The Blood King's Bride
Chapter Forty Three

The next day arrived slower than Calhoun would have preferred. He and Elena had

agreed to search for a restaurant that day, both of them telling old man Porv about their decision. Not that they needed to, but his Elena was too proper and would act any less.

His Elena. He couldn't remember when he started calling her that or how comfortable he had grown with the title. He didn't deny it, though. Elena was his, and he would see that she accepted it.

He rolled off his bed and started preparing for the day, heading straight for his bathroom. After taking a bath, he donned a simple attire and took extra care of his appearance, something he had never had any interest in doing. But if he wished to woo Elena, he had to look better than any man she would ever come across, even the ethereal he-would-never-admit beauty Forest, for whom he felt the urge to kill as days went by. He combed his long dark locks, parting his hair to the sides, then combed it again, letting it fall back. He felt he looked better that way. He smirked and went straight to his door, opening it and leaving his room.

Firoza waited for him outside his room. He raised his brow, curiosity etched on his

features. She was pacing and stopped when she noticed him, offering him a huge smile. Something about her warned him of danger, especially since it drew his power out. It was something that caused him to be on his toes next to her, and despite the number of times he had wanted to send her off for her to go on her journey and create a new life for herself, he stopped himself knowing that she was the key to finding out what exactly had destroyed the outlaw city. It was a weird feeling for him too. While Elena calmed the buzzing power that always made its presence known inside him, threatening to erupt, Firoza kindled it, making it want to expose him. And Firoza might not know that he had noticed it, but she moaned whenever she was next to him, deriving pleasure when he stood just right next to her. He had found the act strange and repulsive. But the day he noticed her strange birthmark- the one shaped like a drop of blood-glowing as she silently breathed in his presence and moaned, he decided that there was more to her than she had realized. She might be someone who possessed a magical ability just like him. She might even be the one who destroyed the outlaw city. The man who they met her with had said as much. If she was as the man claimed or as he suspected, it would be better to keep her close than let her lose where he might not be able to keep track of her actions. After all, it is best to keep your enemy closer than your friends.

"Good morning." She said, walking over to him, her eyes shining with admiration.

"I was going to call you for breakfast, but I didn't know if you were still sleeping and I

was trying to decide if I should wake you or not." She moved her hair behind her ear, bowing her head down and showcasing a coy expression. This was even more strange. She had never bothered to wake him up before, always content to just see him when he woke. What had caused the change, he wondered.

He looked at her for a while, trying to figure out her reason, and then asked the question straight up.

"Why did you want to wake me up? You have never done that before." Her face heated, and she looked down, rubbing her feet on the ground and looking anywhere else but at him. "I wanted to ask for your help with something."

"Which is?"

She looked up, finally meeting his gaze. "I would love it if you take me around town. I'm looking for supplies I can get for my hobby, but only you and Old man Porv are the ones who know the way around. And so with the Old man busy I decided to ask you."

"You and one of my men can just carry out the errand."

"I want the errand done fast, and travelling with someone who doesn't know the way

would make it take longer than usual. I would have gone by myself, but I don't want to be in

danger. And someone like me, a young woman without aid is a walking liability."

Calhoun peered at her intensely. He always noticed when people were up to something,

and she was, though her intention held nothing malevolent. He wondered what she was planning,

but whatever it was would have to happen at another time.

"I'm sorry but I would have to decline." He replied.

"Oh." Her face fell, disappointment dripping off her voice.

"I have somewhere to be today. And I might not join you for breakfast." Her eyes

scrunched up, expressing her confusion. It was the first time he had missed breakfast since he

came here with them. He doubted he could even eat anything else created by them. After tasting Elena's cooking, he became addicted to her food instantly. Eating anything else would be like shoving his mouth through the dirt.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I have to escort Elena somewhere. I had already agreed to go with her before you asked

me." Was that- malice that he saw flashing through her eyes? No, it couldn't be. It must have

been his imagination as the looked he thought he saw was quickly hidden and replaced by disappointment and a tinge of envy.

"Oh okay. Well then, we can go another time right?" He offered her a stiff nod and walked down to the corridor that would lead him to Elena's abode.

*****

Firoza watched as Calhoun walked to the corridor that would take him to Elena. It turns

out that she was correct. Her hardened warrior had fallen for a woman. And that woman wasn't

her. These people may not know her, but she would show her real colors to Elena.

No one attempts to take what belongs to her, and Calhoun belongs to her, whether he

knows it or not.

*****

Elena was already perched at her somewhat living room, waiting for Calhoun to make his way down there. She had shared her plans for the day with Forest, and he had wanted to go with her at first, but she forced him to remain back and stay with his sister. Not the main reason for her decision, but something tells her that Calhoun doesn't like him. So far, she had never seen the two interact with each other, so she wondered what his heated response towards Forest was about. He had donned one of her more comfortable wear, a simple cotton top with linen pants to go with it. It was one of the clothes she had bought for herself after earning her first salary. She brushed her hands down the attire just as Calhoun walked into the house.

She sucked in a breath. She had always known Calhoun was handsome- in a deadly way, but just then, he took her breath away, literally. He wore a commoner's clothes, but that did nothing to hide his appeal. He was handsome, very handsome. Suddenly, she checked out her look, wondering if it was alright to walk with one such as him.

"Good morning." His deep voice called out, all dripping with masculinity and sexiness. Elena had never thought of that action, of doing-it, with the opposite sex. But right then, she knew she would give it to him without hesitation. She shook out of her daydream. What kind of thought was that? Even though she had just thought of giving someone, she barely- or had just come to know- her virginity, what makes her think he would even want her that way? "Good morning." She replied. Well, she thought, if she couldn't have him, it won't hurt to be friends with him.

"You are looking mighty fine today." She said, teasing him. "Aren't we just going to look for dilapidated buildings?"

At her statement, she saw a hint of pride and satisfaction flash through his gaze.

"It wouldn't hurt to always be dressed nicely, would it? And besides, you also look

pretty."

"I do?" She said, unable to stop the question from leaving her mouth- and the right blush

that accompanied it. Calhoun nodded his head in response.

"Now, why don't we start our journey? We have so many places to cover. But first, do

you have breakfast? I haven't eaten this morning." He said, rubbing his hands on his stomach. Elena flashes him a huge grin, waving him towards her.

"You're lucky. We still have a few leftovers left."

*****

After eating a heart-warming and mouth orgasmic breakfast, Calhoun led Elena out of the house fully satisfied. They hadn't bumped into anyone on their way out, which Calhoun found

strangely comforting. He didn't want anyone to distract him from spending more time with his Elena. After leaving the home they shared, they reached the old man's shop and found him where he always was, assuming a sleeping pose. He felt like waking him up, but watching him fall again might ruin Elena's mood. He didn't want that, so he silently walked away, holding Elena tightly with him.

Elena, as he had noticed earlier- and more times than he could count- was even more

beautiful than he ever thought she could be. Though she put on a simple attire, the modest beauty had made his blood run south.

Lust. That was a feeling he swore he had never felt.

He wasn't surprised, though. With Elena, he had experienced so many firsts; his first crush, first obsession, first lust. If things went his way, he would obtain his first sex. Yes. The great and mighty king of the Blood Kingdom was still a virgin. He had never had any sexual interest in anyone until he met Elena. Now, he was determined to stoke the fire that was slowly burning in him for her till he became filled with raging desperation, even she couldn't deny. He would never hurt her, no, but he would make her burn for him as he did her. He purposely used the long route to their destination to extend his time with her. Even though he had only stayed in this part of the kingdom for a short while, he knew all the places that posed for a beautiful sight, especially when taking someone on a date. He had sought it out firstly, thinking it would come to good use later, and it had as he took Elena around them all. He tried to swallow his pride and satisfaction whenever Elena expressed awe at whatever place or thing he showed her, but he couldn't help it, and his chest always puffed out. His father surely would laugh at him once he saw the man he was becoming. Elena might not know it, but he was indirectly taking her on a date.

He had never gone on one before, so he had to use the knowledge imparted to him, courtesy of his father and the old man- something told him they would become very close friends- to aid his date. He started by asking her about herself and her family. She was very bright when talking of her grandparents, her boss who had taken her in, Forest, and an uncle called Wazir. But her expression changed when she spoke of her parents, anger verging towards hatred for her father and Pity and Sadness for her mother. She went quiet when she thought of them, lost in her world. Calhoun didn't like the silence, so he told her about his family and their quirks, trying to smooth the journey into making Elena comfortable with being his wife. Finally- sadly, they reached the building he had promised to take Elena to. It stood upright, but its pillars were slowly falling, and its foundation was breaking. Calhoun doubted it would last for another month. According to Elena, however, it was perfect.