^Ron and Allen (from Heat Camp)^

"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet."
                    -Bob Marley

Chapter 53

River's POV

I froze in place, hands locked by my side as the table quieted to a mere hush. Feyona pushed her way through the crowd of mingling nobles, earning herself glares of disapproval. And it was then, just as she almost reached our table, that she shoved the wrong person and got a cup of wine poured all over the front of her cream-colored dress. She stopped in place, hissing momentarily before peering up and glaring a the poor boy. His eyes widened and boyish smile dropped from his face.

He seemed unsure what to do as he fidgeted in place.

I heard Michael's laughter from across the table, earning him a heated stare from Feyona as her eyes whirled from the poor boy to Michael with the kind of speed that could result in whiplash. She sent one last glare at the boy before stomping her way to our table. I momentarily debated whether I should make an escape off the balcony but before I could stand from my seat, Feyona was towering right above me.

I heard a chair screech beside me as Feyona's eyes gazed blazingly down at me. I awaited the harsh words that were sure to tumble from her mouth. Yet, none came. She merely stood there silently.

She looked mad, disoriented. Merely standing, eyes digging into my face, widened out of proportion. Her dress was soaked with wine yet she had yet to reach for a napkin. She merely allowed the liquid to seep through her clothing and down her tights as she stood in place.

It was when her hand began to reach out to me that I felt my body being pulled back. My body lost its balance, almost face-planting if not for the broad arm that wrapped itself around my waist as the other grabbed Feyona's hand before it could reach me. Time seemed to stop, my breath thickened as her hand hovered mere inches from my face, shaking within the tight hold of the man behind me.

"Feyona!" A voice called yet Feyona refused to draw her eyes from mine. Hyde came running in our direction frantically. He looked horrified, eyes bulging from their sockets as he grabbed Feyona by the opposite arm and turned her around hastily.

The hold around Feyona's hand dropped, though the arm around my waist remained. I turned my head slightly, making eye-contact with Alastair as he let out a relieved sigh and adjusted his arm around my waist.

Hyde apologized profusely before pivoting on his heels and dragging Feyona along with him away from us. From behind him, I could see Isaiah watching from the entryway of the balcony. His eyes were slightly pink as he wiped his face with his sleeve and leaned against the wall, waiting as Hyde made his way back to him.

"Well," Beatrice broke the silence as she took a long sip of her tea, "that was strange."

I nodded in agreement just as Alastair turned his attention to the boy, still standing in shock by our table.

"Ron," Alastair called. The boy's head whipped in our direction.

"Prince Alastair," his voice came out in one solid breath.

They know each other?

The boy approached Alastair, boyish smile returning as his eyes brightened.

"It's been so long," the boy, Ron, exclaimed. His eyes turned to meet mine with a bright smile, "I am so happy to see everything working out for you."

"Thank you," Alastair returned his smile. "Where is the rest of the gang?" Alastair let out a light laugh as Ron's eyes brightened.

"Allen's by the dessert table," Ron pointed off to a table by the side where a small dirty blond stood, stuffing his face with sweet cakes. "Eating away his troubles," he sighed, "I'm trying to get him out, introduce him to new people."

"And how's that working out?" Michael piped up from across the table.

Ron peeked from around Alastair with a laugh, "not very well, must I say. He seems to find more pleasure with sweets than socializing."

"Relatable," Michael sighed, biting into a piece of zucchini bread.

Ron laughed, "It's nice to meet you, Ron," he stuck out his hand towards Michael with a charming smile to which Michael returned.

"Michael."

Ron's eyes widened and he looked close to passing out, "the Michael?"

"The one and only," Michael remarked.

"It's such an honor," Ron breathed, turning a bright shade of red, "Master Elijah speaks of you all the time."

Michael raised a brow, "you know Elijah?"

"Yes, I'm actually working under him right now as an apprentice," Ron chirped, practically jumping in place. Keith's eyes narrowed.

"Elijah taking on an apprentice," Michael seemed to find the idea near unfathomable as he dropped his bread to the table. "Are you blowing him or something?"

"Michael!" I gasped as Ron turned dangerously red.

"No!" Ron looked ready to faint, "I'm training to be a doctor, not a prostitute," he gasped out.

"Hmm," Michael lifted his bread from the table and continued to eat it.

"You're not going to take over the estate from your father?" Alastair asked.

Ron turned his attention away from Michael, "No, my younger brother will. My father did oppose to it at first but after much debating, I think he's accepted it."

Alastair nodded in understanding.

It was then, in the brief silence that I decided to jump in.

"Umm, may I ask how you two know each other?" he looked a bit young to have gone to school with Alastair.

"We met in heat camp," Alastair whispered in my ear.

"Oh," my eyes widened briefly, "I'm so sorry," I peered up at Ron, "I didn't mean to-"

Ron let out a light laugh as he raised his hand, "it's alright."

Oh Goddess, that means he was rejected by his mate. An occurrence that I've now brought back up. Reopened the wound.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Ron smiled, "Prince Alastair would always speak about you with us. It was all he really wanted to talk about," he laughed as Alastair cleared his throat beside me. "Though none of us really knew he was Prince Alastair."

"What do you mean?" I turned to Alastair quizzically.

"He kept his identity secret during his time there, understandably so. None would have left him alone had they known their heir was in their presence."

Alastair nodded.

"Ron," a voice came from behind Ron as a small dirty blond appeared behind him, a plate filled with sweets in hand.

"If you eat all of that you're going to get a stomachache later, Al." Eric eyed the sweets with pinched brows.

"I'm fine," the boy huffed, taking a bite of cookie before peering up at Alastair.

"Oh, Ala..." he peered up at the crown on Alastair's head, "...Prince Alastair."

"It's good to see you, Allen," Alastair smiled down at the boy with a chuckle.

Allen gave him his own cheeky grin before his attention snapped to Michael who was eyeing his goods. Allen sent him a glare, holding the food closer to his chest.

"Mine."

Michael huffed, crossing his arms.

"It's nice to meet you," Allen peered shyly across at me. It wasn't often that I met someone shorter than me. He was only an inch or two shorter than me but still, I couldn't help but feel quite amazed that there was truly someone out there who I was taller than.

"You too," I smiled brightly.

"You're River, right?" His voice was so soft like he was afraid he'd pull a vocal cord lest he raises his voice.

I nodded.

That seemed to brighten his mood. Though I wasn't quite sure why.

He peered at Ron with a small smile to which Ron patted him on the head, "see?"

Allen nodded, peering back at me.

I was incredibly confused but managed to retain my smile.

And like that, the night continued peacefully. Ron and Allen joined us at our chattering table, joining the conversation with jokes of their time with Alastair to which Alastair seemed not quite appreciative off but eventually joined in on the laughter when Ron piped up about a time where they had, had a water fight by a waterfall. Apparently, Alastair had been quite playful during his stay at Heat Camp.

I woke up to warm breath of Alastair's steady breathing beside me. I vaguely remembered nodding off on Alastair's shoulder and being carried back to our room, but not the moment where I had actually blacked out.

I sat up in our bed, slightly disoriented as hushed whispers swept in through the crack of our opened balcony door. I grew stone-like.

Someone was on our balcony.

Amidst all the comings and goings during our party, some unwanted person must have sneaked in and decided to camp out on our balcony.

Is the person planning on harming us?

My body began to vibrate. My hands reached for Alastair, shaking him in an attempt to wake him yet he remained deep asleep, unwavering.

My heart pounded against my chest as my eyes searched the room for something to defend myself with. Yet, all I could find was a paperweight.

It will have to do.

I slowly lifted myself from the bed, creeping quietly across the room to not be heard as I grabbed the paperweight from Alastair's desk. Though, once it was in my hand I wasn't sure what to do.

Should I wait for the person to came out from the balcony?

Should I initiate or retaliate?

After waiting a few minutes that felt more like hours, I took a slow couple steps to the balcony door, peeking through. Yet, I couldn't see anyone.

Is the person hiding behind the door? Is that why I can't see anything?

I carefully pushed the door open. Though, as a slight squeak resounded from the door, I jumped, nearly falling backward as I held the weight out in front of me. As if it would protect me from the intruder. Though, as I circled the balcony, there was no one there.

My brows scrunched together in confusion as pivoted on my heels, searching every part of the balcony. Yet, again. There no trace of anyone there.

I nearly jumped again when I heard the sound of hushed whispers.

Where is it coming from?

I dropped the paperweight to my side as I pressed my palms against the balcony walls to peer down. I caught myself from gasping as my eyes locked on His Highness, standing right beside our balcony, whispering with a man wrapped in a black cloak that was covering his face.

I fell to the floor, in fear of being sighted as I held my palm to my face in shock.

Who is he talking to?

It seemed like far more than innocent socializing. That was for certain.

It was then that I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. Like a knife was lodging itself within me, twisting and turning as it wished.

I blamed it on hunger, for I hadn't eaten much at the dinner. My meal consisted of a glass of wine and cup of tea. No wonder my stomach was crying out in pain. I crawled to the balcony door, still afraid of being sighted snooping by Alastair's father or the mysterious man in the black cloak. Something told me I wasn't going to be left off with a warning had they thought I heard their conversation.

I carefully closed the door behind me and lifted myself from the floor, brushing whatever dirt had gotten on my nightgown.

My stomach continued to pulse as a rubbed circled in it, hoping to ease the pain.

I get it, I get it.

I repeated in my head as I hurried down to the kitchen.

I had expected none to be up and to quickly grab something from the kitchen but as I was met by frazzled maids running back and forth from the ballroom and back such a thought was proven wrong.

One maid sighted me on her journey to the kitchen and let out a slight gasp, "Your Majesty, why are you up?"

And like that, all the maids stopped what they were doing to see me descending the stairs.

"I'm just a little hungry, is all," I tried for light laughter.

"Do you want me to get you something from the kitchen?" Another asked.

"No, no. It's fine," I raised a hand, "I can get it," I began to make my way to the kitchen.

"You shouldn't, Your Majesty," the maid commented, "The kitchen is in a frenzy right now. If you need anything, it would be better for us to get it for you."

"Alright," I succumbed, "a piece of bread and some water would be great."

She nodded just as four other maids scrambled after her.

"Wait," a big-chested maid called after the group of girl who stopped in place, "you don't need five girls to get His Majesty such a simple order. You," she pointed at the maid who had just spoken to me, "you can go. The rest of you stay and help set up for the ceremony tomorrow."

The four girls frowned but nodded anyway as they slumped back in the direction of the ballroom.

I suddenly felt guilty. Here they were working themselves through the night for our ceremony while I did nothing.

Surely I was being selfish.

The maid returned moments later with the bread and water in hand, handing it to me with a smile.

"Thank you," I breathed as I took a bite of the bread.

She was about to leave as I stopped her. She rose a brow quizzically.

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked.

She seemed even more puzzled.

"To help, I mean. With the preparation."

Her eyes widened as what I was intending dawned on her.

"Your Majesty," she gasped, seeming utterly horrified, "we would never put a royal to work."

"But it's Alastair and I's mating ceremony. Surely I'm to partake in it."

"And that you will. By being there tomorrow."

I opened my mouth to protest but she wouldn't allow it.

"You must be tired. You've just woken up. You're still disoriented."

"I'm fine."

She sighed, "If there's something you truly want to do. Go to sleep. We can't possibly have the mating ceremony tomorrow if you're to pass out in the middle of it."

She really wasn't going to allow me to help.

I sighed, giving up.

"Very well," I managed as I turned and went back up the stairs to Alastair and I's shared room.

I opened the door to find Alastair still sound asleep. A small smile played on my lips.

Of course.

I finished the bread and chugged down the cup of water, placing the empty glass on our night table before crawling back into bed. As if sensing me, his body immediately turned to press against me, arms encircling my waist and head resting on my shoulder.

I hadn't even gotten a chance to make myself comfortable and already he had wrapped himself around me, making it unable for me to move even an inch.

I let out a puffed breath.

Oh well.

I pressed back against his chest as my nose brushed against his arm. His arm twitched momentarily against me as a soft breath brushed across my neck. His scent wafted through my nostrils, filling my senses with his calming smell. It reminded me of exotic fruit and cinnamon, sweet yet with a hint of bitterness. A perfect blend.

And with that thought and his intoxicating scent filling my very pores, the darkness overtook me.