The Crown's Entrapment

Once again, Xenia cut off her tongue. In truth, she didn’t want to run away from Darius. Somehow, the thought of leaving him was making her uncomfortable, and the sensation of something heavy inside her chest mixed with this sharp prick of pain was already keeping her from fully committing to her decision. However, that simple idea… the option that the Demon King offered to her… It just kept on popping up inside her head.

“Fine then. Let’s say the Demon King keeps to his word. Do you really think that you can stop his greed and intent to rule over the world?” Darius postulated.

“Are you that confident that your family and your whole kingdom won’t suffer under his rule? You said that you’ll kill him, and how do you even plan on doing that? He’s a demon, while you’re a mere human who simply knows how to fight. The difference between you two is astronomical!”

“I… I, as a woman, have my advantages,” Xenia spurted out, her body trembling at the sharp and shuddering gaze Darius threw at her. She felt like she was being suffocated by those fiery eyes of his, and she tried her best not to drown in his gaze.

Narrowing his eyes at Xenia, Darius grunted, “Hah! As a woman, you do have an advantage. So how about you do it now and try it with me, Xen?”

Darius challenged, “Show me that so-called advantage! Try and kill me this instant, and if you succeed, then you might just have a chance against the Demon King. I’m telling you right now, Xen, there’s no way that you can run away from me unless you kill me!”

Her eyes widening, Xenia stared at Darius as she weakly whispered, “You’re… You’re furious… Come here and sit with me then…”

Flashing Darius her sweetest smile, Xenia tried her best to compose herself, her breath slowly evening out as she gestured at him to sit beside her.

Seeing Xenia’s sudden change in demeanor, Darius simply followed her lead and sat beside her. Xenia turned to look at him intently. He had this burning gaze for her that she couldn’t help but stare back with equal intensity. Slowly, she raised her hand, cupping his cheek lovingly as she put on her best attempt.

“What are you doing now? Is this the advantage you’re referring to?” Darius taunted with a frown.

Still, Xenia ignored the dangerous look in his eyes. She wanted to try if her best would even be effective against Darius. She had heard a lot of stories about it before; about how even the most powerful of men would often fall in the hands of beauty and temptation.

She had an answer to Darius’s question, of course. But instead of words, she gathered enough strength within her to move, suddenly sitting on his lap as a plan of attack. She straddled him, her face moving closer to his as she cupped his face with both hands. Staring deep into his eyes, Xenia let out a breath before slowly dragging her gaze toward Darius’s parted lips.

Almost as quickly, she heard him groan at her ministration. As if on cue, she then leaned closer and gently brushed her lips against his. It was a very light touch, their contact not even lasting half a second before she pulled out her tongue to lick Darius’s lips with its tip.

Planning her attack, she playfully licked his lips before moving to slowly suckle on both sides of his lips. She wasn’t in a rush, and she took her time licking and suckling Darius’s lips as she gauged his reaction. Eventually, she felt his arms tighten around her waist, Darius groaning inside her mouth as she slid her tongue in and kissed him passionately.

‘How’s that for an advantage?’

Slowly opening her eyes, Xenia looked at Darius’s own closed eyes as she carefully moved her hands down his sides, caressing him as if she was going further down to feel him. Eventually, she got a hold of the dagger he kept on his waist. But before she could pull it out, Xenia felt a hand grip her wrist. Just as quickly, something stung her by the arm.

Almost hauntingly, she turned, her eyes widening upon seeing that Darius injected her with something.

“What-”

She was unable to even complete her question. Not a moment too soon, everything suddenly went blank.

******

Darius caught Xen’s unconscious body in his arms. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he whispered, “Everything will be alright. I’ll keep you safe in my kingdom, Xen, and I’ll make sure that your brother wins this war. I will kill the Demon King myself if it meant for you not having any regrets…”

Looking at the syringe, Darius was reminded of the fact that it was Lurio’s idea to inject the potion into Xen instead of offering it to her as a drink. The wizard had said that there was a high possibility that the Princess would catch onto the fact that they’d put something into her drink, and that she’d be too cautious for it to work.

“I guess your people know you so much now that they can easily read your next move without so much as a thought,” Darius humorlessly chuckled. “They probably learned from your actions to the point that they had to use this method to sedate you.”

It had been a close call too. He was just about to lose himself with how Xen was tempting him, and it was only through a sheer will that he managed to stop himself. He clenched his jaw at the thought of Xen thinking about doing the exact same actions to the Demon King before killing him. Just the thought of it made his blood boil, and he simply couldn’t wait to get his hands on that demon himself. He would crush that devil into pieces!

Soon enough, Jayra entered the tent with Lurio. Darius looked at the former and instructed, “Prepare for our departure. We must leave this instant. Help Xen change into her armor. I will carry her with me.”

Carefully putting Xen down on the bed, Darius stood back as he let Jayra take care of Xen. Turning around, he then talked to his men.

“Follow Prince Ezekiel’s orders by any means. The Moonlight Cavalry will be under his command for the duration of this war.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Commander Zandro promptly confirmed his acknowledgment.

The king then turned to Bartos, Gideon, and a few more of his men that he designated as envoys. “We will be traveling in our wolfman form nonstop,” Darius briefed. “We must reach Cordon by tomorrow. I will carry Xen, and-”

“I will carry Jayra, Your Majesty,” Bartos quickly volunteered as soon as Darius’s eyes went to Gideon and Bartos.

“Alright then,” Darius nodded. “Now get ready. We’ll be leaving as soon as I can carry Xen with me.”

As soon as Xenia was properly dressed and ready for travel with Jayra, Darius hoisted her up and carried her in her arms.

Walking out to the camp, Ezekiel was out with the rest of the men to bid them farewell. Darius simply nodded at them as he moved to leave along with his own men.

“Let me bring you to Cordon now… to OUR home, my Queen…” Darius whispered into Xen’s ear.