Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 45: You never asked me!

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: You never asked me!

Dorian said in a deep voice while lifting Cassian’s chin and gazing into his pale blue eyes.

Dorian found himself lost in those deep eyes. They contained hesitation, fear, accusation, and something more, something he couldn’t describe.

But he didn’t like the look of accusation in Cassian’s eyes.

"Don’t ever lower your head in front of me. Look at me in the eyes, Cassian," Dorian said in an authoritative tone, his hand still holding the delicate jaw of Cassian.

Cassian looked at the otherworldly face in front of him. He could see the fine edges on his face, sharp eyebrows, and deep eyes. Looking at those deep eyes, Cassian felt like he had seen them before, even closer than now, but he couldn’t remember where.

Cassian’s eyes trailed down to Dorian’s lips. They were pressed thinly, and Cassian found his mind wandering again in the wrong direction.

He looked at Prince Dorian’s clenched jaw, and a shiver ran down his spine. A realization hit him hard—Prince Dorian was dangerous, intoxicatingly so, and despite the fear gnawing at his core, he knew that the prince was... is addictive, like a forbidden fire he couldn’t resist being drawn to.

Cassian was shocked by the realization, because he didn’t want to go down this path. It was like walking in constant danger. And he couldn’t afford the luxury of liking someone when his life was uncertain.

When he couldn’t promise himself a beautiful life, how could he afford to live every day waiting for a person who could throw him out of his life at any point?

After all, their existence meant nothing in the eyes of nobles. He wouldn’t lie; he did find Dorian addictive. But after knowing that he was actually the First Prince Dorian, only second to the king, all his hopes and dreams scattered.

Cassian felt his eyes tear up, and a lone tear escaped without him even knowing.

Dorian was shocked when he felt the wetness on his hand, and his eyes widened as he looked at Cassian’s teary expression.

"Why... why are you crying?" Dorian found himself lost. He didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t even know what had made Cassian cry.

Dorian really wanted to pull his hair. He didn’t like the teary expression on Cassian; it gave him a dull ache in his heart.

Dorian gently wiped the tears from Cassian’s eyes, but they came pouring down faster, like a dam had broken.

Dorian found himself lost—what to do? It was his first time wiping someone’s tears. He really didn’t know any comforting words that would make Cassian stop crying.

Cassian tried to remove Dorian’s big hand, which was constantly trying to wipe his tears, but he only felt more emotional. The gentle look on Prince Dorian’s face was enough to make him cry even more.

Cassian wouldn’t lie. From the first day he had met Prince Dorian, he had started thinking about him. He had found himself lost in his thoughts. He had tried several times to go to the library and many places where he could catch a glimpse of him.

He knew it was wrong, but just by thinking about him, his mood would improve.

He just wanted to look at him from afar, nothing more, nothing less. It was just pure admiration... and...

Cassian snapped out of his thoughts when he found his face cupped between two large hands, making his small face appear even smaller.

Cassian looked into Dorian’s eyes without blinking his big doe eyes.

Damn! Dorian cursed himself when he looked at the innocent expression on Cassian’s face. The pretty big doe eyes, the puckered trembling lips, and the small chin. It... is really kissable...

Dorian coughed at his imagination. His mind should work in the right direction—how to console Cassian—but Dorian found himself going astray...

He was really confused. He was not the type of person to feel pity for anyone, but Cassian’s tears brought him immense sadness.

Dorian’s hands still cupped Cassian’s face, his thumbs gently brushing away the tears, When Cassian finally spoke, his voice was strained and barely above a whisper.

"You... you’re a prince." Cassian’s words were laced with hurt, disbelief, and a touch of bitterness. "And you hid it from me all this time."

Dorian’s expression softened, his intense gaze unwavering as he watched Cassian’s reaction.

He let out a low sigh, knowing the truth had finally caught up with them. "I didn’t hide it, Cassian," Dorian began, his voice calm but resolute, "you never asked me."

Cassian blinked, his eyes glistening with fresh tears, his lips trembling as he tried to hold himself together. "But how would I know it?"

Dorian’s grip on Cassian’s chin tightened slightly, but not out of anger. His lips quirked into a small smile, though his eyes were still filled with a deeper emotion. "I knew you’d say that." His smile grew a little wider. "But I thought you were pretending to not know me."

Cassian shook his head, his breath shaky as he tried to pull away, but Dorian wouldn’t let him go. "How could you think about me like this?" Cassian’s voice broke as he continued. "You’re a prince. You should’ve told me."

Dorian chuckled softly, surprising Cassian with the sound, a small, unexpected smile breaking across his face. "You think it matters that I’m a prince?" Dorian asked, his voice light, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Of all the things you could be upset about, that’s what you focus on?"

Cassian stared at him, momentarily stunned. "You lied," he said, his voice quieter now, the accusation still there, though softened by the confusion in Dorian’s reaction. "You let me think you were just..."

Dorian’s smile didn’t waver, though there was something sad behind it. "Just what, Cassian? Just a man? Just someone who wanted to be friends with you?" His fingers brushed along Cassian’s jaw, causing a shiver to run through him.

"I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want this"—he gestured between them with his free hand—"to be about who I am."

"But it is about who you are," Cassian replied, his voice shaking. "You’re the First Prince, Dorian. You have duties, responsibilities. You belong to a world where I don’t fit in. I could never belong there."

Dorian let out a small sigh, his thumb gently caressing Cassian’s cheek, wiping away the last of his tears.

"And that’s exactly why I didn’t want you to know," he admitted softly. "Because I knew you’d feel like this—will be gaurded against me. But I want a real you, Cassian."