Chapter 11

CERION

The morning light seeped across the bed, causing my eyelids to flutter open, embracing the daylight. Rolling over, I expected to find Kira still asleep, but her side of the bed was empty.

It was barely dawn, and she was already up. ~This girl~, I thought.

Then I heard it—the splash of water coming from the bathroom, followed by a heavy sigh. She was taking a bath.

I guess she wasn’t completely mad at me. The water here must be a lot warmer than what she was used to in her freezing castle.

I cracked open the door, waiting for her to protest, but she didn’t. Instead, I found her with her eyes closed, sinking into the deep bathtub, letting the heat envelop her.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she jumped when she saw me. She quickly wrapped her arms around her chest, hiding her breasts from view.

“I wasn’t looking, Princess,” I lied, meeting her gaze again. ~God, she’s beautiful~.

The steam from the bath had left droplets on her skin, making wisps of blonde hair stick to her forehead and her eyes shine even brighter. I couldn’t help but let my gaze wander over her soft, milky skin, now flushed from the heat.

“Please, my king. I’d like some privacy,” she said, her eyes darting away from mine. “I’ll do my duty on the day of our wedding as expected of a queen, but not before.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her response. She was perceptive, this one.

She must know I was interested in her beyond just her duties as a queen. She had to feel the way I wanted her—the way I’ve wanted her since the moment we met.

“What duties of a queen do you speak of?” I asked, curious to hear her answer.

She clenched her teeth, pressing her lips into a thin line. “My king, I can’t—” she paused, searching for the right words. “I can’t say it without feeling vulgar.”

Another laugh burst out of me at her modesty. ~God, she really is that innocent, isn’t she~?

“Princess, have you ever been kissed?” I asked, my whole body burning at the thought of pressing my lips to hers. I watched as her face turned pink at the question.

Her pale skin flushed as she considered her answer. “No, my king, I haven’t,” she said, her gaze dropping back to the water.

I stayed where I was, watching her, waiting for her to look at me again. “Will you let me do the honors, Princess?” I asked, shifting my weight in anticipation of her answer.

She shook her head quickly, still hugging herself tightly. “Suit yourself, Princess,” I said with a wink. “Your constant rejections will only make the wedding day offering more desirable.”

I took one last look at her before shaking my head and closing the door behind me. I wanted her to feel wanted, but not too much.

I was a mess of contradictions, just like her. As I got dressed for the day, I silently struggled with the hold she already had on me.

I took my seat at the head of the empty dining table. My mother and brother hadn’t shown up for breakfast yet, and Kira was probably taking her time getting ready.

The door opened, and I took a deep breath, expecting to see Kira. Instead, I was met with my brother’s cold, calculating stare.

Kira followed right behind him, the two of them chatting away. The sight of my brother and Kira laughing together made my blood boil.

~That fucking snake~! I thought, glaring at him. I could see the gleam in his eyes as they met mine. He knew exactly what he was doing.

~He is trying to be her friend so he can fill her head with lies and make her doubt me even more~. “I didn’t know you two knew each other,” I said, finally catching Kira’s eye.

She held my gaze for a moment before answering. She seemed more confident now, unlike before. “Yes, my king. We became acquainted yesterday, after you chose me as your queen—then abruptly left,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief before looking down.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment. She could be so lively when she wanted to be, but then she would get scared right after.

It must be because of her father. I bet he scolded her all the time.

I leaned back in my chair, eyeing the princess with a mixture of frustration and intrigue. “Well, the princess should get used to it. When she assumes her role as queen, things will remain the same. A king’s duty is war, and I shall take my leave regularly. A queen should busy herself with duties of importance.”

Kira’s eyes flashed with defiance, catching me off guard. “I thought the duty of the queen is to produce heirs, my king? I wasn’t aware I was allowed to partake in other activities I might deem fit.”

~Damn~. Her innocence was adorable, but that sass? It was enough to send a fit of passion surging through me.

I leaned forward, trying to keep my cool. “Surely you have other interests, Princess? Things you enjoy doing?”

Part of me wanted her to back down, to just agree with me. But another part—a part I didn’t quite understand—was thrilled by her refusal to submit.

Kira just stared back at me, silent as a statue. It was infuriating and captivating all at once.

Something inside me—my inner dragon, maybe—roared to life. I wanted to possess her, to claim her, to make her ~mine~.

“An answer would be nice, Princess!” I snapped, my voice rising. I saw her jump a little, but she didn’t back down.

Instead, she lifted her chin. “I enjoy helping people, ~my king~. Your people—our people. And I’d really like it if my sister could visit our court for a while.”

~Clever girl~. She was making a request, not just answering my question. I nodded; maybe this would help change her opinion of me.

“Verion,” I called. “Send a letter requesting the presence of Princess…?”

“Raya,” Kira supplied, a soft smile finally gracing her lips. ~Finally, I made her smile~.

Verion bowed. “Yes, my king, at once!” He scurried off to do my bidding.

I turned to my brother, who was still lingering nearby. “Now, Arion? Leave us. I need some alone time with my future queen.”

When he hesitated, I stood up, towering over him. “LEAVE OR I’LL RIP YOUR HAND OFF!” I roared, feeling fire pulse behind my eyes.

Arion scrambled to his feet and bolted, but not before casting one last look at Kira. She watched him go, and that pissed me off even more.

Now it was just Kira and me, the silence between us thick and heavy. “You’re to spend limited time with him,” I growled.

She didn’t respond, just pushed food around her plate. ~Stubborn little thing~.

“Do you understand, Princess?” I reached for her wrist, but she jerked away.

“Yes!” she snapped, cradling her arm against her chest like I’d burned her.

I leaned in close, my voice low. “It would be in your best interest to enjoy my touch, sweetheart.”

She muttered something under her breath, and I raised an eyebrow. “What was that, Princess?”

“Nothing, my king,” she said quickly. “May I be excused?”

I shook my head. “You will accompany me today—for combat training.”

Her eyes went wide. “What? But—my father only made me train to humiliate me. He always said I was average at best.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Care to prove your father wrong?”

She hesitated, then nodded, standing up slowly. There was fire in her, all right—buried deep, but still burning.

***

I was not used to waiting, especially not for a woman. But here I was, tapping my foot impatiently as the minutes ticked by.

Ten minutes late, and I was starting to feel like a fool. ~A king, made to wait like some commoner~.

When she finally walked in, my irritation evaporated. She was wearing black leather that hugged every curve, and suddenly I was struggling to remember why I was mad in the first place.

My eyes traced her figure, drinking in the sight of her. “Shall we begin?” I managed to say, my voice embarrassingly unsteady.

She nodded, glancing around the room. “Right here!” I said with a chuckle, realizing she was looking for her opponent.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. “You?”

“Yes, Princess. We’ll just do some gentle grappling. I promise I won’t hurt you,” I said with a wink.

She almost rolled her eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile. She took up a fighting stance, her tiny hands curled into fists.

We circled each other, our feet tracing patterns on the mat. She was watching my feet—~not a bad tactic~ I thought.

Suddenly, she kicked at my leg, aiming for my knee. I stumbled for a moment, impressed by her quick thinking.

We continued our dance, neither of us making a move. She stamped on my foot, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

~Enough playing around~ I decided. It’s time to end this little game.

In one swift motion, I wrapped my arm around her waist and took her down to the mat. My body pressed against hers, and I found myself staring into her clear blue eyes.

I could feel her heart racing, her breasts pressed against my chest. Her lips were so close, pink and soft and tempting.

~I have to kiss her. I need to~ The urge was overwhelming, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

I’d made up my mind. There was no point in second-guessing now as I leaned in closer.

She didn’t push me away. Instead, she stared at me with wide eyes, and I couldn’t tell if she was begging me to stop or to continue.

I pressed my lips to hers, tasting a hint of lemon. I deepened the kiss, gently biting her top lip before sliding my tongue into her mouth.

It was over too soon, barely a minute passing before she pulled away. I was left wanting more, craving her touch like a man dying of thirst.

I cleared my throat and stood up, offering her my hand. She took it gently, avoiding my gaze as she brushed off her clothes.

I ran a hand through my messy hair, unsure of what to say.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, finally looking at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Her frown deepened as she studied my face.

“Why wouldn’t I? You are to be my queen in a few days’ time,” I said, wincing at how cold and procedural it sounded.

“I don’t know—I just, I just…” she trailed off, turning to leave. But this time, I wasn’t letting her walk away.

My pride wouldn’t allow it. I chased after her, grabbing her hand and throwing her over my shoulder.