The Princess Swap

5.

“Princess Ariana.” He smiled as I approached on wobbly knees. “Ready to explore the grounds with your dearest prince?” His words would be affectionate without the scorn in his eyes, the mockery of his tone.

“Prince Zion,” I said in a steady voice despite my quivering knees. Back straight, chin raised, I marched forward as if a boulder did not clog my throat.

“What? No cute curtsy? No endearment for your dear Prince?” He asked. I had no idea what to say so I hastened to change the topic.

“How was your trip?” I asked as I came to a stop beside him. Princess Ariana and I stood about the same height. At five feet seven inches, I never considered myself to be short but standing beside the prince almost dwarfed me. He stood close to a foot taller.

“It was a nightmare.” He shrugged. “Here –“ He shoved the rose in his hand towards me. “A pretty rose for a pretty Princess,” He growled.

“Um, thank you. It’s lovely.” I took it from him, wondering how annoying it could be to do something as simple as giving someone a flower. “How was your trip?” I asked again.

Prince Zion had a familiar arrogance, similar to another Alpha mine had made me work for. He seemed the type to talk nonstop about his exploits, saving me from blunders.

“You don’t have to pretend to be interested. You wouldn’t understand either way,” He said, walking.

“You don’t know that.”

Adventure fascinate me. I didn’t have a wolf. I couldn’t join my pack on pack runs. I could not afford an adventure and there were too many things to think of without adding that but I always wondered. What was it like in the North where they said the water bodies froze over in winter? What was it like in the East where the merchants lived? Did the people in the West really make the best dishes?

As a child, I wondered about the Capital, officially called Kórr, but it didn’t take long after migrating to realize it wasn’t much different from the small town in the South I grew up in. Everyone was classist and Alpha’s were assholes.

“You don’t want to talk about the number of tulips you want at the door of the cathedral during the wedding? You don’t want to tell me the exact shade of purple you want to use as decor? Please, Princess, bore me with the talk of your dreams.”

“No, I want to hear about your trip,” I said. He paused his slow stride to stare at me in surprise. Much to my chagrin, I felt my skin heat under his stare.

“Sure you can stomach it, Princess?” He taunted. “Wouldn’t want you fainting again. I’m not in the mood to help a damsel.”

Everyone knew Prince Zion to be ruthless. He cut down rogues twice as fast as all his guards combined. What I was certain no one knew was just how much of an asshole he could be.

“If you don’t want to tell, Zion, then say so rather than insult me.” I chose my words carefully. I was, after all, a Princess now. For the first time in my life, I had the chance to have things my way. And I wanted to know what Prince Zion got up to in his many travels.

“We went hunting.“ He said, watching my face for a reaction. I didn’t give him one.

We walked the distance from the castle to the gardens. He smiled, thinking he had silenced me. I couldn’t stand his smug smile so I continued.

“Did you kill a deer?” I asked.

Obviously, I never went hunting. Once, Ryker had been allowed to hunt with the Alpha and other men. He had come back with wide eyes and a tale bursting from him. The alpha had killed a deer he said. With such precision, the deer stood no chance. Then they tore into the carcass.

It disgusted me as much as it fascinated me.

“A deer!” He laughed with zero mirth. “I killed five. Perhaps, I should have brought you one. They were sweet.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. Thank you for the consideration, though.” Again, his brows shot up. My steps faltered as I grew nervous. He had thick, bushy brows and when they rose, one of them curved in.

“You would have scorned my gift? That’s how our ancestors courted each other, you know. Or are you tired of this courtship, Princess?” No one could say ‘Princess’ and make it sound like a cuss. No one but Prince Zion.

“I’m not. Are you?” The moment I said the words, I regretted them. I was to live the Princess' life, experience the luxury I wished for, the presence and influence of one so important. I didn’t think it would be fair to ruin her engagement.

This time, he stopped to face me. We were halfway into the garden and the smell of so many flowers choked me. It did not help that I couldn’t see clearly anymore. These parts were not as well lit as the parts around the castle itself and my eyes were not as good as the man's staring at me like my head had been replaced with a bull’s.

He opened his mouth once then closed it. He repeated the action and it was my turn for an eyebrow raise.

He continued his stride rather abruptly and I surged to keep up.

“You never did say why your trip was a nightmare.“ I interjected.

“Can you shut up for one second?” He snapped, raking a hand through his golden blonde hair.

“Why?” I asked, hurrying beside him. He skidded to a stop. I surged forward a few paces, not expecting him to stop.

“Why do you want to know about my trip? Wouldn’t you rather pick up flowers and gush about our wedding?” His eyes narrowed. It surprised me how a simple question could make him so angry.

“You keep bringing up the wedding. I just assumed you would want to talk about your trip but maybe you would rather talk about the wedding?”

“No, I don’t want to talk about the wedding! What is wrong with you today?” He snapped again. I took a step away from him. My heart raced then. Curiosity had trampled my fear but the question sounded all too familiar.

What did I do wrong?

As far as I knew of Princess Ariana, she was a caring person. A caring person would ask their fiancé about their trip, wouldn’t they? Did I ask wrong? The cold hands of panic wrapped around my throat and squeezed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset,” I apologized.

“Better.” He continued his journey.

 We walked in silence, fatigue starting to creep up on me. The silence stretched for too long, during which the hammering of my heart drowned out the thoughts in my head.

“I’m not going to eat you. There’s no need for you to be so terrified,” He scolded.

The silence stretched further the farther we walked. Tension wrapped around us. Around me especially. But I could see his broad shoulders tighten. I wasn’t one to talk. I worked best in silence, with the comfort of only my thoughts. But I needed a distraction. I needed something to fill the silence and take my mind off the panic threatening to make me explode.

“You never did say what made your trip a nightmare.” I shattered the silence. He whirled on me this time and there was an inscrutable look in his eyes as he glared at me.

“What have they fed you in the months we were apart?” He said. This time there was neither anger, not irritation. His earlier scorn vanished, replaced with curiosity. It made me even more nervous.

“F – food?” I answered, weary of his hands on my shoulder. They squeezed my shoulders, nails biting into my skin.

“Since you are so concerned about my trip, I’ll tell you about it,” He growled.

This man had issues.

He had issues and they were similar to my Alpha’s. Except my Alpha was frustrated at doing a piss poor job of leading and securing the people in his pack. His frustration was not unusual but the frustration of the Prince was, especially at someone who he would be married to.

A simple interaction later, the image that had been pushed into the media about them fell and shattered into a million shards. The prince was not in love with his princess after all. They had no fairy tale.

Was it the reason the princess bemoaned her life? She said she envied the simplicity of mine, my life wasn’t simple, but I could not think of any complications in a life that did not involve work and chores and slaving away for money that I had to give to my Alpha for him to feel better about himself.

Did Princess Ariana feel the constraint of her life, being betrothed to a man she loved but who didn’t love her? Perhaps she wanted to leave to get over her love for him. That made sense. If she had any shot with him, no matter how small, I did not want to ruin it for her.

“For one, my companion died.” The Prince started. I jolted, stopping at the bitterness that rang in his words.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Don’t be. I killed him.” Now, I was at a loss. Why did he sound so bitter to have killed his companion? Why had he killed his companion in the first place!?

“Why!?” He turned to me again, jolting at my raised tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. You only caught me off guard,” I apologized again. “Why did you kill your companion?”

“What do you mean why? Everyone heard of Jago's treason. It has been the news all over the castle for days, I’ve been told. You can’t tell me you didn’t hear of it.”

My words deserted me. What little of them that remained were soundless splutters. Soon, I would have a heart attack. I walked on unfamiliar grounds and I had to walk them with the boldness of the princess.

“I’m afraid I never listened to gossips.“ I settled on a personal truth. I didn’t know about Ariana, but Selene was too busy to stand around talking about others.

There was something seriously wrong with the Prince. That, or I had turned into a comedian. It was also possible I was fooling myself. That thought spread goose bumps on my skin as a wave of self-consciousness rose inside me.

“I have no idea what has come over you this night. I’m not certain whether to snort at your insolence or snap at your lies now. You don’t gossip? How then do I know all that goes on in Jordyn's life?” He snorted again.

Insolence? Insolence!?

I ran through everything I had ever said to him. When had I been insolent in such a short time?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be. Pardon me.”

“You didn’t mean to be insolent? You spoke out of turn, questioned me and got on my nerves. Repeatedly.” He rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t know it was insolent to ask about your trip.”

“I’m tired of this conversation. Let’s go on a run.” I backed away at that.

 I had no wolf!

“ I – uh – I’m sorry but I don’t think I want to – I mean –“

“Classic, Ariana.” The mirth was gone from his eyes. “Don’t want to rip your pretty dress, do you?”

“It’s not –“

“Please, shut up. I already know your excuse.” We were out of the garden and deep into the king’s woods. He took off his shoes before I could react. Footsteps approached and even under the dim light, I made out the only face I could ever dream of. “Great, Callan, walk the Princess back to the castle. I’m going for a run.”

My knees went weak.