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Camilla •

Meeting and seeing the wolves up close was nerve-wracking at first, but they were a beautiful pack of majestic fur and azure eyes it made me think of one particular friend that also possesses the same charm.

The exchange between man and beast was amazing, like they see one of their kind in each other. Dominance was palpable in the atmosphere between the two parties, the tiny hairs of my skin stood on ends.

My legs felt like jelly the king wanted to carry me back but I resisted. It was awkward and shameful. There's no doubt in my mind he can easily carry me around, but in the back of my head my body mass lies heavy, an ever present reminder of my biggest insecurity. My size 14 self knows this fact more than anybody else.

Thankfully he was quiet the whole way down. I was surprised when he held my hand in his large one. The contrast of vulnerability and virile masculinity was a striking sight. My pale skin to his brawny and veiny one.

Once inside the fortress, he was showing nonchalance and I don't know how to deal with his sudden change in behaviour. He is really unpredictable at times.

I was left standing in the spacious living room while the king made his way to the kitchen to drink water, I suppose. He said he was thirsty.

I busied myself with the monochromatic couch pillows in the dark gray L-shaped couch, and two single-seater in either side. A glass oblongated centertable was placed conveniently at the middle of the set-up.

When I heard his footsteps coming I pretended to dust the pillows with my back facing the entrance to the kitchen.

With everything that's been happening between us I suddenly felt conscious and I feel like hiding my face from him would at least give me some time to recover from whatever internal chaos I am currently facing.

"Madamemoiselle", a foreign voice called from behind me. I whipped my head so hard I nearly saw stars. My brain went panicking and my first thought was of the king. Is he safe? Why is there another person in here?

Just then the boy I was worried about came grinning towards us, no trace of danger in his face. He was actually happy, his eyes were shining of joy. That's a first time for me, seeing him so truthfully happy with someone.

"Oh, you've met her, brother. I would like to formally introduce you two." Nikolov said. His brother?

"Camilla, this is Izaak my brother. Iza, this is Camilla."

I honestly don't know how to respond. Meeting another member of the royal family is a thousand times scarier than meeting the wolves. The implications of this is beyond what I want to imagine.

This is getting out of hand. I must move sooner.

"Prince Izaak, it is my pleasure to meet you." I finally found my voice and curtsied in front of the prince.

"Mine too. You're all my brother yaps about these past days. I wanted to meet you much earlier but this tyrant wouldn't let me. Selfish, if you ask me. And possessive." He finished in one go, his tone very casual for a royalty speaking to a commoner.

"Shut the fück up." The king spat in a playful manner. "Why don't you head on over to your room for the day?"

The prince laughed. "Dismissing me already, my King? I thought you missed me terribly, huh? You hurt my feelings!" Prince Izaak clutched his chest dramatically, pouting adorably. He didn't sound to be offended at all. In fact I think they are just like this as brothers. How adorable!

Rolling his eyes to his brother's theatrics, the king pushed the other male towards a room, under the underground. From what I know there are a lot of rooms, but there is no other bedroom in this fortress aside from the one we're currently occupying. 

"Talk to you when I wake up, mon amour." He waved, grinning, then he was gone in sight. The prince, I can tell he's very playful.

When the king faced me his face is devoid of the happiness he demonstrated earlier. I blinked, confused. What was that? Did my eyes deceive me? I don't think so.....

"Come. Let's talk in the bedroom." I hesitated, and took a step back. Not a good thing I guess. Nikolov's eyes darkened a fraction.

"What's the matter, baby?"

Baby. There it is again. That endearment always tickles my insides to my spine then to my feminine parts. I shivered, which did not go unnoticed by the king.

"Are you not feeling well?" Before I could respond, he has closed the distance between us and felt my forehead then my neck. "Maybe it's just your cramps, aye? Let's get you to bed then."

"No, my ki- Nikolov. I'm fine. We can talk here." I can't meet his gaze. Calling him by his name is still so hard for me. No matter what we do I can't forget that he is the king, my king. Romanovia's high and mighty young king. How did I manage to talk to him like this? All parts wrong is all I can think about.

"Why?" He looks genuinely confused. "Don't you want to talk?"

I thought of a good enough reason not to. Rummaging the memory of us talking, as in talking like mature grownups do which rarely happened in the span of time we knew each other, it only brought more confusion and unanswered questions that neither of us seem to know the answer to.

If this is new to him, it is for me too. Even the basics of romantic relationships are a stranger to my naive nature. For all my years of living in Halsburth and then jumping from one city to the other wherever my job carries me, a man has never pursued me nor gave me some hints of a serious commitment, just subtle glances and perverse attraction from random people who only want what the king have already had

I realized I wanted to talk to him, but not now when my thoughts are jumbled. Not now when a member of his family is just down the hall or down the ground where we're at.

"Or are you afraid we won't only be talking once we're in the bedroom? Is that it? I think that's it."

He hit the bullseye. I swallowed hard, thinking of an acceptable reason that would not provoke the king to a fouler mood.

"Nikolov, you are the king. Forgive me for assuming on your part, but the whole kingdom relies on your leadership. Keeping me here is-"

"For the kingdom." He finished with so much conviction in his voice I shivered to think what he is more capable of. Oh my God.

"Keeping you here is for the people. So when we get out of here they'll be expecting an heir from me, so my kingdom would be out of harm's way, so that my throne is solely mine. Like how you are mine. Do you understand?"

I can't find the words. No, not even words.

How can I find the right words to say, when I can't even find my voice in the first place?

I opened my mouth to speak, to say something despite my drumroll of a heart, but still I was speechless. Even my stutter did not appear. Nothing.

Blank. Dead air. Nada. Like how he rendered me all those months ago the first time I met his majesty. He had that effect on most people, I guess. But this particular confession was different. Way way different from an ordinary person confessing and telling you his lies and how it affects you.

This boy was no ordinary boy. He's the king. His power equates to the responsibilities in his shoulder. The kingdom stood atop both of his shoulders. And now....now I feel like half of the weight of his duties were transferred to mine, adding to the baggage pulling me down.

His eyes bore holes in my soul. I can't keep up with his intensity. If this keeps going on I'm afraid I'll just be a shell of what I am because I realized long ago I am dead scared of... commitment.

Independence from other people is something I know I am most capable of. Independence and solitude is my comfort, my peace. But the thought of bearing the highest responsibility for a whole nation scared me senseless.

Heavy breathing from the male opposite me was the only noise that can be heard in the spacious living room. Both of his hands were in his waists, his face unreadable except for the flare in his black-tinted eyes. While I... I don't know. I honestly don't know.

To fill the silence, I forced my voice box to function. "I'm not made for a...for a responsibility this big." I started as bravely as I can. "I admit, I would love to become a mother. It is my only dream. Little girls or boys, I wouldn't mind. It's the... it's the..." I searched my brain for the exact words. I came up short.

"What?" The king snapped. "It's the what? You have no romantic feelings for me like all you females rave about? Love and all that comes with it? That's bullshit and you know it!"

I silently agreed. The L word is not for someone like me. I have made peace with it for some time now.

"Alright. Let's make a deal."

"Forgive me, but I would have to refuse, your majesty." I have not engaged in a deal for all my life. Like I said, I'm scared of commitments.

"It's Nikolov to you. And no. I refuse to accept your refusal." Suddenly he's back to his usual ways. The tension in the air miraculously went away with his famous smirk splayed in his handsome face.

"Let's make a deal. I assure you I'll be fair and square, from one human being to another. I'm just a man and you're just a woman. Not a king and not a servant. Alright?"

I sighed long. I guess I have to take a risk.

"Tell me the deal first before I make any decisions, Niko." There. I said it.

"Baby. Say it again." The urgency in his tone was almost visible. Like it's a lifeline. "Again."

Okay. "Tell me the deal first before I make any decisions." As strong as my voice can get.

"No. I want it the exact way you first said it." Oh-kay. Wait why?

I surrendered to his whim.

"Tell me the deal first before I make any decisions, Niko."

He smiled. With teeth showing. He walked over to the single-seater and beckoned me to him. I remained standing, confused by his reaction. But when he signaled again I obeyed.

I was immediately drawn to his lap, both of my legs lay on one side of him. His arms snaked on my waist, hard and unbreakable. With his jaw on my shoulder and his hot breath against my ear, he made another confession.

"There's only one person in this earth who had ever called me Niko. I need you to be the only other to call me by that name." I was stunned. Need, not a want. Why do I feel like there's more to it?

I faced him. "Who?"

He was silent for a moment.

"My sister." Was all he said. For some reason I wanted to pry more, but I held off my tongue.

"And now there's you. You could be a replacement but nah. I don't think what I'm about to propose is something what brothers and sisters do." He chuckled lowly at what he said. "Unless you wanna roleplay?" My eyes widened at that. Where is he going at?

I stood up abruptly, putting some needed distance between us. "What exactly are you up to? What's the deal?" I asked timidly, getting irritated and impatient with his antics.

His mouth stretched into a Cheshire cat smile. What is he up to?

•••••••••

Nikolov •

"The deal? If you bear me a child after a month, I'll let you off the hook. I'll set you free. But if you don't, then I'll have to keep you with me until you're  pregnant and you will do anything I desire." And more. More.

Ah. I'm beyond excited for this deal!

I watched her face morph into disbelief, fear, confusion and indecision. The cogwheels in her brain were turning in no particular direction,   overwhelmed by sudden attacks of my words to her already boggled mind. Her confusion will be my victory.

"But...you are the king. I have nothing on you-"

"Exactly. But I told you, I will be fair." Not. She didn't have to know it, though.

"How? Enlighten me."

"The hows I will tell you and show you when your period ends. For now, think about it. No pressure. We'll go your way. I promise you you'll have fun doing this with me, baby."

She didn't look convinced. She's naive and innocent of worldly things but I can see the spitfire in her, weighing her options to her advantage, so she can win.

Too bad I have already set things up to my whole advantage. With a little help, of course, from my brother. Iza is the perfect person for this job, being the hopeless romantic that he had always been. And with his crazy ass ideas, I'll be an unstoppable force. I can't stop the grin from spreading from my mouth to my eyes.

"To celebrate our deal, let's seal it with a -"

"I still have not agreed to it, Niko. It's not a done deal." Smart mouth.

"I don't give a fuck." With that I claimed her luscious lips in a searing kiss that left her breathless. I've been wanting to do that since she called me Niko.

Calling me Niko? That's it. She's my person.

Feeling the band I put in her little finger, I can't help but be satisfied.
Everything's going according to plan.

Two down, three to go.

••••••••••••••••••••••

Hey hey hey!

Good news, my vandits. Electricity has been restored since yesterday! What a relief! The burden has been sliced off a little since the typhoon and I cannot wait to feel the normalcy again. Well, we are still struggling but in a kinda good way.

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Enjoy reading! Tell me your thoughts I read everybody's comments and I'll respond to them as much as I can.

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I'm single! But I wanna know what you guys did for vday. I hope it was fun. But please please spare me the naughty details 😉😭

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- Clara G.