Her eyes then rolled to the bed, and her cheeks flushed as an uninvited heat assaulted her back again. He had allowed her to choose a part of his body, and she had chosen his heart. It was the foremost desire and longing of her heart to have him wholly for herself. She was planning to ta his heart slowly without forcing him, to make him want her with everything, not just lust. Would she succeed? It was worth trying rather than crying later.
She had never loved a man this much before, to imagine him so intimately, to plead with all the gods out there for the chance to receive his love. She sighed, her head falling onto her outstretched arms on the windowsill as the vicious throbbing sensation returned to her core again. It had been constantly happening during training.
A knock on the door saved her from her intoxicated, baited mind.
She steadied herself. That could be her husband, and she must not lose the reins of her self-control as though they were galloping like a frantic horse. She wouldn’t be the one begging him to touch her.
"Milady, have you asked for ?"
Her shoulders slouched, he had not returned yet. She wasn’t sure how accurate Siamon’s words were, but she was worried about him. Until now, she hadn’t known her heart was this weak for a man like him. It wasn’t as though she had never seen or talked to n; she had t many young Nobel n and rchants while buying rare herbs for her physician master. But she had never been this desperate.
How irritating to see herself sitting there, wrapped in silence, her heart a hollow shell as the weight of everything crashed down on her. Forlorn and abandoned, she clutched the fabric of her dress as if holding herself together, but no matter how tightly she held on, she was still unraveling, exposed. She was scared that Elaika might win her husband.
"Milady, is sothing wrong? You look pale."
Determined as she was, she jumped to her feet. "Take to the alchemy lab. I want to make a gift for His Highness!"
Gloria clapped her hands. "That’s perfect! I’ll help you," she suggested excitedly, and they left the chambers.
As they stepped out, that Oga Female appeared in their view, almost about to knock on the door. What was her na—Orkia... Arkilla... or what? These nas were hard for her to morize. The only nas she rembered well were her husband’s—Kaisun, which ant "The King of Sun"— Sia, Rail, Axe, and Gloria.
"Please excuse if I arrived at a bad ti."
Ren smiled at her. She looked nothing like Elaika. This girl was shorter than Elaika and the rest of the females, her hair had orange and gold hues combined.
"It is fine. Do you need anything that I can help you with?"
The girl brought up a hand, holding a parchnt. "I’m Arkilla, but you can call Killa! And I’m not a lover."
Ren grabbed the parchnt and read it. "Oh, my husband assigned you to train and guard in his absence. Sorry for earlier!" Ren raised her brow. Had he not said Agara would take that burden? Her eyes narrowed at the last line: Bounded for a lifeti to serve and guard, as an ally, as a sister. Ren felt her eyes burn, tears brimming, her heart clenching.
He had hired and bound this female to put her life at risk to protect her. Did she want it too?
Yes, Milady. Now we are linked to each other.
Ren could hear her voice in her head. Oh, no! Why! Abruptly, Arkilla kneeled on her left knee, her fist resting on her heart, her head bowed, making Ren’s breath catch in her chest. She pursed her lips, pushing down the surge of aching emotions.
"Please, rise. You shouldn’t kneel for . You’re not my slave."
Arkilla’s head lashed up in shock, her hazel eyes shining bright. "Milady, I’m bound to you now. I’ll be your shadow, and anyone who attempts to harm you must go through first."
Ren shook her head and bent, stretching out her arms, grasping Arkilla’s masculine arms, and forcing her to her feet.
"His Highness forced you to make a blood oath to protect ? How can I put my life above yours?" She pointed at the blood fingerprint, her brows furrowed, dismay painting her face, her eyes flickering with tears. "If sothing happens to you, I won’t be able to forgive myself."
"But that was what I asked. His Highness never asked to do it. He was going to assign Rail to that blood oath, but I begged him to assign . I had to argue with Rail for an hour."
Ren let out a cold breath. "Why would you ask for such a dangerous thing?" Her life was always on the edge, as though she walked upon a blade—cutting, harming—falling either way.
"The day I saw you protect Gloria, I decided to serve you. That was my choice."
Ren glanced at Gloria. "Do you know her?"
Gloria smiled, unsurprised. "We grew up together. You can trust her. Her father is His Highness’s financial auditor, and Arkilla is a Reaper. She might be an Oga, but she is stronger than a Beta like Elaika."
Ren couldn’t refuse now that Arkilla herself had chosen to serve her. On the other hand, she must accept every person willing to beco her ally.
"Then, co with us. We are going to make a gift that I believe is going to be a bit dangerous."
"Thank you. I’ll serve you well, Luna Reneira!"
Arkilla stepped away from the doorway, and they strode down the corridor when Ren suddenly stopped and turned to the Oga female.
"Arkilla, never, ever kneel before again."
Her voice was hoarse, hurt yet commanding.
"If it is an order, Arkilla obeys."
Ren couldn’t shake her discomfort over this matter. If sothing happened to her, according to the oath, the guardian must be executed too for failing in duty. Her heart ached even at the recall of that vicious law.
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