Kashara couldn't articulate why she was running. Something made her fear. She noticed the Demitytans staring at her, and slowed down her pace to a fast walk. Why was she so scared?

She could feel the panic swirling up inside her, pushing down something. Something she knew she seeked to hide, to never realise.

She didn't notice someone approach her and grab her wrist swiftly. She whirled around only to come face to face with the man of her dreams, or nightmares, which ever way you looked at it.

Fallon Eagus towered over her with a terrifyingly charming smile.

"Darling! Leaving without even dancing with your fiancé? " He pulled her close, and Kashara tried desperately to damp down her panic. She was being irrationally afraid of him. She tried to calm herself down as Fallon began to swirl her onto the dance floor.

"Do you see that man?" He nodded towards a lone gentleman standing amidst the curtains. "Yes..." Kashara said, scrutinising the man, wondering how the poor soul had caught Fallon's attention. "What about him?"

"Oh no, it's nothing about him. I was really worried for your eyesight. After all, you nearly walked right by me, you know. I was so hurt." He looked at her and smirked. Kashara couldn't ignore the way his lips turned up. She found that she was captivated by this strange twinkle in his eyes when he joked.

She continued to stare at Fallon, only realising how long it was when Fallon raised a single eye brow at her. Shit...Now he was suspicious. She hastily asked him a question. "I have been meaning to ask you, were you the one that arranged Erthling food for me? I noticed in that feast there were separate bowls. And I have always eaten Erth food here...That was really nice of you..."

Fallon searched her face for something. Then shook his head. "No, no that was Lord Dalbus. I don't have time to talk to cooks, and organise baking parties."

Kashara leaned back, he was lying, she was sure. Definitely. It was a bit unnerving she could read that tiny jerk in his eyes or the small jump in the corner of his lips when he lied. "Right then I'll go marry Lord Dalbus then."

She made to pull away and Fallon snapped back as if stunned. "What! No F**- " He was flummoxed but finally noticed her smirk. He narrowed his eyes but in spite of himself his mouth curved up.

"You and Lord Dalbus? I would pay to see that wedding. Actually forget the wedding, I would rather see the wedding night." He said with a teasing smirk.

Kashara knew what Eraiek said was true. She could feel how attracted she was to Fallon. Her heart nearly jumped out when he smiled at her. Oh sweet Athena, this wasn't fair. She tried to prevent herself from acting like a lovesick lunatic, with some difficulty.

His face crinkled up as he thought about his jokee

The more she stared at him, the more it hit her like a huge plowing machine, smack into the middle of her chest. She took troubling deep breaths, feeling like she was suddenly being choked.

I love Fallon...

She thought. The thought made her hysterical, and terrified at the same time. She laughed an odd stilted laugh, that sounded crazy even to her. Fallon looked down at her questioningly, while leading her through the dance room in some kind of waltz.

"Should I ask, what's made you look like you want to kill someone horribly?"

"No, you shouldn't"

"Alright." He acquiesced surprisingly, and drew her closer.

Kashara felt like her breath got knocked out of her as she stumbled closer to Fallon. She could feel the deliciously hard planes of his body against her and she tried hard not to relax or lean on him. It was a very hard feat, considering she just realised her overwhelming feelings for him that were threatening to flow over.

"Why do you look like you have had a sudden toothache?" He asked slightly amused.

"No matter." She managed to bite out. Damn you for being so perceptive you utter ninnerhead!

"I think it's not safe for you to be in public crowds,...or rather the public crowd is not safe with you." Fallon remarked slowly leading her away from the dance floor.

"Haha, looks who's talking, Mr-I-plant-bombs-for-a-reason." Kashara retorted.

"Touché." He said, as he pulled her behind a set of heavy curtains by the window.

"Won't your subjects miss your Holiness?" Kasahra asked, however inside she was screaming in panic. The last thing she needed now was to be in a private place with Fallon and his really kissable lips. She swallowed very audible.

Fallon smirked as if he could smell her apprehension, and leisurely leaned on the wall. "I'm afraid bigger duties call me for now, such as...finding out why my dear fiancee looks so harried after talking to Eraiek Tisorne."

Kashara cursed. Was there nothing that escaped his notice? "Oh, that was nothing. Just, nothing." She said and cringed. It sounded so bad to her own ears.

Fallon pulled himself up to his full height. "Really? How curious. I wonder what would be Eraiek's estimation of that conversation. I must say I'm dying to ask him."

"No don't!" Kashara cried. Eraiek would surely tell Fallon everything and she would never live it down if Fallon realised she did have feelings for him.

"Then tell me why the heck you looked like you were going to burn someone out with your eyes in the dance floor. Is he blackmailing you, dammit? I think I should know if he is. Just one word Kashara, I'll make sure he never gets near you again."

Kashara was floored. She didn't understand where he got that impression from. " No, no he isn't blackmailing me!" She said as she scrutinised his face.

His face was tight with silent anger and irritation. However she could see behind that, in his eyes, his fear, and concern, for her. Kashara was stunned. Fallon cared... The thought had never really occurred to her. But then the overwhelming evidence where he went out of the way to take care of her... she had thought was just protecting his investment. But now, here she could see, the real emotion behind Fallon. He did care, for her.

She couldn't believe it, but then Kashara took leaps of imagination by nature. She screwed up her courage and took a deep breath. A steadying exhale, and she tugged Fallon's head down towards her lips.

Their lips met and Fallon's eyes widened in shock, however he soon held her head with one hand and tilted her head up as he deepened the kiss. Kashara felt like she was floating on a very vast and calm ocean, like she was lost but she was also home. It felt so familiar and safe. But also very igniting and flammable.

There was something so perfect about the kiss, so wanted, like water to parched man. Like when you drink cool water after a long time, and it is only when the water flows down your throat that you realise how thirsty you were and you wish water tasted like this all the time.

Kashara didn't realise she was crying until she tasted her salt water tears. Tears of joy, how odd they tasted so bitter. Fallon lifted his head and scanned her face as if he hadn't expected this either. Behind the austere mask, she could she the glimpse of the man she did love, though it felt too soon to say it to him.

Fallon opened his mouth as if to say something, but paused and then shook his head. Kashara felt like there was an understanding now, as if the kiss passed the words, neither of them could vocalise to each other. She tried to comb her hair to be presentable and Fallon pulled a dangling sleeve of her dress up.

They stepped out, thankfully unnoticed and slipped away to their room. Kashara knew what she wanted was to be with him now. It was probably because her feelings had been walled up, barricaded for so long, that they had burst forward so powerfully. Both of them seemed to know what to do. It was like they needed no words to communicate.

She felt a bit frightened, like she was rushing into this, but she knew her feelings were real, and she knew his were just as real too. A small voice questioned it a bit hesitantly though. Can we trust him?

Kashara was surprised with herself when a strong voice inside her said firmly, "Yes" dispelling all her doubts.

________________

It was strange watching Fallon sleep. All his hostility and sourness seemed to melt away while he was sleeping, and he finally looked his age. Not much older than her, but he had suffered through worser things at a much younger age, and his extreme maturity was not surprising.

Not for the first time, Kashara wondered what life must have been like for him. To rule a planet so young. To be always watch your back amongst even your closest relatives. As she was staring at his face, Fallon woke up and stretched, giving her a glimpse of his perfect body.

Kashara bit her lip and blushed. Fallon smirked at her at that, and pulled her over for a kiss. She could feel it set her nerves on fire with frissons of sparks even though it was just a peck.

How the heck was he so unaffected? Kashara thought petulantly as Fallon on the bed with a smug smile, as if he was absolutely aware of the effect he had on her.

"Done staring at me?" He asked, his voice hoarse as if he hadn't spoken for a long time.

"Not yet. Would you be so obliging to lie back down?" Kashara replied tartly.

"If the lady demands it." Fallon said with a smirk. "but I'll expect a compensation." He added.

Just then there someone hovering at the door and Fallon waved his hand so the door, which had been hardened perviously, turned to the familiar flowing glass that allowed the person to enter. Kashara shrieked in mortification and ducked under the sheets, as Eraiek Tisorne came in.

Upon seeing Kashara's swift disappearing act, he let out a low chuckle. Kashara wished she could ram her head into something. Nevertheless, she expunged her violent tendencies by poking Fallon hardly in the ribs. Fallon muttered a choice curse before addressing Eraiek.

"What can I do for you?" He pulled himself up, as if to show off his body. Kashara felt her face blaze with embarrassment. What was with males and pissing contests...

"Since Kashara's kidnapping, we have been keeping close watch on the border data. We have actually found where Kashara was kidnapped to, or actually where she wasn't. It seems Kashara never left the castle borders while she was kidnapped.

It is possible the rebels used a V.P.S, a virtual projection simulation to make it seem like Kashara had travelled to Mt Vesuvius.

Yesterday one of our logs registered the signal of a V.P.S again, inside the castle. It is possible the rebels spies who kidnapped her are from the castle, maybe workers, or nobles even. We think the signal could be them again. The investigative team are already approaching the location, but you should join us as soon as possible." Eraiek explained and turned to leave.

"And Kashara, you should come along too, we might find anything or anyone you might recognise." He added while leaving.

"Is the castle so short staffed that you had to end up delivering the message Uncle? Or are you so voyeuristic?"

"Hardly, I just couldn't find anyone brave enough to deliver the message. Get there soon."

Fallon scowled at Eraiek's retreating back and Kashara looked at him questioningly.

"Will you ever get over your unrooted, childish dislike of your uncle?"

"It's not baseless."

Kashara raised an eyebrow. "Well? I'm waiting?"

When Fallon declined to answer she continued, "I noticed, you immediately thought Eraiek might have blackmailed me at the ball. Why? Does he do that a lot?" She asked sarcastically.

"There are many things you do not know about him, or our shared history."

"Then tell me!"

"Eraiek blackmailed my mother, the queen. His sister. For power."

"What ...how could you know this? You were barely in your teens."

"I do." He stopped, took a huge breath, and continued " You heard that Lintenberg was associated with a woman? That woman was my mother. Lintenberg and my mother had a back alley affair for a long while when Eraiek found out about it.

Till then, Eraiek was shuttered from his own family. He lost the position of heir to my mother in the house of Verna Bire. However he had never been sour about it. He lost all backing for any prestigious position or financial advancement when my mother became engaged to the King, because the Verna Bires decided to support the would-be-queen than an average noble. Smart of them. Eraiek was a soldier under the army, and though the Verna Bire name afforded him some privileges, many were lost to him because he was not the official heir to the house.

He had never expressed his displeasure, but surprisingly, after Eraiek discovered my mother's torrid secret, he was suddenly promoted to a lieutanant, and recieved multiple awards one after another, and within a few years became the acting General, with power just below royalty and very close to them.

Isn't it obvious from this, something else was going behind the scenes. Either, he blackmailed my mother for position and privilege, or, my mother didn't trust him and wanted to keep him close and held his position and power over his head as the bait to buy his silence."

"Your accusations have no prove, they are merely hypotheses based on the connection of events. But you should know correlation, or in this case, coincidence, does not imply causation. Just because Eraiek's rise to fame, coincides with him finding your mother's secret, does not mean it was caused by that." Kashara retorted hotly.

"Wow, I didn't know you were a budding philosopher darling." Fallon drawled, amused by her passion for the subject.

"Oh Fallon," Kashara smirked, "there are A lot of things you don't know about me."

___________________________________________________

Tom: Should we discuss the elephant in the room?

Loki: I believe it is more of a dragon really.

ink: What?

Tom: They finally had se-

Ink: Omg! don't say it. I felt so awkward writing it.

Loki: If you are uninformed, I'll gladly oblige in your education.

Ink: I'll write you saying horribly cute words. It'll really damage your villainy-ness.

Tom: Hahaha please do! It would make my day.

Loki: HA! I'm above your petty machinations.

Ink: You asked for it Loki!

Loki: Fluffy Widdle rabbit. Snugglemuffin.! Aaaah! What is this sorcery?!

Tom: It's called being in a literary work. I've already gained much experience in that, after being in a book for 60 years.

Loki: Nooooooooooo! woopsiedoodle! Lollipop! Stop this!

Ink: Alright! I'll take pity on you.

love

ink on parchment

Tom: I think he's gone catatonic from the shock.

Hello everybody, I hope this clears doubt that I have crawled under a rock and died. I know it is really terrible I left this for so long. Real life caught up with me, and I found myself facing assessment week in my university with 8-8 classes (no joke, really!) and dozens of projects. I know it was really bad of me to leave all of you hanging, and I'm really sorry!

Right now my projects are a bit lesser and I have a few holidays lined up. So I will resume updating regularly! Again, I'm really sorry for the long delay, hope you liked this chapter!