15

Word Count: 1982

~Kiva

Ark's presence looms behind me as I'm invited in the foyer of Caspian's massive palace.

It's not his place entirely. There are the King and Queen, but they are not here during my visit.

Father sent me here for one reason alone.

To convince Caspian to propose to me.

"Caspian, it is wonderful to see you again," I exclaim, seeing him stride across the foyer toward me.

He looks vaguely handsome today, all dressed up like a Prince in his baby blue dress shirt and dark coat. I swear his eyes are brighter, hair lighter than I remember.

"You too, Kiva. Thank you for visiting," he greets.

"I brought my personal guard with me as well. I'm sure you understand why." I motion behind me at Ark.

Caspian's smile vanishes as he takes in the imposing sight of my guard. Ark merely dips his head of way of greeting, of showing his respect to a Prince.

Instead of acknowledging him, Caspian turns his attention to me.

"Oh Kiva, what has been happening to you is just horrendous. Truly...I cannot imagine." He reaches out and grabs my hand with heartbreaking gentleness.

My heart would melt if this manner of speaking impressed me.

"Once we locate where the rebel group is based, this threat will be put down immediately," I tell him firmly.

I glance back at Ark, who nods once.

"Do you have any idea why they are targeting you?" Caspian asks, tapping his index finger against his chin.

"No...but I wish I did know."

More than anyone...I want to know why my mate is targeting me.

Caspian holds his arm out to me. "Come, walk with me in the gardens."

With a polite smile, I link mine through his, letting him guide me out through the back to the gardens. Just like at home, the ground is frosted over, and not much grows.

"I apologise about Ark tailing us," I say, glancing behind as Ark lingers back respectfully, keeping his distance, although is clearly within earshot.

Caspian looks back too, the slightest frown creasing his forehead. "It's for your safety, I entirely understand."

"You look uncomfortable..." I notice.

"Forgive me. It's just the last time I saw him, he interrupted us." He rubs the back of his neck, remembering when Ark busted in and shoved him out of the room unceremoniously.

I doubt in his entire life as Prince, he has ever been handled like that.

"Right," I wince. "I'm sorry about that night by the way. I'm not usually so...desperate."

I wish I could that night back. I didn't think father would bring me here in pursuit of a marriage so soon, but he's pressured by the rebellion, and wants to get me away from the estate as soon as possible.

Caspian and I may be married for years and I won't be able to escape the memory of that night.

"All is forgiven. I was as, how do you say, desperate as you were," he admits quietly, looking down at his feet.

I watch him, even as I feel the intensity of Ark's gaze tracking us. We could be whispering, and I doubt what we are saying would go unheard to him.

Clearing my throat, I force a smile onto my face. "So, what do you have planned for my visit?"

"I was hoping we could go visit the nearby town, perhaps walk in the forest, and I know of a wonderful frozen lake that's beautiful at this time of year," he exclaims.

I nod gratefully. I've been invited to Prince's homes only to spend time with them at dinner and at meetings. That's it.

And father thought from that, we could establish a clear enough connection to marry.

"That sounds great."

Caspian sighs loudly, breathing clouding in front of his face. "I just hope at one point, we get some privacy."

I laugh a little. Privacy, what a thought.

Ark will leave us alone, if I order it. He pushes me and tells me what to do most of the time, but ultimately he is aware of my position, and if I demand alone time with my future husband, he will be obliged to agree.

But alone time with Caspian...I know that's the point of this exertion, but admittedly, I'm not sure I want to be alone with him.

It wouldn't be fair to him, to pretend to want to be physically intimidate with him when that's the last thing I want.

"He follows my orders, ultimately," I tell him assuredly.

"Actually, I follow the King's," Ark exclaims from a few feet back. I pause, whirling around to scowl at him.

By the slight up-tilt to his lips, he's only saying this to taunt me.

"You're here now, on my soil, guard. You can abide by my instructions." Caspian straightens, pinning Ark down with his gaze, who doesn't look away, unbothered.

He dips his head. "Yes sir."

What other choice does he have?

"I can protect Kiva when you are absent. Understand?" Caspian continues.

In other words, back off.

His firm tone is unnervingly different to the gentle one he used to address me. And he seemed to have slipped into it with ease too, like a true royal.

Ark draws in a breath, glancing at me before he nods. "Understood."

***

Ark did as he was instructed, and was elsewhere for the rest of the day.

Caspian and I spent the day at the frozen lake, talking until the cold chased us back to the estate.

He seems kind enough. I'm not certain he ever asked a question about me, nor inquired into any part of my life other than my duties as Princess, but I suppose a love match was never in the picture.

The only thing we have in common is our positions of power.

A soft knock on the door sounds as I'm preparing for bed.

Looking down at myself, I note my partially sheer nightdress I packed. I had purposefully packed it to claim modesty if Caspian ever comes knocking.

Hopefully the faint shape of my body being visible through my dress is enough to embarrass him and send him rushing off.

Slowly, I open the door, peeking out.

Ark immediately pushes it wide open, striding in purposefully.

"Ark!" I scold quietly, quickly shutting the door. It's not because I want him to stay, but because if Caspian catches him in here at this hour....

"I don't like the Prince," Ark exclaims, pacing back and forth.

Rubbing my hands over my eyes, I sigh.

"You can't come in here, you could muddy my image in his eyes," I mutter tiredly. I've heard whispers around the estate at home that it's suspected Ark and I are involved.

We aren't...but Caspian might believe it.

Ark stops, a whirlwind of wild emotions passing over his face. "I can assure you, he's so desperate to fuck you, nothing could stop him."

I roll my eyes. "He's not..."

Maybe he is. He did tell me he was desperate too that night, and he has been making subtle touches at me throughout the day. I'm not sure how Ark see's it, thought.

Ark tilts his head to the side, the lamp light casting a mellow glow over his skin. "Why do you care so much about what he thinks, anyway?"

"I need to find a husband. Not only may it improve my standings with the people, but it will give me more protection." I make at step at him, trying to convince him.

He of all people should know this isn't my choice. That it's not what I want.

He goes silent, staring at me.

I shift from foot to foot, rubbing the back of my neck. I can't tell if I secretly like it or blatantly hate it when he looks at me like that. It's like he's searching my soul, stripping it bare for him to examine.

And he never pays much attention to anything other than his job, so when he focuses it all on me...

"You're running from the fact that you have a mate," he murmurs lowly. I should never have told him that.

I grit my teeth. "I'm doing what is right, as Princess."

"And when did you care about that?" he questions coolly, allowing me to see only a momentary flicker of that ice cold anger he restrains so well. "Last time I checked, you want freedom, to escape."

"Not as much as I want to protect myself and my people," I snap back.

Suddenly he's right in front of me, almost no space between us as he leans down to seethe, "liar."

"You only hate the Prince because he tells you what to do," I growl, fingers balling into fists as anger rears up inside me.

Ark can inspire it in me without much thought at all. He provokes every ounce of passion I have in my body, and I can't tell if I like it.

That feeling...It's foreign to me, unknown.

"He's arrogant and pretentious."

"My father tells you what to do, and you have no issue with that-"

Ark leans forward, cutting me off. "There is absolutely nothing redeemable about your father."

My breath catches at my lips. The pure, unfiltered anger I'm seeing in him isn't frightening. He won't hurt me, I know that, but...

He truly, deeply hates my father.

"How dare you," I seethe.

His jaw clenches. "Your father can rot in the darkest depths of hell for all I care."

Rearing my arm back, I channel as much force as possible as I strike right at his irritatingly perfect face. He immediately moves his head out of the way, and when I try a second time, he grabs my arm, pushing me back.

I stumble away, glowering at him. "Fuck you..."

The anger melts away into a smile, although the bitterness still lingers in his eyes. His hate for my father burns deep.

"Go on, Kiva. What do you have to say to me?"

"Ugh! I can't stand you..."

I realise I'm yelling, at this point. I'm in an entirely different wing of the manor to Caspian, but any staff walking by will hear and may report back to him. I don't have it in me to care anymore.

He steps forward, forcing me back until the backs of my legs hit the bed.

"Yeah?" he breathes, taunting me.

"Yes...You call Caspian arrogant and pretentious, but that's exactly what you are! You walk around like you own me, and yet you're nothing, you're just some soldier, who...who..."

I don't even know what to say, too distracted as I sink down onto the bed, as if it may break whatever spell he has cast on me.

I hate him so much, and yet it feels as though my body yearns for him, even when I'm my most angry.

He leans down, gaze shifting over my face, and just like that, the anger melts from his eyes. Any frustration, any resentment, it's gone. Instead, it's replaced by a primal sort of hunger.

"Kiva," he breathes against my lips.

"Ark," I gasp out, the intensity of his dark gaze alone pinning me to the bed.

He leans down, wrapping his gloved hand around my neck, the pressure making my head spin in the best way. "I do own you."

A loud, insistent knock echoes through the room.

Ark slowly releases me, straightening.

"You're lucky," he murmurs, turning as I sit up, smoothing my hair down as I pitifully attempt to regain my composure.

Ark opens the door, and sure enough, Caspian stands at the threshold, looking straight in at me.

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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! and as always it is available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

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