Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Belinda took long strides, hitting the air with her sword. Her head was full of thoughts.

‘So the King is desperate to find a wife for Prince Damon? What if he finally finds the one he wants? Would he still have time to train me?…’

“You are zoning out. You lose focus, you die.” Damon’s thick yet cold voice snapped Belinda out of her thoughts.

She hastily composed herself and bowed. “Prince Damon.” She called, gulping hard.

“Why are you not on the field with targets?” He asked, and walked closer to her.

“Ermmm. Some other trainees are using the targets, my Prince. So I decided to stay here.” She answered, still not raising her head.

Damon sighed and looked out of the window. Truly, there were other people training there.

Belinda looked up and watched him stare out of the window while he still stood in front of her.

“Let’s train here then. Use me as your target.” He answered. He pulled his jacket off him, leaving him in his white shirt.

He walked to the scabbard and picked up his sword. He walked back to Belinda and when he stood in front of her, she moved back.

“I don’t think that is a good idea, my Prince. I don’t want to hurt you.” She uttered.

Damon raised his brows and scoffed. “You don’t want to hurt me? So you think I’d let your blade touch me? Wow… such confidence.” He answered, and Belinda hid her face in shame.

“Now listen. I have taught you how to attack your opponent, haven’t I?” He asked.

“Yes, you have.” She replied.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you. I don’t have time for this!” He smacked, and Belinda jumped.

She hastily raised her eyes and their eyes locked.

“I am your enemy, and I want to kill you. Protect yourself from my strike and attack me. Don’t worry, I’ll go gentle with you.”

He moved his right leg backward and positioned himself ready for attack. Belinda also slowly stood her ground, ready to attack.

“Strike!” Damon ordered, and Belinda rushed to him, with her grip pretty tight on her sword. She aimed for his neck, just as he taught her.

Immediately she got close, Damon hit her sword with his, making her lose her balance, she almost fell but Damon grabbed her, pulled her to him. She hit her back on him and he placed his sword very close to her neck.

“You do that, and you’re dead.” He whispered in her ear. She was panting very hard and her heart was beating so fast.

‘He is very close to me. Again.’ She thought.

Suddenly, she hit his belly very hard with her elbow and pushed his hand away from her neck. She made a turn real quick, grabbed his hand, pulled him closer and placed her sword very close to his throat.

Damon’s eyes popped wide open and his heart was beating fast in his chest. ‘How did she do that?’

“You hesitated. You do that, and you’re dead.” Belinda uttered, with a grin of satisfaction on her face. She was happy to see how surprised Damon was.

“I didn’t teach you that.” Damon uttered, and she smiled and withdrew her sword from Damon’s neck.

“No, Prince Damon, you didn’t. Princess Megan did.” She answered, and Damon raised his brow.

“No wonder. I guess I shouldn’t have underestimated you.” He replied, and Belinda lowered her head in sheepishness.

Damon looked at the window and began to approach it. He had his eyes on those that were learning how to shoot an arrow.

“Princess Megan has started teaching me how to shoot one. I’m not yet good though.”

“You can’t become perfect overnight. It’s not been a week since you started training. You need to keep practicing and practicing.” Damon answered, without looking at her.

“Hmm.” Belinda answered and bounced her head. She tried taking her eyes off the perfect side-profile of the Prince, but she couldn’t.

‘He is even more handsome today. It must have been because of the event. He seems pretty nice today.’

‘Can I talk more with him? I love talking to him but he scares me off with his voice and looks. But today… he seems pretty different.’

“My Prince.” She called.

“Yes.” Damon answered and turned to look at her. As soon as their eyes locked, she hurriedly lowered her head.

“I am just curious, My Prince. Princess Megan told me you have a mate event to attend to, but you are here. Aren’t you going to the event anymore?” She asked.

Damon heaved a sigh and looked out of the window again.

“The event is over. It was pretty quick, that’s why I’m here.”

“Oh…” Belinda muttered, and began to think again. ‘He answered me politely. Can I ask him more questions then?’

“Errmm. So, did you find the perfect woman, My Prince?” She asked, even though a part of her kept telling her that she was going too far with her question.

Damon looked back at her and shot her a deadly look. “Mind your business, woman.” He muttered.

Belinda panicked and hastily bowed. “I’m so sorry, My Prince. I’ll continue training now.” She answered, but Damon kept mute and kept staring out of the window.

‘I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question. Now, I’ve ruined everything.’ She said to herself in regret.

***

“Sister!” Maisie called excitedly, as she sighted Maeve taking a walk with her maids, around the pack boundary.

“Maisie!” Maeve called happily too, when her gaze fell on who had called her.

Maisie ran up to Maeve and pulled her in a tight hug. She was so excited, she almost lifted her from the ground.

“Woah, you’re so happy. How did the event go?” Maeve asked with a chuckle.

“You were right, Maeve! Impressing the Prince shouldn’t be the main focus only. I won the heart of the Queen.”

“You did?! Tell me about it! Did she like the necklace?”

“Like? Sister, she loved it and even told me that I can come to the palace anytime to see her. I made her believe that she has always been a role model to me, and I guess that got her.”

“Wow! You’re so good, Maisie. I’m so proud of you! I told you, Prince Damon is your husband. Whether the other maidens like it or not. You are going to marry him, and the queen will make things easier for you.”

“What will I do without you, sister? I love you so much. Thank you for helping me out.” Maisie uttered, and they embraced each other again.

“I’ll do anything to make you happy, Maisie. And I’m so happy for you too. Congratulations.” Maeve answered, and they broke the hug.

“How are you though? And how is the search for the pregnant slave going?”

Maeve exhaled through her mouth and shook her head. “It’s been in vain. Cephas is giving up already.”

“Should I say that is good news?” Maisie asked, and she shook her head.

“I don’t even know. All I know is that, no matter how long she hides, when she’s caught, Cephas will kill her without hesitation. It’s insane, you know, how she just vanished into thin air.”

“Maybe you haven’t expanded your search.”

“I don’t care anymore, Maisie. Cephas is the one to deal with it, I’ll leave him to it.”

“Well, if you need my help, I’ll be ready to help. Just let me know how I can help you.”

Maeve giggled and shook her head. “All I need from you now is that you become Prince Damon’s wife. I can’t wait to be known with the royal family. I’ll be here if you need any advice.”

“Thank you, sister. I’m yet to say my greetings to Cephas. Let me do that before I start preparing for the outfits I’d be wearing to visit the queen.”

“Alright. I’ll be around. I still want to take a stroll.” Maeve said, and Maisie walked off to greet Cephas.

‘Let’s see the woman that will try to take your place, Maisie. She’ll have to go through me first.’ Maeve thought as she watched her sister walk away.

***

~In the King’s chamber~

“Damon, how is the training with Belinda going?” Talos asked Damon, who stood in front of him.

“She’s catching up pretty fast, Father. Though, she needs to practice more.” Damon answered

Talos nodded and dropped the paper in his hand. He stood up and removed his glasses.

“That’s good. I guess she can start learning how to hunt too, right?”

“I guess so too. Do you want to send her out to hunt?”

“Yes, but she wouldn’t be going alone. You’ll be going with her. I need her to have an idea because of times you and Megan won’t get a chance to go. She can go out with some of the guards to fetch meat.”

“Okay, father. Is Megan coming too?”

“No. Megan can stay home and attend to your business. You alone can go with Belinda, right?”

“Yes. Leave it to me, father.”

“That’s all. Inform Belinda that you two will be leaving to hunt soon. Dinner has to come in early today. We had an event, remember?”

“Of course, father. I’ll let her know.”

“You can leave now.”

Damon walked out of his father’s chamber and headed to Megan’s chamber.

The guards at Megan’s chamber saw him coming and told Megan from outside the door.

“Let hun in.” Megan responded, and they opened the door for him as he drew closer.

“Big brother! What is your mission here today?” Megan teased. Damon ignored her and looked at Belinda who was lying quietly on Megan’s bed.

“Hey, you… prepare to go out tonight.” He uttered, and Belinda’s heart skipped a beat after hearing him.

‘Go out?’

“What do you mean by ‘go out’?” Megan asked, and Belinda sat up.

“She’ll be going with me to hunt for dinner. What were you thinking it was before?” He asked, and Megan let out a sigh of relief.

“I almost thought you’re sending her out of the palace.” Megan uttered, and looked at Belinda, who let out a faint smile.

‘What if I get out and I’m caught by Alpha Cephas or someone from the pack? What if they take me with them?’

“Do… Do I have to go? I’m… I am scared.” Belinda mumbled and lowered her head.

Megan sighed when she heard Belinda, and she moved closer to her and embraced her.

“She’s scared, Damon. Can’t I go with you?”

“It’s the order from our father, Megan. I wouldn’t want a novice to go hunting with me if it was my call. But it’s from our father, I don’t have any choice but to adhere to it.”

Megan exhaled through her mouth and looked at Belinda.

“You have to go, so that you can please our father. I bet he just wants you to know how it works. You don’t have to be scared. Damon will be there with you.” Megan reassured Belinda.

Belinda nodded and raised her head to look at Damon.

“Good. See you soon. Wear something comfortable. This gown won’t do you good on the field.” He uttered and walked out of the chamber afterwards.

“Ignore him when you get out there, okay? Just don’t stray away from him. Out there it is dangerous, okay ?”

“Okay,”