I watched as the man fell to the ground and then the pool of blood spread across the concrete as it spilled from his head.

Shay stood there, emotionless, and I cringed when the other minders fired their guns, the servants before them dropping dead to the ground as well.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to disguise my cry of horror.

The man who had kissed me and called me baby just twelve hours earlier, had just killed a person.

I couldn't look at the gruesome scene before me anymore and turned around, practically running back to the castle.

Inside I went straight to my room, hyperventilating at what I just saw.

I felt dirty, unclean, and ran to the shower to scrub away any traces of what I had just witnessed, but I couldn't loofa the inside of my head.

Shay had killed someone. A person. He had taken their life away. The person he murdered could've had a family, someone to take care of, someone to love, and he had taken that away.

After the shower I dried off before checking the time.

I had spent three hours in the shower, and now was going to be late for dinner.

I hurried to the closet where Lux was waiting and she dressed me in a white skirt and top that bared my mid drift again, and a black jacket atop that.

She dried and curled my hair before sending me off to the dining room. I hadn't said a word.

Shay wasn't here to escort me but he was there when I arrived late to the meal, and of course the only seat left was next to him.

I had half the mind to turn around and walk out but I knew I would get in trouble, so I made my way to the chair, sitting on the side of it to be as far away from Shay as possible.

Not moments after I had sat down I felt his hand on my knee again and I moved it away.

He wasn't satisfied with that and put his hand back.

Here he was, touching me with the same hand that had killed someone.

I put my hand under the table, and went to shove his hand away, only for him to take it up in his in a strong hold.

His fingers were firm as they rested between mine, and I felt sick.

He squeezed my hand and then began to circle his thumb along the back of it, and I couldn't do it any longer.

"I'm not feeling well, excuse me." I ripped my hand from his and scooted out of the chair, walking briskly from the dining room.

"What's her problem?" I heard Theo's voice ask.

"Do I look like her bloody doctor?" Shays voice said and I cringed as I continued walking until I reached my room where the guards who were now always there stood outside.

Knowing Shay would be coming to my room to see what was wrong I needed a plan to stop him.

"Please don't let anyone into my room the rest of tonight." I said and a guard nodded before the door closed behind me and I locked it.

Thirty minutes later there was loud knocking at my door.

"Eleanor open the door!" I heard Shays voice.

"Let me through!" He yelled at one of the guards.

"I'm sorry Sir, but she asked no one be allowed into her room this evening." The guard apologised.

"I'll have you arrested for disobeying the captain of the minders if you do not open that door right now." Shay threatened and soon I heard the click.

I slid off my bed to hurry to the bathroom but Shay was too fast, grabbing onto my arms to stop me before I entered.

"Don't touch me!" I shoved him away and he looked back at me, utter hurt in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked me, his words exasperated.

"You killed someone, that's what's wrong." I said through my teeth.

"What?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

"I saw you, when I was in the gardens today, you shot that man."

Suddenly dread took over his face.

"Ellie I'm...I'm so sorry, you were never supposed to see that."

"Yet I did." I said back and I saw him take a deep breath.

"It's my job Ellie, I'm sorry. They committed treason and that was the punishment. It's not like I wanted to do it, you have to understand that."

"It doesn't matter." I bit and turned around to enter the bathroom but his arms went around me to stop me again.

"Ellie stop. Just talk to me."

Instead of doing what he said I dropped to the ground, drawing my knees up to my chin as tears fell from my eyes for the loss of the mans life.

"What do you want me to do? It was directly
ordered from The King. If I had said no it would've been me getting shot. I'm sorry you had to see that, I really am, but I didn't have a choice." He said as he bent down to try and hold me.

"Stop touching me Shay, just stop!" I screamed at him.

He stood up, his hands leaving me while I dropped my head onto my knees to cry every thing out.

I heard him exhale before his feet stomped across the floor and my bedroom door slammed shut.

This only made me cry harder.

I thought Shay was different, I thought he was sweet and actually caring, but what I had seen today changed my entire opinion on him.

He wasn't who I thought he was.

"Oh El." I heard Lux's voice come from my closet and she hurried over to me, sitting down next to me and wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

I leaned into her, crying hard.

"I know this probably isn't what you want to hear right now, but Shay didn't kill that man to upset you, he did it to protect you, and you were never supposed to know." She said softly.

"Protect me?" I sniffled.

"There's people in this castle who are working against The King and therefore working against you. Shay was just doing what he had to do to keep you and The King safe. He never meant to hurt you."

"I just can't get what I saw out of my head."

"I know, but he did what had to be done."

She let cry me for a little longer before speaking.

"Are you still going to see him romantically?"

I shrugged.

"I think you should talk to him. I know you probably don't even want to look at him right now, but he did it for your safety. You both make each other better. You make him more human and he makes you less lonely; you need each other."

"I don't think he wants to talk to me." I nodded towards the door he had slammed shut just minutes ago.

"He does. He was just trying to control his temper around you to not upset you further."

"I don't even know where to look."

"Try his room." She said and I nodded before standing up.

I went to the bathroom to check myself in the mirror and wipe away the water from my eyes and straighten out my dress.

"You look lovely, now go." Lux shooed me from the room and I gave her a slight smile before leaving.

The guard gave me a strange look as I left and I turned down the hallway in the direction of Shays room.

His hallway was seemingly empty, an eerie quiet over the space and when I reached his door I took a deep breath before knocking.

There was no answer.

I knocked again.

"Shay its me, open the door."

Seconds later the door creaked open to reveal a devastated looking Shay. His eyes looked red and his cheeks red as well, probably matching mine.

I had never seen him look this way before.

"What do you want?" He asked in a meaner voice than I thought he would.

"I just want to talk to you." I said and he stared at me for a moment before opening the door to allow me in.

His comforter on his bed was flipped back and the sheets were messed up so I assumed he had been trying to sleep.

I took a seat on his bed and patted the space next to me, silently telling him to sit next to me.

Once he did I took a deep breath before leaning over so that my head was resting against his chest.

I felt him inhale before he spoke.

"Do you understand, that my job is to make sure everyone in this castle, and in this country is safe?"

I nodded.

"And do you understand, that when someone threatens the life of The King, and the girl that I am falling for, that I'm going to do what's necessary to protect them?"

Falling for? He was falling for me?

I nodded slowly.

"You were never meant to see that." He sighed.

It was silent for a while.

I still couldn't get the image out of my head, but somehow it had changed moods. Yes it was still dire and gruesome, but there was a sense of doing what was right.

"I'm sorry I screamed at you." I apologised and he brought his arms around my body.

"I'm sorry I upset you." He said and I adjusted myself in his hold. "Do you forgive me?"

"Yes." I breathed.

He didn't say anything else but I felt his entire body relax beneath me and I de-tensed my muscles as well and let myself melt into him.

"You're falling for me?" I asked him and he let out a chuckle.

"I didn't mean to say that."

"So you're not?" I peaked an eyebrow.

"No I am, I just hadn't meant to tell you that yet."

"I think I'm falling for you too." I said and he squeezed my body tightly.

"I thought you were never going to talk to me again." He admitted.

"I wasn't planning to, but Lux told me that you did what you did to protect me, and I may not agree with what you did but I understand why you did it."

"Thank you."

"I wish we didn't have to be this way." I said even more quietly than I had been speaking.

"What do you mean?"

"Us being a secret. It's taxing, and would be so much easier if we could just be a normal...I don't know..."

"A couple?" He filled in my sentence and I nodded. "If The King were to find out that we were seeing each other he would take me off your guard duty and make it impossible for us to ever be in contact."

"Do you really know that? We could ask?"

"We can't ask without being caught."

"Maybe I could ask, but not directly ya know? I can word it like I'm asking randomly or about someone else." I suggested.

"That's too risky Ellie."

"Not if I get close to him. If I can get in a good relationship with him then maybe he will be more understanding and accepting."

"I don't know..."

"Please? At least let me try?" I looked up at him and he tilted his chin down to meet my gaze.

"Alright." He agreed and I smiled before pressing my lips to his jaw.

I saw him smile slightly before he craned his neck so that he could kiss me properly, his plump lips encasing and moving between mine.

His mouth was warm as he used his tongue to deepen the kiss, and I moved myself so I was straddling his lap, Shays hands coming down to rest on my hips.

We were both breathing heavily as we broke the kiss for air and then dove back in.

I felt his hands begin to slide up my sides and then back down again, letting out a small whimper as he pulled my hips closer to his.

Locking my arms around his neck he used his hands to lean me backwards until my back was against the mattress and he was hovering over me, a hand on each side of my face as he kissed me erotically.

Then suddenly his door was flung open and we stopped kissing to see none other than Theo standing in the doorway.

"Honestly." He shook his head and stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him.

Shay sat up so I could, the both of us wide eyed and red cheeked.

"I uh- I'm going to go." I muttered, sliding off the bed and past Theo to Shays door.

"Ellie you're fine, he knows." Shay called out to me.

"I know he knows." I replied. "I just don't want to intrude on the conversation."

"It's alright." Theo said and I shifted awkwardly onto one leg. "I actually came here to talk to Shay about the little thing you two have going on."

"Oh." I said and he nodded.

"You both should be more careful. One of the guards reported to His Highness that El screamed at you to stop touching her and now he thinks you did something. He sent me to get El but she wasn't in her room and her little maid said she might be here." Theo said and I glanced wide eyed to Shay.

"You better go." He said to me, nodding at the door.

"What do I even say?" I asked them both.

"Lie." They both said at the same time and I bit my lip.

"Hurry Ellie." Shay nodded towards the door and I glanced at the wooden barrier before quickly jogging forward to kiss Shay, him actually returning it.

After I drug my lips away from his I left, my heart racing as I made my way to King Blakesley's chambers.

I scanned myself in, nerves taking over my body.

"Your highness?" I called out, a waver in my voice.

"Ah, Eleanor I'm in the living room." I heard him call back and I made my way to the black and white room to find him sitting on the sofa.

"Have a seat." He said as I entered and I did as such, sitting a few feet away from him.

"Is there something you need me to do?" I asked innocently, hoping to play as dumb as I could.

"No, I just have a few questions for you." He said and I nodded.

"What is your relationship with Shay?" He didn't hesitate to dance around the question.

"My relationship?" I quirked a confused eyebrow.

"Yes."

"He's my guard?" I said, acting like I didn't understand and I saw his shoulders drop a little bit.

"Why were you screaming at him to stop touching you in your room today?" He flew into the next question.

"Oh." I said.

Lie El. Lie.

"I wasn't feeling well and he was trying to get me to go see the nurse but I didn't see the point  because I knew I'd feel better, and he tried to take me there himself and I yelled at him. I'm sorry I didn't mean to cause a scene."

"No you're fine." He gave me a tight lipped smile.

He continued to look at me.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" I asked and he seemed to snap out of whatever faze he was in.

"Yes, actually. I have some filing to do and I could use a hand."

"Sure." I smiled and stood up, following him to his office.

King Blakesley had me sit in one of the plush chairs in front of the marble coffee table while he sat behind his desk.

There was a large stack of files on the table and he told me to go through and highlight any names or dates that I came across and I got to work, silently highlighting.

I could feel The Kings eyes on me every once in a while but I kept my gaze down the entire time, focusing on what I was doing.

Though, I was mapping out the plan inside of my head as I did my job.

If I did what King Blakesley asked without complaint, and managed to become closer to him, I could eventually ask if it was alright for servants to be with the higher ups.

All the while still proving to Michael that he couldn't get rid of me so easily, and making it harder for him to hurt me by being close to The King.

Therefore it was a win win situation.

A knock was sounded at the door and The King and I both looked up to see Theo standing there.

"Ah Theo, thank you for sending Miss Belle to me." King Blakesley stood up and shook Theo's hand.

"Oh not at all, you needed to discuss the budget for the new training facility?"

"Yes have a seat."

Theo pulled up a chair to The Kings desk and I averted my eyes back the files, continuing on my highlighting quest.

I listened in on their conversation as they talked about numbers and figures that made no sense to me.

"Eleanor would you mind getting us some tea please?" The King suddenly called out to me and I nodded, setting down my highlighter before leaving his chambers and heading straight to the kitchen.

"Oh hello El, how are you this evening?" Charlie greeted me from where he was cleaning off one of the tables.

"I'm good. How are you?" I smiled.

"Just fine. What can I do for you?"

"His Highness sent me to get tea for him and Theo." I said and he nodded.

"I'll get that started."

I stood next to him while he began to brew a pot of tea and then assembled a cart with a three tier cake plate filled with lavish goodies and then several cups and saucers before pouring the tea into a pot and setting that on the cart as well.

"Thank you so much." I smiled and began to roll the cart away.

"Anytime my dear." He smiled back and I left, hurrying back to His Majesties chambers.

I wheeled the tea cart in next to his desk and he smiled up at me.

Deciding to go the extra mile I poured the two cups of tea.

"Is there a certain way you take it?" I asked them both.

"Two sugars." King Blakesly said, surprised by my actions and I did as such before handing it to him.

"Theo?" I asked.

"Plain for me, thank you." He said and I handed him his cup before returning back to my seat at the coffee table.

They continued on discussing their budget plans while I used their chatter as background noise to my work.

Finally after what seemed like an hour I finished the first file and moved onto the second one.

"Well I guess that is all Theo, thank you." King Blakesley said and I glanced up to see Theo shake his hand before leaving.

"Eleanor you may retire for this evening, but you shall return tomorrow morning to finish your job." King Blakesley said to me and I nodded, getting to a stopping place.

"Yes Your Majesty." I bowed my head as I left.

"Goodnight El." He called out to me when I reached his office door and I turned around with a slight smile.

"Goodnight." I said softly and then continued on my way back to my room.

Lux was waiting when I arrived.

"Did you talk to him?" She asked as she led me to the bathroom.

"Yes."

"And?"

"We're okay." I smiled and she returned it before hurrying to get me bathed and into my nightclothes.

When I was curled up in the covers Lux bid me goodnight and left with my laundry.

Not long after she left the door opened to reveal Martin here for my guard duty and I sighed, turning around in the sheets and waiting for sleep to hit me, wishing Shay was here instead.

In the morning Theo was there when I woke up, and he left when I was out of bed.

Lux dressed me and then sent me off to The Kings chambers where he was sitting at the table eating breakfast.

"Good morning Your Majesty." I said as I sat down across from him.

"Good morning El. How did you sleep?" He smiled at me.

"Well. And you?" I went to pour myself some coffee.

"I slept good as well. Are you feeling better?"

I almost asked what he was talking about then remembered the lie I had told him last night to explain why I had been screaming at Shay.

"Yes I'm feeling much better, thank you." I
nodded my head and then went for a roll.

He smiled at me and I returned it before going to take a sip of my coffee.

We were silent while we ate until suddenly King Blakesley slammed his hand down on the table, startling me.

I gasped, jumping in my seat.

"Okay what is the deal here Eleanor? First you get here and all you do is fight with me and scream at me, and now you're being nice and polite and doing what you're told."

"I-I-" I stammered, not sure what to say. "I was just trying to do my job."

"You honestly want me to believe that after how belligerent you were now you are cooperating?"

I nodded only slightly.

"Do I really have much of a choice?" I mumbled and he sat forward. "If I misbehave I die. What else is there for me to do then to just try to make the best out of my life here?"

He sat there, a pensive look on his face as he stared at me.

"Alright then. I'm sorry for startling you." He apologised and I nodded.

"I'm going to get started on the files." I excused myself from the table and scurried to his office.

I released the breath I had been holding when I reached his office, placing a hand over my heart while I tried to steady my heartbeat.

Taking another breath, I made my way to the chair and grabbed the file I had been working on the night before before pulling my feet up into the seat and getting comfortable.

I kept my head down but glanced up with my eyes when I heard The King enter the office.

He looked at me for a long moment before walking over to me and I lifted my head as to not be rude.

"I don't want you to only be working out of fear for your life. I really do want you to be happy here. What I did on the balcony that night...it was wrong of me, and I know you know that I was lying. I feel incredibly guilty about that night, and I want you to know I truly am sorry Eleanor." He spoke and my jaw dropped.

I wasn't expecting those words to come from him ever.

"It's okay." I stammered out and he nodded slowly. "And I'm not just behaving because I'm scared for my life, I'm doing it because I want to."

"What made you decide that?"

"I don't know...it just felt like the right thing to do. I'm done fighting it, I've accepted my fate and now there's nothing left to do but live the best life I can here."

"Alright then." He said after a moment and then reached out his hand which I tentatively took. "Then let's start again."

"Deal." I smiled and he brought my hand up to his lips, kissing right above my knuckles before dropping my hand back down gently.

He gave me a smile, his blue eyes twinkling before he made his way to his desk, taking a seat in the posh red chair before looking down at his work before him.

The room was silent as we both worked on paperwork, until I heard voices coming down the hallway and then three people entered his office: Theo, Michael, and Shay.

My head raised at their voices and all three of them noticed my presence.

Michaels eyes narrowed and I shied away from him, moving to Theo's gaze that was forever pensive, then to Shays which was softer than the rest.

Knowing I couldn't give away my feelings for Shay in front of Michael and The King I quickly looked back down to continue highlighting, but tuned my ears to their conversation.

"Have you approved our budgets for this year Your Highness?" Michael asked him.

"I have. Theo we will proceed with the new training centre and Shay I have decided to upgrade the equipment in the existing centre for palace guards." King Blakesley answered.

"Thank you Your Majesty." Theo and Shay both said.

"Do you mind if I discuss the details of your security team for your outing tomorrow?" Shay asked him.

"Yes." He nodded. "But I'd like to take Miss Belle with me."

"You what?" Michael asked harshly and my head snapped up at this.

"I'm sorry Your Highness, but may I ask why?" Shay asked him.

"She deserves a change of scenery after her hard work." King Blakesley shrugged.

"I don't think that's the best idea." Theo shook his head.

"I'm going to have to agree." Shay added.

"They are right Your Majesty, she's not fit to go out in public." Michael bit, not even caring that I was in the room.

"After the threats earlier this week I don't feel like now is the best time to be flaunting your new toy around the country." Theo lowered his voice so that I wouldn't hear but I did anyway.

"Fine then. If you say that's what's best then I'll agree." King Blakesly said and out of the corner of my eye I saw Shay relax. "Now tell me the details."

Shay dove in to telling the information to The King and I had finished my second file when he was done.

"Thank you Shay. El, keep working, I'll be back in a while." King Blakesley said and I nodded up at him.

After he walked out his office door with the three other men I was left alone.

An hour went by and I was getting bored. I kept glancing at the clock in the wall and watching the hands ticking in a circle.

I made it through another file and decided to walk around the room and stretch my legs a bit.

Aimlessly I walked around the office until I paused to look at the vase of gorgeous flowers on the table under the clock.

My fingers reached out to touch the petals when suddenly I was yanked backwards and felt something sharp stab into my stomach.

Screaming, I looked to see a black knife handle sticking out from my abdomen, the blade still inside me, and a black glove covering it.

A gasp for air escaped me as the person ripped the knife out of my body and then threw me to the ground where I cried out.

My eyes were clamped shut but I opened them enough to see none other than a murderous looking Michael standing above me.

He slowly knelt down and I saw him raise the blood covered knife.

"No, please." I begged him, my voice in a whisper as I raised a hand to block whatever blow came my way, but he was too fast and too angry and plunged the knife into my body again.

All I could feel was pain.

I was crying and screaming and I couldn't breathe nor think.

"You'll pay for what you did you bitch." Michael growled at me before stabbing me one last time and standing up, dropping the knife next to my body and kicking my side so hard with his foot that I heard something inside me snap, and then left me to bleed out on the floor of The Kings office.