BLOOD OF KHARIS

CHAPTER 6: LORD LEONIDAS

Ambrose is surprised when his master requests an ice-cold bath, but he brings it with immediate alacrity. Leonidas sits in his tub, recalling the event that had just transpired between him and that woman. He almost gave in. Her neck was right there, her beating pulse calling for him. All he needed to do was seep his fangs into her delicious body and the feeling would vanish. This heat, this restlessness, this insanity, he needs it to leave him at once.

"I wondered why you stayed up there for a while," Greta says, holding her friend's hand.

"Goodness Kharis, he could've killed you!" Gigi admonishes, her eyes watering.

"I know. I made a mistake, and I've learned my lesson," she stops eating, losing her appetite.

An awkward silence rests upon them.

"Well...how did it feel?" Gigi asks.

Furrowing her eyebrows Kharis replies, "What do you mean how did it feel?"

"You had a man breathing down your neck Kharis-"

"God Gigi! The woman was scared! How else is she supposed to feel?"

"Forget I said a word, let's get some rest. I hope you feel better Kharis."

Moving to their beds, they all settle down, but Kharis remains wide awake while everyone is sleeping peacefully. Will he come to finish the job when she's asleep? The woman can only hope that shan't be the case. Gigi's question caught her off guard but remained in her head.

How did she feel? Scared should be the obvious answer, but replaying the events, she remembered his face against her neck, and his hand on her waist... the hair all over her skin bristled, she felt...hot?

Shaking her head, she focuses on what is important, staying alive. Lord Leonidas should take pity on her and never come back, she'll do her best to stay out of his way as well. 

That is exactly what happens, except it was days, that turned into weeks, that turned into months.

That was the first and last day she saw him.

***

Leonidas is in his study with the four generals; Talon the Infantry General, Silas the Archery General, Louis the General of Artillery, and Cassiel the General of the Knights, otherwise known as the Knight Commander.

Although they don't all see eye to eye, they find a way always to reach common ground at the end of each meeting.

"Since your victory at the different regions of the Southern border, it seems the entire border has been silenced. Word of war or attacks have not reached my ears," General Louis says, earning a nod from Silas.

"This is why we believe troops should be withdrawn from those borders," Talon states in finality.

"And you do not think that the troops at the borders are the reason there has not been another attack?" Cassiel asks with a frown.

"Those troops have families they have not seen in months-"

"That is what happens when you are in the army, General Talon," Cassiel says wryly, glaring at the man.

"You wouldn't know what it feels like to be sent to your death, Cassiel. You're the Knight Commander," he retorts.

"So pulling them back and exposing the thousands of families living close to the border is a better option? It seems this humanity you so desperately try to show is in fact greed," Leonidas says, looking at Louis.

The wearh laughs out before he replies, "Greed, Lord Leonidas, how so? Regale me."

"How much is coming out of your pockets, or should I say the pockets given to you to feed your men? It seems the price of humans has increased these past few months,"