Kitanna
Chapter 35: A TOUCH THAT FLAMES THE SOUL

Chapter 35: A TOUCH THAT FLAMES THE SOUL

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: DESIRE~ LEEBADA ]

Inside the royal hall, guests from different kingdoms trooped in to join the celebration. The whole palace was bustling in celebration.

Almaria stood in a corner, watching how everyone celebrated without even noticing her presence. She left the party and returned to her chamber.

Kitanna enjoyed the spotlight to the fullest, but she noticed from the corner of her eyes when the queen dowager left the party. She wanted to follow her, but some guests stopped in front of her and started talking to her.

Kitanna was already tired after long hours of greeting and smiling with people. Her brown eyes scanned the crowd; Clephas was busy serving some guests, and Axilla was not in the room.

The princess yawned deeply; she was bored and tired. Gently, she moved out of the celebration hall without being noticed, and as she left, Kitanna started walking towards her chamber.

When she reached her room, she noticed that the door was slightly open. Her senses heightened in alert, and she walked through the door to enter the dark room. She moved to the candle stand and lit four of them, brightly illuminating the room.

As Kitanna turned her head, she saw someone sitting on her bed.

"Nix? How did you know where I would be?" Kitanna blushed as she padded her feet to stand in front of him.

Nix stood up from the bed, his height towering over the girl. Kitanna craned her neck to get a better view of his face.

"Princess, you finally got what you wanted, escaping death and getting your title back. I kept my part of the bargain. I hope you keep yours. Protect the people of Wahels." Nix took his time to inhale softly, then he gauged the princess’s expression.

Kitanna stood still, watching him. She did not understand where the discussion was leading. "So?"

"So this is where our alliance ends. Starting now, we will be just a personal guard and princess. We owe each other nothing," Nix declared, his deep voice causing goosebumps to rise on Kitanna’s skin.

Kitanna felt a cold streak run down her spine. Why was he suddenly creating a rift between them? Kitanna couldn’t stop the thoughts running through her mind.

Seconds passed, and she continued to stare into his eyes unblinkingly. Kitanna was short of words; for the first time in her life, she didn’t know how to respond to someone.

Nix waited for the princess to say something, and when she didn’t, he started walking towards the door. However, he felt Kitanna hold onto his sleeves tightly.

"Please don’t go," she whispered. Her voice breaking at end.

Nix turned to look at Kitanna and moved his head to a side when he heard her words. He watched as the grip on his sleeves tightened.

Kitanna tried to let go but for some reason, she was unable to do it. Kitanna’s lips parted, but no words came out of her lips.

Long seconds passed, until Kitanna finally said something. "Is it the queen dowager? Are you on her side now?"

The side of Nix lips twisted at the question that was thrown to him, "What do you want?"

Kitanna gulped the nervousness that formed a lump in her throat. His blue eyes and deep voice was not helping her situation, and the way he just speaks like he owned even the very ground she stood on.

Kitanna bit her lower lips gently, her actions didn’t go unnoticed. Nix watched as the princess tried to gather her emotions, he gave her another chance to speak by asking for the second time, which was something he rarely did; "What do you want?"

"P- protect me" Kitanna’s voice came out as a squeak. She didn’t know why she was always weak in front of Nix.

She had met men, of different class, nobles and elites of several kingdoms and she was always able to hold her ground. But when it came to Nix, who was just a royal guard, she found herself turning to a child, in his mere presence when he haven’t even said a word.

"That I will do" Kitanna heard him speak, but then she found herself shaking her head in disagreement.

"Hm?" Nix pushed her to talk.

"Not as just a personal guard, I want you to be on my side. I want you to be someone I can fall back on."

Kitanna found herself saying words she had dreaded to say to anyone; she was not someone to act weak. Why was she suddenly acting soft in front of this guard? Maybe it was the alcohol and the loud noises that were affecting her head. She nodded internally.

"Ah! What am I saying. Don’t mind me, go on with your duties. I think the alcohol is getting the best of me." Kitanna laughed nervously, trying to compose herself.

Nix did not move from where he was standing, watching as the princess tried to act strong. But her grip on his sleeves was still there.

"Kitanna..."

Kitanna’s eyes widened, not in anger, but in shock because of the way Nix called her name sensually. She felt her head go muddy when she heard Nix say her name. Nobody has ever called her name in such an erotic manner.

Her own name sounded like music to her ears. Kitanna heard her own heartbeat drum in her ears. She tried to avert her gaze, but there was something about his eyes. Once she stared into them, she drowned in them.

Nix noticed that the princess was lost in her own world, even though she was looking at him. He knew she wasn’t paying attention because her eyes were dilated.

Nix raised his hand that Kitanna was holding, and in one pull, he brought her closer, making Kitanna crash against his chest.

Kitanna used her hands to support her balance, as she held onto his chest tightly. She felt the sturdy chest that was hidden under the royal uniform.

Kitanna gulped softly. Was it normal for someone to be created this perfect? She mentally asked herself.

Nix raised his hands and moved the hair that was stuck on her face, then he wiped the tears that were in her eyes.

Kitanna prayed to the gods for help; her heart was beating so fast that she might pass out or, in the worst case, die.

She held onto his chest tightly as his hands grazed her face. Kitanna felt her toes curl in desperation.

Kitanna was still lost in her thoughts when she felt the corset that held her tightly loosen. She looked down and noticed she was now wearing only her undergarments. Her hands, which were on Nix’s chest, came down immediately as she used them to cover her chest.

Kitanna raised her eyes to look at Nix, who still held a lazy look in his eyes. His experience calm and collected. Then she heard him say, "You weren’t planning on sleeping in those, were you?"

Kitanna shook her head obediently, her hands still on her chest to protect her modesty.

"Go to bed, Princess. Now," Kitanna heard him speak yet again, his velvet voice causing her legs to wobble.

Immediately, she heard the order; she moved to lay on her bed and used the bed cover to protect her petite body.

Nix watched as the princess curled up in bed. Then he walked out of the room.

When Kitanna heard the retreating steps of Nix, she bit her lips nervously. How was she supposed to look at him the next day after openly begging him not to go? Kitanna scolded herself.

Nix stood outside Kitanna’s chamber, gritting his teeth as he remembered what almost happened earlier.

When he saw the tears forming in Kitanna’s eyes, his first instinct was to lick them away, but he had to hold back and used his hands to wipe them, so he wouldn’t scare the princess away. Nix had been with numerous women, but none made him feel the way he felt at the moment.

Initially, all he wanted was to create a boundary between him and the princess. He didn’t expect things to go this way.

Nix cursed under his breath as he stepped out of the chamber to get alcohol that could calm his nerves.