25

WARNING!

I've been asked by a company I work for to change the name of this story to adapt better to their app. I've only ever done this once or twice and I would prefer not to, but that's okay! I've done my best to make a fitting cover and title anyways.

I'll be officially changing the title and cover by chapter 27 to reduce as much confusion as possible.

I apologies about this! Thank you for understanding (:

Word Count: 2144

~Kiva

I stare down at my notes, unable to concentrate.

Father never wanted me to study beyond what he thought was appropriate, but I enjoy it. Learning allows me to imagine a world beyond all this.

Faint whispers have me glancing over my shoulder.

Three girls stand amongst the shelves of the small library, giggling between themselves. Maids, by the looks of their uniforms, and they don't know I am here.

"There's a lot around here you're going to have to learn," one of them with vibrant blonde curls whispers, cheeks flushed bright pink as she leans her head close to her brunette friend.

"Like what?"

"Like which guys to go for." She says it like it's obvious, like it's written by the Angel's.

I shouldn't even be listening. What business do I have listening to girls get excited over their crushes?

"I kind of like the Princesses personal guard," the brunette one admits sheepishly.

The blonde one startles. "No...no, you can't touch Ark."

"Why not?" The other complains.

"He's Ara's favourite. She will be upset if she finds out you've been crushing on him also," the blonde exclaims, motioning to the dark haired girl next to her, who nods.

I straighten, leaning over slightly to listen in.

Ark is attractive. I'm not blind, I'm very aware of that. So of course some staff want to him, and may go as far as asking to be with him.

Has he ever entertained their advances? He takes his job seriously, but perhaps in his free time he has taken one or two to bed...

My stomach twists into a painful knot.

I shouldn't, but sometimes I like his attention. I'm so cut off from everyone else, I forget he doesn't belong to me, that he is by my side for work, nothing else.

I'm probably not even who he would choose to be with, if I were even an option. Each time I've tried to seduce him, he's turned me down. Maybe it's not due to his job, but because I'm a pretentious, spoilt Princess who he can't stand.

The darker haired friend, Ara, pouts. "I can't help it."

"He's a killer. She's into that," the blonde giggles, nudging the brunette.

"Only because it's him. He's so hot."

"That's a terrible reason to like someone, Ara...I mean, he seems so mysterious, I want to know more about who he really is," the brunette exclaims, defending her own interest in him.

The blonde rolls her eyes. "Good luck. He doesn't let anyone close."

I bite my lower lip, invested in this conversation.

"Then how will you pursue him?"

Ara rubs her hands through her hair. "I've been bumping into his late at night while he's guarding the Princess. Sometimes he even let's me stand for a few minutes to talk to him."

I frown. How have I never heard through the door?

"Do you think the Princess desires him?" The brunette asks.

I swallow thickly. I should probably tune out of this conversation, but I'm curious what they assume. Has Ark told anyone else about my attempts to seduce him?

I'm mortified at the thought...

"Thankfully she is to be married to Prince Caspian," the brunette cuts in. "That's good for us, because her and Ark probably would have slept together by now."

"You really think so?" The blonde gasps.

I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh into my hand. I had no idea my staff thought such things...

"Duh. He's near her all the time, although I secretly bet he hates her," Ara exclaims lowly, in case anyone is lurking nearby that can hear. I'm surprised they haven't even noticed me yet.

"He doesn't seem like the type to like royalty," the blonde mutters.

I raise a brow.

Ark definitely hates royalty. He won't admit it, because he's being paid by a King, but his disdain for my father is deep rooted, and I assume it's because of his position of power.

"Someone heard a rumour he's working with that group that broke in."

Ara draws in a sharp breath. "Really? I hope not..."

I angle my head. What if he is? I shake the thought from my head. I watched him be beaten to near death by that group, and he's done everything to protect me from them.

There's no chance he's working with them, right?

"I know, but it would make sense, right? No one that good at killing would take a job like this," the brunette grumbles quietly.

"Maybe we should tell her?" The blonde is clearly asking a question, unsure of whether she should intervene in the matter.

Little does she know, I've already considered the notion that Ark works for the rebellion.

The brunette shakes her head. "Shh, don't. Her father punishes anyone who speaks a single word to her."

Breathing in deeply, I scoot my chair back enough so I'm in the girls view.

"Ara, you should ask Ark out," I exclaim brightly.

All three girls jump at the sound of my voice, turning toward me. All the colour drains from their faces, clearly concerned their jobs here are now over.

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Kiva, I didn't realise you could hear us," the blonde forces out, looking so stunned I feel sorry for her.

I wave her off dismissively. Everyone gossips, so it's not as if I blame them.

I focus on Ara. "If you want to, you should just do it. I mean, he's not so great in bed."

Ara's eyes widen. "You've slept with him?"

The blonde slaps her friend, trying to hush her. I just laugh lightly, enjoying tarnishing Ark's reputation in their eyes after what he did to me over a week ago.

"Oh yeah." I smile wickedly. "He gives terrible head, trust me."

I know that my claim is not only baseless, but untrue. But it feels so good to say, even if it's likely going to get back to Ark.

"I thought you were marrying the Prince," the brunette wonders.

I shrug. "Maybe. But can't a girl have some fun?"

The girls giggle nervously, glancing between each other. I know they want to say so much more, but are reminded that I'm a Princess and my father would have them fired if he knew we were speaking. It's why he's not going to find out.

"I never thought Ark would be so terrible in bed," Ara says, smothering her smile with her hand.

He isn't, I would bet money on it. In the darkest depths of me, I know he would be incredible...

"It's like he doesn't know what he is doing. May as well do it ourselves, am I right?" I wink at them, turning back to my book.

"I'm staying well away from him then," I hear Ara say lowly to her friends as they quickly rush away.

I grin. This is payback for Ark, but it's also so the others don't try to seduce him. He doesn't belong to me, but if he's going to fuck anyone, it's going to be me.

Mark my words.

***

Yawning, I draw my curtains closed, turning to my bed.

It's been a successful day of mostly reading, writing some correspondence, and spreading rumours about Ark that are entirely unbased as revenge for his nightmare training regime that has been especially vicious this week.

A strong knock echoes from the door as I lean up against my pillows.

"Busy," I call out, smiling a little.

Ark opens the door, stalking straight in. "No you're not."

"Hey. I could have been naked," I grumble, narrowing my eyes.

He folds his arms over his chest. I can't tell if he's angry; he's impossible to read. I know why he is here, and yet I'm not scared.

"There's this rumour going around that I heard," he says, pacing back and forth slowly, purposefully.

I sigh coyly. "Is that right?"

"You can't imagine my surprise when I heard that I had slept with the Princess. Last time I checked, you and I haven't fucked." His expression is serious, but his eyes convey another story.

I chew on my lip to conceal my smile. "Interesting. What a strange rumour."

Ark shakes his head a little. I'm trying to avert my eyes from his tattooed forearms that are visible from his rolled up sleeves. And those hands...

Tonight, they are bare. No gloves.

He's not meant to be guarding me tonight, I realise.

"And even more surprising, is that apparently I'm terrible in bed, according to her," Ark continues.

I draw in a breath. This is infinitely amusing. Has this hindered his chances with girls in the manor? Was he ever planning on sleeping with anyone, or is he too professional for all of us?

I doubt that. He lost the ability to be considered professional when he forbid me from touching myself.

"You know what, I heard that too." I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Something about giving terrible head."

"A few maids claimed they heard it from you, Kiva. Why would that be?" He tilts his head challenging me.

I sink deeper into my pillows. "Doesn't sound like something I would do."

Is Ark going to punish me? Is he going to make me regret this? So far he's been strangely kind about his punishments for me leaving the manor in the middle of the night to meet my mate...

I'm waiting for whatever he has planned to unfold, because I know it's coming.

Right now he's looking at me like I'm prey he's wanting to tear apart in a methodical way.

"Hmm."

"What?" My eyelashes flutter a little.

Ark steps closer to the bed, making me wonder if sitting in here any longer is a good idea...unless of course, I don't want my punishment to be sexual in nature.

"Why would you spread that rumour, Kiva? For fun, because you hate me that much, or because you want to prove to you how unfounded that rumour really is."

I sweep my legs off the bed, getting up. "Take a guess."

His eyes darken, any sense of anger replaced by...something wicked that I want a taste of.

He stands before me, looking down at me. "Tell me to leave."

I don't want him to leave. I'm tired of this leash he keeps on himself, stopping him from doing terrible things to me that I know he wants...

"Why would I do that?" I whisper.

"I have a job to do, to protect you," he murmurs, frowning a little as his eyes shift to my lips. "And yet all afternoon, I've thought of all the terrible things I would do to you once I came here tonight."

A gasp catches in my throat. He's been thinking about me too?

"Tell me about these terrible things." Please. I'm practically begging at this point.

Ark has leaned down to the point he's close to kissing me. He smells so addictive, and every detail of him is so beautiful, so utterly perfect I want him in my bed right now.

I know nothing about this man really, and I want him so badly.

"I don't want to talk. I want to show you," he breathes. He's wincing, like he's holding himself back physically.

"Do it. Coward."

He exhales slowly, backing me up until my legs hit the bed. He never does things quickly, never rushes. In training he's harsh and slow with what he inflicts on me.

I get the feeling I'm about to be subjected to his cruel patience.

"You're certain you're ready?"

It's a way out, a chance to say no, to break the spell drawing us together. There is no way I'm messing this up.

"Fuck me."

Ark grabs my waist so forcefully it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs, but I don't care, as his lips crash down onto mine.

My entire world spins off its axis. Sparks. He's my mate.

I know what this means, as I jolt back to stare up at him. I know who he is, his secret, and yet right now, I couldn't care less.

His gaze is burning. "That's not going to stop me from what I have planned next."

🖤••🖤

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

THE DARKEST TEMPTATION— OUT NOW ON WATTPAD!!

~Midika 💜🐼