Chapter 222 - Party Crashers (2/2)

”What's so funny?” He asked in a near whisper, his twinkling eyes studying her beautiful expression.

Cam laughed again. ”I was only remembering some of our first dances together and how much shorter you were than me!” She giggled again as she moved her gaze from eye level with his chest up to his handsome face. ”It is amazing how much you have grown in such little time.”

He narrowed his eyes and a mischievous smile spread across his full lips. ”Ah too bad I can't say the same for you, Princess. Still nearly as short as the day you arrived. Such a shame...” He teased. When she scrunched her nose and moved to slap his chest, he quickly spun her. ”Tisk, tisk, still just as much of a brat as well... what shall I do with you?” He spun her back against his chest.

Cam glared at him. ”I see you've also grown into a jerk. Must be a family trait... tisk, tisk, what a shame...” She mocked as her irritated eyes met his teasing gaze.

Ales's smile widened showing his bright white teeth. ”I absolutely love your quick-witted retorts. I've missed banters with you.”

Cam frowned. ”Then why avoid me as you have lately?” Part of her regretted asking the second the words left her mouth, but the other larger part of her had to know.

Ales's smile fell. His playfully shimmering eyes grew more serious as he held her gaze. ”Because being in your presence lately has become... more problematic...”

Cam furrowed her brows. ”Problematic? How so? What happened to your promise of always being there for me, being my friend? Have... have you grown to dislike me so much?” She couldn't handle being so close to him with her emotions building as they were. She quickly pulled her hand free of his and made her way toward the wide staircase leading down into the garden, fighting the urge to cry as she ran.

Ales forced the shock of her pulling away and running to the side as he began to follow quickly behind her. He caught up to her, grabbing one gloved hand and spinning her around to face him. His wide eyes searched her expression. Tears were barely contained behind a well-placed mask or anger. He raised his free hand to stroke the sharp edge of her jaw. ”Cam, I could never dislike you. The word itself tastes foul in my mouth.” He searched her light blue eyes. ”You must know, I have avoided you lately for quite the opposite reason.” His eyes lifted from hers and searched their surroundings. He couldn't see much of the balcony above them to see if anyone else had stepped out onto it. There were a few couples walking around the garden path in front of them, but they each seemed to be too caught up in their own partner to notice he and Cam. Deciding it was still a wiser idea to move their conversation to a more private location, Ales nodded ahead. ”Walk with me through the gardens.”

Cam tented her brows in frustration. ”You can't mean to simply leave this conversation at that, do you?”

Ales took her hand as he leaned down closer to her and whispered. ”I do not, but I would also like any other sentiment to remain between the two of us.” His eyes moved to the nearest couple to make his point.

Cam bit her lip. She had been so wrapped up in the rush of adrenaline and pheromones at being so close to him that she hadn't realized they weren't alone. Had they heard? She was still staring at them and worrying herself when Ales switched hands he'd been holding hers with and placed the other onto the small of her back. Her shocked eyes moved up to his.

”We shouldn't stand out here in the open like this. Come...” He nodded and began leading her toward one of the many openings to the maze-like gardens. He navigated it skillfully until they'd reached a bench that overlooked the ocean on one of the many cliffs that surrounded the palace. He released his hold on her and watched her every move carefully as he thought out his next words.

”Hah...” She breathed out in a long sigh as she filled her lungs with the fresh salty air of the cliff. ”This is my absolute favorite spot...” She moved her eyes from the thin crescent that cast a pale reflection off the waves below back to Ales. ”You only brought me here because you know no matter what you have to say, I can't be mad in this spot.”

Ales nodded as he sent her a half-hearted smile. ”I can at least hope that it will lessen your anger, at least...” He ran his hand over his neatly styled hair as his gaze moved away from her and onto the rocky shore below. ”Cam... I've been thinking... maybe it's time I move my studies to university... away from the palace... and you...” His troubled eye met hers. They stared back at him in shocked disbelief. He took several wide steps to close in the distance between them. When he reached out to caress her cheek, she pulled angrily away from him.

”Don't touch me!” She hissed as she slapped at his hand. Sharp pain filled her chest making it even harder to breathe past the tight corset of her dress.

He moved closer as she tried to pull away again. ”Cam-” Her angry eyes moved up to him, cutting off his words.

”Why Ales? Why if you care for me at all would you leave me so abruptly after spending the better part of a year ignoring me?!” Cam called out, emotion adding a shrill undertone to her words.

Ales followed her around the other side of the bench as she tried to get away from him. He caught her hand and tugged her back to him. ”Cam,” He waited until her angry, hurt eyes met his before continuing. ”It's because I care... because I love you...” He stumbled over those three words not meaning to say them. His cheeks heated, but as the anger in her eyes melted away and a surprised, curiosity replaced it, he swallowed hard and pushed on. ”It's true... I love you, Cam.” He shook his head. ”I know I shouldn't, and you probably think horribly of me for my admittance but-” His words were cut off as Cam flung herself at him wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

”I love you, Ales.” She whispered shyly against the soft fabric of his shirt, his warm arms wrapped tightly around her. They stood like that for several long minutes unwilling to let go of the other.

Though the idea of releasing his hold on her troubled him, he finally loosened his grip. ”Cam, you must realize... this is why I must leave the palace. We can not be together, and I can not stick around to see you chained to my brother. It's too painful a thought.”

Cam's troubled eyes shot up to meet his. ”Then we should run away together! Leave this place behind and start our own clan, our own pack!”

He stroked her rosy cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. His sad eyes studying her bright ones. ”I wish it were that simple, but you know it is not. I've never wanted any of the things that come with being alpha, but right now I would take on all that burden plus a ton more if it meant being with you.”

She held his hands tightly against her own cheeks. ”Then run away with me. We could leave tonight!”

He shook his head. ”Where would we go? We are both still little more than children. All we have ever known is with packs who would never accept such a pairing. We would never be able to see our families again.”

Cam pressed up on her tiptoes as she released her hold on his hands and wrapped them around his neck. ”I don't care what I have to lose as long as I gain you.” She pressed up closer meeting his lips as they came down onto hers. Fireworks exploded through the nerves of her lips and traveled through her entire body as they shared their first kiss.

Ales pressed his forehead against hers. ”Do you mean it? Will you leave all this behind to be with me? Give up being a princess... being a queen someday?” He searched her eyes as he held her close.