Confrontation

Dante swallowed thickly and lowered his head. Kitanna glanced in the direction he was running from.

 "Were you being chased?” Kitanna asked. Dante shook his head. 

 "So you're just desperate for skin contact, then”, Almira concluded sharply. While Kitanna stared at the princess with shock, Dante stepped back slowly, feeling ashamed.

He wasn't seeking skin contact. Guirello had sent him on an errand, and he needed to finish it quickly to get his meal. His stomach growled, as testimony. Dante didn't say that out, though. He has gotten accustomed to letting people have their way. Even if he denied it, she would still stick to what she believed. 

 "Princess Mira '', they heard Xander's voice from a distance. Dante's eyes widened in panic. In a heartbeat, he fled, afraid to be seen by the prince.

Kitanna glanced in the direction he ran. A part of her felt sorry for him. They treated him so badly that he was afraid of being seen. Back in the sea, besides the royal family, everyone else was treated equally.  

 Prince Xander joined. His breathlessness suggested he had been running after them for a while. 

 "May I join you? I can show you around," He offered.

 "No", Almira abruptly replied. Xander was taken aback by the rejection, but he decided to persist. 

 "I still insist on coming with you, Princess. There is so much I can show you. Beautiful places, you can't find on your own," Xander insisted.

Almira was getting irritated. “Don't you get it? Your presence is suffocating, I need space”, She snapped.

 "Excuse me! You were the one who walked into my wedding claiming I was yours” Xander snapped back, deeply offended. 

 "Please let me handle this, Princess”, Kitanna pleaded, through the mind link.

 "It will stop this man-child from clinging to me, then do it” Almira replied, walking ahead. Kitanna scooted closer to the prince with a smile.

 "Do not be upset, your highness, the princess is not in a good mood today. She got a little homesick and decided to take a walk to clear her head. You know, she has fancied you for a long”, Kitanna paused and Xander waited eagerly.

 "When I told her you were getting married, she rushed down to stop you without informing anyone. I guess she is worried that her family would panic about our disappearance," Kitanna continued. 

Xander's wounded ego patched back. Kitanna sighed in relief when she noticed the Prince's smile. 

 "I will see her tomorrow, then. Hopefully, she will be calmer by then”.

 "Of course, your Highness”. 

Xander headed back, while Kitanna rushed to catch up with Almira.

 "You should be nicer to him, your highness. He was genuinely worried you were playing with him," Kitanna said.

 "I am not playing with him, I'm genuinely not interested in him, but what he possesses. His presence irritates me, contrary to the bliss the bond is claimed to bring. When he gets close, all I want to do is shove him away. I only just met him, yet I hate him already," Almira told her.

Kitanna was speechless. She didn't want to believe that the Princess was in denial. Almira was too blunt to deny her feelings. She would rather admit her feelings and opt to stay away. It was strange to see anyone hate their mate. The bond of attraction was too strong to make it possible.

 "Do you really feel nothing for him at all? Not even a little attraction?”, Kitanna asked.

 "I would not deny it if I did. I just want him far away from me while I figure out a way to get what I want without putting us at risk”, Almira shrugged.

 "How about you just accept him and no one has to die?” Kitanna suggested. “He could even rule side by side with you, or you merge both worlds. Imagine a world where sirens and humans…..”

 "I have nothing against you being delusional, but please save it for plays. Your logic doesn't work in reality” Almira interrupted.

 "You are very rude,” Kitanna mumbled.

 "Count yourself lucky to be with me. Left to these people, you'll be scampering around in rags and receiving countless waves of abuse from people you bump into while running errands” Almira said, with a serious expression.

Kitanna chuckled, “So you knew it was an honest mistake, yet you said he was desperate for body contact”. 

 "He's too clumsy for his good," Almira said simply. 

 "Or you just don't know how to be nice to people. I still don't understand how I managed to stick with you this long. Others barely lasted a week” Kitanna said. 

Almira glanced at her, “You were living a horrible life. I just happened to torture you a little less with high benefits. Stop over-rating yourself, you just choose a better life”.

 "You are so insufferable”, Kitanna groaned. They walked for a few minutes before Kimorra appeared out of nowhere. Her makeup was smeared from crying. The wedding dress was barely recognizable. Kitanna felt sorry for her. No one deserved that pain on their happiest day.

 "How do you feel?” Kimorra asked.

     “It is a bit chilly out here, but I'm used to lower temperatures, so it feels warm to me," Almira replied in a heartbeat. 

Kimorra was stunned at first, then furious. “You ruined my wedding! My wedding!! How do you feel about that?”.

 "You've cried enough already. Scream any louder, and you might lose your voice," Almira said, instead.

 "Would I cry if you didn't appear to ruin my wedding? I was this close to getting everything I dreamed of and you ruined it. All for what? Couldn't you wait until after the marriage? Before everyone, you humiliated me. I spent months trying to make everything perfect, and you ruined it. Why would you do that?”, Kimorra asked, angrily.

Kitanna wanted to apologize to her at that moment, but Almira's tongue was faster.

 "Which are you upset about exactly? The wedding or the prince?”.

Kimorra was ready to throw fists when Kitanna quickly stepped between them.

    “Please calm down. You should not fight over a man for any reason”, Kitanna pleaded. She was most afraid for Kimorra because she knew how ruthless the princess could be when provoked.

 "If you want to pick a fight, you should take care of your health first. I can see you swaying already, it'd be a shame to die because of a failed marriage" Almira said, irking Kimorra.

 "Pay no mind to her, please. We apologize for whatever pain you're going through, but I sincerely think that a man, who could call off your wedding for a woman he just met, is not deserving of you," Kitanna said, before leading the princess away.

Kimorra clenched her fists as she watched them leave. 

 "You must be a fool to think I will give up easily because of your sugar-coated words. I will surely make you pay for every tear I shed on your account. You and Xander will never get away with this''.