Chapter 8 Episode VIII

Xavier POV

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"Adriana is not a fücking zoo animal."

Darius wasn't too happy about introducing his baby sister.

I poured myself a glass of bourbon and settled on the couch. I wasn't missing any more of this soap opera. I left Daniel alone for fifteen minutes and apparently now I was engaged to the leech's hot sister.

Or rather, Daniel was. As me.

Lady Alexandra Azaria had only spared me one glance.

Those pouting lips were crafted only for kissing her. Repeatedly.

Lucky bästard.

"I know she isn't a zoo animal." Daniel said, patronising. Trust me when I say Daniel and patronising didn't go together. "Can you blame me for my curiosity?"

See, Danny was pretty insistent on seeing the youngest Lady Azaria. I hadn't seen him this desperate for anything since we were six and I refused to share my Hershey bar.

What? I was a greedy child.

"Of course, I can blame you, you sick pervert!" Darius yelled. His knuckles were white on his cane. "You've already got one of them."

The leech did have a point. Adriana was Alexandra's twin. Danny wanted to see the real life photocopy of his future wife?

I swear he was getting spoilt.

"And I like this one a lot." Daniel said, brushing his lips on Alexandra's wrist. "It's just that I've heard the rumors about her, Darius. I haven't seen one of those before."

I didn't know if it was what he said or what he did that made Darius bare his fangs. In one smooth motion, the cane transformed to a blade and he was holding it against Daniel's throat.

Good thing I was doing the same to his throat.

"Not so fast, Your Highness." I said, stifling a yawn. "Unless you want to choke on your own blood. I hear it's rather unpleasant."

"Who the fück are you anyway?" Darius hissed.

"A friend." I shrugged. "Nice cane, by the way. Very 007. If he was an old man, that is."

Darius glared at me, as Daniel sighed.

"Darius." Daniel said quietly. "Please."

The fake Prince was working his best puppy dog eyes.

D--n him.

"Since my friend is clearly a hormonal teenager," I muttered, glaring at him. "Prince Azaria, for the love of all things holy, just let him see the girl."

"If you so much as touch her." Darius fumed, dropping his blade.

"I'll cut him myself." I finished for him. "Now let's get this over with."

Darius left the office to get her, swearing all the way. Alexandra followed behind him quietly.

Daniel joined me on the couch. I poured him a glass of Scotch, because if I didn't keep my hands busy I'd probably smack him on the head.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I said, giving him the glass. "Why do you want to meet this girl so badly?"

He shrugged.

"I don't know."

I gave him a look. You know, the look that suggested he needed immediate hospitalisation.

"Oh, like you act completely sane." He said, rolling his eyes. "That bîtch Victoria, is batshît crazy. She tried to kill me, in case you forgot. You still haven't told me why you brought her here."

"I have my reasons." I said, simply.

"And I have mine. I guess." He ran a hand through his hair. "Where is she anyway?"

"My old room."

"She's going to burn this place to the ground." He shook his head. "That goddämn bird isn't helping things."

I had to smile.

"Just trust me."

"Yeah, look how far that's gotten me, Xavier." Daniel's eyes were piercing. "I'm a twenty six year old nobody pretending to be a king when I can't even remember to put on a goddämn sock. I drink, I smoke and I fück around because I'm not even a real person anymore. I might look like you, but I'm not you, Xevi."

I didn't know how to respond to that.

Yeah. Daniel was an expert at hitting people right in the feels.

Darius entered the room again, still swearing.

"This is Lady Adriana." He said, holding the door open.

As predicted, a photocopy of Lady Alexandra walked inside, only Adriana wore black silk instead. She had the same perfect features and soft curves as her sister, but she was a lot more timid. She didn't dare look up at any of us.

I blinked. This was what Danny and Darius were fussing about?

"Take it off." Danny said, softly.

I arched a brow. If he was talking about her clothes while Darius was here –

He was a dead man.

Neither Darius nor Adriana flinched at the request though. She merely thumbed down her lower eyelids and took off her contacts.

Daniel froze, staring into her eyes.

Even I couldn't look away.

Lady Adriana's eyes were mismatched. One was a light sky blue and the other was clear amethyst.

And just like that, I understood Danny's curiosity and why Darius didn't want his sister anywhere near us.

Royal society viewed anything out of the norm as an imperfection. A scar, a blemish, even mismatched eyes – they were treated as mistakes. No one was perfect, but deviate a little too much and you were an outcast.

I knew this girl would've never gone to a ball, socialised at the luncheons or stood a chance at marrying a highborn like her sister.

I knew Darius would have to save her from being called a mistake her whole life.

I knew Daniel had a soft spot for such mistakes.

Daniel went closer to her and she looked down. He put a finger under her chin, urging her to look up. She clearly hadn't had this much attention on her before and she looked at him doe eyed.

"You said you'd cut him if he touches her." Darius reminded me, gruffly.

"Gladly." I said, rolling my eyes. "Does Lady Alexandra have a fetish for Captain Hook?"

He glared at me.

"Who are you? Really?"

I shrugged, looking at the promise ring on Danny's finger and the look in his eyes as he said his goodbye to Adriana.

"A friend." I repeated, quietly. "Or so I hope."