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Word Count: 1783

~Kiva

I lean down, feeling the burning stretch in my hamstrings.

"You did well today."

I don't look up. Only Ark's boots are in my view as he strides back and forth. His hands are probably tucked behind his back, posture perfectly straight.

Ugh. I can't stand him.

"You were fierce, strong. Resilient."

Oh Ark, you'll see fierce if you push me one more time.

"I don't want to have to punish you again, Kiva," he continues. His warning burns through me, reminding me of the deprivaty of last nights punishment.

"Whatever," I mutter.

"I mean it."

Gritting my teeth, I stare down at my wrists. The are worn red from being tied to the bed all night. I had attempted various creative measures to get out of my binds, but unfortunately, I didn't get out until Ark came in at sunrise with a knife.

"Do you punish everyone like that? By tying them to their bed after interrupting their night with someone who is meant to be their prospective husband?" I suddenly snap.

Ark frowns down at me.

"Don't talk to me like that."

I fall dramatically onto my back. Were he not currently armed I might try to have a go at him.

"Firstly, no. Your punishment fit your crime-"

"So if I disobey you like that again, you'll take me over your knee?" I ask sardonically, resting my forearm over my eye so I don't have to look at him.

He sighs. "And secondly, it was obvious you had no interest in that Prince. You wanted to actively defy me."

Roll my eyes, I finally sit up. "Whatever. I just want to get away from you."

Ark shakes his head slowly as I get to my feet. As soon as I'm in standing position, my head suddenly starts spinning.

I stumble back, but before I can topple onto my ass, Ark reaches out and grabs my arm, trying to steady me.

"Woah...What's going on?"

"I feel like I'm going to pass out." Pressing my palm to my forehead, I feel dampness and heat. Something isn't right.

Ark grabs my shoulder, lifting my chin and tilting my head from side to side to examine my face.

"You need some water."

"The world is spinning, Ark..."

Sweeping his arms under my legs, he picks me up. Even with my vision blurred I can tell he is taking me from the gym, out into the snow and toward the main manor.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, clinging to his shoulders.

As my vision slowly returns, I can see Ark staring down at me with those dark eyes of his. "To the nurse. You worked too hard today."

Warmth suddenly gathers beneath my nose.

"Fuck," Ark mutters, wincing.

"What?" I reach up, brushing my fingers under my nose, drawing them back to see them stained with blood. "Oh no."

"You'll be okay," he assures me, although I hear the tension in his voice.

"Am I dying?"

He shakes his head. "No, you were overworked."

We make it to the infirmary quicker than I could have probably walked. Ark sets me down, a nurse rushing to my side immediately. Usually she only tends to the staff here, and I can see the terror in her eyes that now she has to tend to me.

Ark stays by my side as the nurse looks over me. By the time she has finished, my father is striding through the door, not looking impressed.

The entire point of training was to save my life, not put it in more danger.

"These are strange symptoms. It's no dehydration, though," the nurse explains, rubbing her brow uneasily.

"What is it then?" Father demands.

"I'm not sure. Have you eaten anything unusual recently?" she asks me. She eyes my father uncomfortably, even as she talks to me.

Knowing my father, he will fire her without a second thought if she doesn't get this right.

"Not that I know of," I recall. I barely ate last night, when Caspian was over. Maybe that is what has caused this uncomfortable feeling within me.

"I'll speak to the cook right now," father exclaims.

I open my mouth to protest, but father strides purposefully out the room before I get the chance. I can only feel sorry for the chef and the abuse they are going to receive.

"She will need a few days off her training," the nurse tells Ark, who hasn't managed to wipe that serious look off his face.

He looks as though he is considering murder, just like my father.

"Of course," he says. My brows raise, shocked that he is conceding so easily, when I thought my training was the most important thing in my life. "If it isn't something she ate, what else could it be?"

The nurse looks over me, considering it. "It could be a virus, or an allergen in the air. It's impossible to tell without further testing."

"Will you test her more?" Ark presses.

"If it happens again, yes. But for now, her symptoms are minor enough, and considering her excellent health history, I doubt it's anything serious," the nurse says, smiling down at me.

I smile back tightly. This is likely nothing at all, just a random incident that has occured from all the stress I've been through recently.

"She should be tested though. Just in case." Ark's tone is becoming more firm, and to the nurse's credit, she doesn't appear to shaken by him.

In fact, if I'm not missing something, there is a glint in her eye.

"It's nothing to worry about. There are more dangers Kiva must face elsewhere," she says, rubbing Ark's arm as if to comfort him.

He frowns, looking down at her hand.

"I'm very aware of that," he says slowly.

"Ark," I cut in, deciding I don't feel like watching this awkward exchange in my state. "I feel fine. Much better. I'll have some water then some rest, and I'll be as good as new."

He breathes in deeply, still not looking convinced. I thought he was only capable of being attentive with training, not with my health.

"I'm giving you a week off," he decides.

"I don't need a week." By tomorrow morning I'll feel much better. Ark is being far too careful.

"To be safe, you get a week off," he tells me firmly, watching the nurse wander off, realising she isn't going to be needed any longer.

My eyes narrow. "That means an extra week of having to deal with you."

"I'm afraid so," he murmurs, and I swear I see him smile.

"Are you going to help me back to my room? I really don't feel like being here." I motion over the uncomfortable bed that I'm laying in. If I sit here a moment longer, I'm going to go insane with boredom.

Sure enough, he allows me to use him as a solid wall of support as we walk upstairs together. It's slow, but Ark is painfully cautious, holding me tighter every time my head spins.

"Thank you for this," I murmur as he leads me into my bedroom. "For letting me off training."

"You make it seem as though you didn't expect it."

"Well, I didn't. You take it so seriously..." I break off, not wanting to delve too deep into my thoughts. Angel-forbid I start to think he cares about me.

He shakes his head, pulling me toward the adjoining bathroom. "You cannot help yourself if your health is compromised."

I roll my eyes. Of course.

"Why are you taking me into the bathroom?" I question.

He doesn't respond, instead grabbing my waist, lifting me up onto the bathroom counter, right by the sink.

"What the-"

"You have blood all over your face from your blood nose," he explains, pointing at the mirror behind me. Turning, I confirm that he is right, my blood drying horrifically on my skin.

"Ugh. Is this what I look like?"

When I turn back around, Ark is rinsing a cloth in the sink. It seems like such a domestic action, and that cloth looks so small in his large hands.

"I don't think you need to worry about how you look, Kiva," he murmurs lowly, folding the cloth exactly how he wants it.

I pause, examining his face while he isn't looking at me.

Was that a compliment?

"Looks hardly matter," I respond quietly.

He sighs, starting to gently rub the blood away from my face. I remain still, trying not to ruin the moment...

Not because I like Ark, necessarily, but for the first time since I've met him, he almost seems normal in this moment. Dare I say it, someone could construe this action as sweet.

"You must enjoy it, though. Everyone looking as your once and they want you."

I swallow tightly. Wow.

His dark brows are creased as he works, periodically rinsing the cloth as he goes. He works swiftly, adeptly. And yet it feels like this moment has no end.

And I don't think I want it to.

"I barely know anyone who doesn't want something from me," I sigh, picking at my nails. "And not everyone wants me."

"Are you sure?"

"You don't."

Why did I say that?

He releases a breath, turning his attention to rinsing the cloth out, laying it over the facet. "All done."

I open my mouth, but it slams shut the moment he grabs my waist again and lifts me off the counter, pointing toward the bed.

"Rest. Now."

My eyes roll. "Back to being an ass, huh?"

"I could be far worse, Kiva."

I smile secretly as I make my way to my bed, crawling over it. Ark stands at the edge of it, watching me as I crawl under the sheets where I'm about to spend the rest of the day.

"I shouldn't have tied you up like that. Not when you didn't want it," he breathes, and I swear I see a hint of pain, of regret in his eyes.

Pulling my sheets up to my chin, I gaze at him. "I kind of liked it."

He stares at me for a long time with no emotion at all, before his jaw clenches and he turns toward the door, digging his hands into his hair.

"You don't make this whole guarding you thing very easy," he mutters.

"It doesn't have to be hard," I merely say.

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob, watching me. "Get some rest Kiva. I'll see you tomorrow."

💖••💖

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

~Midika 💜🐼


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