The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness
Chapter 47

- KATALEYA -

Great power. Power that intensifies with every word that leaves his lips. For a moment, time seems to still, and all I see is the power and the aura that swirls around him... a deep reddish orange, but... it's different from those eyes. His eyes, a stunning liquid gold at that moment, the light highlighting every angle of his face. This power... I don't know what it is or where he's bringing it from, but every word he speaks -every word, every meaning of each word rings in my mind.

"By the fiery embrace of the sun, the powerful shroud of the moon, the celestial light of the stars and the heart of the earth; I, Enrique Ignacio Escarra, the last of my bloodline, summon forth the power bestowed upon me as the rightful heir of the sacred title. Let these bindings be shattered, the shackles sundered, and the unleashed energies come forth!" Before my eyes, I watch as that aura spreads from him.

Then there is silence.

Silence, that makes me wonder if I've lost my sense of hearing, a blanketing quiet that lingers as I stare at our now empty surroundings.

"What... what was that?" I whisper, as he slips his arm under me and lifts my head onto his thigh before sliding my top up to take a look at my wound.

"Nothing." His reply is short, refusing to spare me even one glance. Is he avoiding looking me in the eye?

"That was more than nothing. You managed to destroy the crawlers. Not just vanquish them... you obliterated them! I saw it," I whisper, placing my hand on my waist. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Narugi.com. Visit Narugi.com to read the complete chapters for free. He looks up at me, his sharp eyes burning into mine for a few seconds." The Rossis are not the only ones who hold power," he mutters. "Don't tell me you got hurt simply, so I don't punish you for hiding away." He's changing the topic, he doesn't want to talk about it.

I can't help but smile at his words, but with those words, the reminder of our situation. "I think a punishment would have been better... I feel exhausted," I admit. I see a flicker of something in his eyes, but I can't do this, no matter how right it feels it isn't. Not when he has a betrothed.

"Why... why were you weaker than the last time?" he asks me.

Was it that kiss? My stomach churns with unease, but I can feel it too. I couldn't even keep that barrier up. I sit up, and he helps me, and I'm far too aware of his hand touching my skin.

I move back, the crawlers' leering faces returning to me. My heart skips a beat as I suddenly feel cold. I feel... extremely shaken, because in those moments when the crawlers had encircled us, what they were saying. I understood it.

Or at least some of it.

Hmt nswt Ashetaan daru Azarakh.

Hmt nswt Ashetaan.

Queen Asheton.

The prophecy...

Is it possible that I am the second one? The Asheton Queen?

It's not something that hasn't been pondered on, Leo and Raihana think it's possible. I heard that conversation they were having last year when yet another part of my power awakened.

But if it is... it's too soon...

Royce, now me? At this rate... when the Volkov Queen comes into power - what if it's in just a mere few years? We aren't ready.

The very thought terrifies me.

But this is something I have to tell my family. Although I am not certain what it means by coming into power... because Royce has the symbol of the ruler, I have nothing of the sort. Maybe there's time, a lot of time! A fear that I never considered before has awakened in me and I realise I need to tell them everything. Dad, Mom, Leo, everyone.

The night has suddenly become so much heavier and my stomach flips with unease.

Enrique is silent, almost distracted, although he's looking at me and I wonder about those words he spoke. We both have our own troubles... our own problems... maybe if we shared with one another it-

"Alpha!" Carlos' voice comes and Enrique stands up. I look over at the group of people who walk over slowly. Almost as if uncertain if they should.

They probably felt that power....

I recognise a few faces. There's Alondra, Carlos, Jose, Marie.

"Doctor, check her. She's wounded," Enrique says coldly, and a doctor rushes to check my wound.

"Lie down, please," the woman orders. I obey hesitantly, feeling self-conscious. As if sensing my distress, Enrique smoothly steps in front of me, just as the doctor lifts my top.

My heart skips a beat. Even if it was done subtly, I know he did that for me and I appreciate the barrier between me and the group of people who want to know what's happening.

"We need to do something about these random attacks," Jose says quietly.

"Get the place lit up with extremely powerful lights. It might not be as successful, but if the light is what they fear, then let's bathe the entire place in light," Enrique says.

"Get on that immediately. So far, the pack house seems to be the target... or should I say, powerful auras in the packhouse. Which would be mine and señorita Rossi's. So we will move out of the packhouse until this issue is sorted. We can't endanger others," he continues.

"What? But Enrique, where will you go? What if you're attacked?" Jose questions.

"That's not up for debate. I'll have the place sorted with light, too."

"I will go back to my hotel," I say as the doctor finishes applying a dressing and I push my top down sitting up.

"If that thing is after you, I don't think you should be alone," Marie speaks up, a frown on her face, and what I did returns to me, making my stomach sink.

I stand up and look at her.

Oh, I'm so sorry...

I have to talk to her.

"I'm an Alpha! What if they come for me?" Luis says, his eyes flashing.

"Don't give yourself so much importance," Enrique remarks icily.

"What exactly is going on in your pack, Alpha Enrique? I am concerned."

"You can leave if you want."

Luis looks offended. "I-I didn't mean that..." But he falls silent clearly realising now was not the time.

"We'll deal with this. Everyone can get back to what they were doing," Enrique says.

Taking a deep breath, I brave the question. "May we talk?"