The Mating Games

Chapter Thirteen:

ELOISE:

My eyes scan over the words of the troll again and again. It isn’t the explicit details about the broad chests and throbbing muscles of the men at the fight that have caught my attention, but rather another small paragraph at the end. Not even the gross detail about my lack of character for not fighting Sabrina can bother me after reading the small information written across the last bit of paper. My heart pounds out of my chest. I have to read it once more!

(Snippet from the Daily Troll)

The mood was set under perfect moonlight for Prince Ares and Lady Sabrina as they climbed onto the most dainty, wooden boat and sailed across the lake to a table set out with only the best meats and divine treats. The evening set the tone for the most perfect of romances as the almost full moon shone in the sky above the couple. But, it wasn’t the silver shine of Sabrina’s dress, or the way the tree’s danced gently in the breeze, or even the thousands of embers of romantic candlelight that had this evening bouncing with electric juice. No, it was rather a very interesting and mysterious conversation shared between the blossoming pair at the end of the evening that had our little spies wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. We thought we might have been listening to delicious moans and shouts of ecstasy by this point of the date, but the pair couldn’t have been less romantically involved as they stood watching the water. Sabrina looked up to the sky and widened her eyes as the prince whispered broken words.

“You have to help me.”

“Fallen.”

“I love.”

“She.”

GASP! GASP! GASP!

This was all our spies managed to get from their little conversation, but the moment ended with a shared hug between friends. Does this mean the pair we have all been rooting for are nothing more than friends? More importantly and seriously so…

Does this mean the prince has finally found his true love? Is she his mate? So many questions and no answers, but fear not readers. If anyone will uncover the truth, it is us!

Until then, remain vigilant. The future wolf Queen may be walking amongst us right now.

(End of Snippet)

Could this be true? Has the prince found his mate, or perhaps fallen in love? My lips tingle and my chest become warm as I remember our shared kiss. Sabrina isn’t a threat after all. I frown as I relive the interaction from the night before. Why does this troll bring me relief, anxiety, happiness, dread, pleasure, and sadness all at once? It doesn’t help that emotions are on a high. It is, after all, the official Spring Quinox and the magical are at their s****l peaks. I quickly hurry from my room to where the fruits are spread across the breakfast table. The smell of s****l tension is thick in the air as everyone prepares for the final event tonight. I grab an apple and a granola bar and bounce from the kitchen into the hallway. There is extra pep in my step and I think it's because of the troll. For some reason, a huge wave of relief spreads through me at the thought of the Prince firstly, not being romantically involved with Sabrina and secondly, mentioning that he MIGHT love someone. Now, I know I am probably being a typical female and overthinking, but am I so wrong to feel giddy at the idea that MAYBE the person who has captured his heart is me? I skip out the door with a smile and greet the sunny sky.

“Wow, someone took a dose of happy juice with their breakfast this morning!”

I see Caleb beaming from the side and I smirk at the hickeys on his neck.

“You look like you had an evening yourself!”

We both laugh.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with the little spy who found out that our brooding and macho prince has a taken heart, does it?”

I smack his shoulder and link my arm around his. A little walk in the garden will do us both good.

“Did I mention to you that he and I kissed last night?”

Caleb looks at me with a wide-eyed smirk.

“And I was NAKED!”

I squeal at the last part and now Caleb is gasping as he swats my legs and runs after me.

“Oh, you dirty little fairy! I want all the details!”

I wiggle my eyebrows and run away from him towards the forest. We both laugh as we boom through the lush pathways. I hardly even notice the sign leading up to the stream where Nate and Linda found me reading. Goddess, that feels like a lifetime ago!

“Spill!”

“Make me!”

I push my legs harder as I feel him catching up, but just before exploding into the small riverside, I see a group of huddled people and that same, intoxicating scent hits me just before Caleb bashes into my slowing body. I almost stumble and the small scream causes the people sitting by the river edge to turn and face us. Nate, Linda, Johnno, Sabrina, and some other girl I have never seen before all shoot me and Caleb questioning gazes, but it is the dark eyes of the Prince that swoop me right in and make me feel scrutinized. His expression lingers between me and Caleb and a flash of angry hurt pours over his face just before I notice that Caleb and I are holding hands and we look like guilty school children who have emerged from the bushes. I quickly let go of his hand and stand awkwardly. Why would this particular group of people be meeting? Sabrina of all people? I see that her hand is resting on Prince Ares's shoulder and feel a pang of hurt, which seems to cause the Prince to also move further from her touch.

“Well, hello there everyone!”

Caleb breaks the awkward silence and it seems to crack the confusing tension in the air as everyone starts to smile and walk closer.

“Hey, Caleb! Lady Eloise!”

“Hello, guys. Lady Eloise, it is good to see you this morning.”

People greet each other, but my eyes and ears can only focus on the tense form of Prince Ares, who seems to be fixed on my every move and breath too. I quickly hug Linda and Nate comes in for a hug, which I avoid after his little spat with me last night. This seems to make him tense too and Linda smirks. Huh?

“Well, I think it is time we all go back to the castle and get ready for tonight.”

“Agreed.”

“Yip.”

Sabrina pops the “p” as she eyes me up and down and starts to walk away. Even though I don’t see her as a threat anymore, I still don’t really like the way she holds herself around me. Why does she always need to be so condescending? I look around at everyone who is now silently making their way back to the treeline and I sigh as I see the Prince watching me.

“I think I am going to stay.”

I admit and everyone turns around to look at me.

“I will stay too.”

Prince Ares shocks me and it seems his words are the last thing that Nate wanted to hear. I don’t understand what I ever did to make him dislike me so much. I really thought we were getting along well, but somewhere along the line, his opinion of me must have changed. Perhaps he thinks I am just another harlot after his royalty line. Sadness sinks again.

“My Prince, are you sure that is wise?”

His words cut me and the prince’s eyes flash with frustration as he looks at his second. I look at Nate, who looks like he is begging his friend to reconsider staying here with me.

“Nate…”

“No, you know what, Prince Ares, maybe you should listen to your beta. He clearly thinks he knows what is better for you and the both of us. He clearly dislikes me and he clearly does not want his precious prince to be hanging out with the likes of a dumb fairy!”

I interrupt the Prince and my words cause radio silence. Not even the flowing water seems to be making a noise. Nate’s eyes shift to look at me and I have no idea what his expression holds. Linda looks like she wants to punch the air as her eyes well up and Nate grabs her arm to stop her as she takes a step forward, almost as if to comfort me. Their interaction is odd, but it only confirms what I already know. Nate shakes his head at Linda and his lips remain in a thin line as he looks at me one last time before turning around and marching off. He doesn’t like me. I turn around to watch the flowing water and my eyes close to control my emotions. So much for the happy start to my day.

“Nate doesn’t dislike you, Eloise.”

His dark, baritone voice tries to comfort me but it doesn’t. I take a long breath in and think about what to say.

“Oh?”

Silence.

“Things are just…”

“Complicated right now.”

My eyes snap open and I turn to see the Prince standing next to me and also facing the river. His eyes meet mine and for a brief moment, I see the painful and adoring plea within them. What is he pleading for though? I search through their dark twists and turns, but he seems to be holding himself together and offering me very little. All I can feel of him is his warmth and the divine cologne he seems to always wear. My eyes trail across his stubble and to his lips, which seem to part just as I lick mine. Goddess! I look back to the water.

“Well, things don’t have to be so complicated, you know?”

Silence.

“Aren’t you supposed to be the all-wise prince who has traveled the realm and gained all knowledge? Well, what is so complicated about me and this…”

I point between the two of us.

“That seems to have you and everyone else so miserable?”

Still silence.

“I just don’t get it. You seduce me with your words. You spread tingles across my body with simple touches. You kiss me as though nothing else in the world matters. You stare at me as if I am the only person meant for your eyes…”

“Yet, you are SO distant. You push me away at every chance you can. You REJECT me!”

His eyes snap to mine and I see they have darkened.

“I can assure you that the LAST THING ON ZENOX that I have ever tried to do or EVER will try to do, is reject you, Eloise.”

It seems I have hit a nerve. Good. I turn to face him and I see his breathing has become tense.

“Well, that is how I feel. I feel rejected by you and I refuse to allow myself to feel like this any longer!”

“Eloise, listen to me, I…”

“No, for once, you listen to me.”

It's now or never, Eloise. Tell him how you feel and then let fate take charge. His eyes widen at my tone and that same look of desperation echoes across his face.

“I never open up to people. I never allow guys in. I have had countless friends and even more guys who have wanted more, but I ignore it because I have been waiting. Waiting for more. Waiting for the type of feeling that rocks my very core and leaves me breathless with ecstasy. The last thing I expected when I came to these ridiculous games was to find that sort of affection.”

My cheeks flush and I look at him again.

“The last thing I ever wanted was for my heart to find its deepest desires and most hidden passion in the Prince. In you…”

I trail my words off as I admit my forbidden truth to the wolf prince, who is now beaming from ear to ear. He takes a step forward and the warmth between us increases. His lips are so, so, so close to mine and all my heart wants to do is lean in and confirm my words with affections, but my head knows better.

“Which is why you have to make a choice, Prince Ares. You have to choose to either love me wholly or let me go. I know my worth and I am worth so much more than the way I have been treated by you AND your friends.”

A flash of pain crosses his face again.

“You are right. You are worth so much more and I wish I could promise you the world right now, Eloise. It is so complicated.”

There he goes with that nonsense again. I create some distance between us, which seems to upset both him and me the same.

“Well, you have to choose Prince Ares. Tonight I will be at the final event and my rose petal belongs to you and ONLY you. You have until then to decide whether this is too complicated or not. You have until then and no longer, because I cannot go another day with this back and forth. Love shouldn’t feel this way. I have saved my heart for so long and I refuse to allow it to become bruised any further.”

“Your rose petal is mine?”

He smirks and I try not to respond too positively, so I offer him a small smile and nod.

“Tonight and no longer, Prince Ares.”

He lets out a long breath as he gazes back to the water and runs a hand through his hair. A twinge of pain settles as I see how difficult this decision appears to be for him. I can feel the warm, sizzling passion between us, but perhaps it isn’t enough? My heart sinks.

“And what if I cannot promise you myself tonight? Does that mean I lose you?”

His words stun me, but I keep myself together. I never even gave thought to the idea that he may not want me back and that perhaps his LOVE from the troll is NOT about me. I face him now and see his empty eyes looking at me. He looks sad too.

“Yes.”

I admit it softly, but we both close our eyes in pain. I nod and start to walk away, deciding that there is nothing more for us to say anymore. I have admitted my feelings to him and I have told him my truth. He hasn’t offered me any sort of comfort, which does nothing to ease my nerves, but all I can hold onto is the truth in his gaze. For some reason, the pull between us soothes me in between the pain. It cries out to me and begs for me to not lose hope. I almost make it to the treeline when I hear his soft whisper.

“I don’t want to lose you, Eloise.”

I look over my shoulder and see his black eyes watching me with strain. I smile sadly at the man who has my heart.

“Then you know what you have to do.”

Those are my final words before I start my slow and heavy walk back to the castle.

Tonight is the final event.

Tonight I will find out exactly what it is that Prince Ares wants from me.