23 Marry me

Alexander took Francis to the bed and in one swift movement, he pushed him onto the bed. Francis was conflicted at that moment, he felt the need to push him away and a part of him was anticipating what was about to happen. He laid on the bed waiting and watching Alexander's movements very carefully.

Alexander took his vest off and got onto the bed hovering over Francis. He didn't say anything and just took in the male's beauty as he stared back at him. He didn't want to do anything that would upset Francis in fear of a repetition of what happened the other night. He needed the male to love him not kill him.

He laid down next to Francis still gazing at him. Francis felt conscious under his intense glare and shifted on the bed turning his back to Alexander. Alexander kept his hand on Francis' waist and pulled him close to him, he laid his head on Francis' shoulder and closed his eyes to nap.

Francis waited for him to make any movement at all but nothing happened. He realized that the prince was sleeping and using him as a pillow. He was a little disappointed that nothing happened but also relieved at the same. He closed his to relax and fell asleep soon.

"He is asleep," Alexander said to the empty room. Nayla came out from the shadows and walked over to the bed.

"You did well, I have to say I didn't think you would handle the matter in such a calm manner," she said taking a seat next to him.

"What do we do now?" he asked staring at Francis' sleeping face.

"The only way to calm his soul is to show it that you mean Francis no harm. You have to make Francis feel comfortable around you. He must not fear you," she explained. "Even though his soul is not inside his body anymore it is still very dangerous. You and Francis need to be the same for it to stop trying to kill you," she added.

"Okay, that all is fine but what did you mean by what you said earlier. Whose words were Francis uttering earlier if not his?" he asked the question that had troubled him.

"The words belonged to the queen, your mother," she said. Alexander stared at her confused at what she was going on about and shy she dared accuse his mother so easily with no fear. Even he who was a dragon dared no to point fingers at her for fear of the consequences of it.

"Don't think that being a witch is a reason to be bold and accuse my mother so easily. She is a dangerous woman and she won't share you if she hears a word of what you just said," he warmed her.

"It is the truth, she is the one instigating him to stand against Olivia. But don't worry and don't stop her," she said casting a protection spell on Francis to keep him from evil influence.

"And why should I not stop it when she is causing chaos in my palace," he said hoping Nayla had a good reason to stop him from confronting his mother. Because doing that was suicidal and he didn't want to die.

"All that she is doing is beneficial to you. She is pushing Francis close to you to create distance between you and princess Olivia. Hence making it easier for you to win Francis' heart in the process. Just play your cards right," she said sealing the barrier.

She moved away from Francis and went over to Alexander and placed her hand on his chest and cast a spell to calm Francis' soul to sleep.

"You have a point," he said thinking over the matter and understanding what Nayla meant.

He had to admit the witch was smart but she was close to a thousand years old so he figured her wisdom must come with her age.

She finished with the spell and up to leave but the prince stopped her from leaving.

"All those years you've lived must have been lonely, how do you survive all alone?" he asked her.

"That is none of your business," she replied.

"Surely there must have been someone or many you had taken a liking to and it must have hurt to part with them always," he said hitting her where it hurts the most with his words.

Indeed there was one man that she has always loved and it hurt every time she had to watch him die and get reborn over and over again. She had to watch him grow and love another until he recalled his memories as the chosen one and he would go to her but it did not love him. Only she loved him, he only used her as a vessel to release his urges. She had longed for her Lord to love her but she never got lucky to receive love from him.

It hurt her to be reminded of that by the prince and she tried not to let it show but she couldn't hold her tears back. Her tears flowed down from her eyes as the realization hit her that once again she will be forced to watch her love in someone else's arms. She will have to see him fall in love with the works but never with her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you with my words," the prince said apologetically. "Please don't cry," he added wiping her tears away.

"It's okay. Wiping my tears away won't change the fact that I will always be unfortunate when it comes to matters of the heart," she said to him and got up from the bed to return to the shadows.

Alexander got hold of her hand and stopped her from leaving. "How long does a dragon have to live?" he asked her. She turned around to face him.

"I am not sure but I do know that it is very long. Can't tell how many centuries but they are long," she said in a hurt voice.

"And how long do you have to live?"

" Very long I'm afraid until my lord dies permanently I will always be here," she said.

"Then marry me," he proposed shocking Nayla out of her wits. She looked at him as though she was staring at a mad man hoping she heard him wrong. "Look, like you said I probably have a long time to live just like you. Everyone in my life may die and leave me alone. But if you and I are together then neither you nor I will be lonely in this long life of ours," he explained.