Chapter 159: You haven't had your plate washed...
~Ava's POV~
After running through the hidden tunnel for what felt like hours, we finally stopped to catch our breath. My heart was still pounding from fear when one of our guards came running toward us.
"Princess!" he called out, his voice echoing in the underground passage. "It's safe! Those weren't enemy soldiers!"
I stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"They were our own men," he explained, breathing heavily. "They were dressed in Lystra soldier uniforms so no one would see them coming to deliver a message. We got word that there might be spies in the area, so they had to disguise themselves."
Relief flooded through me, but I was also angry. "Why didn't anyone tell us this might happen?"
The guard looked embarrassed. "We're sorry, Princess. The captain forgot to send word ahead. He thought you knew about the plan."
Callie shook her head, still holding Iris and Ellie close. "We could have been killed running through these tunnels in panic."
"It won't happen again," the guard promised. "The captain wants to see you when you're ready."
After making sure the children were safe and comfortable, we returned to our rebuilt palace in the lands of Mesodomica.
The palace was carved into the mountainside, hidden from anyone who might be looking for us. From the outside, it looked like just another part of the rocky cliffs. Inside, we had created warm, safe rooms where we could live in peace.
I walked to the hall and saw the captain seated, waiting for me. I looked him over. One thing I have noticed about the Mesodomica people is that they are very beautiful, both men and women.
Even with the disguise the captain had on, it didn't hide his features. His eyes had been changed to purple, but it only made him more handsome.
The black hair and the purple Lystra uniform he is now wearing brought out his broad shoulders. Raphael would look good in this uniform as well. I shook my head to clear my mind of these wayward thoughts.
"Princess?" The captain called out, snapping me from my wandering thoughts. Was I experiencing my heat?
"Good day to you, Captain. Your disguise is well put together." I knew I was rambling nonsense, but I didn't want my subordinates thinking I was weird.
"Oh," color crept up his face. Why was he blushing? Did I say something inappropriate? "This is how the average soldiers who are not shifters usually look, so we..." He trailed off. I had certainly made this conversation awkward.
"What did you and your men find out?" I went straight to the point to ground him so he wouldn't feel nervous.
"Uhm..." He ran his hand over his face and then cleared his throat, sitting up straight. One thing I have realized about Captain Cassius is that he is always nervous around me.
My intense staring at him might have just made him more self-conscious. I wondered if he didn't like me. I don't mean romantically. I meant my personality.
What was I even thinking? What was wrong with me? "Princess, we heard rumors spreading in the kingdom of Lystra that the people of Mesodomica are back. So they intend to send troops here."
I quickly snapped out of whatever inappropriate thoughts that were going through my mind. Who would have spread such rumors?
All the people of Mesodomica that I had seen so far had a deep-seated hatred for the nobles of Lystra and, of course, Raphael, even though they tried to hide it because of me.
"When are they coming? And are you guys safe blending in with them?" I needed to know these things. I couldn't risk the people who had been placed under my care. Grandmother Lorraine said my powers were still dormant and would likely manifest on my twenty-fifth birthday which is few months from now.
By then, I would have Maya back, but it would be a fully powered, charged Maya in her full hybrid form. If I said I wasn't excited, I would be lying. Plus, I couldn't wait to wake my mother Siwan up. I didn't know how I was going to feel around her.
"We are masters of disguise, my princess. You have nothing to worry about. We are safe." He gave me a gorgeous smile that made my heart ache. What was wrong with me?
"Hmm... I am glad. If there's nothing else, I will be leaving." I stood up, but as I did, I misstepped, and of course, my captain came to my rescue.
He wrapped his arm around my waist, and our gazes met. We just continued staring at each other for two seconds or more. I couldn't calculate. Something about Cassius made my heart hurt and stirred familiar memories.
"Ahem... Ahem..." We both turned our heads at the same time and met the eyes of Lorraine and Anastasia.
We instantly drew apart as if we were doing something wrong. Except for thinking he was attractive, I hadn't done anything inappropriate. I hadn't even looked at him in detail.
"We weren't doing anything! Don't misunderstand!" I said before my grandmother could start asking me questions.
If people thought I had a dirty mind, they hadn't seen my grandmother, who had three attractive males who would do anything for her as consorts.
"I never asked you anything, granddaughter. Why is your conscience bothering you? Or were you having dirty thoughts about Captain Cassius here?" Ahhh... Grandmother Lorraine, I promised myself I would get back at her for this.
Captain Cassius didn't waste time after what grandmother said. He became beet red... "I-t's n-not s-o, y-your h-highness..." He stuttered out, maybe overwhelmed by how my grandmother was looking at him.
He mumbled something, bowed, and then ran out. I was left to face three curious faces. I didn't know when Callie had joined in.
"I swear, it's not what you think," I tried once again. Doing that was my mistake because it made Lorraine tease me more.
"It's alright, I wouldn't blame you. The man is attractive. And well, you are single without a man. You haven't had your plate washed in what..." she brought her hands out of her pockets and started calculating the days as if she didn't know.
"It's three years, Lorraine. Three years, nine months." Anastasia filled in with that cold, aloof voice of hers.
"Why are you all targeting me today?" I was so embarrassed, and I knew if I looked in a mirror, I would be as red as Captain Cassius.
"We didn't lie though," Anastasia murmured under her breath. Okay, I was done. I had work to do. I had people to take care of, and I needed to see my mom and Gwen, plus the kids were there.
"All we're saying is, you should relax, Ava. Don't put everything on your shoulders. Relax and flirt if you want to..." She left the last part hanging.
I just turned and walked off. Not today. Whatever my brain was doing earlier was nonsense and a mistake. Raphael would return soon.
That's what you've been telling yourself for three years now.
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