The Mating Games

Chapter Eight:

ELOISE:

“And when I was a boy, my stupid twin brother would always steal my parent's glasses of wine off the table. They would put a few drops of donor blood into their cups to make the alcohol extra intoxicating and I told him that one day he will be caught. You should have seen his face when my mother walked in on him downing an entire bottle straight from the cellar!”

Caleb booms with laughter as he tells me the story of his youth. We both take a sip of tea and I laugh at how warm Caleb presents himself. He has been sitting here for only under an hour, yet he feels like he is an old friend with whom I have shared many special moments.

“My twin was always the jovial one.”

“You speak so fondly of him. If you don’t mind me asking, why isn’t he at the games here with you?”

Caleb's posture stiffens a little and he forces out a smile as he places his teacup down. Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked.

“I'm sorry, Caleb, I…”

“He died just a few months ago. His daring and wild ways could only help him so far before eventually killing him. He thought himself indispensable, being an immortal and all and my family would always warn him against his own ego. A few months back, he read about some mix of herbs and potions that would allow him to develop special powers. He approached me and asked me about where to find some of these items and frankly, they were all part of the forbidden list within the Witch's realm, so I told him to stop whatever it was that he was doing. Of course, he didn’t listen and dark magic never ends well for those who inflict it.”

I gulp down as a loss of words drains over me.

“We found him, all alone and lying in a pool of blackened ash…”

Caleb’s voice breaks and I reach to take his hand.

“I am so, so sorry for what you experienced, Caleb. I cannot even imagine what you and your family must be feeling.”

He forces out a smile and nods. Vampires aren’t known for their enormous display of emotions, but at this moment I can see the pain and regret swimming in his eyes. The horror at losing a twin brother and the gravity of knowing that maybe, just maybe, he could have done something to stop his brother sooner.

“You know, it isn’t your fault though, right? You warned your brother and he failed to take heade. Sometimes we have to just let things go and hope to the Goddess that there will be some sort of silver lining at the end.”

“Is that what you are doing with the wolf prince? Hoping for a silver lining at the end?”

I look at Caleb as if he has grown two heads and his laughter at my expression lifts the energy of the room.

“What on earth…”

“If you don’t mind me saying, Lady Eloise, but it is hard to miss the stares the pair of you always give each other. Don’t even bring up that growl he so powerfully excuded onto all of us as he looked in your direction or the glass that fell out of his hand when he heard the way that i***t, Eddie was speaking to you at the bar. You should have seen how he punched Eddie in the face on stage. The poor kid will probably have a bruised eye or worse after that.”

I stare at Caleb, my body filling with unexplainable emotions. Is it anger that the prince is noticing me? Perhaps dread even? A shiver of desire echoes in my core and I have to cross my legs. Do I actually like that the Prince is brooding and carrying on over me?

“Caleb, I don’t know why the Prince is even noticing me. I am just a…”

“Eloise, do you not know how beautiful you are?”

His words stun me and I snort out in disbelief.

“I am hardly anything of the sort! I care not for male attention, flaunting dresses at balls, or even curling my hair. Honestly, this whole event just irks me. I want to read my books, go explore the grounds, wear my boots, and adventure into nature. I don’t want any of this, which the Prince so effortlessly fits into. I want to be a free woman, not one who si clawed into society and expected to behave and dress and speak in a certain way.”

Caleb's red orbs shine a little brighter as I swing my arms around then huff and collapse against the scatter cushion. His lips turn into a devious smile and a small chuckle escapes his mouth.

“What could possibly be so funny?”

He tuts.

“Eloise, just everything you have said is what makes you so desirable. You don’t fit the generic mold of most elite women and you have your own mind. Quite honestly, you probably drive the Prince crazy with how much you walk to the rhythm of your own drum. Do you really not see how everything you just said, makes you utterly perfect?”

I open my mouth to reply but no words come out. Me, desirable? Drive the Prince crazy?

“It makes no sense to drive the Prince crazy when he is a wolf. Even if he and I were mad for each other, he is bound to find his mate someday and then I will be just a distant memory. Wolfs don’t fall in love with people who aren’t their mates.”

“That may be so, Eloise, but is there harm in just having a little fun as well? You cannot tell me that you don’t find him…”

Caleb chooses his next words wisely.

“Alluring?”

I think about it a little and my cheeks flush as images of his broad chest, his dark hair and his piercing brown eyes flow through my mind.

“I mean, I guess you could say so, but why me? I didn’t come here for any reason other than making my parents happy. I am just a simple fae, who wants to live an honest and meaningful life away from the prying eyes of others. I have tried so very hard to stay away from the limelight, yet somehow that just draws me back in. I love my life back at home. Sure, sometimes I wish I could explore and have a little more adventure, but it is home.”

Caleb finishes his tea and nods with an understanding smile.

“I get that. I also love home. It is familiar and it is mine. But…”

Oh boy, here it comes. I smile at Caleb. Are vampires always such wise souls?

“But sometimes our greatest adventures are the ones that put us out of our comfort zone, Eloise. The way I see it, you have two choices. You either mope away in your room, comforted by your things like your book and your homely throws or, you can leave your room, face your fears, tackle your desires, and merely see where it takes you. Perhaps there is something more to this that you are unaware of with the Prince? How would you ever know if you keep running away from events?”

His words dive deep into me and whirl around in my thoughts. Is that what I have been doing? Running away from what could be my greatest adventure? I have always lived life simply, but maybe for once, I could actually do something daring and wild. What if Caleb is right and this is the greatest adventure of my life?

“It isn’t easy with the Prince being such an asshole…”

I trail off and Caleb laughs.

“Hmm, Prince Ares isn’t known to be the friendliest, but then his friends and loved ones disagree. Perhaps the brooding, dark and mysterious Prince wears a façade to trick us all into thinking he doesn’t care? Most men are assholes before they find a reason to not be anymore, Eloise.”

I nod and stare at the little bits of herb in my teacup. I haven’t liked how Prince Ares has spoken to me, but maybe I have also not been the most forthcoming in nature. It just seems like he and I always argue or disagree with one another whilst in each other's company.

“Anyway, I best be going. We have been chatting in here for several hours now and I am sure we are just seconds away from being a scandal in tomorrow’s troll. It was so lovely to meet you, Eloise. Making a new friend is always important in spaces such as this.”

Caleb starts to stand and so do I. Goddess, I would hate if there were some rumor spreading that Caleb and I were anything but friends. Sure, he is great looking and any lady would be blessed to have him, but he isn’t what occupies and torments my soul. A flash of Prince Ares enters my mind at this thought and I frown.

“Everything alright?”

I shake my head and smile.

“yes, sorry. My mind is running at a million miles an hour it seems.”

Caleb laughs in understanding.

“You should go see him, Eloise. He punched someone for you. I am sure he is also dealing with some of his own emotions.”

Caleb reaches for the door handle. Should I really go see the Prince?

“Thank you so much for coming to check on me, Caleb. It makes all of this feel just a bit less ridiculous when there is a friend at my side. Speaking to you felt so effortless.”

He offers me a broad smile before a small bow.

“And friends we will continue to be. Good night, Eloise.”

“Good night.”

We both smile and he turns to leave. Even with the door closed, I can hear his footsteps receding far into the distance. I quickly gather the teacups and place them back onto the tray. I would hate for Kiko to clean up after me when she is already so busy. With this in mind, I decided that perhaps I should take the whole tray to the kitchen and save Kiko the cleaning altogether. I grab the silverware and start to slowly make my way out of my room and down the long hallway. I can see the flicker of light coming from the door to the kitchen. The closer I get, the more the smell of warm hot chocolate and melted marshmallows start to fill the air. A voice mumbles and my breathing hitches as I realize it’s the prince. The door is still closed, so I cannot see him but something inside me stirs and awakens at his close proximity.

“I don’t know man, I just lost control when that fucker said those things about her on that stage. He was being such a shithead, how could I just stand there and allow a guy to speak to a lady like that?”

The prince's voice is slightly muffled and I have to really concentrate so as to not get caught snooping. I try lean in as close as I can but hide behind the door. A smile lifts on my lips at his words. Just the thought of Prince Ares wanting to get revenge for me is enough to make my whole body heat up.

“I know, old friend, but would you have reacted that way had it been another woman?”

The question piques my interest and I find myself waiting in anticipation for his response.

“You know I wouldn’t have reacted that way if it weren’t Eloise on that stage.”

My whole body buzzes with excitement. Prince Ares feels the chemistry that I feel.

“But what I don’t get is why I have this crazy need to protect her, be with her and only look at her.”

“Ares, it’s like she is…”

“Don’t even say it, Nate. Eloise isn’t my mate. I would have known if she is, besides, she isn’t a wolf! I have no idea why my wolf cannot take his eyes off of her. Maybe he is an even hornier bastard than I originally thought.”

The pair chuckle and I roll my eyes.

“So what you gonna do about it then?”

There is silence and it feels suffocating.

“I don’t know, honestly. I think maybe it’s just the Spring Equinox, I mean what else could it be if she isn’t my mate? I will try to get into her good books and hopefully, she will let me and my wolf f**k her so that I can finally get this crazy feeling out of me. Once the Equinox is done, she will go back home to Shraya and I can finally feel at peace again.”

My whole chest squeezes and my lack of breath makes it difficult for me to keep the tray steady. Is this really how he views me? I am just a conquest? A means to an end in his desire to tame his beast at the equinox?

“Ares, I don’t think that is really the best solution…”

“And what do you know of best solutions for me, Nate? You have a mate and mine is still out there.”

“I know, but you seem different with her!”

“That changes nothing, Nate. All these crazy feelings I feel mean nothing when she is NOT MY MATE. I will never love the girl, even if I wanted to because she isn’t mine to love. No matter how badly I may want her, I could only ever feel pity for the girl. She has caught the eye of a wolf prince who is mateless and she can only ever be one thing if not my mate…”

I drop the tray as my eyes well up. I don’t need to stay behind to hear the rest of his words in order to understand them. My feet find themselves running as fast as they can back to my room. Once again I find myself running away from the prince, only this time it feels different. At that stage, I was running from my protector and from the possibilities that faced me. Now I am running with a deep-seated sadness and heartbreak as I realize he was never protecting me, but rather feeling pity for me, the little fairy girl who was being picked on by the merman. I was only ever a dark desire of his. A woman to shag when the hormones are running wild and nature begging for offspring.

“she can only ever be one thing if not my mate…”

His words ring over and over in my mind. What was he going to say? I could only ever be his muse, a w***e to warm his bed, a nameless f**k, nothing…

I pound into my room and allow lines of tears to roll down my face. I am not his mate and everything he said is only the truth, so why does it hurt so much? Just a few moments ago I was feeling hopeful that perhaps things with the Prince might be exciting and re-awakening, but now I am only left with the cold certainty that he and I can only ever be one thing.

A quick lay before life moves on. A pitiful fairy who got caught within the paws of a heartless wolf. Another one of the prince's many bed warmers.

ARES:

“Take Eddie to the castle's medical wing and have him checked.”

My father booms orders as people rush to move the unconscious merman away from the cocktail party. If I were anyone else, I may have felt sorry for the guy who looks like he just took an enormous blow, but I am unexplainably satisfied with the handy work of my fist.

“What are you smiling for, boy? This is a dinner event, not the training grounds!”

I look at my father and my smile fades when I see the anger flashing through his eyes. After I delivered the punch and Eloise ran back to the castle, the host very quickly announced the winning couple for the evening and told everybody to head to the castle for dessert in the great hall. Anything to get everybody away from the mess which I had now caused. I sigh.

“Was I supposed to just let another speak to a lady like that? Father, we are men of integrity and dignity and that filthy merman was talking a bunch of s**t!”

“That FILTHY MERMAN is the son to my ONE AND ONLY ally of the seas, Ares! How am I to explain that my child harmed him? He will be furious when he learns of this, especially after knowing how his son was incredibly under the influence of alcohol. He probably didn’t mean a word he said and things could have been de-escalated in a far more peaceful way than violence!”

I hang my head low as my father’s aura picks up. The last thing I want is to cause trouble for a King who has done so much for me and for everybody in Zenox.

“Father, I am sorry…”

“I am disappointed in you, Ares. Is something going on between you and that girl? Is that the issue here?”

“I don’t know, father. I cannot say if there is anything or not.”

There is a moment of silence and my father eventually sighs and eases his alpha aura. When I look up, I see he looks tired, frustrated, and unsure of what to do to fix things.

“I didn’t like how Sir Edward spoke to Lady Eloise. We shouldn’t allow people to get away with this sort of behavior. Despite the irony, we are not animals in this Kingdom.”

My father nods at my words.

“You will go to Lady Eloise and apologize for the way the evening went. You will ALSO go to Sir Edward and apologize to him for punching him.”

“Father, I…”

I try to refuse but he stops me with his hand.

“Violence is never the option, Ares. We are to keep our allies and remain the pillar that these lands and people know us to be. We are fair, strong, united, and humble in our ways. Sir Edward will be punished for the way he behaved, I will personally see to it, but you will also bear the embarrassment of having to apologize.”

“Father…”

“You will also apologize, Ares. I will not say it again.”

His aura picks up and I find myself nodding. I have never seen my father so furious before.

“I will go and pick up what is left of this event. You go and rest. In the morning, I expect both apologies to be completed so that I may explain the events to Edward’s father and my long-time friend. Hopefully, he will understand and we can move past this public insult to his heir.”

With that, my father walks away and doesn’t spare me one more glance. I guess I deserved that scolding, although I will NEVER regret standing up for Eloise. How could I? if only others could have truly seen her face when Eddie was insulting her so vividly on stage. She held herself well, for the most part, her face giving away nothing until it all became too much for her to withstand. In true, fiery fashion, she reached for the wine glass, hoping to embarrass that scum half as much as she had been. I could see the tears welling up in his multi-colored eyes. I could see the way her skin had pricked in annoyance. Even her chocolate waves had taken on a more daring and darker shade as her whole body stiffened in anger. I had to do something to help her and the only thing I knew was to get that filth to sleep with a punch. What I wasn't expecting was for the red wine to become painted all over my shirt. I sigh and look down at the mess I am in. A mess all because I cannot control my feelings towards Eloise. I have no idea why I am facing these truths, but here I am. With a tone of dread, I make my way to the castle. Edward is probably still unconscious, so best I leave his apology to the morning. I do wonder though if Eloise is doing okay? She is probably incredibly stifled after everything that has happened and just the idea of her being upset makes my stomach turn. I quickly head into the castle, my steps becoming more and more rushed as I imagine her crying or lying in her bed helplessly. The need to make her feel protected and supported is weighing in heavier than anything else at this moment. I frown as I see three maidens chuckling outside her door in the dimmed hallway where all guests are residing.

“Kiko, what is going on?”

The three maidens quickly stop laughing and stand in a straight line with their heads lowered. The most melodious and beautiful laugh dances through the air and I find myself beginning to smile as I realize it is Eloise. All worry from before smashes into pieces and a warmth takes its place instead. She is okay. The moment is ruined when I hear a deeper laugh. A male laughed. My eyes snap back to Kiko and the other two maidens.

“Who is in there with her? Why are you three out here nosing around?”

Silence.

“Kiko…”

“Sir Caleb, my Prince. They have been in there for quite some time and they seem to be enjoying themselves.”

I stare at Kiko for a few seconds and then my eyes flash to the door. I hear a few whispers. They are hard to make out, but I do manage to catch bits and pieces.

“Eloise, do you not know how beautiful you are?”

The male says. There is some more whispering and more gentle laughter. My blood stops pumping and I feel my insides turning into ice. Eloise is inside there with another man doing who knows what. I shake my head at the thought of the two and my eyes snap back at the three maidens again.

“Surely you three have better things to do than stand here and snoop! Go, now!”

They quickly rush away and I curse under my breath as I walk away from the room. I f*****g need a drink or perhaps five. I can still hear her purring laughter, almost as though she were trying to lure her companion in. Was she? Are my desires and affections so misguided? Maybe I am the only one who is affected by her presence. I shake my head and head to the kitchen. To my surprise, Nate is there with Linda and they are sharing a hot chocolate. When Linda sees me, her smile fades and she quickly pours me my own one.

“I look that bad, huh?”

Linda smiles softly and slides the creamy beverage my way.

“You have looked better.”

“She is being polite. You look like s**t, Ares.”

Trust Nate to be the one to cut straight to the point. I glare at him and he glares right back at me with equal intensity.

“Okay, well, I am off to bed. It seems you too have a lot to catch up on here and I don’t feel like being around when you go all alpha and beta s**t crazy on one another!”

Linda chimes and exits. The air in the kitchen loses all of its warmth right with her. I can see Nate looks worried, angry, and fed up.

“Just say it, Nate. I f****d up.”

Nate takes a sip of his hot chocolate.

“In all my years as your beta, I have always had your back, you know that. I have fought alongside you and I have spent days away from my mate to appease you.”

“Cut to the chase, Nate.”

He sighs.

“Just what the f**k were you thinking, Ares? You could have killed that i***t with one finger. Everybody was watching you. Do you even understand how much media and damage control there will need to be now? Never mind the rumors that will go around about why you were even drawn to punch him in the first place. He was drunk!”

I scoff.

“You sound like my father now.”

Nate rolls his eyes.

“You have never been the type to just go around punching guys. Goddess, this is like we are fifteen all over again and someone took a piss against your tree!”

I bark out a sarcastic laugh.

“Seriously, Nate, do you really think I don’t know that hmm? I am a f*****g prince and I lost control of my wolf not once, but twice today. I broke champagne glasses and carried on like a f*****g crazy pup all because…”

I tether off and try to control my emotions. She occupies my every thought, but someone else occupies hers right now.

“All because of Eloise? Ares, she isn’t your mate. You said so yourself, so why are you so besotted with her?”

I try to explain to Nate how I don’t know. This seems to soften him a bit. The truth is I have no idea why Eloise has become the bane of my existence. I wish there were a simple answer to it all. I really did. A crashing sound makes Nate and I jump up from our seats. I look at Nate in confusion and we both rush outside to see that there are cracked teacups, herbed liquid, and a mess all over the floor. I try to look into the distance to see who may be there, but there is nobody. I can smell a sweetness hovering in the air that is mixed with the heavy scent of masculinity. I can’t really put my finger on it?

“What in Goddess’s name…”

Kiko arrives from around the corner and Nate and I look at one another.

“My prince, Beta Nate, I am so sorry, let me clean up this mess. Goodness me, all this fine china!”

Kiko fafs around us and Nate and I frown. I look back to the hallway, my beast begging me to walk through it in hopes of seeing Eloise. For a moment I want nothing more than to give in to his wishes. My foot even stretches out to take a step.

“Your father is asking for you to come to see him. Sir Edward is surprisingly awake. Seems your punch wasn't as brutal as we thought.”

Nate hits me back to reality as he finishes mind linking with my father. I take one more glance down the hallway. Is Eloise still in her room with that other guy? Perhaps she is reading? I would do anything to hear her laugh again. I shake my head at these crazy thoughts. Why am I so intrigued by a little fairy? It sucks to think, but everything I said to Nate is true in a way. Eloise deserves the best from any man and I would be so lucky to get to have one experience with her, but at the end of the day I am one day going to find my fated and she will be the beginning and the end of my love and worship. For all the playboy acts I have portrayed will mean nothing when I get to cherish and honor every ounce of whomever the Goddess chose for me. Eloise deserves more than someone not being able to love her.

“Coming?”

I nod at Nate and look away from the hallway.

Time to go give an apology. Time for me to try and forget about this whole ordeal with Eloise. Unless she comes willingly into my arms, I need to stay away from her. I have no idea what sort of sourcery she has used to capture my attention so, but having my attention has never proven to be of any good to women who are not my mate.

I give the hallway one, final glance.

From tomorrow, I need to be back to my controlled self.