Stuck in a Fantasy

Chapter 19

Another week passed. I was getting closer to the king, there was no denying it. He was quick to make me laugh when I was bored. He sparred with me when my temper got out of hand so I could blow off some steam. He would escort me to dinner and occasionally surprise me with little pastries during the day. He didn't sleep in my room, but he did keep the door open that connected our rooms. Together, but apart at the same time. Just like our hearts. We were so close to love, but I wouldn't go through the door.

He made my heart race every time he smiled at me. I would smile back but I couldn't help but hear that nagging voice in the back of my mind. It would remind me that he didn't know me. He didn't know what being an Amari entitles. He doesn't even know that I'm not from this dimension. He doesn't know that everything special about me was hand-picked. That I'm a designer baby. That nothing about me is natural.

My mind keeps replaying the night that we got drunk. How he told me that he thought I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Would he still think that if he knew? Would he still try to make me laugh when I was bored? Would he still like to spend time with me... or would he think I'm a monster like so many others? Would he throw me in a cell or put me in a lab? "You look deep in thought," a voice called out to me.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked away from the window. Then I turned towards the voice. Taylor gave me a wide smile then closed the distance that was between us in the hallway. Once she stood right before me, I told her, "I guess I did get a little lost."

"Well... want to get lost in the garden? With a friend?" She asked.

"That sounds great actually," I answered.

She clapped in excitement then grabbed my hand and led me outside. I hadn't been outside since I tried to run away from the king. It was nice.

I breathed in the fresh air and enjoyed the feel of the sun blazing down on my skin. I could hear the distance wooshes from dragons flying overhead. Our footsteps made the gravel underneath our feet crunch and I couldn't help but miss the sounds of nature.

Taylor put my arm through hers and we stepped into the garden. The smell of bloomed flowers filled my nose and the sight quickly followed. Tall bushes soon became walls and a gravel trail led us through the flower haven. "How's Jonah?" I asked Taylor.

She smiled and said, "He's great! He's amazing. He's so kind. He's so good to me. Plus he's a really good kisser."

I laughed and told her, "Hey, that's not a bad quality."

"Don't I know it!" She laughed, "Is the king a good kisser. Come on! Spill the details."

"I haven't kissed him since before I tried to stab him," I admitted.

Her eyes lit up with acknowledgment and she exclaimed, "Ahh! Well, that's not very promising. I kiss Jonah all the time. Seriously, like all the time! I haven't even known him for more than two weeks. Yet he's been in my bed every night since, and let me tell you he can..."

"Stop!" I cut her off, "I don't want to know how you were going to end that sentence."

She giggled then admitted, "It was going to be pretty graphic. I just want you to feel the same happiness that I do! Just... be with the king! You obviously like him and he likes you. Plus you're married. Nobody is going to be mad if you have an actual relationship with your husband. In fact, it's encouraged!"

I glared at her and said, "Stay out of my marriage. You don't understand all of it."

"What? That he forced you to marry him? That he accidentally burned you? I think I understand the mistrust that comes with that," she told me.

"Stay out of it," I grumbled.

She gave a gesture of surrender with her free hand then said, "Fine. Let's see... what else can we talk about? Oh! I know! Jonah and I are going to stay and live in the palace. At least until I can convince him that kids shouldn't grow up around guards and antiques. Not that that's bad! Or makes the kid end up weird. I'm sure the king is totally normal. You know... socially."

"He can manage," I commented with a smile.

"Just manage? Oh, dear! I've got to convince him to move off the palace grounds," Taylor mumbled as she ran her hand through her hair.

"Start placing the idea in his mind. After a while of talking, or I should say trying to talk, to people here he'll realize you're right," I told her.

She rolled her eyes and inquired, "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Mention here and there how fun it was to talk to your old neighbors and how great normal childhood was. Then mention how there are not many kids here, and how sad a child must be with nobody to play with whenever you do see one. Just make sure these comments aren't obvious. They need to be little pop-ups in your conversations that aren't lingered upon," I informed her.

"Why can't I just have a conversation about it?" She questioned.

"A conversation will prove to be harder. He'll still think being at the castle is great so he won't totally get your side. This way you make him see your side and he'll eventually start to agree with you," I explained.

"This feels devious," Taylor commented with a shudder and a grin.

I scoffed and said, "Please. This isn't bad at all. Now, do you want for you and Jonah to have your own little house to live out your lives in? Away from all of this?"

She nodded and replied, "More than anything."

"Then let me help," I told her, "You have a week to get the thoughts put into his mind. I'll convince the king to do a redo dinner with you and Jonah. At the dinner, the king and I, possibly Cato if he's had too much sugar, will confirm all those thoughts that you implanted. Like we both said, the king can manage social situations. I, however, can't. It'll be your ticket to your own home."