A Traveler's Curse

Chapter 42- Kissed by the King

In the following days, I retreat to the solitude of my chamber, seeking solace away from the world. After my heated argument with Caspian, I have no desire to engage with anyone. A knock on my door interrupts my thoughts, and without thinking, I shout for the visitor to leave. To my surprise, the door opens anyway, and my protest dies in my throat when I see Caspian standing there.

"Your Grace," I mutter, attempting to maintain a facade of politeness and conceal my inner turmoil.

"Enough with the pretense, Kyla. I'm here to speak to you as a friend. As a man who loves you and knows he has made mistakes," Caspian declares, wasting no time with pleasantries.

"But you said I deserve better," I retort, crossing my arms and avoiding his gaze.

He approaches me slowly, placing a hand on my upper arm. Reluctantly, I meet his eyes. "You do deserve better. But being with you makes me want to become a better person. I have a dark past, and I can't change that. But I promise to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them in the future."

"Caspian, I don't know what to say, this is a terrible—" I begin, but he interrupts me.

"Don't say anything now. Just know that I want to be with you, if you'll have me," he says softly, his hand moving to caress the side of my face. And in a surprising twist, he leans down and kisses me, catching me off guard.

His kiss is unlike any I've experienced before. It is not gentle and cautious like Rowan's, nor playful and eager like Sin's. No, Caspian's kiss is intense and passionate. His lips are firm and demanding against mine, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. Abruptly, he pulls away, leaving me longing for more. I have never been kissed like that by anyone.

"Just think about it," he whispers in my ear before walking away, leaving me standing there alone and breathless, my finger gently grazing my bottom lip.

Since Rowan, I haven't desired to kiss anyone, but now Caspian occupies my thoughts incessantly. His silver curls cascading down his shoulders, his mismatched eyes - one blue, one green - and the way he smiles when I say something amusing.

However, doubts cloud my mind. I still believe Nova should not have been executed, and I am unaware of the secrets hidden in Caspian's past. His reputation as The Blood King lingers, and I can't help but recall Arthur's claim that Caspian cold-bloodedly killed his own eleven-year-old son. I yearn to know the truth. What if the man I'm falling in love with is a monster?

Determined to find answers, I decide to dress for dinner for the first time in days. Dysis and Sila enter to assist me in getting ready.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Dysis says as she skillfully arranges my hair into an elegant updo, leaving a few curls loose.

"I was so worried we would lose you forever," Sila adds with a hint of sadness in her voice, finishing the tightening of my corset.

"If I were to die, you would be trapped here. I've been kidnapped and poisoned since I brought you here. Would you like to return to our time in case anything happens to me?" I turn to Sila and ask.

"Fuck no," she responds firmly. "Sin has been teaching me sword fighting, and I've met another weather shifter who will teach me battle magic using the weather. This is my home now, and nothing will happen to you."

"We don't know that, but if you want to stay, I won't argue," I tell her. "Caspian kissed me."

"What?" she asks in shock. "The king kissed you?"

"Yes," I admit, looking down. "And it was... amazing. I've never felt anything like it, not even with Rowan. It was like lightning coursing through my body."

"That sounds intense. I didn't think that kind of thing was real," she says.

"Me either," I tell her. "He wants to go on vacation with me, to take a break from all of this for a while, after everything I've been through lately."

"Where to? Are you going to go?" Dysis asks excitedly.

"To the future, the far future. And I don't know if I should. I want to, but I'm afraid that if I let myself fall for him, I'm going to get hurt. Either he's going to die or change his mind or..."

"Stop thinking about all of that!" Sila interrupts me. "Do you like him?"

I nod. "A lot more than I would like to admit to myself."

"Then that's all that matters. See where it goes. Maybe it will last a week, maybe it will last a lifetime. Just enjoy it," she says.

"You're right. I think I'm going to go," I tell her. We finish getting ready and head to the main dining hall for dinner. Caspian sits at the very end, at the head of the table, and I see that the seat on his right side is empty. Without hesitation, I quickly take it. Sila sits down next to me, and Sin and Celestia sit across from us.

"Your Grace, we never got to go on our ride after the last dinner. Would you like to join me on one tonight?" I whisper to him, trying to be discreet.

"I can't tonight," he says, and I can feel disappointment wash over me. I think he senses it because he adds, "Tomorrow morning."

I nod in agreement and nibble on the fruit, wondering what Caspian has planned for tonight. Is he going to be with another woman? I shouldn't care; we aren't together. But he also shouldn't have kissed me if he's still involved with other people, and I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

During dinner, I catch Caspian stealing glances at me, his lips curled into subtle smiles. I can't help but wonder what thoughts are running through his mind. As the meal comes to an end, everyone starts to leave the hall, and I prepare to follow suit. However, Caspian reaches out and firmly grasps my hand, halting my movement.

"Come with me," he whispers into my ear, tugging me towards the back door of the dining room while still holding my hand. With swift movements, he retrieves two black cloaks and envelops us both in one, maintaining his grip on my hand. Without a word, we continue on our path.

"Where are we going?" I inquire, my curiosity reaching its peak.

"It's a surprise," he replies, his voice carrying a hint of a smile. Although I can't see his face, his tone betrays his amusement. We exit the castle and venture into the woods, walking for what seems like an eternity until I realize our destination lies in the nearby town.

As we finally arrive in the town, Caspian remains steadfast in holding my hand throughout the entire journey. We navigate the busy streets together, purposefully keeping our heads down to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. Caspian guides us towards an alleyway, and in my distraction, I accidentally collide with an elderly woman.

"I am so sorry—" I begin to apologize, but before I can finish, she seizes my arm and raises her gaze to meet mine. To my astonishment, her eyes are completely white.

"There is a man who has a message for you," the old lady croaks, her grip on me tightening as I attempt to break free. Caspian quickly realizes the situation and forcefully releases me from her clutches.

"You must be mistaken," I inform her politely, trying my best not to be unnerved.

"Are you Kyla?" she inquires, her words sending shivers down my spine.

"Yes," I respond, now feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.

"Rowan has a message for you," she declares, her words echoing throughout my entire being.