"We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones"
- Stephen King
I slowly opened the door. I couldn't look up because I kept remembering the dream. This was good to begin with because I shouldn't look up in front of king Cian.
There was a moment of silence then I heard footsteps next to me as the guard left with a bow to his majesty.
I peeked through my lashes to already feel his stare.
He stood up with grace as he slowly walked down to the table then near me. He held a hand out to me.
I looked up with my eyes wide open.
Does he want me to kiss his hand or hold it?
I chose to go with the latter to be on the safe side. I looked at his beautifully structured face. His full lips, strong and beautifully structured nose, his long and dark eyelashes that reflected on his brown, beautiful and stormy eyes.
He held my hand securely and brought it up to kiss the back of it.
"my gorgeous mate"
His words made my knees buckle. He made me feel so good with his presence that if he asked me to stab myself with my twin blades, I'd do it.
I need to get myself together, this is no way to act as one of the leaders of the warriors.
I cleared my throat as he looked at me with a hint of amusement and admiration in his brown eyes. He brought me towards the table and pulled the chair next to him for me.
My mouth opened wide as I tried to search for words to politely refuse.
This is where his queen should sit, not me. And he hasn't even accepted me publicly yet. No one knows about us being mates and it would look wrong for one of the new leaders to sit next to the king. It was disrespectful without context given.
I was saved by the knock that sounded. A small panic built up inside me as I bowed my head in apology "I'm so sorry you did not need to worry yourself with trivial matters, your majesty" I looked up to see him frown at me as his eyes held sadness in them.
Another knock sounded before he said anything. However, before he let the person behind the doors in he lowly whispered "We are your soulmate, Signy. Please call me as Cian if you are comfortable with it"
My breath hitched and It was caught in my throat as I tried to breathe from how he made me feel. It was crazy to have the king of Asmodemia talk to me like that.
I had always fought Argo as a child and told him I would marry prince Cian just because he was a prince and I thought I'd become a princess if I had married a prince. It was ironic with the situation I was in.
After king Cian said come in, Evander made his presence known with his head bowed. He made his way next to me and bowed deeper for king Cian.
Maybe I should start with using his name alone. I mean it's only in my head and no one will hear it.
Cian.
Why does it sound so majestic even without the king.
I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard Evander whisper to me "Am I late?"
"No, I'm early" I smiled at him as he looked next to himself and smiled at me. We both heard a throat clearing.
We looked up to see... Cian looking at us with his eyebrows creased and his beautiful full lips in a small frown. To Evander, he looked angry, but to me it looked like he was displeased.
And to be honest, he looked quite adorable.
"Let us take our seats"
He announced with authority as he sat at the head of the long table. We were seated on each of his sides. I was seated next to where the queen should have been seated, but he didn't have one yet.
I looked down at my plate that was provided with a simple breakfast. Cian started telling us the basics of how to recognize poisoning in our food, drinks and utensils. It was a great starter as we were trying to eat. But that was part of the training to begin with. Of course, the food was not poisonous, but after our breakfast, we were provided with samples of poisoned materials, what they consisted of, what they do to the body and the antidotes for each of them. We had brought our handbooks that we have been provided with to keep our journals and notes in during training. I kept note of everything he said because the training here was very strict. I did not want my mate to catch me off guard. I wanted him to know that I work hard for my title.
After breakfast, Cian walked in front of us as we followed him towards our office. According to Cian, he had spent most of his time there to take care of royal duties. So we were to not only protect him, lead warriors but to help him through royal duties as well.
I wasn't complaining, until I found out that he decided I needed more training than Evander after lunch. So, Evander who was happy to be dismissed, left the office with joy in his strides.
What a traitor for leaving me alone with Cian.
I quietly tried to do my work. But he was so distracting. I wanted to get up and feel his lips like I did in my dream. I wanted it so badly, but I held back. I was going through some papers, but I looked up almost too quickly when he said
"Do you remember what happened last night?"