The Reluctant Protector
AURELIA
I can't sleep. I quietly got up and pulled my cloak over my shoulders. The hallways were deserted, and only the faint light of the torches illuminating the stone walls was pale.
I shouldn't be wandering around at this hour, especially since Kael had already walked me back to my room twice. But what could I do? I couldn't sleep. I just had to be careful, especially since the palace had rules, eyes, guards… the Underworld was no different from any other world. A princess like me couldn't wander around the palace, either inside or out, because it could be dangerous.
I felt the air swirl around me, heavy and full of energy, carrying the sharp scent of the incense burning in the palace hall. The flickering torchlight cast jagged shadows on the black marble, tracing the angles of Kael's face and shoulders in a way that made him look almost carved, frozen in time. I could feel the Underworld's presence with every step I took.
'What…? He's here!? I thought he went back.' I thought. 'Is he… waiting for me? Or just watching?'
My pulse twitched, a mixture of fear and excitement. Every instinct warned me to stop, but a small, brave part of me wanted to approach.
Kael stood a few steps away, statue-like. I wondered if he was still breathing. His eyes never left mine; watching my every step, as if waiting for me to make a mistake.
His gaze… seemed to be buried deep inside me, measuring, weighing my every step. Am I going too far? Probably. My heart was beating like a drum, but it felt like… electricity, life. Every second was a gamble, and I couldn't help but try. I shouldn't have enjoyed it, but I am. I wanted to see how far he would go before he got angry.
I moved closer, letting my fingers brush the edge of his sleeve "accidentally," a touch I knew he would notice. My heart pounded loudly against my ribs, the hall was silent, and I savored the tension building between us. Kael didn't move, but the faint twitch of his jaw, the gentle tightening of his grip on the handle of his hip, couldn't escape my sight.
"You're dangerously close," he said, weak and calm, but with a hint of something I couldn't name.
"Am I?" I whispered. I let the words pass, teasing.
"Careful," his voice trailed off, low, with an undertone of warning. "You forget… rules exist for a reason."
"You know me, Kael. I don't follow all the rules," I replied, smiling slightly, deliberately challenging him.
He didn't answer. He only tilted his head slightly. His eyes were fixed on mine. I let my gaze linger, following the line of his shoulders, his controlled stance, the small movements that showed the discipline he wore like armor. My lips curled slightly, teasing, but I said nothing. Kael's presence was like a blade gently brushing against my throat—cold, precise, and impossible to resist. I let my fingers brush against his arm as I passed. I felt the electricity running through my skin, from my fingertips, the slight warmth that changed in that brief moment. Kael didn't immediately come to his senses, but I saw it in the tightening of his jaw, the subtle shift in his stance, and the way his hand held near the hilt of his sword.
"You shouldn't do that," he said softly.
"Do what?" I whispered, smiling slightly, my tone deliberately designed to evoke tension between us.
"Test me," he replied, eyes fixed on me.
The torches flickered on the darkening marble and sent shards of light onto his sharp face. I leaned closer, pretending to adjust my cloak, letting the warmth of my body touch his side. His eyes dropped momentarily.
"You're brave," he said low and firm—but the tension was undeniable.
"And you're… probably cold," I whispered.
He didn't answer, but moved slightly, even a small gesture, I could feel it—a gentle care.
My chest tightened with fear and triumph. I followed the line of his shoulders with my gaze. He wanted distance. Still, he stayed by my side.
A small, inward smile spread across my lips. A triumph. It was like I was playing with fire, and Kael was the fire. Every glance I dared to touch, every deliberate caress of skin, was a gamble.
His aura suddenly changed. In an instant, Kael lost control, a sharp blade piercing the calm mask he wore. His gaze darkened, almost seductive, and fed me.
The scent of blood and incense grew sharper, clinging to the edge of my senses.
I dared to hold his eyes, letting my fingers move close to his arm, knowing that even the slightest movement could set him—or me—on fire.
"Careless," he murmured, voice low, deliberate, like a warning. "Or daring?"
I tilted my head, letting a sly smile touch my lips. "Daring, of course. Would you expect anything less from me?"
"You push too far," he said finally, the words clipped but edged with heat. "Be careful what you tempt."
Then he pulled back. Just enough to steady himself, hands curled close to the hilt of his sword, but the heat between us remained. His lips pressed together in a thin line; his jaw tightened. I could feel the fragile tension squeezing and expanding between us. Every second in that space filled with electricity.
Kael's shoulders rolled, slow and careful. "Don't think anything will change this," he said, weak, hoarse, but not bad at all.
I tilted my head, letting my smile play at the corners of my lips. "I wouldn't dream it," I whispered. My tone was sarcastic, deliberate.
His eyes narrowed slightly. I tilted my head slightly as if nothing had happened, letting the faintest curve touch my lips. I followed his form with my eyes.
"I can't sleep. Will you let me into my room again?" I whispered, almost a question to the air, almost a game.
"You know it's dangerous at night, you shouldn't leave the room anymore," he replied, low, but every word clear.
My pulse slowed, but not completely. I could feel him watching me.
I turned. My chest was still pounding. Then, at the edge of my vision, movement flickered. A shadow moved across the black tiles of the palace roof. My wrist jumped, and a chill ran down my spine like liquid ice.
"Someone is watching," I whispered. My voice was low.
Kael's eyes narrowed, sharp and unreadable. "I know," he said, calm. His hand touched mine—not yet touching, not yet—but the close contact made me shiver. "Stay close," he whispered.
The figure remained beyond the reach of the torchlight. I swallowed. Suddenly, I realized how dangerous this moment was. The shadow on the roof reminded me: the palace had eyes, and so did the Underworld itself. My breathing was irregular as I followed the figure with my gaze.
"It's safer if you go back to your room," he whispered.
I nodded and said nothing. Afraid that he could feel my trembling, not just with fear but also with excitement.
"Follow me," Kael replied, and a quick movement of his hand signaled me. I could feel the weight of his presence as we slowly left the hall.
Kael's presence anchored me, but I could feel the tension between us. The shadow's quiet amusement lingered in the air, and I suddenly realized the danger—and the intrigue. I should have felt fear, but instead, a thrill flowed through me. Whoever was watching us had plans. And suddenly I was part of them, irrevocably.