Confronting Her

Stefan

I didn’t sleep last night—how could I? My mind was focused on Harlyn and her upcoming marriage to Wayne. Well, she could try. After getting ready for the wedding, I stepped out of the room, and my mother looked at me.

“Are you sure it wise for you to go to this wedding?” She asks, and I laugh.

“I’m not going to the wedding, Mother, because there won’t be one.” I will stop it before she even walks through that door.

“Stefan, you can’t do anything crazy.” She looks at me, and I know she is worried, but I need to do something crazy.

“I already did that, Mother; it apparently didn’t work, so I need to get up a level,” I say while smiling at her.

“You already did? Stefan, what did you do?” She stands staring at me.

“Stopped him from being able to claim her mother, like he tried that night. Which room is Harlyn in?” I ask as I walk around her.

“Harlyn is in her wedding dress. You can’t enter that room, Stefan.” She follows behind me.

“Oh, but I can. Which room, mother?” I stand waiting, and her eyes go to the maid. She won’t say. “Show me where Harlyn is, please.” I smile at her, the maid, and she nods, guiding me through. I get it, her telling me where Harlyn is won’t be good for her, a maid showing me however? Well, that I can do.

The maid points to a room, and I knock before stepping in. My eyes instantly go to Harlyn, and I smile. She looks breathtaking—truly amazing.

“What are you doing?” Lucy appears in front of me. “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t be in here.” She stands waiting for me to leave.

“You need to leave, Lucy. I need a moment with Harlyn.” I don’t look at her; I stay focused on Harlyn.

“On her wedding day? Come on, Stefan, cut the crap.” Lucy shouts, and I look at her.

“Yes, on her wedding day, now leave.” I point to the door and watch her walk out. Closing it, I walk towards Harlyn.

“Stay away from me.” Her hand goes up.

“I can’t, and it’s not because I claimed you, it’s not because of the bond, Harlyn, it’s because I love you.”

She laughs and goes to walk past me, my hand stopping her. “Cut the shit, you don’t love me, you’re jealous, you’re a fool.” Her words are loud, and I nod. I am jealous. I accept that.

“Fine.” I stand in front of her and look her in the eyes. “Your mother’s birthday party, your birthday—your eighteenth birthday, to be exact.” Her body stills at my words.

“That night, Harlyn, it was me in that room with you. You want to marry Wayne, go ahead, but you’re not leaving this kingdom, not with my kids,” I explain, and she stares at me, pain radiating through her.

“Fuck you! How can you joke about that.” Her hand swings, and she punches me. She groans and rubs her face.

“Yes, darling, if our minds are open, you will feel the pain, so go ahead and hit me again. I’m not lying!” I shout the words at her, she won’t marry him. Not now. She won’t be able to ignore what I’ve told her.

Who would be able to marry minutes after being told that? She stays standing, rubbing her cheek.

“Why are you doing this?” She stands looking at me with a confused expression.

“So that you know the truth, come on, Harlyn. Why else would I say it?” I ask, waiting for her to realise I mean this.

“No, you’re lying.” She steps back. “You really think I will believe that night was you?”

“Why wouldn’t it be Harlyn?” I ask.

“Because the person that night seemed to care for me, they didn’t say it, but I felt it. I felt how much they craved me, which Stefan...Oh, sorry, Your Majesty. You didn’t. You were repulsed by me.”

My mouth opens and closes. I can’t tell her that I always craved her and was never repulsed, as that means telling her about her father, and one hard blow is enough for the day.

“Harlyn.” I grip her chin and force her to look at me. My body moves closer to hers, and she doesn’t move. She just stands staring into my eyes, and it’s like her again. The real her, leaning forward I kiss her, and I expect her to push me away only she doesn’t.

She kisses me back, my mouth swallow her sounds as my hands roam across her body.

“Stefan.” Her word is whispered, and God the way she said it.

“Yes, Harlyn?” I ask, and feel her body tense, the anger flashing in her eyes as she pushes me back. “Harlyn, no.” I groan as she punches me, and she screams. “I’m getting whiplash from your mood swings.” I shake my hand and look at her.

“Stay away from me.” She growls and steps back.

“Harlyn, you might have broke you hand, let me check.” I step forward, and she goes to hit me again. “Okay, I won’t come any closer.” Sighing, I look at her.

“I’m getting married. You need to leave.” She stands waiting.

“I can’t do that. Harlyn, less them, a minute ago we kissed, and you pulled me closer, then you flipped. What the hell is going on?” I looked at her waiting.

“I don’t know.” Her head drops. “At that moment, I looked at you, and yes, I felt calm, safe, and wanted you, which is why I kissed you. Then you spoke, and pure anger flooded through me, and I felt like I had to hurt you.

“And now?” I ask, keeping my distance.

“I feel like I should shoot you, Stefan. Stay away from me.”

“Close your eyes.” She laughs at my words. “Just, close your eyes, let me test something.”

I watch as her eyes close, and then I step closer, grasping her chin. I look at her and watch her eyes open. I don’t move; I just watch her. I am completely baffled, so if I don’t talk, she’s fine. I feel like I need to say she might be weirdly under a spell.

Yet, if I speak, she is going to hit me again and start hating me. Right now she isn’t trying to escape me, she’s just staring at me. There’s no anger or hate in her eyes, none at all.