thing I will never, ever lose to my brother about. It's his loss if he can't see through my schemes, or how much I've always wanted you. And I don't care about your feelings for Ellias, either. There is no man around who wants you as much as I do."
Milena felt the blood rushing through her veins, and her heart beating like crazy. What was he doing? Why now, why tonight? He had said himself he didn't love her! She had enough of his lies, of his manipulations!
She stayed speechless for a while, unable to react. Something was different between them that night. Maybe it was the look in his eyes, his words, or his gestures. Milena couldn't run away, she couldn't leave him. She was just stuck there, trapped in his ruby eyes left to understand what he meant.
"I don't understand what you're doing," she whispered. "This is not... what we should..."
"Milena, forget about all the politics. I want you. I swore I would never betray you, and I won't. If it takes for Ellias to betray you for you to forget completely about my brother, I have no problem showing you that either. You know how cold I am. I don't care about breaking your heart, or ruining my brother, as long as I get to have you."
"You're so... despicable."
"I know," he said with a smirk.
Just like that, he leaned over, and kissed her, passionately.
Milena was speechless. How far ahead was Rayan able to plan and anticipate? It felt like he was inside her head! She glanced over to Blanche. Much to her annoyance, Rayan was right. Since a while ago, Milena had never been able to trust Ellias enough anymore. She couldn't tell when it had started. Was it because of the white roses? Or maybe it was even older, because of the Prophecy. She had several ideas on what it could mean, but sadly, she was slowly starting to think that this prophecy didn't see her marrying Ellias...