Page 26 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate? (Dealing With Fate #1)
One second, I could see the door, and the next I crashed against a hard body, losing my balance before arms circled me and pressed me against said body. We were both panting heavily, having sped through this large mansion.
“You forget I can foresee your actions,” the Prince grinned down at me, holding me tight as he breathed deeply. “You got lost, didn’t you?”
Derrick halted and bowed in an instant, despite his tired breathing. “Prince Winston.”
The Prince glanced at the man behind me. “Professor Altha. The new Recovery magic professor.” Watching me now, he mumbled, “Why didn’t anyone notify me? I need to update the security of this place.”
Samuel and Vincent arrived a second later, standing next to Claude. “She runs so fast,” Samuel griped, catching his breath, before noticing my former physician. “Derrick. You have business with the Prince?”
He didn’t get to answer when the front door slammed open, and my two knights rushed inside, murderous glares aimed at the other men in the room. “My intuition never lies,” Reuben growled, eyeing each and every one of them. “I should’ve known we could not entrust Bea to you.”
Robin stepped forward. “Let Bea go.”
But the Prince only smiled. “’Bea’? You dare disrespect your lady?”
This was getting way out of hand. The last thing I wanted was for my bodyguards to pick a fight with the Crown Prince and ensure the doom of my entire household. I already had that fear twice; I didn’t need a third time.
I tried wiggling out of the Prince’s hold, but it was too strong to break. I settled with turning around so my back was against his chest, as his arms lifted to my shoulders.
“I begged them on my knees to call me that. It took a lot of whining and pleading,” I scoffed, hands on my hips. Okay, I was laying it on thick, but I needed them all to know that I liked being called without a title, even by my knights.
Samuel cursed as Derrick blushed red, and Vincent covered his mouth while he stared at the floor. I didn’t need to be a mind reader to figure out what the hell flashed in their collective male brain. Robin and Reuben’s smug faces only confirmed it.
What’s worse? When Winston’s cock twitched against my lower back. I would’ve glared at him if I weren’t so intent on stopping the aroused heat from spreading through my body, which would immediately give me away.
“Fuck me, you’re even cuter when your whole body blushes,” Claude yelled what I feared. My shoulders and legs were exposed so I didn’t need to doubt his words. There was no hiding my emotions, was there?
I glanced up at the ceiling to avoid any eye contact. “W-where’s my apology?” Did I just fucking stutter? This day was getting worse by the minute.
I heard the twins ask, “Apology?” While Derrick said, “From who?”
Winston’s breath tickled my ear and sent tingles down my spine, his mouth a few centimeters away as he whispered, “We’re not finished, princess.
” He let me go, but not before turning me around.
Surprised gasps drew my attention downward.
There, Crown Prince Winston knelt before me on one knee, one arm draped over the other.
“I apologize for offending you, Bea. It wasn’t my intention, and I hope you forgive me. I’ll watch my words next time.”
Carefully crafted. I noticed he didn’t apologize for the real problem, which was his stance on sharing me with other people he didn’t deem worthy.
But I couldn’t call him out on it, not when there were so many people watching.
And honestly, I was still scared of lawful retaliation.
I was already pushing boundaries by having the Prince apologize as he lowered himself.
He was right — we weren’t done with this. Not by a long shot.
After that entire shitshow, I couldn’t get away fast enough. I had no idea if the Champions planned to have a whole day meeting and I didn’t stay to find out.
I “forgave” Winston and excused myself, nearly jumping into my knights’ welcoming arms. Derrick and Vincent also excused themselves, and the five of us left the mansion in silence, with neither one of the Champions stopping us.
As soon as Reuben helped me up onto his horse, both Vincent and Derrick were gone.
This meeting only left me with more questions than answers. For one, we didn’t get to finish the “introductions”; I still didn’t know what Divine magic had to do with Claude, and what his Unique was if he had any. Derrick didn’t answer how he got there without knowing where there was.
And there was another issue that popped up that I needed to deal with.
Reuben was not handsy with me, unlike Robin, and his muscles tensed so much I just knew he was very nervous as I rested against his chest. It was interesting that the twins were complete opposites with this subject.
When we arrived back on campus, I slipped away while my knights returned the horses to the stables.
My next mission: hunt down Amos Drakon to help me with horse riding.
I had to make it true or I wouldn’t hear the end of it from them , because they seemed intent on ruining my free time, at least on Sundays.
Even though I had no clue where to look for Amos, it was as if the Oracle, or whatever guiding hand of fate, led me to him; Amos was in a training field, dressed only in his pants and boots, practicing with a spear alone.
God, that body was just perfection. I didn’t get to see it when we had sex, and now that I did, I was wet all over again. Those v-shaped muscles guiding my eyes down his pants — welp, I was a goner.
Amos must have sensed me drooling over him because he had a smug, confident look before he even glanced at me. “Good afternoon, sunshine.”
Oh crap, was it lunchtime? I better wrap this up as soon as possible because Mia would surely be searching for me by now.
When Amos dropped his spear on the ground, I immediately rushed him, standing a foot away. “Can you teach me horseback riding?”
His grin was so wide as he lifted his arms to embrace me. But he caught himself, resting his hands on his hips instead. I pretended not to notice. “I can teach you any kind of riding you want, baby. Is this your way of spending time with me?”
That was one reason, but the truer reason was stupider.
“Kind of, yeah.” I had to admit the truth, or I’d be lying too much, and I didn’t want that.
“Also, I kind of told the Prince that you’re teaching me horse riding already, or else they’d pick someone else for it.
I prefer you to whomever they choose. They accepted it because you’re one of the best riders here? I genuinely didn’t know.”
Amos eyes widened. “Hey, slow down. Why did the Prince want to know about your riding skill? And you chose me?” His face showed how much he relished being chosen, the reason lost on me. “I am sort of the best, that’s true.”
That explained the spear practice. If he specialized in mounted combat, then maybe he also practiced the lance. My video game knowledge was clutch when Mia wasn’t around to explain medieval fantasy logic.
Anyway, back to the important issue; it was possible he wasn’t aware of the Prince’s announcement despite watching it go down last Friday. “As the Prince declared, I’m now a special member of the Champions. They’re concerned about my life skills. I met with them today, actually.”
Amos scrunched his eyebrows, looking me up and down. “In this dress?”
I scrunched my own. “What’s wrong with it?”
He shook his head. “That’s the thing; you look too delectable in it.” His eyes lingered on my legs. “I want to bite those soft thighs.”
With the way his pupils dilated, I knew for sure I was blushing again. Warmth enveloped me as tingles raced to said freaking thighs. I tugged at my sleeves to calm myself down, but that only brought his eyes up and settled on my chest.
“Bea,” he rasped, swallowing. “Did you know your nipples poked through your dress?” As if to prove his point, he thumbed one with a quick swipe, making me squeak at the sensation. I glanced down and saw what he meant. So, it was obvious when I was turned on. During that entire shitshow, did they —
Of course they did. God, did they think I was some kind of slut? They wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but I didn’t want to leave that impression in this universe. And besides, I was trying to maintain the image of a nice, obedient, noble daughter.
“It’s not wrong,” he smiled again. “In fact, I quite like it. Skies above, you make me want to fuck you all day, woman.”
“Be quiet,” I whisper-shrieked. “What if someone hears?”
Amos laughed. “Then they’ll wish they could be me.”
“Ela?” Elias’s voice made me freeze. I turned and found him standing a few meters away, looking like he had finished his own workout, his training uniform on. “I didn’t know you’re familiar with my brother.”
“Lots of things you don’t know about me, brother,” Amos replied before I could. “I’m Bea’s riding instructor, for one.”
I gaped at the man next to me. He told Elias before I could even consider if it was information that was fine to share with absolutely no consequences.
He smirked at his brother, then at me, and I knew — he was staking his claim.
As if we didn’t have a conversation where he agreed to non-exclusivity.
Not that Elias would want to, with me.
It was pointless to be possessive if the entire concept of non-exclusivity was to be open and to share. Right?
Elias sensed it too, tensing up; his grip on the training sword tightened. “Thanks for watching out for my best friend.”
Amos tipped an imaginary hat. “No problem.” Leaning down, he whispered, “You’re mine on Wednesday mornings before your class.
” Before I could respond, he slapped my ass, making me yelp and stumble forward until Elias caught me, the sword strewn on the ground.
Picking up the spear with a chuckle, Amos left the two of us.
“Sorry about my brother,” Elias murmured, righting me, but kept his hold on my waist.