thank you to my best friend for helping my name this!
*a/n please send in prompts for me to write!!*
“Please?” He groaned, the most undignified I had ever seen him. Well, the most undignified I had seen him today. He always let his facade slip when he was around me.
I huffed a sigh, continuing to dodge him, as he followed me through the halls of the stone palace. “No, I already told you. I don’t have time.” I sent up a quick prayer that he might take the hint, might not continue to follow me. My prayer went unanswered.
“Liar,” He purred, easily keeping time with my steps, even as he was strolling backwards, “I know for a fact that there are no meetings scheduled today.” That silky voice took on a slightly hurt tone. “Feyre, if you don’t want to spend time with me, you don’t have to spare my feelings.”
At that, I finally slowed, and let out a drawn out breath. “No, Rhys.” I muttered, moving to lean against a stone pillar. Partly to get us out of sight from any nosy dignitaries, and partly because I was exhausted. Having forgone sleep the previous night, entirely due to a marathon lecture from my parents and sisters, my eyes stung with the effort it took to keep them open. Racking my brain, I tried to think of an excuse that was both believable and yet not insulting. Rhys was my friend, had been since childhood, but still. Emissaries and dignitaries alike always seemed to get the wrong idea of us, and my family had told me countless times that it was disgraceful for someone of my stature to be associated with him. Nevermind that he was first in line to the throne of Velaris, whereas I was only third in line for the throne of my kingdom. Nesta’s words rang harshly in my mind, of how, yes, he was first in line, but he was tainted because of his many, many relationships with many, many women.. “I…don’t think that would be a good idea.” The words tasted like dirt, and it was an effort not to gag.
Rhysand’s expression didn’t change. “Really.” He drawled, crossing his arms.
I nodded warily, eyes flying around to ensure no one saw us.
“Because that sounds an awful lot like your family talking, darling.”
Try as I might, I couldn’t fight the blush that arose at his old nickname for me. “Stop, someone could hear you.” Shoving the hair behind my ears, I kept my eyes trained on the cold, marble flooring. “And don’t call me that, someone could get the wrong idea.”
He only chuckled, rolling his violet eyes in the way that only he could: just enough sassy to let you know he wasn’t pleased, but not harsh enough to be hurtful, with a dramatic flair, because it was Rhysand Darling, and he never did anything without a large dramatic flare. “Alright, darling.” He said.
Leaning farther back against the column, I watched out through the tall, tempered glass windows, where down on the great lawn, ant-sized people were scurrying around, and setting up the croquet game for tomorrow. I already knew no one would play, save for me and Rhys. And even then, we played only for show. Sighing again, I thought back to the vow which my parents had sworn to the neighbors of our kingdom, which was that I would marry their son once this assembly had finished. And that son, that golden boy, I already knew how he felt about Rhys.
I hadn’t brought up the topic of my marriage since we were eleven, because every single person in his court and mine had instantly begun spreading rumors that we were engaged, or would soon be. And the problems caused by those rumors were still very, very real, even though that had been nearly ten years ago. Absently, I wondered how Rhys would react when I told him, as it wasn’t exactly hidden from public knowledge that when we had been younger, it had been a real possibility that we would one day wed. I wondered if he would be upset, or simply say it was about time I was married. Or, would he become angry, and rage against the deal?
