Kiera did not return.
Sam was worried until he found the body of the monster and a pile of ripped clothing. He gathered the ripped clothing and left with the bundle tucked underneath his arm.
He knew Kiera could handle herself. She was one of the great Beast Generals for god's sake. But there was a fear in him that he hadn't felt in years since he was younger and he did not know what to make of it.
He still had no right to get angry for the actions that she took. Even so, he couldn't deny the feeling that nipped at his insides.
He took care of everything else. He helped the wife and husband that had been attacked by the Barghest and made it so they kept quiet about seeing a strong raven-haired lady. Luckily for them, the married pair wanted to thank Kiera for saving their lives, so they did not seek any payment for their silence. Sam had promised them he would relay to her their gratitude.
When he made it back to his palace, he was notified the Beast General was waiting for him in his office.
He opened the door to the room and there she was. Freshly bathed and in a new set of clothes, she appeared as if nothing had ever occurred. He, on the other hand, had his cloak and shirt stained with blood.
"Thank the gods you are alright." He said as he let his wig drop to the ground.
She walked over to him, blue eyes on his face.
"The Mated couple," she started, "what happened to them? Did the man live?"
He was surprised she knew he had helped the couple. "Yes. Part of his leg had to be amputated but he lived." He answered her truthfully and Kiera looked relieved to hear that.
"They wanted me to express their immense gratitude to you for saving them." The smile that took over her lips made him reach down to take her hand in his.
"You are amazing Kiera." He lifted the corners of his lips into a smile, but that only made Kiera study his face closely.
"What's wrong?" He asked her, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.
"I could ask you the same question." She replied with a straight laced face.
He tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
At this, she let out a big sigh.
"Ever since I first met you I have noted slight differences in your smiles." He blinked slowly, amazed she had been keeping track of something so inconsequential. "And the smile you just did tells me there's something you are not happy with."
"So speak," she commanded him, a prince. Her take-charge attitude made a real smile spread onto his face. "We need to be able to communicate with one another if we ever hope to stay together."
That sentence by itself was enough to shock Sam into spilling out a few of his inner thoughts. Although he did avoid speaking about his frustration with her recklessness and complete lack of self-preservation, he thought those feelings were too soon to divulge during the early stages of their courtship.
He chose to speak about a single worry of his.
"You are strong Kiera, much stronger than I, that I know." She listened intently to him. "I only wish I could be a little stronger so that I can stand next to you the next time another monster appears."
"I could teach you." She suggested and quickly added, "Swordsmanship that is. I know you already know how to wield a sword, but if I teach you some of the techniques of my people then you might feel more comfortable standing by my side." Sam thought he was hallucinating when he saw a tinge of pink on the usually confident Beast General's face. She tried to hide it by coughing.
"Forgive me. Forget I said anything."
He laughed, bringing up her hand to place it against his lips.
"No. Why should I when it's a splendid idea?"
"Don't you think it would be rather inappropriate? For me, a commoner to be teaching a prince of another kingdom?"
"Inappropriate?" He laughed again. "Kiera, there's nothing inappropriate about that. Especially between lovers."
She lowered her dark eyelashes, peering at him from beneath.
"Are you sure you won't come to regret this? I won't go easy on you even if we're lovers."
"The thought never crossed my mind. Work me to the bone. You'll see that I can stand through anything you throw at me." He playfully planted a kiss on her hand even though he was itching to embrace her and kiss her on her lips. He only stopped himself because he didn't want any of his bloodied clothes to touch her.
They said their tender goodbyes, settling on having his training at his palace's garden where they will be shielded away from any prying eyes.
After Kiera left, Sam went to his bedroom and saw that a bath had already been prepared for him.
He pulled his shirt over his head, taking off the underneath layer with it. His chest now exposed, he saw the nicely healing area where the tiger Beast dug its claws into him. The stitches were long gone and all that was left was the forming of a scar.
Moving his hands down, he touched the clasp of his trousers. The belt had been removed, as he had used it as a tourniquet for the injured man.
He was unhooking the clasp when he heard a distinctly familiar knock at the door.
"Your Highness?" He sighed when he heard Kepler's voice behind the thick doors of his room.
"Don't you dare come in Kepler. Not unless you want to catch a look at me naked." The lie slipped easily out of his lips. Exhaustion was weighing on his shoulders and he wanted more than to soak his body in the steamy water of his bath.
"I thought you might want to know the latest news as soon as possible. Is that not the case?"
He went silent, a tactic Kepler used to get the prince to work a bit more. Like a fool, Sam took the bait.
"Come in then."
"You are dressed right?" Kepler turned the knob but did not open the door.
"Come in and you'll find out."
Kepler called his bluff, opening the door fully and seeing a half-dressed prince. He entered the room without blinking.
"What is the news that couldn't wait until after I took my bath?"
"Henrie confirmed the body of the monster is not from this area. Our people are left scratching their heads trying to figure out how such a monster got into Farrington unnoticed."
"It's not a coincidence that's for sure."
Kepler nodded his head in agreement with him.
"This keeps getting more interesting alright. Have the knights already been dispatched to dispose of the body?"
"Yes. Sir Pavel himself arrived at Farrington and did a clean sweep of the area in case there were any more monsters in hiding. As you predicted, there were no other monsters. Just the one."
"First a Beast and now a monster we've never seen before." Sam racked his brain for a plausible explanation to the attack. He ruled out the notion that the attack wasn't planned. For how was it that the monster attacked at the same time he and Kiera were out in that part of the capital? Was it possible there were two conspiracies afoot?
"Another thing sire," Kepler's voice broke into his thoughts, "Henrie's subordinates reported a letter arrived by pigeon. The King of Beasts is on route and is set to return to Solomon in a few days."
"He's coming back already? That was quick." Sam thought the Lion Lord would have taken more time to check in on his kingdom. Perhaps the people he had overlooking things in his absence were the sort of highly skilled intellectuals Sam only had a handful of. He was jealous, seeing as the Beast King not only had a mighty army of twelve Generals but a group of people that were like Kepler working for him.
He was assuming everything, but what other explanation could there be? The other Kings did not care whether they left their kingdoms to fend for themselves as they enjoyed themselves in Solomon. But King William was different. It was apparent to him how much he cared for his people, given the way he treated Kiera and the other Beasts he brought here with him.
"There is nothing more vexing to me than a question I can't find the answer to. Kepler, send word to Lucy. Have her Crones out in Westhold and Exatra keep their ears open to any information. Any piece of information we can glean from them will be essential. Tell her there will be no shortage of coin for her ladies."
"Right away sire." He bowed, the chain of his monocle swinging forward with his head.
"Is that all?" Sam asked, glancing at the bath that has most likely cooled by now.
"For now."
"Then you're dismissed." He sent Kepler away and went back to finish undressing himself.
He let out a satisfied groan as the water enveloped his entire body. Dunking his head, he submerged his hair into the warm water.
He let his thoughts drift to the events of today. Naturally, he began to visualize Kiera in his mind. Of the way she was so accepting of his kisses today. The kisses she gave him, and of the way her tongue felt against the skin of his cheek.
He breathed out, remembering her words.
"I don't believe I can wait either Kiera." He closed his eyes and then continued thinking of her and her incredibly soft lips.