CHAPTER 7: Boat Ride

Cade looked in the direction of Lexus who we all had noticed walking this way. I didn’t expect to see him again so soon. “I doubt we’d see someone having a mate any time soon though,” He ended the conversation.  He stood up once Lexus approached us. “Is something wrong? You never come into the city.”

Lexus glanced at me then looked back at Cade. “You could’ve invited me.” His tone gave off that he was annoyed. “We usually hangout on Saturdays anyways, I don’t mind the city too much.” 

Cade chuckled. “You’re right about that. Sorry for not inviting you. We just wanted to show Aqua around, I thought you’d find it boring.”

Lexus eyes were fixated on me since Cade shifted the attention my way. “Oh, that’s kind of a waste of time.” He looked me up and down. “What with the outfit?” 

I frowned. “I don’t have my own clothes yet and it’s not a waste of time.” I looked around. “I’ve never seen a place like this before.” The beauty alone was enough for me to want to stay here even if I didn’t have to. Being in such a different world opened my eyes and allowed me to be optimistic again.

“Aqua.” Cade said while slightly glaring at me because of my tone. I guess I was supposed to be overly nice to Lexus.

“It’s fine,” Lexus assured him. “What I meant was there are better places to see in the kingdom. Places that deserve to be seen before this mundane city.” He shrugged. “Let’s show her the cave town, plus it’s not too fair.” I didn’t know how I felt about this. He was being nice for what? Did he come to find us for me or to hang out with Cade like he claimed? It shouldn’t have mattered either way but it did to me.

“You can all ride on my back,” Stewart offered then shifted into his dragon form.

Cade and Arma helped me up which was embarrassing because I could feel Lexus’ eyes on me. When we all got seated, I leaned on Arma during the take off. “It would have been nice if Sadia and Vella could join us,” Arma said.

Lexus looked away as if he were bothered by Arma’s comment. “Yeah, it would have been.” He said without meaning it. During the rest of the flight Lexus and I kept making eye contact then quickly looking away. A few times, he didn’t even bother to look away, so my brown cheeks were reddish nearly the whole time.

Once we landed, I didn’t want Lexus to see I needed help, so I tried to get down by myself. That ended with him having to catch me when I slipped. He put me down while laughing. It was the first time I heard him laugh and it was at me. “I’m glad I wasn’t raised by humans,” he spat.

“Well, I’m glad I-” I was cut off by Cade’s hand over my mouth. He let go which left me in a pout and Lexus with a smirk across his face. “Ugh.” He was infuriating. It wouldn’t be too hard to hate him if I tried.

Lucky for me the cave town was beautiful and my spirits were lifted right away. It was illuminated with crystals and glowing pixies who flew in the company of the dragons. We got in line to take boats around the lake that were in the dead center of the town. “Your majesty, you don’t have to wait in line,” The woman distributing the boats said to him after approaching us at the end of the long line. It didn’t surprise me that he was getting special treatment.

Lexus turned to Cade. “You guys have done this countless times and it’s only two people per boat. I’ll take Aqua, so she doesn’t have to wait.” My heart thought it was a good thing, but my head knew it was the opposite. “I’ll take her right back to the castle after.” I hated waiting in lines, so I decided not to protest. It was so boring and hard for me to wait in one place for something without giving up.

Cade seemed reluctant. “Uh okay, we’ll see you then.” He gave me a look that practically said ‘behave yourself’ even though I wasn’t the one he had to watch out for. Arma looked concerned but I ignored it.

I walked with Lexus to the front, and we grabbed a boat. “I sensed you outside of my door last night.” 

Lexus got into the boat first. “Kids who can’t shift yet are generally required to wear a life vest.” He thought he had wit.

“What? The big strong prince can’t save me if I fell over?” I sat down on the other side facing him. “Why did you come today?”

“To spend time with Cade,” he lied. “Okay, to spend time with you.”

I bit my lip to keep myself from feeling what I felt. It didn’t work. “Spend time with your fiancée.” I was getting frustrated. “Are you two an arranged marriage?” I hoped that was the case because then it would make sense why we didn’t have the choice in being together.

“No.” He started using the paddles to move the rowboat. “But I’ll tell you that if that’s what you want to hear. You’ll hurt yourself if you ask any more questions.” 

I started rowing despite my hands shaking. I was hurting myself… “You already told me the truth.”

Lexus stared at me for a second before speaking, “If you want me to lie then I’ll lie. I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear until you believe it if that’s what you want me to do. We’re mates Aqua and I can’t marry you but I’m good at keeping things secret.”

Because he’s done this before? Out of everything, that’s what I can’t ask. “I don’t want you to lie to me.”

We were quiet for the majority of the ride until he broke the silence. “There’s a lot you don’t know about this kingdom and my family. Maybe you’ll understand then.” I don’t know if I wanted to understand. When the ride was over, he flew us back to the castle. 

He followed me straight into my room and closed the door behind him. “Lexus, I don’t-” He grabbed me by my waist, and I stopped when he was less than an inch from his lips touching mine. “Yeah…” He kissed me before I could get another word out but there wasn’t any more to say.