"Kaz! Thank goodness you are alright!" Ezekiel sounded excited as he entered Kazan's bedchamber. He's in a good mood now that his sovereign is alive and seems to be in good health.
"Yes, thanks to you, my hero." Kazan faked a smile. Even hours after learning about the troublesome situation he's currently in. The thought of being claimed by a stray—or rather, that girl, whom Grandmaster Dorian concluded to be of royal lineage—is weighing heavily on his mind. And because of it, he barely had any sleep.
"I would have been here last night when I heard the good news, but my grandfather forbade me from doing so, which is why I chose to come see you now at daybreak."
"Well, as you can see, I'm doing alright now. And again, thank you."
"You're my brother and sovereign. It is my duty and pleasure to keep you safe in any way I can." Ezekiel still felt somewhat guilty about the tragedy that befell Kazan. But luckily, the almighty God of the universe answered his prayer and saved his sovereign's life. "So, I guess grandfather told you that nonsense about being claimed by that stray. And I know he's always right about things, being an elder and all. But not this. There is just no way something like that is possible."
"You are right." Kazan lied. He hates doing this, especially to someone he can trust with his life. His brother." Elder Dorian told me he had mistaken my symptoms as a sign that I was being claimed by the stray. But that wasn't the case."
"I knew it." Ezekiel cheered. Thank goodness. He can't even begin to imagine what would happen if that were the case. Let's just say it would be a nightmare. "Now, can we go execute that stray?"
"No!" Kazan replied way harsher than intended.
"No? Why not?" Ezekiel looked confused. He thought Kazan would be the first person to want her dead, with his bad temper and all. In fact, he's surprised that Kazan didn't execute her last night when he regained consciousness.
"Do I need to explain myself to you, Ziki?" Kazan asked sternly.
"Of course, not sovereign." OK, he's acting weird. Is this because he's suffering from some side effects from his injury? Yes, that must be it. He hopes that will pass soon.
"I said the stray will not be executed, and that's final. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sovereign."
"Now, if you excuse me, I need to go prepare myself for the scheduled morning spar with Grandmaster Dorian." Kazan dismissed Ezekiel.
"Alright, see you later then. And don't push yourself too hard." Ezekiel lowered his head and left.
Immediately after Ezekiel left, Kazan made his way out of his bedchamber. However, he did not go to martial arts lessons, as he said he would, but to the dungeon. He knows that this is a bad idea, not to mention that Elder Dorian forbids him from seeing her. But for some reason, he just couldn't help himself.
"I see you have survived my attack, and now you are here to kill me." Leah, who was lying in a relaxed position on the floor of her cell, said as she sensed and smelled Kazan approaching. Honestly, she was a bit startled to see him in such good health—very surprised that he actually managed to survive her spirit attack. "Well, just get it over with quickly, please."
"Are you really a surviving royalty from the White Clover Pack true lineage?" Kazan asked, but she didn't show any sign of knowing anything about what was asked. He deduced that she was either good at controlling her emotions and body language or she was really clueless. However, his claim mark is evidence that the latter is not the case.
"Are you toying with me before you kill me? Because that's low even for an arrogant prick like you."
"Just answer the damn question!" Kazan snarled.
"You know, that nasty attitude won't get you anywhere in life, pup." Leah taunted, hoping this hotheaded sovereign would make the mistake of opening the cell to punish her so she could beat his ass instead and get out of there. She might still be greatly weakened by the bane salt in her system, but she's confident she can kick this little pup's ass with ease.
"Who are you calling a pup?"
"I know being a big, bad sovereign for such a prominent pack makes you feel like a grownup. But you barely have any hair on your undeveloped, shriveled balls, little pup."
"Answer the question, damn it!" Kazan wanted so badly to smack this foul-mouthed b*tch to death. However, he held himself back after figuring out that she was just provoking him to attack her so she could try to escape. Well played. But it's not going to happen.
"Does it matter anyway?" Leah snorted. He was avoiding getting close to her cell. It seems his near-death experience yesterday has made him a little smarter. "You are going to kill me."
"No. I'm not, but you already knew that."
"Is it because that old dog told you that nonsense about me claiming you?" She snorted. That's absurd.
"You did this so that I wouldn't kill you, didn't you?" Kazan clenched his fist. To be linked to such a crafty, annoying woman is a pain.
"Oh, you poor puppy. Do you really think I've deliberately linked myself to a snot-nosed brat like you for eternity? I don't hate myself that much."
"Stop calling me that! And besides, you aren't that far from my age. Judging by your aura, you are just a girl in her late teens acting like she's a grown woman."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "Well, if you say so."
"Are you saying I'm wrong?"
"You know, you are one annoying little pup."
"Right back at you. Now, are you going to quit stalling and tell me the truth?"
"And what if I am a royal from the White Clover pack?" Leah asked sternly.
"So it's true then." Kazan knew the answer to that, but he just wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth.
"If I say yes, will you let me out of here?"
"Absolutely not." Kazan had gone through a lot of trouble to get this stray. And now that he has her locked away, he won't let her get away. In fact, if she wasn't bound to him due to her claim on him, he would have executed her last night. But that doesn't mean he won't be able to in the future. "You will remain here until I find a way to release your claim on me."
"Well, if that's the case, can I get some food?" She said. It seems the kid really believes she claimed him. Hmm. Could she use that to her advantage to get out of this place sooner rather than later? Maybe. "I'm starving. And if you could get a bathtub installed here, that would be nice too. Oh, and some clean clothes."
"Sorry, but this is not a hotel."
"Is this the way you treat the woman who has claimed you?" Leah got up from the floor and walked towards the cell, her hands holding the bars and her head placed between them. "You don't do well with women, do you?"
Kazan ignored her taunts. "How are you even still alive? Didn't all the true royals of the White Clover Pack die many centuries ago?"
"Tell you what, if you get me all that I asked for, I will give you the answers to whatever you ask."
"Are you trying to play me?" He asked suspiciously.
"Of course not." Leah chuckled mischievously. "I wouldn't dare do so to a mighty sovereign pup."
"That's it!" Kazan snapped. And in an instant, he seized Leah's neck, but when they made contact, something very unexpected and strange happened to them both. A thrilling sensation jolts their whole being, triggering strong urges within them for each other.
"What did you do to me just now?" The astounded Kazan quickly pulled away from Leah, who looked just as shocked as he was, but only for a short while.
However, he didn't wait for an answer from her. He was so terrified by what happened—afraid that he might lose himself to her, to this sudden desire. So he left in a hurry, thinking and hoping that maybe if he was far away, whatever this awkwardly pleasant yet unpleasant feeling was would just disappear. But unfortunately for him, this was just the beginning.