Elena quickly spun around, pressing her back against the door as if that would erase what she had just seen. Her face burned red-hot, and her heart pounded like a war drum in her chest.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't know you were here." she stammered, her hands trembling as they gripped the door handle.
Behind her, King Killian said in a calm, deep, and eerily soft tone. "You live in this room, Elena. I would expect you to walk in at any time."
Elena flinched, the sound of his soft footsteps echoing against the title. He was coming closer?! Why was he coming closer?!
"My darling wife," King Killian whispered into her ears, pressing his warm body on her back. Thankfully, the gown was insanely thick, so Elena didn't feel a thing.
But, she somehow secretly wished she did though.
King Killian grabbed a handful of hair and pushed it to the other side, making her neck visible. He trailed his finger there, causing Elena to let out a small whimper as her body trembled. "I suggest you get used to seeing me this way, wife," he murmured, his breath brushing her ear. "After all… we are married."
Her knees nearly buckled.
Then, he stepped back. "You may have your bath, I'll use the other—."
Elena didn't even allow King Killian to finish his sentence, she rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
If King Killian had a heart, he would have chuckled at Elena's attitude. He did find it cute but that was all. He shook his head before strolling to the other bathroom at the far end of the room.
Once inside the bathroom, King Killian stepped toward the mirror and stared at his reflection, his expression unreadable. However, in the hollow look in his eyes, there was a small trace of his burden. The burden of a cursed man. It was very hard to make out…for others to see it, but King Killian saw it. He was the only one who understood his burden. His pain.
King Killian's eyes darkened as he recalled the day he got cursed, one of the darkest moments of his life. He clenched his hand around the sink, knuckles turning white. He held it so hard, so tight and if he wasn't careful, he might break it at any moment.
Slowly, he let go of the sink as he remembered Elena. His key. "At least getting her to fall in love with me would be easy." He muttered to himself, sure about the effect he already had on her. He groaned, irritated by the word called 'love'
Although Killian once had something with a certain girl, a long time ago, he wouldn't call that love. He hated the word 'love'. He believed it made people do stupid things and made them weak. And Killian was not ready to find out what it would feel like to be weak.
He was the Death God, no such word as 'weak' should exist in his dictionary.
Even though King Killian knew nothing about love, he had seen and studied people in love. He even got a front-row view when his brother found his mate. The things he did, how he acted around his mate, he saw them all. He believed that all he had to do was follow the script of love.
And thankfully, Elena seemed to be enjoying the script.
But was everything truly a script? How he held Elena that night and how he sniffed her like his life depended on it… Was it all a script?
Meanwhile, Inside the bathroom, Elena held the sink, trying to calm her racing heart.
What was wrong with her?
King Killian was cold, dangerous…. out of her league. And yet, her heart always raced whenever he was near. Her body always trembled at the sound of his voice. No. Elena couldn't afford this feeling. This was a contract marriage. King Killian needed her for something just as she needed him for revenge.
She should focus on her growth, reclaiming her name, and getting revenge. She should not let herself get distracted. As a matter of fact, if she grew powerful enough, she might be able to challenge the death God and get out of this prison called marriage. If she had power, she might be able to set her path right. Change her fate and destiny.
She should focus!
Just when Elena loosened the gold rope tying her gown together, she heard a knock on the door. She gasped, moving back in fear as she imagined it was Killian. However, almost immediately, Irene walked into the bathroom.
Elena sighed. She had totally forgotten that Irene was behind her all along, she was late only because she needed to get something done for the King. Elena shivered as a thought crossed her mind.
What if Irene had stepped in when the King was naked? Knowing he wouldn't like it, what would he have done? Kill her?
Elena buried the thoughts immediately, she wanted to get rid of any negative thoughts in her mind as it would only make her fear king Killian even more.
"Please, walk into the bath my Queen," Irene said in a calm tone after helping Elena take off her dress.
Elena did just that. She allowed herself to sink into the bath, closing her eyes and allowing her mind to roam. Even though she'd promised not to think negatively, she never said anything about wild thoughts.
Elena's mind went back to that night. Two nights ago.
Soon, Elena finished bathing and she went back to the bedroom. Thankfully, King Killian was done bathing earlier and had left the room, but his unique scent mixed with a hard kind of shampoo filled the room and she relished in it.
Ten minutes later, Elena got dressed in a simple sweatpants and shirt, and then Irene left the room. She wanted to take a nap afterwards, but she was scared that Killian might walk in, and then that night would repeat itself. But this time he would go further.
At this thought, Elena protectively wrapped her hands around her chest, her face flushing red as she imagined King Killian's hands over them.
"Focus! Focus!" Elena scolded herself, trying to remove her mind from such thoughts. She kept hitting her head, attempting to knock them out, but the visions clung stubbornly, growing clearer by the second.
"You might hurt yourself if you continue doing that, princess," came that familiar firm tone.
Elena's eyes shot open in horror.
King Killian casually leaned against the doorframe, one leg crossed over the other, arms folded. His piercing eyes were fixed on her.
"I was wondering how long it would take before you started fantasizing about me," he said, voice cool and unbothered.
Elena's mouth fell open, words trapped in her throat. How did he know she was thinking about him?!!!