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Conflicted

Natalie POV

There he was, just as attractive as my dreams painted him. His tricky eyes were such a brilliant shade of emerald green. So why were they so pure and lonely? Like he hid so much pain behind an arrogant smile.

A strange, unfamiliar tingle bubbled in my lower stomach when he took my hand. I longed to run my fingers up and down his muscular arm to see if he was struggling with the same zaps frying my common sense.

"You don't have to shake so much. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Remember why you're here. I won't let him hurt Izzy.

Trevor led me through several corridors. The last one we walked through had many paintings of a beautiful woman with clear, kind eyes. The closer we got to a giant glass door, the more pictures of the woman there were. Unlike previous portraits, further in, she sat next to a pond or with lilacs. The last picture showed the woman holding a tiny girl who resembled Princess Aileen.

"That's the previous Queen. Aileen's late Mother." Trevor trailed a finger on the frame. So he was admitting now they weren't related?

He put an arm over my head, not quite touching me, a fake smile on his face. "Am I so perfect I left you speechless, Cupcake?"

Butterflies danced in my stomach. I couldn't stop staring at his lips. Would he torture me after a kiss, or was that reserved until he slept with the girl?

Trevor's face got closer to mine, and once again, I was overwhelmed by that ocean crashing onto a beach scent.

The urge to feel his touch over-wrote even the heavy air clouding my mind. Slowly, he brought his fingers up to caress the side of my face. I let him.

Similar to the first time I met him, his green eyes shined bright. For the time being, his sadness disappeared...

The guard protecting the courtyard's entrance had a fake coughing fit.

I felt awkward; stupid, falling for his ploy once more.

"I would like access to the courtyard, goodman." Trevor wiggled his eyebrows all suggestively at the man. "Escorting my beautiful date."

The guard bowed deeply to me.

Finding my voice, I requested the guard tie Trevor's hands behind his back.

"Wait, you really don't trust me that much. I was mostly joking. Cupcake?!"

I took two steps back.

Trevor kicked at the empty air and childishly agreed. The pout on his face was too much. For the first time since the graveyard, I saw that mischievous boy rather than the monster.

Confusingly, the guard tied Sir Trevor's arms behind his back. He used a second rope to secure his hands. I walked up to my true love and tested the restraints. Once I was satisfied they were secure, I let Trevor lead me again.

Not the slightest bit embarrassed by his bondage, Trevor confidently strode into the courtyard. Stepping outside, I was welcomed by the scents of beautiful lilacs. Large bushes were covered in a delicate purple flower. They shaded a gravel path to a little pond, where we walked on the small stones up to a bench. Engraved into the wood was the Queen's name. Lower down, I noticed miniature carvings on the legs. Initials scratched in by a small child.

In the pond was a family of ducks. Trevor was staring at them intently. Where was that arrogant man, oh so full of himself? There was something new burning in his gaze. Jealousy? Of some ducks?

Something soft tickled the sensitive skin behind my ear. Cocking my head to the side, I blushed, seeing Trevor with a flower between his teeth. With fidelity fingers, I placed it behind my ear. Curse my racing heart.

"What do you think? This place is stunning, isn't it?" Trevor kissed the bridge of my nose, causing my face to redden. "Not as breathtaking as me, of course, but pretty darn close, don't ya think?"

Unable to answer, I descended to my knees in front of the pond. I dipped my fingers in the water and watched the ripples. The family of ducks was unbothered and continued swimming around aimlessly.

While my fingers splashed lightly in the pond, I closed my eyes. The sun bathed me in its nurturing warmth. Birds chirped a pleasant song amongst themselves. Strands of hair fell on my left cheek. A warm cheek pressed on top of my head. So peaceful. This was the life I had yearned for since I was a small child.

"So pretty."

Trevor's voice was like a jolt to my insides. What was I doing?!

Before I could scurry away from him, he spoke with such longing that I couldn't decipher.

"This place is very special to the royal family. Very few are permitted to enter here. This is their safe haven. Even the King comes here to relax. You can see why."

"So why are we here?" I asked. Neither of us belonged to royalty. I was a 'gifted maid,' and he was a knight. Honestly, all the authority he had in the castle made little sense.

Trevor threw his head back, snickering like a toddler. "Yes! I did it!"

I looked up at him with a blank expression.

"So. Why. Are. We. Here. Five words! I knew I was amazing!"

Damn, he was contagious! Soon I found myself chuckling. How could someone like him take so much pride in getting a random girl to say a few extra words?

"If only my arms weren't tied up. I want to scoop up and kiss the pretty lady beside me."

Suddenly, I was no longer Diana's tortured victim. It was as if I had never met the monster. I was back to being a teenager right before my life turned upside down. I was relaxed, safe, and…happy.

Not knowing what my body was doing, my eyes fluttered before shutting. Without second-guessing anything, I pursed my lips.

Gently, his lips brushed against mine. Tentative, as if asking permission. I completely cut my brain off from the rest of me. Later, I would deal with the consequences; later.

Taking Trevor by pleasant surprise, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Our lips moved in perfect sync. His intoxicating beach scent washed over me. I could feel my lower area getting wet the more we kissed. All my surroundings disappeared. Only Trevor and his skilled, warm lips remained.

I opened my mouth for him, and his tongue plunged inside. He explored my mouth, tasting, teasing, and weakening my resolve. Sensations I had never felt before exploded in every fiber of my being.

I fell backwards onto the blue irises. Trevor's hard body pressed me further into the flowers. "Natalie..." He groaned in a sandpaper voice.

He re-captured my lips in a possessive kiss, holding my body under his. Trevor ground his erection against me intimately. Before I could panic or say anything, he deepened the kiss. Everything disappeared.

Taking advantage of our new position, he nudged my legs to spread wider. My nipples hardened through the thin fabric of my dress, brushing against his tight chest.

Suddenly, I despised Trevor's bindings and clothes. I needed to feel his hands on me with nothing separating us, to touch his bare skin, and finally give in to this heat between us.

"Fuck... I've fantasized about you for so long." He murmured huskily between kisses. "I can't hold back; I want all of you."

I wrapped my arms around him and arched up desperately, rubbing my core along his hard length. In response, Trevor sucked on my tongue and shifted his hips to hit my clit with each movement.

He pressed harder between my legs and bit lightly on my bottom lip. I screamed into the kiss, thrusting my hips wildly at him.

Smirking, Trevor cooed, his hot breath in my ear, "Cupcake, I'm going to make you mine now."

Yes! He's my true love! Mine!

Mine? No, what was I doing? Trevor took enjoyment in torturing and abusing his women!

But how was I supposed to resist this sinful man?

"Just say the word, and you'll belong to me."

He's an enemy that could hurt Izzy, the person who broke Diana. The reason we were tortured…but I wanted to trust him. His strong body and bright aura called to me. Something's not adding-

Like a parasite, a hint of dark purple wiggled around and infested my aura again. I know what it is but can't name it. But it was making me feel heavy and unfocused. Like I was being led.

But this time, part of me was fighting back. A headache formed, threatening to split my brain. My own head was at war with my instincts.

"Are you okay?"

Those words triggered that dry voice that accompanied me as my mental state diminished. Flee, escape. You are secluded in an area only the royal family can access…But there's no malice, only concern, and kindness in those blue waves he's emitting…And how long until Princess Aileen appears?

I looked to the side. There were small fire pits hidden behind the lilies and weeds. The sister likes to burn women… She was the one to take a torch to Diana.

"Shit, I wasn't thinking… You were used back then, right?" Trevor brought his face close to mine, searching my gaze. "We'll continue this later. Let me go get my sister. This is her passion."

NO! Fear broke the spell my instincts tried to cast. All these years later, nothing changed.

I'm sorry, Izzy. I'll fail you just like I did Mom.

Calling on my second elemental ability, wind, I blew him off me. Trevor's body rolled several feet away from where I lay. Torn pieces of blue irises ripped from the ground danced between us.

"Stay back." I hated how weak my voice sounded. But today made it crystal clear that I could never physically hurt my true love. I would be at his mercy when I fell into his trap, helpless.

Two men with swords drawn came rushing into the courtyard. The first guard was the one protecting this place from any undesirables. The second I recognized as one of King Ulrich's table knights. He had flirted with me several times, no matter how many times I refused him until he started harassing Izzy. That day a strange mini-tornado cut up his once handsome face.

Trevor got to his feet and greeted the two.

"Is everything alright out here?" The table knight cocked an eyebrow at Trevor's state.

"Yup, all is good."

"You're bound."

He raised his head high, "some of us don't even need hands to seduce a woman. I'm truly blessed, aren't I?"

Our make-out session ended; Trevor's mask was back up. So was the sorrowful gloomy slate in his aura.

Ice crystals formed around the rope behind Trevor's back, weakening the strands. He broke his bondage effortlessly. Both his wrists were pink, and his shoulders cracked when he rolled them. I couldn't help but gawk at the muscles in his arms bulging as he stretched. If he'd freed himself sooner, things would have... The conflicting views of Trevor waged war in my head again before I could even finish the thought.

Something's not right, I know it, but am blocked from remembering.

"I see. Our presence is required by King Ulrich at court." A sickening sweet voice called out, heading in our direction. A graceful woman in a gold-laced silk ballgown style dress with a light pink sheer over her shoulders. Gemstones lined above her cleavage, twinkling as she pushed against Trevor. Anger and jealousy muddied my logic. Shouldn't I be relieved or figuring out a way to warn her? "Escort me, please?"

Trevor turned to me. That flash of pain was back in his eyes. "Yes, I am not a distasteful man. I can take a hint, but my offer still stands, my-...the offer still stands."

The girl looped her arm through Trevor's. This time I noticed the tiara in her waves of brown hair. "Princess Lydia. It's an honor to meet you."

"It's a shame you're missing out on a real treat, Cupc…Natalie." His lips quivered slightly. The men and princess didn't see it. But I did. "Goodbye, it is."

Trevor and the guard left the courtyard, leaving me alone with the disgusting table knight. A wicked grin spread across his face. I had no reason to be in the deceased Queen's space any longer, so I made for the exit myself.

A gross calloused hand yanked my arm backward. "Now we can finally be alone together. I'd hate for anyone to interrupt us." He licked the drool from under his bottom lip.

Last words he ever said.

I was about to reach for my power again when I noticed a black blur in my peripheral. The table knight fell. Blood sprayed from the gash in his neck, but I couldn't move.

A shiny gleam bounced off the silver blade held firmly against my throat.

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