The King's Return

24. SLIP OF TONGUE

AMIRA'S POV

I waited for Logan for hours yesterday but he never came. I don't even know at what time did I finally sleep but I woke up late this morning.

He wasn't even there when I woke up and there was no sign that he came back while I was asleep. I understand that he is busy but he should've told me that he wasn't coming back so that I could enjoy my sleep.

Maybe that is a lie, I don't think I was going to sleep in peace knowing nothing about his whereabouts and if he is safe or not.

Is this how our lives are gonna be once we get married? Will I have to wait for him all night one day? Am I even going to get used to it?

I've always lived a simple life, maybe not the type of simple everybody wish for but it was still as simple as it can be.

I didn't have to go to bed worried about something and I never thought I will ever reach that stage in my life.

I've been in my room ever since I woke up because I want to make sure that when Logan returns, he finds me here waiting for him.

I don't care how long I will have to wait, as long as he comes back eventually, unharmed preferably.

"Sister-in-law?" Alex? When did he get here? I thought he would be sleeping right now, he was tired when he went to bed yesterday.

"Alex, what are you doing here? Have you had your breakfast?" I smiled at him as he came and sat on the bed with me.

"I was waiting for you and brother to join me. Jake wasn't there either so I just left. I wanted to check if you're okay." This little guy is so cute.

"I'm okay Alex, you didn't have to skip your breakfast though just to check on me. Your brother is busy with something but he will be back soon, that's why he couldn't join you.

"I'm waiting for him to come back but since you need to have your breakfast, I'll come with you and then we can wait for your brother together. How does that sound?"

"I'm hungry, so I think it is a good idea." He made his way to the door before I could say anything more. I followed him until we got to the kitchen.

Just then, Jake joined us. He looked like he didn't sleep at all last night which made me worry about Logan. He must be tired.

"Jake? I was waiting for you when I woke up, you're always there when I wake up. Not today though."

"I'm sorry Little prince, I was busy all night. I just came from your room, I was surprised you were awake since you were tired before you went to sleep.

"I told you to stop playing every game but you thought I was just being jealous since I'm no longer a little kid." This is the first time I've heard Jake calling Alex Little prince instead of Little Highness.

I always thought it was kind of cute and funny and Alex seemed to like it when he called him that.

"Of course you were being jealous, I've heard my sister saying that adulting is a motherfuckin' bitch."

"Alex!" Logan's voice made everyone in the room quiet. "I told you, no cursing. It's a bad habit."

"Sorry Big brother, just a slip of tongue." He smiled at him.

"Good morning." What is he doing here?

"Good morning Julían, don't be shy, come and join us for breakfast." Logan smiled at him as he ran his hands through Alex's hair.

"You're messing up my hair. It took me an hour to fix it since Jake wasn't there." He tried to take off his brother's hands from his hair- keyword tried.

"Stop whining, I'm just helping you fix it. You looked like you just got out of bed with your hair like that." Siblings! I guess even royal siblings fight like normal siblings.

"That was the plan, I was watching a movie last weekend and I heard Jacob saying that the just-out-of-bed look is the best. I wanted to try it and you just ruined it for me." I couldn't contain my laughter after hearing that.

"Which Jacob?" Jake asked no one in particular.

"I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about one of the characters from the movie I was watching. He was giving tips to his younger brother, I decided to listen to what he was saying."

"What do you need that look for? It's not like you have a girlfriend."

"If you don't close that mouth Jake, I swear to God, I will close it for you. Don't you dare tell my brother about girlfriends! He's a five-year-old for crying out loud."

"I'm not five, I'm six." Everyone here knows his real age, I don't understand why he is lying about it. When he was four, he was saying he was five and now that he is five, he is saying he is six.

Everyone looked at him, I guess maybe they were just surprised as I am. "Ok fine, I'm five." He said when no one averted their eyes from him.

It was quiet after that so we just sat down and started eating our breakfast.

"I can help you with that look if you want." Alex spoke after being quiet for a while. Everyone looked at him and I realised he was talking to Julían.

"Huh?" Julían seemed surprised by the young prince's offer.

"It's okay, I wasn't spying on you, I was just passing by."

"I don't understand Your Highness."

"Yesterday, I saw you asking one of the servants for the directions to the pack house because you wanted to check on your girlfriend. You don't have to worry though, your secret is safe with me."

What the...!

"You just told everyone about it so it's no longer a secret Alex." Alex looked at his brother and his small mouth formed a small 'O'.

"I didn't realise that." he turned back to Julían. "Did you see her? I actually wanted to tell you that I know where Maya lives but then I realised you were going to know that I was listening to your conversation."

He is too much! I thought he was reserved when I first saw him but I guess I was wrong, Alex doesn't stop talking and he speaks his mind.

Everyone was looking at Julían, probably waiting for his answer to Alex's question. I also want to know if he saw Maya yesterday. When he saw that all eyes were on him, he spoke.

"No, I didn't. I'll go there later today though."

That is a lie! I know today will turn into tomorrow and so on and so on.

MAYA'S POV

"If you don't want him anywhere around you then you should let him know, sitting here and feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to help you.

"You barely slept yesterday and I know you didn't even eat your breakfast this morning. I hate it when I see you like this and the fact that it's because of Julían makes me mad.

"He is your mate and your mate is supposed to be the person that brings a smile to your face, not sadness."

I know my sister will keep worrying about me so I think the best thing to do right now is to tell Julían straight to his face that I don't want him here.

I know I don't have the right to tell him where he should be and where he shouldn't but I don't have a choice, he should've thought about how his presence would affect me if he ever came here before booking that flight ticket.

"Look, I know you love him but it is very clear that he doesn't. You have to let him go before you end up getting hurt more than you already are.

"You've been waiting for him to love you for years and it's clear that he will never love you like you want him to. You should tell him to leave and never come back.

"I know it's gonna hurt but you're doing yourself a favour, one that's gonna make you happy for the rest of your life.

"You're a very beautiful girl and one day you'll meet someone who's gonna love you just as much as love him."

I wanted to tell my sister that there is no way I'll ever love someone else but I know what she would say, that I'm not trying enough.

What she says makes sense though, I can't live my life waiting for one man to love me. I'm still you and I should take advantage of that, I'm sure there are so many people out there who would really love to be with me for the rest of their lives.

I have to meet Julían and make sure that I put an end to whatever it is that we had together so that I can start my new life in peace.

"I have to talk to him, I'll be back shortly." I didn't even wait for my sister to say something, I made my way to the castle since his room is there.

I don't know where he stays but I will surely find out. I can't allow him to control my life every time, he has to know that I don't need him and that I can live perfectly fine without him.

I saw Alex talking to Jake, I know they will know where Julían is.

"Your Highness, Jake." I greeted them. When Alex saw me, his face lit up.

"Maya, what are you doing here? My sister-in-law is not around."

"I came here to meet someone, I was hoping that you could help me." I just hope Jake doesn't ask me who that person is.

"Your boyfriend? I asked my brother if he is your mate or not but he wouldn't answer me. I know where he stays, I'll take you there. Bye Jake." He grabbed my hand and let me inside the castle.

We passed a few rooms until we stopped on the one that was on the end, he knocked and before the door could be opened, he left.

I didn't have to wait for long though. The door opened and revealed a shirtless Julían, I always knew that he had a perfect physique but I've never seen him shirtless.

"Amaya..." His voice brought me back to reality. I have to control myself otherwise I'll even forget what I came here to do. I cleared my throat before I spoke.

"Can I come in?" I had to give myself a high five mentally, my voice was normal at least even though my body was saying otherwise.

"Of course." He stepped aside and let me pass. He closed the door but stood there as if waiting for me to say something.

"Do you mind putting on a shirt or something?" He didn't say anything, he just went to the closet and came back wearing a white tank top which doesn't hide anything, to be honest, it's like he is still wearing nothing.

"We need to talk, we've been avoiding this conversation long enough and I think it is about time we addressed it." I decided to be bold, if I don't speak my mind today then I don't know when I'll ever find a chance to do that.

"I have realised that the only way I can get over you and move on with my life completely is if I accept your rejection. It is the only way to my freedom and I can do anything for my freedom." Here goes nothing...

"I, Maya Delgado accepts your rejection, Julían Martínez. From this day onwards, we shall never be known as mates." I waited for the final breaking of the bond but nothing came. I looked at Julían, nothing was happening to him either.

What is happening?