A bustle of royal maids barged into her room and startled her awake, drawing the curtains wide open to let the sun in. Ignoring her cries of protest, they bathed and dressed her in a comfortable cotton dress — the softest outfit she had ever worn. The lilac color complemented her hair and brought out the silver in her eyes. It came with a matching hooded robe.
The Emperor's charity only raised her guard. He didn't strike her as a benevolent man or even kind towards strangers. After breakfast, the head maid announced. "His Majesty instructed this humble servant to escort you to the royal stable."
Inka followed after the matronly servant, cutting across a grand hall embellished with oil paintings and lofty vases, their heels clicking against the gleaming marble floors. The palace was surprisingly cozy, unlike its prickly owner. They entered the courtyard where a magnificent golden dragon sat in a circular fountain, water streamed from its mouth.
How incredible! She had never seen a contraption like this.
Realizing she was lagging behind, Inka hurried to catch up and soon arrived at the royal stable. She gaped at its enormity. There were more horses than she could count on both hands, each beast strikingly handsome with gleaming coats and sparkling eyes.
"It took you long enough, witch," the Emperor's husky timbre drifted from one of the stalls. Before she arrived, Kyou had fed and saddled his warhorse for their departure.
Tearing her gaze from the horses, she gaped at him, dressed in a commoner's tunic and brown pants. He looked ordinary yet devastatingly handsome.
"Cat got your tongue?" he smirked, leading Yan, a prized Ferghana out of its stall. "You clean up pretty well for a tribe witch."
Clearing her throat, she grated with icy dignity. "My name is Inka, and I am not a witch."
"I know." His smug response only riled her up. "But I don't care. Since we met, you remind me very much of a witch."
"Why? Is it because of my hair and eyes?" she asked dryly, accustomed to being judged for her unusual coloring.
"Partly," he acknowledged, mounting his stallion, and extending a hand to her. His intention was obvious, but the witch ignored his help and hitched herself up behind him.
"Ashina members are adept with horses. I don't need help," she announced haughtily.
"And I don't trust strangers to cover my backside," Kyou rejoined smoothly, maneuvering her to sit between his thighs.
"Wha—" she spluttered when he lifted her effortlessly, sitting her in front of him. "How did—" the position fitted her bottom snugly to his front while her back moulded to his chest.
Kyou grinned at her expense. "You're predictable, witch. Hold on tight now." He made a clicking noise and the horse took off in a gallop.
Unprepared for the abrupt jolt, Inka shrieked and blindly grabbed onto the Emperor's thighs to steady herself. He chuckled lightly into her ear, his warm breath tickling her nape. "Patience witch, there will be plenty of time for that."
Mortified, she released him. Coincidentally the horse made a small jump to avoid a ditch and she found herself unseated in mid-air. Squeezing her eyes shut, she expected to hit the ground, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist, securing her firmly against a warm, solid torso.
Opening her eyes, she tilted her head to look at him.
"I won't let you fall," he murmured, ignoring her questioning gaze. His arm brushed the underside of her breasts and her nipples tightened. Inka was certain her face was flaming but, despite her racing heart she never felt safer than in the arms of her enemy.
They travelled at breakneck speed, reaching the Ashina camp by noon — what was left of it. Inka leapt off the horse before it stopped and took in the wreckage. Devastation choked her at the unsightly corpses scattered across the once sacred land, tears prickling the back of her eyes.
Kyou observed in silence, frowning when she disappeared inside a crumbling hut. Swiftly dismounting, he approached the hut only for Inka to burst out with a primitive shovel. "What are you doing?" he asked warily, bewildered by her intention.
"I'm going to give them a proper burial. It's our belief that the dead cannot rest peacefully if their bodies aren't given one." She explained, thrusting the shovel into the dirt.
"Don't be stupid. You can't possibly bury all these corpses by yourself."
"I can't just leave them!" she snapped, and a hot tear fell. Annoyed, she swiped it away.
Kyou couldn't understand why his chest constricted at the lamentable sight she painted. He read the anguished lines of her body, how her muscles strained to accommodate her bidding. Not once did she stop. If she were a man, it would have been impressive but, watching her toil…his heart ached.
He snorted at his own sentimentality. If Rei could hear him now.
Drawing a deep breath, he rolled up his sleeves and wrestled the shovel from her. "I'll dig the holes," he declared stiffly. "You roll the bodies in."
Wiping her nose, she sniffled and nodded.
They worked like perfectly oiled cogs in a machine until the final corpse was buried. Exhausted, Kyou leaned against the shovel and watched the witch. She was piling stones on the graves, offering up a simple prayer for the deceased.
After that, she came towards him. "Thank you."
He noticed her slumped shoulders and absent feistiness. "I'm not entirely heartless you know. May their souls rest in peace." Straightening his back, he remarked. "It's late. Let's get cleaned up and make camp for the night."
"We can use my family's hut. It's still in good condition," she offered, registering the dirt on Kyou's face. He looked worn out and uncomfortable, the sight tugging at her heartstrings. She felt somewhat responsible for his plight.
As she led the way, Inka wondered when had they fallen into a mutual truce? It was temporary, she mentally chided. Soon he would revert to his mean-spirited self.
Inka showed him to Lupa's room. "You can sleep here. My room is next door."
Before she could turn around and leave, his arms shot out to cage her against the wall. His briny, masculine scent engulfed her. "You're not sleeping anywhere but here with me." Dipping his mouth to her ear, his hot breath tickled. "If you run, I WILL find you."
It was a velvety threat yet, instead of being repulsed, goosebumps awaken along her skin. Inka found it hard to breathe, feeling very conscious of his height and strength. He was so close, she could see the bristles of his stubble. She forced herself to relax. "I-I won't run away. I wish to find Kusunagi more than you do."
"You will sleep here." His tone final.
Clenching her jaw, flinty eyes locked with his. "Fine. Now if you will excuse me, I wish to clean up. You can use the bucket and towel by the bed. There is a well outside that should be working."
Having made his point, Kyou retreated with the sleek grace of a panther, a gleam in his eyes said he knew exactly what he was doing to her. And it wasn't fear she felt. It was the betrayal of her body.
Hastily, she left and made sure he hadn't followed before sprinting to the sandfall. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she hooted a secret tune she had created with Lupa, anticipating his response. Dead silence.
Where could they have gone to?
Scenarios of death filtered through her mind, but she shoved them aside. No. They were alive. It was the only way she could keep going. Miserably, she returned to the hut and found the Emperor fast asleep on the floor, lines of exhaustion marring his face. She was amazed he trusted her to return.
Her eyes flicked to the empty bed, having expected him to take it. His consideration made her heart twinge.
Openly staring at him, she wondered what kind of man he was – not as the Emperor. He didn't have to help bury the dead, but he did it anyway. His actions and words never gelled. One minute he was thoughtful, and the next he was mean.
Who was the Crimson King? And which was the real one?
Being around him unsettled her heart…and her body. Every time she inhaled his scent, her flesh reacted with hot and cold waves of brazen thrill.
That night, she couldn't sleep…plagued by thoughts of death and Kusunagi. She had bigger concerns than the Emperor. Lives were at stake and her future was like stepping over a cliff. How she wished her parents were alive. She felt so alone and terrified.
Pretending to be asleep, Kyou heard her muffled cries. His instincts urged him to comfort her, but he hadn't a clue how. He wasn't even sure if his attentions would be welcome, not with how he had treated her. They had made it clear they distrusted each other.
Inwardly, he sighed. This was going to be a long night.