Chapter 10
But before I could lash out, I realized something. He wasn’t just the Barbarian I’d been so angry with. He was more than that. The scars on his body, the way he had carried me so gently last night despite everything, and the warmth in his voice—even when he teased me—conflicted with the image I had built up in my mind.
Still, I wasn’t ready to let my guard down completely. Not yet.
I slid out of bed, careful not to wake him further, and wrapped the blanket around myself as I moved to the other side of the room. I needed to clear my head, to figure out what all of this meant. But one thing was for sure—I wasn’t going to be fooled by his rugged looks or his surprisingly gentle side.
I noticed a pile of clothes on a chair that the maids must have placed there for me. Grabbing them, I headed towards the bathroom, locking the door behind me with a sigh of relief. I needed a moment to collect myself, to shake off the confusion that being near Kaden always seemed to bring.
The warm water and scented oils in the bath helped ease some of the tension, and I let myself soak for a long time, hoping that when I was finished, Kaden would be out of bed and off doing his kingly duties. I needed time alone, away from his intense gaze and the strange, unfamiliar feelings that churned inside me whenever he was near.
When I finally climbed out of the bath, I dressed in the beautiful velvety leather-like dress that had a brown leather waist trainer belt. I was relieved to find that it wasn’t another corset dress. The fabric felt soft against my skin, and it was a welcome change from the restrictive clothes I’d been forced into the day before. After getting dressed, I glanced at myself in the mirror, noticing what a mess my hair was, and quickly braided it into a side braid.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the bathroom door, hoping to find the room empty. But to my shock, Kaden was still in bed. He was sitting up, one arm casually behind his head, a newspaper in the other. The casual pose only made the ripples of his muscles stand out even more, and I felt my pulse quicken against my will.
He noticed me standing there, frozen in place, and slowly put down the newspaper. With a strange expression in his eyes, he got out of bed, stalking closer to me. I backed up instinctively with each step he took until there was nowhere left to go. My back was pressed up against the wall as he closed the remaining space between us, his arms on either side of my head, trapping me.
His lips brushed against my ear, sending shivers down my spine and igniting a sensation between my thighs that I didn’t recognize but couldn’t ignore. It was an unfamiliar feeling; one I had never experienced before.
He inhaled deeply, a strange growl rumbling deep in his throat, before whispering, " You are standing in my way. Unless, of course, you want to join me in the bathing chamber?" His words sent a jolt of shock through me, and I gasped.
" You're a sick pervert," I snapped, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and something else I couldn’t quite name.
" Says the one standing in front of the bathing chambers," he replied casually, giving me that infuriating smirk. I placed my hands on his chest, intending to push him away, but he stood firm, his laughter low and amused.
" Why are you fighting me, little one? I’m not going to hurt you, but I will hurt for you." His eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I wanted to believe him.
" Then why are you trapping me in?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
" Because your sweet, delicate scent overpowers my ability to think straight, and I want nothing more than to taste those soft, sweet lips of yours,” he murmured, leaning in closer to my lips but stopping just short of kissing me. “ But I won’t force you. I want you to surrender to me of your own free will.”
I huffed out a breath of air, trying to steady my racing heart. “ That will never happen.”
“ We’ll see,” he smirked, stepping back and allowing ,e room to pass. The urge to slap him across his smug face was almost overwhelming, but I held back, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he was affecting me. He vanished into the bathroom, closing the door behind him, and I dashed for the exit, desperate to get away.
But when I reached the door, I found it locked. My heart sank, realizing I was once again at his mercy, forced to wait until he decided I could leave. I leaned against the door, frustration and anger boiling inside me, knowing that every moment I spent in this castle seemed to pull me deeper into his world—a world I wasn’t sure I could escape from, even if I wanted to.
When Kaden finally emerged from the bathroom after what felt like an eternity, he was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. The sight of him made my breath hitch, my earlier frustration momentarily forgotten as I took in every inch of his well-defined muscles, still glistening from the bath. I had every intention of scolding him for locking me in, but the words died in my throat as I found myself utterly captivated.
He walked casually over to a room divider in the far corner, the confidence in his stride only accentuating his presence. I swallowed hard, trying to clear the sudden lump in my throat, but when I saw his towel drop to the floor behind the divider, my face flushed hot, and I quickly averted my gaze, my heart racing.
" Do you have any plans for the day?" His voice carried easily from behind the divider, casual and unhurried.
I struggled to find my voice. " Merilla mentioned the castle library might have information about my true parents… where I came from."
" Ah," Kaden replied, his tone thoughtful.
" I’ll have Deon, my trusted adviser and best friend, help you with that. He’s practically a fixture in the library, always nose-deep in some ancient tome. But before you get lost in all that research, you need to eat something. I also want to introduce you to a few men."
My stomach growled at the mention of food, reminding me how long it had been since I’d last eaten. I agreed to breakfast, curiosity about the men he mentioned temporarily taking a back seat to my hunger.
When Kaden stepped out from behind the divider, I couldn’t help but stare. He looked every bit the king now, dressed in all black royal attire tailored to perfection. A black cape with gold trimming and ornate golden clasps draped from his broad shoulders, adding an air of undeniable authority. This was not the casually dressed man I had seen the previous day; this was the Elemental King in all his imposing glory.
" Where are you going?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
" I have an important meeting in the grand hall today," he said firmly, offering no further explanation. His tone suggested that I wouldn’t get more details even if I pressed.
He walked over to the door and unlocked it, gesturing for me to exit the room ahead of him. " Come, breakfast must be ready by now."
As we descended the stairs, the smell of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air, making my stomach growl even louder. I was suddenly very aware of just how hungry I was.
" Where is Merilla?" I asked, realizing I hadn’t seen or heard from her since the previous day.
" I’m not sure. She and Luka are likely still off wandering the magical forests of the Earth Kingdom. But you can always reach out to her using the mind link you two share."
I blinked, surprised. " I can do that? I thought only she could talk to me in my mind."
Kaden glanced at me with a small smile. " It works both ways. The stronger your bond becomes, the more time you spend together, the further away you’ll be able to communicate with her."
I nodded, filing that information away for later. The idea of being able to communicate with Merilla at will was both comforting and a little daunting.
Kaden led me into the dining hall, where a huge table was laid out, covered with all types of food. The sheer variety was overwhelming.