I See You

I’m pretty sure I fell in love with Prince Malakai the night I almost killed him.

It was an accident, one of enormous proportions, but mainly his fault. My first day as one of the guards on his detail had gone surprisingly well. We followed him around the palace as he went from room to room, flirting with everything and everyone, charming diplomats with a brilliant smile I wasn’t too sure I liked. He dressed impeccably, dark blue coat buttoned to his throat, black hair brushed back in a perfect mess that looked intentional in its unintentionalness. He walked as if he was in complete control of everything around him, in complete control of himself. Prince Malakai is the next heir of the Pyrondian kingdom, and he knew it. And I knew that the only reason I was watching him was because my entire job was to put my life on the line for him. Which was exactly what I planned on doing when I heard a window opening in his room that night during my shift.

I was the only guard on duty, standing outside his door, mulling over the fact that the only contact I had had with the Prince all day was a quick glance and grin he threw my way when I walked in, still trying to get my sword to fit in my sheath. I was normally more put together than that, but starting the job I had been working toward my entire life had put my nerves on high alert. I wasn’t even technically a guard, not really. I was a medic with the training of a guard, a bit of a blend. My father had been a guard, captain of the guard, and I wanted to study medicine. So I did both.

“This is really uncomfortable,” I muttered as I adjusted the leather straps of my armor. “I don’t think they gave me the right size.”

Before I could think it over more, a sharp crash sounded inside Prince Malakai’s room, and I turned, hand instinctively going to my sword’s hilt.

“Your Highness?” I called out, but he didn’t reply.

Another thud from inside made my skin crawl. The headline flashed in my mind. Beloved crown prince murdered under watch of newbie guard. Absolutely not. I wasn’t going to disgrace my father’s name like that. Without even thinking it through, I pushed the hard sole of my boot against the door, slamming it open, the wood splintering under the force of my leg. Inside, the first thing I noticed was the empty bed, obviously not slept in, and the open window. A hand was holding onto the windowsill. Kidnappers. I unsheathed my sword and charged at the window, holding it high over my head. In the split second it took for the moonlight to glint off of it, to illuminate the person climbing out of the window, I almost brought it down onto the crown prince’s shiny head of hair. He looked up just in time, eyes widening at the sight of me, and the yelp I let out was humiliating.

“Your Highness!”

Prince Malakai looked down at the ground and back up at me and my sword. “Would you mind putting that down?”

I dropped the sword with a clang and backed away from the window, my cheeks red-hot. The prince climbed back up, swinging one leg over the windowsill. He was wearing a billowy white shirt, the wide neck open over his tanned chest and I swept my eyes over him one too many times for it to be any form of proper. My armor felt far too tight and I gasped for a breath of air.

“I wasn’t quite expecting you to try and kill me, Laerson.” he used my last name casually. “Your father was quite loyal up until his retirement.”

“I am so sorry,” I stammered. “I thought someone had kidnapped you.”

He gave me a quizzical look, slightly amused, a smile toying on the edges of his lips. “And you were coming to save me?”

Annoyance prickled at the back of my neck. “Yes. That’s my job.”

“Well,” he leaned forward, elbows propped up against his knees. “thank you, Lila. I appreciate it, but I was just going out for a midnight ride.”

“On a horse?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He snorted, and for the first time I noticed that his hair was actually messy, the black strands sticking up at odd angles, some in his eyes. The prince looked actually disheveled, no longer the image of perfect charm. I pursed my lips.

“Because it helps clear my mind, darling.”

The sarcastic drawl tore at the fog in my head, and I propped my hands up on my waist. “Well, next time, try and inform your guards.”

“The fact that I was climbing out my window should imply I didn’t exactly want to be found out.” He swung his legs back over the windowsill. “So it would be awfully kind if you wouldn’t tell anyone.”

I dashed over to the window, peering over as he dropped down onto the grass below. “You can’t go alone!” I hiss.

“I’m the crown prince.”

“Exactly!”

He tilted his head to the side and grinned. “Come with me then.”

I swallowed my immediate, confused retort of what? “Excuse me?”

“Do I have to repeat myself, Laerson?”

“You want me to go horse back riding with you, in the middle of the night.”

Prince Malakai winked. “Aye. You wanted to keep me safe, didn’t you?”

“I want to do my job,” I correct him.

“I won’t stop you.” he holds out a hand to help me down. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun in the process.”

I should have known the second I took his hand, there was no going back.

***

“Lila, please.”

Malakai’s insistent whine is a sound I’ve grown far too familiar with. Maybe even a little fond of. He’s splayed out on his bed, arms out at their full breadth, staring at the ceiling. I linger at the door, head resting against the frame, and do my best to keep my eyes staring out the window and not at his face. He’s been begging me to go with him to a nearby apple orchard for the last ten minutes.

“I have a meeting with your father, Malakai. You know I can’t miss it.”

In the two years that have passed since that night I almost accidentally murdered the heir to the kingdom, Malakai has taken a liking to dragging me along on his expeditions via simply the use of his smile and a sulky pout. He gloats that I’m weak to his princely power. If only he knew that it has far more to do with the way he plops his head on my lap and looks me straight in the eye when he asks, and how it melts any resolve I have to stay away from him into a puddle of mush that I have no idea what to do with. I’ve been in love with Prince Malakai of Pyrondia for two years, and he has no idea.

“Blow it off,” he groans, sitting up and clasping his hands together. “For me?”

I waver slightly, then shake my head. “No. This might finally be a promotion to the Inner Guard.”

I’ve been working towards the highest ranks of the guard for years, aiming at Captain, and the king has noticed. With my father’s reputation and my hard work and expertise at keeping his son safe, I’m almost sure. Malakai hates the idea.

“Inner Guard,” he scoffs. “You should stay here, guarding me.”

“So you can torture me for the rest of my life?”

“So I can be the light of your life for all eternity.” Malakai makes a mocking swoon and I roll my eyes, but my stomach is in knots. “You know I’m the highlight of your day, darling.”’

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

I leave his room, ignoring his annoyed groan and his promise to withhold the apples he plans on bringing back. He never means it. His father’s quarters are just down the hall from Malakai’s, the burgundy velvet of the hall leading to the double oak doors. I hesitate, hand raised in a knock, but the king must have heard me.

“Come in, Laerson.” he calls, and I push the doors open.

King Jeanson could easily be Malakai’s twin. The same slanted, mischevious eyes and the same charming smile, the same dark hair. Only Malakai’s nose and tan skin comes from his mother. The king is as pale as I am, and he waves me over to his desk, where he’s reading over a map.

“How are you today?” he asks politely, friendly even. “Is my son running you ragged?”

I chuckle lightly, not sure how to respond. He might be Malakai’s father, but he is still the king. “Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Good, good. Sit, please.”

I take one of the leather chairs by his wide desk, a gigantic piece that’s more the size of a small bed than a regular desk, and the king stays standing, arms crossed as he looks out the large window behind him. He hums in thought before turning back to me.

“You’ve been working on the guard for two years. Top of your class, immediate entry to my son’s personal detail. Your credentials rival that of your father’s. Don’t tell him I said that, he’ll never forgive me, Lila.”

He wasn’t just the king, or just Malakai’s father. He was also my father’s best friend and he knew me well. I practically grew up coming to dinners at the palace. Malakai and I had rarely interacted before I started working here, but it didn’t mean we hadn’t been in the same circles.

“With all that said,” he interrupts my train of thought. “I would like to offer you a position on the Inner Guard.”

My grin splits my face in half, and I can practically hear Malakai’s groan across the palace. “I accept.”