Cassie’s POV
I lay quietly on the clinic bed.
Kael had told me he would be back, but it had been almost an hour now.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how he had saved me.
The attack had been wild, draining every ounce of my strength.
What would have happened to me if he hadn’t arrived in time?
The first time, he rescued me in the forest.
The second time, it was from Shadrix.
And now, this strange needle thing… Unexpectedly, Kael had become my savior.
I remembered the way he looked when he pulled that needle from my arm, his expression both fierce and determined.
I glanced at my hand, now wrapped in a bandage of white fabric.
I owed Kael a lot.
But what about the king?
Where had he been through all of this?
Didn’t he know his wife was in danger?
Or did he only care about holding me in his arms at night?
I must find the king and confront him.
I had just made up my mind when the door opened.
Kael stepped in, moving with his usual grace, every step calculated and majestic.
My eyes followed him until he reached the chair beside my bed and sat down.
“Where have you been?” I asked, unable to hide my frustration.
He smiled, revealing deep dimples.
“Missing me already?”
I pressed my lips into a thin line.
“No? Or should I leave?” he teased, pretending to be serious.
“I-I…” I hesitated, unable to admit the truth.
“Then I guess I’ll leave,” he said, standing up.
“No, don’t—” I blurted out, and he sat back down.
His smirk widened.
“Then do you miss me?”
His eyes locked onto mine, his gaze boring into my soul, making my heart flutter uncontrollably.
I looked away, but he chuckled and gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes again.
“Cassie, do you have something to say to me?” His voice was lower this time, laced with something unreadable.
My heart pounded.
Yes, I did.
I wanted to find the king.
I needed to know who he really was.
I couldn’t just sit here, waiting in the dark.
“Yes… yes,” I stammered.
“Good. Then say it,” he urged.
“I want to see the king… your father.”
Wait… did I just say his father?
It made sense to me, Kael had unrestricted access to my room.
That could only mean one thing: he was the king’s son.
But why did he always seem to be around me?
That part was still a mystery.
Wouldn’t it be a scandal if people thought the king’s son was spending all his time around his father’s new wife? This chapter is updated first at g.com.
If rumors spread, it wouldn’t end well for either of us.
Kael would be labeled a womanizer, and I’d be seen as a disgrace chasing after my husband’s son.
Kael suddenly burst into laughter.
Serious, uncontrollable laughter.
Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.
I stared at him, utterly confused.
He looked so carefree, so… handsome when he laughed like that, but why was he laughing at me?
My confusion turned to irritation.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, my brows furrowing.
“You want to meet my father? That’s funny enough.” Kael chuckled, his voice laced with amusement.
“My father is in the land of Hades. Do you want to meet his ghost?”
His words made my expression darken in frustration.
“I want to meet my husband, the king!” I demanded, my eyes locking onto his.
Kael smiled again, letting out a deep sigh.
“Fine then. Meet him… if you can.” He stood up, ready to leave, but I grabbed his wrist.
“If you won’t take me to the king, I’ll find him myself.”
A wide grin spread across his face.
“Good luck.” And with that, he walked out of the room.
I sat there, feeling uneasy.
Why didn’t he want me to meet the king?
Every time I brought it up, he brushed it off.
Was he jealous?
Or… was he hiding something?
The questions haunted me as I made up my mind.
I wasn’t going to sit still.
I needed answers.
Slipping out of the clinic room, I peeked outside and spotted Kael heading toward the exit.
I followed him quietly, my heart pounding.
The moment he glanced back, I quickly hid behind a pillar.
When he resumed walking, I noticed something, he was smiling.
Why does he always smile like that?
I continued tailing him until he entered a room, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Holding my breath, I tiptoed inside.
The room was dimly lit and surprisingly simple.
I shut the door behind me gently, but before I could turn around
Kael appeared out of nowhere.
With lightning speed, he pinned me against the wall, his body pressing against mine.
His gaze locked onto mine, deep and unreadable.
His warm breath fanned my face, sending a shiver through my body.
His scent the same intoxicating scent I remembered from the time he rescued me in the forest wrapped around me, giving me an odd sense of comfort.
I wanted to push him away.
I should push him away but I didn’t.
I tore my gaze from his, my eyes landing on his lips.
They looked soft, too tempting.
I let out a shaky breath, trying to clear my mind, but at that moment, something happened.
A sudden jolt of energy surged from my bandaged hand, spreading warmth through my body.
Before I knew it, my hand lifted on its own.
I cupped his face.
And then I kissed him.
Kael froze, his body stiffening in shock.
The moment my lips touched his, reality came crashing down.
My eyes widened, and I pulled away, my face burning with embarrassment.
What have I done?
I glanced at Kael.
His expression mirrored mine shock, disbelief… and something else.
His cheeks were flushed, his lips red from the brief kiss.
I tried to step back, to put distance between us, but he didn’t move away.
“Trying to seduce me?” His voice had changed deeper, more dangerous.
“No—I…” My voice came out softer than I intended, almost breathless, making me clamp my mouth shut.
What was wrong with me?
I had never been in an intimate moment with anyone before, and yet, my body reacted as if it knew exactly what to do.
I needed to explain, to tell him it wasn’t intentional.
But before I could form the words, I made another mistake I touched his chest.
The heat radiating from his body sent a jolt through me.
I yanked my hand back, swallowing hard.
“I’m s-so—”
Before I could finish, Kael’s lips crashed against mine.
The kiss was fierce, demanding like a hungry lion devouring its prey.
His hands gripped my waist, sending shivers down my spine.
My mind screamed at me to stop, but my body betrayed me, melting into his embrace.
I was losing control.
Panicked, I started pounding my fists against his chest, desperate for air.
He finally broke the kiss, leaving me gasping.
When I caught my breath, I met his gaze burning, filled with something dangerous… something I wasn’t ready to face.
My mind screamed at me.
I can’t be here any longer.
I knew what was coming next.
But I wasn’t ready.
I had a husband.
Even if I didn’t love him, I couldn’t let this happen.
I wouldn’t give away my first time to a stranger, no matter how much my heart betrayed me.
But Kael…
I had feelings for him.
And that terrified me more than anything.