“Thank you, um, Your Highness.” I tipped my head to him. “I thought I was a goner.”
“They wouldn’t have killed you,” Prince Sawyer said, drawing nearer. “But the trip to the castle dungeon wouldn’t have been pleasant by any means, nor would the shackles they would’ve placed on your wrists.”
Kuya returned to the prince’s side and squatted beside him. His cat ears wiggled as he ran his palm over a patch of clovers sprouting from the grass. Innocence radiated from him. Remembering the story Callum told me about his past caused an ache in my chest.
Sawyer smiled down at him and placed a hand on top of his head. He then regarded me. “Would you like to take a stroll with us?”
“Oh!” Kuya bounded over to me, tail flicking faster, and grabbed my hand before dragging me closer to the prince. “Yes, Evan will walk with us. Kuya will show him the best napping spot in the garden.”
“S-Sure. A walk would be nice.” Although, I’d certainly already had a nice walk. Far away from where I was supposed to be. “Sorry for trespassing. I kinda got lost in my head and wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“Busy daydreaming?” Sawyer asked.
“Yeah.” I looked at the castle. “I’ve never been inside one before. I was thinking about the lavish parties. More specifically, about all the food at them.”
Sawyer laughed. “The food is, indeed, the best part.” A hardness surfaced in his eyes. “Balls are quite dull. Merely an excuse for the wealthy to strut around showing off said wealth and for fathers to offer up their daughters for marriage arrangements to unite powerful households, making each other even wealthier. As the second prince, I’ve attended far too many and have been forced to dance with many young noblewomen and princesses from other kingdoms, as our fathers watched from their ornate seats, stuffing their faces as they plotted our futures.”
Kuya’s ears drooped.
“So arranged marriages are a thing here?” I asked. We had left the courtyard and entered a garden filled with colorful plants, plenty of trees that provided shade from the bright sun, and sitting areas. Water softly rushed from nearby, trickling from a fountain and into a small pond. It was peaceful.
“Among royals, yes.” Sawyer stopped beside the pond. Vibrant-colored fish swam beneath the crystal-clear water in a parade of orange, purple, and ocean-blue scales. “I’ve met with several bride candidates as of late. Not by my choice. My father says if I don’t make a decision soon, he will make it for me.”
“That sucks,” I said. “I can’t imagine what that’s like. Being forced to marry a stranger. Having my future planned out for me. I’m sorry. You should be allowed to be with who you want.”
Prince Sawyer looked at me then, surprise flashing in his green eyes. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”
Crap. Had I just fucked up? Spoken out of turn?
“Sorry if I offended you. I—”
“No offense taken at all,” Sawyer interjected, his voice gentle. Just like his eyes. “Everyone else holds certain expectations for me. There’s no sympathy or understanding of what it’s truly like to be a royal. Poor, pitiful prince forced to marry a beautiful princess or noblewoman. How tragic.” He shook his head. “But not you. You see me as an ordinary person. It’s… nice. I see why my Kuya favors you, Evan.” He gently rubbed the cat boy’s back, causing purrs to vibrate in Kuya’s chest. “He’s always been a great judge of character.”
HisKuya.
How deeply did the prince care for the demi-human? Was that why he’d looked so tormented when mentioning all the potential brides lined up for him? Because his heart already belonged to someone.
“Come with Kuya.” The cat boy grabbed my hand and, still holding Prince Sawyer with his other, dragged us over to a weeping willow, the long, thin branches grazing the grass below. Kuya released us and bounded toward it. He touched a strand of the silver-tinged leaves and smiled. “Pretty tree. Will you allow Kuya to nap under your branches?” He rubbed the leaves against his cheek before dashing under the tree and curling up beside the trunk.
Sawyer watched him, his expression hovering somewhere between affectionate and pained.
“He’s sweet,” I said.
“Yes, he is.” Sawyer stared at him for several more seconds before looking at me. “Are you hungry? I can have tea and snacks prepared for us.”
“Snacks,” Kuya whispered as his fuzzy ears twitched. “Crab… cakes.” His eyelids grew heavy, and he closed them before snuggling more into the grass. Soft snores left him moments later.
The prince turned to one of the castle staff nearby—did they follow him around everywhere he went?—and asked them to bring refreshments. He didn’t demand it. He even said “please.” He wasn’t at all how I’d expected a prince to behave.
“Let’s let him sleep for a bit.” Sawyer motioned to a stone bench beside a trickling fountain. Plushy pillows decorated each side and added a nice cushion as we sat down. “Are you enjoying your stay in Bremloc?”
“Yeah. I am.” A lot more than I initially expected. “I visited the market yesterday. That was fun.”
“I rarely get the chance to go to the market.” Sawyer’s green eyes had brown flecks near his pupils, like grass sprouting from rich soil. “Well, unless I’m accompanied by guards. Yet, even then, I still feel so… trapped. Even when I leave these castle walls, I’m still a prisoner within them.”
“Being a prince doesn’t seem as awesome as people think,” I said.
“There are aspects I enjoy, but sometimes I wish for total freedom from my responsibilities. Even if it’s only for a single day.” He shook his head, as if finding the notion silly. “Ignore me. You must think me pathetic.”
