Part Ten Continued

A few days later—Leo paid a quick visit to the Crawford manor. He didn't stay long, and was soon walking through the garden towards the gate. As he neared it, he saw Sebastian sitting in a nearby tree.

"Coming, he's coming." Leo stopped short at those words, his eyes widening. A moment later a deep voice called to him from behind.

"Leo, are you still staying at the palace?"

"Yep—my work's been pretty busy." Leo responded without looking back, and started to walk away again. As he did so, Lord Aubin began to laugh loudly.

"Our new princess is quite unmanageable, isn't she?" Leo's shoulder shook a little at those words. At last he turned to face his uncle. "I hope you're doing your best to tame her. If she chooses you as her prince consort, I'd like our Crawford household to be a peaceful one."

"Are you trying to use me to take control of the country?"

"Do you imagine I have any other use for you and that princess of yours?" Leo's lips twisted at Lord Aubin's words. "She seems to be poking her nose into things that don't concern her—she reminds me of you when you were younger." Leo's expression went flat at those words. He raised his eyes and stared directly at Lord Aubin, his gaze hard. "But you're wiser now, and I'm sure you understand. Make sure you calm her down." Lord Aubin narrowed his eyes as he met Leo's gaze. "Aren't you glad you didn't leave here and choose some foolish path like your brother?" Leo gritted his teeth, but said nothing. As Lord Aubin turned and walked away, Leo glared at his retreating back. The whispering wind stroked his cheek as it went by.

"I will never—" Sebastian's voice whispered from up the tree. Leo looked up at him in silence for a long moment.

"Let's go Sebastian." Sebastian watched Leo as he walked away, then spoke again.

"Never forgive, never forgive them." He spread his wings and soared into the air, following after Leo.

As Leo was visiting the Crawford mansion, I was back at the palace working. I decided to step into the garden for a breath of fresh air. (What's that noise?) I could hear a faint sound of metal on metal, and I headed towards it. I soon found the knights training. (That's right. They're back from their expedition.) As I stood there absentmindedly watching them train, a voice spoke from behind me.

"What're you staring at?" I looked over my shoulder to find Alyn frowning at me.

"Ahh! Alyn!"

"Well, I suppose it's good timing. Come with me for a bit." He led me away from the noisy training grounds, and back out into the garden where it was quiet. As we walked through the garden together, I listened to what Alyn had to say. "You know everything by now, right?"

"I think so." I nodded slowly, and Alyn stopped walking.

"Can you watch over him for me?"

"Huh?" (This is Leo we're talking about, right?) Alyn turned to face me, his expression suddenly serious, and he stared down at me, as he spoke slowly.

"The night our parents were killed—I was cursing myself for not being able to protect them, and he stood by my side, calm through it all. But of course he wasn't really calm." He looked away from me, and frowned, the pain clear in his expression. "Watch over him, please. If you don't he might—" Alyn stopped speaking suddenly and pressed his lips together. He looked startled for a moment, and then he smoothed his expression into something more neutral. (What is it, Alyn?) I followed his gaze to find Leo standing behind me.

"Well now this is a rare sight. What are you two up to?"

"Nothing." Alyn looked away from Leo, and then turned to leave.

"Alyn?" Alyn looked back over his shoulder as I called his name. But he paused only briefly before continuing.

"Don't forget."

"I won't." I nodded as he walked away, and Leo tilted his head to one side. As Alyn vanished in the distance, Leo stepped closer and peered at me.

"Don't forget what?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter, huh?" Leo repeated my words, and then suddenly dropped his gaze. (Huh? He'd usually question me a lot more than that.) I looked closer at him and realized he was frowning, his expression strained. He didn't look like his usual self at all, and I felt uneasy.

"Leo, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Huh? Me? Nothing, why?" Leo widened his eyes at my words, and then gave me a sudden grin. "Although—you and Alyn are keeping a secret from me. I might be feeling a bit jealous."

"Wha—?!" I blushed at his unexpected words, and Leo laughed in amusement.

"I'm kidding." He turned and headed towards the palace with a quick wave. I watched in silence as he walked away, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't his usual self. (I know it—something's off. I just don't know what.)

My duties around the palace kept me busy for the rest of the day, but my worry about Leo lurked in the back of my mind the whole time.

That evening—there was a soft knock at my door, and I crossed the room to open it.

"Evening."

"Leo?" Leo stood in the darkness of the hallway, and something about his smile made me catch my breath. "Leo, what's wrong?"

"Nothing—I kind just wanted to see your face." I didn't know what to say to that, but I let him into my room. As I shut the door behind him, I gazed up at his face in profile. (What is it? I was right—something's off, isn't it?) I clenched my hands into fists, trying to ignore my uneasiness.

"Um—" Leo looked down at the floor as if avoiding my gaze. Then without warning he caught hold of my arms and kissed me, his lips rough and forceful. I gasped in surprise, but I closed my eyes and kissed him back. The force of the kiss pushed me backwards, and I found myself pressed up against the door. "L-Leo—"

"You don't like it?" Our lips parted just enough for him to speak, his breath warming my skin.

"It's not that—" (I like it just fine, but you're not yourself.) I closed my eyes for a moment, searching for the words I needed. He pressed his lips against mine again. His kisses were strong and warm, and I felt like I could lose myself in them completely. All of a sudden he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me into the air. "Ahh!" He laid me down on the bed, and I sat up a little, my voice hoarse as I spoke. "Leo—what happened?" Leo put one knee down on the bed next to me. Then he smiled at me, but it seemed forced.

"Nothing happened." He began to take off his shirt, and as I stared up at him, I felt myself trembling.

"You're lying." Leo pressed his lips together, but said nothing. (Your right lip has been turned up at the corner all day.) "Leo?" Leo leaned towards me, and gently took hold of my hand.

"Maya—" He pressed a gentle, wistful kiss against my fingers. I caught my breath as I stared at him. Leo held my hand tight a moment longer, and then spoke in a soft whisper. "Just for today—will you let me lie to you, just this once?" I caught my breath at Leo's husky voice.

"But—" (Why?) He met my confused gaze, and gave me a faint smile.

"Tomorrow, I'll tell you everything." He reached out and caught my cheeks in his hands.

"Leo—" Leo pressed his lips against mine, as if stealing my words away from me. His kiss was long and hard, his tongue teasing mine, and I gasped for breath as his fingers pulled at the ribbon ties of my dress. "Ohh—Leo—" I pressed a hand against his chest. (I don't know why, but I'm scared for him somehow. I feel like he's hiding something really important.) Leo caught my hand with his, and kissed my fingers gently again. Then he leaned down and kissed my neck, his teeth nibbling lightly against my skin. "Ahh!" The gentle almost-pain sent a shiver straight through me.

"Maya." The sound of his voice murmuring my name against my skin resonated through my whole body. (I can never refuse him when he whispers my name like that. Maybe it's not so bad to let him lie to me, just for tonight.) Instead of questioning him further, I reached up and slip my arms around him. He stared down at me, and then sighed softly, his expression relaxing. "Thank you." (I feel like his lie could swallow me whole.) His fingers parted the fabric of my dress and traced along my bare skin, and I let myself get lost in his caresses for the rest of the night.

When I woke up, the sun was shining brightly in the window. I sat up slowly, but Leo was nowhere to be seen in the room. I bit my lip, feeling uneasy again. (this feels different from last time.) I couldn't shake the awful premonition I'd been having since the night before, and I hurriedly climbed out of bed. As I did so, I caught sight of something unfamiliar on my dressing table.

"What's this?" I walked across the room and picked up the letter that had been left there. (This is Leo's handwriting.) My heart was suddenly racing as I stared down at the unopened letter, and my hands begin to shake. "Leo? What have you done?"

Gotta love cliffhangers! Anyway, I'll try my best to finish this thing in the next day or two, but I make no promises.