12: First Warning

Heather's POV

Molly was sweet and nice. I couldn't have asked for a better friend. Even though we had only been hanging out for a few hours, I felt like I knew everything about her life. She was open and easy to read, even admitting to things that any other person would naturally have denied.

"So, that is how you got here?" She asked me after I told her the sad tale of my life and the betrayal from the people I called family.

"Well, that is the tale of my life. I didn't have many adventures like you did. My life was simply plain and boring" I said and shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm glad the tale of your life brought you here. If not, how would I have gotten to meet a sweet person like you" she said and I laughed, she paused for a while and took a deep breath before asking me a question, "So about Keith, what do you think about him? He is your husband." She said like I was supposed to have been experienced him as a husband.

“What do you mean?” I asked halting my step and she slightly hit her shoulder with mine.

“You know what I mean Heather, I mean he is your husband and you should have an impression of him.”

"Hmm," I tried to think of what I really thought about Prince Keith “Well, so far he is okay, not that bad until Nyles suddenly appears,” I replied and she nodded, agreeing with me.

"I understand you but you can’t blame him about Nyles too, she was the one that took care of him when he almost died, we all thought he wasn’t going to survive after the Great war where he lost his parents, his legs and half of his face.”

My body froze as Molly spoke of it so casually, of course, I knew about the Great War, I was still little but I heard about it, Prince Keith’s father was the king of Devontae before he lost his life to the war, but what I do not understand is why Keith was lying about his legs and face.

“Was it that bad? How was Nyles there to help him?” I asked and Molly let out a deep breath.

“It’s a long story I don’t want to indulge in right now, at that point everyone had abandoned him including his family, all they wanted then was to find a new king because Dovantae was in the peak of collapsing. Nyles was just a young maid in the palace then, her mother was the head maid back then, so she took care of him and as they grew, Keith fell in love with her and they have been in a relationship since then.” Molly shrugged

“Is that why the grand Luna doesn’t like her?” I asked

“I can’t really say but I do know that Keith is in charge of the west wing of the palace and no one can challenge his orders not even the king, he had abandoned him there to live his life and that’s why Nyles is still in the palace, no one really cared to send her packing and that’s why she is rude and speaks anyhow she wants.”

“Why will they want to marry him off?”I asked and Molly laughed

“You sound like I have all answers to all your questions, I have been out of the palace for almost a year so of course I do not really have an answer to that.” I nodded.

At least Molly told me a lot of things I wasn’t aware of, it was an insight, and at the same time, it was confusing which left me thinking about what was truly Prince Keith's motive. It seems I’m the only one that knows he can walk and I still don’t understand why he let me know his deepest secret and at the same time he didn’t seem worried about me leaking his secret.

The more I think about it, the more I am confused and the more I am interested in finding out what is truly going on, I want to know what is going through Keith’s mind and it’s so funny how I suddenly find interest in knowing him.

“So… how come you were close to Prince Ezra and not Prince Keith? I mean before the death of his parents, he was likely to be the next king.” I said and she looked away, smiling faintly.

“I used to be his friend but we kind of drifted apart,” she replied and I furrowed my brows.

“I knew it! His dirty character must have drifted you off  of him, he is so rude!”I said in one breath and Molly burst into laughter.

“You shouldn’t talk about your husband in that manner,” she said in a teasing tone and I rolled my eyes.

“I will say it again Molly, after all, he is only my husband in the papers, he truly belongs to Nyles and in a way, I think they fit each other,” I replied and Molly arched her brows at me.

“I thought you said he is not that bad when he is not with Nyles?” She asked and I let out a deep breath.

“That doesn’t mean he is less annoying,” I replied and Molly laughed.

“I am really glad that Ezra introduced you to me, you are a very interesting wolf Heather,” she said and I smiled. “The sun is already burning, I don’t think I can continue this walk anymore.”

“Thank you, Molly, I really appreciate your presence here today, I had at least a semblance of peace.”

"You don’t have to mention, we both enjoyed it. We should take a walk around the kingdom another time, you need to get acquainted with the whole place. You know, considering that you are now Princess Heather of the Devontae Kingdom" she said and I laughed. She had a way of making very serious things have a touch of humour and so far, things have moved on smoothly and well between the two of us.

"Thank you for offering, I was actually planning to ask you before you leave. I didn't just know how to go about it" I said and she gave me a weird look before clapping her hands gently.

"You can always ask me anything or come to me for everything. Reliability is my love language" she said cheekily.

"Thank you for being my friend" I whispered and she smiled.

"Ezra wouldn't stop talking about you and how you have been putting Keith in his place. I loved it and wanted to meet the woman who could razzle the little dazzle" she said and we both laughed.

“Come on! Having you in this palace I am sure there would be no dull moment,” I said in between laughter and she laughed some more.

After calming down from the infectious laughter, Molly waved at me and I watched her leave, returning to her chambers. With a smile on my face, I turned to return to my room and I saw Prince Keith on his wheels a few feet away, his eyes were burning into mine, and he looked angry.

I ignored him, turning to the other side, with the intention to return my room, locking my door as fast as I could. I noticed he was following me and I increased my steps.

Just when I was about to close my door after stepping into my room, he held the door refusing me to step inside, he pushed the door open and I staggered back a bit, he stepped inside rolling his wheel, and closed the door. As soon as he did, he stood up from the wheel taking a step closer to me, my heart started beating fast wondering what was his intention.

“What do you want?” I asked and he let out a deep breath.

“What are you doing with Molly?” He asked and I raised my brows at him.

“And how is that any of your concerns?” I retorted and he took a step closer to me while I took another one back.

“I don’t want to see you with her Heather,” he said calmly but he sounded so ridiculous to my ears.

“What makes you believe I am going to obey you, Prince Keith? You are talking to the wrong person, this is not Nyles!” I hold my ground.

He took another step closer and I took another one back, my back hit the wall before I could stop myself, his body was pressed against mine, his left hand casually leaning on the wall, above my head while I looked up to see his face. His breath fanned my face and I could hear the sound of my heartbeat loud and clear.

He seemed not to care about the torturous position we were in, I noticed his eyes darting from my eyes to my lips and for a second I thought he was going to lean closer to kiss me, I wasn’t sure how I was going to react if that truly happened.

“Because I said so Heather, you are my wife and she is someone I don’t want to see around you.” With that said, he turned and walked away from me. He sat on his wheelchair and rolled it out of my room.

As soon as I heard the door slammed, I slumped on the floor, my heart breathing heavily.