Cursed By Fate

chapter 34

As the ball carried on, the attention was solely on Ryker . While the prince wasn't the main attraction, Aria's presence had not gone unnoticed. Among the royals and dignitaries gathered, some princes began to eye her with curiosity, perhaps intrigued by her striking appearance and the way she carried herself in her armor rather than a gown. She stood out from the polished and delicate princesses, and her beauty, combined with her formidable aura, made her an irresistible enigma.

One prince, in particular, caught her attention more than the others. Prince Kaedan, chosen by the gods of Love and War, was known for his arrogance and his tendency to mix charm with brutality. His sharp features and muscular build drew attention wherever he went, and his dark, knowing eyes followed Aria as she moved across the room.

Aria could feel his gaze on her, but she chose to ignore it, refusing to give him the satisfaction of her acknowledgment. She had no interest in the games these royals played. Her focus was always on Ryker and her duty as his guard, though tonight's events blurred those lines.

Later in the evening, Aria excused herself and slipped away from the grand hall to the private quarters, needing a moment of solitude. The evening had been intense, and she wasn’t fond of the suffocating attention she had garnered.

She entered a nearby bathroom, hoping for some quiet. The room was dimly lit, and the polished marble walls offered a moment of reprieve from the overwhelming opulence of the ball. But just as she was washing her hands, she heard the soft creak of the door behind her.

Turning swiftly, she saw Prince Kaedan entering, a wicked grin spread across his lips. His eyes were gleaming with a dangerous mix of desire and aggression.

"Aria," he drawled, his voice smooth like honey, but it dripped with intent. "You don’t belong here, dressed like that. But... I could make you fit in. I can offer you more than protection." He stepped closer, the space between them narrowing as he reached for her arm, trying to pull her into him. “I want you to submit to me, to be mine.”

Aria’s face remained utterly expressionless. She looked down at the hand grasping her arm, then up at his face, her eyes narrowing. Kaedan’s arrogance grew as he continued, leaning in closer, his voice laced with a mix of charm and threat. “You should know that I’m chosen by the gods of Love and War. What I desire, I take. And right now, I desire you.”

Still, Aria didn’t flinch. She stared at him with cold detachment, making no effort to break his grip, but something in her eyes darkened—an unspoken warning that Kaedan was too foolish to heed.

“You should be careful, Prince,” Aria said, her voice low and deadly calm. “It’s not wise to mistake your title for power.”

Kaedan’s grin faltered for a moment, but his arrogance wouldn’t allow him to back down. “You’re strong, I’ll give you that,” he sneered. “But I like a challenge. Let’s see if you can handle a real fight.”

Without warning, Kaedan lunged at her, attempting to pin her against the wall, thinking his strength would overwhelm her. But with a simple flick of her wrist, Aria sent him crashing to the ground, his body hitting the marble floor with a painful thud. He groaned in shock, clutching his side as pain coursed through him.

Kaedan’s face twisted in humiliation and anger as he tried to stand, but Aria was already on him. She crouched down, her face inches from his, her eyes gleaming with cold amusement as she touched his head lightly, fingers threading through his hair.

“Good prince,” she whispered, her lips curving into a smirk. “That’s how you submit.”

Kaedan’s eyes widened, his body frozen under her touch. He wanted to fight back, to reclaim his pride, but there was something terrifying about her calmness, her complete control. His gods had chosen him for war, but he now realized that facing Aria was like fighting an immovable force. He was powerless beneath her.