His Beauty, My Beast

Jewel

As she turned a corner, she ran straight into someone. It was a tall, broad-shouldered man with short, wavy black hair and piercing brown eyes. His dark skin seemed to glow in the dim light of the corridor. Nia's heart skipped a beat as she realized who it was—Khalil.

Khalil's eyes narrowed as he grabbed her arms, holding her in place. "Nia, what are you doing?" He growled, his voice firm and commanding.

Nia struggled against his grip, but it was of no use. She was trapped. "I had to escape," she panted. "I had to try."

Khalil's expression remained skeptical. "You're not going anywhere," he said. "You're a prisoner, and you'll stay that way until I figure out what's going on with you."

Nia's heart sank. She had hoped that Khalil would believe her and trust her. But it seemed that he still didn't. "Please," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "You have to listen to me. Something's happening to me—something strange and scary. I don't know what it is, but I know it's not good."

Khalil's grip on her arms tightened. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "And even if I did, I'm not sure I'd believe you. You're still a mystery to me, Nia. And until I understand what you're hiding, you'll remain a prisoner."

Nia was getting even more frustrated. This prince would not listen to a word she was saying and was treating her like she was a f*****g spy, constantly accusing her of hiding something.

“You are not my f*****g prince," she said, her new defiance surprising even her.

Just as Khalil was about to respond, a voice interrupted them. "Khalil, what's going on here?" It was a woman with long, raven-curly hair and a model's physique. The sun’s rays seemed to engulf her sun-kissed brown skin and brown eyes.

Khalil turned to face her, his expression unyielding. "Jewel, this doesn't concern you," he said.

But Jewel was not deterred. She strode forward, her eyes fixed on Nia. "I can feel her fear, Khalil," she said. "She's not a criminal; she's scared. Something's happening to her, or happened to her, and you're not listening."

Nia's eyes widened in surprise. How did Jewel know what she was feeling?

Khalil's expression softened slightly, but his grip on Nia's arms didn't loosen. "Jewel, stay out of this," he warned.

But Jewel stood her ground. "No, Khalil. I won't stay out of it. You're not thinking clearly. You're letting your distrust cloud your judgment."

Nia's heart raced as she watched the exchange between the two. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that Jewel was trying to help her.

"Jewel, please," Khalil said. "I need to handle this."

But Jewel shook her head. "No, Khalil. You're not handling it. You're mishandling it. Let her go."

Khalil's eyes narrowed, but he didn't release Nia. "Fine," he said. "I'll let her go. But do not think to boss me around just because you're my sister, Jewel."

Nia's heart sank as Khalil released her arms, but she didn't have time to process what was happening. Jewel grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Khalil, leading her down the corridor. "Come on, Nia," she said. "Let's get out of here before he changes his mind."

Jewel led Nia to a cozy room with a fireplace crackling in the corner. She gestured for Nia to sit on a plush couch and then sat down beside her.

"Nia, I'm so sorry about him jailing you," Jewel said, her voice warm and gentle. "Can you tell me how you ended up here? At the palace, I mean."

Nia hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't fully trust anyone yet, and she didn't want to risk saying something that would get her into trouble. But Jewel's kind eyes and warm smile put her at ease, and she found herself wanting to open up to her.

"I was brought here by your brother after I accidentally crossed into his territory," Nia said vaguely. "I don't really know why."

Jewel's eyes narrowed slightly and a thought popped into her head as to why Nia was there, but she didn't press the issue. "I see," she said. "Well, you're safe now. You're under my protection, and I won't let anyone hurt you."

Nia felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at Jewel. No one had been kind to her in a long time, and Jewel's words felt like a balm to her soul.

"Thank you," Nia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for being nice to me. It means a lot."

Jewel smiled and put a hand on Nia's arm. "Of course, Nia. You deserve kindness and respect. And I'm going to make sure you get it."

Jewel's words warmed Nia's heart, and she felt a sense of gratitude towards this kind stranger. She realized that Jewel was the first person to show her genuine kindness since her arrival at the palace.

"Jewel, can I ask you something?" Nia said her curiosity was getting the better of her.

"Of course, Nia," Jewel replied. "What is it?"

"What's going on in this palace?" Nia asked. "Everyone seems so... on edge. And Khalil...he's so angry all the time."

Jewel's expression turned serious, and she leaned in closer to Nia. "There's a lot of tension in the palace right now," she said. "My brother, Khalil, is under a lot of pressure. He's trying to protect our kingdom from threats both within and outside our borders."

Nia's eyes widened as she listened. She had no idea that the palace was dealing with such serious issues.

"But what about me?" Nia asked. "Why am I here? What do I have to do with any of this?"

Jewel's eyes locked onto hers, and Nia saw a hint of something there that she couldn't quite decipher.

"I’m not sure, Nia, but I will ask my brother," Jewel said. "Just know that you're safe with me, and I'll do everything in my power to protect you."

Nia's mind raced with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Jewel stood up and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Sleep here tonight, Nia. I’ll get you set up in a proper room tomorrow," Jewel said. "We'll talk more later."