Chapter 5: Face to face with the Shadow King

Both the commander and the owner of the tavern had no idea what he said. There is an awkward moment of silence between the men for a moment as the Shadow King stood up and turned around to face the men in the room, standing in front of the princess’ bed he declared boldly:

“I will take her…. Under my wing under my palace home in the shadow Kingdom, if you wish for your future Queen to be safe, I can take her and give her refuge in my Kingdom until…. Things settle down in yours, Commander….” He said with a stern expression on his face at commander Saba.

“What is it that you want in return?” I questioned him, knowing he had a price.

He grinned as he picked up the princess and took her in his arms. “I will cross that bridge when I come to it - to name my price, for now, I will shelter your princess in my Kingdom…. Do not be afraid, no harm will come to her in any way shape or form….” He told me taking her in his arms as he left the tavern, walking out with the princess in his arms.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked him. He turned around and faced me, “to repay an old debt” he responded to me.

At that, I left the princess in the hands of the shadow King. I knew that he would not harm her, I just had a feeling that he wouldn’t… he’s not the type of man to hurt a woman, rumors are around the countries that he is a man of many women and he’s no exception…. She will be safe for now…. so I returned to the Kingdom of Aspire to try and sort things out back home. – End of POV

The Princess was now in the hands of the Shadow King. What was his goal?

The Shadow King now had the Princess of the Kingdom of Aspire on his hands. He took her in his horse and carriage under the cover of night. “Looks like you have another woman tonight, sire” his trusted servant said to him, commanding the horses and carriage. “Something like that Albius” he told his servant, and returned to the Shadow Kingdom, where the princess would find refuge under the safety of the Shadow King in his Kingdom from the hands of the elder council who wanted her dead. This was one battle that she would have to face alone.

Cassia’s POV

My head hurts…. I feel like someone is carrying me…. this presence… is very warm… I feel safe in his arms as he is carrying me…. his arms are strong and his face…. I can hardly see but he has long black silky hair and his skin is white like porcelain…. His face… looks so familiar I just can’t make it out as I tried to open my eyes but the sun’s glare made it impossible to see his beautiful face…

“Princess… are you alright…?” As soft tender husky voice asked me, but I was too weak to answer him as I fell asleep in his arms as he carried me and that is all I could remember. I felt someone putting a blanket on my body and putting me to bed, but I did not have the energy to ask what was happening. I thought it was a dream as I opened my eyes and looked closer and to my horror, it was the Shadow King. I tried to scream but nothing was coming out in shock and fright as I tried to push him away, “It’s alright warrior princess, no one is going to harm you… I am not going to hurt you…. “ he said to me, as I fell asleep from shock.

“This is going to be a long journey?” the Shadow King sighed and said to himself watching her sleep as he covered her with the blankets in his bedroom of his palace. He chuckled to himself. “She put up quite a fight, all I wanted to do was put her to bed to rest…. She really is a warrior alright….” he said shaking his head at her.

One of the servants brought the King a water bowl and some medical supplies as the King requested. “here you are, my lord” the servant bowed. “Thank you” he said to the servant. They both stare at the princess in his bed.

“This is a different taste of woman you normally sleep with” the servant grinned. The shadow King smirked, “This one is not to sleep with… “ he said. “Oh, then what do you want to do with this one?” the servant asked him. The shadow King smirked evilly. “I am going to marry her” he said simply, as he embraced her head tenderly.

“Oh…. What makes you think she will say yes?” the servant asked him. The Shadow King chuckled evilly for a moment. “She will have no choice but to….” He said and left her presence for a moment. “Come, let the princess rest for a while, until she wakes up” he said and closed the door to his bedroom behind them. “Where are you going, your Majesty?” the servant asked, watching the King walk down the hallway of the palace, “to have a drink” he grinned. “Want one?” the King asked him. “No thank you my lord, you remember what happened last time I tried one of your drinks” he said walking away. The Shadow King chuckled, “Yes, yes, who could forget that shameful act of yours” the Shadow King laughed hysterically. “This is the end of me” the servant said to himself in shame and embarrassment laughing to himself.

A couple of days later, on one afternoon, Cassia woke up about 2 x days later.

Cassia’s POV:

My head hurts…I said slowly opening my eyes as I looked around and this place was not the palace of Aspire… I knew I wasn’t home….ouch my head hurts I said as I placed my hand on my forehead. “Looks like you’re awake, princess” I heard a voice tell me from across the room, as I looked up and it was sunset, it to my shock and horror, it was the Shadow King…. Sitting all dishevelled before me on his couch with his full-bodied torso being exposed and just wearing his black trousers. His long black silky hair laying side by side. His brown to light yellow eyes staring at me with a poker face expression on his face.