To Kiss a King

Chapter 28

Clarence grabbed Fiora’s face pulling her upwards, forcing her to support herself on her sore legs. She tried to release herself from his grip but she was still incredibly weak. Clarence laughed evilly at her attempt and moved in closer angling his head for a kiss. 

Fear and disgust ran through Fiora and she spit on his face cursing him. His eyes burned with anger and he crushed his mouth over hers in a punishing kiss. Her lips remained cold and unmoving as he bruised her delicate mouth. 

In an instant Clarence let out a tremendous bellow and crumpled to the ground before her. As he slid to the stone floor a woman was revealed behind him, hair wild and a metal pan in hand. 

It was the same dark haired woman that healed Fiora and fed her in her time of need. The only problem was the man who had originally kidnapped Fiora was still in the room. He sprung into action bounding across the room and wrapped his large hands around the woman’s neck. She sputtered and smashed the pan against the man’s back but to no avail. 

Fiora watched on in horror knowing she had no chance in this current state to fight this Herculean man. But she couldn’t just stand here and watch this woman die either. She glanced around the room in panic searching for something to defend herself with. 

Clarence’s body at her feet revealed the knife he had just been using moments ago on Fiora. Snatching it up quickly she hobbled over him gaining adrenaline with every step. Fiora decisively aimed the blade for the wound she had previously inflicted upon his arm with a shard of glass. Raising it above her she lunged forward causing the man to scream out and release the woman. 

Instantly the man swung at Fiora causing her stumble side ways. He swung again this time connecting the back of his hand with her face. It brought tears to her eyes and she was about to loose her balance when the man took a handful of her hair. Fiora yelped in pain and the goliath man threw her to the ground. She skidded backwards on her still tender back causing her wounds to reopen. 

He drew a dagger from his boot and lifted it high into the air. Fiora cowered against the wall fully understanding that she was trapped. It was over...she closed her eyes and drew herself into a ball awaiting the sharp knife to pierce her flesh. 

Fiora heard a crunch and then the huge man yelled outraged. She opened her eyes slightly to see blood falling onto her knees and feet. Quickly she snapped her head up to see the man grappling with someone. 

The mysterious man was a whole two heads shorter than the goliath and stood no chance against his superior muscles. But the smaller man made a quick roll beneath his legs and hit him right across the underside of his knees causing him to fall forwards. The man took the butt of his sword and smashed it against the side of his skull knocking him unconscious. 

Fiora knew those shoulders...Rafael turned around to face her. His hair was as black as ever, sticking out all over the place and messily falling over one eye. His green eyes smoldered and his jaw was tight with concern. Sweat trailed down the side of his thick corded neck and his board chest heaved up and down. Fiora drank in the sight of him. 

“He couldn’t be any more beautiful and perfect at this very moment.” She thought to herself. 

Rafael made his way over to her and knelt down right in front of her. He looked at her straight in the eyes and Fiora stared back unable to move or look away. She opened her mouth say something...say anything but he hushed her softly with a rough finger to her soft lips.

In one fluid motion he picked Fiora up off the cell floor completely effortlessly as if she weighed no more than a feather. She nestled her head into his chest and felt absolute warmth with his strong arms around her frail body.