Word Count: 1617

~Kiva

I stare down at the folded piece of paper on my vanity, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

How exactly this got here, I don't even want to know. I suspect I know who wrote it, as I carefully pick it up, laying it flat to examine the hurried print.

I need to see you, Kiva.

I've been a terrible disappointment to you. The last thing I desire is to kill you, or to hurt you.

I need you to trust me.

Meet me tonight, across the river.

Your mate.

My blood goes as cold as the snow falling outside.

I'm going to see him again.

I'm not sure if I should be excited or scared. Last time I met up with him, a terrible thing transpired between us and a tree he was pressing me against.

That won't be repeating itself. Not if I can help it.

"Kiva."

I jump, turning to see my father standing in my doorway.

I rest my palm over my chest. "Dad. You scared me."

He steps into the room, looking around it. If he's good with anything, it's privacy. He doesn't often come in here, nor does he inquire too deeply about what I do in my personal time.

As long as it doesn't affect my duties as Princess, he doesn't care.

"I wanted to give you some good news, finally," he says, looking around my room as he strolls in.

"Great. What is it?"

Ever so slowly, I shove the note left for me by my mate under my leg.

"We have some good leads on who this mysterious group may be." He picks up one of the books I brought up her from the library, flicking through a few pages without looking at me.

My heart jumps.

"Who?"

"There's an old crime lord who used to run rampant in a nearby village. There are rumours that they put together a group to dismantle the Royal reign," he explains, ire dripping off each word.

I look down at my feet. My mates wants to dismantle the very floor I stand on. He wants to rid me of my title and dispose of me and my father.

"Why would someone want that?" I whisper, clutching my stomach, which has hollowed out completely.

"People have their reasons, daughter. But that does not matter," father exclaims dismissively.

He's good as not giving problems any weight at risk of scaring me. It's why I don't feel ready to take over as Queen.

I hardly know anything, even though I've trained my whole life for this position....

I rub my hands together uncomfortably. "If you find them, please don't kill them."

Father frowns, while I keep my expression neutral. I don't want him to become suspicious about my sudden interest in keeping these people alive.

Were it not for my mate, I would probably happily let them face the death penalty.

"Why would we spare them?" He questions.

"Would we be any better than them if we didn't?" I know it's pointless arguing with my father. He can rule quite abrasively at times.

He paces before me, hands tucked behind his back. "We don't need to be better than them. We need get revenge."

"I don't want revenge," I mumble, twisting the simple silver ring around my finger, running my thumb over the small diamond.

It was a gift father gave me after my mother died. He wanted to cheer me up, to brush over my pain like he has done since I was a little girl. It's easier to pretend it doesn't exist than acknowledge and fix it.

Which is why another group like the one's targeting us is bound to pop up again.

"You should, sweetheart. They tried to kill you." He takes my hands in his cold ones, squeezing gently.

"We should first understand their motivation."

His eyes soften, a docile smile touching his lips. "You are just like your mother. Always thinking about others."

"I don't know about that..."

My chest tightens. She was a kind, gentle soul, from what I remember of her. I wonder what she would think about this situation.

She would probably tell me to pursue my mate, no matter what. Father wasn't hers, and I know from stories that she ached for her true mate everyday.

Knowing I'm resigned to a similar fate is depressing...

"How is Ark faring as your guard?" Father asks, releasing my hands.

"He's infuriating and completely unlikeable," I tell him honestly. No complaints to could lay with my father about Ark would change his employment.

If I really wanted to, I could reveal Ark's hatred toward him. He would be banished from this estate in a second, and probably charged somehow.

But I know deep down I don't want that...

"Good. As long as he keeps you safe."

I smother a smile. "I guess he does that." In fact, he does it too well.

"He will be gone before you know it." Father gives me a tight smile, although both of us know that may not be true. Ark will be here until I'm strong enough, which isn't yet, or until the threat neutralises.

Even though we haven't had a break in for a couple weeks, it doesn't mean they aren't plotting for something worse.

I just sigh. "You're right."

"I'll see you at dinner, daughter." With that, he departs, leaving me sitting on the edge of my bed.

I pull out the crumpled note left by my mate from under my leg. I'm going to see him again tonight, and even though I shouldn't be, I'm excited.

Another knock sounds from my door, so I quickly jump up and shove the note into my desk draw before summoning the person in.

It's Ark, holding something in his hand.

"This came for you." He holds it out to me. I take it, realising it's a note.

"From Caspian?"

He nods once. "Seems so."

I savour his look for a moment. He is good at keeping his expression impassive, although I can see the dark curiosity in his eyes as I peel the note open.

Dear Kiva,

I haven't been able to get you out of my head recently.

I'm hoping soon to come visit you, to relieve me of the agony of being apart from you. I truly hope you are as excited to see me as I you.

Anyways, write to me whenever you please.

Caspian.

I smile a little, letting Ark pluck the note out of my fingers to read it himself. He scans it quickly with a sharp gaze before he laughs a little.

"How miserable."

I snatch it from his hand, holding it against my chest. "It's romantic."

It's a little over the top, but it's better than him not writing at all. Part of me is convinced he may actually care about me, even if that's a little naïve.

"He's making sure you are aware that he intends to propose so you don't go looking elsewhere while you're away," he mutters, adjusting his dark jacket.

"You are so jaded. Who hurt you?" I grumble.

If Ark were really aligned with the royal cause, he would be pushing me into my marriage with Caspian. It is refreshing to have someone near that it willing to be truthful with me, though.

He raises a brow. "Am I wrong?"

"No, but still...it's sweet." I hold it out again, reading the first sentence over.

Ark rolls his eyes incredulously. He isn't convinced Caspian's intentions are innocent.

"What happens if you marry him and he turns out to be the opposite of what he depicts in these simpering letters," Ark questions, his gaze considering me.

I give him a hateful smile, turning to put the letter on my desk.

I've received two surprising letters today, which need a lot of thought. Even though Caspian has sent a kind one, I'm still going to risk it all to speak to my mate tonight.

"You can go now, since you're so jealous."

Ark's stare is relentless. "Jealous huh?"

"You can deny it, but you and I both know it's true," I say brightly.

I don't know if it's true. In fact, I doubt it is, but it's fun to tease him.

Instead of denying it, he backs away, conflict building in his eyes. "Alright, I won't be at your door tonight, it will be Jack. I have business to attend to in the town."

I blink, as the door closes behind him.

That was a strange interaction. I thought he would toy with me, make fun of me for accusing him of being jealous, but instead, he just walked out the door like I had revealed the truth.

Shaking the thought from my head, I turn my attention back to my desk. I have more important concerns, such as sneaking out to meet my mate tonight.

I wait until midnight.

Pressing my ear against the door, I can hear Jack softly snoring outside my door.

This could not have worked out better, with Ark being out tonight.

Quietly, I sneak from the room and down the stairs, heading toward the servant's door. My mate is awaiting me in the forest, my heart fluttering as a result.

Just as I turn the corner to stalk out the door, I stop short, seeing a dark figure lingering in the threshold.

Horror rolls through me as I realise it's Ark, arms folded over his chest as he regards me cruelly.

"Well, what do we have here?"

💖••💖

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! and as always it is available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

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~Midika 💜🐼