Kingdom of the fallen

Twenty

I jumped awake. My breathing was fast, as if the air in my lungs had escaped. I hyperventilated, desperately trying to get it back.
I sat up quickly, gripping my chest. It felt as if the air ways were closing.
After minutes passing, I finally got my breath back. I looked up after hearing the sound of a door opening, it was Lucien. He seemed to be holding a small soft cloth. He didn’t look at me, yet instead kept his head down. That all had to have been a dream, right?
He kept his head low, leaning on the wall. I went to speak, but before even a breath was able to come out, I was cut off by a small whisper.
“I'm sorry.”
“What.?”
I looked at him confused, I sat there thinking, trying to remember what he had to be sorry for, but nothing came to mind.
“For last night,”
I looked at him shocked, yet still confused.
“I almost killed you. I didn’t want you do find out like this..”
“That was you..?”
He nodded slowly, refusing to look at me. He instead walked up to the bed, sitting next to me.
“I had too, I was scared what you would think of me, so I had to do something. I understand if you think different of me—"
I cut him off, grabbing his face gently. I kissed him. He seemed scared at first, but eventually melted into the kiss.
“I could have killed you, yet you skill kissed me. Why…? I could never forgive myself if I ever did that. I’d do anything to keep you alive.”
“And that’s why I love you, silly.”
I giggled, getting a small smile out of him. After a few moments of silence, I finally spoke.
“What exactly had happened last night?”
“Felix. He sent assassins, they found us. I was fighting them off and went into a state of rage. I wasn’t thinking and almost hurt you. I had to knock you out, I couldn’t keep seeing the fear on your face.”
He had taken a deep breath, clenching his fists.
“How? How did he find us?”
I asked, placing my hand on top of his. He opened the cloth with his other hand.
He took the crystals out of the cloth, and in front of the mirror. The red, yellow, and green colored stones that I had taken from my demolished kingdom, were not there, yet instead red blinking trackers.
“The crystals, they are trackers.”
“I-I’m sorry..”
He took in a shaky deep breath, giving a small sigh. He looked scared but tried to hide it.
“It’s alright just, I need to protect you, with everything I have. This place is invisible to the normal eye, that is until you step foot on the property.”
I heard a small grumble, as he lifted his head up to look at me.
“I want to end Felix, and his little “legacy” he has. He took so much from others; took so much from you! I want to take revenge. When he attacked your kingdom that night, you had no take in it, yet you are the one being punished. I had to save you, I had to take you from that crucial place. Now he is coming for us, and I don’t want you hurt. As I said, I will protect you like my life depends on it.”
“Then why don’t you let me help. I let down my own kingdom I don’t want that happening to yours. I don’t want to be the cause of yet another fallen kingdom.”
“No. you’re the last of your kingdom I’m not—”
“I am a princess. Call me a damn queen if you may. You shall not tell me what to do. I am helping whether you like it or not!”
I stood up, stomping my foot on the ground. He may be taller than me, but I won’t let that change anything. I stan my ground when its needed.
He looked surprised. He knew he couldn’t change my mind, so he sighed, accepting it.
“Fine, you’re a stubborn one. But the only way I will let you, is if you stay by my side. Deal?”
“Deal!”
I smiled giddily with no hesitation. While rushing over to Lucien, I hugged him tightly, never wanting to let go. He sighed, accepting his newly found fate. He hugged back just as tight.
“I can never stay mad at you.”
He chuckled, taking in a deep breath as he inhaled her scent. Neither of us wanted to let go.
“Until I met you, I went through life not knowing when it may end, but since meeting you, I no longer care when it will end, as long as my final days are with you.”
Looking up at him, he had the softest expression. A relaxed face, a soft smile, welcoming eyes. Everything about him was perfect.
My hug around him got tighter. And for the first time I heard him giggle.