His Other One

21| The Outburst and A Garden

Anghel broke the tension Taylor's words wroth by asking the king for permission to exit the court and led Taylor away without awaiting permission.
His anger was apparent as he led her to their chamber
“what in the world is wrong with you Taylor?!” he exploded as soon as he shut the door
“Nothing!” she replied stifly, her heart hammering in her chest. For the first time she had stood up for something in an unpleasant environment. She was both proud of herself and unsteady. Could she really prove anything? Who would help her?
“Oh gods, is there no brain functioning in that head of yours? You do nothing but surprise me with your frivolity!”

“what exactly did I say wrong?”
Taylor wanted to know.

“Everything about the faes. It is a sensitive subject I know you might not be aware of and the way you carry on about it is offensive, if not daring”
“what if the assassin was truly not a fae. What then?” She'd be damned if she gave up easily now, she felt like a stone that had been pushed down the hill,  unable to stop.

“Do you know the atrocity you suggest?” he threw his hands in the air in exasperation.
“which is worse anghel, killing the wrong person or letting the wrong person live?
“I do not know the answer to that”
He answered grudgingly
“so is it so wrong to try to unravel the real truth?”

“No” was Anghel short reply. He was beginning to see the sense and not the threat of her words.

“Do I have your support now?”
Angel was once again forced to be speechless.  He sighed heavily and answered;

“if what you claim is the truth about the assassin, of course you have my support, but you will have to promise to come to me first before blurting anything to everyone"

“I'll try”

“No you won't. Give me your word you will do just that Taylor” Anghel pinned her down with an already familiar intense stare

“Alright alright, sheesh you are so intense, has anyone told you that?”

“I won't be if you did not continually annoy me” he stated flatly, his eyes not leaving hers.
Taylor groaned and looked away

“I’ll go talk with my father and make arrangements with the black guards. My coronation is coming up. Ardelen can't afford another threat” He stopped midstride and turned to give her a deadpan look
“And about your maids, you are going to pick Olivia aren’t you?”

“uhm….how do you...?" She was looking everywhere but at him

“If there is one thing I know about you Taylor, is your a ability to remain steadfastly stubborn.
All I just want is for you to be very careful. You will soon be crowned my queen”

“I can never be like the former queen you know” she stated so low that anghel almost didn’t hear her
“what?”

“I know you expect me to be like your mother, isn’t that why you choose from my family. I know your mother was a Mcleory”

“I told you the lot fell on you didn’t I? "
“lies! All lies! I know you chose from my family because you hoped I'd be like your mother"

“whoever put that in your head has fed you rubbish Taylor. And might I remind you that you are here totally at your own whim, I choose your twin”

Taylor winced, more hurt than she wanted to admit
“I know you got less than you bargained for but I'll have to do for you now won't I? “
she asked flatly, the shine gone from her eyes. She walked out of the room even as he called out for her to wait.

He caught up to her and whirled her around. She wasn’t fast enough to clear the evidence of her sorrow, as tears fell down her eyes in torrents.

Anghel was stunned and squirmed
“what…why are you crying?”