A proposition of Danger

Chapter 11: A Proposition of Danger

Days blurred and swirled by since the last time she was with Kaelen. There had been a moment, Evelina felt, that had changed them both-a hazardous connection formed across the space left from a doubting desire that once had clanged. This is different, this, and Evelina never had been reckless.

She knew she should have backed away, but her heart—her heart was calling out for something she couldn't fully explain. She couldn't stop thinking about him: his red eyes, the coolness in his voice, the dangerous allure that hung around him like a cloak. Kaelen had warned her, told her to stay away. But Evelina had never been one to follow the rules when it came to matters of the heart.

His words replayed in her mind: You don't know what you're asking for. The danger was so real in his voice, and yet she couldn't turn away from that pull, that need to understand him, to get closer to him.

She wasn't foolish, though. She knew this wasn't some fairy tale. Kaelen was no prince, no knight in shining armor. A demon, a creature that all others should rightfully fear, and his past was no doubt drenched in blood and darkness. Yet there was something else in him, something raw, something vulnerable. And she couldn't help but wonder if, beneath it all-the darkness-a part of him needed her as much as she needed him.

The next time she saw him, it was in the midst of her father's court, during a very important gathering. King Lucian had summoned all the dignitaries of neighboring kingdoms in the hope of gaining alliances and peace in the tense atmosphere that surrounded their realm. It was an event that Evelina had to attend-an event she'd hoped would keep her distracted from her thoughts of Kaelen.

And yet, there he stood at the edge of the great hall, his presence enough to silence the room. Commanding as ever, his crimson eyes scanned the gathering with a cold, detached gaze, as though he did not care for the politicking and discussions going on around him.

He was a king in his own right-a ruler of demons, one that her father had invited to provide protection for the kingdom. To Evelina, he was more. Her heartbeat quickened as her eyes found his.

For a moment, their eyes locked, and Evelina couldn't breathe. The others in the room seemed oblivious to the silent exchange between them. She was the princess, after all. She was promised to King Leon, and everybody expected her to behave as the dutiful daughter and future queen should. But in that moment, all that faded away. All that mattered was Kaelen.

Kaelen didn't speak to her, didn't approach. He stood aloof, apart, as though the room and everything in it didn't matter to him.

But Evelina couldn't help herself. She excused herself from the conversation she was in and made her way across the room toward him. She ignored the flutter in her stomach, ignored the warnings that rang in her mind.

It was a few more moments before she stood before him; and when he did finally look up at her, there was no warmth in his eyes, none whatsoever, the same unreadable coldness she had come to expect of him.

"Your Highness," Kaelen greeted, velvet lacing his tone, an edge to the words, an underlined hint of annoyance. "What is it you want now?"

Evelina did not retreat. She stood firm, more firm than ever before. She rose on her heels and looked at him, a look as firm as his.

"I want to talk with you, Kaelen," she told him in unyielding tones.

Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "And what would we have to talk about, Princess?

"I don't care what you think," Evelina snapped, her voice braver than she felt inside. "I need to know. I have to understand you. You told me to avoid, yet I'm not able to. I simply cannot do that, keep away from you, Kaelen."

There was a moment of silence. Kaelen said nothing. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. Evelina could see the battle inside him, how the set of his jaw seemed to tighten in an urge to push her away.

"You don't know what you're asking for," he repeated, the same words from before, but this time they held an edge of something more. Something that made Evelina's heart skip a beat.

"I know exactly what I'm asking for," she said, her voice firm. "I want you to teach me. I want you to show me the world you live in. I want to understand what makes you. who you are."

Kaelen's expression hardened, and he stepped closer to her, lowering his voice to a dangerous whisper. "You have no idea what you're asking, Princess. You are human."

"I don't care," she replied quickly, taking a step forward to close the distance between them. "I'm not afraid of you."

Kaelen seemed to consider her words a moment longer. Then, in one swift motion, he whirled on his heel, his cloak billowing behind him like some dark storm. He didn't wait for her to follow, but Evelina's feet moved of their own accord. She couldn't help herself, couldn't help the need to be near him, to comprehend him.

"Come," he called over his shoulder without turning around. "If you want to understand, then follow me."

Evelina's heart was thundering in her chest as she followed him down the twisted corridors of the palace. She had absolutely no notion what he intended, but a backward step was impossible. The die had been cast. And when he finally stopped in front of a huge door, she didn't hesitate.

Kaelen turned to her, his eyes cold, a slight smirk curling his lips. "You asked for this, Princess. But let me warn you-you won't like what you find."

Evelina took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."

The door creaked open with a clang, a waft of cold air greeting her as the darkness beyond swallowed them both whole.