The Crown's Entrapment

While eating her meal, Xenia felt like something was stuck in her throat whenever she tried to speak. She had been trying to tell Darius about the theory that her mother had about them completing the Mate Bond and possibly activating the angel blood and its power within her.

She had promised Jayra that she would do it at the first opportunity she got during their journey, but the hesitation lingering in her heart made it all the harder for her to speak.

Darius’s words a while ago melted her very being. She could feel the sincerity in his words, how heavy the loads they carried especially when he told her that he couldn’t afford to lose her.

Still, completing the Mate Bond was a dilemma for her, merely because of the fact that she cared for Darius too much. Nothing could really tell how the outcome would be in those five trials for her to become Queen despite how confident she was. Already, just the thought of Darius suffering and feeling pain because of her almost made her want to run away and dodge the pain altogether. Not that she was even allowed to do that anymore…

Chewing on her food slowly while sneaking glances at Darius, Xenia wondered how she should start her explanation. Or not… Would she even manage to keep that promise she made to Jayra?

Silence reigned… Even after they finished dinner and finally laid on the comfortable bed and cuddled with each other, not a single word had been said between them._.

[0)ᴠʟ Eventually, however, it was Darius who first broke the silence and said, “Tell me, Xen. What’s bothering you? I’ve tried being patient, but the wait is killing me. Please don’t hesitate and tell me what’s wrong.”

Xenia sighed as she moved and sat up on the bed. Darius followed suit… Sitting upright, she could feel the sways and bobs of the ship they sailed through the waters.

“Are you dizzy?” Darius worriedly asked.

Xenia shook her head. She then smiled at him as she gently caressed his face.

“Xen…” he called out, urging her to speak.

Well, that was her cue. Letting out a sigh, she began, “Earlier, my mother sent a message to Jayra. You see, she has this habit of getting a sample of blood from me and my siblings and using them for various tests and comparisons. Apparently, it’s to check on things since there was always a punishment for every fallen angel that failed to abide by the rules of heaven.”

She rambled on, “They mostly referred to it as a curse, a curse that would go on through the fallen angel’s lineage. As of today, there are various types of curses, but none could actually tell what its definite form is, only that one sibling from every generation would bear the supposed curse.”

Xenia paused, making sure that Darius was still listening to her. Sure enough, he was still keenly doing so, his hands holding onto hers as he gently squeezed them as if urging her to continue.

The princess took a deep breath as she spoke in length.

“During mother and father’s union, the sky cried blood. Everyone witnessed the event, and it was assumed that the heavens did not bless the union between my parents. Our people knew that it was a sign that a cursed child would be born. A part of it was true, of course, but no one exactly knew that the reason for the event was because of the fact that my mother was a fallen angel,” she explained.

“Hmm, I see,” Darius hummed. “Honestly, the existence of fallen angels is nothing but a myth to us. Until that day when you told me that you have angel blood in your veins, I would’ve brushed off their existence as simply myth. Now, however…”

He nodded as he continued, “I would love to know more about such things, but I’m cautious enough not to investigate the matter knowing that it might risk your mother’s existence.”

He then added, “In truth, I’ve wanted to ask you more about it, but I thought that I should patiently wait for you to open up to me about it. It’d be best if I simply held off until you’re ready, or if you think you can entrust such sensitive and private matters to me.”

Xenia blinked at his words. She honestly wondered why Darius didn’t bother asking about such details when she had already told him about the angel blood running through her veins. Now, she understood his reason, at least.

“You’re so considerate,” she voiced out with a sweet smile curling onto her lips. How cute… Wasn’t she so lucky to stumble upon this Werewolf King while fighting for her life against barbarians during their first encounter?

Darius’s face lit up and blushed against the light illuminating their cabin. “How come you can always make my heart flutter?” he murmured, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Ah, please continue and distract me from pouncing at you right here and now.”

Xenia simply nodded, chuckling as she continued. “So right now, no one can tell who among us is cursed. Although… Mineah, my poor sister…”

She sighed, “Everyone simply assumed she was the cursed princess because of the different hue on her eyes. For all we know, it could be me or Ezekiel. So ever since then, my mother has never stopped testing our blood. She also wants to know about the curse, and how she could somehow stop it or at least make a cure if she could somehow tend to it and ensure our safety.”

“Even if it’s you, I wouldn’t really care,” Darius bluntly informed.

Xenia smiled at his words as she kept on rambling.

“Hmm… Finally looping back to what I was about to say, while Mother was checking on my blood, she discovered that when you fed me some of your blood to subdue the Tatar Berry poison… well, something happened. She said there were some positive reactions, making my blood powerful. And that power wasn’t coming from your blood, since that power… She sensed it purely from my own blood,” she explained. “Somehow, your blood inside my body triggers that power to manifest.”

“So you only need my blood to grow stronger then?” Darius questioned.

“It will only be temporary, and it won’t boost the angel blood to its full potential, apparently,” Xenia stated with a sigh. “It’ll easily wear off… So instead, what she’s suggesting is something that will bind us together in a more permanent fashion.”

Darius’s face lit up as he whispered, “The Mate Bond… It isn’t temporary like my blood. The bond won’t just simply bind us by blood, but it will link us together for our entire lifetime, Xen. If that’s the case, then we should do it and see how it will improve you throughout the training.”

“But it’s risky. It’s just a theory, and we’re not even sure if it’ll even work,” Xenia worriedly sighed. “If we complete the Mate Bond… Your life will be linked to mine. If something happens to me, you…”

She trailed off, unable to continue her words as tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She was trying her best to control herself from crying but…

As if feeling her distress, Darius pulled her in for a tight and warm hug as he said, “Take your time to think this over, Xen. I believe that this is something worth the risk. I know you’re only thinking about my welfare, but know that it’s something that I’m willing to do, Xen.”

He firmly added, “Remember, everything that involves you is always worth taking the risk for me. So please, can you also think the same? Take this risk because you want to do everything in your power to make sure that you can stay by my side no matter what…”