Chapter 9

What did all this mean? How could I be mated to the king of this place? The thought sent another wave of panic through me. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t ask for this. The reality of the situation felt too big, too sudden, like I was being swept up in a current too strong to fight.

I closed my eyes, biting my lower lip to fight the tears from coming out. My mind raced, trying to piece together what Merilla had told me, what Kaden had said. Mated. The word felt foreign, and yet, it was now tied to me, a bond that seemed unbreakable, yet terrifying in its intensity.

I needed time. I needed to be away from this castle, from Kaden, from the pressure of what I was supposed to be. The air in the room felt stifling, despite the open windows. I felt like I was drowning in expectations, in the unknown.

With a shaky breath, I stood up, my mind made up. I needed to find somewhere quiet, somewhere I could be alone, away from everything, to think about what I would do next.
I pushed away from the wall, feeling the weight of everything that had just happened settling heavily on my shoulders. My footsteps were softer now as I walked through the quiet corridors of the castle, trying to find an escape, a place where I could be alone with my thoughts.

The castle seemed endless, with hallway after hallway stretching out before me. I barely noticed the intricate tapestries or the marble statues that lined my path, my mind too occupied with the chaos swirling inside me. I needed space, somewhere far from all of this, where I could think, where I could breathe.

As I rounded a corner, I found myself in a dimly lit corridor that led to a small door at the end. Without thinking, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. It led to a narrow spiral staircase, winding upward. The air was cooler here, and the stone walls felt ancient, almost comforting in their solidity.

I began to climb, one step after another, the stone steps cold under my feet. The climb was steep, but I welcomed the exertion, hoping it would distract me from the turmoil in my mind. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I reached the top.

The staircase opened into a small, circular room. It was simple, with stone walls and a single window that overlooked the sprawling landscape beyond the castle. The view was breathtaking, the rolling hills and forests bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. But even the beauty of the scene couldn’t calm the storm inside me.

I walked to the window and leaned against the stone ledge, staring out at the horizon. The castle felt far away now, almost like a dream, but the weight of what had happened remained.
Mated. The word echoed in my mind, and I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of frustration. How could this be real? How could I be tied to someone I barely knew? And what did it even mean for me, for my future?

My thoughts spiraled, and I felt a wave of anger rising within me. This wasn’t fair. I had been thrust into a world I didn’t understand, with rules I didn’t know, and expectations I couldn’t meet. And now, on top of everything else, I was supposed to accept that I was mated to the king?

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away, frustrated with myself for feeling so helpless. But the tears kept coming, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. They flowed freely, washing over me like a flood, until I was sobbing uncontrollably.

I cried for everything—my lost life, the farm I’d left behind, the family I never knew, and the overwhelming sense of being out of place, of being trapped in a situation I didn’t want. I cried until there were no tears left, my body exhausted from the effort.

When the tears finally stopped, I felt empty, hollowed out. I slid down the wall and sat on the cold stone floor, wrapping my arms around my knees. The sun had dipped below the horizon now, and the room was bathed in the soft glow of the setting.

As the darkness settled in, I felt a strange sense of calm. The storm inside me had passed, leaving behind a quiet resolve. I didn’t have all the answers, and I still felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened, but I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t going to let anyone decide my fate for me.

I would find a way to take control of my life, to understand this strange new world, and to figure out what it meant to be mated to the king. But for now, I just needed to be alone, to gather my strength, and to prepare for whatever came next.

I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes, letting the silence of the room surround me. The cold stone against my back was a stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling inside me, but as I tried to focus on the stillness, everything started to fade away. My thoughts, my fears—they all blurred together as sleep began to take over.

Somewhere in the night, I felt myself being moved. The sensation was so gentle that, for a moment, I wasn’t sure if it was real or just part of a dream. My eyelids felt heavy as I tried to open them, but my vision was unfocused, just a haze of shadows and light. A tall figure appeared in the blur, but it was too indistinct to recognize. Despite the confusion, there was a warmth to the presence that drew me in.

In my sleepy haze, I convinced myself it was just a dream. That’s all it could be. A dream where nothing could hurt me, where I could let go of all the tension, even just for a little while. I relaxed into the warmth, feeling strong arms holding me securely. Instead of pulling away, I wrapped my arms around the figure’s neck, seeking comfort in the closeness. My head rested against a broad chest, and I breathed in deeply, catching a scent that was earthy and fresh, like the forest after rain, and also a hint of something else I didn’t recognize

He smelled of safety, of something wild yet familiar. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my cheek was calming, and I let myself sink deeper into the embrace, feeling the last of my resistance slip away. In this dream, I didn’t need to fight or question; I could just be. The warmth wrapped around me, lulling me into a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in so long.

For what felt like the first time in ages, I let myself embrace the comfort. The warmth of his body, the secure hold of his arms—I accepted it all, telling myself it was just a dream, and in dreams, nothing could hurt me. I wasn’t bound by the same fears or doubts; I could let myself feel safe, even if only for a moment.

As sleep pulled me deeper, I held onto that feeling, letting it wash over me. Here, in this dream, I didn’t need to think about bonds or fates or anything else. Here, I could simply be held, warm and safe, and forget about everything else.

And with that thought, I let the darkness take me again, embracing the warmth as I drifted further into the dream.


*****


The next morning, I woke up in a warm, soft bed, my heart pounding as I sat up straight, startled. How did I get back to the room? The last thing I remembered; I was in the tower. My mind replayed the fragments of my dream from last night—a tall figure, strong arms holding me firmly, and the warmth that seemed too real to be just a dream.

As I glanced around, my eyes fell on the Barbarian, lying right next to me in bed, sound asleep. My breath caught in my throat. He was shirtless, his incredibly muscular chest laid bare before me, with perfectly sculpted pecs down to his abs. His skin was marred with battle scars, each one telling a story of its own. Without even realizing it, I found myself reaching out to touch one of them, a deep scar just above his heart that looked like he had been stabbed. For a moment, my anger toward him vanished, replaced by an inexplicable need to comfort him, but I quickly pushed the feeling away.

Just as my fingertips hovered over his skin, his voice cut through the silence. " Do you like what you see, little one?" His tone was teasing, but his voice was still husky from sleep.

I jumped, pulling my hand back as if I'd been burned.

" I don't know what you're talking about," I replied sharply, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks—I was in bed with him, alone. The anger from when he had kissed me resurfaced, bubbling up inside me like a hot flame.