Chapter 4: Royal Business proposition

Cassia's POV

My head hurts…. I feel like someone is carrying me…. this presence… is very warm… I feel safe in his arms as he is carrying me…. his arms are strong and his face…. I can hardly see but he has long black silky hair and his skin is white like porcelain…. His face… looks so familiar I just can't make it out as I tried to open my eyes but the sun's glare made it impossible to see his beautiful face…

"Princess… are you alright…?" As soft tender husky voice asked me, but I was too weak to answer him as I fell asleep in his arms as he carried me and that is all I could remember. I felt someone putting a blanket on my body and putting me to bed, but I did not have the energy to ask what was happening. I thought it was a dream as I opened my eyes and looked closer and to my horror, it was the Shadow King. I tried to scream but nothing was coming out in shock and fright as I tried to push him away, "It's alright warrior princess, no one is going to harm you… I am not going to hurt you…. " he said to me, as I fell asleep from shock.

"This is going to be a long journey?" the Shadow King sighed and said to himself watching her sleep as he covered her with the blankets in his bedroom of his palace. He chuckled to himself. "She put up quite a fight, all I wanted to do was put her to bed to rest…. She really is a warrior alright…." he said shaking his head at her.

One of the servants brought the King a water bowl and some medical supplies as the King requested. "here you are, my lord" the servant bowed. "Thank you" he said to the servant. They both stare at the princess in his bed.

"This is a different taste of woman you normally sleep with" the servant grinned. The shadow King smirked, "This one is not to sleep with… " he said. "Oh, then what do you want to do with this one?" the servant asked him. The shadow King smirked evilly. "I am going to marry her" he said simply, as he embraced her head tenderly.

"Oh…. What makes you think she will say yes?" the servant asked him. The Shadow King chuckled evilly for a moment. "She will have no choice but to…." He said and left her presence for a moment. "Come, let the princess rest for a while, until she wakes up" he said and closed the door to his bedroom behind them. "Where are you going, your Majesty?" the servant asked, watching the King walk down the hallway of the palace, "to have a drink" he grinned. "Want one?" the King asked him. "No thank you my lord, you remember what happened last time I tried one of your drinks" he said walking away. The Shadow King chuckled, "Yes, yes, who could forget that shameful act of yours" the Shadow King laughed hysterically. "This is the end of me" the servant said to himself in shame and embarrassment laughing to himself.

A couple of days later, on one afternoon, Cassia woke up about 2 x days later.

Cassia's POV:

My head hurts…I said slowly opening my eyes as I looked around and this place was not the palace of Aspire… I knew I wasn't home….ouch my head hurts I said as I placed my hand on my forehead. "Looks like you're awake, princess" I heard a voice tell me from across the room, as I looked up and it was sunset, it to my shock and horror, it was the Shadow King…. Sitting all dishevelled before me on his couch with his full-bodied torso being exposed and just wearing his black trousers. His long black silky hair laying side by side. His brown to light yellow eyes staring at me with a poker face expression on his face.

I looked at him, "Who… who are you?" I asked him in doubt and trembling all over, I felt like I was so vulnerable at this stage being in his presence like his, and I was only wearing what I wore when I was home. "It has only been a week since we met on the battlefield, have you forgotten my face already?" he questioned me. I looked slower coming to the realisation that what I thought it was true…. I grasped, "Your…. Your….." I said, "Forgive me my manners, my name is Derek, I am the Shadow King as you know me by, at your service…" he said to me kindly yet charmingly. I swallowed a breath. "How did… I end up here?" I questioned him confused covering myself.

"Your… captain… well, it's a long story, I will let your commander tell you the rest when you do eventually go back to your Kingdom… looks like you've got some problems going on in your Kingdom that you need to seek refuge…. your own council is trying to kill you, future Queen of Aspire…." He told me. When he told me this, I remember vaguely what the captain tried to tell me, but I didn't believe it, I just went along with it because I was afraid of what he said to me. I went quiet for a moment trying to process what was going on.

"Looks like we both have some problems going on in our Kingdoms, young Princess…" he told me.

I went quiet as I looked at him. I swallowed a breath as I tried to move. "Why can't I move, what did you do to me?" I questioned him in fear and suspicion. "I never done anything to you, it was your captain, as to why he put you to sleep is beyond me, it's not my way of treating women" he winked at me. I blushed for a moment. "Forgive me for accusing you, your Majesty… I am in your refuge and I accuse you like that… I am just confused now so please do pardon me…." I said apologetically, knowing I am in the hands of my enemy, but right now he is the one giving me refuge and if he wanted to kill me, he would have done it already, is what I thought. I must tread lightly.

"I understand, young Princess….." he said simply as he stared at me.

He took a deep breath for a moment. "How old are you?" he asked me. "20 years old." I responded simply. "No boyfriends or lovers, fiancé?" he asked me. "No of course not!" I blushed.

"Good…. Because I have a proposition for you" he said to me. "What sort of proposition?" I questioned him.