Chapter 6 I'll get her

~Keith~

It was evening but I couldn't stop smiling.

There was something about the way she looks at me. Like she’s trying so hard not to look at me at all.

Now, I really wished I'd taken a picture of her cute, scowling face.

I leaned against the door just outside my room, and clicked the door shut behind me.

She had looked like a cornered lamb in there during breakfast, her wide eyes darting between me and my father, her knuckles white as she gripped the armrest of her chair. But beneath all that fear, there was something else. There was a spark…a fire she didn’t even realize she had.

And that fire? It made her dangerous.

Not to me, of course. But to herself. My old man didn’t tolerate disobedience, and he certainly wouldn’t tolerate someone like her catching my attention. But that was the fun part, wasn’t it? Watching her squirm, watching her try to keep her composure while I pushed every button she didn’t even know she had.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and started walking out of the building. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but it didn’t matter. My mind was already elsewhere.

I could still see her, the way she sat there with her head bowed, her voice trembling as she answered my father’s questions. She was terrified of him, and rightly so. Damon wasn’t just a king; he was a monster. But there was something about the way she angled her jaw, the way her shoulders stiffened when he spoke, that told me she wasn’t as broken as she pretended to be.

And I liked that.

I liked a lot of things about her, actually. Her quick wit. Her fiery comebacks. Her stubbornness. Her sharp mouth. The way she flushed every time I teased her, like she couldn’t decide whether to slap me or kiss me.

She didn’t know it yet, but she was playing a dangerous game with me, and I'm never one to back out of a game of conquest.

I found myself in the garden without realizing it. The scent of roses and freshly cut grass filled the air, but it wasn’t the flowers I was interested in.

It was her.

There she was, sitting on the edge of the fountain, her hands fidgeting in her lap. She hadn’t noticed me yet, which gave me a moment to study her.

She looked different out here, away from the suffocating walls of the palace. She looked softer and more vulnerable. The sunlight caressed her hair, and for a brief moment, I forgot why I was even here.

Then she sighed, her shoulders slumping, and the spell broke. I grinned to myself. She was probably replaying every word my father had said to her, trying to figure out how to stay on his good side. Good luck with that.

I took a step forward, deliberately letting my boots crunch against a dry leaf. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide as she spotted me.

“You again,” she said, her voice breathless. “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me now?”

I shrugged, shoving my hands back into my pockets. “First, the name's Keith; not you. Second, I could ask you the same thing, Cinderella. Shouldn’t you be inside, practicing your curtsy?”

Her cheeks flushed, and I bit back a laugh. She really was too easy to rile up.

“This is a public place,” she said, her tone clipped. “I’m allowed to be here.”

“Of course you are,” I said, stepping closer. “But you looked so lost in thought. I was worried you might be plotting an escape from your husband.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was something in her expression that told me I wasn’t entirely wrong.

“What do you want, Mr playboy?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Because if you’re here to annoy me, you’re wasting your time.”

“Oh, I don’t think it’s a waste of time,” I said, chuckling. “In fact, I think it’s the highlight of my evening.”

She let out a frustrated sigh, turning away from me. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re terrible at avoiding me,” I shot back, taking another step closer. “You know, for someone who’s so determined to stay out of trouble, you seem to attract it like a magnet.”

She froze at that, her shoulders stiffening. “I don’t want trouble. I've avoided it all my life.”

And just like that, the teasing mood shifted. I stepped around the fountain, positioning myself in front of her. She didn’t move, but her eyes looked everywhere but at me.

“What are you so afraid of?” I asked, my voice. “Is it him? Or is it me?”

Her eyes snapped to mine then, and for a moment, I saw that spark. It was buried deep, but it was still there, burning.

“You’re not as scary as you think you are,” she said, her voice strong despite the faint tremor in her hands.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Oh, Cinderella. You have no idea what I'm capable of.”

I took a step closer, and she backed up instinctively until her legs hit the edge of the fountain. I leaned in, my hands braced on either side of her, caging her in. She gasped, and I smiled.

“Let me guess,” I said, my voice raspy. “You’re thinking about my father right now. About what he’d do if he saw us like this.”

Her silence was answer enough.

I tilted my head, studying her. “But here’s the thing, Cinderella. You’re not afraid of me because of him. You’re afraid of me because you know exactly what I’m capable of. You know what would happen if I put my lips on yours. And a small part of you—” I leaned in closer, my lips brushing her ear. “—desperately wants me to.”

She gasped softly, her hands gripping the edge of the fountain like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

“Keith,” she whispered, and I realised it was the first time she’s calling my name, “This isn’t—”

“Smart?” I finished for her, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. “Probably not. But when has that ever stopped me?”

Her lips parted, but whatever she was about to say was cut off by the sound of footsteps approaching. I straightened quickly, stepping back just as a maid rounded the corner.

“My lady,” the maid said, bowing slightly. “The alpha king has requested your presence again.”

Sage looked at me, her eyes wide with panic. I gave her a small, reassuring smile, but inside, I was already fuming. Of course he’d call her back. He always had to remind everyone who was in charge.

“Better not keep him waiting,” I said lightly, my smirk returning. “Wouldn’t want you getting into trouble.”

She shot me a glare, but I could see the fear in her eyes. Without another word, she turned and followed the maid, leaving me alone in the garden.

I watched her go, the smirk fading from my face. She was in over her head, and she didn’t even know it.

But I did. And for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away. I want my father's bride, and I'm going to get her.