The Dragon Prince’s Forbidden Affair
CHAPTER 23.0: Secrets and Sincerity

CHAPTER 23.0: Secrets and Sincerity

Cade’s POV

I had completed a request by Princess Hannah, and I answered my phone on the way to finishsomething my Dad assigned me. “Cade get over here.” Lexus said over the phone. “I need you.”

I stopped walking since I didn’t want to get further from his room if he was requesting my presents. “I’mstill working unless this is work related.” I was helping out around the castle doing whatever I could.Since I officially wasn’t an aid for Lexus anymore, I didn’t have an exact position here. I was able tochoose just about any I wanted but I didn’t feel passionate about any of the jobs here.

Lexus scoffed. “Call it work related if you want just meet me in my room.” I thought about being aguard, but my Mom wouldn’t be happy about that. Her worry isn’t unjustified. There weren’t manyattacks or threats around but when there is guards always get injured. Plus, she’s been tense eversense Aqua arrived. I hated that she felt threatened with my sister around, but I understood it. She wasstill having a hard time forgiving my Dad for what he did. It would such for me to tell her I wanted asomewhat dangerous job during this time. Sadia says I should go for it if I do become passionate aboutit.

“Is Aqua there and are you both clothed?” I blamed myself that my younger sister was sleeping withLexus. I hated it because it wasn’t going to turn out okay for her. This wasn’t the kind of thing our familyshould be involved in, but I couldn’t let myself blame her. Maybe I did blame her a little…

Lexus took a moment to answer. “We’re clothed, she’s leaving… and she’s gone.”

“I’m on my way.” I hung up. I walked to in the direction of his room, and I saw Aqua turn a corner. Iwondered is she’d still like being Lexus’ aid after they go through with the rejection. I love being the aidto my best friend. When they told me I wouldn’t anymore last week I hid how I felt a lot. I knew it wascoming even before Aqua showed up. I thought Gray would be the holder and he’d take my position. Igot myself to be okay with it a while ago because there was no way I was the holder. I guess that didn’t

stop me from feeling bad when I was replaced. When I found out Lexus had already asked me tohangout with Sadia. She knew I was upset, and she was there for me. She even shared personalstories to make me feel better.

When I got to Lexus’ room, he was at his desk with his head down. “Is something wrong?”

“I ruined things with Aqua.”

Was this why he called me in? “I don’t see how that’s a bad thing. Shouldn’t you be more worried aboutruining things with your fiancée?” Sadia didn’t deserve any of this.

He lifted his head. “I told Aqua I had feelings for her last night and ever since she’s been awkward.Well, more awkward than she usually is. I mean we haven’t talked much; we went to our classes asnormal then when we met up after it was awkward.”

“Shit… you like my sister?” I sat down in a chair. “What are you going to do about it?” He didn’t havemany options. Aqua had to have had feelings for him too so why didn’t she tell him?

“I’m not sure if I can do anything about it. Do you think Sadia would hate me if I broke off ourengagement?” I didn’t want him hurting Sadia.

“Yeah, I do. You shouldn’t break it off because you still can’t marry and mate with your future adviserLexus.” If Lexus could marry Aqua maybe I wouldn’t be so against it but why should Sadia get her heartbroken if he can’t even be with Aqua?

“When I’m King I can do whatever, I want.” He sighed which made me think he didn’t have much faith inthat. “I’m supposed to hang out with Sadia today, but I want to deal with this, so I need you to hang outwith her again.” Before I knew Lexus was cheating on Sadia, he’d have me hangout with her. Sadiawas a lot cooler than I thought. We never usually had time to get to know each other until the last twoweeks. Now I knew why I was asked to spend so much time with her.

Lexus got up. “I’m going to help Aqua replace her mom. She’s talking to Konn about it now.”

“You’re not afraid she’ll ditch us for her mom?” Maybe I was the one afraid of that. I didn’t even get tospend as much time with her as much as I wanted because of work, our Father and Lexus. Now thatGray knew about her, we were all going to spend more time as a family.

“I thought about it and I thought about her getting hurt by her mother. It doesn’t matter what I am afraidof because she really wants this.” He was right but my fear didn’t go away.

He told me where to meet Sadia and I left his room. Halfway out of the castle my mom stopped me.“Cade do you know where your father is?” I knew he was talking with Aqua. “This should be his breaktime, I wanted to speak with him.”

“I’m not sure where Dad is,” I lied. “What did you want to talk to him about?” I was afraid my Momwould want a divorce. His affair was nearly two decades ago. They’ve build something stronger sincethen.

Mom frowned. ”If you see him tell him I’m looking for him. It’s private Cade, I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“You’re not going to leave him, are you?” I asked bluntly.

Mom sighed. “No, I’m not leaving him Cade, that wouldn’t be fair to Gray. I still love your father and helove me; we’re just figuring things out. Right now, I only want him to know how I feel before he startsincluding his daughter into our family.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “Aqua is mine and Gray’s sister too, she’s already apart of our familyMom. I understand if you want space to cope but we’ve already lost so much time with our sister.” Ididn’t want to act like my mom was in the wrong here, but we all had such different perspectives in this.

She didn’t seem to understand. “This is a conversation I should be having with my husband not youCade. You can’t understand what I’m going through. You might feel that way, but Gray doesn’t. He’sbeen upset since he found out. I’m not the only one who needs space.” Gray is only upset that he’s notthe holder, it has nothing to do with how he feels about Aqua. She walked past me, and I didn’t feelgreat after that.