Chapter 143
The Crown's Entrapment
Rushing himself, Darius finished up his duties quickly just so he could check on Xen in the library. But by the time he arrived, he found out that she had already finished studying and had gone out with Jayra.
Not letting her absence slow him down, he followed her scent and ended up walking towards the training grounds.
It was true that she was with Jayra, but Dariusâs eyes fixated themselves on Xen with a loving smile. However, those smiles didnât last long as soon as he noticed that Xen was smiling beautifully towards a particular direction. She was blushing hard, and she even had this weird reaction of her touching her face while bashfully smiling.
Following his mateâs gaze, his face burned, nostrils flaring up as he barked aloud, âThatâs enough for today! Continue with the training tomorrow. Everyone get dressed! Dismissed!â
Stunned by his sudden appearance, his men were too puzzled to notice their kingâs glare. At his orders, everyone immediately headed off and dispersed from the area like lightning. Only Bartos remained, who approached Darius with a wrinkled forehead.
âSire, is everything alright?â Bartos asked.
Darius didnât answer as he promptly closed the distance between him and Xen, the latter of which was whispering to Jayra and asking if they were even allowed to watch the training.
âNo!â he annoyingly answered. He even reiterated his words when Xen turned to face him, âNo, youâre not allowed!â
Seeing him in front of them, Jayra quickly bowed her head to him and said, âYour Majesty⦠I was in here to pick up Bartos. Now that heâs here, the two of us should leave and give you and Princess Xenia some privacy.
Darius simply nodded as Bartos and Jayra escaped the scene, leaving his mate to his mercy. Already, he could see how Xeniaâs face glowered as she glared at Jayraâs retreating back.
âSeriously, Xen? I checked on you in the library, but apparently, here you are ogling at my men!â Darius scolded.
[Stop scaring her!] Zeus scolded him. [Look how pale her face is getting!]
Darius ignored his wolfâs protests. He was expressionless as he squinted his eyes on Xen and questioned, âYouâre even blushing and smiling beautifully while watching those naked men. Are you infatuated?â
[Donât try and stop me,] Darius growled at his wolf. [Iâm annoyed at how sheâs ogling other naked men. Meanwhile, she would always look away whenever Iâm naked?! Why?!]
He unknowingly swept his hair with his hand as he waited for a response. The corners of his eyes remained wrinkled as he anxiously waited for Xen to speak.
âI-Itâs not like that,â Xen tried to explain herself with a stutter. âIâm not b-blushing because of them⦠Itâs j-just thatâ¦â She trailed off. She tried to smile at him to reassure him or something, but she looked far too weird doing it.
âSo what is it, Xen? Why are you blushing and acting like youâre daydreaming about those naked men! Why are you even here?!â
Darius didnât let up as he fired off one question after another. Despite Zeus trying to stop him, he couldnât help but show how upset he was at that moment.
Xen touched her face and mumbled, âI wasnât aware I was even doing any of those. I mean, Iâm probably looking at them, but my eyes werenât actually at themâ¦â
Darius shrugged at her response. Her alibi was too flimsy, but he really didnât care anymore. Turning around, he said, âFollow me. Weâll be having dinner together. And prepare yourself, because Iâll have a lot of questions for you later on to see if you truly studied those books well enough. Pray that you donât make a mistake, or else be prepared to be punished!â
*****
Xenia followed Darius from behind with her head slightly bowed down as she continued biting on her lower lip.
âShould I tell him that Iâm thinking of him even if my eyes seemed to be looking at his men?â she wondered to herself. She didnât even think that thought made sense if she ever spoke the truth like that.
Letting out a long sigh, her eyes darted towards Dariusâs hand. He would usually hold her hand while they were walking, but he wasnât doing it at the moment.
âIs he that angry? Possibly even jealous?â
She pondered on his reactions. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that he was jealous. That was why he was so mad with how she watched those naked werewolves moving and flexing their bodies like that.
âYeah⦠That made senseâ¦â
The corners of her mouth quirked up before she then suddenly grabbed Dariusâs hand, holding onto it firmly by interlocking her fingers between his. Almost immediately, his body stiffened. He halted from his steps and turned at her with raised eyebrows.
Feeling slightly smug, Xenia ignored his expressionless face and explained, âPlease donât be mad. Iâm really telling the truth here. Iâm not ogling at those werewolves. Iâm actually thinking about something else at the time that made me blush. It might look like it, but Iâm definitely not blushing at those naked werewolves.â
âThen who is it that youâre thinking about then, huh?â Darius asked with a lifted brow, making Xenia nibble on her lower lip.
There was a moment of silence as she contemplated whether or not to tell the truth.
âWho is it, Xen?â Darius repeated with a frown.
âItâs err⦠Youâ¦â Xenia bashfully admitted, her eyes moving down to the ground. âI just thought how those werewolves were nothing compared to your majestic body, my King,â How embarrassing. She would even bet that she was glowing red as a ripe tomato right now too.
She inwardly seethed. This was all Jayraâs fault! If she hadnât brought her there, then she wouldnât have to feel so embarrassed now. She couldnât even look at Darius now despite the fact of how curious she was to see his reaction to her confession.
âWha-â
She was jolted out of her own stupor when she suddenly felt Dariusâs arms link around her waist, pulling her closer to him in one swift motion. Xenia unknowingly raised her head to look at him, gulping at how intense he was currently staring at her.
Fluttering her lashes, she fumbled out, âUhm, what are-â
Her remaining words were left unspoken as Darius quickly pressed his lips against hers. With a small breath on her lips, he then murmured, âYou better be telling the truth, Xen. Because if notâ¦â His lips then brushed against her. His eyes were now open, gazing intently at hers with dilated pupils.
âW-What?â she confidently murmured against his lips.
It was amazing. She couldnât believe that they were being intimate like that in an open area for everyone to see, but who cares? She was way too distracted with Darius nibbling her on her lips like it was candy.
âIf not⦠then Iâll parade my body in front of you to drool at instead, and Iâm dead serious about it,â Darius murmured with a pout.
*************
A/N: Xeniaâs EQ is improving donât you think? I guess Jayraâs books did some wonders to her EQ. Sheâs becoming more aggressive too. Sometimes you just need some good and direct advice and enough knowledge on things⦠lols