Chapter 6: Trapped By A Prince - Lemuel

The warm and electric sensation of someone caressing my face stirs me to my senses. The moment I begin to awaken I feel aches and pains radiating all over my body like someone went a few rounds with a boxing bag, and I was the boxing bag. A groan slips out and I try to will my body to sit up when I suddenly feel two strong hands lay on my chest and gently push me back down sending more currents of electricity through my body, making the aching in my body subside.

“Easy there, don’t try and move, you had a nasty fall,” a warm Grecian voice says softly, sending tingles to my groin. What the fuck?

I force my eyes open and have to blink several times before I can process that the man sitting beside me is real. Intense cerulean eyes are staring down at me with so much concern that it’s making me uneasy. Why is he looking at me like that? I discreetly look him over taking in his appearance and I must begrudgingly admit he is rather gorgeous. Smooth-tanned skin and dark brown hair that’s looking like a sexy mess right now. His square jaw is covered in stubble and some dormant instinct inside me is wanting to reach out and feel how rough it is, but I quickly tap it down. I haven’t entertained those thoughts in a very long time and I’m not starting now. He’s wearing a tight black t-shirt that is accenting every muscular feature of his torso, and I can only imagine what features his denim jeans would showcase.

“You’re safe, I promise,” he says softly reaching up and brushing his thumb against my cheek. Despite the pleasurable sensation it gives me, I instinctively jolt out of the bed I just realised I’m in and try to put some distance between us as I wait for the intense pain to follow… but it doesn’t. I stare at my body in confusion, only now noticing I’m in nothing but my white briefs. I glance at my left wrist and am shocked to find a new link around my wrist, but it’s not like any visum link I’ve ever seen before. Usually, they’re made of black shadow, a reminder of the Goddess who did this to me, but now it’s like some strange brand embedded in my skin. The links of the chain shift from electric blue to electric purple just like my eyes.

I glance over at the man who is watching me cautiously, and I can see the exact same link around his wrist, but no chain tying us together. I groan and scrub my hands down my face, but as I do I finally notice the room I’m in… what the fuck?

It appears to be a luxury suite of some kind. The room is decked out in shades of cream, gold, and a splash of purple, with the king-sized bed I was in covered by a large goldish purple quilt with a purple cushioned headboard with gold framework. Even the bed has a golden brown cushioned feature wall. The room is circular with gold and cream marble floors and a white seashell-shaped carpet at the foot of the bed under the ottoman. The bed is framed by two pillars holding up a feature ceiling that looks like purple satin dipping into a crystal chandelier. There’s a large TV on another feature wall opposite the bed, there’s a seating area, cabinets, a vanity, and windows framed by gold ruffled curtains. There’s so much luxury and beauty to take in it’s starting to overwhelm me.

The man who was touching me – and has now bound himself to me – gets up from the bed and approaches me with that concerned look on his face again.

“Do you speak English?” he gently asks.

“Do you?” I retort.

He hits me with this ridiculously bright smile that leaves me momentarily stunned. “Perfect! I was a little concerned since I found you off the coast of Italy, but I wasn’t too worried as I am very proficient in Italian,” he boasts.

“Found me?” I ask in confusion.

“You were drowning, and I saved you,” he says proudly, but then looks concerned again. Would he cut that out? “You don’t have to answer, but… how did you fall from the cliff?” he carefully asks.

Cliff? Oh, now I remember. I granted that asshole his wish and the fucker pushed me. Jokes on him, I can’t die.

“I didn’t fall, I was pushed,” I say acerbically, “Now can we address the matter at hand?”

“WHAT?!” he screams; a ring of cobalt blue now glowing brightly around his cerulean eyes as his face contorts in rage. Ah, so he’s a sirna. That should make this easier. “Who?! Who tried to kill my animai?” he asks through gritted teeth, my brain instantly short-circuiting as I take in his words.

“I’m sorry, did you just call me your animai?” I ask in bewilderment. I surely misheard, or he has made one hell of a mistake.

His eyes stop glowing and his face relaxes, “I did. I still can’t believe I found you,” he says softly, reaching for my hand which I slowly move out of his grasp and almost feel bad the moment I see the hurt on his face. Almost.

“No offence, but I think you’ve made a big mistake. I’m a visum, I can’t have an animai.”

“Visum!” he shouts, snapping his fingers, “That’s what you are. It’s been nagging at me all night. I knew I’d read those eyes described somewhere, but it just wasn’t coming to me,” he smiles brightly, “Wow, my first visum is also my animai, lucky me,” he chirps.

“For the last time, I cannot be your animai,” I groan in frustration, “Look, I’ll make this easier. What’s your name?”

“Sebastian Balaskas. PRINCE Sebastian Balaskas,” he winks. I resist the urge to snort. Right, I’m supposed to believe I’ve been fated to a prince? Yeah, right.

“In that case, I, Lemuel Andilet, against the will of Goddess Zarseti, reject you, Prince Sebastian Balaskas as my animai,” I say in a strong voice. Sebastian stumbles back, his face full of hurt and shock as I wait for him to collapse in pain, but nothing happens. I did say it right, didn’t I? I’ve seen rejections done before, I’m certain I got it right.

Instead of Sebastian buckling in pain, a groan of pain escapes me as I clutch my wrist feeling as though something is tightening around it. I glance at my wrist to see the brand lighting up angrily. What the fuck is going on?

Sebastian folds his arms smugly, but there is still hurt in his eyes, “I guess it didn’t work.”

I glare at the infuriating Prince and proceed to storm out of the room. I have no idea where I’m going, I just want to be away from him. An animai? Does Zarseti even realise what I am? Who the fuck gives a visum an animai? Do the Gods just sit on their lofty clouds thinking about new and fucked up ways to hurt people?

I continue to storm through an elaborate suite, out a long corridor and weave my way around a variety of people who are all looking at me in shock. I race through unfamiliar hallways and stairways only to be hit by sharp pain as the chain around my wrist glows brightly and suddenly I’m zapped right back in front of Sebastian.

“FUCK!” I scream in frustration.

“Just couldn’t stay away, huh?” Sebastian gloats.

“Look,” I start to say.

Sebastian’s eyes rake over me hungrily, “I’m looking.”

I throw him a dirty look, “I’m a visum, okay? And since you touched me I’m now bound to you. I can’t leave your side until you make a wish, and while I can’t be sure, I think my visum link is tied to… our bond,” I say through clenched teeth, “So, I think I am unable to reject you, or you me, until you make a wish,” I state belligerently.

“Why are you so determined to reject me? You don’t even know me,” he asks sadly.

“I don’t have to know you and I don’t want to know you. Do you not understand what a visum is? I can’t have an animai, I don’t want an animai. I’m sorry the Goddess was stupid enough to bond you to me but trust me, this is a huge mistake and you’ll be happier once I’m gone. So please, do us both a favour and let me grant you your wish,” I plead.

Sebastian looks at me for a moment and then slowly begins pacing the room. I take a moment to look around for some clothes I can wear, but I don’t see anything, so I’m stuck having this conversation in my briefs.

“So, let me get this straight,” Sebastian says, coming to a stop, “You’re bound to me until you grant me a wish.”

I nod, “This,” I say, pointing to the brand on my wrist, “Is a visum link, it binds me to anyone who touches me and won’t be removed until I grant their wish. I am also unable to travel more than a certain distance away from my master. The moment I go too far, or they travel too far away from me, I’m pulled back to their side. I’m literally chained to you,” I say bitterly.

“So… as long as I don’t make a wish, you can’t reject me,” he says slyly.

I frown as a bad feeling settles into my stomach, “Where are you going with this?”

“Well, the solution is obvious,” he says, “I simply won’t make a wish,” he says with a victorious smile.

My mouth drops open in shock. He can’t be fucking serious?

“You can’t do that.”

“It’s my wish, and I don’t see a rule that says I have to make it,” he says, his tone and demeanour suddenly turning from playful to authoritative.

“I’m stuck here until you do!”

“Good, it’ll give us a chance to get to know each other better,” he nods.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?! You can’t just keep me prisoner!” I shout, aghast at what he’s implying.

He rolls his eyes, “I would hardly call getting to live in a palace with free rein to do as you please, and have staff wait on you hand and foot, the same as being held prisoner.”

“I’m unable to leave, and I’m chained to you. That’s not just imprisonment, that’s slavery,” I point out.

“Don’t try the white guilty on me, it won’t work,” he snorts, “Though the idea of you in a sexy maid unfirm tending to my every need is very appealing,” he smirks.

“Sebastian!” I shout in frustration.

“Lemuel!” he shouts back, shocking me. I haven’t heard someone say my name in years. Not even those I grant wishes to ask for my name, they don’t give a flying fuck.

I fold my arms and turn away from him. I’m practically naked and now I’m being held captive by some Prince who thinks I’m his soulmate. What the fuck has my life become?

I freeze in place as I feel warm breath tickle the back of my neck and I have to do my best to suppress a shudder from how good it feels.

“You’re not my slave or my prisoner, but this is my wish to make, and I don’t want to make it. Not when it comes at such high a cost. I’ll give you some space and time to think. I just want us to get to know each other, is that so wrong?” he sighs. I glance back to see him walking to the door, “I’ve had the closet fully stocked with clothes for you. Bathroom is attached to the closet, and if you want anything to eat just dial 2 and the kitchen staff will get you anything you need,” he says softly before leaving the room.

I let out a deep exhale and feel my shoulders relax. I walk over and sit on the bed as I examine the mark around my wrist. It’s more beautiful than those horrible links I’m used to, but it still means the same thing. It’s a constant reminder of the one mistake I can’t forget. I’m cursed to be punished for all eternity. Of course, Sebastian can be excited to meet his animai, and if I was in his shoes I would probably feel the same, but I’m not. I’m a cursed man doomed to a life of loneliness and misery. An animai isn’t a blessing for me, it’s the worst thing imaginable.