Emily's gaze drifted upward, meeting the piercing eyes of the man standing before her. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The man's response was a slow, enigmatic smile that seemed to dance on his lips.
"I'm Kai," he said, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down Emily's spine. She couldn't help but stare at him, transfixed by the dark red hue of his eyes. They were mesmerizing, yet at the same time, they seemed to hold a deep-seated danger.
Emily had never seen anyone with eyes like that before; she didn't even know such eyes existed. The aura surrounding Kai was dark and foreboding, making her instincts scream to run away. However, her waist ached with every movement, and Kai's rugged handsomeness seemed to hold her captive.
As she gazed into his eyes, Emily felt a strange sense of fascination. She couldn't look away, even though she knew she should. It wasn't until Kai's deep voice reached her ears that she realized she had been staring for far too long.
"Staring at someone for so long is rude," Kai said, his words dripping with amusement. Emily's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly averted her gaze.
Her eyes landed on the lifeless body of the black creature that had attacked her, both in her dream and in reality. The creature lay motionless on the ground, its dark fur a stark contrast to the surrounding foliage.
As Emily looked closer, she noticed something strange. There was no visible injury or wound on the creature's body. No cuts, no scratches, no signs of struggle. It was as if the creature had simply dropped dead.
Emily's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help but wonder what had killed the creature. She glanced up at Kai, her eyes searching for answers. But Kai's expression remained inscrutable, revealing nothing.
Kai squatted down beside Emily, his movements fluid and deliberate. Emily's instincts kicked in, and she moved away from him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she eyed him warily. However, the pain in her waist flared up, making her wince and grasp at her side.
Kai's eyes followed her movement, and his gaze settled on the spot where her hand was pressed against her waist. "It seems you're badly injured," he observed, his voice low and even. "We must leave this place now; it's not safe at all."
"We?" Emily repeated, her voice hesitant. "I don't even know you. Thank you for..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Kai's laughter erupted, a deep, rich sound that was both captivating and unnerving. Emily's eyes widened in surprise; she couldn't believe he was laughing at such a moment. What had she said that was so amusing?
"What's so funny?" she asked, her tone growing slightly annoyed.
Kai's laughter died down, and he regarded her with a piercing gaze. "I can't believe you think you have a choice right now," he said, his voice dripping with amusement.
"I do have a choice," Emily protested, but Kai cut her off.
"And your choice is to sit here and wait for other things like that to come?" he asked, his words sending a shiver down her spine. At the mention of "things like that," Emily's eyes darted around the woods, her fear spiking.
"Are there more of those... creatures?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kai's expression turned sardonic. "Could you be less dumb?" he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Without waiting for her response, Kai reached out and scooped her up from the ground, his movements swift and decisive. Emily was taken aback by his audacity, but she realized she had no choice but to go with him.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Emily's eyes met his, and she was struck by the chiseled perfection of his features. Up close, he was even more handsome, but there was an undeniable aura of danger surrounding him.
She couldn't help but wonder who this enigmatic stranger was and what his motives were. Just as she was starting to get lost in his eyes, Kai's words snapped her back to reality.
"It's rude to stare," he said, his voice low and husky.
Emily's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly averted her gaze. She cleared her throat and asked, "Where are we going?"
"This side of the woods is treacherous," Kai replied, his voice even. "It's rare for carriages to travel this route."
"Dangerous?" Emily repeated, her voice laced with concern. "How many of those things are in these woods?"
Kai's eyes glinted with amusement. "We could go back and count the creatures, if you really want to know how many are lurking in these woods," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Kai's words sent a shiver down Emily's spine, and she shook her head vigorously, her long hair swaying with the motion. "I don't trust you," she said, her voice firm, "but it's better to die by your hands than to be torn apart by a creature like that." The mere thought of being devoured by the beast sent goosebumps rippling across her skin, and she shuddered at the idea.
Kai's eyes gleamed with amusement as he gazed at her, his wicked grin spreading wide across his face. "You don't trust me," he repeated, his voice low and husky, "yet you're in my arms." His words were laced with a hint of teasing, and Emily felt a flutter in her chest as she met his gaze.
"As you said, do I have any choice?" Emily retorted, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside her. She raised her head, her eyes locking onto Kai's face, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Kai's smile grew wider, and he asked, his voice dripping with amusement, "How long would you stare at me now?" But instead of looking away, Emily surprised him with a smile. "Staring at the ground is not a choice," she said, her voice sweet and sarcastic, "whereas I'm in your arms."
Kai's grin widened as he teased, "Getting all flirty, huh?" Emily's eyes widened in protest, and she exclaimed, "Flirty? I'm just trying to be nice, and I was staring at your eyes. They're really mesmerizing."
Kai's smile softened slightly, and he said, "Well, you're the first one to say so. Other people have a different opinion."
Emily's curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "Other opinions?" She scoffed, "I wish I had red eyes just like yours; it would make me stand out pretty well. But I'm okay with mine; they already make me stand out enough."
Kai finally stopped at a tree and carefully placed Emily on the ground, helping her rest against the bark. "Would we see a carriage here?" Emily asked, her eyes hopeful. "Probably," Kai replied, looking around the woods. "It's not as rare as where we're coming from."
"Not as rare?" Emily repeated, her brow furrowed in concern. Kai's expression turned serious, and he advised, "I think you should say a prayer or two. Not everybody who rides in a carriage is nice enough to help." Emily's worry deepened, and she whispered to herself, "How'll I get to Westfield?" Kai caught her words and bent down to meet her gaze.
"It would take just half a day to get to Westfield by foot," he said, his eyes traveling to her waist, which she was clenching in pain. "Too bad that you're as good as paralyzed."
Emily gritted her teeth in anger and spoke, "I am not. It was just an unfortunate accident that's why I'm in this condition."
Kai sighed and dipped his hand into his left pocket. Emily's eyes widened in fear as she wondered what he might pull out. Would it be a gun, a knife, or something else? But instead of attacking her, Kai pulled out a small bottle and handed it to her. "Take this," he said.
Emily took the bottle, her fingers brushing against his. "What's this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's a good pain reliever medicine," Kai explained. "It's one of the best in all the lands."
Emily looked at the bottle in her hands and then at Kai, her eyes meeting his. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere.
Kai stood up, his expression unreadable. "I gave it to you because you're too useless to walk, and I'm tired of looking at your horrible face," he said, his words laced with sarcasm. "Where on earth did you get those bruises from?" Emily laughed, despite the sting of his words.
Emily decided to steer the conversation in a different direction, hoping to learn more about the enigmatic stranger beside her. "Where are you from?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Kai's response was brief, "Somewhere very far away from here." Emily's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that he wasn't willing to share more. Undeterred, she pressed on, "Did you run away from home?"
Kai sat down a little distance away from Emily, his expression inscrutable. "Something like that," he replied, his voice low and mysterious. Emily's heart went out to him, and she wondered what had driven him to leave his home.
"I've been away from my family for over a year," Emily shared, her voice tinged with sadness. "The last time I saw them, we had a huge fight." She sighed, her eyes gazing into the distance. "Now, all I can think about is getting back home. I'd go to my aunt's place first; she'd be overjoyed to see me, and we'd spend the day chatting and catching up."
Kai's interest was piqued, and he asked, "You seem to like your aunt a lot?" Emily's face lit up with a warm smile. "She's the best person in the world. She loves me unconditionally, and sometimes I wish she were my mother. She always supported my decisions, especially my decision to learn the art of swords."
Kai's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You wanted to learn how to fight?"
Emily nodded, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I've always been hated by the tale of the knight and the princess,"
Emily confessed, her voice laced with a hint of rebellion. "As a child, I couldn't understand why the princess had to be so fragile, so helpless, that she couldn't save herself and had to wait for her Mr. Knight to come and rescue her."
The idea of being dependent on someone else for salvation had never sat well with her. She had always yearned for independence, for the ability to take care of herself, to be strong and capable.
"My sister, on the other hand, was enamored with the idea of being a princess with her knight," Emily continued, a smile playing on her lips. "She would spend hours dreaming of fairy tales and happily-ever-afters, while I would question the logic behind it all."
The contrast between her and her sister's perspectives had often led to lively debates and discussions. But it was her grandmother who had borne the brunt of her frustration and rebellion.
"It was the source of many arguments between my grandmother and me," Emily reminisced, her eyes sparkling with memories. "She would try to instill in me the values of being a lady, while I would push back, determined to forge my own path."
The clash between her desire for independence and her grandmother's expectations had been intense, but it had also shaped Emily into the strong and determined lady she was today. She had refused to be bound by societal norms and expectations, and instead, had chosen to carve out her own destiny.
Her voice trailed off, and she chuckled, remembering the countless arguments she'd had with her grandmother. "You're different indeed," Kai said, his voice low and husky. Emily's smile faltered, and she looked up at him, her eyes meeting his.
"You're also very different," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your red eyes, and there's something about you that I can't quite place."
Kai's smiled, and he replied, "I don't know if that's a compliment."
Emily grinned and asked, "What about your family?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Kai glanced at her and said, "My father and I aren't close. The only thing he cares about is my mother, who passed away many years ago."
Emily's heart went out to him, and she felt a pang of sympathy. "I'm so..." But Kai cut her off, his voice firm. "Please don't say the words. I never got to meet her, and I don't know if I should be glad or not."
Emily was surprised how unmoved he was and he didn't care about his mother's death. He'd talked about his father like it meant nothing.
As Kai stood up to look for food, Emily applied the medicine to her waist. The cool ointment soothed her pain, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She watched him disappear into the woods, wondering how used he was to the wilderness.
As the minutes ticked by, Emily waited for Kai's return. But as the silence stretched out, she began to feel drowsy. Despite her best efforts, her eyelids drooped, and she drifted off to sleep, the sound of the woods lulling her into a peaceful slumber.
Before she knew it, she was transported to a world far removed from the woods. She found herself in the warm and welcoming surroundings of her home in Westfield, surrounded by the people she loved. Her family was gathered around the dinner table, laughing and chatting, their faces filled with joy.
Her father, mother, grandmother, sister, and even her aunt were all there, each one radiating happiness and warmth. The atmosphere was lively, with the sound of clinking glasses and the aroma of delicious food wafting through the air. Emily felt a deep sense of contentment wash over her as she joined in the conversation, feeling grateful for this moment of togetherness.
But her peaceful reverie was short-lived. The sound of carriage wheels echoed through the air, jolting Emily back to reality. She opened her eyes to find herself still in the woods, but this time, a magnificent royal carriage was approaching. Her heart skipped a beat as she stood up, waving her arms wildly to flag down the carriage.
The carriage came to a stop just inches from where she stood, and the driver jumped down to open the door. Emily's eyes widened as she took in the grandeur of the carriage and the rich attire of the occupant. A young man, handsome and regal, stepped out of the carriage, his eyes narrowing as he took in Emily's disheveled appearance.
"And who are you, and what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice firm but curious. Emily bowed her head in respect, "My name is Emily, your highness." The man's eyebrow arched, and he asked, "And why do you address me with that title, my lady?"
Emily stood up straight, meeting his gaze boldly. "Your carriage and attire give it all away, your highness." The man's lips curled into a smile, and he said, "What is a lady like yourself doing in such a place at this time?"
Emily knelt down, her head bowed in humility. "It's a dreadful story, your highness. I've been waiting here for a ride back to Westfield." The man's expression turned skeptical, and he asked, "And how would I know you aren't someone sent to harm me?"
Just as Emily was about to respond, a voice behind her spoke up, "I can guarantee you that we wouldn't lay a finger on you... your highness."
"Kai!" Emily's called out his name as she recognized Kai's voice, and she turned to see him standing behind her, his eyes locked on the royal man.
The royal man's eyes widened in surprise as he took in Kai's presence, and a wide grin spread across his face. "Kai," he repeated the name, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. The name rolled off his lips smoothly, and his eyebrow arched slightly as he took in Kai's appearance.