Chosen

Chapter 8

Our eyes were locked.

I couldn't move.

He froze as well with an odd expression on his face. Finneas didn't seem embarrassed or shocked at all. Just... curious.

The girl noticed and turned to look where he looked.

"Oh my gosh!" She turned bright red. She instantly turned and ran past me, straightening her hat and dress as she went.

There we stood still staring at each other.

I opened my mouth. Then snapped it shut.

It's not worth it. Don't say anything, Rowan.

I started to march away.

"Wait," he sighed and I heard him walk behind me.

I kept going.

"Lady Rowan," he said closer and grabbed my arm.

I spun around so fast he almost ran into me.

"Don't you dare touch me," I spat.

"Why are you so mad?" he asked with real emotion- irritation.

"Why am I mad?!" I yelled back and poked him in the chest making him back up a step. "You! You are awful! Do you even realize that there are girls here that really seem to like you for reasons only god knows but they do! And here you are making out with a main! Do you not care about anyone but yourself?"

"Oh right, because everyone here is sacrificing so much by being here trying to land a rich husband or wife with a grand title! Saints! We should all bow down to them," he mockingly bowed.

Finn sighed and his expression was void again.

"Those girls don't care about me. They care about my money and title. That is all."

I could tell he was trying to sound indifferent but I could hear the hurt.

I was set back for a moment. To be truthful, I hadn't thought about it that way. Not from his point of view entirely. It would be pretty exhausting having girls throw themselves at you without actually caring about you as a person...

"It still doesn't excuse not even trying. Or not even communicating to the girls here that you don't want a wife," I said, but it was clear some wind was out of my sails. "They clearly don't know that about you."

Finneas glared at me.

"You're all the same," he mumbled to where I hardly heard.

"What was that?" I asked, stepping closer.

He also took a step to where we were inches apart.

My heart pounded.

"I said you are all the same. There is no possible way for me or my dear perfect brother to actually find real love here. Everyone here is just playing a part to get what they want. So why can't I too? If I want to make out with a pretty girl and forget about all of this for two damn seconds, what's so wrong with that, all knowing Lady Rowan?"

"Because, Your Majesty, making out with your staff seems like a conflict of interest, don't you think? That poor girl might just be kissing you because she doesn't want to be fired for turning you down, or she doesn't want her family put in the gallows," I said and looked him up and down in disgust.

Finneas' expression hardened at these words. His whole body seemed frozen.

"And I'm the one here hurting other people?" he said through gritted teeth. "I would never-" he suddenly stepped closer making me move back, "Never touch someone who doesn't want me to. And the fact that you would even joke about that proves how much you don't know me."