CHAPTER NINE: HE SPANKED HER

The hands on her waist felt cold. She struggled a bit before that familiar scent hit her. She relaxed her body into his and allowed him to control her until they reached their mountain. They had decided to call it Starlight Mountain because of the way the mountain glowed at night. 

"Cough, cough," Lunneta feigned weakness upon seeing the dark look on her mate's face. 

"You have some guts, sneaking out of the palace. Maybe I should report you to the king," Kai threatened, releasing her from his hands and shifting away from her. 

"Isn't it just a little bit of fun?" Lunneta said, rolling her eyes. But she saw that his face was still dark and felt that he was really angry. 

"Oh. Just a bit of fun, and you went out playing and even got injured. Indeed, just a bit of fun," Kai was truly angry. He had felt her pain the moment the sword sliced through her skin. Kai drew her close to him, turning her around. 

"Pah, pah, pah," he gave her three good spanks on her buttocks. Lunneta opened her mouth in shock and embarrassment, her whole face turning red. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. 

"How dare you. My father wouldn't even hit me," she punched Kai's chest in anger, her body still reeling in shock. That place felt numb from the heat of it. 

"Would you dare sneak off again?" Kai asked, coldly looking at the lady who was about to cry. 

"That's none of your business," Lunneta was actually angry too. She just went out to have fun and got scolded. A lone tear slid down her left cheek. She didn't know if it was from the pain of the wound on her waist or the burning sensation on her behind. 

"Don't cry anymore," Kai coaxed, drawing her into his hands. He cleaned her tears, sighing softly. Who knew her tears would fall harder at his words, leaving Kai speechless. The tears smudged the makeup on her face, so he cleaned it with his handkerchief, her face having a clean appearance. 

"I'm sorry, Luu," Kai whispered softly. He did not feel comfortable seeing her red eyes. 

"I'm fine," Lunneta felt embarrassed that she had cried in front of him. She rested her head on his chest, enjoying his embrace. 

"Sit," he led her to some rocks, kneeling before her. 

"Gasp," Lunneta shivered as Kai's hands touched her waist. She was shocked at his action. Although they were soul mates, they hadn't gone further than kissing since the day they confirmed their relationship, so she didn't know how to act about it. 

"Stay still," Kai warned. He tore a piece of his cloth, his hands entering her clothes as he wrapped the cloth around her as a bandage. 

"Next time, be careful," Kai warned, still getting angry that she was injured. 

"After all I had taught you, you learnt nothing," Kai admonished her, taking care of her wounds. 

"I've heard you, old master. You'll surely get older than you look," Lunneta teased him. 

"What if your fight has started? Are you going back to the arena?" Lunneta asked, slightly worried. She didn't want to hold him back. 

"No," Kai replied. "We are going back to the palace." After making sure everything was okay with her, they set off. 

They landed close to Lunneta's courtyard. "Be careful," Kai spoke, his lips close to her ears, his hot breath blowing on her earlobes. Her ears turned red, and Lunneta shivered slightly. 

"So sensitive," Kai laughed, earning her ire. "I'm leaving," he vanished. 

"Your Highness," Orion called out, walking towards her in suspicion. She was sure she heard the princess speaking to someone. For a moment, she had seen dark wings. 

Lunneta inhaled deeply, her face passive as she stared at Orion, who was walking towards her. 

"Your Highness," Opie bowed. "Who were you talking to just now?" She asked, her face filled with malice and gossip. 

"You better go see a doctor or wash your face well," Lunneta replied, sending her a fleeting glance before walking towards her courtyard. 

"Who does she think she is?" Orion stomped her legs in anger. "There must be something fishy going on. I will watch you closely from now on," Orion snickered and walked towards the room prepared for her family. 

A few hours later, Lunneta had washed up and changed her dress. "I must be more careful, but maybe I should tell mother about the bond." As the thought took root in her head, she quickly flew in the direction of her parents' courtyard, startling her maid again. 

"Your Highness," Opie hastily called, sloppily flying behind her, but she was still slow. By the time she got there, Lunneta wasn't in sight. 

Soon, Lunneta got to her father's courtyard. She knew by this time her mother would also be there. She quickly announced her appearance before walking in, taking no heed of the servants bowing to her, her hair swaying as she walked. 

"I was about to call for you," Alexander smiled happily at the sight of his daughter. 

"Father, Mother," Lunneta bowed before running into her mother's arms. 

"Come, dear, this is your birthday gift," Lunneta looked at the row of precious items on the table and couldn't help laughing happily. Her parents really loved her. She moved to sit beside her mother, hugging her childishly. 

"Do you like it?" Alexander asked, sitting with his family, looking at his daughter with a kind smile. 

"Yes, thank you, father," Lunneta's eyes twinkled with happiness. 

"Right! What do you think about Jordan, the son of the High Ambassador to the western region?" Alexander asked, looking intently at his daughter. 

Lunneta continued munching on the snacks on the table. She really wanted to ignore the question, but the pressure from their stares was getting too much. 

"I think he is okay," Lunneta shrugged. Her waist throbbed a bit at her words, her eyes darkened. 

"Then how about I get you engaged to him?" Alexander said, laughing. 

"What!" Lunneta knew they already had this plan, but hearing her father say it out loud made her realize how serious it was.

"You don't like him," Helia asked softly. "Don't you want to be closer to your best friend?" 

"I really want to stay with you. Are you willing to see me marry so early?" Lunneta whined. She really didn't know how else she could protest. 

"You just turned eighteen; that's the right time to marry. And you are not going far away. He is the princess consort, meaning he would live in the palace with you and rule together," her mother replied patiently. 

"Princess Consort?" Now Lunneta really wanted to cry, but no tears came out. Kai was an heir too. He couldn't leave his throne to come be a princess consort in Light Crescent. It seemed like the relationship was destined to fail. Lunneta sighed unhappily again, getting moody. 

"If you have somebody you like, maybe you should tell father," Alexander said kindly, smiling. Unhappiness was written all over his daughter's face. 

"Really?" Lunneta asked excitedly. 

"You have somebody you like?" The husband and wife looked at each other and then at their daughter in shock. They only said the words casually. Who knew she liked somebody already. 

"Who is he?" Helia frowned slightly. She wasn't really happy. 

"I'll surely bring him to you. Thank you, mother. Thank you, father," Lunneta bowed with happiness, flying out of the room before her mother could say another word. 

"Your Majesty, we need to watch her closely. I didn't even know she had someone she liked," Helia was really worried. She squeezed the handkerchief in her hands tightly. 

"Who is that man that deceived my daughter? Let wait for her to bring him to us then we can deal with him." Alexander's face also didn't look good. Lunneta didn't know that her words would be her undoing. 

On the other side of the world, Kai sat on the floor, his wings spread out behind him. He was sweating profusely from his workout. A bit of black energy swirled in front of him. They seemed to be listening to him. 

"Kael, how is the princess?" Kai asked his secret guard, who appeared from the air. 

"Master, the engagement is almost confirmed," he reported, kneeling. 

Kai sneered, his face becoming cold. "They can try. I want to see who is capable of having my woman." 

"Are you still fighting tomorrow?" Kael asked cautiously. 

"What do you think?" Kai stood up, looking at the vast sky above his head, the stars twinkling. He felt a little disgruntled. Bless the moon! His soul mate was from Light Crescent, and they were forbidden from interacting with one another. 

"Should I kill him?" Kael asked, looking at his master's unsettled face. 

"No need. I will find a way to deal with it." 

"Why don't we kidnap the bride?" Kai sent a deep look at Kael, wondering what was going through his head. He would kill Jordan if he dares to touch his woman. 

"Kai…" Delian called out, walking towards her son with a row of maids following behind her. Immediately, Kael heard her voice, he vanished, blending with the shadows and darkness. 

"I have something to discuss with you," his mother said, refusing to look at him. This kind of cowering mother, he really couldn't afford. 

"Let's go," Kai said coldly, walking ahead, paying no heed to the woman who gave birth to him. 

"Kai, you are now eighteen; although you refused to celebrate your birthday, Mother is looking for a consort for you," her words made Kai pause, his long legs coming to a stop. 

"That's part of your responsibility as the heir," Delian said with glee of happiness as her son's eyes got darker. 

"You remember your childhood friend Merisa," his mother went on bravely, ignoring his dark face. Kai remembered the little girl that cried whenever she saw him. What childhood friend? 

"You have a child betrothal with her. We plan to get you engaged first before getting married. My child must marry first before Helia's child," Delian looked like she had everything planned out right. 

At the mention of Lunneta's, Kai's heart calmed down a bit. "No, I'm not interested," he coldly said to his mother, disappearing. 

"Kai, Kai, Kai," she tried calling him back. "I truly don't know what kind of child I gave birth to. He always faces me as if I was his enemy," Delian complained, her beautiful eyes twirling with tears. Such an image would make anyone feel heartache. 

"Your Highness, the prince only said that because he hasn't seen Lady Merisa recently. Once he sees her, he would definitely change his mind," Delian's maid consoled her as they watched the young man's stiff back disappear.