His Desire

~Kiva

Someone screams, glass shatters and a thud loud enough to be attributed to the house fracturing rouses me.

My body lurches upward, throat tightening as I look through the darkness.

Sheets wind around my legs as I scramble across the mattress, toppling over the edge and to the floor.

Another scream, except this time it's cut short, coming from downstairs. My blood turns ice cold, chills rattling through me.

With my feet finally under me, I wander toward my door, resting my ear against it.

"Andri...what's going on out there?" I call out.

My personal guard doesn't answer. The commotion from downstairs seems to be nearing, the sound travelling up to the second story. Whoever has broken in, is getting close.

"Andri? Can I come out?" I'm begging.

My fingers brush against the door handle, tempting me. Father would demand I stay in my room, wait for help, but I fear someone is coming to kill me, and if Andri is not posted at my door, there will be nothing between them and I.

Throwing the door open, I peer out. Through the darkness, I can see the shadow of a body slumped against the door.

Stepping out, I wince, the carpet wet beneath my bare feet.

My stomach twists. Blood.

Stooping down, I run my hands along the body, feeling up to their face. There's no doubting this is Andri, his blood pooling out across the floor.

"Oh...oh no, please tell me you aren't dead," I plead, shaking his shoulders. I can feel his head roll limply around, nausea rearing up inside me to the point I have to back away, nearly slipping in the blood.

The nearing footsteps have me retreating back through the threshold of my bedroom. There is no where for me to run.

As soon as I stand, someone emerges from the shadows, grabbing me.

My scream is immediately muffled as a gloved hand is shoved over my mouth, their other arm winding around my stomach, yanking me back into the room.

Clawing at their clothing, I continue to scream, kicking and thrashing about frantically as they drag me into the room, throwing me down onto the bed.

I'm going to die. They are going to murder me.

Their strength is overwhelming, as they pin me against the sheets, holding me still. Desperately, I try to rip their hand off my mouth, which practically covers over half my face, hushing my pleas for help.

Relying on one of my last surges of adrenaline, I push at their arm, and for a moment, their hand slips away, and I can yell into the night air.

"Get off me!"

I expect them to hit me, to demand I obey them, but nothing comes. They just continue to hold me down, like they are waiting for something, or someone.

Someone to come kill me...

Ripping at their gloves, their sleeves, I try to get a hold of anything to pull their hands off me, maybe give me a chance to pull away, but it's not use.

Until part of my bare skin brushes against theirs, and a shockwave rolls through me.

They are my mate.

They let go of me immediately, stumbling back a few steps.

I sit up. I'm paralysed, unable to move as I stare at the looming figure. A man, with a disturbingly impressive stature.

My mate just tried to kill me.

"No...no this can't be," I whisper, horrified.

I can tell they are looking at me from beneath their hood, choosing their next move. To kill me, or not to kill me?

They chose the latter, vanishing into the darkness.

All I can do is stare into the shadows, helpless and alone. I just found my mate. And he's a murderer, and probably a whole other assortment of terrible things.

What the fuck?

Shaking my head, I get to my feet, the sounds of disruption from downstairs slowly diminishing.

They must be retreating, but regardless, I quickly make my way outside and down the hallway toward the safe room.

Only one thought follows me.

I found my mate. And he wants me dead.

~Kiva

I stare at the mahogany door, knowing what conversation is going to occur beyond it.

"Fuck this," I mutter under my breath, knocking on the wood.

"Come in, daughter."

My father waits beyond his desk as I enter the room. The deepening lines between his brows tell me all I need to know.

"How many casualties?" I ask gently, not stopping until my hips bump against the desk.

Father runs his hand down his face. "Too many. We are lucky we are alive."

I shift. That's an understatement.

I should be dead. This morning I woke, feeling like I'm now living on borrowed time. Were that man not my mate...

"What made them back off?"

"You tell me. You were at the mercy of one, and they spared you," Father asks distractedly, sighing as he sifts the paper in front of him.

Memories flash through my mind, vivid and dark.

The way he had pinned me down against the bed like that, the raw power he was so willing to inflict upon me just to harm me.

What kind of man is that?

"I don't know father. I begged for my life, and whoever he was, he obliged me."

I can't even imagine my father's wrath were he to know I had a mate, let alone one that tried to kill me. Being a Princess only worsens that reality.

Father leans back in his chair, tapping his stubbled chin. "You're going to need a personal guard."

"I want Andri."

"He's gone, Kiva."

Grief nestles into the depths of my stomach, causing it to ache so badly I could double over from the pain.

We were friends, Andri and I. Those are rare for me, in the manor. I go rarely, so I would often confide in him.

I doubt I'll find that connection again, with another personal guard.

"I want to attend his funeral."

Father sighs, not looking up. "You can't leave these grounds, not for a while, until we track down who did this."

Turning, I sit on the edge of his desk, ignoring his gestures to move away from his documents.

"I can't believe I could have died," I muse quietly.

At the hand of my own mate, no less.

"Your personal guard will be arriving tonight from a nearby Kingdom. He will also be training you," father adds.

I whirl around, gaping at him. A new guard so soon?

"Training me? In what?"

"Self defence. From now on, you need to learn how to protect yourself in case this happens again. This man is apparently the best in the land."

Father gets to his feet, stalking past me and out the office. I follow him.

"Do you trust him?"

"He's an ex mercenary. He will do a good job," he responds.

A mercenary to protect me? I thought they were hired killers...

"I'm assuming I don't get a say this time." Such matters are not a Princesses burden, he has always insisted.

Nothing is my burden. Except of course, being trussed up and told what to do.

Being trained in self-defence is the first personal endeavour my father has allowed, aside from painting or reading, of course.

"Your safety is imperative," he notes. "Now, you must prepare to make an announcement to the people. They will want to know you are alive and ready to retaliate."

"What about my trip to the lakes next week?" I've been looking forward to that outing for months.

"Postponed until-"

"Until we caught them. Got it," I mutter tiredly, turning to the door.

What will this new guard be like? Will they ardently protect me against my mate, who is wrapped up in all this?

I know it's wrong, but I want to see him again, to meet him...

Pausing, I glance back over my shoulder. "Hey, Dad?"

"Yes Kiva?"

"Will you kill them all, when you find them?" Images of my mate being hanged flash through my mind, accompanied with a strike of pain straight beneath my ribs.

He doesn't look up. "They will go through the trial system, but chances are, they will receive death penalty."

There's little point to protesting it.

Once my mate is found, he will be killed. Which means I need to find him first.

***

Staring up at the ceiling, I let out a soft groan of frustration.

I'm never going to get a good sleep again.

Hoisting myself up, I snatch my frail robe, slipping it on as I head to the door.

As I assumed, my temporary guard lays slumped against the wall, snoring gently. It allows for me to pick my way past him unnoticed, the sound of the rain pattering against the roof masking my footsteps.

Leaving my room at night is the ultimate sin, according to father.

Too bad I'm restless tonight, and I want to feel the rain on my skin.

My trip down the stairs is cut short, as the sound of the large front door creaking open echo's through the great hall.

I pause, ducking down, coating myself in shadows.

"You have arrived," someone says.

Gripping the varnished banister, I peak up, looking at where the front door is opened, a figure standing at the threshold, another meekly hunched nearby.

It's a maid and...who is that?

A flash of lightening drenches the alabaster floor in light for a brief moment, making me flinch back.

The foreign figure, a man, standing at the door shakes their shoulders, ridding themselves of their sopping wet jacket.

The maid takes it, scurrying off into the darkness, a guard I don't recognise standing in her place now.

"Your room is upstairs. Furthest down on the right," He motions to where I watch on. I duck down, sucking in a breath.

The man doesn't respond.

"The King will want to speak to you in the morning, before you're introduced to the Princess," the guard drones on.

This is my new personal guard.

Curious, I peek back up.

His stature is disturbingly impressive. Even from here, I can see his broad shoulders and towering height.

On his hands, leather gloves shine in the low light. Killers hands.

"Fine," he responds gruffly to the guard.

There are many Territories in these lands. His accent is one I cannot pinpoint.

He begins towards the stairs, so as quickly as possible I crawl up and into the nearest room, concealing myself behind the door.

His footsteps are near silent as he ascends to the second floor and past my hiding spot.

Creeping out, I watch him depart down the corridor.

I'm officially curious.

So, I follow him, one hand braced on the wall to keep myself from tripping in the near darkness.

He stops right by the door to his new bedroom, however, his hand pauses on the handle.

"I'm hoping this is where your following ceases," he murmurs lowly.

I stiffen. Me?

Like a fool, I turn to look over my shoulder, as if there's anyone else that would be stalking him through the shadows right now.

"What gave it away?"

The slightest exhale from his nose gives away his irritation. "You're heavy footed."

Well, no excuse in the world is going to get me out of this one.

Clearing my throat, I straighten from my hunched position, smoothing my hair back, although I presume he cannot see me in this lightening. I can barely see him.

"You must be my new personal guard." Maybe it's the nerves, but I can hear how haughty that sounds and I want to kick myself for it.

I can feel him assessing me with preternatural calmness.

"Goodnight."

I blink as he swiftly opens his door, stepping inside.

"Wait. What's your name?"

Fool. Idiot, fool, idiot Kiva.

He emerges again, leaning his forearm against the doorframe. The backlight hides his face, but I already figure he's devastatingly handsome.

Because that's just my luck.

"I have a few more hours before I work for your father, Princess. I don't have to speak to you."

I suck in a breath. "Ouch. Well, you have to be by my side from now on, so you may as well be nice to me."

"Perhaps a mutual respect for silence will be more preferred." He disappears into his room once more.

My fingers roll up into clenched fists, fingernails digging into my skin.

"My name is Kiva," I say despite myself. "You'll come to like me."

His door breezes shut.

All I can do is stare at it.

So that's my new personal guard.

"Great. Just great," I mutter, turning to sulk back to my room.

~Kiva

Staring up at the ceiling, I smile.

Now this is why I wake so early in the morning. It's the perfect way to start the day.

Stretching my legs out, my hand slides under the covers, tugging my sleep shorts down.

My eyes flutter shut as my fingers rest between my legs, applying pressure exactly where I like it. The feeling jolts through me, excitement chasing it.

I like to take my time in the morning, chasing my release.

Delving deep into my mind, I play through all my usual fantasies. I never have one person in mind, however one figure materialises as I pursue my pleasure.

That man...Tall, built like a killer, and ice cold. I met him just last night and he hates me already.

Something about that intrigues me.

As a Princess, I'm used to those pushing for my favour. This man couldn't care less. I both hate and like that.

Only moments after the thought of him clawed through my mind, euphoric pleasure hits me. It doesn't last as long as I would like, though.

I need to get myself laid one of these days. Properly.

The thought chases me all the way down stairs, outside, and to the training hall, which usually is only used by guards. I'm aware I'm late, but I hardly care, as I stride into the room, seeing my father and an unfamiliar man standing in the centre.

It's him. From last night.

He looks up upon my entry, eyes glacial as they trace over me, before averting back to my father.

I knew he would be attractive. I just knew it.

It's as if he's made up of the shadows I stalked through last night. His eyes are obsidian black, matching his hair exactly, which looks he's carelessly swept his hand through.

And his face. Well, it's not the same rugged handsome my guards usually are. It's a fine, ethereal beauty evident in the striking height of his cheekbones and straightness of his jawline.

He looks like a killer. Deceptive, cruel and vicious.

I'm screwed...

"You're late, Kiva," Father mutters, as I meekly approach. It's nearly impossible to keep my gaze from shifting back to my new guard.

I clear my throat, smoothing my sweaty palms down over my pants. "I had others things to attend to."

"Regardless, this is Ark, your new personal guard," father introduces.

Ark and I exchange blank stares. Neither one of us are going to make my father aware that we have met already.

"Hi," I mutter uncomfortably.

He dips his head in greeting but says nothing.

"Ark wants to monitor your current state to determine where to start with training. I let him know you're a novice, but he wants a reading himself," father explains.

"Fine. Whatever."

"After training, he will be acting as your personal guard, changing out with Jack depending on the hour."

Just by looking at Ark I can tell he's going to be a vigilant. I'm going to have to be creative in how I get around his watchful eye.

"I'll have you know I had an excellent personal guard before you," I tell him, folding my arms.

He doesn't respond, hands tucked respectfully behind his back.

But that's the only respectful thing about him.

Despite his cold perfection, I can tell he's rough, brutal. A thrill shudders through me. This isn't going to be an easy few months.

Father regards his new hire with a proud smile. "Ark was a mercenary for many years. He is very skilled at what he does."

"Killing people?"

"Yes," he responds icily.

Admittedly, I lose the ability to breathe for a moment. Father seriously favours a hired killer over any other skilled person in these lands?

"I'll leave you two alone then," father says, stepping back out into the snow.

Ark turns away from me, surveying the space he has to work with. The large part of the room is the gap between the roof and the towering ceiling, with most of the floor space being taken up by various training equipment.

I shouldn't be here, as a Princess, but I'm excited about it.

I just can't let Ark get to me.

"Don't expect me to be too high energy. I'm tired this morning," I mumble.

Ark rubs his gloved hands together, approaching a rack of equipment.

"Perhaps if you didn't wake up and touch yourself before the sun had even risen, you would get more sleep," he responds calmly.

I stare at his back, dumbfounded.

"I..."

There is nothing I can say to escape this mortification. It's like he's stripped me of my training clothes and stood over my naked form to ridicule me.

"How do you...how do you know?" I demand.

He twists his head to focus on me. "Your eyes are glazed, your cheeks are tinted pink and your shoulders are relieved of the tension in them from last night."

How could he have possibly seen all that? Especially from last night.

"What I do in my personal time is none of your concern," I grit out.

I could deny it, but why should I? I'm allowed to orgasm whenever I like, and this stranger isn't about to tell me I can't.

He shrugs. "Maybe not. But that's the reason you're tired."

I step toward him. "Actually it's because someone broke into my room the other night with the intention to kill me. Sorry if sleeping at night is far harder than it used to be."

Something flickers in his eyes. Pity? Sadness? I can't tell.

"Your trauma will resolve itself far better with a good rest," is all he says.

I tap my foot, channeling all my anger into that one movement, although mitigating my emotions isn't much use anymore.

"I can't believe you are forbidding me from touching myself. Are you insane?" I snap.

Something shifts in him. He drops the weight he was holding, striding toward me.

I keep my ground, although my confidence starts to waver.

He doesn't stop until he's so close to me I can see every detail on his face. His eye lashes are thick and dark, and below them, dark circles frame his eyes.

My gaze doesn't dare dip down to his lips, which I already know are full and inviting.

"Get on the ground," he demands quietly, a seething kind of anger edging his disturbing calmness.

"Huh?"

He nods downward. "Stretches. Hurry."

I sink to the ground immediately upon his command. Mostly because I don't want him to see my surprise.

My mind must have wandered to its darkest depths to imagine what else he could have possibly meant by that.

Once I'm in position to start stretching, he starts pacing in front of me, hands seated in his pockets.

"Rules," he starts. I roll my eyes.

"Firstly, I will be training you in self defence, nothing more. Your father does not wish to corrupt your reign by making you a fighter."

I can hear he's bothered to have even said that. I don't flinch, not surprised.

"Go figure. Imagine the horror of a Princess who can not only think for herself, but do something about it?" I mutter.

I swear I see the edges of his lips tilt up slightly.

"Secondly, you will not be late to our training sessions at any point, otherwise you will be thoroughly punished. Nothing will become more important than this, and you shall not take lovers, or partake in any related activity. Your mind needs to remain focused."

I gape at him. "Seriously? My sex life should not concern you."

He doesn't even look at me, continuing to stride back and forth, black boots causing the floorboards to creak right near me.

"And thirdly, you must obey my every command. Do you understand?"

"I-"

He stops, holding my gaze. "Do you understand, Kiva?"

This is a man who likes to get his way. And for now, I get the feeling that if I disobey him, I'll be introduced to a kind of wrath I haven't experienced before.

"Yes, Ark." I force a sardonic smile onto my face.

The slightest frown creases between his brows. "What happened to you will not repeat itself. Am I clear?"

I swallow tightly. "Yes, Ark."

We sit in an intense silence for a long moment, before Ark eventually relents, turning away from me.

"Laps, around the field," he orders.

I scramble up. "When do I stop?"

He waves his hand dismissively. "When I've decided you've had enough. Now go."

I groan, but despite my better judgment, I start into a run, silently cursing Ark, and my new life.