The Cruel Prince 2

A growl escape his lips before she can react. The prince snatched her arm and whipped her underneath.

He hovered over her, his hot and dangerous breath swarming against her cheeks. Prince Wang Jian pinned her arms beneath him.

"Do not touch me," he snarled softly. "Do you understand?"

A ripple of terror shuddered all over Ying Yue trembling beneath the weight of her own husband.

"Jian?" She moaned. "What's gotten into you?"

"I told you not to touch me!" The prince warned, he leaned his heavy weight pushing on top of her, crushing her. "Jian, I can't breathe."

"I told you not to speak, not to touch me, not to do anything. I come here in bed each night to warm and protect you. I fulfill my duties as your husband, that should be enough to you."

She trembled even more. Uncontrollable sobs issued unable to help herself, Ying Yue started to cry.

"Stop your crying!" The prince hissed, but she only cried harder sending his anger to fury. The prince turned feral and demanded for her to stop immediately. "Stop this nonsense, Ying Yue, there are entities hiding in the walls of the palace. Demons lurking in the shadows, they can see you, and they can prey on you. Don't make this harder than it already is."

"Why are you treating me like this?"

For an instant, prince Wang Jian's feral face softened, sensing the distraught in her. Watching her suffer tears him up inside, it hurts him but he knew these are the kind of things he needs to do in order to protect her. He wiped the softness off his face and wore his cold mask again.

"Stop your crying."

Ying Yue continued to cry.

"Please, Ying Yue. I can't do this, I can't act like this anymore." His angry voice losing all its hostility.

"What happened to you, Jian? How did you become so different?"

"I can't tell you, there's plenty of things I can't tell you. This palace is drowning with secrets and we're all cursed to pay for its sins."

"Tell me." She pleaded.

"No, Ying Yue, I can't."

"Jian, please!"

The prince fell into silence, his thoughts occupied his brain. He took his time before he spoke again, "forgive me Ying Yue. But I could no longer have you here. You need to leave, you are no longer safe here."

"No, a husband and wife should stick together. I want to be with you."

Prince Wang Jian shook his head, his mind was made up and there's nothing she can say or do to change it. He knew what he's about to do was cruel and he knew she'll resent him for it, but having her banished will release her from the burden of his curse and it's the price he's willing to pay. "You must leave, I'm having you banished."

He got up and gathered a piece of old cloak that's been in his family for generations. It's made of leather and hive that is not of an animal. It's a skin of a demon who was slain during a fight. Prince Wang Jian draped it over her shoulders and reached for the sword lain on the side of the bed after.

He offered the sword to her. "Take this Ying Yue, this sword will protect you. If you ever come across a demon trying to hurt you, use this sword to kill it.." His intense eyes traveled penetrating hers. Prince Wang Jian made sure Ying Yue listened and understood each word he's saying. "This sword is forged with magic and precious metal, it is capable of killing any demon that crosses its path."

She took the sword, the weight of it is heavy on her wrists. "I don't know how to wield a sword."

"It's easy," he said. "You just point and swing at your enemy."