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His Desire 14
~KivaFrost crunches beneath my shoes as I wander around the gardens with father by my side.At this time of year, it’s a pitiful sight. Everything is frozen over, any sign of life have crawled away to die in the cold.Yet father is starting to grow wary of his own staff, wanting to speak to me outside, where none of them linger."So you were incorrect then, about the intrusion?""That, or they figured out you weren't in the manor, and decided against it.” Father keeps his hands neatly tucked behind his back as we walk, smile ridged.I’m glad he got it wrong, that my mate and his companions didn’t break in after all."Good...good."I stare at my feet, trying to summon the courage to ask the question that has been at the tip of my tongue for a while.“Hey, father?""Yes?""What would happen if I found my mate?" I ask softly. I’ve always wondered, since I was a child, and yet I’ve been too frightened of his answer.Now, evidently, I can’t put it off any longer.He takes a long time to t
His Desire 15
~KivaArk’s presence looms behind me as I’m invited in the foyer of Caspian’s massive palace. It’s not his place entirely. There are the King and Queen, but they are not here during my visit.Father sent me here for one reason alone.To convince Caspian to propose to me."Caspian, it is wonderful to see you again,” I exclaim, seeing him stride across the foyer toward me.He looks vaguely handsome today, all dressed up like a Prince in his baby blue dress shirt and dark coat. I swear his eyes are brighter, hair lighter than I remember."You too, Kiva. Thank you for visiting,” he greets."I brought my personal guard with me as well. I'm sure you understand why.” I motion behind me at Ark.Caspian’s smile vanishes as he takes in the imposing sight of my guard. Ark merely dips his head of way of greeting, of showing his respect to a Prince.Instead of acknowledging him, Caspian turns his attention to me."Oh Kiva, what has been happening to you is just horrendous. Truly...I cannot imagin
His Desire 16
~KivaI gape at Caspian, unable to will my trembling legs into standing position to come greet him.Ark has throughly ruined my composure.“Ah, the Prince.” Ark sweeps into a bow, which is obviously mocking, only adding to the tension in Caspian’s shoulders.It’s late. Very late, and Caspian has come to my room…“Guard. What are you doing in Kiva’s room?” He questions coldly, looking at me in my almost sheer night clothes.“A final sweep for the night,” Ark reports. His procedural tone relieves some fear in me. Caspian cannot fault me for having my guard check my room in times like these.But I can’t shake the thought of what he interrupted…What would have happened had he not? Would Ark have kissed me, or done more? Would I want him to?“She is perfectly safe here-“I stand swiftly, brushing past Ark. “Caspian! Whats with the late night visit?”His intentions for coming here at this hour cannot be entirely innocent. Ark knows it, it’s why he seems rooted to his spot, not having excus
His Desire 17
~KivaBeing back home feels good.But my feelings of doubt about Caspian have chased me all the way back here.You’re a Princess. Don’t forget your duty.I grit my teeth as my fathers voice echo’s through my mind, collapsing onto my stomach, unable to hold my weight up any longer.Ark crouches down beside me, flicking my forehead. “You’re not focusing.”“It’s hard to with your grating voice in the background,” I snap, pressing my check against the floor as if I can feel the frozen ground beneath.“I hardly speak during training.” I can hear the frown in his voice.Heaving myself up into standing position, I collect my throwing knives, flipping one over in my hand.“I’m just feeling light headed, okay?” I mutter. And I’m tired, and not climaxing daily really is starting to bother me, although Ark doesn’t need to know that detail.“Drink water.”“I have been,” I grumble. I drink water, I eat food. It’s Caspian that has muddled my head, and most importantly, it’s the weight of my obliga
His Desire 18
~KivaI stare at my bedroom door as I settle into bed, knowing who is behind it.How I’m still not used to Ark’s guard after all these weeks is beyond me. Only one wall between us isn’t enough.Rolling over, I switch my lamp off, bathing the room in darkness.I’m only blessed with a few moments of unbothered rest before the sound of my window scraping open has me sitting up in the darkness.Panic seizes me first. Is it my mate? Or worse…With shaking fingers I switch my lamp on, bathing a portion of my room with enough light to reveal the meek state of my only true friend."Louis, what are you doing?" I whisper frantically, glancing at the door Ark stands behind.Louis ruffles a hand through his hair, pointing at the window. "That is quite the climb.""Keep your voice down,” I whisper, pulling myself from the bed. "Everything okay?"He steps towards me, the weight of him causing the floorboards to creak. I wince, hoping Ark is excusing the sound as me getting up to use the bathroom.
His Desire 19
~KivaI stare down at the folded piece of paper on my vanity, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.How exactly this got here, I don’t even want to know. I suspect I know who wrote it, as I carefully pick it up, laying it flat to examine the hurried print.I need to see you, Kiva.I’ve been a terrible disappointment to you. The last thing I desire is to kill you, or to hurt you.I need you to trust me.Meet me tonight, across the river.Your mate.My blood goes as cold as the snow falling outside.I’m going to see him again.I’m not sure if I should be excited or scared. Last time I met up with him, a terrible thing transpired between us and a tree he was pressing me against.That won’t be repeating itself. Not if I can help it.“Kiva.”I jump, turning to see my father standing in my doorway.I rest my palm over my chest. “Dad. You scared me.”He steps into the room, looking around it. If he’s good with anything, it’s privacy. He doesn’t often come in here, nor does he inquire too deeply ab
His Desire 20
~KivaWell. I’m fucked.“Ark…what-““You’re sneaking out. Why?” He demands, his deadly calm tone and expression unsettling. There’s a wrath deep within him that I may just become well accustomed with tonight.I gesture stupidly at the door he now stands in front of. “I need some fresh air.”If anything, my stuttering is going to give me away.His gaze sweeps over me. “You’re all dressed up.”I look down at myself, at the nice coat and boots I’ve chosen to wear out into the snow. It’s a conscious choice, admittedly, to try look nice for my mate.I don’t know why I bother, considering he’s going to be wearing all black and a hood.“Please just let me go," I sigh, defeated.“You really think I’m going to allow you to go into the night, completely alone?” He folds his arms over his chest, tapping his fingers against his bicep impatiently.I reach out, playfully pushing his shoulder. “I know you don’t trust me, but I swear I’m not in too much danger.”He just stares at me, unimpressed.“Ki
His Desire 21
~KivaI'm going to get in trouble for this in the morning, I already know it.Thankfully a maid owed me a favour, so I convinced her to slip what I insisted was just a crushed up vitamin into Ark's drink tonight.She wasn't convinced on the vitamin excuse, but she did it anyway.Nothing can come between me and meeting my mate tonight. And nothing does, as I step over Ark's unconscious form lying against the wall beside my door.I'm tempted to kick him in the ribs for all the brutal training sessions he's inflicted upon me, but him waking in the morning with a bruise won't bode well for me.It takes me minutes to get out of the house and into the dark, snowy labyrinth of the forest.Once I reach our previous meeting spot, I stand and wait, leaning against the frozen trunk of the tree.He doesn’t come.I’m not sure how long I wait, pacing incessantly until my boots have worn a perfect line in the snow.Eventually I tire, trekking back toward the manor, guided only by the silvery moonlig
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His Desire 57
~Kiva"Ark!"My head spins as I practically throw myself from the couch. Ark catches me in his arms, pressing me close against him."Hey sweetheart," he soothes, holding me for a beat before he pulls me back so he can examine me. "What the fuck happened to you?"Dark, cold anger simmers in his eyes. He withholds it well, but I can see on his face, in the tension in his muscles that he's moments from exploding. "A lot. Sit down," I encourage, pointing to the couch. It's mostly for myself because I feel like I'm moments away from fainting.He guides me onto the couch before he sits next to me, his body turned to face me. He grazes his fingers over my skin, face, gently tracing over the bruises and marks that mar me. His jaw only tightens as I wince.Slowly, his attention shifts to Louis, who stands back a little. "Did you do this?""No, he didn't. He saved me," I cut in quickly. If Ark so much as suspects Louis is involved, he won't hesitate to kill him.He frowns. "Saved you?""You n
His Desire 56
~KivaWe walk hastily through the forest, circling around the wait.We don't speak as we walk. Louis's breath is harsh as he keeps up a decent pace while still carrying Erin in his arms. My mind is still whirling, or maybe that's the blood I'm losing.It takes over an hour of us walking before we make it to Louis's home on the east side of the river. It's a simple wood cabin with two rooms and a bathroom.I would be happy for him, if I didn't know the job title that is funding this place.My legs wobble beneath me as I approach the couch, colours spotting in my vision. Louis hurries into another room, placing Erin on the bed.I sit slowly, feeling faint.I've lost a lot of blood from the back of my head. When I look down it's all over my chest, drenching the front of my shirt from where it has run down my neck."She's been drugged. She will be out for a bit," Louis says, closing the bedroom door as he comes out."It's for the best. She need's rest," I say quietly, squeezing my eyes sh
His Desire 55
~KivaI roll my head back, groaning.Consciousness has struck me harshly and quickly, dragging me back up to reality. My vision spins, something on the back of my head aching sharply.It slowly dawns on me that I was hit viciously on the back of the head.My vision eventually starts to steady, the messy splotches of colour finally piecing together to reveal my father."Kiva," he says in a calm, steady voice.I blink. I'm in the room where I saved Erin, tied down to the bed. When I lift my hands, they are weighted down by thick iron chains."Why am I tied down," I ask breathily, trying not to let panic overwhelm me."Did you follow me, sweetheart?" father asks, taking a tentative step toward me. Behind him are two guards who stare me down menacingly. "Did Ark have you follow me?"I let out a long breath, trying to process what is happening.My father now knows that I've learnt about what is going on here. I'm tied down in a place where girls before me have been tortured and murdered,
His Desire 54
~KivaSteadying myself, I head through the front door.Initially I planned to burst in and confront my father, to threaten him. However, once I enter, hearing voices drift down the hall, I decide to slow play this.Pressing my back against the wall, I inch closer to the room, keeping my eye out for anyone who could pass by.This place seems like any other home. Aspects of it have clearly been changed to suit a business, with what looks like a waiting room in the old sitting room and a reception in the foyer.I will investigate the intricacies of the place later. For now, I want to hear what my father is saying.“How do we know they don’t already have something on us?” The unfamiliar voice sounds panicked.“If this were about the business they would have killed my daughter.”I draw in a breath. They are talking about the rebellion. Father would never openly tell me what he thinks, so I listen keenly.“Maybe they were planning to.” The other voice sounds like they are pacing.“She doesn
His Desire 53
~KivaThe dining room opens up around as I approach where my father sits, enjoying his breakfast.A shaft of sunlight cast through the towering dining room windows gives my father a deceptively ethereal glow.He looks innocent. He couldn't be further from that.His eyes lift as I wander in. "Good morning. Feel better?"I school my expression into a smile, remembering the story. I was kidnapped, and now I am home and terrified the rebellion is going to come for me."I feel...fine," I exclaim stiffly, sliding into my chair.Father's gaze feels heavy as I carefully select my breakfast. A piece of toast I'm going to smother in spread, accompanied by some fruit.It's what I would choose if I weren't hiding something. It's what I would choose if I weren't moments away from throwing up on the polished floor."You have been through a few hard weeks, haven't you dear?"I ignore the bite of pain in my stomach. His sincere tone doesn't help the situation. I must fixate on Ark, his sister and all
His Desire 52
~KivaMoments later, a figure emerges at the window, clambering through.I tense, watching Ark duck his head under the glass, snow dusting his shoulders and hair. I admire the ease at which he climbed up the trellis considering the amount of times I have fallen from it.He removes his cloth mask, breath clouding in front of me as he meets my gaze.His expression immediately softens. "Hey, are you okay?"I look down at my hands, unable to face him. This is the most horrifying discovery I have ever made and I am still reeling from it."I...no."He's crouched in front of me in an instant, grabbing my hands in his gloved one's. The ice still lingering on the fabric burns at my skin, but I welcome the distraction."What happened?" he asks gently."I found something. Bad," I tell him, fighting past the lump in my throat to say it.I feel so stupid. How many years was this going on and I never knew about it? Ark allowed me to hate him for weeks, trying to protect me from the horror that I wo
His Desire 51
~KivaI walk through the manor doors, shoulders back, chin tilted up.The guards stare in wonder and confusion, making to say something, but I wave them off. I don't want a fuss."Get my father," I tell one of them.The nod, rushing off toward his office.It's early evening and I'm finally returning home. I spent my entire childhood in this home, and now it just feels vast and empty, void of everything that once pleased me.Ark and I spent the whole day coming up with a plan for tonight. I've come here to find evidence of what Ark has alleged.Not even a minute later my father is rushing down the stairs toward me.Only a day ago I would have rejoiced at seeing my father. I may have felt overcome with emotion, grateful to have been freed from the rebels.Now, I feel nothing but repulsion."Father," I say, trying to sound relieved, although it comes out rushed and a little rehearsed."Kiva...oh my baby, you're home." He ushers me into a hug, holding me close. I let him, fighting the urg
His Desire 50
~KivaI let them come to me first.Their faces are concealed by shadows, but I don't need to see them anyway. They are just more rebels who would rather kill me than risk allowing me redemption.The tallest one lunges for me first.Anticipating their attack, I slash the shard of glass along their arm in a similar fashion as with a knife. Ark's training rings in the back of my mind, giving me some confidence in my ability to get out of here.The rebel hisses in pain but barely flinches, still advancing on me. They manage to grab my arm in a firm grip, holding the glass away from themselves.Someone kicks me in the lower back, a jolt of pain accompanying me in my fall to the floor.I hadn't even realised someone had come up behind me...The rebel who kicked me climbs on top of me, trying to wrestle my arms behind my back while another readies the rope to wrap around my neck.With my cheek pressed against the cold floor, I try not to let my panic exhaust me.They really are going to do i
His Desire 49
~KivaThis is bad. Really bad.Ark has taken me back to the compound again, letting me calm down. I haven't slept, unable to stop replaying the events of the other night over in my head.Caspian is free. I'm free from him, although not free from Ark.But that is the least of my concerns. Ark's accusation rings in my head. His sister is dead, and somehow Caspian is involved, and so is my father.Did they kill her? My stomach churns at the thought.Rolling over in bed, I tuck my knees to my chest, wanting to sob. I have no reason to trust Ark, and yet I believe him. Seeing his expression, hearing the way he spoke has made it clear to me that whatever is going on is terrible.I just can't wrap my head around how my father is involved.The sound of voices drawing near has me sitting up. The guards that are usually posted outside my room don't speak much, and don't dare come in.Not like Ark did...It's strange to think that he once guarded my door as these people now do. I don't even know
