[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS]

It was a jerk reaction when my hand hid quickly behind my back, fingers squeezing the handle of the small blade. A shake between my fingers as I gripped the sides.

That is the only movement I could make. I was frozen in place. Unable to comprehend that the Tribrid Prince was standing before me when a second ago I had seen him in the royal tent.

So many questions, and so many emotions, but my mind ran blank, eyes wide, staring at him.

He is unmoving. A perfect statue with that saltwater gaze.
No emotion was visible, lips a thin straight line, his dark hair tied neatly behind him in a bun, hands behind his back, watching me rather calmly.

I want to look back at the royal tent. I want to confirm that this was the prince. But I knew I didn't need to do that. It was him.

The shake in my fingers confirmed this. My non-existent heartbeat confirmed this.

I had not anticipated this. My mind was pacing, body trembling.

He wasn't supposed to be here. I just wanted to see if he would show even a tiny bit of reaction if I had cut myself. Just a small reaction, perhaps a jerk of the head, a scowl of some sort-

But I had not-

Oh sweet heaven and earth, I had not expected this.

I hadn't even cut my knee yet. I was just about to swipe and then he-

My breathing is heavy, and he says nothing, just watches me.

I'm unsure if I should run away- no I must run. It's only logical after what he did to me last night. But I'm frozen in place. I feel like we would be standing here forever and in truth, part of me wishes that we do.

Just be trapped in this moment, so I don't have to see what comes next.

All I can remember is his cold hands against my throat. The fear in my eyes- and now- he is here. Right here.
I blink, and part of me scolds myself for shutting my eyes even for a second. I could have died.

My eyes are stinging and I'm unsure if it's because of the tears that wish to slip down my cheeks at my stupidity, or because I'm refusing to blink again.

He moves not even a step, just a motion of his hand and I stumble three steps back backward until my back hits the tree, the knife grazing the old bark.

And I'm panting, eyes wide at him, looking at the distance between us, as if I could somehow calculate how long it would take for him to reach me and snap my head off.

He pauses his movement, studying me for a moment, before raising his hand again.

"Give it to me." He states

I blink, looking down at his open palm, eyes linking back to his still gaze.

He tilts his head slightly to the right,  his gaze drops to my hidden hands.

I follow his eyes,  looking down, my throat dry, and unable to swallow. My shaky hands retrieve the hidden blade, staring at it for a second.

I'm scared to move but more scared of death. I know it's best to do what he wishes. I move forward carefully, placing the blade in his open palm, making sure I do not touch him. Once the blade is in his hold, I pelt backward, my back against the tree.

He stares at me for a moment, before his gaze trails down to his palm, examining the small knife.

It was still stained with blood from the small nick I had given myself on my finger.

He looks back at me, and no emotions there. He doesn't seem to care or notice how fragile I look. How terrified I am.

"I thought I warned you to stay away from knives," he spoke, eyes holding me prisoner-

I'm unable to follow, only blinking in reply. Confusion is written all over me.

He seems irritated at this, his gaze drifting away for a moment before suddenly swinging back to mine.

"You cut yourself." He states, a tick in his jaw, "Left hand, index finger."

I don't look down at my fingers at his words, but my thumb traces the wound slowly and then I hide my shaky fingers, blinking my fear away.

I am well aware that he somehow knows exactly which hand and which finger I had cut myself on.

"Just now," he continued, his gaze snapping to my exposed knee, "what on earth were you trying to do?" he grilled.

My gaze dropped to my knee, whose pant sleeve I had rolled up when I had decided to cut myself. I couldn't very well explain the reason-

"I- wasn't trying to" I was going to lie but he cut me off

"Humans are clumsy, of which you aren't the exception, quite well the prime example. I don't care if you wish to die, but surely, there's a better way than inducing a thousand little cuts."

I don't say a word, my throat is still dry. Perhaps I'm still in shock. No, I am still in shock. All I can think about is-

Why is he here? If he doesn't care what I do. Why is he here?

And then.

Screw all these questions, I need to escape-

Then

Could he possibly kill me in front of all these people?

We were secluded. No one could see us, but if I screamed I was certain many would spot us. But would any care? Perhaps mother, perhaps Vella- but anyone else? No- I would just be a human dying. No big deal.

The fists clench behind me. Perhaps it's all dream. I melt back to the back of my mind. I dare to close my eyes. Perhaps I'm not this incredibly stupid.

Why did I-

"Why?"

My eyes flash to him.

Shit. He's still here. It's not a dream.

Staring. Studying. No emotion. Just water on the steady sea.

I blink- a death escaped.

He asked a question. He is waiting for an answer. I try to think. Why? Why what?

My hand wraps to my throat for a moment and I now feel my whole body tremble and I feel stuck.

This isn't me. I don't get scared like this. But before him, I feel insignificant. No- I am insignificant. That I don't mind. Insignificant is good. But I feel weak and powerless.

I feel like prey, hopeless. Like a fish out of water.

"Silver." He states, drawing the word.

I flashback to him.

I was always looking at him, but my mind had been gone, and somehow he had seen this, drawing me back.

"Why are you cutting yourself?" He grits an electric tone in his voice.

He seems irritated. Perhaps frustrated. Or just tired of having to wait for a single response? I can't tell.

What does he expect? Does he not understand why I fear him? For god sake, he almost killed me last night!

No, I don't bloody care if he's irritated. I'm not safe here. I'm not safe here. Not for a second.

But I need to answer.

Perhaps he will let me go if I answer. It's desperate, but it's true.

Why am I cutting myself? I have an answer. I have the truth,
But my breath is shaky and I'm asking questions instead.

"How- how did you know that I-I cut myself," I whispered, my voice hoarse, barely recognizable even to my ears.

I shifted my head to the side, but never left his eyes, just in case he decided to move- and move fast,

"Y-You were just over there, a second ago."

He blinks as if suddenly realizing that he is indeed here. His gaze stretches out in the direction of the tent,  and for the first time, I think I see confusion.

But it's gone the moment it flickers, his gaze snapping back to me, speaking carefully, "And why were you watching me?"

"For god's sake, You're the prince- everyone's watching you." I Huffed, immediately slamming a hand over my mouth. My eyes were wide at how I spoke.

His gaze narrows to me, and I know I'm stupid for speaking. My heart is running marathons within me, and I'm staring at him, wide-eyed.

"Right," he finally states, "however, not everyone is hiding from me."

"Not everyone almost died last night from you," I grunt back.  Wait- I. I panic- No - I didn't mean to say that. I didn't mean to-

I didn't even blink, I don't know how. I didn't even feel the wind move around us. I don't know how.

I don't know how he's standing not a breath away from me now.

"Silver-" he stated calmly, I felt no breath escape his lips, "If I wanted to kill you, You wouldn't know you were dead."

I'm not breathing. My eyes are as wide as saucers.

Is it a threat? Is that a threat?? Oh God, I can't breathe! I'm scared, and I don't want to know the meaning.

"I'm s-so sorry-" I slowly state, my eyes pleading. I just want to get out of here. I know I should beg for my life. I know I should bloody scream.

I also know he could snap my neck before I could do any of those things.

But his gaze drifts from mine for a moment but does not step away from me, before shifting back to me as if just realizing something, "You were thinking."

I do not understand his statement, and  I'm prettified to stone. So I just stare.

"Experimenting." he pauses, his gaze shifts in my eyes as if searching for something. He seems to find it and seems slightly surprised that he has.

His gaze drops to my exposed knee, and I jerk back quickly at the feel of his fingers brushing against the place I had once had a nasty cut running through.

My heart is ramming within me.

"Now that I am here." he draws, gazes slowly moving back up to mine, "What is your verdict?" He states, tilting his head slightly-

I can't breathe -

"Don't faint, Silver, it's wildly irritating when people do that," he growled.

I am immediately alert at this, nodding. I nod again.
Don't faint. I won't faint. God- please don't let me faint.

I blink-

"Y-you're here-" I state slowly.

He nods as if encouraging me to go on, "Yes."

I don't want to say it. I can't say it.

"Because- I-I think" I rephrase quickly. No this was stupid. I could be wrong. I just blurt out, "You can feel my pain."

He stares at me for a moment. And in that moment I thought he was going to laugh. Not that I should expect it. There wasn't an ounce of emotion to this being, but I did feel like he was looking at me like I was delirious, or stupid- or something in between.

That he? The Tribrid Prince is connected to me- a human girl's emotions?

And then he merely grunts, "Yes. That part is annoying."

My eyes widen at the confirmation. I'm stunned. I'm stunned, I'm stunned.

His eyes narrow on something, and I see him take a breath in. He is so close, yet I feel no warmth from him except a light change in the wind.

"Do you know why?" he asks, this time, the question is ice cold.

I blink for a moment, then I stumble over a million apologies, "I apologize, your highness, I did not know the effects would be this-" I swallowed, tears in my eyes. It's the potion. The bloody vile- The effects- "I did not mean- please- believe me -I-"

"You belong to me, Silver," he stated calmly.

I freeze for a moment. I remember those words at the ball. I remember how close we were. Perhaps that's the only time I ever saw another kind of emotion in those eyes.

I stare at him, this time my body doesn't tremble. I'm nonexistent. I'm in shock, denial, realization-

I do not understand it and then it becomes clear. The answer was always there and I had been too stupid to see it.

And then I find myself chuckling, smiling. Because it's certainly not what I'm thinking. What I've been thinking all this while.

If I was a sworn- which I wasn't. And he knew I was.....his- he wouldn't be this calm about it- would he? Look at how Lord Valcon dragged my mother away from her husband and child, all those years ago- look at how Hunter is obsessed with Vella.

Him? He tried to kill me last night! Oh God, I was so ridiculous. What am I thinking?

He also had a Sworn. LADY ELISE. A gorgeous woman, highly skilled, seated a hill away in a royal tent.

I chuckle because I'm misinterpreting this whole thing. SCARING MYSELF FOR NOTHING.

" I am your loyal servant, your majesty." I breathe slowly and  even though I hate saying it, I know these words are true, "I do belong to you, your majesty."

That's what he means. He owns everything. These lands, the territories, his subjects. That's what he means. I belong to him. Yes, I'm his to command. His to kill, his to toil with. But best believe if I get out of this situation alive, I would do my utter best to stay as far away from him as humanly possible

Best believe this would be the last conversation I would ever have with the tribrid prince. And I would never speak a word of it to anyone. Not a single soul.

He stares at me for a moment, before suddenly stepping away and I'm relieved.

All this was just one big misunderstanding. I don't know why I'm still shaking, but I roll down my pants sleeve when the prince is turned away, and I watch his back for a moment. 

He's going to walk away. This is the end of all my worries-

"Did you read the instructions on your little vile." he started,  pausing, his head glancing at me over his shoulder, turning slightly my way- hands calmly laced behind his back.

I stare at him for a moment, my mind running back, "Y-yes your majesty."

"What did it say?"

I stared at him for a moment, not sure what he was getting at,  but I replied, "Rub around the hands and wrist, valid for 4 hrs."

He hummed at this, turning to me, "It's been a little bit more than 4 hrs. The effects should have finished already."

I hold a breath, my fingers clutching the sleeves of my jacket. A slight tremble in them.

His gaze shifted to the tree leaves above me, " You were thinking-" he began, "why I could sense it when you sliced your finger the first time, why I healed your knee, why am I here right now after you sliced your finger," his gaze snaps to me, stale-

"I thought about it too." he started, "I thought it was the vile. But I did a number of my own experiments. Human subjects, vampires, wolves, None resulted in the effects sown between us. "

Us. There should never be an us.

My fingers run cold. Ice cold.

"I could feel none of their pain, no scent was as intoxicating as yours had been that night," his gaze drifting down my body for a moment, "I don't sense it again, but I think, if you took the vile again, no one would be able to pry you from my grasp," he trailed off seemingly lost and a dark shiver run down my back at the sudden slight shift of darkness in his eyes.

He remained silent for a moment, then spoke quietly, "What did you do?" he started.

I did not understand his question. "I-I"

His head tilted to the side as he narrowed on me, "What did you take to be hidden from me?"

My eyes widen at the accusation. I remember Dad. I remember taking the V. I - blink. And blink again. I'm so good at keeping secrets- but he was so good at uncovering them.

I can't say it. I can't confess it, but I'm unable to deny it either.

"Mm." he hummed, looking away, "as I thought."

I blink again- and finally, the words find themselves, "I-I'm not your sworn."

He doesn't look my way, "not at the moment, no-"

I'm baffled by his answer, my gaze shifting to the royal tent, a chuckle escaping at the absurdity,  and I court rather loudly "Lady Elise is —"

His gaze snaps to mine at this. And I stop my blubber, the air knocked out of my lungs when it hit me.

His cold demeanor. His cold replies to her. The ladies of Fang Court pointing it out, Hunter seeing it quite plainly, even I saw it, I saw it a long time ago I just did not want to believe it-

"Not your sworn." I finished, at the statement left an empty hollowness within me.  I could have told myself a million more lies but he killed it all when he replied.

"Not at all."

I stare at him, my hands crumbling into fists. I did not understand what was happening completely, God I still did not believe it and was still convinced there was something more to this- but I would rather die than be like my mother and the tribrid prince- no/ hell no.

"I-I can't be your sworn." I stutter out. It was supposed to be hard and vicious but I can't help it. I feel weak. I feel like I wouldn't be able to protect myself. He could drag me and lock me in a tower. I would be defenseless.

Tears spill down my cheek, and I brush them away.

"I agree." he nods.

I stare at him, feeling confused and stupid at the same time, "Y-you agree?" I whisper, "You don't feel like-"

"I'm not supposed to feel," he grunts, his eyes dropping, "I quite dislike it actually. As a consequence of you, it's with good reason. It's an irritating itch I can't nag. Weird, and unnatural," he seems to be disgusted or confused at this.

I stare at him. I do not know why I'm not shaking as much as I had been, "You mean- y-you don't want me."

His gaze reached to mine, "If you're asking if I'm feeling anything about being in your presence- no. I don't feel the craze my uncle did when he met your mother, Hunter, or my father. I believe whatever you took, dulled your scent to non-existence."

I swallowed, looking down.

"Since whatever you took, removed your scent and since you believe you're human, I believe it did a good job of hiding your strike, perhaps deleting it of its existence in its entirety."

I followed numbly, unable to come to the terms that I could be sworn. Like mom, like Vella.

"I have no loyalty towards you, I feel no pull, and even if I did make you Queen-"

I looked at him in shock, and I don't believe I'd hated a sentence as much as I had at that moment.

"The tribe and my subjects would not want a weak human for a queen, neither would they accept it. You would be more of a liability to me. Always a target and irritatingly Easy to kill, since you have no strike to protect yourself. There isn't a reason for me to want you, Silver."

Normally? Those words had they been spoken by anyone else would have cut my soul in half. I was called, weak, insignificant, and unwanted in a single sentence, but this was the first gift I had received in years.

"I don't believe you want to be wanted either way."

I'm silent. The words are cold and they leave me numb but I'm not hurt.

I want to be wanted. Just not by him. Never by him.

His gaze dropped to the knife in his hands, "perhaps you will offer me a little peace then. Mystery solved?" he huffed, "stay away from knives silver," he drawled, before walking away.

I blinked and blinked again, then crumbled against the tree trunk, burrying my head between my arms.

Deep breaths in Silver. Deep breaths in.

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Well now...
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