Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Keres turned to look at Katharina that stood with her head bowed down as she awaited the orders that would be addressed to her. “Are you sure you’ve sent out that letter to Gantrick?” She asked, pacing through her room as she thought about the possible way out.

This wasn’t going anywhere she wanted. At first when Xanth told her that Desdemona had told the king that Aranya and Lorcán were after him to hurt him she thought that it would make her revenge a whole lot easier. Because if no one could kill Aranya, she was certain the king could. But now, he treated her like a princess. Wait, she was one. After all she was his daughter.

She didn’t know when a hiss escaped her lips and spoke through gritted teeth as she headed for the door, “Let’s go, I pray everything goes as we all planned it.” Katharina nodded her head and she followed her every step. They walked to the prison even before she asked her where they were going because this was the only place she knew she found solace.

Upon arriving, they were let in and Keres asked her to stay by the door which was like a blessing to her, because she didn’t have to meet her beloved since things were a bit hard for her majesty these days. Keres stood by the cage and he looked up at her with a weary smile. He tried to walk toward her when he saw as she began to open to lock with a stupefied expression.

She walked into the cage with a triumphant smile and when he flashed her an inquisitive look. She walked toward him and took him into an embrace which forced him to took a deep breath before slowly, he wrapped his hands around her and pulled her closer to his body. She rested her head on his chest with a soft smile and closed her eyes to have the peace of mind she was feeling now.

“I've missed you, Xanth.” She whispered, barely audible but he heard her nevertheless. She had never imagined that she would say these words to him, but they had been on her mind since they day they came back from Kestramore and the worst thing is, the king hadn't even mentioned a word about it. It’s like he had forgotten about everything but Aranya in his life, and that was why she felt the urge to revenge as fast as she could, but the worst thing was, she had to be careful of what she was doing because she knew a single mistake from her, King Bhaltair would raid Kestramore.

Xanth broke their hug and stared into her eyes with his hands gently holding her shoulders. “You shouldn’t be stressing yourself to come here, Your highness.” She rolled her eyes at him and he softly chuckled. “And the key, where did you get one?”

She smiled and winked at him, Xanth felt his hand slowly slipping out of his hold. “Can you guess?”

He nodded his head, feeling so much joy as it filled his heart. Had there been a woman more beautiful than her? He knew there was none. “I guess it comes from Katharina but how? I mean, he would never give her his key.”

She chuckled and lifted a brow, “I sent her to his room last night, that worked the magic. Satisfied?” She watched as he threw his head back and laughed before he turned.

“You surely are unpredictable, I see different shades of you everyday.” He was silent for a second before he shook his head, “No, I'm not satisfied yet.” His eyes seductively rolled down to her lips before he looked up to her eyes and she looked flushed.

“Stop giving me...” He leaned down until he meshed their lips and she moaned instead of gasp. That was like what she had been waiting for, god! She knew it was only once she had kissed him but it’s like she had forbidden herself from thinking about that. One, because she felt it wasn’t real, or so she forced herself to believe. And two, because she knew she could never get another one from him, so why fantasize over it?

She slowly clasped her hands around his neck and her fingers got into his hair, rubbing it as softly as she had never imagined to touch something in her. It was softer than anything could ever be and how he was kissing her lips was heavenly.

She felt as he slowly broke their lips and they stared into each other’s eyes with a soft smile on their lips. “Well, I'm a bit satisfied now.”

Keres was about to reply him when they felt a laugh, an enigmatic laughter that felt like a rumble of a monster and when they turned, the king was standing outside the lock as he stared at them with amusement in his eyes. “This looks more satisfying than you must’ve felt.” He turned to one of the guards, “Lock them all.” And he disappeared into a thin ear, which sent a shiver down their spines but when she looked at Xanth, he had a soft smile on his lips.

“I'll always protect you, Your highness.” He entwined their hands, and she could feel his assurance through his touch. And like the King ordered, they were placed in different locks and Keres wanted to scream her lungs out. Oh no, wait! Kestramore! What would be of her clan now?

•

Aranya stood up from the dining table and she watched as he followed her with his eyes. Dabbing the towel over her mouth, she took her eyes off him and had it in mind that whatever was going to happen, she was going to see Lorcán today. She walked toward the door and from where he stood, he pulled her back using his magic and angered, she broke down the invisible ropes he held her with.

“Why are you doing this to me?” She asked, furious.

He majestically toward where she stood, fuming with rage and teasingly took a step back as he lifted his hands palm out, “Cool down there, princess! I mean no harm, how dare I harm the most powerful princess in the world? I’m only protecting you from the outer world, I’m sure the news of you being my daughter must’ve reached all my enemies and the ones that want to find my weakness. I wouldn't take a chance with you.”

She rolled her eyes exasperatedly, she had already told herself that's he wouldn’t get swooned by how he treated her. For the days she had spent in his chamber, no one had ever taken care of her like he did. Not even Betla. He had shown her enough parental love that sometimes she had to fight her heart not to run over him and give him that biggest hug she could ever give someone in her life. But then she had promised Betla that she would kill him for her, is had to prevent herself from being attached to him.

“How do I become your weakness? I'm sure that even if I get killed, which would likely be hard, you wouldn’t mind. And even if they’re going to use me as your weakness, you of all people should know that I’m capable of protecting myself, aren't I?”

He smiled and walked over to a chair and sit down, “Where do you want to go?” He asked and she rolled her eyes at how he seemed calm when clearly he knew that she was getting irritated with each passing second.

“I have to see him, it’s been days.”

“No you aren't. In fact, your baby isn’t healthy enough for you to go through any emotional disorder again.”

“Who told you I'm going through emotional disorder?! I want to see him,” she took a step toward him, “Wait, is he even alive? I don’t understand why you’ve been preventing me from seeing him, have you killed him?” Her eyes flared with anger as she walked toward him and with one swift movement of his finger, she was glued to her spot.

“I haven’t killed him, Aranya. He’s alive, but do you really want to see him?” She nodded her head as tears brewed from her eyes and he quickly stood up and walked toward her. He took both her hands in his and stared into her eyes that were glistened with her tears. “Do you love him this much, Aranya?” She nodded her head vehemently as though a young girl and he smiled before he cleared her tears with his thumb.

“Go, but make sure you don’t get hurt, okay?”

The ends of her lips instantly twitched into a smile, “Really?” The excitement she felt was palpable and he realized his hold with a loving smile.

“Yes, but make sure you take care of yourself and don’t get hurt, your baby needs your health to be healthy, okay?” She fondled her stomach and nodded her head before she walked out of the chamber and he followed her every move with a loving gaze. He was afraid, of someone knew the amount of love he had for her, she would surely be hurt no matter how powerful she may be.

•

She was aware of the guards that were following her every move, but she didn’t mind. She walked her way casually to their house and when she reached the market, she stopped by and bought a few food items. She had to talk to The King. It’s either he found them a place close to him, because she knew he would never let her live here with Lorcán, or bring Lorcán to the palace as well.

She walked into the house and found it sparkly clean with a maid in the kitchen as she made dinner. She smiled, like he said he had someone taking care of him and he isn’t dead obviously. She walked to the kitchen and placed down the items she had bought before she answered the maid’s greeting.

“How is he feeling?” She asked, even though she was eager and nervous to meet him, she wanted to know of his condition first because he might likely not tell her.

“The physician said he has healed, thanks to The King that has already healed the poison. But he’s still in a bad state, hardly talks and never eat, just water.” Aranya felt as her heart shrunk, she knew what all this was about. But why bother anymore? The baby is here, still alive! She would make him smile again and make him love and.

She excitedly walked to the room with a wide grin on her face, she knew he might’ve been waiting for her. And when she entered, he laid on the bed with his eyes closed but she knew better to say he was sleeping. She sat down on the edge of the bed and softly touched his arm, clearly her throat, he beat her before she even spoke a word.

“It’s not time for my medicine yet, can you leave me alone?” He slurred and Aranya felt as tears pooled her eyes but she fought them. What did he mean? That he didn’t recognize her touch, her scent or the power she exudes?

“It’s me, Lorcán.” She whispered with a low tune and he jerked awake, fleeing away from her as fast as he could as though he had heard of his death.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” He roared, and instantly, his eyes turned red due to anger and she needn’t be told that he hated her from the looks he flashed her. She was about to speak when he cut her off, “Out! Get the hell out of here and never ever make yourself visible to my eyes!”

She stood up and tried to walk at the end of where he sat, flaring at her when he aimed at her a magical sword and she instantly had to pull out a magical shield to protect herself. The king said she shouldn’t get hurt for her child!

“Lorcán!” Her tears had successfully landed and she kept dodging the swords he was throwing angrily at her. “Can you please stop? Hear me out and you can do whatever you want to.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near me ever again in my life. I hate you and everything that has to do with you! You killed my child! I clearly told you that you’d loose the baby if you change into a panther, why the hell did you feed the ego of that monstrous father you have at the expense of my child’s life?! Why?!”

Well, it stung. Almost all his words stung! But why was it she felt more hurt when he referred to her father as a monster than him saying he hated her? Was it because his hatred for her was pretty obvious? And deep down in her heart she knew he might forgive her when he heart the baby is still alive? Saved by the man he referred to as a monster?

“No, you don’t hate me, Lorcán...”

He groaned angrily and at once, he throw at her almost twenty swords that broke down her shield and she fell on the floor to protect herself from being hurt. “I hate you more than I've ever hated anyone in my life. You’re the reason I lost everything I've ever had in my life! I lost my parents, my whole clan to that your beast of a father! Your selfish mother took the life of my only brother with your help! And now, to feed his ego, the man we both agreed to kill, you killed my child!” He wiped at the tears that rolled down his cheeks. “Why do you think I couldn’t hate you? Aren’t these enough reasons?! I could beg you if that’s what you want me to, but please, get out of my life, you’re nothing but a terrible punishment sent to me by the gods! Please, I don’t want you anymore in my life, I don’t deserve you, Aranya.”