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Alena P.O.V

I was drawn out of my deep slumber to find myself buried in warmth. I was always used waking up with cold feets, and stuttering teeth. However, right now I felt blessed as this warmness surrounded me. It was like the perfect haven on a snowy day.

With my eyes still shut, I wished if this was a dream it would never end. I yawned slowly, stretching my body like a lazy cat, snuggling even closer to the source of heat. I heard someone groan in pain yet that wasn't what scared me. There was something hard pressed against my thigh.

I opened my eyes right away and my heart started to pound viciously in my chest. Leon's arm was the pillow, shielding my head from the harsh ground all this time, I tried to move away from him, but his other hand was wrapped around my waist tightly.

I've always dreamt of being with Leon again, but this wasn't right. I tried to push him again only he pulled me closer to him.

"Calm down Alena, I'm not going to hurt you," He said in a deep voice.

I swallowed slowly, shutting my eyes as I kept my head on his arm. What was happening here? I should run for my life, but instead I was in the arms of this man.

Leon groaned in a pain as I lifted my head slowly and stared at him, "Are you okay? You sound as if you're in pain." I said slowly touching his face.

He smiled smugly, allowing a playful smile to spread across his handsome face. "I don't think you want to know what's wrong with me, love." I arched my blonde eyebrow. "My southern region is not very friendly at the moment."

I rolled my eyes as I freed myself from Leon tight grip, facing the other side. I couldn't stop myself from wondering what it would be like to wake up next to such a man every morning?

But what I saw when I turned left me breathless. Even though the sun wasn't high in the sky the scene was breathtaking. The lagoon-blue cascade was grooved with a shimmer of silver as it was released into the rapture-pool it was spluttering into the rocks. The rest of the pool was clear like the heavens above. I gazed in wonder as I saw the small colorful fishes, darting under the satin cascade.

I felt Leon gentle touch on my shoulders before he spoke, pulling me back to reality. "I didn't mean to force myself on you, darling. You fainted on me last night, I had no option but to camp here and wish for the best." Said Leon as he moved closer to me, pulling me gently toward him. "You can trust me. You know that right?" He asked.

"How can I trust you when you want to steal something that belongs to me!" I shouted. "How can I trust you when you want to take my kingdom away from me?" I added.

Leon closed his eyes trying to maintain his anger. "Steal? I don't think I can deal with any of your words right now... All I wanted was a thank you! Is that hard?" He murmured.

"Such a gentleman," I teased, changing the subject. "Let me guess, you had no choice but to cuddle me?"

Leon beautiful orbs darkened as he stared back at me with annoyance. "I think I was clear, Alena don't test me."

Why was I feeling like this? Why did I feel that I would lose everything if he ever leaves? Why do I feel he's like the air that I breathe, but deep down I was afraid to trust him. I was afraid to love Leon even thought it was too late.

"If I remember correctly, you promised not to hurt me if Alvin gave you what you wanted, but did it ever cross your mind that he won't. No man would give you his Kingdom willingly." I said with an aching heart.

Leon answer was clear as he clenched his teeth as anger flashed in his beautiful eyes, but there was something else I could find in his eyes. Was it regret?

The road back to the camp was long and tiresome and by the time we reached it, his men were getting up. I watched in amusement as some of them eat their food slowly while a red-headed one was feasting on rare meat. Leon followed my eyes slowly until he saw him and slapped his forehead. "That idiot..." He whispered.

The scenery was quite amusing it seemed like these men were living in the outdoors for a while now. Leon tried to move forward, only I pulled him back slowly as a wave of sickness hit me. I tried to cover my nose and mouth, but it wasn't helping.

Leon turned right away, gazing at me with calculating eyes.

"What would your men think if we returned from the woods together like this? I don't want anyone to speak poorly of me. Would they?" I said quietly.

"Of course these beasts would," he confessed in a muffled voice. "But only if we allow them."

"I'm not sure I understand you, Leon."

"I'm sure you'll come up with something, darling, you always do." He shrugged leaving me like a confused fool. He flashed me his perfectly white teeth before he prowled slowly toward his friends, but before he reached them, he turned around all of a sudden and stalked toward me.

Without warning, Leon pulled me closer to him wrapping one arm around my waist, pushing me roughly against his Spartan's chest, his lips covered mine with such a lust I've never felt before.

Even though I enjoyed this kiss I knew perfectly what Leon was doing and this moment I couldn't help but to fall in love with this man even more. But I felt like we were all alone near the camp.

"Attack me, hit me. Do something I don't have all day." He moaned against my lips.

"What did you say?"

"Come on, love. Hit me already and make it convincing." He added smugly.

All I wanted that moment was to pull his ears and smash my lips against mine. Instead, I drew my hand back slowly, slapping him across the face. I pulled my hand slowly, staring at him.

Leon surprised me when his laughter become loud.

"What are you doing?" I asked quietly, but still I got no answer.

I pulled my hand back and punched Leon right cheek as I closed my eyes, refusing to look up at him, I was afraid he might break his promise. But I was surprised when I saw him raising his eyebrows in amusement.

"Who do you think you are?" I shouted loud enough. "Was that good enough?" I taunted back.

His grin grew as he stared back at me, "I loved your slap more... You're such a wild creature."

Then Leon leaned closer to me as he spoke his next words. "Did you know that when we count our dragons a simple pat on the back would do. I would never kiss them." He said in a booming voice.

I knew that Leon was creating a scene as his men were laughing hysterically at us. I tried to cover my smile, but it was so hard. "Your dragons might find your poor attempts irresistible, but I'm not like that. You better keep your filthy claws off me."

Leon once again had a challenging look covering his eyes. "Usually, the ladies loves where I put my filthy claws, love. Or should I remind you?" He said the low part in a low hiss.

I narrowed my eyes as I gazed back at him. "I hope that you're not being serious right now, good sir. Those harlots and barmaids are hardly ladies since you have to pay them, my darling."

He moved closer to me with a knowing smile covering his lips and slowly tucked away a curl behind my ear and whispered, "You can say whatever you want darling, but we both know that you're not better than any other woman. You already got a taste of that, but soon enough everything will be gone."

Leon left me standing with wide eyes, staring back at him. I should've been furious with him instead I was left speechless.

Leon men's eyes were still following me with amusement. I was lost in my own thought until I saw a small woman with red hair. There was a dark smile covering her face as she stared back at me, then her eyes were fixed on my flat stomach.

The moment I moved closer to her, a phantom gray mist started to spread soundlessly and heartlessly around me, covering the fairyland-green ground. I gazed around me once again searching for Leon, but he was gone. I drew in a sharp breath as I could feel the presence of another existence surrounding me.

I've always heard the old legends about the dark forest and believed that it had a heart and a soul. However, right now there was no doubt left within as I saw it forming right before my eyes.

The long ancient trees started to breath, singing the ancient song of survival as the pools of dim light started to wrap between the trees, like suffering souls seeking salvation.

Suddenly, a wailing sounds started to echo around me. All I could see was a portal of time unwrapping before me and with eyes filled with tears, I watched the young children running freely in the ever-green fields, dancing in happiness as their giggles filled the forest.

However, All that changed as the wailing became louder again. All I could feel was the presence of something suffocating the forest and the skies above. Then all I could see was death.

Slowly something started to form before me. At the begging, all I could see was a ghost moving toward me, but soon that ghost started to take the form of something else.

My eyes widen in happiness, as I saw her face. She looked as if she didn't age a day with her golden hair and deep blue eyes. There was a kind smile covering her face.

Alena my dear child, you found us.

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