It was wrong.

But I made sure that no one saw me.

Treading to a place without invitation, in the middle of the night, while letting your silent footsteps leave traces behind you, it was definitely wrong in some way or form. It felt like I was about to commit a crime when I only wanted to apologise for a crime that wasn't exactly my fault but at the same time, it was entirely me to blame.

It had all happened too fast. The arrow that pierced through Zyanna's back, I truly did wish it had got me instead. The letter that followed only ripped open a wound that wasn't even close to healing, and that dancer clearly wanted to bathe in the aftermath of bloodiness.

I just wasn't able to make sense of it anymore. At first, it was a simple but catastrophic chain of events that started off with the escape of a prisoned female that somehow lead to the same female kidnapping the royal messenger who was specifically assigned to investigate her whereabouts. It wasn't a coincidence and at least it made sense, as to why she would kidnap Rayson.

Zyanna didn't factor into any of it. Innocent blood was never meant to be spilt, and I had let exactly that happen.

Amongst all the chaos, I wanted to see her. I had to let her know that it was my fault, and leave her with the promise that I wouldn't let another scar find her body, especially if the reason behind that scare bore my name.

My footsteps came closer to the door that led to Zyanna's room, a guest-chamber near the healer's quarters, where the injured were allowed to rest before they were able to return back to their own normality again.

In a darkness where I could only see the fingers of my shadow wavering with hesitation, I slowly raised my hand to knock the door.

Just as my knuckles were about to graze against the door, it surprisingly opened.

"Prince Elijah?" The startled form of Zyanna stood there, a pleasant smile quickly pinning itself on her face, while she held onto the thick white bandages wrapped all the way around her stomach.

"I'm sorry, I didn't intend to wake you up, I just needed to make sure you were fine," I quickly sputtered out to Zyanna, who usually had the freedom to flutter around the woods as she pleased, was now constricted inside an area she wasn't familiar with; a severe injury being the perfect cherry to decorate the madness.

She sighed, eyeing me with an air of disapproval. "I'm definitely not surprised. You caused the bruise on my feet by slamming into me with a horse, and now a sword straight through the back. Now that I think about it, either of that could have definitely killed me, so I'm glad you controlled yourself and held back."

I sucked in a harsh breath that might have nearly clogged up my lungs with much-deserved guilt, but Zyanna only cocked her head and started to chuckle.

"Your highness, you know it wasn't your fault." Her light laughter faded as a soft smile fell upon her face, after which one of her eyebrows rose up gently. "Unless there is something you would like to confess?" She questioned, with a cheeky look of suspicion.

I smiled, still pained by how comforting her words were, even though she should have been lashing out at me. "Zyanna, it was my fault. I am so sorry, I truly didn't mean for you to get hurt. The attacker came for me, and you shouldn't have been there, getting caught in something you didn't belong to at all. I-"

My words got cut off as Zyanna stepped back, opening the door wide. "If you are going to continue to apologise for something that is not your burden to carry, then you should at least be able to make yourself comfortable," she said as walked back into her room, carefully going to sit on the edge of the bed, gesturing me inside.

I slowly stepped inside, unknowingly scratching my head as I didn't exactly know where to sit.

Zyanna immediately rolled her eyes, and patted the spot next to her on the bed.

I would have sat next to her, but I just didn't think it was too appropriate, especially when she was an injured female that might feel uncomfortable if I got too close to her when she was vulnerable.

Because of that, I shook my head and settled on the floor, crossing my legs together as I positioned myself in the path of her direct sight.

Her facial features all scrunched together at once, as she stared at me, without a single blink.

I stared back, unwilling to give in.

After a few more seconds of miserable failure on Zyanna's part, she blew out a breath mixed with a sigh, and joined me on the floor, holding onto her stomach. The bloody bandages still made me wince, tempting me to hold out my arms to help her.

"Zyanna, you don't have to-"

"Though I am wounded, it doesn't mean I'm dangerous in any way, Prince Elijah."

I chuckled at her disgruntled expression as it clearly showed her annoyance. "I could never be too careful, right?"

"I suppose so, even though sitting on the floor instead of a bed doesn't provide you with much defence against me." She pouted her lips slightly, wrapping her arms around her lower chest.

I moved my head closer, angling it in a questioning way. "A damaged female with bleeding wounds, against a healthy prince that has been trained to go to war. Should I toss a gold coin over who would win that fight?"

Her eyes held a sprinkle of mischief in them, as they scanned my frame up and down calmly. "A healthy prince that wouldn't even accept an invitation to sit next to her while she is wounded, would dare to attack her back? Wouldn't his sense of morality disable him from doing that?" The infamous smirk danced in as she spoke, never actually leaving her face at other times too.

I leaned in closer, more able to see the little spots flittered across her skin, mostly around her chin.

"You would just have to try and see, wouldn't you?"

Zyanna blinked, as her eyes travelled down to her lap, her fingers intertwining each other.

"Prince Elijah, I know matters like this need none of my attention and I would understand if you don't want to tell me, but why am I here? Why did this happen? I just want to know, because if it is something that strikes true concern, then maybe I should move into the villages? Make sure my animals get to safety?"

I quickly retracted myself from a moment of trance, not questioning the change in her quirky tone. It was definitely fair that she was confused as I was about everything, I was even slightly surprised that she wasn't as traumatised as I'd have expected a woman in this situation to be.

"Zyanna, if anything, this is something that you have the most right to know about. You have been attacked and I refuse to hide anything from you."

She smiled, but stayed quiet with a nod as I continued. "However, the truth be told, we ourselves are baffled by what has taken place as well. For now, I can only assure you that it won't happen again, not when I'm by your side. As the Prince of Yandestine, I can promise you that much."

"Of course. I don't expect anything else, even though you've already failed me twice. We'll just have to see how you fare in the future." She couldn't help but burst out in laughter, the serious atmosphere dissipating quickly.

I shook my head at her, feigning an expression of hurt. "Well, I would actually say I've failed you not once, but three times."

Zyanna looked at me curiously. "How's that?"

For some reason, I wanted her to say it before I brought it up. "Is there nothing else you remember apart from being attacked? Nothing else before that?"

I could see her lips start to twitch, trying so hard not to stretch into a smile. "Now that you mention it, I do remember you falling straight into the river and looking absolutely lovely and wet from top to bottom. I think the frogs may have gotten a tiny bit jealous, you looked much more made for the river habitat than they ever could be."

I lost control after that.

I pounced on her, holding most of myself back as she let out a sharp shriek, trying to look for ways to escape.

She almost scrambled away before I held her down, pinning her arms above her head, and holding both of them with one of my arms gently, not going near her bruised stomach, as I leaned back down to look at her face that was glaring at mine.

"Look at you, not wanting to sit next to me on a bed, but now you've basically arrested a poor, injured female. I knew you were just not as innocent as you claim to be." She uttered, clearly bothered, still trying to weave her way out of my grasp.

"I was only trying to be chivalrous. But, you Zyanna, can never seem to keep your mouth closed when it needs to be."

Zyanna stopped squirming in a subtle manner and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Is that what you really want, Elijah?"

Silence ensued, and all I could hear was her slow but careful breaths flickering around mine, testing the borders.

Words had turned into whispers without reason, and I lifted my finger to trace her cheeks, that was beautifully bare and free of any silk cloth covering it.

"Do you know what it is that I really want Zyanna? I want you to repeat your question. The question you asked me when we were closer than this in the river."

Our breaths became much slower than it was before, as Zyanna's pupils dilated, drifting into a calm stare that was clearly coming for me.

"Why do you want me to repeat it? Is someone not brave enough to ask it themselves?"

Questions were abandoned after that.

"Challenge accepted, Zyanna."

***
Hey guys.

Uh, so I understand it's been a long while so how have you guys been??? *awkwardly glances everywhere*

About this chapter, I don't think it's great as it could be, but I still want your opinion! What do you think?

I love you guys so much, and I hope you're staying as safe as possible!

Stay blessed,
OceanaCamerons 🌹🌹🌹