After that hellish training, Amina thought she might actually die. Every muscle ached, she felt sweat in places she didn't know could sweat. She was laying in the dirt, panting, trying to catch her breath.
"You alright, darlin?" Amina shook her head. She didn't think she could even muster the energy to speak.
"I'm sorry I had to be so hard on you, we don't have a lot of time before His Royal Highness has asked us to leave for the forest inspection. I want you to be as strong as possible. And building muscle is painful."
"I could be of help with that, my lady." Amina looked up behind her to see the man creating the shadow above her was the Holy Knight's Commander, Caspian.
"What are you doing here?" Nero asked, folding his arms and stepping protectively near Amina.
"I have been asked by His Majesty to train Miss Amante. I also heard her suffering from all the way near my training grounds and figured she could use some healing to recuperate, if she would give her permission for me to touch her again." Nero's eyes narrowed at the word "again."
"Please!" Amina gasped, wanting relief by any means necessary. Nero's head whipped around to tell her she didn't need it, but the look on her face made him shut his mouth. He'd rather die than let this man touch her but she did look like she was exhausted and in a lot of pain. Nero ground his teeth in silence as he stepped aside, the veins in his neck bulging with fury.
"Pardon me, then, my lady. It will only take a few seconds." Amina sighed in relief as Caspian laid a hand on her forehead, feeling the warmth spread in her body, alleviating the burning soreness engulfing her body. She opened her eyes to thank him but instead was met with a gasp of horror from Nero and a gasp of surprise from Caspian.
"Mia, your eyes," Nero hurriedly whispered as he ducked down to shield her from sight and help her up, shoving Caspian out of the way. Amina quickly shut her eyes tightly, trying to hide them as she relied on Nero to be her guide.
"Miss Amante. May I have a word with you?" Caspian inquired.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm still not feeling well. I need to go rest." Amina grasped Nero's tunic tightly as he picked her up and began to walk toward her room. However, Caspian followed.
"Did you not hear her? She's not feeling well. I'm taking her to her room where she can rest."
"I know what you're both trying to hide." Nero froze, contemplating whether to kill him where he stands.
"Sir Nero, I would appreciate if you did not look at me like you were trying to annihilate me where I stand. I mean no harm. I assure you and Miss Amante I am on her side."
"Oh yeah? You? Mister by the book, servant of the light, bringer of endless droning about laws and rules, who practically worships the ground royalty walks on? I think I'll trust a dog with fresh meat before I trust you with anything."
"I understand but if you would allow me to explain before you make your decision, I would greatly appreciate it. Although, I do only need Miss Amina's permission."
"And who the hell said you could use her given name?" Nero snapped, his hold on her tightening. Amina reached out and touched his arm to reassure him.
"Ro. Let's give him a chance. I'd like to see what he has to say, at the least."
"Mia, I'll respect your decision but please, be cautious, love," Nero whispered closely to her ear, tickling her cheek with his breath.
"Follow me, then. One finger out of place in her presence will warrant my wrath," Nero warned, turning swiftly to continue to her room with Caspian not far behind. Nero opened the door to find Ruby cleaning, who immediately stopped to worry over Amina.
"My lady! Are you alright? What did these men do to you?"
Amina giggled, reassuring Ruby they had done her no harm and she just needed to rest and have a conversation with them both. Although, she did fib, Nero had indeed hurt her with that god awful training. Amina groaned just thinking about it. Nero set her on the loveseat, sitting next to her, and eating up the rest of the space on it, forcing Caspian to sit across them. Amina blushed as she felt Nero's thigh brush her own, his heat seeping into her. Amina still had her eyes closed, fearful to open them and reveal her secret. She could hear Ruby bustling to get tea and snacks ready before the door lightly clicked as she left.
"You can open your eyes, my lady. I am aware of their unnatural hue." Amina waited nervously, debating.
"Go ahead, sweetheart," Nero reassured, knowing there was no point any longer. Amina opened her eyes to find the men staring at her. Her eyes were both a bright white, surrounded by a band of gold. Eerily beautiful and slightly terrifying.
"My lady, I sensed immense holy power within you when I first healed you. An amount I never thought possible. Usually holy power manifests as mana and yellow eyes, as you will notice with me. None have ever been like yours. It seems your holy power has been sealed. That is why no one can sense it. You have no tangible mana, cannot control or access it, and do not possess the eyes until I touched you. I am not sure who or why or how. But seeing your eyes, I am sure that seal is slowly breaking. I have never seen such a pure, radiant gold and it seems after touching you again with my holy power, the gold in your eyes has increased. In ancient texts it has said the goddess possessed the golden eyes but never a human."
Amina could barely process the information he was telling her. She felt so… normal. How could all of this be true, even considering the powers she currently possesses. She focused on Caspian to read him and was astonished to see his radiant soul, pure and blameless, a beautiful shade of yellow she had never seen. She could see the emotions around his heart also; they appeared as small sprites blooming from the soul. She could clearly see he was happy as the sprites were a bright yellow. Not nervous, angry, or anything suspicious. She knew she could trust him. But decided to keep her other powers to herself.
"Alright, Sir Caspian. I can see you're obviously telling the truth. May I ask, what did you mean earlier when you said you were on my side?"
"I have not told a soul about what I have witnessed. It may put you in danger. If this comes to light before you are able to awaken, many would be after you to claim your power as their own. Not only in this kingdom, but around the entire world. It would be irresponsible of me to reveal what is not mine to reveal, but especially before you have become stronger and able to defend yourself." Amina felt herself shrink in fear at the thought of others knowing. She was shunned by the village her entire life once they found out about her… quirks. Many were afraid of her. She didn't want to relive it all over again.
Nero felt Amina tense beside him and laid his hand over hers. He felt her relax at his touch, which warmed his heart.
"How do I get stronger?" Amina asked.
"Well—"
"You're already training, Mia. It'll take time but I'm sure you'll be much stronger soon."
Nero said, squeezing her hand.
"Well, as I was going to say before I was rudely interrupted by Sir Nero, I want you to train with me also."
"No need, she has me."
"No need? Can you help her unlock and train her holy power also? Do you have some hidden talent I am unaware of? Maybe I should step down as the Holy Knight Commander and let you lead both armies."
"You can train holy power?" Amina asked, her interest piqued. Maybe she could be like her parents; strong and reliable, able to fight alongside the strongest knights. She could help Nero and not always need saving.
"Yes, my lady, you can. I hope you will consider allowing me to tutor you in private, as to not draw attention. I have a personal training ground where I must give permission to all who enter near it, so we would be perfectly secluded. Consider it and let me know when you have made a decision. I'll take my leave now as I have duties to perform. I'm glad we were able to talk and clear any lingering doubts. Hopefully I will see you soon, Miss Amante. Nero," Caspian concluded with a bow, quickly leaving them behind in silence.
"What do you think, Ro?"
"I think I'll be coming with you to those training sessions is what I think."
"You'll allow me?"
"Sweetheart, while it pains me to have another man near you, I know I am limited. The more you can protect yourself, the better. Though I don't even plan on allowing you to be out in such a position, it is better to be cautious. I don't plan on stopping you from doing what you want to do." Amina smiled brightly at him, throwing herself around him in a tight hug. Nero squeezed back, stroking her back as he was deep in thought.
"Mia, I have something I'd like to ask of you. It's something I should have done long ago but with everything that's happened I hadn't found the right timing to do so." Nero seemed nervous which made Amina anxious. Gods above if she could only read this man, she could read everyone but him, which endlessly infuriated her. Amina, just as nervous now, nodded for him to continue as she released him from her embrace so she could see his face, as he sounded gravely serious.
Nero grabbed both Amina's hands in his and took a breath.
"Mia, will you allow me to officially court you? I know we've… I mean, y'know, done things and been ahem affectionate but I wanted to do things properly and… I just hadn't found the time and—" Amina cut off his nervous rambling with a sweet kiss, her delight soaring in her heart as he fervently returned her kiss, his tongue finding hers and his hands bringing her body back to his as he pulled her into his lap.
Amina slid her arms around his neck, one of her hands steadying her as she slid her other hand in his hair, grasping it as his hands began to roam. She could feel his hard length between her legs as she realized her panties were dampening the more he touched her. She blushed, embarrassed of how lewd she became once he touched her, even above her clothing. She had never been interested in men until him, now she couldn't stop herself.
Suddenly Nero slid her dress above her hips, exposing her wet panties beneath. Amina gasped, pulling away out of shame but Nero was quick to follow her, finding her neck with his lips and teeth. Amina groaned, unable to hide how much she was enjoying herself any longer.
Nero flipped her onto her back, his body caging her in on her tiny loveseat.
"Mia. My love, can I keep going?" Nero asked, panting and hard as he stared at her beauty disheveled beneath him, her creamy thighs exposed, her wet panties sticking to her lovely lips. Amina nodded, shivering with anticipation as his eyes darkened. Nero slipped his fingers beneath her garments and slowly pulled them off, revealing her dripping pussy. Nero groaned, his erecrion growing painful as he gazed at her. She was officially his now and her loveliness struck his heart every time he looked at her.
Nero slid his hands up her thighs, feeling her tremble beneath him as she covered her rosy cheeks out of embarrassment. How adorable. Nero spread her legs wide open before his head dipped down between them.
"Ro, what are you—oh, oh my god!" Amina moaned as she felt his tongue circle her clit as his fingers delved into her. It was too much, she felt weird, she tried to pull away but Nero's strong body trapped her there. She squirmed beneath him, begging for something she couldn't put into words when suddenly Nero replaced his fingers inside her with his tongue and continued his assault on her clit, bringing her to a blinding orgasm.
Nero was losing his mind. Knowing she was his, he wanted to mark her, taste her, fuck her. He had never had a woman before and never wanted to until her. She drove him mad, he loses all control when her sweet voice moans in pleasure beneath his touch. Nero stripped off his shirt and freed his pulsing cock. He began rubbing it against her quivering pussy as he found her lips again and again, nipping at her bottom lip and tangling their tongues together. He could feel her matching his motion, she was grinding her hips into his, breaking his last grasp on reason. He wanted to bury himself deep inside her, feel her tighten around him, make her scream but he didn't know if she was ready so he ground against her, faster and faster until they came together.
Nero rained small kisses over her entire body as she laid there panting and exhausted before rising to grab a cloth and gently clean his seed and her juices from her thighs. He looked up to find her gazing lovingly at him as her eyes faded back to blue. He smiled and fixed her dress, pecking her on the cheek before finding his clothes and calling Ruby to prepare dinner for them both. Ruby quickly obeyed and brought the food. Nero gathered it at the door before dismissing Ruby for the night.
Nero nestled Amina on his lap and fed her before feeding himself. Amina felt herself drifting to sleep and heard a chuckle rumble in his chest where her head lay.
"Let's get you to bed, I think I've exhausted you enough." Amina answered with a mumbled "stay."
"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll be right next to you all night. Sleep well."
Nero watched her sleep peacefully beside him, occasionally he would touch her to be sure she was real. He found himself awake most of the night, planning on how he would keep her safe and happy amidst all of the dangers surrounding them.