Chapter 42: Chapter 42

It took them some time like that until she slowly broke their hug and stared into his eyes. “If that’s why you’re here, you can take your leave.” She wasn't comfortable with the way her heart was beating and the feelings that were beginning to take place in her heart. She walked away from him and sat on one of the sofas.

Instead of him to walk out as she had ordered despite her using a tone of finality, Xanth walked toward her and stood by her head, “I have something else to say.” He knew she felt uncomfortable with him around and he could swear with his life that she hated the way he made sure there was always a proximity between them. But how could he help it?

“Say whatever it is you want to and get out of my sight.” She felt ashamed to look him I the eye, she knew it wasn’t her mistake when he hugged her and she hugged him back. But she felt disgusted by herself that she even felt safe and wanted to be in those arms for as much as she wanted. If only he would get out of her sight, she would have to take control of herself and the feelings her heart was acting up to.

“You mentioned that you want to visit Kestramore, do you still want to?” That made her jerked up and she immediately turned to look at him, all that she felt long forgotten.

“Have you found a way out?” She grinned, and the smile and excitement he saw on her face was enough for Xanth and he knew it was worth whatever punishment he would have to go through if the king finds out.

“Yes and we're supposed to leave in two hours. You should rest a bit, I'll be in front of your chamber and whenever it’s time, I'll knock to notify you.” Sentimental tears sprang to her eye but she quickly pulled them and nodded her head at him excitedly.

“Thank you so much, you have no idea.” She rushed into the room to make sure everything she might need is ready. He needn't to tell her that she couldn't even come with Katharina, she knew. Xanth stared at the path she followed to her room and he could hear her squealing from where he stood, a beautiful smile painted itself on his face before he walked out. It felt good to know that she was fine and that he was going to fulfill her only wish at the moment.

Like he said, he was at the door to her chamber until he made sure all he plans he made were complete and all that was left for them is to leave when he knocked on her door and she came out almost immediately. He had to tame down his chuckle at how excited she looked as though a baby gifted with his favorite candy.

“You haven't slept, Your highness.” He needn’t to ask, rather, he stated a fact which was all over her face.

“I couldn’t sleep. Can we leave?” She was looking at everywhere but his face, trying to see if someone was there or it was just them.

He took a hold of her wrist and Keres stared at how he firmly held her and looked up at him but he wasn’t even staring at her as he guided her toward a secret path. They walked for a few minutes in an eerie silence before he turned to look at her. “We’re about to enter the only village that’s in the outskirt of Belrynna. The only way we can walk out of there is...” he trailed off and didn’t know how to continue his words.

“What is the way?” She asked, eager for them to leave Belrynna so she could really know that's he was visiting Kestramore.

He ducked his head down and answered her, “We have to lie to them that we’re husband and wife...” She cut him off even before he closed his lips.

“That’s fine, so long as it’s a lie as you said.” She took a step forward to let him show that she was ready for the lie as well. But he held her wrist and slightly pulled her back.

“That’s not it, they won’t believe us even if we lie about being married, your highness.”

“So what’s the point of the lie if they can’t believe us? Let’s find another way out as we walk into the village, they might be up until we pass their town, right?” She pulled him and they walked further, Xanth knew how stubborn she could be an he didn’t even try to stop her from walking, all he knew is that was the only way out.

As she predicted, it was still dark when they entered the town and she turned to look at him with a grin, “Look? They’re all asleep.” How could he tell this excited...his thoughts were brought to a stop when they saw two guards walking toward them and she quickly tightened her hold on his hand. Carefully, Xanth placed her behind him and walked forward.

“What are you two doing here?” One of the guards asked and Xanth pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hands around her shoulders in the most casual way ever, he could feel the way she tensed under his touch.

“She’s my wife and we’re traveling to Hermase.”

One of the guards scoffed, “Do you know the tradition of this town?”

“Yes, I do.” Xanth answered, his heart pounding because he knew this was what he was trying to tell her but she was so excited to listen to him.

“You can’t move past this place unless you prove to us that she’s your wife or else we’re taking you to investigate further.” Keres pulled his shirt and he looked down on her, she had an inquiry look on her face.

He leaned to her ear and whispered, “This is what I tried to tell you but you weren't ready to listen to me, your highness.”

She lightly punched his stomach before she whispered back, “You should've told me it was this serious and we would’ve found a solution. What’s the tradition we need to prove to them with?”

“Hey! Are you going to stay there whispering to each other or you’re going to prove yourself> we have to keep on patrolling for the likes of you.” One of the guards yelled and the two fo them looked up at him.

“I'm only explaining the tradition to her.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to look at him. She could only stare at him, aware of his eyes that briskly brushed her lips and she felt a shiver ran down her spine. Their eyes met and he whispered, “I'm sorry that I have to do this, Your highness,” he made sure they didn’t hear the ‘your highness’ part. Keres sensed the way he stared at her lips and slowly, he leaned closer to her face and gently merged their lips.

She surged in a breath, because even though his eyes had spoken what he intended to do, she had never imagined that for him to prove to them they were married, he would kiss her. At first, she was tensed, and it was just his lips on hers without any movement. But then she got tired of standing and her knees had gone weak feeling his lips unmoving on hers and she tightly held his shirt.

Xanth momentarily closed his eyes. He thought he could be able to stay this way for a minutes but that simple gesture she made was so hard for his pounding her to control itself. He cupped her face into his hands and kissed her as passionately as he had always imagined to kiss the dragon princess. Keres stood there motionless as she felt his wet lips kissing her with so much passion.

She knew she had once being kissed by Jaromir, which was her first kiss but in no way would this be compared to that. This was heaven with all its goodness. Reluctantly, she began to kiss him back until she they began to hungrily kiss each other. She had forgotten that they were doing this to prove the fact that they were married, and right now, she wished their lie would be true.

One of the guards coughed with a laugh, “Come on, guys, isn’t this enough for a proof? Or perhaps, you need a room?”

Slowly, Xanth broke their lips and Keres felt shy to look at the guys not to even talk about him, she ducked her face down and rested her head on his chest, covering her eyes from them. He deeply chuckled and tried to mask what he was feeling to the guys. “Can we move on?”

One of the guards pulled the other, “Let’s let them leave unless we want them to make us go back home to our wives.” They watched as they moved while laughing at how intimate they seemed a few minutes ago.

Keres was shot of words as he entwined their hands and they moved forward, but they both knew there were more to this silence they were both sharing. But it was better than words, safer than the emotions rumbling their hearts.

*

Aranya stared at at Desdemona and made sure she had memorized all that she mentioned about. “But have you realized that you can't order me around, Desdemona? As much as I need you, you need me as well.”

Desdemona grinned, “How do you think I'll need you ever again?”

Aranya twirled around as she saw how the maid dress looked on her, not bad. Lorcán even said she looked beautiful in the gown. She seemed unbothered by Desdemona’s comment. “Just be careful, okay? I might not be able to help you when the need arises.” She put on her shoes and with one last glance at her face, she walked toward the door, “I’ll take my leave.” She had noticed Keres’s absence but she didn’t mention a word about it.

“Don’t forget about all that I've said so long as you want to keep your beloved safe.” Desdemona yelled after her and that made her stop at her track.

“He’s not a weakling like your darling husband who has been caught for hundreds of years without making an attempt to free himself. He could fight for himself and guess what? I'd love to see someone you or anyone try to hurt him.” She smirked and left, assured that her words struck a nerve.

She walked toward his chamber with lots of thoughts going through her mind. She wondered how she would react knowing he was the most hated person to her and he answered the name of her father while he had no idea she was his daughter. She stood by the door and the guards didn’t question her, but she was deep in her thoughts and if she could be a little more truthful, she was to face him.

She sighed and could remember Betla’s ever strong personality and what she would have said to her in a situation like this. She walked with her face held to the sky and didn't stop until someone called her name and when she turned, it was a man. At first glance she wasn’t sure of his age.

Calmly, Aranya turned to face him fully and she didn't have to be told that he was the king. Or else did she expect when she was in his room. “What are you doing here?” His words put a hold to her train of thoughts as she examined his whole body. As much as she hated to say it, she had his eyes. Staring into his eyes felt as though she was staring right into hers.

“My name is Aranya and I'll be taking care of your bedroom, Your highness.” She bowed down and her eyes got in contact with his feet. She had to stare back at hers to make sure she wasn’t standing in two places or that he hadn’t cut off her feet. How the hell did she look like this man when this was the first time she was seeing and the hell, he didn't even know she was his freaking daughter!