King Zareth stepped into the clearing.
His eyes darkened with anger visible enough to send shivers down their spine.
He had followed them after a while they had left.
Not expecting an attack but rather to enjoy watching her flushed face when she notice his presence.
Only for him to witness the men from Eldarsh targeting his bride.
His blood boiled in anger.
The war between Eldarsh and Nebuzza was not yet over but Eldarsh trying this petty trick on Elira had snapped the last thread of mercy he was holding back.
Eldarsh would burn!
And he would light the fire!
The men on red halted.
Fear flickered in their eyes.The way he stared at them was enough to send them back, but they didn’t.
Rather, they charged at him.
The first man barely raised his blade before Zareth’s sword opened his throat, and his blood sprayed across the rocks.
The second swung almost immediately, but Zareth caught his wrist and disarmed him before swinging his sword and took off his arm.
He screamed out in pain but Zareth took off his head before he could scream again.
At that moment, Elira had turned to check on Zareth only to witness such brutal killings.
Her eyes widened in horror.
She watched as Zareth threw his sword at one that tried to run and the sword went through his heart, pinning him to a pine tree.
The others broke and ran , but Zareth was faster.
He fought them down till one remained, barely alive.
Zareth’s sword had pierced his stomach, pinning him to a tree.
Zareth slowly walked towards him.
He locked his gaze on him and smirked.
“If Eldarsh wants to send their men against me , they should send their strong warriors” with that he wrenched his sword free and took his head off.
Elira gasped.
This killing was more brutal than when Adrian fought with Elarion soldiers.
She saw how deadly his gaze was when fighting them.
Zareth slowly turned.
He scanned the clearing, Before his gaze finally land on Elira.
He saw how broken she was, if he hadn’t arrived in time he wondered what might have happened to her.
Their gaze met.
He stared at her until she looked away and he noticed something that broke his heart, there was fear in her eyes.
That’s one thing he never wanted.
He has done everything he could to make her comfortable and now because of Eldarsh, she now looks at him like the rumors that she had always heard.
Slowly, he walked towards her.
Nasha was trying to help her up but she whimpered in pain.
And that was when they noticed, her left foot was stuck in between two rocks not much of a size.
“My Princess!” “My lady!!” They called out in unison.
King Zareth rushed over.
His heart arched at the sight before him.
He immediately dropped to his knees and forcefully shoved the rocks with brute strength,freeing her leg.
Elira didn’t suffer any injury.
Nasha helped her stand.
“Thank you!” She muttered to Nasha.
She slowly raised her head and glanced at Zareth who stood watching her as though he was afraid to come closer.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
His voice was low but rough with concern.
Elira nodded.
She made an attempt to move but instead she stumbled forward.
Her breath hitched as her eyes closed in fear thinking she would crash on the hard rocks and her hand moved before her instinctively protecting her stomach.
But the fall never came.
She opened her eyes only to see king Zareth’s bloodied arm which held her tightly around the waist.
And for a moment…she flinched.
King Zareth stared at her for a second before letting his gaze fall on her arm which wrapped protectively around her stomach.
“Does your stomach hurt?” He asked.
Elira froze.
Rosa froze.
Lillia froze.
“I’m….
I’m fine.
It’s just, I….” Elira stuttered.
She was afraid.
She doesn’t know how he would react if he knew about the pregnancy.
Just as she was finding the words to cover up the situation, king Zareth picked her up.
“My king, I can walk!” “I never said you couldn’t!” He said.
He began walking back, towards the camp where the soldiers waited.
While Lillia and Rosa followed behind.
“I will be right back!” Nasha said turning around and running back towards the lake.
King Zareth just nodded without looking back, but Elira, she was concerned.
“Where is she going to?” She asked and king Zareth looked down at her.
He let his gaze hover on her face and down to her lips.
Elira looked away.
‘Why is he looking at me like that in this condition?
This man is truly shameless!’ She thought.
King Zareth smiled, as though reading her thoughts.
“I believe she wants to retrieve something important which she left behind.” He finally said.
They walked in silence.
Elira looked up from his arm and his face came into view.
She stared at him without blinking, taking in every detail of his features.
Then she looked at his lips.
Those same lips she wanted so badly to taste again.
“I guess you’re proud to have such a handsome husband, because you can’t take your eyes off me.” Elira “!!!” She felt ashamed being caught in the act .
“I wasn’t staring!” She mumbled “Of course you were!!”.
He smirked.
After a while , they arrived at the camp.
The soldiers immediately became alert when they saw the king covered in blood.
General Alaric’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t say a word.
Seeing the king covered in blood and Elira being held in his arms.
At that moment he knew what might have happened.
King Zareth carried Elira into the pavilion and laid her on the bed.
“I will bring you a set of clothes to change into.
We will began the journey after you had your meal.” He said and Elira nodded.
Then he left.
“Are you alright my princess?” Rosa asked kneeling beside her.
“I’m fine?” She nodded.
“The killings my princess, you must not take it to heart.
The king actually fought to protect you.” Lillia said.
She had seen that look of fear in Elira’s eyes while watching king Zareth fighting to protect her.
Elira didn’t respond, rather, she lowered her gaze.
“I understand!” She finally said.
King Zareth went into his pavilion where he held meetings and slumped on the bench.
His calm demeanor shattered replaced by that dangerous aura that makes him the feared monster.
“I was leaving Eldarsh at mercy feet but they dared cross the line.” He thundered.
“I warned you my king, Eldarsh deserved no mercy” General Alaric said, walking towards king Zareth.
“They are rising!
Their armies are growing and all we need is to attack and we will have them in ruins.
But you said mercy, now they have risen against you.” King Zareth felt his whole body vibrating in anger.
His mind replayed the scene where that arrow was aimed at Elira and if Nasha hadn’t reacted in time, he didn’t know what would have happened.
But what hurted the most was the fear in her eyes when she saw that monstrous part of him and his heart arched, not only in pain but also in anger.
“Eldarsh did not know of my journey to Elarion, someone might have disclosed it to them!” King Zareth said turning to look at General Alaric.
“King Budegha?” “No!” King Zareth answered.
“Even though I threatened him into obedience, he fears me too much to risk Elira.” “Then that leads us to one person..” General Alaric scoffed.
“Prince William!” King Zareth muttered.
Disdain filled his voice as he mentioned his name.
“I will make him pay!” **** **** It wasn’t long when king Zareth returned back to Elira’s pavilion and her servants excused themselves.
Elira took a good look at him and realized he had washed off the blood and had changed into something cleaner.
He carried two baskets to which he placed on the table before Elira.
One basket contains neat folded dresses, while the other contains the food he brought for her.
He kept the clothes aside and unpacked the food, setting them on the table.
It contains broth soup with wild mushrooms sliced thin, which looked like it had soaked up lots of flavor.
And it contains fresh herbs.
Elira’s mouth watered at the sight of it.
She looked at the other plate which contained fish soup and smiled, she loves fish soup.
She thought it was all until Zareth laid another plate, and another plate, and another.
Elira was stunned.
‘Was he trying to over feed her?’ She thought looking at him.
Finally, King Zareth placed a plate of white bread and strengthened himself.
He looked at his handiwork and nodded.
“Eat!” He commanded Elira “!!!” King Zareth “???” Elira moved.
King Zareth watched her take the chopsticks and gracefully picked up a mushroom and put it in her mouth.
Then she pushed a plate towards him and bowed.
“Eat my king!” She said and king Zareth stilled at her gesture.
He wanted to refuse her but seeing her bright eyes staring deep at him, he swallowed his words.
Then she got up and stood before him.
“Thank you for saving me my king!” She said and the king looked at her for a while.
“Sit down and eat!” He ordered without responding to her words.
Elira was surprised, but she obeyed.
He sat across her and picked up the plate she had placed on the table for him.
He didn’t want to eat, but those gaze looking expectantly at him made him dip into it with his chopstick.
Silence stretched between them.
Elira was eating, while he put most of his to her plate.
He watched her munch on her food like a rabbit.
And his eyes fell on her lips once again.
He forcefully tore his gaze away and looked down at her neck.
His eyes traced every part of her body back to her face.
Her hair, her eye brows, her round eyes, her pointed nose, perfect jawline and finally her red full lips.
Elira was gorgeous!
His mind was in a haze as he continued staring at her.
Dirty images began appearing in his head, thoughts of kissing her till she ran out of breath and pinning her down again flooded into his memory and it made his manhood throb under his pants.
The more he thought of it, the more he wanted to grab her.
But just as his dirty thoughts were about to win, Elira raised her head and their eyes locked.
When Zareth had placed food in her plate, she didn’t know why but her stomach fluttered in excitement.
But, just as she was enjoying the treatment, he suddenly stopped.
Not only did he stop, she noticed his gaze boring holes into her head.
She had raised her head to check if he was still sitted there when their eyes met and she saw how his eyes had darkened with something quite…..
dangerous, and she stiffened.
King Zareth slowly looked away and then back at her.
He picked up a food from his plate and placed it in hers and urged her to eat.
Elira nodded and began eating, but this time in a careful manner.
She had no idea what was wrong with the man seated across, but whatever it was was beginning to affect her too.
She wasn’t sure if she had offended him.
“Are you afraid of me Elira?” King Zareth asked and Elira stiffened at his question.
VOTE for me!