Page 27 of Glass Hearts

This woman. My reluctant heart falls so fast for her. My brave, selfless, beautiful, strong woman. She is more than any other woman I have ever met.

“With every gold coin I make, I give back to the actual victims. Sure, I take a bit for myself and my animals. But I never steal from people who don’t deserve it.”

“You think we deserved getting our glass hearts stolen?”

This has her face falling in shame. Though that wasn’t my intention, I just wanted to know if she thought I was a bad person.

“Now that I have met you all, no. Being princes and all, I figured you wouldn’t have cared to have something go missing since you have everything at your fingertips.

Truthfully, I was just going to steal from your guests and avoid you.

In hindsight, I should have stuck to the original plan.

” She laughs as she patches up my wounds.

“I am glad that you did. Steal from us, I mean. Then we wouldn’t have found you.”

This surprises her as she stops what she is doing. She clears her throat again. But I don’t miss how she comes a little closer, between my legs. I chance at grabbing her hips, pulling her in to me.

“Prince Sylas. I-” Her intoxicating sweet smell and gentle touches leave goosebumps along my skin. She goes back to stitching me up. “How did you even get yourself so hurt?”

“Please just call me Sylas. I suppose there isn’t any point in lying to you anymore.

” I clear my throat as I continue, “As you are aware, the council has us on a tight leash of responsibilities. The stress getting to us in many ways. My brothers would fuck to get it out of their system, but I prefer to use my fists. My family was always more militant that way. I was raised with fighting; my father always pitted me against my cousins. He died, and my mother fell ill. It’s just my sister back home taking care of her.

Fighting is my outlet.” Arabella nods as she continues focusing on my cuts.

Each touch sends fiery sensations through my body, setting my soul ablaze.

“It feels like a lot of pressure to get everything right, to be a dutiful son, and also a good leader. But in the ring, I am in control. The pain is welcoming. It makes me feel alive. So I found the fighting den in the pleasure district to relieve myself of all the responsibilities I have to my family, my brothers, and my people.”

“Big Al’s?”

“Yes… How do you know of Big Al’s?”

“I, um, I like to go there occasionally. It’s fun to watch the fights. Though nobody has ever mentioned the prince fighting. I feel like that is something I would have known.”

“They don’t know I am a prince. I disguise myself as The Stone.”

Arabella gasps and pushes back a little to look into my eyes. “Shut up! No way! YOU are The Stone!? Oh my gosh, you are a legend!”

“You have been to one of my fights?” I laugh as I bring her back to me, not liking the distance she created again. Her blush continues to deepen as she gets back to work on the last cut on my face.

She nods. “Yup, and I can’t believe I am saying this, I had such a huge crush on you. I have your poster up in my room back home.” She giggles.

“Had a crush?” I question. This causes her face to flush with embarrassment, and she won’t meet my eyes. Now, that won’t do. With two fingers under her chin, I lightly bring her face to look back at me.

Instead of an answer, she asks me another question, setting down her supplies. I miss her hands on me instantly, but before I can go to put them back on me, she is already placing her small hands on my shoulders. Not moving away from between my thighs.

“Do you miss the Terra Isles?”

“I do. It is such a beautiful island, filled with mountains, waterfalls, and so much beauty. I think you would like it.”

“My best friend Lo and I always joked that if I could free myself from the curse that we would run off together to your lands and get a little cottage up in the mountains.”

“Lo is a woman, yes?”

She smacks my chest playfully and laughs. “Yes, Lo, Elora, is a woman. Who I miss dearly already. We see each other usually every other night.” Her face falls, and I file away this tidbit of information as to whom my vixen loves.

“Why do you stay here and follow the orders of the council if you miss it?”

I sigh as I pull her in even closer, soaking up her heat and the feel of her soft body flush against mine.

“I miss my mother and sister terribly. I worry I will receive the notice of my mother’s passing while I am here.

It’s one of my biggest worries. And my sister is too young to take care of her and watch her die.

But it was a duty, ordered by the council, for us all to be here at the Castle in Eldor.

To get to know the other future leaders, my brothers, and to learn what it means to become kings.

For that, I am grateful to be here. Meeting them makes me feel a little less alone in the world. ”

She cups my cheek, gently avoiding the newly-stitched cut.

“I am glad you have them. That you have each other—I can see how much you all care and love each other. You seem to take a lot of the weight and responsibility off their shoulders, but I see how tired you get. Fighting may be a suitable solution for you, but perhaps… you should ask them to help with the burden. Not the council. You take care of everyone; who is taking care of you, Sylas?”

I look into her eyes. We find each other’s lips, though I don’t know who starts it.

I pull her to me, as close as I can get.

Her kiss is a sweet promise. Of what I could have, of what I want.

My hands move along her gorgeously perfect body.

She hungrily hardens the kiss, grabbing onto my loosened hair.

Our kiss turns passionate as I lift her to straddle my hips.

She moans as she feels my hardened dick.

“Sylas.” She moans my name, and if it isn’t the sweetest sound. I would hurt myself every day for the chance to hear her say my name like a prayer.

“Sylas.” She pushes away, her lips plump from our heated kiss.

I want more. “We shouldn’t do this. I-I don’t know why I am weak for you and the other princes.

But I am just the servant girl. You are looking to marry…

and we all know it can never be me. I am growing tired of this dance.

I don’t think my heart can bare it anymore.

” A tear falls down her right cheek. I brush it away, but keep my hand cradled to her beautiful face.

Each freckle sparkles in the moonlight, the candles flickering close to the end of their wicks.

“Vixen, I have been trying to deny myself to you since I met you. I am enamoured by your heart. My words might feel hollow, I understand, especially given my actions. I want to figure out how to get out of the council’s clutches. Just know you have my heart. Would you give me some time, please?”

She nods as I scoop her up and lay her down on her bed. I reluctantly let her go. So I can start to pick up this mess and form a damn plan. The stubborn girl instantly sits up.

“It’s late, Vixen, I need you to be well-rested.” I place a kiss on her cheek. But she surprises me as she grabs my neck and pulls me down for another sinfully wonderful kiss.

I groan. “Vixen, you are making it really hard to be a gentleman.”

She giggles, but the yawn she makes settles my resolve. “Sleep, beautiful.”

I pick up the bowl of water and supplies, my vixen already asleep as I regretfully leave her room.

Sleep evades me as I ponder how to resolve my promise. I am not sure how to manage the council, but I know I can no longer stay away from Arabella. She is the only woman I can picture in my life forever.