Chapter 73: A Mission
Emira followed Prince Kael slowly, her head bowed and her hands still tied the same way Prince Zen had bound them.
The rope rubbed against her skin and even though she wanted to ask Prince Kael to remove it, she dared not. Even now, she could barely believe that the plan she’d concocted on the spur of the moment had worked.
So, she kept moving without complaint. When they stepped out of the house, she stopped for a moment and turned her head back. Her eyes lingered on the house, for a moment and she had to force herself remain calm and tone down the flicker of happiness and the small spark of triumph that kept trying to rise.
Prince Kael was too sensitive and she somehow sensed that if he realized that she’d manipulated everything so that he would take her with him, then she might end up her bottom all sore again. She shivered and hurriedly stepped down the steps, feeling light.
Because she had won the first part of what Prince Zen wanted.
Lowering her head further, she thought back to the scene that had just played out, minutes before Prince Kael had come.
She had been kneeling on the bed then, her heart pounding as she finally asked Prince Zen, dreading about what he wanted her to do, "You want to use me. Either to make her jealous, or for something else... What do you want me to do?"
Prince Zen had smiled at her words, which had somehow made her feel even more uneasy. It made her realise that her first instinct when she had met him and been pinned under him, had been correct. The man was a hunter through and through. He’d already chosen her as the prey and let her fall into his trap step by step.
Now, all she needed to do was understand what his motive was in bringing her here. Did he want to use her to make his mate jealous? But what was the point in that?
She looked up when he complimented her, "Smart. Just like I expected. Hmm. There is something I want you to do, yes. But let’s make it interesting so that you don’t feel shortchanged... If you succeed, I will not just help you with combat training. I will give you one more thing that you want."
Emira had felt herself go still at that. His words hit her harder than she thought they would. One more thing she wanted. That meant he knew she had other things she wanted to accomplish.
In that moment, she completely suppressed the hurt and angst at being nothing but something to use and looked at him intently. She needed to remember her ultimate goal... Revenge. And in this challenge, winning would mean getting two steps closer to the goal. Carefully, pushing down her excitement, she asked, "What?"
His eyes had fixed on her as he gave the order. "I want you to follow Kael willingly. And not only that, you must convince him to let you follow him just like you follow me without question. He brought you here begrudgingly.. But now, he must let you follow her off his own accord."
The words had sunk into her like a stone in water making her want to resist immediately.
Prince Kael’s aura was too much for her, too sharp and too oppressive. Just standing near him made her feel as if she was being pushed into the ground. To go near him willingly, to make him accept her, felt like a task meant to crush her. Spending yesterday with him had made her feel as if she was walking on egg shells.
But when she looked back at Prince Zen, she understood. It didn’t matter what she wanted. It didn’t matter if she disliked Kael’s presence, or if her instincts screamed against it. As long as she followed Zen’s command, she would be one step closer to what she wanted most.
And that was enough for her to push her fear down and accept. So, she looked up at Prince Zen and promised," Okay. I will try my best to make that possible as soon as I see him next time."
She only hoped that she would not see him any time soon. Just as she was about to pray to the Moon Goddess to make that happen, she heard Prince Zen announce happily, "Good. You won’t have to wait long to prove yourself. Kael is probably already on his way here."
Emira’s eyes widened. What sort of bad luck was this? Hurriedly, she looked around and then with a frown asked ."Already? Umm... Do you... have a rope?"
Prince Zen raised his eyebrows at her sudden, odd request but she could not help but she could not waste time explaining. "A rope? Why do you want a rope?"
She looked straight at him and tried to explain, wondering if he would understand her thought process. " If he’s coming here, then it means he wants answers. He’ll want to know why you made that lady who just left, cry. Which means he cares about her too. If he believes you’re using me to hurt her, he’ll take me away from you the moment he sees me, after I give him an explanation.
The words tumbled out faster than she expected as she threw a careful glance towards the exit. How else was she supposed to explain, she had no idea.
And from the way Prince Zen tilted his head and his eyes gleamed with sudden interest, she knew she had probably revealed more than she should have.
Before she could say more, he moved. With a speed that made her eyes widen, he went and reappeared with a rope and bound her wrists together in a practiced knot.
Then, with one sharp tug, he pulled her to her feet and practically shoved her out of the door. She stumbled, catching herself only at the frame, and turned back in shock.
His smile deepened as he said, "There. You have it. All the best for your success. You’ll need it.. Go."
"Wait-"
"Tell Kael I’m asleep," Prince Zen interrupted her and then closed his bedroom door behind her before she could speak again.