CHAPTER 115: THE BRACELET 2

Ashen froze, his hand still gripping the edge of his desk, staring at the crown princess like she had just struck him.

"What did you just say?" His voice was low, deadly.

Rhynera’s gaze lingered on the bracelet in his hand, her breath coming fast. "I said that bracelet belongs to me."

Ashen’s fingers tightened on the bracelet strap until his knuckles turned white. "That’s impossible....How would your bracelet end up outside the Celestial Realm and be with me?"

Her throat bobbed. "Because I lost it," she answered quietly. "A few days before my birthday, I was punished for it."

Ashen’s eyes narrowed sharply. "Punished? For losing a bracelet?"

"For leaving the realm," she blurted, then instantly smacked a hand over her lips as though she could snatch the words back.

Ashen’s entire body went still, and his mind spun, and pieces began clicking into place.

"Forget that I had said that." she quickly muttered.

But Ashen wasn’t handling this like he didn’t hear her. "You..." He took a step toward her, still trying to assure himself he wasn’t dreaming.

"You were the one I saw outside the realm that day?"

"I never said that," Rhynera shot back, trying to sound unbothered.

"Don’t lie to me." His voice turned into a snarl as he crossed the space between them, one hand shooting out to grip her by the throat.

Her eyes went wide, a choked gasp leaving her lips as he forced her back against the wall.

Only then did the crazy idea pop up in her head. If the bracelet has ended up outside the room, and now with Ashen, it means her sister was the one who left the realm and switched her bracelet.

Since she had played that game and Ashen seems to be looking for that person then she would be poised to be her sister.

"Hey... you need to relax... are you scared that people would find out that you were the one who had attacked the Kraken?"

"So you are the fucking one!" Ashen growled, his face inches from hers, "Are you saying you saw the person who attacked the Kraken beast that night? Didn’t you?"

Her lips trembled. "I... I didn’t see clearly... but.."

"Stop lying!" His anger surged through him, uncontrollable. "You saw what happened!"

"Yes!" she cried out at last. "I was there! I lost my bracelet that night and when I returned my father punished me."

Ashen’s grip slackened just slightly as her words sank in.

Rhynera swallowed hard, clutching at the wrist that held her, "Stop... you really don’t want me telling everyone do you?"

Ashen’s jaw clenched and her lips twisted in a sly grin despite the hand still gripping her throat. "What if I did?" she added again.

"Rhynera..."

"What will you do?" He interrupted again. "Kill me to keep your little secret?"

Ashen’s teeth ground together. He hated the way she was baiting him, hated that she had leverage now. His grip loosened at last, and she drew in a ragged breath as he stepped back.

"Don’t mess with me," he warned.

"Oh, I think I do." he teased.

"The great last prince, sneaking out of his realm, disturbing the Kraken beast and if word got out, imagine the scandal.

"Shut up!" His voice burst out with anger as he slammed her against the wall, making her gasp in pain.

Her face showed pain, but her smile grew wider. "Go on," she whispered, her voice rough, "kill the princess. It’ll be a better story."

He looked enraged, as if he might strangle her. Then, with a growl, he pushed her away, turning his back.

"Get out," he spat, his voice filled with fury, trying to control his temper.

But she laughed, and he was filled with irritation.

"You are brutal," she murmured, straightening her dress.

"Rhynera." Ashen’s voice was a warning.

She ignored it and stepped closer, her hand suddenly sliding around his back. His entire body went rigid.

"Let go," he ordered, prying at her hands.

"You don’t want anyone walking in right now," she whispered. "If Adam’s men find me here, pressed up against you, what do you think they will assume?"

He cursed under his breath. "You are messing with me Rhynera."

"And yet you haven’t pushed me away." This was the last straw for him as he grabbed her wrists and tore her hands off his waist. His grip was so tighter around her wrist.

"What do you want?"

Her smile turned victorious at this moment, she was ready to use this to get Ashen to work for her.

"Send some of your men to my chambers tomorrow to find out who keeps sneaking in. And in exchange, your secret stays safe with me."

Ashen’s glare was murderous, but he saw the trap she had set, and he would let her get off this one.

"Fine," he ground out and her grin widened.

"Take the damn bracelet," he said coldly, throwing it at her feet.

She stooped to pick it up, clutching it tightly.

"But remember this." He stalked closer, his hand shooting out to wrap around her throat again, not squeezing this time but enough to make her feel the strength in his grip.

His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone or even to your sister. I will kill you and I promise, Rhynera, no one will ever find your body."

For the first time, a flicker of fear crossed her eyes. She nodded quickly.

"I will keep your secret," she rasped.

"Good." He shoved her back and turned away, dismissing her.

"I will send the men tomorrow," he said over his shoulder.

Rhynera smirked despite the lingering ache in her throat. "It’s nice doing business with you, my lord."

She swept out of the room, the bracelet clutched in her hand.

Outside, Aria and Ero were waiting, their expressions tense as they saw Rhynera walk out of the Ashen office merely smiling sweetly at them as if nothing had happened.

Once she was gone, Aria and Ero slipped back inside, her eyes darting to Ashen’s face.

"She knows," Ashen said flatly, dropping into his chair and Aria’s lips pressed into a hard line.

Rhynera, meanwhile, walked down the corridor with her maid Mia who had been hiding not too far away from Ashen now trailing after her.

Rhynera glanced down at the bracelet and let out a laugh.

"So the last prince isn’t as weak as everyone thinks," she murmured. Her grip tightened on the bracelet.

"Lumina," she whispered under her breath, "forgive me, but I think I might be interested in your man now."