Fire in the woods

Prince Greg’s POV

The flames I had created were mesmerizing. How could he want me to stop doing this?

We might be half brothers but he had no right to treat me like I was some kind of monster.

I turned the fire to air as I blasted a tree in the distance which had its branches rattling.

“That was fun,” I smiled.

I had never used my powers outside the palace before and having to be in the woods with no one supervising me, it was great to finally be free.

“Maybe leaving the palace for good wouldn’t be a terrible idea,” I muttered to myself as I leaned back again.

Suddenly, a rustling noise reached my ears. My super hearing, an ability I relied on heavily, picked up the subtle approach of another presence.

Who was that?

Without a second thought, I used my super speed to zip towards the sound, my feet barely touching the ground as I moved swiftly through the trees.

I arrived at the source of the disturbance and found Anna, my personal guard, trembling and crouched on the ground.

She had clearly been caught off guard by my sudden appearance. Her eyes widened in fear as she looked up at me, and she struggled to her feet, her face pale.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice sharp with irritation.

Anna's eyes were filled with fear and confusion as she tried to compose herself. “I… I’m sorry, Prince Greg. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

I rolled my eyes, frustration evident in my expression. “You didn’t mean to intrude? Do you have any idea how private this place is to me? Why were you following me?”

Anna took a hesitant step back, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m your personal guard, sir. It’s my duty to ensure your safety. I was instructed to keep an eye on you at all times.”

I almost rolled down laughing at that. “To ensure my safety? Do you know how stupid you sound? I am a wolf and I am the only wolf on this stupid earth that has magic. I don’t need you to keep me safe. Be it your job or not.”

I sighed heavily, watching her body tremble as my irritation bubbled over. “So, you’re telling me that even when I seek some mind of peace, I’m not allowed a moment to myself? My brother’s paranoia knows no bounds.”

Anna nodded quickly, her gaze fixed on the ground. “Yes, Prince Greg. I understand that it must be frustrating, but it’s part of my responsibilities. I’m here to make sure nothing happens to you, even if it means intruding on your private moments.”

I stared at her for a moment, trying to gauge whether her words were genuine or just a part of her duty.

It was clear that she was anxious about my reaction.

Her presence was an unwelcome intrusion, but I also understood the position she was in.

I stepped close to her until my breath bounced off her face.

“You believe in intrusion of personal space so much,” I said as she shivered when my fingers trailed her naked arms. “What if I were to do the same to you?”

Her breath became shaky, her eyes still fixed onto my chest as I held her neck with a gentle touch, making it seem like she was an egg which I could break without a second thought.

“Fine,” I said with a sigh, trying to regulate my irritation as I stepped away. “But can you at least give me a little space? I don’t need someone breathing down my neck every time I want to be alone.”

Anna’s eyes met mine, her expression shaky after what I had done to her. “I’ll keep m-my distance as much as possible, Prince Greg.”

I nodded, acknowledging her effort to adapt to the situation. “Alright. Just… try to be more discreet. I appreciate your dedication, but I need some kind of privacy now and then.”

Anna nodded earnestly. “Understood. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind.”

I turned back to the tree, feeling a bit of the tension in my shoulders ease as I walked back.

I still had mixed feelings about her presence, but it was clear that she was just following orders. It wasn’t her fault that the king had decided to keep such a close watch on me.

As I resumed my seat by the tree, Anna remained standing at a respectful distance, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. Despite her role, she seemed genuinely concerned and earnest in her duty.

She was caught between spying for me and just plain making sure that my brother didn’t know anything about me.

We sat in silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.

The fireball in my hand had extinguished itself, leaving a faint trace of warmth in my palm.

I watched as Anna occasionally glanced in my direction, her vigilance unwavering but anytime I would see her staring she would look away to an empty space like she didn’t want me to know she was staring at me.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Do you ever get tired of this constant vigilance? It must be exhausting.”

Anna looked at me, her expression thoughtful. “It can be challenging, yes. But it’s my duty, and I take it very seriously. I understand the importance of my role, even if it means sacrificing my own comfort.”

I nodded, appreciating her dedication. “Well, I can’t fault you for that. It’s just… sometimes it feels like everyone is conspiring against me. My brother’s lack of trust and the constant surveillance—it gets overwhelming.”

She didn’t say anything as I created a flame with my hand which had her eyes opening with surprise.

“You can ask,” I said to her as I knew she was curious.

“How do you do that?”