Chapter 18: So Many Guards

Bae's uncle escorted her into the royal household. Struggling to take it all in, Bae's eyes were roaming around as her mind tried to process everything she saw. The palace in Canku was so unlike her own castle.

"I see you've already met Prince Armel," Prince Ojo said with a knowing smile. "I'll introduce you to the others in the morning but tonight is yours to do as you wish, Kumari."

Bae smiled thankfully at her uncle. All she really wanted to do was sleep but Adelaide had other plans.

"We can go for a swim if you like, Bae."

She appreciated her sister's thoughtfulness and couldn't bring herself to refuse her.

"I'd love that."

Prince Armel and Prince Ojo stood off to the side discussing the arrangements.

"Armel will escort you," Prince Ojo told the Queen and her advisor. "You only have a few hours before nightfall."

In a brief moment of frivolity, the two girls danced and squealed with excitement. Their exhilaration wasn't even broken by their uncle's reminder that they should stay safe.

"Remember Bae, trust is a liberty the Kumari cannot afford."

Bae kissed her uncle on the cheek, moved by his sincerity. It wasn't often Bae had been allowed to do anything even remotely dangerous. The Kumari line was far too valuable for that. Before Bae had resented it but since the death of her mother her perspective had changed. She was desperate not to waste her mother's sacrifice.

"I'll wait downstairs for you both," Armel told the two women before leaving the room along with Ojo.

One of the household's maids was there to show them to their rooms so they could change for their swim.

"Kumari," she bowed deeply, "if you'd both follow me."

The two sisters followed the maid further into the cave palace. Bae was escorted to the bedroom that was reserved for the Kumari's visits. It was exquisite. Everything was white and although Bae had expected it to be dark inside the caves, it was far from dark. She couldn't tell where the light came from but she was certain that it was brighter in her room than it would be outside.

There was a knock at her door, as Lei came to help her change.

The bed in the centre of the room was huge, intimidatingly so. She blushed as her mind reminded her why it was so large. After her tour of the realm she'd never spend another night alone. That bed would probably not seem so big when she had her seven mates in it alongside her.

Bae was still blushing when her sister entered. "Are you ready?"

Nodding her head, Bae turned away from the bed that took over the room.

"You like him, don't you?"

Bae tried to act dumb. "Who?"

Adelaide rolled her eyes. "How about that Prince you keep eyeing up?"

Bae's blush returned, but she tried to deny it. "No, I don't know him that well..."

"But you still like him," Adelaide teased her. "Just be..."

"Careful. I know."

"I just mean," Adelaide put her hands on her younger sister's shoulder, "there's no way to be sure that he will be your Cankurian mate. I'd really hate to see you get your heart broken."

The two sisters were quiet for a moment before Adelaide said, "you can't control the magic, Bae."

"But that's not strictly true, is it?" Bae returned. "You saw the Kitsune bow to me." It wasn't that she was trying to find a way out of her destiny, she just wanted Armel to be a part of it.

"Don't mess with the way of things."

"I'm not," Bae turned away from her sister's disappointed expression. "I just don't think everything is as simple as ‘this is the way it always has been and the way it always will be'."

Adelaide frowned. "I don't want to argue, Bae. I just ask that you be careful for your own heart's sake."

"And I heard your warning the first time you gave it," Bae told her sister impatiently. With that the conversation was dropped and the two sisters made their way downstairs to where Prince Armel and several of the Kumari's protectors were waiting for them.

Bae pulled a face when she counted the number of guards.

"We're not seriously taking five guards with us?" She asked Adelaide.

Prince Armel was stood to one side, talking with Bae's elder brother. The two Cankurians overheard Bae's words and gave each other a look that said that neither of them wanted to be the one to argue the case with the young Queen.

Prince Armel won by saying quietly, "you're her Chief Protector."

"Just remember that when you try kissing her again," Kael growled back before turning to Bae. "They will stay on the beach. It's just a precaution."

"Surely they're tired though. They rode here." She was exhausted and all she'd done was sit in a carriage.

"Kumari, they're used to it," Armel cut into the siblings' exchange. "They can hack it. You on the other hand look done in. Come on." He took her hand, completely ignoring the foul look the fiery red head was giving him. "There's so much I want to show you."

The heat hit her as soon as she exited the cave palace. Her hand still in Armel's, she rushed to keep up with his long stride as he led her down to the beach. Where his skin touched hers, it felt like there was a current of pure magic between them. It was enough to boil her veins.

Armel sped up and soon the two were running towards the ocean. Bae had a large smile plastered on her face as she giggled happily, enjoying the freedom she felt when she was with him. Her guards and even her siblings were forgotten as the two of them crashed into the water, still dressed.

***

They were being watched. A short distance away stood two Cankurian Princes both wearing equally sour facial expressions.

"It's not fair that Armel has a head start," the first of the two princes said bitterly as he ran a hand through his short hair, never taking his eyes off the Kumari.

"What can you do about it? Ojo sent him."

"That old man is biased. I won't let Armel have her."

"I'd like to see you stop him," the second prince snickered.

"You watch. I'll have her even if I have to kill him to get her."

The two princes turned away from the spot where Armel and Bae were frolicking in the ocean.

"Don't do anything stupid," the second prince said as he patted his younger brother on the back. "You might find that you come to regret your actions."

"Not me," the younger prince said arrogantly. "They could throw me in jail and I still wouldn't regret it, just to see Armel's face when he loses what he wants."

"There are more important things in the realm than messing around with Armel."

"Not to me."

"And that's why the Kumari will never pick you, kid."