Page 118 of King Alejandro

“Please? Enrique, she really just wants to speak to you, just once?” I pleaded.

“Will you force me to speak to her?” He asked icily. I shook my head.

“No, but I’m begging you, as a mother. Please, just speak to her once. You won’t see each other again. Do you think you could find it inside of you to fulfil her one wish?” I whispered, joining my hands together in front of me. A sudden, overwhelming sense of Deja Vu filled me, and I brushed it away.

“I hate her,” he hissed. “If she comes before me, I won’t be nice to her, so it’s your choice.” I felt a sharp pang of pain, but I nodded. I couldn’t force him to.

“Okay… could you at least be patient with her?” I asked gently.

“I can’t promise anything. The chica should realise we are not friends. I don’t even want to see her. She’s just a useless chica, one who annoys me!”

Luna, Princess Kataleya, is outside.My heart thudded as I closed my eyes. I hadn’t sensed her…

Okay…

“Okay. I will let her make the decision,” I replied, defeated, standing up. “Thank you.”

I left the room, shutting the door after me just in time to see her little head of sandy brown hair vanish around the corner. I closed my eyes, leaning against the wall, not even noticing the guards who stood there. The only thought in my head was that she had heard his every word… knowing that it only broke her pure little heart a little more.

Kataleya

I ran downthe stairs quickly before Mama caught me listening, my tears spilling down my cheeks. Why did Enrique hate me so much? Was it because his papa took his hand off because of me?

I clamped my hand over my mouth, rounding the corner as I stifled a sob, only to knock into Daddy and almost fall back. I got to my feet, ready to run away when he caught hold of my arms and knelt down in front of me.

“What’s wrong, princess?”

I shook my head, flinging my arms around his neck and sobbing into his arms. He picked me up, and I clung to him. I knew Dante called me a baby when Daddy carried me, but I was sad.

“It’s going to be fucking okay.” He stroked my hair, and I closed my eyes, inhaling his smell. “Tell me what happened?”

Safe. I was safe with Daddy. I slowly moved back, staring at him. I needed to be brave and strong.

“Nothing, Daddy. I’m a brave girl,” I whispered, brushing away my tears with one hand.

“My girl is fucking brave. Always remember that.” I nodded, playing with the chains around his neck.

“Yes. I will.”

And I will talk to Enrique, even if he doesn’t want to talk to me. I will make him see me because this is my last chance to thank him and say goodbye. Forever.

Dinner was over. Everyone usually went to the living room, and Enrique would go to his room, not wanting to spend time with us.

Rayhan was still angry over what happened earlier with Leo, I thought, so everyone was very quiet. I pretended to play in the playroom with Sky, Sienna, and Ahren, but I could hear Uncle Marcel asking Enrique about Puerto Rico in the entrance hall. That was where Enrique was from.

I took the chance to sneak away when Clara wasn’t looking. They never noticed when I snuck away because they couldn’t hear me. I needed to go before Enrique. I quietly made my way upstairs and hurried to my room to grab the present I had made him; I then ran down the hall and slipped into Enrique’s room before he came up. Otherwise, the guards would find out I was there. They only guarded the room when Enrique was in it.

I looked around the room, panicking.Where do I hide?I didn’t ask Mama about talking to him because I had heard what he said earlier. If I was stubborn and said I wanted to talk to him, it would only hurt Mama even more because she would stay with me, and I knew Enrique was going to be angry.

I heard the door handle turn and hurried into the bathroom, clutching my present to my heart. I heard him shut the door and sigh. Should I go out? I peeped through the gap, watching Enrique walk over to the window and stare out at the moon. He looked sad. The angry face he usually made wasn’t there. It made me unhappy that he looked so lonely and sad...

He turned, glancing towards the bathroom door. I quickly hid behind it, my heart racing. I heard him approaching, and then he pushed the door open, roughly stepping into the bathroom and looking around. This was my chance.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door shut just when he turned to look behind the door. He became so angry when he saw me and was about to grab the door handle, but I stood in front of it, blocking his way.

“Please don’t ignore me,” I pleaded softly.Please.

“What do you want?” He frowned, crossing his arms. My heart ached as I looked at my shoes.