Sweat had already broke from Jade’s face yet not a single strand of hair had strayed from Isadora’s head. She had to admit Isadora was strong, but not giving her the satisfaction of winning. It would be a disgrace to her if she was defeated in front of the knights.

She tried to attack this time but Isadora was faster. Moving in what could be termed as a blur, she had effortlessly dodged Jade’s attack and given a slash to some flesh. Blood painted the tip of her sword as she stared at it blankly. She looked like one who had been possessed!

The drops of blood falling on the ground brought realization to her, shock and surprise taking the better part of her once calm expression. She turned around gasping at what she had done.

Quickly dropping her sword on the ground, she crouched low to a lift the face of a bleeding Jade. Funny enough, Jade was smiling.

"You did it Isadora. You unlocked your potential!"

What was supposed to be great news to her only acted to scare her more. If this was what her power would do, then what was the need for it? Her gaze settled on Jade’s wound intensifying her worry even more. A cut in the stomach was not only vital but almost incurable! A pool of blood had already formed around a smiling Jade. God! What had she done?

"We need to take her to the infirmary Your Majesty," A knight suggested but Isadora’s thoughts were too clouded to hear anything. Self blame and guilt filled her chest as she watched an unconscious Jade being lifted off the ground. She wanted to follow her but found herself rooted to the spot. For a while, she knelt on the same place staring at her bloody hands. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Tears broke from her face when she imagined the worst. Worse still, she feared going to the infirmary to only be greeted with the dreaded news. She had seen the pain in her eyes behind that smile, pain that she was the cause of. Jade was the only family she had right now and she’d never forgive herself if anything bad happened to her.

In the name of anger, she had stupidly attached her aunt without knowing her inner power had been activated. When that happened, even she didn’t know.

"Isadora?"

She shot her eyes open and there he was. When she least expected him, he had arrived. With two graceful steps, he made his way towards where she was, crouching to be at her level.

"Your aunt will be fine," he said, holding her shoulders.

Wait! He knew it? Did that mean he had come from the infirmary? "How is she?" She asked in anticipation.

"She has lost a lot of blood but still alive. I guess she might survive," he replied, filling her with a sense of hope.

"What happened?" He asked instead.

Isadora bit her lip but answered anyways. "I don’t know what got into me the moment I left the throne hall. I just felt like fighting with anyone. I didn’t expect my aunt would be the victim of my stupidity."

"Is there something that I’m missing?" He raised a brow.

"Like?" She asked with a frown.

"What happened in the throne hall that made you so angry?"

She looked at him with wide blue eyes. What would she say now? That the mention of her sharing him with another woman was what made her mad? How would he react? She was the one who came up with the empire idea to begin with, which obviously led to the marriage thing. Maybe it was a mistake in the first place.

"I-I... just found out that some of Griffin’s men had escaped." She lied.

Alexander just looked at her sceptically and he could see everything in her eyes. She was just bad at lying. He took a step closer without breaking eye contact with her, and she did little to run from him. "And you think I’ll believe that? I had every disciple of Griffin tracked and killed already."

Isadora, " ".

"Tell me Your Majesty," he said tucking a strand of her loose hair behind her ear. "What really happened in the throne hall?"

Damn it! He was so close that Isadora couldn’t think straight anymore. His scent invaded her senses reminding her of the old days. Days when this shameless jerk used to seduce her at any available opportunity. She liked it though.

"Tell me," he whispered in her ear creating a tingling sensation that worked magic. Isadora tried to say something but her voice came out hoarse. Lord! What had happened to her voice?

His lips trailed on her neck momentarily shutting her mind completely. He knew to hit her on the right spot! His eyes never left hers for once, an evil smile curving on his lips as if he was enjoying the little torture he was administering.

"I’m waiting," he added, fanning his warm breath on her skin. And given the intimate position they were in, Isadora could guess what he was up to. She caught her lower lip between her teeth. Damn! Such a simple action had already activated the alien feeling. Butterflies were racing in her stomach already and Alexander seemed to stop at nothing. What was the question in the first place? Damn it!

"Or would you like me to ask in a more pleasing way?" He asked smirking evilly. He must be satisfied with his evil tricks!

And as if spellbound, Isadora found herself parting her lips. "Yes." It came out as a whisper but she knew he heard it due to the smile of satisfaction on his face.

His breath trailed southwards before he planted a soft kiss on her shoulder. His cold lips against her skin sent a ripple through her body that would turn to be a blazing inferno. He planted his soft kisses on her bare shoulder trailing upwards until he halted on her lips. A blush crept her face at the way he looked at her.

His lips landed softly on hers having her heavenly taste that he so much missed. So sweet she was that the soft kiss turned into a wild one, and the hands he had vowed to keep to himself were now roaming her body!