Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story

Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and can a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?

Chapter 19: Marks and Clues

Sofia

"Wassailia and the holidays passed so fast, huh?" Amber said to Sofia in the relaxing silence.

The two of them were contentedly sitting in the royal family room, letting the burning fireplace warm the entire room. Sofia sat on the royal antique couch with a leather bound book while Amber was sipping a cup of tea beside her with a sketchbook and pencil in her lap. Sir Edwards was in a separate loveseat posing for Amber's sketch, never too far from his princess.

"Yeah," Sofia nodded as she stared out into the window, watching how the late morning sunlight reflected on the thin coating of snow on the nearby trees. There were clouds rolling in, so she knew that it was going to snow again soon. "I can't believe that it's already a new year."

So far, since the debacle of the Halloween ball, about three months has passed in peace – well in somewhat peace.

James is still upset that Hugo has not left the castle and Hugo is still upset that Sofia refuses to leave the castle.

Every day, Sofia and Amber would both watch tiredly as they continue to glare and provoke one another. It's honestly like watching two stubborn male deer fight with one another, ramming into each other with their overgrown antlers. All they do is make snide comments and sneering glares at each other all day. Sometimes, one of them would say something aloud and everything would just escalate into one massive argument. Luckily for her and Amber, it would hardly ever result into an actual fight that involved fists now, but it was still tiring to hear their loud shouts at each other.

"I know," Edward said in his usual low and calm tone as he stood up to place another block of wood into the fire. "Time sure flies…."

"I said not to move, Edward," Amber complained. "Anyway, time flies around here because our last few months have been filled nothing but pure chaos because of James and Hugo." Sofia wanted to laugh at how dryly she said it all. "Honestly, they need to cool it."

Edward just walked back with a sympathetic smile and patted Amber's knee as he sat down onto the loveseat. Sofia couldn't help a small chuckle at how Amber just blushed at him and buried her nose into her sketchbook.

Amazingly, despite the chaos that James and Hugo creates every day, Edward has managed to just stay quietly by Amber's side and keep watch over her for Sofia's sake. Though, Sofia knew that he would have done so without her even having to ask. She has seen the adoration and loyalty in his eyes whenever he looks at Amber, and she was secretly hoping that their time alone could spark into something more. Sofia is grateful for Edward's help in keeping Amber occupied and safe while Sofia has been too busy trying to find out more about the source of The Evil and keeping James and Hugo away from each other.

And to be honest, the second one was a lot harder than it looks.

"I can't agree with you more, Amber," Sofia said. "But thankfully, James is locked in the library today. I made sure that the guards won't let him out until he's finished all of his paperwork. I don't know where Hugo is though, probably off somewhere in the castle."

Hoping that it was going to be a carefree and peaceful day without any arguing, Sofia allowed her hair to be free of any pinning and braiding, and simply letting it flow in its natural curls. She also liked that her loose hair matched well with her casual dark green winter dress. With its long, thick sleeves that were laced with rich purple satin, she enjoyed how warm and liberating her dress felt with her relaxed hair.

"Oh thank the stars!" her sister exaggeratedly sighed. "That means there won't be a fight today! Those idiots won't be yelling!"

Amber was in a rather more festive winter dress; deep blue silk with layers upon layers of petticoats. She even had a matching tiara with icy gems that complimented the light blue lace on her dress. Her hair was down too but the top half was braided and stylishly pinned away from her face.

Despite Amber's dramatic sigh and loud praise to the stars, Sofia couldn't help but laugh.

Amber was right, though. Both boys have been at it nonstop since All Hallows Eve. Every day was always filled with some type of loud yelling match between them.

But what was worse than that was how they have been trying to win over her attention. While she only wants James's, Hugo has been persistent in trying to convince her to run away. He would continuously pop up out of nowhere when she was alone and ask the same question, "will you finally leave with me?" followed along with more useless drabble about why she should go with him.

Yet never far from her side, James would always find her and angrily step in between them before she could say anything. Each time, Sofia would be hoisted over his shoulder as James threw nasty glares at Hugo and just carry her on his shoulder to his private study.

The first time, Sofia remembered seeing the shocked and stunned expression on Hugo's face as James wordlessly picked her up and put her over his shoulder, then walked away. If she wasn't so stunned herself, she would have half a mind to be embarrassed and try to fight out of his arms.

The couple times after that, she did try to demand him to let her go, but he wouldn't. And it became such a routine thing - Hugo would corner her, James would show up and take her away on his shoulder – that Sofia just gave up on trying to fight him and let him carry her away.

"Amber," Sofia failed to chided in between her fit of giggles, "James and Hugo aren't idiots."

"Yes they are," she scoffed. "James needs to stop being so overprotective of you and Hugo needs to learn how to take the hint that you just aren't interested in him."

Amber has been no fan of how the two of them since they were the ones who ruined her "Welcome Back" Ball. She doesn't particularly hold James solely responsible, she actually blame them both equally. She told Sofia that if Hugo could have just waited until the next day to make his big reveal, James wouldn't have gone crazy and ruined the entire ball. Amber even blames Hugo as to why Sofia's feet, which are now perfectly healed, were badly hurt in the first place.

And since then, she has just gone to ignoring the both of them when they were not shouting loud enough for every kingdom to hear and just chat with Edward whenever Sofia was busy with James.

While she does know about Hugo's plan to take them both away from the castle, Amber actually surprised Sofia and refused to leave. She wants to stay and help Sofia finish her mission. But Sofia thinks that she just doesn't want to leave Edward behind.

"Amber," Sofia chided again. "Anyway, did Baileywick ever finish putting up all of the winter decorations? I know he was having trouble with some of the ice garlands in the entrance hallway."

While most of the holidays have all passed, it was still in the dead of winter and Amber thought it was best to add some atmosphere to the castle. She asked if it was possible to just decorate the entire castle and recreate it into a festive winter wonderland.

"Oh, he managed to fix some yesterday," Edward answered. "Each one are hung and –"

Suddenly, the sound of loud, pounding feet stopped Edward from finishing his sentence.

Oh. Crap.

The running feet were getting closer by the second. Off in the distance, all three of them could hear loud shouting.

"They don't sound so far away," Edward said.

"I knew this was too good to last," Amber said dejectedly.

"Move out of my way!" one voice shouted.

"That was James," Sofia sighed, closing and bookmarking her page. She was slightly proud that she managed to get at least five pages into her book, normally she barely got two pages in before James and Hugo would interrupt her now rare moments of peace.

"You move, you waste of space!" the other shouted.

"And that was Hugo," Edward said, moving out of his seat to stand beside Amber. Sofia smiled to herself when she saw him place a hand on Amber's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"You piece of crap! Stop shoving me," they heard James yell.

"I bet they'll get here in about five stomps," Edward asked.

"They sound farther down the hall than that," Amber looked up at him. "I say seven."

"I'm out of this one," Sofia said. She knew better than to bet with Edward, the man has been winning every bet since they started this little game last month. Each wager was harmless though; they would always bet on an extra slice of plumberry cake the royal baker kept hidden for one of them and to which she lost every time.

They sat quietly, listening each stomp and pounding feet.

One, Sofia mentally counted. She heard a yell from James.

Two. Another angry and loud shout from Hugo.

Three. James cursed back at him.

Four. Hugo used even fancier sounding words to scream back at James.

Five. The door banged open.

Edward won, Sofia thought. Ha, Amber owes him an extra slice of cake.

"Sofia!" both men yelled as they tried to push their fairly large frames through the doorway at the same time. James and Hugo shoved at one another with their shoulders, looking like two immature boys trying to be the first ones to get into the room.

"Out of my way!" James loudly hissed at Hugo.

"Like hell!" Hugo spat back.

Sofia rolled her eyes and grew irritated at the spectacle. Every day she would hear this and every day they would be loud fighting and every day she would have a tiring headache from it all.

With one hard shove, James managed to push Hugo back out into the hallway. Then he ran in and locked the door behind him.

"James," Sofia sighed. "What is the meaning of all this? Aren't you supposed to be in the library finishing up all of your paperwork?"

"I was and I did," James answered, turning around to face the three of them.

"Okay, then why are you two fighting?" Amber rolled her eyes at him. "Again."

"We were racing," James lied with an eye roll of his own. "Sofia, let's go."

Then a loud bang rumbled the door, followed by several more repeated poundings. Sofia was sure that it was Hugo's hands hitting on the door with full force.

"James!" Hugo roared from behind the door. "Open this door! I need to talk to Sofia!"

"Seriously…." She made her way towards the door to open it up for Hugo just to make the loud noise stop. When the door was open for him, Hugo dashed in as James ran over and blocked Sofia from Hugo. "Honestly, this has to stop between you two."

"It'll stop, Sofia, if you two would just agree to leave with me," Hugo said as softly as he could while still glaring at James.

"Hugo," Amber exasperatedly sighed as she and Edward both pulled Sofia away from James and Hugo, "we already told you that we're not going to leave. And if what you're going to say to Sofia is the same crap as always, then just save your breath and stop."

"Amber," Sofia warned.

Sofia always respected and admired Amber's blunt and matter-of-fact attitude, she always wanted to be able to just speak her mind and not feel guilty about her own feelings. But at times like this when she needs to be careful of what she says, Sofia doesn't. She wishes that Amber would know when to be considerate of other people's feelings

"What? I'm being honest here," Amber said. "Don't tell me that you're not tired of hearing this every day."

"I am," Sofia whispered to her. "But I would have said it nicer."

"Sofia, please, just hear me out," he begged.

She hated it when he would use that tone of voice on her, the one where he sounded so sincere and hurt. It always made her feel so guilty and like a complete jerk about not accepting his offer to run away. She knows that he's coming from a good place in his heart, but he has to understand that she won't leave.

Every day, it's the same endless cycle of persuading and refusing. Why can't he just accept that I won't leave with him?

"I'm sorry, Hugo," Sofia sympathetically said. "But it's just like Amber said. And unless it's something new, I won't listen because I've already been hearing this for the last three months now."

"Sofia…" he tried. "Plea –"

She held up her hand and stopped him short. "You won't change my mind. And speaking for Amber, I don't think you can't change hers either."

"Ha!" James taunted, which earned him a venomous glare from Hugo. "You heard her."

"Don't think you're in the clear, James," Sofia turned and scolded him. "You and Hugo are both in trouble here."

"Wait, what?" James looked at her incredulously.

"I asked you to be nice and try to get along with Hugo," she frowned up at him with her hands on her hips, "but for the last three months, all I've seen and heard are you two just fighting."

"Wait, no," James said defensively. "This isn't entirely my fault here."

"I didn't say it was, but you are the one who starts the fights by provoking him each time you see each other."

"Ha!" Hugo taunted back, sneering at him. "You heard her."

"Shut up," James growled at him.

"You shut up," Hugo spat back.

"No, you two shut up," Amber frowned at them. "All Sofia is asking is for you two idiots to try and not want to kill each other. Is that so hard to do?"

"Yeah," they both answered angrily.

"Fine, if it's so hard to do," Sofia said with an irritated glare at the two of them. "Then, don't come around me until you two learn to play nicely."

I am tired of this! I can never get any peace around here if they just keep fighting every day! Sofia raged in her head. Without another word, Sofia stormed out of the family room and down the hall. I have more important matters to deal with, so they can sit in a room and fix this all out for themselves.

If they can't, then I'll just let Amber deal with them. I mean, she can be tougher than me and she has a fiercer tongue than I do. So maybe she can scare them straight.

The stars know that so far, I can't seem to scare them into being nice or at least civil with one another.

Maybe… I just wasn't as scary or tough as I should be. I know I can be too soft, especially with James…. Sofia thought, stopping where she stood and looked out of the hallway's floor to ceiling window. She watched as snow began to fall, coating the garden with a fresh blanket of icy whiteness. I think I need to be tougher with both of them, not just James. They need to understand where I stand when it comes to them and their fighting.

Hugo needs to understand that I can't focus on just him and his proposal to run away. I need him here as a friend and bodyguard, not as some suitor here to win my heart. And if he wants to stay, he needs to be nice with James.

James, too. He needs to know that Hugo is a friend and he needs to be nice with him – at least for my sake because Amber and I seriously can't take any more of this fighting.

Outwardly sighing, Sofia ran a hand through her loose hair and resumed to aimlessly walk again. She doesn't know how many corners she's turned or how far she was from the family room now, so long as she was as far from the fighting as possible. Normally she would be outside in the garden to cool her head, but she doesn't want to get stuck outside while it just started to snow again.

Might as well just head to the library and return the book I borrowed. Sofia looked down at her hands and saw that they were both empty. She realized that she left her book back in the family room when she stormed out. Crap, I can't go back in there. It'd be too embarrassing.

Know what? Whatever, I'll just hide in the library until –

Then a sudden hard force smashed into her from behind. It pushed her forward and grabbed hold of her.

What the hell?

Her loose and free hair went flying everywhere, darkening her vision. It was like someone body slammed into her from behind. Then she just felt her body being spun around for a few seconds before feeling her feet leave the ground.

Sofia was too shocked to even register what was going on, all she knew was the she felt something run into her and snaked itself around her while holding her up.

"You know, you're a lot lighter than you look?" a familiar voice said behind her veil of brunette hair. Now she regrets ever thinking of leaving her hair loose and unpinned.

After her moment of shock and surprise, her body and mind finally began to register the familiar hands around her waist that was holding her airborne.

James.

"I thought I said to leave me alone of you can't be civil with Hugo, James?" Sofia said, brushing her hair away from her eyes. In the back of her mind, she was amazed that he was strong enough to continue holding her up in the air for this long.

When her hair was finally out of her face, Sofia glared down at the man that was keeping her up in the air. She saw that he had his hands firmly on her waist and was holding her up at arm's length in the air, smiling up at her with a cocky grin. She could tell from the lightness of his green eyes that he thinks he could somehow persuade the anger out of her.

"No can do," he said arrogantly. "It's time to have our usual afternoon tea together."

"No." She crossed her arms and stared down at him, telling him how serious she was being despite being held like a child. "Put me down, James."

"Nope."

And without another word, he put her over his shoulder and began to walk towards his private study room.

"James!" Sofia began to kick her legs and hit his back with her arms, trying to get out of his grip. "Put me down right now! You can't keep hoisting me over your shoulder like I'm some bag of flour!"

One of her knees managed to kick him hard enough in the chest that he grunted painfully and had to stop for a minute.

Half of her mind was happy that she might have a chance of getting out of his grip, but the other was not so and went more along the lines of, oh shit, how hard did I kicked him?

Then she heard him cough and resumed back to walking towards his study.

Dammit.

Sofia went back to kicking and punching but his hands wrapped around her legs and held them down, tightly together. All she had left were her thin, scrawny arms and they weren't even long enough to reach down and hit the top of his bottom. In this position, she was just too short and he had the advantage of being taller.

She just continued to hit his back and pull on his neatly tucked shirt until her arms were tired and she couldn't hit him or pull on his shirt anymore. So, she just pouted and lay limply on his shoulder until they reached his study.

And even when they were finally in his study, he didn't put her down until he locked the door behind him.

When she was finally down, she didn't say a word. Sofia just continued to cross her arms and glare up at him with as much anger and ferocity as she could muster.

"Did I ever tell you that you're eyes are really intimidating when you're mad?" James began, obviously trying to lighten both the atmosphere and her mood.

Sofia only responded with a raised brow. She was just too angry to even say anything to him and wanted him sweat to it out in front of her.

James rubbed the back of his head when she just continued to stare at him.

"Okay, I know that you're mad… but I don't like him. I just don't. I can't help that every time I see him, I just want to punch his face. And since I can't do that, my only resort is to just shout and yell at him…." His voice just died off as he looked at her. It was as if he was hearing his own words and realized just what he was saying. "This isn't coming out right, but you know what I'm trying to say, Sofia. I just don't like him here; he's trying to steal you."

She remained quiet and just looked at him as emotionlessly as possible.

"Sofia, say something." Sofia could see him inching towards her little by little.

"All I asked is for you to be polite and civil with him for my sake." She saw his shoulders relax when she finally did answer back; there was a small, relieved smile when she spoke. "Can't you do that? And, why do you still think that he can steal me? I'm yours and you're mine, there's nothing for him to steal."

"… I know, but I just see his determination to take you away and that insecure part of my mind thinks that he can."

"What about being nice to him? For my sake? I asked you to do me a favor and just be nice, did you just throw that out of the window or something?"

"No, but it's hard for me to be nice to the guy who wants you to leave me."

"But I'm not going to leave you, James! Just get that through your head already!" Sofia was irritated and tired of him always thinking that she might leave him. What does she have to prove to him until he finally believes that she won't?

"I know!" She heard the frustration in his voice. "But I can't help it!"

"Then, what do I have to do? Kiss the insecurity is out of you?"

And the moment those words leave her mouth, Sofia regretted ever saying them because of how fast James's frustration change into surprised excitement. She watched with annoyed dread as his smile grew haughty and cheeky, like he won her over or something.

"Is that an option I can take up?" he smugly smiled at her as he tried to close the distance between them, making her back up until she bumped into his desk by the floor-to-ceiling windows. She saw that the velvet curtains were slightly closed and the fire was already burning. The tray of tea was already set down on the coffee table.

His hand reached out and tried to touch her cheek until she smacked away, thankful that she still had some wit in her to remain strong against him. "Stop it, James. We're not done here."

"If I promise you that I won't be mean to him and not to start any more fights, can we just start kissing like usual?"

"No." She was glad that her voice didn't waver even though inside all she wanted to do was kiss him.

But hearing those words, "like usual," she couldn't help but blush when she thought over the times when they were in here.

After he would carry her into the room over his shoulder, he would always immediately take her into his arms and begin to kiss the lights out of her. And he would never let her get a few words in because of how urgently and hungrily he would claim her lips. Sofia knew that he would only do this just to keep her from yelling at him.

But Sofia knew the best ways to make him apologize for roughly carrying her over his shoulder and the absolute worst way to make him really sorry for starting a fight. She enjoyed watching him squirm under her hands.

Almost every day was like that: he would carry her in and try to make her not yell at him by kissing her senseless, but she would always get to him simply by whatever position they were in. While their little sessions were never routine, she would always manage to tease him to the point of madness in some way or form.

And while they never went too far, they did a lot more than what Amber and the others believed they did in here. Sofia knows that they think she and James just bonded through talking and whatever, but she and James bonded with talking and kissing.

And they kiss and kiss a lot.

Most of the time, they would just kiss on the couch. Other times, when they couldn't make it to the couch, they would end up tangled and kissing on the floor. Sometimes it's behind the couch or on the rug near the fireplace. On rare occasions, when things would get too heated, she would end up on the desk with her legs around James's hips.

And they would always find one of James's clothes – mostly his shirt – off on the floor somewhere because Sofia's hands could never keep still.

But the same goes for James's hands too. He could always pull on her dress until her shoulders and a little too much of her chest was open for his lips. Or he would drag her skirt up and run his hands up and down her long legs, especially her thighs.

"Aww…." He tried to do his best sad pouting face, quivering his lips as if that would give him the "okay" to start kissing her. "Come on, I thought you like it when I hold you and kiss you when we're alone."

"Yeah, only when I'm in a good mood," Sofia pointed out. "And right now, I'm not in a good mood."

"But I said that I would promise to not –"

"No, I need you to promise to try to be nice to him and actually do it."

James was now right in front of her. Both of his hands were down on his desk and trapping her between them. "And what about Hugo? Are you going to make him to try and be nice to me?"

Sofia kept her hands crossed over her chest, trying to restrain them from reaching out and touching him. She knew that if she did touch him, the day would end up with her under or on top of him and never being able to make her point clear to him because the inevitable kiss would obliterate her working brain.

"You're the one who always start the fights, James," Sofia dryly said. "He doesn't."

"Fine," James huffed. "I promise to try and be nice to him. And I'll actually do it. I won't like it but I'll do it for you."

"Good," Sofia smiled at him. "Remember you promised me."

"Yeah I know," James rolled his eyes at her. But she saw a smile on his lips, knowing that he was happy that she was finally smiling up at him. "Can we kiss now?"

"Fi –"

She never got to finish her word as his lips crashed down onto hers the moment the first syllable was uttered from her mouth.

And his lips devoured her hungrily, like he was starved all day.

Technically it was true.

She and Baileywick had locked him in the library first thing after breakfast to finish up all of the paperwork he had pushed back for two days. Which was kind of Sofia's fault; he only pushed it back because all he wanted to do was just stay in here with her. And she kind of encouraged it because of her addiction to his lips.

Her addiction for him was bad. She could never get enough of his lips, and each time he pulled away, she would only want more. Her need and thirst for his lips, his closeness, and his skin only grew by the day. Her hands would itch just to feel him, her lips would grow chapped for more of him, and her skin could only handle his touches.

Her addiction was growing too much. And she hoped that it would never break.

As their kissing grew in passion, she began to want to see and taste his skin. Her body physically ached by not being able to touch him. She wanted more than just his neck or jaw; she wanted his entire chest and maybe something more….

Since the night of her Welcome Back Ball and the night her new found boldness emerged, Sofia has grown accustomed to just letting it take over whenever she and James began to grow too… lively in their kissing.

Sofia's arms went up and began to roughly undo his cravat, pulling on it until it was free from his neck. She threw it somewhere, ignoring where it could have landed. And not soon after that, his vest was off too.

She was amazed that she did this all without having to look. Her lips were still locked onto his and her eyes were still blissfully closed, but she managed to rip his cravat and vest off of him without looking.

"You're getting pretty skilled at this, Sofia," James joked when he broke for air.

"Shut up, James," Sofia breathlessly said.

While one of her hands was busy trying to unbutton his shirt, the other went around his neck and pulled him back down to her. She felt him smile against her lips, happily reuniting their lips back into a passionate dance. He ran his tongue over her lips, patiently asking for entrance and she eagerly welcomed him in. Their little tussle in the mouth soon began to occupy her mind and her fingers started to forget to fully open his shirt.

James then grabs both of her hands and wraps them around his neck before running his own down to her bottom. She felt his hands lightly squeeze them before lifting her up and placing her onto his desk, and enthusiastically stand between her legs. Then she felt her skirt moving up her legs and the cold winter air brush around her now exposed thighs.

Out of her need for warmth – his warmth to be exact – she instinctively wrapped them around his hips. His hands started to roam, exploring her thighs and warming them. With her legs, she pulled him in closer, feeling like they could never get close enough.

Her lips started to make their way to his jaw, enjoying how rough his stubble was against her lips while her fingers remembered their little mission of undoing his shirt.

"You didn't shave today," Sofia said when her lips were behind his ears.

His big hands now ran up her arms and started to pull down the top of her dress until they were down by her elbows, the farthest down they've ever been. A part of her didn't care that her half of her top was only covered in a chemise and corset; she actually liked it because now she would be even with James the moment her fingers would get his shirt unbuttoned.

"No," he gasped when she finally got the last button undone and her hands started to feel up and down his chest. "I forgot to this morning and was going to do it after breakfast but you locked me in the library doing damn paperwork."

"Stop complaining." It was her turn to gasp now when he started to kiss her neck. And shoulders. And collarbones. "At least you finished them. Now, don't start pushing them off again if you don't want a repeat of today."

"Do you mean 'this-moment today' or 'this-morning today'?" James teased on her neck. "Because I would gladly do it again if I get a repeat of this moment."

Despite herself, Sofia pressed further into him as her fingernails dug into his sides. "I meant a repeat of 'getting-locked-in-the-library-to-finish-all-of-your-work today'."

"Doesn't matter anyway, I finished all of today's and tomorrow's paperwork," he said in between his kisses on her skin as he shrugged off his shirt and aimlessly threw it where his vest and cravat might be.

"Good, just keep it up and you won't ever be locked in the library again."

Sofia tried to wrap her arms around his neck but with her dress so low at her elbows, it restricted her arm's movements. And, as if reading her mind, James unbuttoned the first five buttons on the back of her dress while still kissing her shoulders.

Freeing her arms from their sleeves, Sofia hugged them around his shoulders. But when James started to nip at her collarbones, she mindlessly ran her fingernails down his back from the bliss she felt from his lips and teeth on her body. She could tell that he liked it too when his back muscles shivered underneath her hands.

"You know," James said, straightening and looking down at her, "this living evil thing can kill me now and I'd die happily in your arms."

"Don't say that, James." Sofia frowned as she cupped his cheeks. "I don't like hearing that. You're not going to die because we're going to beat this thing and reclaim this kingdom."

"I was only joking," he laughed, lightly kissing her lips.

"Well I don't like the joke."

"Okay, okay, noted. Don't joke around about dying or about the evil thing," James said, returning his lips back down to her neck and started to kiss her skin hard. "Then, how about this?"

She let a wave of joy and desire wash over her, making her shudder under his lips. And she would have answered back with a contented "yes" if it weren't for the fact that she realized how hard he was kissing on the same spot on her neck.

"James, wait," she said breathlessly, pushing at him.

"What?" he asked, bewildered. "You don't like that?"

"No, I do. It's just that you can't leave a kiss mark on me because my dress can't cover it."

"Your long hair can," he smiled as leaned down to recapture her lips again, but she managed to stop him with her hands.

"I just don't want to take any risks of people seeing it," Sofia sternly said, but it was hard to do when he started to kiss the palm of her right hand. "So, you can kiss but you can't leave marks. Okay?"

"Okay," he sighed but then he smiled and it started to grow mischievous. "But you can leave them on me."

Wait, what?

Sofia stared wide-eyed at him, blushing. She's never left a kiss mark on him before.

But suddenly, it was as if his permission to leave one on him made her want to give him one. It was a physical way for her to claim him where no one else can.

Over his heart.

And while she knew that he was only joking, there was serious light in his eyes as if he really did wanted her to leave one on him.

So, before she lost her nerve, Sofia held her arms tightly around him to steady and hold him still. She leaned in and started to lightly kiss over his heart. Then she started to kiss harder, over and over again, ensuring that the very spot where her lips touched him started to bruise and grow redder than her lips. Being so close to him, she could hear his heart beating faster and faster beneath her lips.

After several seconds of just marking him, Sofia leaned away and saw how hard and red it looked.

She was satisfied and proud that there was a physical mark on him now, making him hers. And it was where no one could see it. She reached out and touched the kiss mark, enjoying how it glowed red above his heart.

"This makes you officially mine, James," Sofia said possessively.

James stroked her cheek, and Sofia shivers as his fingers started to run lower until they were above her corset.

"My turn then," James huskily said.

He reached behind her and started to release every one of her dress's buttons, and pulled it away. Her dress was now hanging around her waist as more of her began to be undressed by him. He lightly brushed away her chemise as he pulled at the middle of her corset until only the center of her chest was exposed.

"James, what are you doing?" Sofia's voice hitched when she had to hold up the sweetheart neckline of her corset so her entire bust wasn't fully uncovered.

"You said you didn't want anyone to see my kiss marks, right? Well, I'm going to leave one where only I can see it."

He pulled a little more on the middle of her corset before finally pressing his lips just below the center of her bust. He immediately kissed hard, searing her skin with his lips. The longer he kissed her, the more she felt the blood rush towards where his lips lay on her skin.

It was an exhilarating feeling to be the one to give the kiss mark, but to receive it was another thing. It was a mix of desire and need and plain passion as she felt delight run up and down her body. Her heart and breath were now matching in speed, it was like her body couldn't get enough blood running and her lungs couldn't get enough air circulating.

He had one hand firmly on her back to hold her in place while another was hooked onto the middle of her corset, keeping it down until he was done leaving his mark. And when he finally pulled away, the kiss mark started to throb in rhythm with her heart.

"There," he said, never tearing his eyes away from where her kiss mark laid. "Now you're officially mine too."

She didn't know what to say when his eyes finally looked into hers. She was speechless and all she could do was laugh before kissing him with a newly found need.

And they continued like that before she had to stop it as things were getting too carried away again. Once dressed properly, Sofia and James spent the rest of the day and well into the evening just together in his study, talking and laughing with each other with little kisses in between.

They lay together on the couch, simply holding and listening to each other as the evening went on before they had to leave for dinner. There was some small whining and protests from James when Sofia tried to get him to leave for supper. He wanted to remain as they were and go back to kissing, but Sofia managed to convince him to leave with small pecks on his lips.

Dinner was the same as usual, quiet and uneventful. Amber and James refused to talk as Sofia tried to moderate the entire conversation. The only surprise at dinner was that Amber invited Edward to dine with them. Sofia continued to steal glances at them, liking how Amber's cheeks were a subtle shade of pink as she continued to talk to only Edward. Edward's cheeks were even a matching shade to Amber's.

They'd make a perfect couple together, Sofia inwardly gushed all night.

And after dinner, Sofia remembered that she left her book in the family room when she was halfway towards her room. Making her way there alone, Sofia quickly grabbed her book and was just about to leave when she spotted a mysterious black, leather-bound book beside her own. She didn't remember it being there when she left. It was the same size and thickness to her book, but the only difference was that it had no title or indication of what it might be….

When she was about to open it, a voice surprised her and made her jump, nearly dropping the book.

"Sofia," said the voice behind her.

With her heart still pounding, she turned around and found Hugo standing in the door way with sad eyes casted down.

"Hugo," she replied. She didn't like him looking so depressed in front of her, it just made her feel even more guilty and worse about her rejection to him. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to say I was sorry. I know that you really want me and James to get along, and I wasn't respecting your wish by being a complete jackass to him. So… I'm sorry. And I promise to try and not be one, for your sake." He looked at her, his cheeks blushing while his entire expression was full of shame and hope. It was like he was ashamed of his behavior but was hoping that she would forgive him.

She was taken aback by the suddenness of his apology; she honestly didn't expect this. But Sofia was touched by it and sincerely smiled at him. "Thank you, Hugo. That means a lot."

"And," he continued. "I know that I kept bugging you about leaving, so I'm sorry about that too. James is your brother, so I can understand why you don't want to leave him. You have this hope of saving him, and I respect that. So, I'm not saying that I'm going to stop, but I promise to take it down a notch and try to help you with your mission first."

With each word he said, he took a step towards her until he was so close that she could feel his body heat. There was a moment of silence between them, as he tried to close the space between them with a few more steps.

"Sofia…" Hugo said. His voice was so tender and loving, but it didn't make her heart beat like it would if James said her name like that. He looked down at her and gently smiled, and she could tell by the way he was looking at her that he wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her. She saw his hands twitch like he wanted to touch her.

His eyes were so soft and kind as they stared into her own, but she felt no spark or rush of excitement when she looked into them. There were no feelings of happiness or desire between her and Hugo like there would be if it were her and James.

And alarmed by his close proximity, Sofia took a few steps back just as he was about to reach out and touch her hand. Her kiss mark throbbed underneath her dress, as if warning her about Hugo's attempts.

She saw the hurt and disappointment in his expression when she stepped away from him, and her heart panged with guilt when she knew that she caused it.

"What happened?" he whispered. He looked down at his empty hands like it was wounded. "You would never step away from me before; you even let me hold you when you cried. But now, it's like you're afraid of me touching you."

"That was when you were 'Cyrus'," she said, her voice low, "when I didn't know you were lying to me."

"I didn't do it to hurt you, though!" he tried, desperation high in his voice.

"I know, I know," Sofia said smoothly, trying to calm him down. "It's just things are different now."

"How different?" he asked. "Sofia, we used to be so close. And I don't mean as 'Cyrus' and Sofia, but as 'Hugo' and Sofia. I want us to be close again. What can I do to get us back there?"

"I don't know…."

I don't think we can go back to being friends…. Things are so different now. I have too much on my plate and I don't need another thing like this added onto it.

Maybe it would have been best if he just returned back to his kingdom….

"Just give me an idea and I'll start from there." Sofia could see how determined he was to get close with her again. "If I can get us back to being close friends again, then maybe I can get you to love me like I lov – "

"Hugo, I already said I can't love you like that."

"Sofia, please. I know there is a part of you that can love me."

This was going to be an endless cycle, Sofia could already tell. He was stubborn and relentless in trying to make amends between her and him.

But if she does go back to being good friends with him, then maybe he could see that they were only meant to be friends. And nothing more.

"Fine, ju-just prove to me that you're really sorry," Sofia tried to rack her brain for ideas. "Be honest with me and always tell me the truth.… I don't know… start with James. Just be nice to him. No more fights…. That's all I can think of, Hugo."

"No, no," Hugo rushed. "That's great, it gives me enough to work with."

When he smiled at her, she couldn't help but like seeing the happiness return to his face. It lightened it and made it so much more honest and kind.

"Well…" Sofia said as she tried to make her way around him, "I guess I'll be going now."

But he grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"Wait. I have something for you." Reaching into his pocket, Hugo pulled out two small quartz crystals, one was purple and the other was green. Still holding onto her wrist, he gently placed the two gems into the palm of her hand and gently squeezed her hand before letting go. "I was running an errand for Baileywick over at Royal Prep, and the headmistresses told me to give these to you. I don't know why, though. They told me that you would know what to do with them because you would have the instructions."

Oh so that was where you were. Sofia wasn't shocked to hear that he went over to Royal Prep.

During a cave meeting several weeks after their failed ball, Baileywick told her and Amber that sometimes either Hugo or Edward would run over to the former academy to deliver news or updates for the three headmistresses. But since no one is allowed in or out of the proximity, the deliverer must leave the message in a hallowed out brick on one of the sides of the school.

Turning the gems around in her hand, Sofia tentatively picked it up and watched as the firelight danced in each one. The things were so small and fragile looking, Sofia was afraid of breaking it before she would even know what to do with them.

"Instructions?"

"Yeah. Do you know what they might mean?"

Shaking her head, Sofia continued to watch the light in the crystal.

What did they mean that I would know what to do with these? And what instructions?

"Did they give you any further detail than that?" she asked.

"No."

What could they mean? Are they trying to give me a clue to something?

"Well, it's late and there's no use to just standing around here with nothing to help us," Sofia said, closing her hand around the crystals. "I'll start the research tomorrow."

Nodding, he turned and was about to leave before abruptly stopping. He turned around to her again and quickly kissed her cheek.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance," he smiled at her. And it hurt her to know that he had a false hope of trying to win her heart.

Taking her speechlessness as something positive, he just smiled bigger and walked out of the room. Sofia watched him go, a feeling of pure dread and guilt sitting in the pit of her stomach.

Oh fates, what have I done? I gave him false hope.

What is going to happen after this is all over? Is his heart going to break? Is he going to hate me?

Or is he going to remain stubborn and believe that he can still win me even if I tell everyone that James and I are soulmates?

Ugh…. Sofia sighed as she sat down onto the couch behind her, resting her head between her hands. This just got a lot more complicated.

Opening her hands again, Sofia stared down at the two colorful gems in her hand.

And what am I going to do about these? Sofia thought as she tapped at the books in her lap. Absently looking down at her books, an epiphany stuck Sofia.

Books! This book mysteriously popped up before Hugo gave these to me! Maybe these guys are connected somehow!

Wanting to be safe and undisturbed, Sofia ran to her room and locked the doors behind her. And hopping onto her bed, Sofia began to flip through the pages after safely placing the two gems into a small white pillow in front of her.

Within the book, there was still no clear indication on what it could be about. No table of contents, no titles, not even page numbers. The book was a complete mystery except for the occasional bold words and pictures that helped show what the few chapters were about.

The only thing she could guess on was that the book could be a spell book.

Then, when she was a few chapters in, she saw a picture of the same gems Hugo gave to her.

"The Gems of Monatroe", it said. "Depending on its colors, these gems can be used in many different ways. Red gems can be used as an amplifier for any and every spell , Orange can be a healing stone against all wounds and poisons…."

What does purple and green mean then?

"Green is a protective stone for whoever wears it. Much like an amulet, it can protect its wearer and their true love against all who wishes to harm them. Purple can be molded into any weapon of its owner's if it is bonded to a powerful gem."

A weapon? Like what? And how would I be able to bond it to a powerful gem?

Hoping to find some more answers, Sofia began to flip through more of the book until a couple of bold words struck out to her.

"All curses, no matter if it is in the form of a good curse or bad curse, are rooted in magic. And the only way to break it is through three methods. One, acts of true love can break all curses. Two, the one to bestow the curse is the only one to lift it. Three, find the source and destroy it. Now, in order to find the source, one must use good magic to detect evil magic and vice versa."

Okay… so I guess my acts of true love is out of the window if that thing is still in James's head. And technically, my 'acts' is only kissing him…. So, that leaves me only method number three: use good magic to find the evil source….

How am I going to do that if every magical person is locked in Royal Pre – Ah! Royal Prep!

All I have to do is go over there and – no wait. No one can get in or out because James put a stupid magical lock on the entire school. So I can't get in without getting James to vocally approve it and breaking Cedric out of his workshop prison. And I can't bring them both along without raising suspicion on both ends.

Flipping through the pages to find a new answer, Sofia was surprised to stumble upon a picture of her amulet.

"The Amulet of Avalor, one of the most powerful gems in the entire world," the book said. "With each deed performed…."

Blah, blah, blah, Sofia's eyes quickly skimmed the words. I know this stuff already….

Then her eyes stopped when a key word popped out to her. "It has the power to nullify all magical spells, no matter how powerful."

Does that mean it can nullify the spell on Royal Prep just enough for me to get in and out? Chewing on her bottom lip, she sat there on her bed thinking if it was worth the risk of secretly flying over to Royal Prep and find out. What if it was a complete bust and she can't get in?

Then, I'll just have to find another way to find this source, Sofia firmly thought. I don't have the privilege to be picky right now, this is a clue and I'll just have to take it.

As she was about to close the book, black inky writing began to appear on the first pages of the book.

"Like all magical items chooses all of its owners and will only work for them, this book now belongs to Princess Sofia and shall only reveal its words to her until it is time for it to choose its new owner. But be warned, this book must be hidden from all prying eyes for some may want to use this book for evil."

Sofia was stunned. This magical book chose her...

"Does that mean the gems too?" Sofia asked aloud, looking down at the two gems. "If these are magical gems, do I need to keep them hidden too?"

And as if listening to her, the words were erased and new ones appeared.

"This book will protect it until Princess Sofia returns," it said as the pages sunk and created a hidden compartment within the book.

"Thank you," she said to the book as she placed the gems into it. Shutting it, she gently hugged the book to herself as she look around to find a good hiding spot. She knew her new bathroom was out of the question, it was too obvious since it was so new.

During the Wassailia holidays, James had magical carpenters install fully functional and modern bathrooms into each of the royal suites.

Right across from her bed was her new bathroom. Sofia's bathroom was a large, white and gold tiled bathroom with pink accents to match her princess suite. Large white oak doors that separated her bathroom.

She was grateful that James decided to do something nice, but it was a bit much on how large everything was in her bathroom.

On the far left side of the bathroom had large triple vanities with polished porcelain countertops that reached across the entire wall. Beneath the countertops were pure white drawers for her necessitates and a matching cushioned seat. But even with all of the extravagant luxuries inside of her bathroom, she still ended up having more extra space than she would ever need. To make it seem like she uses it, Amber had extra makeup and cosmetic supplies sprawled on top of her counter. Brushes, curlers, lipstick, powders, practically everything a princess of high taste would like, but not Sofia.

In the far left corner, there was a door that separated the toilet from the entire bathroom. On the back wall, there were two large white porcelain sinks with another set of large mirrors. More shelving and drawers for towels and other stuff was placed beside the sinks. Sofia managed to add some vases and baskets of potpourri just to fill her bathroom with nice scents and take up some more space.

But the most extravagant item in the entire bathroom was the large bathtub that could fit four people double her size. It was a large white tub that had gold "clawed foot" pedestals that was placed onto the side of the bathroom below the large windows with the thick white curtains. James made sure that her window was built curved and round so it could fit her enormous bathtub. Just on the right of her monster bathtub was a white oak folding screen with several hooks for robs or clothes.

While Sofia kept it as simple as she could, Amber made hers into an extravagant work of art. And as a result, hers was the very last to finish while Sofia's was the first.

Yeah, no, Sofia thought as she turned away and decided to just carry it along with her to Royal Prep in her brown satchel. With her, it'll be protected and safe.

Grabbing a pair of dark ridding clothes along with some warm winter layers and cloak, a new thought barged through her mind. What about James?

Shit, I can't leave him here while I go to Royal Prep. The Evil might get him…. And he might freak out if he sees me gone….

For the past two months now, James has taken it upon himself to just slip into her room late at night and just sleep in her bed with her. The first time, Sofia managed to literally kick him out without alerting anyone outside her door. But he's been doing it about three or four times a week now and she was just so sleepy when he comes in that she just gave up and let him stay.

She honestly has no willpower against him….

And the worst part is that he does it randomly with no pattern, so she could never guess when he will come into her room.

Dammit, might as well just bring him along, she thought as she looked over at her wall's clock. Just past eleven, everyone should be asleep by now. If I hurry and get him out of here within thirty minutes, I can get back here by twelve or one.

And tying her hair into a neat ponytail quickly while changing into her new clothes, an all-black assemble of riding clothes and boots over thick layers of warm thermals paired with warm winter cloak and mittens, she made her bed to look as if she was asleep under the blankest before leaving her room and quietly shutting it. Making sure that she was in the clear, she dashed over to James's room and quickly snuck in.

"James, get up," Sofia whispered loudly once she was inside.

"Sofia?" James said, emerging out of his new bathroom in nothing but his underwear.

What the hell? Sofia blushed.

Sure she's seen him shirtless – hell, she's the one who makes him go shirtless – but this was something else. He was shirtless and not wearing any pants. He was only in his freaking underwear!

His toned and perfectly defined abs and arms matched so well with his nicely muscled legs. He was so lean and muscular… he looked agile but powerful, like he was the perfect combination of robust but sharp. James looked like he could beat out a tiger in strength and speed….

Oh stars, he looks just like a freaking statue. How can someone look that good?

And her eyes couldn't help but admire how his body created the strong, subtle v and wander down to where his underwear hung on his body…. Her hands itched to just touch him and kiss his body all over again, especially where her kiss mark remained on his left chest.

A part of her had half a mind to just forget this little trip of hers and jump into his strong arms. To let him take off most of her layers until she was in nothing but her thinnest layer of clothes. She wouldn't need her thermals if she had James and all of his bare glory to warm her...

"What are you doing here?" James smiled at her, like he enjoyed the fact that it was her this time that snuck into his room. Well granted, she has only snuck into his room twice at the most. It's always been James that sneaks into her room and asks to spend the night.

Her face reddened even more when she saw his smile grow lopsided and she knew that he could see her looking at his entire body.

"What are you doing nearly naked in the dead of winter?" she said a bit too defensively.

"I spilled something on my pajamas, so I just changing into a new pair before you came in," he laughed at her while dangerously stalking towards her like some predator who was about to pounce on its prey. "Anyway, what are you doing here and why are you dressed like that?"

Oh shit, he even looks good while moving, Sofia cursed. She was mesmerized by how lean and dangerous his entire body looked while he walked to her. She had to bite down onto her lips to keep from running over there and start kissing him like mad. Dammit, I don't have time for this!

"You and I are going somewhere," Sofia said while heading to his closet to pull out some clothes for him. Feeling him following her to his closet, Sofia grabbed at the darkest riding clothes he had and threw it at him before shutting him inside by himself. "Get dressed."

"Where are we going?" he said through the door.

"I'll tell you once we're up in the air. Just get dressed as fast as you can, we need to be out of here quickly."

"It is just you and me?"

"Yes, now stop talking and get dressed."

"I'm going as fast as I can here, you gave me a lot of layers to put on."

Gosh, what is it going to take for him to hurry up? Sofia saw that his clock already said that it was eleven twenty. Sofia already knew one way to get him to do what she says, but she hated using it because it always distracted her and would only make him want more…. But she has no choice if she wanted to get out fast.

"James," she called through the door, "if you hurry up and get out of here in five minutes, I promise to kiss you as long as I can."

He didn't answer at first and she was afraid that he might have ended up asleep on the other side of the door until he finally said, "really…?"

"Yes really." Sofia couldn't help but smile while rolling her eyes at how cute he sounded. It was almost like he was a child hearing he was going to get a sweet treat for his good behavior. "I'm on a time crunch here. You only have –"

"Done," he said, emerging from his closet in a dark navy blue rider's outfit with a black winters cloak and gloves.

And without another word, his arms circled around Sofia and pulled her into a hot and passionate kiss. She couldn't stop the moan that escaped from her mouth when his lips captured hers and begged her to open her up to him. And when she did, her little sneak out plan almost went out of her mind when his tongue started to tease and play with her.

But she managed to have enough sense to pull away.

"Okay, stop," she barely managed to breathe out. "We need to go."

"One more," he begged, nipping at her bottom lip.

This is going to be a long night, Sofia sighed as she complied to him for another kiss.

Being honest with herself, she actually wanted to kiss him some more before heading out into the cold winter night.

She heard James let out an annoyed growl when she started to pull away, his arms held tight onto his waist and started to roam a little lower. She would have been a little irritated by his rather... spirited hands but she couldn't really blame him when her hands started to move his layers of clothes up just to touch his naked chest...

Dammit, Sofia! Get it together! You'll have other times to get playful with him, now is not one of them!

"Wait, just a little more," he groaned against her lips when she started to pull away a second time.

Sofia placed a firm hand on him and gently pushed him back. "If we make it out to the horses and up into the air without getting caught, then I'll kiss you some more."

"That better be a damn promise," she heard him say as she took his hand and began to lead him out into the snowy night.


Chapter nineteen! Woo!

Shoutout to Canderemy, guest user Genta, and guest user Lucy. All of your reviews just made me laugh! Thank you to everyone who reviewed for this challenge. Don't worry, there is another chance for you to be given a shoutout.

So what did you all think of this chapter? Sorry it took so long for me to release it, I got into this chapter and ended up making it super long, but I guess it's never too late for you guys to receive your holiday gift right? How did you all like the steamy moments between James and Sofa?

Challenge: leave a review about what you think might happen while they are out at night in the snow towards Royal Prep. What problems or moments might they have out there in the snow? If I like your guess, I just might put it into the next chapter and give you a shoutout. Get creative and good luck!

Read, review, etc.

Thanks :)

Ps. Happy holidays for everyone who is still celebrating! And Happy New Year!