Erin Lockheart's POVI woke up to the familiar smell of sweat and blood but a completely unfamiliar place. The walls were a deep shade of blue and the luxurious tapestries surrounded the room. The bed I was lying in was warm and soft that it was pulling me back to sleep."Glad to see you're comfortable in my bed." Kai snickered as he leaned against the door frame. I was about to stand up but I realized that I wasn't strong enough yet. So he stated, "Don't push yourself. After such grave injuries, I was expecting you'd wake up after at least a week."Injuries. Ah right. That happened. I looked over my right arm that was completely covered in bandages and remembered how Cadmus violently attacked me and killed Tristan. The thought of it still sends shiver down my spine."Why did you take me in?" I asked. "You asked me to save you." Kai walked towards me and continued, "Besides I'm just taking back what's mine.""I'm not some property you can call yours.""Then why come here?"I hesitate
Erin Lockheart's POVIt has been a couple of weeks since my escape from the Lunaria Kingdom, my right arm has recovered fully but the scars remained. Kai, since then, has left the kingdom to fight his wars and I was left here with at least four guards to accompany me wherever I go.Mostly, I spend my days at the library as the ancient texts about my curse is intact and preserved here. Just as I headed inside, the local librarian greeted me enthusiastically, "Ah, Empress Erin, have you already finished the books I lent you?""You can just call me Erin.""How could I possibly do that? You are Emperor Kai's bride, he'll have my head if I disrespected you."I smiled, "I won't let him do that."Zog, the librarian, handed me books that he dusted as he said, "You must be feeling lonely since the emperor left as soon as you were married."Right. No one knew about the contract relationship except us so I had to pretend that we were in love. This was to protect my social status as well as Kai's
Erin Lockheart's POVAfter tasking most of my people to prepare the necessary ingredients for the banquet later, I headed downtown, not in any kind of diguise because I am the empress and I have to let them know that I am here. With a simple yet elegant gown, I went market to market to buy decorations, which some of my ladies advised me not to do so.One of them, which is Irina, said, "I don't think high socialites from the kingdom would appreciate you buying local and inexpensive decorations for your first banquet, your majesty. Especially when you're already being compared to the princess they want for the throne.""This is our product. More than anything, this shows who we are." I replied firm with my decision, "I will use our products to help our people and I will put it to good use."I didn't watch all that home makeover and do-it-yourself videos back in college for nothing! I've always wanted to decorate but I never had the funds to do so. Plus, it is good strategy to use our ow
Cadmus Hunter's POVDamn it! Kai was successful in reclaiming parts of their land that I poisoned and that his best potioneer are reversing the effects of the poison. That was our only plan to hold them back! Kai and his 9 men successfully killed or severly injured 50 of my men! That monster!I knew we wouldn't be able to kill Kai but I was hoping at least to make them surrender! Damn it all! Luna placed her hands gently on my shoulders and said, "Calm down.""How am I supposed to calm-" I paused for a while and realized that it was Luna. I apologized and said, "I'm just stressed out.""I know." Luna said in a calming voice and continued, "I... have a plan to help our kingdom.""Luna, I appreciate you trying to help but you shouldn't stress out about these things.""I should." Luna replied firmly, "I am Lunaria's Empress and it is my duty as much as it is yours. I want to help our people and Kai's merciless killings are disgusting. He is killing his own kind and I will not stand by it
Erin Lockheart's POVKai carried me all the way to our bedroom and I was protesting, "Hey! Get me down! Hey! Kai!""Quite bold calling me by name, Erin." Kai snickered, he closed the door and gently put me on the bed. He leaned on the door as he grinned at me devilishly, "Good girl, stay. I'll be right back.""Hey! I'm not some puppy-" But before I could even finish, Kai left. Great. It was typical of him to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. I stood up and I was starting to head back to the banquet but just as I was opening the door, Zenn was right in front of me.He scoffed, a little disappointed for some reason but I didn't probe, "Kai really did drag you away from the party.""Yes, now if you will excuse me, I will be heading back." I walked past him and headed back to the palace. Everyone was looking at me and giggling. I cleared my throat and apologized for Kai's sudden behavior. I continued with making allies and now that Kai returned back to the kingdom, alive and well,
Kai Griffin's POVI woke up to the sound of Zenn's annoying voice. He went on and on about me leaving Erin all alone on my first night back. Zenn kicked me out the bed and scolded, "Why are you here stealing my bed anyways? You literally live in the castle with much better beds so hurry your ass back there so I can sleep peacefully!""I'm your emperor and I command you to give me this bed." I said, half-asleep. I lazily went back to his bed and threw pillows at him and continued, "You can have this instead.""I slept on the couch at my own house, please don't spend another night here. I'm begging you." I groaned and said, "You can sleep at the castle.""Ah, are you giving Erin to me?" Zenn grinned devilishly but I glared at him and replied, "Don't even think about it. She's mine.""Then go back to your perfect bride and leave my room, I have company coming over." Zenn snickered as he tidy up his place a little. It's definitely another woman. He continued, "Why did you even crash here
Erin Locheart's POVI subtly searched the castle for Kai but there was no sign of him so I headed downtown and buy some ingredients. I wasn't sure when Kai was going to return but I figured he misses homecooked meals so it wouldn't hurt to make him one.I'm not the best at cooking but I'm sure I can learn. Hopefully.I know very little about Kai but in contrast to what history has painted him, he is not entirely some evil monster to kills for fun. Otherwise, the whole Raewavell Kingdom would have had him dethroned years ago.Kai is a lone wolf so that meant that people are following him because they wanted to not because they were forced to obey alpha's orders. The Raewavell Kingdom is at disadvantage in comparison to Lunaria's large number of soldier who obeys Cadmus at every whim but the fact that we are winning just shows how much stronger Kai's resolve is.I wonder what his end goal is. Is it just to defeat Lunaria? Is it revenge? Why was he so eager to take me in even when I am n
Erin Lockheart's POV Kai repeated his question, "What would you do if I fall in love with you, Erin? Would you stay with me?" The defeaning silence surrounded us and I was speechless. My heart was beating loudly and I couldn't tell whether it was from nervousness or something else entirely. Suddenly, the world had stopped. I didn't know what to say or how to react. My cheeks flushed as he walked towards me, leaning on the wall behind me, I closed my eyes in confusion as I moved my face away from him, and Kai chuckled dryly, "You can't even look at me." He walked away and said, "Stop thinking that you're indebted to me because I saved you or that I'm some kind-hearted man who's your knight in shining armor who rescued you from Cadmus. I saved you because we needed each other. It's as simple as that." "I know that." I replied sternly. It stings a little to hear him say that out loud. I knew that but hearing it is somewhat an entirely different thing. I continued, "I just wanted to d