Chapter 107: Most Important Thing In My Life
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"Now, just wait a second…" Lina murmured, rising on her knees. She gripped his shoulder and used her sleeve to wipe the blood off of his face.
Kade was as still as a pole. He didn't say anything, but his heart lurched. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist. Tightly. He peered down at her, his brows taut at her action.
Kade realized her sleeping dress was from Teran. Why wasn't she wearing the sleeping gowns he had bought for her? He had ordered at least thirty dresses for her.
"I never want my wife to dirty herself for me," Kade said with an edge to his voice, his mood quickly changing.
Lina slowly blinked like she didn't understand what he meant. "But you dirtied my body with your—"
"No." Kade yanked her close, his arm on her waist, her hands on his body. "Only I can dirty you."
Lina simply stared at him. Then, she let out a burst of soft laughter, raising her brows. This man was quite demanding of her.
"Sure," Lina said, heavily amused by his antics.
Kade narrowed his eyes at her behavior. Seeing her this happy, at the expense of him, he didn't know how to feel. The only thing he could do was rest his forehead upon hers. That caused her to stop laughing. Instead, she smiled, her hand sliding up his neck.
Kade could feel a stifling weight on his chest. He did not understand how his heart could react so much to someone.
She was his wife, a woman under his care. It was bizarre. He felt so reassured and safe when he was with her. His foolish heart believed she'd never judge him—even if he dropped a dead man's head before her feet.
Why was his wife so naive and innocent, but crazy and foolish?
"Intruders have infiltrated the castle," Kade murmured. "Do you know anything about this?"
Lina's heart fell. She thought back to the quiet voice from earlier. "When did you return to the room?"
"Just now."
The blood drained from her face. Then who was that man in her chamber? Before she could say anything, there was rough knocking from outside the bedroom.
Kade's head snapped to the doors. He deeply scowled. Who could be banging at his estate this late in the night?
"Wait here," Kade seethed, pulling back.
Kade yanked his sword from the ground. Someone wanted to get a rough beating. He stormed out of the bedroom, towards the living room, and to the doorway. He flung it open and Sebastian nearly fell forward.
"Commander!" Sebastian cried out like he had lost his firstborn. There was anguish and panic in his voice because he knew how much this event mattered to the Commander.
"Commander, the Eighth Princess, she has been kidnapped!" Sebastian exclaimed, his tone filled with a sense of urgency.
Kade felt as if cold water was poured onto him. His blood chilled. What did this foolish advisor of his just say? He had just finished torturing those damn intruders!
"T-this was left in her room after her nanny went in to check up on the Eighth Princess in the night, Commander," Sebastian said, shoving the messily scribbled note towards his superior.
Kade snatched the paper from Sebastian's trembling hands. He quickly read through the message, feeling as if something was amiss. This handwriting. It was too neat for the Ritan language. It was almost as if the person wasn't a native of Ritan and was practicing the scripture from a book.
"What's going on?" Lina asked, appearing behind Kade.
Lina placed her hand behind his bicep and peered over it. She curiously stared down at the paper, only hearing the slightest context. Then, the blood drained from her face.
No.
"If you want your Princess, give me back my Princess. If not, one of them dies. Take a guess who," Lina read out loud, her entire body shivering as the awful reality of this situation dawned on her.
Kade cursed, shoving the note into his pocket. His grip tightened onto his sword and he cast Sebastian a glance.
"Boil the water. Wake them up," Kade seethed. He had left two alive purposely. Barely, but alive. They were brothers by blood.
"Summon my guards, bring as many female warriors as you can find," Kade finalized.
"Right away, Commander," Sebastian said, scrambling off to fulfill the duties. He was accompanied by two of the Commander's most loyal soldiers.
Lina recognized the brief flash of the smallest emblem on the soldiers' clothing. They were different from the ones she had seen around the Emperor's palace. Then, she noticed the people guarding Kade's estate also had the same emblem. She put the pieces of information together and decided that these must've been the soldiers he personally trained, seeing as he was a Commander.
Kade slammed the doors shut. Lina jumped at the thundering sound.
"Stay put in my estate," Kade sternly said to his wife.
Kade turned to grab her arms, to emphasize the seriousness of this situation. He narrowed his eyes. She seemed aghast at the news.
"I'll send more of my people here. The women guards will be in our bedroom, watching you sleep. The men will wait in the living room. You will be the most protected woman in all of Ritan," Kade stated, his thumb pressing into her skin.
Lina winced at the pain, but he didn't even notice it. There was a wild look in his eyes, but he wore a calm expression. A man like him kept his cool during the wildest storms. She was beginning to realize she didn't know this man.
"And sleep with this under the pillow," Kade commanded, releasing her.
Kade pulled out a small dagger that had been tucked in his robes. He handed it to her and she stared at it, dumbstruck.
"I want a sword," Lina said. She wasn't that good with close-combat daggers, as she was usually lighter than her opponents.
Kade hesitated. The sword on his waist had accompanied him for the entirety of his hell on the battlefield. He couldn't just take a sword from his guards.
"Give me one tomorrow," Lina shakily told him, accepting the dagger. She dropped her gaze to the floor when his eyes became too intense to look at.
Lina could feel her heart beating wildly in her ribcage. It was so intense that she was sure there'd be a bruise on her chest. She tried to control her nerves around him, but it was hard. He looked at her with sincerity. She couldn't stop the guilt that clawed at her.
"Dove," Kade slowly said.
Kade knew something was amiss. She was averting her eyes to avoid his stare. She was hiding something. From him. His gaze darkened.
"Lina," Kade stated.
Lina's head shot up.
"The Eighth Princess is only eight years old. Before my wife, she was the most important thing in my life," Kade stated.
Lina's chest ached at his words. Her lips wobbled. The raw guilt was weighing heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't face him with the truth.
"She has been kidnapped by intruders who infiltrated the castle with ill-intent. She's only a child," Kade's voice hardened towards the end. "She's very similar to you, as well. The Eighth Princess is the Kingdom's favorite."
Kade let Lina digest his words. "Should the kidnappers be enemies of Ritan, the Eighth Princess could be defiled, tortured, beaten, and murdered."
Lina's legs gave out. Kade let her sink to the ground. She resembled a fallen flower, her dress gathering on the floor. He squatted, his wrists resting on his knees.
"She likes you very much," Kade noted. "So I say this for your own sake. If you know something, say it. If not, keep yourself safe. They've targeted one of my weaknesses."
Kade reached a lone finger out. He stroked her face, carefully. She flinched at his touch. He knew. She knew. They both knew that she knew something.
"But they've miscalculated, you're my biggest weakness now, dove of mine," Kade pointed out.
Lina was overwhelmed with emotions. She was ashamed of the realization. She was hurt, even, by what they had done. She still remembered praising her dear friend for his accomplishments, admiring the ink on his stained hands.
"Atlan…" Lina trailed off, finally unable to handle the sin weighing her down. The guilt was eating her alive.
"Atlan?" Kade sharply repeated.
That was a name that was once popular amongst young boys in Ritan.
The name left a foul taste in Kade's mouth. He knew what this name represented.
"H-he was my mentor," Lina stammered. "He protected me in Teran, in the palace. He—"
"I know who he is," Kade said. He had not forgotten the name or how the man had manipulated Lina into surrending her virtue. Kade knew exactly who Atlan was.
Lina blinked. Right. She had told him that already.
"Was he your lover?" Kade asked, his voice light, although inside his blood was boiling. He needed to know the complete truth. Was there any hint that she might be protecting Atlan? She had denied being his lover before but he needed to be sure. The thought of Atlan touching his wife was repulsive and made him feel outraged.
"No!" Lina shouted, grabbing the collar of his robes out of urgency.
Lina was frightened by his reaction. His tone was leveled, so she thought he wasn't furious. He was. Her body screamed danger. His eyes were as ferocious as waiting beasts.
Lina's mouth went dry. He said the right things and asked the right questions.
"And what of Atlan?" Kade asked.
Lina could not say it. She felt a force holding her back, pressing her lips together, and squeezing the air from her lungs.
"My dear wife," Kade began, bringing her back to her feet. She was shaky and held onto him.
Kade embraced her tenderly. He stroked the back of her hair while his arm slithered around her waist. She was breathing hard and holding onto his robes.
"I'll always be by your side," Kade promised. "Next to you, on top of you, behind you... The choice is yours to make."
Lina's face went red. Even at a time like this, he managed to lighten the mood with innuendo despite the inferno that was bubbling inside his body. She wasn't sure if it was an attempt to calm the tension or ease her fears. In fact, it was his way of staking his claim on her.
"Answer my question, Lina," Kade urged.
Kade continued to caress her hair. He realized why cats played with yarn. There was something so addictive about the soft strands.
"What of him?" Kade pressed.
Lina knew he was still heated. He had called her name, instead of the nickname. Was this how he coerced his prisoners? Or was this how he coerced women?
"My Lord Husband," Lina began.
Kade's hand froze. She knew he was manipulating her. He had underestimated his wife's intellect.
"My Lady Wife," Kade shot back, his eyes narrowed like a falcon watching its prey.
Hurt flashed on her face, but she said nothing else.
Lina was lost in thought. She had no choice, but to tell the truth. The Eighth Princess was a precious and precocious child who could do no wrong. Yet, the little girl was kidnapped. And Lina knew the perpetrator.
"Will it start a war?" Lina whispered.
"Of course not," Kade said. "You were the tribute that stopped the war, remember? Because of you, many soldiers could return home to their families. Towns won't be ransacked. Everything will return to normalcy."
Lina bit her bottom lip.
"Dove of mine," Kade corrected himself. "Tell me the truth. We are husband and wife, are we not?"
Lina was obligated. She knew she was. Thus, she opened her mouth.
"I recognize the handwriting..." Lina began, her voice dying in her throat. "I-I was there when he was practicing it."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes," Lina whispered. "It was Atlan who wrote the letter."
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"Now, just wait a second…" Lina murmured, rising on her knees. She gripped his shoulder and used her sleeve to wipe the blood off of his face.
Kade was as still as a pole. He didn't say anything, but his heart lurched. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist. Tightly. He peered down at her, his brows taut at her action.
Kade realized her sleeping dress was from Teran. Why wasn't she wearing the sleeping gowns he had bought for her? He had ordered at least thirty dresses for her.
"I never want my wife to dirty herself for me," Kade said with an edge to his voice, his mood quickly changing.
Lina slowly blinked like she didn't understand what he meant. "But you dirtied my body with your—"
"No." Kade yanked her close, his arm on her waist, her hands on his body. "Only I can dirty you."
Lina simply stared at him. Then, she let out a burst of soft laughter, raising her brows. This man was quite demanding of her.
"Sure," Lina said, heavily amused by his antics.
Kade narrowed his eyes at her behavior. Seeing her this happy, at the expense of him, he didn't know how to feel. The only thing he could do was rest his forehead upon hers. That caused her to stop laughing. Instead, she smiled, her hand sliding up his neck.
Kade could feel a stifling weight on his chest. He did not understand how his heart could react so much to someone.
She was his wife, a woman under his care. It was bizarre. He felt so reassured and safe when he was with her. His foolish heart believed she'd never judge him—even if he dropped a dead man's head before her feet.
Why was his wife so naive and innocent, but crazy and foolish?
"Intruders have infiltrated the castle," Kade murmured. "Do you know anything about this?"
Lina's heart fell. She thought back to the quiet voice from earlier. "When did you return to the room?"
"Just now."
The blood drained from her face. Then who was that man in her chamber? Before she could say anything, there was rough knocking from outside the bedroom.
Kade's head snapped to the doors. He deeply scowled. Who could be banging at his estate this late in the night?
"Wait here," Kade seethed, pulling back.
Kade yanked his sword from the ground. Someone wanted to get a rough beating. He stormed out of the bedroom, towards the living room, and to the doorway. He flung it open and Sebastian nearly fell forward.
"Commander!" Sebastian cried out like he had lost his firstborn. There was anguish and panic in his voice because he knew how much this event mattered to the Commander.
"Commander, the Eighth Princess, she has been kidnapped!" Sebastian exclaimed, his tone filled with a sense of urgency.
Kade felt as if cold water was poured onto him. His blood chilled. What did this foolish advisor of his just say? He had just finished torturing those damn intruders!
"T-this was left in her room after her nanny went in to check up on the Eighth Princess in the night, Commander," Sebastian said, shoving the messily scribbled note towards his superior.
Kade snatched the paper from Sebastian's trembling hands. He quickly read through the message, feeling as if something was amiss. This handwriting. It was too neat for the Ritan language. It was almost as if the person wasn't a native of Ritan and was practicing the scripture from a book.
"What's going on?" Lina asked, appearing behind Kade.
Lina placed her hand behind his bicep and peered over it. She curiously stared down at the paper, only hearing the slightest context. Then, the blood drained from her face.
No.
"If you want your Princess, give me back my Princess. If not, one of them dies. Take a guess who," Lina read out loud, her entire body shivering as the awful reality of this situation dawned on her.
Kade cursed, shoving the note into his pocket. His grip tightened onto his sword and he cast Sebastian a glance.
"Boil the water. Wake them up," Kade seethed. He had left two alive purposely. Barely, but alive. They were brothers by blood.
"Summon my guards, bring as many female warriors as you can find," Kade finalized.
"Right away, Commander," Sebastian said, scrambling off to fulfill the duties. He was accompanied by two of the Commander's most loyal soldiers.
Lina recognized the brief flash of the smallest emblem on the soldiers' clothing. They were different from the ones she had seen around the Emperor's palace. Then, she noticed the people guarding Kade's estate also had the same emblem. She put the pieces of information together and decided that these must've been the soldiers he personally trained, seeing as he was a Commander.
Kade slammed the doors shut. Lina jumped at the thundering sound.
"Stay put in my estate," Kade sternly said to his wife.
Kade turned to grab her arms, to emphasize the seriousness of this situation. He narrowed his eyes. She seemed aghast at the news.
"I'll send more of my people here. The women guards will be in our bedroom, watching you sleep. The men will wait in the living room. You will be the most protected woman in all of Ritan," Kade stated, his thumb pressing into her skin.
Lina winced at the pain, but he didn't even notice it. There was a wild look in his eyes, but he wore a calm expression. A man like him kept his cool during the wildest storms. She was beginning to realize she didn't know this man.
"And sleep with this under the pillow," Kade commanded, releasing her.
Kade pulled out a small dagger that had been tucked in his robes. He handed it to her and she stared at it, dumbstruck.
"I want a sword," Lina said. She wasn't that good with close-combat daggers, as she was usually lighter than her opponents.
Kade hesitated. The sword on his waist had accompanied him for the entirety of his hell on the battlefield. He couldn't just take a sword from his guards.
"Give me one tomorrow," Lina shakily told him, accepting the dagger. She dropped her gaze to the floor when his eyes became too intense to look at.
Lina could feel her heart beating wildly in her ribcage. It was so intense that she was sure there'd be a bruise on her chest. She tried to control her nerves around him, but it was hard. He looked at her with sincerity. She couldn't stop the guilt that clawed at her.
"Dove," Kade slowly said.
Kade knew something was amiss. She was averting her eyes to avoid his stare. She was hiding something. From him. His gaze darkened.
"Lina," Kade stated.
Lina's head shot up.
"The Eighth Princess is only eight years old. Before my wife, she was the most important thing in my life," Kade stated.
Lina's chest ached at his words. Her lips wobbled. The raw guilt was weighing heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't face him with the truth.
"She has been kidnapped by intruders who infiltrated the castle with ill-intent. She's only a child," Kade's voice hardened towards the end. "She's very similar to you, as well. The Eighth Princess is the Kingdom's favorite."
Kade let Lina digest his words. "Should the kidnappers be enemies of Ritan, the Eighth Princess could be defiled, tortured, beaten, and murdered."
Lina's legs gave out. Kade let her sink to the ground. She resembled a fallen flower, her dress gathering on the floor. He squatted, his wrists resting on his knees.
"She likes you very much," Kade noted. "So I say this for your own sake. If you know something, say it. If not, keep yourself safe. They've targeted one of my weaknesses."
Kade reached a lone finger out. He stroked her face, carefully. She flinched at his touch. He knew. She knew. They both knew that she knew something.
"But they've miscalculated, you're my biggest weakness now, dove of mine," Kade pointed out.
Lina was overwhelmed with emotions. She was ashamed of the realization. She was hurt, even, by what they had done. She still remembered praising her dear friend for his accomplishments, admiring the ink on his stained hands.
"Atlan…" Lina trailed off, finally unable to handle the sin weighing her down. The guilt was eating her alive.
"Atlan?" Kade sharply repeated.
That was a name that was once popular amongst young boys in Ritan.
The name left a foul taste in Kade's mouth. He knew what this name represented.
"H-he was my mentor," Lina stammered. "He protected me in Teran, in the palace. He—"
"I know who he is," Kade said. He had not forgotten the name or how the man had manipulated Lina into surrending her virtue. Kade knew exactly who Atlan was.
Lina blinked. Right. She had told him that already.
"Was he your lover?" Kade asked, his voice light, although inside his blood was boiling. He needed to know the complete truth. Was there any hint that she might be protecting Atlan? She had denied being his lover before but he needed to be sure. The thought of Atlan touching his wife was repulsive and made him feel outraged.
"No!" Lina shouted, grabbing the collar of his robes out of urgency.
Lina was frightened by his reaction. His tone was leveled, so she thought he wasn't furious. He was. Her body screamed danger. His eyes were as ferocious as waiting beasts.
Lina's mouth went dry. He said the right things and asked the right questions.
"And what of Atlan?" Kade asked.
Lina could not say it. She felt a force holding her back, pressing her lips together, and squeezing the air from her lungs.
"My dear wife," Kade began, bringing her back to her feet. She was shaky and held onto him.
Kade embraced her tenderly. He stroked the back of her hair while his arm slithered around her waist. She was breathing hard and holding onto his robes.
"I'll always be by your side," Kade promised. "Next to you, on top of you, behind you... The choice is yours to make."
Lina's face went red. Even at a time like this, he managed to lighten the mood with innuendo despite the inferno that was bubbling inside his body. She wasn't sure if it was an attempt to calm the tension or ease her fears. In fact, it was his way of staking his claim on her.
"Answer my question, Lina," Kade urged.
Kade continued to caress her hair. He realized why cats played with yarn. There was something so addictive about the soft strands.
"What of him?" Kade pressed.
Lina knew he was still heated. He had called her name, instead of the nickname. Was this how he coerced his prisoners? Or was this how he coerced women?
"My Lord Husband," Lina began.
Kade's hand froze. She knew he was manipulating her. He had underestimated his wife's intellect.
"My Lady Wife," Kade shot back, his eyes narrowed like a falcon watching its prey.
Hurt flashed on her face, but she said nothing else.
Lina was lost in thought. She had no choice, but to tell the truth. The Eighth Princess was a precious and precocious child who could do no wrong. Yet, the little girl was kidnapped. And Lina knew the perpetrator.
"Will it start a war?" Lina whispered.
"Of course not," Kade said. "You were the tribute that stopped the war, remember? Because of you, many soldiers could return home to their families. Towns won't be ransacked. Everything will return to normalcy."
Lina bit her bottom lip.
"Dove of mine," Kade corrected himself. "Tell me the truth. We are husband and wife, are we not?"
Lina was obligated. She knew she was. Thus, she opened her mouth.
"I recognize the handwriting..." Lina began, her voice dying in her throat. "I-I was there when he was practicing it."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes," Lina whispered. "It was Atlan who wrote the letter."
"Now, just wait a second" Lina murmured, rising on her knees. She gripped his shoulder and used her sleeve to wipe the blood off of his face.Kade was as still as a pole. He didn't say anything, but his heart lurched. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist. Tightly. He peered down at her, his brows taut at her action.Kade realized her sleeping dress was from Teran. Why wasn't she wearing the sleeping gowns he had bought for her? He had ordered at least thirty dresses for her. "I never want my wife to dirty herself for me," Kade said with an edge to his voice, his mood quickly changing. Lina slowly blinked like she didn't understand what he meant. "But you dirtied my body with your""No." Kade yanked her close, his arm on her waist, her hands on his body. "Only I can dirty you."Lina simply stared at him. Then, she let out a burst of soft laughter, raising her brows. This man was quite demanding of her. "Sure," Lina said, heavily amused by his antics.Kade narrowed his eyes at her behavior. Seeing her this happy, at the expense of him, he didn't know how to feel. The only thing he could do was rest his forehead upon hers. That caused her to stop laughing. Instead, she smiled, her hand sliding up his neck.Kade could feel a stifling weight on his chest. He did not understand how his heart could react so much to someone. She was his wife, a woman under his care. It was bizarre. He felt so reassured and safe when he was with her. His foolish heart believed she'd never judge himeven if he dropped a dead man's head before her feet. Why was his wife so naive and innocent, but crazy and foolish?"Intruders have infiltrated the castle," Kade murmured. "Do you know anything about this?"Lina's heart fell. She thought back to the quiet voice from earlier. "When did you return to the room?""Just now."The blood drained from her face. Then who was that man in her chamber? Before she could say anything, there was rough knocking from outside the bedroom.Kade's head snapped to the doors. He deeply scowled. Who could be banging at his estate this late in the night?"Wait here," Kade seethed, pulling back.Kade yanked his sword from the ground. Someone wanted to get a rough beating. He stormed out of the bedroom, towards the living room, and to the doorway. He flung it open and Sebastian nearly fell forward."Commander!" Sebastian cried out like he had lost his firstborn. There was anguish and panic in his voice because he knew how much this event mattered to the Commander."Commander, the Eighth Princess, she has been kidnapped!" Sebastian exclaimed, his tone filled with a sense of urgency.Kade felt as if cold water was poured onto him. His blood chilled. What did this foolish advisor of his just say? He had just finished torturing those damn intruders!"T-this was left in her room after her nanny went in to check up on the Eighth Princess in the night, Commander," Sebastian said, shoving the messily scribbled note towards his superior.Kade snatched the paper from Sebastian's trembling hands. He quickly read through the message, feeling as if something was amiss. This handwriting. It was too neat for the Ritan language. It was almost as if the person wasn't a native of Ritan and was practicing the scripture from a book."What's going on?" Lina asked, appearing behind Kade.Lina placed her hand behind his bicep and peered over it. She curiously stared down at the paper, only hearing the slightest context. Then, the blood drained from her face. No."If you want your Princess, give me back my Princess. If not, one of them dies. Take a guess who," Lina read out loud, her entire body shivering as the awful reality of this situation dawned on her.Kade cursed, shoving the note into his pocket. His grip tightened onto his sword and he cast Sebastian a glance."Boil the water. Wake them up," Kade seethed. He had left two alive purposely. Barely, but alive. They were brothers by blood."Summon my guards, bring as many female warriors as you can find," Kade finalized."Right away, Commander," Sebastian said, scrambling off to fulfill the duties. He was accompanied by two of the Commander's most loyal soldiers.Lina recognized the brief flash of the smallest emblem on the soldiers' clothing. They were different from the ones she had seen around the Emperor's palace. Then, she noticed the people guarding Kade's estate also had the same emblem. She put the pieces of information together and decided that these must've been the soldiers he personally trained, seeing as he was a Commander.Kade slammed the doors shut. Lina jumped at the thundering sound."Stay put in my estate," Kade sternly said to his wife.Kade turned to grab her arms, to emphasize the seriousness of this situation. He narrowed his eyes. She seemed aghast at the news. "I'll send more of my people here. The women guards will be in our bedroom, watching you sleep. The men will wait in the living room. You will be the most protected woman in all of Ritan," Kade stated, his thumb pressing into her skin.Lina winced at the pain, but he didn't even notice it. There was a wild look in his eyes, but he wore a calm expression. A man like him kept his cool during the wildest storms. She was beginning to realize she didn't know this man."And sleep with this under the pillow," Kade commanded, releasing her.Kade pulled out a small dagger that had been tucked in his robes. He handed it to her and she stared at it, dumbstruck."I want a sword," Lina said. She wasn't that good with close-combat daggers, as she was usually lighter than her opponents.Kade hesitated. The sword on his waist had accompanied him for the entirety of his hell on the battlefield. He couldn't just take a sword from his guards."Give me one tomorrow," Lina shakily told him, accepting the dagger. She dropped her gaze to the floor when his eyes became too intense to look at.Lina could feel her heart beating wildly in her ribcage. It was so intense that she was sure there'd be a bruise on her chest. She tried to control her nerves around him, but it was hard. He looked at her with sincerity. She couldn't stop the guilt that clawed at her."Dove," Kade slowly said.Kade knew something was amiss. She was averting her eyes to avoid his stare. She was hiding something. From him. His gaze darkened."Lina," Kade stated.Lina's head shot up."The Eighth Princess is only eight years old. Before my wife, she was the most important thing in my life," Kade stated.Lina's chest ached at his words. Her lips wobbled. The raw guilt was weighing heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't face him with the truth."She has been kidnapped by intruders who infiltrated the castle with ill-intent. She's only a child," Kade's voice hardened towards the end. "She's very similar to you, as well. The Eighth Princess is the Kingdom's favorite."Kade let Lina digest his words. "Should the kidnappers be enemies of Ritan, the Eighth Princess could be defiled, tortured, beaten, and murdered." Lina's legs gave out. Kade let her sink to the ground. She resembled a fallen flower, her dress gathering on the floor. He squatted, his wrists resting on his knees."She likes you very much," Kade noted. "So I say this for your own sake. If you know something, say it. If not, keep yourself safe. They've targeted one of my weaknesses."Kade reached a lone finger out. He stroked her face, carefully. She flinched at his touch. He knew. She knew. They both knew that she knew something."But they've miscalculated, you're my biggest weakness now, dove of mine," Kade pointed out. Lina was overwhelmed with emotions. She was ashamed of the realization. She was hurt, even, by what they had done. She still remembered praising her dear friend for his accomplishments, admiring the ink on his stained hands."Atlan" Lina trailed off, finally unable to handle the sin weighing her down. The guilt was eating her alive."Atlan?" Kade sharply repeated. That was a name that was once popular amongst young boys in Ritan. The name left a foul taste in Kade's mouth. He knew what this name represented."H-he was my mentor," Lina stammered. "He protected me in Teran, in the palace. He""I know who he is," Kade said. He had not forgotten the name or how the man had manipulated Lina into surrending her virtue. Kade knew exactly who Atlan was.Lina blinked. Right. She had told him that already. "Was he your lover?" Kade asked, his voice light, although inside his blood was boiling. He needed to know the complete truth. Was there any hint that she might be protecting Atlan? She had denied being his lover before but he needed to be sure. The thought of Atlan touching his wife was repulsive and made him feel outraged."No!" Lina shouted, grabbing the collar of his robes out of urgency.Lina was frightened by his reaction. His tone was leveled, so she thought he wasn't furious. He was. Her body screamed danger. His eyes were as ferocious as waiting beasts. Lina's mouth went dry. He said the right things and asked the right questions."And what of Atlan?" Kade asked.Lina could not say it. She felt a force holding her back, pressing her lips together, and squeezing the air from her lungs."My dear wife," Kade began, bringing her back to her feet. She was shaky and held onto him.Kade embraced her tenderly. He stroked the back of her hair while his arm slithered around her waist. She was breathing hard and holding onto his robes."I'll always be by your side," Kade promised. "Next to you, on top of you, behind you... The choice is yours to make."Lina's face went red. Even at a time like this, he managed to lighten the mood with innuendo despite the inferno that was bubbling inside his body. She wasn't sure if it was an attempt to calm the tension or ease her fears. In fact, it was his way of staking his claim on her."Answer my question, Lina," Kade urged.Kade continued to caress her hair. He realized why cats played with yarn. There was something so addictive about the soft strands."What of him?" Kade pressed.Lina knew he was still heated. He had called her name, instead of the nickname. Was this how he coerced his prisoners? Or was this how he coerced women?"My Lord Husband," Lina began.Kade's hand froze. She knew he was manipulating her. He had underestimated his wife's intellect."My Lady Wife," Kade shot back, his eyes narrowed like a falcon watching its prey.Hurt flashed on her face, but she said nothing else. Lina was lost in thought. She had no choice, but to tell the truth. The Eighth Princess was a precious and precocious child who could do no wrong. Yet, the little girl was kidnapped. And Lina knew the perpetrator."Will it start a war?" Lina whispered."Of course not," Kade said. "You were the tribute that stopped the war, remember? Because of you, many soldiers could return home to their families. Towns won't be ransacked. Everything will return to normalcy."Lina bit her bottom lip."Dove of mine," Kade corrected himself. "Tell me the truth. We are husband and wife, are we not?"Lina was obligated. She knew she was. Thus, she opened her mouth."I recognize the handwriting..." Lina began, her voice dying in her throat. "I-I was there when he was practicing it.""Are you certain?""Yes," Lina whispered. "It was Atlan who wrote the letter."
