Stolen by the Rebel King

31  Frozen Heart

It was the heat of the bath. It just had to be. There was no other way Daphne could explain the way her cheeks warmed, or how her heart started racing in her chest like they were part of a race. Her face felt like it was about to explode with all the blood rushing to her cheeks.

What did he just say? Was Atticus out of his mind or was Daphne finally driven insane and started hearing things?

But the look in Atticus's eyes was so intense and passionate that Daphne knew for a fact that she hadn't, in fact, heard wrong. The king had meant every word, none of it a sweet lie just to con something from her. Or if it was, he was a damn good liar.

"What did you just say?" Daphne breathed, her voice shaky when she spoke.

"I―" Atticus stopped short, suddenly widening his eyes as his cheeks turned into the color of beetroot, matching hers. "You… You heard me."

"Stop lying through your teeth," Daphne said. "You are not mine." An image of Cordelia flashed through her head. "And I am not yours. We are only married just because you kidnapped me here while I was on my way to meet my actual betrothed."

And just like that, gone were the starry eyes and the dreamy atmosphere. Daphne could almost hear something snap through the air, breaking the tension that was held between them. The look in Atticus's eyes cooled. Gone was the heated gaze, replaced temporarily with something that looked eerily like disappointment. Yet, even that was gone as quickly as it came.

Atticus coldly laughed. "Daphne Molinero, you are a bitterly cold woman. You make our winters seem warm and welcoming."

Daphne bit her lip. She steeled her heart, but she couldn't control the small ache that had started to overwhelm her chest. His words had struck a blow to her, and she winced, even when she had been the first to strike.

Ever since they started interacting more and more, Daphne realized a mistake. She had been letting Atticus affect her a little too much. His words shouldn't have even registered in her mind, but it was too late― as much as she took comfort in his words of support, she left herself open to his harsh words.

She wasn't going to apologize though.

Her lips parted, ready to argue when they heard a series of clambering sounds from outside.

"Your Highness?" It was Jonah, his voice muffled by the huge doors. "Your Highness, are you in there?"

"Shit." The expletive left both Daphne and Atticus's lips at the same time. Both of them turned to look each other in the eye at once, completely forgetting the awkward air that was still hovering around them just now.

"What are you so worried about?" Daphne asked, keeping her voice lower than before, even though she wasn't sure why exactly she was whispering and hiding from Jonah.

"I am not supposed to be here," Atticus confessed sheepishly.

Daphne blinked in befuddlement. "What do you mean you're not supposed to be here? Isn't this your bath? That's what you so hotly claimed just now!"

"It is my bath!" Atticus whisper-yelled. "But that doesn't mean Jonah wouldn't flare up if he knew I was in here while you were."

"But Jonah brought you here, didn't he?" Daphne asked, confused.

"Your Highness?" came Jonah's voice again, this time much closer to the door than before.

"He may have just mentioned off-handedly that you're here," Atticus said, edging closer to the bath with each second. "Along with a warning that I shouldn't be following you in."

"You―!"

"Pardon me, Your Highness, but I'm coming in!"

"Wait!"

Daphne barely had the time to react when two things happened at once. Atticus had dived back into the bath with a splash, completely submerging himself into the water. At the same time, the doors to the bath opened and in stepped a frazzled-looking Jonah. His eyes scanned around the room haphazardly until they eventually landed on Daphne.

At first, he looked relieved, then, his eyes widened and face flushed when he realized that she was dressed in nothing but a thin towel that only covered the essentials― not barely enough.

"Your Highness!" The words left Jonah in a tone much higher than his usual, almost an alarmed squeak.

Jonah instinctively turned away.

"Hi Jonah," Daphne said, her earlier ire at Jonah now non-existent as she realized that he didn't invite Atticus into the bath. It was Atticus, sneaking into the bath like a mischievous cat. "Don't look so panicked. Did something happen outside?"

"No, no," Jonah stuttered as he glanced at his queen from the corner of his eyes, before quickly turning away at the sight of flawless skin tinged pink from the bathwater. Even a quick glimpse made him feel like a sinner!

"I heard some strange noises from outside and got worried," Jonah explained, looking around the bathroom.

His eyes narrowed at the pile of male clothing at the side of the bath. It looked startlingly familiar to Atticus' own wardrobe. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Did Your Highness see anything strange or untoward?" Jonah pointed to the clothes on the floor.

Daphne flushed, but then a wicked thought began to brew in her mind. "No I didn't see anything strange, but it's very dedicated of you to check on me. I'm sure you'll capture and punish all the intruders."

She tilted her head to the bath, drawing Jonah's eyes to a particular spot in the bath, where bubbles were rising to the surface.

Jonah raised an incredulous eyebrow.

'Atticus?' he asked, his lips moving without making a sound.

Daphne nodded, equally silent. Jonah put his head in his hands, trying not to groan out loud.

"I will execute my duty to the best of my ability," Jonah promised, staring pointedly at that bubbling spot. "Whether it's a peasant or even my own king, anyone who intrudes into a woman's bath uninvited must be punished."

Both of them didn't miss how the bubbles increased rapidly, as though said intruder was panicking.

Daphne smiled at him and continued.

"I'm glad to know that at least I have someone that cares so much for me. You must be the only man that cares."

The bubbles stopped forming. Daphne imagined that Atticus must have choked on his tongue in jealousy, and had to suppress a snort.

Jonah rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, suddenly feeling like he was caught between a lover's spat. "The king cares for you too."

"I'm sure," Daphne said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. If Atticus was wiser, he would stop caring.

She frowned, watching as the water's surface remained free of bubbles. Was Atticus holding his breath because he was sulking? Surely he couldn't be that childish, right?

"Atticus, I know you're in the water!" Jonah exclaimed, his voice echoing across the cavernous bathroom. "Stop hiding and come out."

The bathwater remained suspiciously still. Worry began to grow in Daphne's mind.

"Atticus?" Daphne called out.

There was only silence.

"Atticus? You can come out now. I'm sorry for my earlier words." Daphne tried again, but the bathwater remained suspiciously still.

There was no response.

Daphne's heart stopped for a second as a terrifying scenario came to mind.

"Atticus!"