THE PRINCE’S PROMISE

Symla couldn't stay still while watching Amado fixing their stuff before he will go. Last day, they reached that new cave. They were having a conversation now but Amado didn't open the topic about his plans. Symla thought that Amado was being careful now.

However, Symla was worried. Amado will face his father to ask the throne. What he wants is not easy. She heard that the king was ruthless. What if his father didn't like his idea and punish him? If that happens, Amado will not be able to come back to her…

"I will bring you some food once I get back. Okay?" he said while packing up his things. "Why are you sad?" he asked and sit beside Symla. Amado's presence made her uneasy. She instantly glance in the opposite direction, trying to hide her feelings. Amado laughed softly. "Still cranky."

"Are you going back as soon as possible?" she asked suddenly and bites her lower lips.

Amado grinned. Oh damn. She will missed his smile. She didn't have any idea how many days will pass to see him again smile like that. Her heart beats faster. Thinking Amado that condition made her feel that way. She looked away and felt tense. Wishing that Amado will not notice her feelings.

"Yes. It seems you don't want to lose sight of me." He was teasing again.

And there this man, flirting again with her. And there Symla too. Tried to act not affected. She was still looking away so that this man not to see her blushing face. "It's not what you think. I'm all alone here that's why I asked. I don't want to stay here all alone doing nothing."

He chuckled. "You are worried, I know. Don't worry. I will take good care of myself." He whispered.

Her hair at the back of her neck stands to its end because of his warm breath. Her heart pounded again and Symla tried to calm. She cleared her throat to relieve her self. "A-Amado, d-don't get too close." She demanded but her tone wasn't that strong. Damn his presence. It weakening her defenses.

Amado laugh. His laughter lingered inside the cave. There's nothing she could do but to stare at him, admire him. He was gorgeous. When was laughing like that, he looked even more charming. It made him looked like a simple man and not a ferocious wolf who only wants a simple life. He was so fun to watch and he was contagious. As if she wanted to laugh with him.

"Rest assured that I'll be right back as soon as possible, Symla. We have a lot to talk about and I promise you, once I get back I will answer all the questions in your mind." He promised and mysteriously smiled.

"T-take care," Symla said and avoid his gaze. She palpitated for being too shy. She perspires too. She was too uncomfortable saying those words for Amado. But she couldn't control it too. Damn. She's really confused.

"Yes. For you, I will, beautiful lady."

Symla gasped when Amado suddenly kissed her hand. Her heart went crazy. Amado's craziness made her heart reacts that way. It sends warmth in her. He touches her hair gently before he stood and head out of the cave. Symla stood too and watched Amado leave.

Amado suddenly stopped walking and turn around. Symla held her breath when he walked towards her. His steps were big. He was in a hurry to reach her. He was looking at her intently. The moment he reached her, he grabbed her hips and gave her a mind-blowing kiss.

Symla melted. His kisses were rough, it almost crushed her lips but the intense longing and heat were there. That was Symla's first-ever kiss: in the hands of a handsome wolf who can melt her coldness.

Amado's tongue dared to penetrate her mouth. Symla couldn't do anything but automatically responds. Amado's kiss was like magic. He instantly puts her under his wonderful spell. She was suddenly lost. Her focus vanished into thin air. There's nothing she could do but to respond passionately. Amado moaned and held her tight. Symla hugged his neck. What she did gave Amado chance to lift her easily. She gasped, giving him access to kiss her thoroughly.

Symla didn't noticed that minutes had already passed. Both of them were catching their breaths. Amado looked up to her and Symla looked back at him. She was blushing and couldn't be looked at him straight in his eyes. He chuckled. "I'm dying to kiss you." He whispered between their lips. "I will go back. That's a promise, Symla. I promise…"

Amado puts her down and before he leaves, he kissed her again passionately. When he finally left, Symla felt high. Unconsciously, she touches her lips. She felt it was like swelling while her heart was beating so damn wild.

Until Symla smiled. She was indeed right about Amado. He was rough but it sends a warm feeling inside her.

***

"UNTIL NOW, you have not killed the Black Saint?!" the king shouted to Amado. However, Amado didn't even flicker. He remained determine and strong-willed in front of him. He's a man with principle and affirmation that no one could ever make him obey that easily. They had a serious talk last week and ended up in a fight. Amado said to the king that he has the Black Saint. He will not kill her unless he gave him what he wants.

In all honesty, Amado didn't have any plans on killing Symla. He only said that to the woman because that was the easy way. He didn't want to elaborate further that's why he said that. Yes, he killed vampires but it was only because he needed to. The circumstances pushed him to do so. However, Amado never killed the vampire without any reason. Also, he never killed a vampire because he was obeying orders from the king. That's why when he and his brother Adan went to America to attack, Amado didn't strike. He escaped and traveled. He went to see places that can help him inspire his paintings.

He was just a simple man. A simple wolf. Maybe, he inherited her mother's simplicity. Both of them were just a simple person with a simple dream. When the war began, his mother weep for their family. She knew how hard it was. She'd been there and she didn't want them to suffer.

His mother immediately transferred them and went back to their village. Minutes had passed, their mother didn't return. Allano—his older brother—decided to follow their mother. Allano and his mother didn't come back alive. Both of them were ambushed by the vampires. Amado was so damn angry and hurt that time. But as time goes by, he learned to accept everything and moved on.

He knew where the war started: hatred. However, for Amado, that war needed to end. Many lives have wasted. Many life have ruined including his life. Instead of living a peaceful life there he was. He was obliged just to fight for one life. For him, that was enough. It's been ages. The war has to stop.

"Am I the king now." He asked coldly.

"Bullshit, Amado! What were you thinking? You never prove to me that you are ready and capable of being a leader. You are always defying my orders. Now. Tell me. Give me enough reason to give you this throne!" the king shouted and angrily kicked the chair.

"I want to end the war." He answered back with a determined tone. He looked at him straight in the eye. He could see his father's wrath but he didn't hold back. He will tell him what he needed to hear.

"Once I'm the leader, I will send all the wolves to Barcelona. Isn't that what grandfather wanted? He wanted to end the war."

His father was so shocked to say the least. Amado knew everything. He heard and found out the truth through his silent investigation. And he agreed on his grandfather's ideology. He agreed that everything could be fixed in a simple peace talk. He believed that vampires may not agree on them at first but he's confident that in the end, they will. As long as their intention was true and pure, everything will be okay.

When his father recovered, he laugh so damn hard that lasted in a couple of minutes. When he was done, the king shakes his head in disappointment. "You don't know what you are saying. Did you forget already that those vampires killed your brothers and mother? You want to end this war just like that?"

"That's the reason, father. They were all dead. Adan died last year but you didn't stop attacking. How many lives are you going to sacrifice for Igme who died ages ago? Don't you realize it yet? Wolves will continuously die because of unending war?" he explained.

The king's face turned dim in anger. He hated what he heard from him. Amado felt anxious. He knew asking his father wasn't easy that's why he was doing everything he can. "Father, some of the wolves were dying. You have to stop this. Is it not enough that they have been erased in almost every country? Let them stay here in the Philippines. Let's just go back to Barcelona."

"Hah! We will only come back when they are eliminated. Kill the Black Saint that you are hiding. She's dangerous." He commanded and grabbed his collar. Amado gritted his teeth, tried to control himself. He will not show his father his weaknesses. "If you can't do it, I'll do it. I will kill the Black Saint."

His jaw clenched. He violently wiped the king's hand. "You can't touch her unless you give me what I want. Let me lead. Give me the throne. End of discussion."

The king grabbed him again. Just using his immense power, the king instantly pushed him to the wall. He was slowly transforming. Amado didn't show any weaknesses. He didn't even show that he was hurt. He was still determined. He showed to the king how stubborn he was. He just let his father trembled in anger. He wanted to shred him into pieces. The king only stops when Esmundo called him to say the news about the war.

Amado sighed and fix his hair. He was thinking, he needed to go to Mt. Banahaw before it's too late. He had to be sure of something that he heard on the elders. That place is historical and magical. It was a place inhabited by a shaman. He was thinking that the shaman could help him.

"Guard my stupid son, Esmundo."

Amado looked at the king. His face was still dim and he was shaking his head disappointingly at him. Amado just looked at him straight in the eye. If he thinks that he will just shut his mouth, he was mistaken. He just let the four guards grabbed him.

"You all know what to do with him. Fifty whips for disobeying me. If he complains, make it a hundred until he tells us where the Black Saint is!" the king commanded and turn his back on him.

Amado's heart broke that moment. He realizes that his father was truly ruthless and he couldn't blame him. What happened to their family pushed him to be merciless. Pains and wrath made him hunger for victory, for killing all vampires heartlessly. That war changed his father forever. He was consumed with bitterness and anger. When the guards pull him and guide him into arene, Amado tried to stop them.

Suddenly, his mind flies to the place where he left Symla. He remember her lovely face. He remember that she was patiently waiting for him and he made a promise that he needed to fulfill. Because of that thought, his decision became firm: he will go back to Symla and fix everything!