It took Artemis a moment to process the fact that Alexander had kissed her. She was already surprised to see him in the forest when he was meant to be somewhere safe. Flaming rocks were still being thrown into the forest all around them. Instead of pushing him away, Artemis gave into the kiss accepting that she did have feelings for him even if it hurt her pride to accept.
Alexander caressed her hair with one hand and used the other to pull her further against him. Since he met her, he had been interested in her and the time he spent with Artemis opened up his heart for her more.
Realistically, they should be enemies. Alexander, the hero, and Artemis, the villain. Had he not met her the day of the festival and learned many things about her, Alexander might've been on the outside burning the forest down. Or maybe none of this would have ever happened since Artemis became more furious with Darius after witnessing the play she saw at the festival.
As crazy as it might sound, he was happy with the way everything played out. He heard the statement you can find love in unexpected places and thought it was foolish but it proved him wrong.
Splash!
The sound of something large falling into the water interrupted the moment of peace between the two. Alexander looked behind Artemis to see a large rock that could've hurt them.
"This seems to be the wrong time to kiss you," he pulled away concerned for their safety. It was super dangerous to be doing this in the middle of a fight. "But after this is all done, don't think you can run away from me."
"Don't think you can use those types of cringe words on me, you fool. They don't work on me," she pushed him away to hide her cheeks changing color.
"I beg to differ but whatever makes you feel better-"
"Ah!"
They both looked out in the distance as screams were heard in the forest.
"They're trying to enter but must have forgotten that anyone who enters this forest will die. Either the souls are attacking them to try and steal their bodies or the forest itself is trying to kill them because they have set it on fire. Oh, I also sent my pets out there to protect me," said Artemis.
"A lot of good men are going to die all for nothing," Alexander listened to the screams of the men he spent a lot of time with. They were only listening to the orders of Catherine.
"All for nothing? They want to kill the monster who killed their king. That means they should kill the princess too. What a powerful man you are Alexander."
"Powerful?" Alexander was confused as to how anything he mentioned made him powerful.
"Catherine is only this because she thinks I am stealing you away. Well, she's not wrong since I decided to have you, Alexander. You are powerful enough to make me open up my heart again. Break the trust I am placing in you and I will break every inch of you before sending it back to your father. Understood?" She smiled walking ahead to join the fight.
"Understood," Alexander replied. He didn't have anything to worry about since he didn't plan on betraying her.
"I'm still curious about how you were able to walk in this forest without the bracelet. You should be dead-" Artemis paused when she saw a rock high in the air and knew it would land further than the others sent before. "It's heading straight to the damn tree!" She yelled out realizing where it was going to land.
She sent a wave of water upwards to catch the rock but it was too late. It was further away than she thought and heading towards the tree at a fast rate. The rock crashed into the ancient tree and thanks to Artemis digging up around the tree, it fell back upon impact from the rock.
"No no no," she repeated as the once bright leaves flickered after the tree was knocked over.
Artemis left Alexander's side, running over the water to see if the tree was alright. As much as it annoyed her with the wishes she didn't want anyone else but her to hurt it. Especially when there was something that could help her below it.
"Please don't be damaged," she chanted over and over again in her head.
Alexander was about to go after her to make sure everything was alright but didn't get far when he heard someone call his name.
"Where the hell are you running off to? I am going to drag you back to the palace and show everyone the traitor that you are. Then, I am going to kill that woman for killing the king." It was Thomas who had successfully made it through the forest without being attacked.
Alexander didn't understand how Thomas made it here without being killed like the others he heard screaming. Was there something special about the two of them that made them able to avoid death? "Thomas, I don't want to hurt you. You are not aware of the full story regarding the king's death," he tried to reason with Thomas in order to avoid fighting one another.
If they were to fight right now, one of them might die.
"I don't listen to traitors. Besides, I've been waiting on this moment from the moment I met you," Thomas pointed his sword toward Alexander.