𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

EMPRESS-IN-WAITING ~9

♡♡

The day had faded into night, the skies dark, the lit candles wearing thin and along with it Audrey's patience.

            I pushed myself off the bed, pacing up and down the chamber floors as I fiddled with my fingers, my gaze drifting to the door every now and then as I awaited the king. I had practically run into the castle looking for Darius so I could relay Nostradamus' message but disappointment soaked into my skin when I found he had not returned, even now he was yet to come back from wherever he had gone. I had asked around when the hour turned late but no one would answer, they just shook their head and walked off. I did not bother asking Elder Azalia, she would be of no help anyway.

I wrapped my hands around myself, feeling anxiety seep into my skin and my heart weigh with worry. I felt like something was really wrong, my heart began to race with fear and my feet took me in circles.

Suddenly the door was pushed open and one of my personal maids walk in, her head bowed

"My lady"

"Speak" I urged hastily, angst filling me

"His highness has arrived and is on his way-"

I was making my way out of the door before she could even finish. I passed by the guards who looked at me strangely but immediately diverted their sights the moment they registered me in my night robes. I had decided to stay in Darius and my chambers for the rest of our time here. We had spent too much time away from each other and it was killing me inside but I knew it was for the best seeing as we were both busy but now I refused to let it go on. With hurried footsteps down the hallways the dull ache in my chest began to subside and I knew Darius was close, I could feel it. His spicy, masculine musk wafted up my nostrils, feeling my senses with sweet familiarity. My eyes caught sight of Darius coming towards me, his eyes were dull and casted low, his brows furrowed and his pink lips pinched in a thin line. He looked disturbed.

      "Darius!?" I call out, running up to him. The moment he hears my voice he raises his head and those gorgeous dark orbs take me in right before I jump into his arms. He catches me with ease, holding onto me like I would slip away the moment he let go. His grip tightened, his hands melting into my skin and his head falling to the crook of my neck. I wrap my arms greedily around his neck and sigh in relief as tingles erupt all over my body, making my skin buzz back to life and my anxiety dissipate into thin air, into nothingness.

He runs his nose along the length of my neck, taking in my scent like he was drawing breath after being underwater for so long. We stood there for a while: my feet elevated from the ground, our bodies moulded together, there was no telling where I ended and where he began and I never wanted to let go. I refused to pull away even when Darius' feet began moving. I heard heavy wood doors being pushed closed and only then did I realize we were back in our chambers away from prying eyes, away from the rest of the world. In here we could just exist as ourselves, as lovers, as mates, not as the King and Queen consort but as two souls entangled in one another. Here we could love each other to bits, unravel and put ourselves back together, here was safe, here was our space, for only us.

I pulled back enough to cup his cheeks and Starr into those malovelent onyx eyes, his eyes glazed over and I could read do many hidden emotions- satisfaction, exhaustion, comfort and regret?

"I missed you so much" I whispered under my breath, resting my forehead against his.

He gently placed me down but did not let go of me. "By the goddess I missed you to bits my little one, so much. I was going crazy without you. You see what you do to me? I am all yours baby" a hand to the nape of my neck he guided my lips to his but stopped when his lips grazed mine. "Can I kiss you pretty lady?"