Kazi stared at Azrael, his hand warm on hers, their chests heaving in the aftermath of the stolen kiss. A million questions swirled in her mind, a tangled mess of confusion and desire. But before she could voice any of them, Azrael opened his mouth to speak.
"K—"
The sound of his voice was cut short by the clatter of footsteps approaching from the direction of the gardens. Panic surged through Kazi. She couldn't be seen like this, not with Azrael, not after what had just happened.
Without a word, she pulled her hand free from his grasp, her skin tingling where he had touched her. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and a frantic beating echoed in her ears. She did not care where she went as long as she got as far away from Azrael as possible.
She ran along the corridors, her thoughts a jumble of emotions. What did she just do? She had kissed the prince, the very person she was supposed to push away. Her deception weighed more heavily on her than ever before.
Rounding a turn, her speed pushed her forward, and she collided into a someone. "Be careful!"
Kazi looked up, her eyes widening in shock. It was King Eldarion, his face full of concern.
"Apologies, Your Majesty," she stammered, forcing herself into a respectful bow. "I was not paying attention."
The King chuckled, a warm sound that calmed her racing heart slightly. "No worries, Sir K. It happens to the best of us. Lost in thought, were we?"
Kazi forced a smile. "Something like that, Your Majesty." Her mind scrambled for a way to escape the conversation.
"Speaking of thoughts," the King continued, "Have you heard anything from your...aunt...General Kazi, regarding the marriage proposal?"
"I, uh...no, Your Majesty," she stammered. "I have not heard anything from her."
The King frowned. "Hmm, that is peculiar. She is taking her time considering it, is not she?"
"I...I apologize on her behalf, Your Majesty," Kazi mumbled, feeling a blush creep up her neck. "I am sure she will get back to you soon."
"Nonsense," the King waved a dismissive hand. "She is a busy woman, I understand. No need to apologize. Just let me know when you hear something, alright?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Kazi said, bowing again.
The King gave her a nod and continued his way. Kazi watched him go, her heart pounding against her ribs. She had survived the encounter with the King, but the memory of Azrael's kiss lingered in her mind like a phantom.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. What would happen if they found out? If the truth about her identity, her mission, was exposed?
The vision of Queen Evangeline's venomous stare appeared before her eyes. The king's trust. Azrael's...kiss.
A shiver ran down her spine. The tangled web of deception she had created was tightening around her, threatening to suffocate her. Could she keep up the charade any longer? Could she continue to play the part of Sir K? Could she maintain this facade of a loyal guard while her heart ached with a forbidden desire for the very man, she was supposed to hate...?
Kazi continued to walk through the palace corridors, her mind a chaotic storm of emotions. She needed to clear her head, to separate what had happened from the potential consequences. As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with a young woman carrying a basket of linens. It was Uriel.
"Sir K!" Uriel smiled as she greeted her. "I did not expect to see you out and about yet. Are you feeling alright?"
Kazi forced a smile, relief washing over her. "Much better, Uriel; thank you for asking. Just a little stiff from the...well, you know."
Uriel chuckled knowingly. "You did save His Majesty's life, though. I am sure he will remember that." She paused thoughtfully. "It makes a great impression, you know. Being able to protect the king. People talk about it for years afterward." Her gaze flickered to the side. "Especially a certain princess, if I recall correctly."
Kazi's stomach tightened. She understood exactly who Uriel was referring to. Princess Athiel had been an unwelcome presence in her life after her injury. Her relentless attention, bordering on obsession, was a constant source of annoyance.
"Just a friendly princess," Kazi said, trying to dismiss it.
Uriel smiled wider. "Friendly, possibly. But her visits seem unusually regular for just 'friendly,' do not you think?"
Kazi cursed silently. She needed to deflect. "Well, a guard's duty is never-ending, even when injured," she explained calmly. "Someone has to keep the princess safe from...accidents."
Uriel's eyes glowed with amusement. "Accidents, huh? Or maybe dashing young guards?"
Kazi chuckled uncomfortably. "Something like that," she answered vaguely, hoping to change the subject. "So, what are you up to with those linens, Uriel?"
"Oh, just some mending for the knights," Uriel said, indicating the basket. "They are always getting into scrapes, those brave souls."
As they continued walking, Uriel peppered her with questions about her "training" and her "recovery." Kazi, ever the resourceful liar, spun a web of believable stories, careful not to reveal any details that could expose her true identity.
Suddenly, a voice cried out from behind them.
"K!"
Kazi and Uriel turned to see Princess Athiel sprinting towards them, a huge smile on her face.
Kazi's heart fell. She had hoped to avoid this particular encounter. Princess Athiel headed towards her, letting out a joyful shout.
Before Kazi could respond, she was caught in a crushing hug. "K!" she cried, her voice high and excited. "I have been trying to visit you ever since I heard about your injury, but every time I came, you were...well..." she trailed off, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Sleeping?" Kazi added in with a small smile. She already knew the princess' routine. Every time she heard about Athiel's arrival, she pretended to be asleep. Dealing with her constant attention was exhausting.
"Exactly!" Athiel exclaimed, withdrawing but not letting go of her arms. Her eyes gleamed with such intensity that Kazi cringed. "But you look much better now, K." "Much stronger."
"Just a few bumps and bruises, Princess," Kazi said, seeking to gently remove herself from her grip. "Nothing a good night's sleep cannot fix."
"Oh, I am sure it took more than that," Athiel murmured, coming in closer. "I cannot wait until you start training again."
"Neither can I," she murmured, attempting a smile. She needed to get out of here before things became more awkward.
"Well," Athiel continued, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper, "perhaps sometimes you could show me a few...moves. I would not want to be caught unaware by any...dangers, would I?"
Kazi's smile wavered. She was searching for an escape route. "As much as I would like to, Princess," she murmured, her voice strained. "I actually have some urgent matters to attend to." She cast a desperate glance at Uriel, hoping for some form of divine intervention.
"Your...Highness," Uriel interjected smoothly, "Sir K just informed me that he needs to fetch some...supplies for his recovery. Perhaps...another time?"
Athiel's smile faded slightly. She shifted her gaze from Uriel to K, an annoyed expression on her face. "But I just got here," she moaned.
"Duty calls, Princess," Kazi apologised, using the chance to free her arm. "Perhaps another day we can...chat."
Before Athiel could protest more, Kazi bowed and fled, leaving the princess seething and Uriel with a fairly intimidating stare.