"Leave me!" I yelled ignoring the setting we were in. Fang held me tightly so I wouldn't fall but that was the last thing I wanted, to be associated with this ingenious man at cheap tricks.

Fang stretched his neck to look down at me as I was this close to him, "You sure you would be fine without me little one?"

My eyes darted into his dark ones, an odd kind of irritation setting over me. His lips rose up in an evil smirk as if he read the words I was about to say next. "I will choose death over your help", my teeth gritted probably more at his smile than at the situation.

Fang's eyes crinkled at the side as the smile on his lips broadened. "Too self-sufficient, aren't we? Okay," I felt his hand loosen and my heart hitched inside my chest, the thought of falling made my grip strong on his collar instinctively as my body tried to protect me before my dignity.

My heart did a full sprint as a natural fear of height spun my head. This had only gotten worse as before I could correct my instinct, his hand gripped me tightly against him once again, "The pace at which your heart is going you might have a heart attack, little one"

His words gave a different shade of red to my skin, how shameless he can be to point out the fact that he could feel my heart. I noticed the closeness now more than before, "Let me go!" My hands struggled against his chest to derive a significant distance.

"Okay!" Came his nonchalant reply and before I knew it, my body was free falling. For a split second, everything went by in slow motion as the lightness enveloped my skin and my eyes rose to meet his Black eyes that stared at me intently with the same expression he had when he let go of me.

This was treetop, a sky-touching for that matter, how can he just let me go? Just like that?

And then came the first blow. My body flopped down the branches like a sack of grains. I desperately tried to hold onto something with my twisting and turning self and the scenery spinning in front of my eyes.

What was wrong with Fang? Can't he at least warn me!

I fell hitting my stomach against a branch and finally, it came into my grasp. My fingers clawed the branch as my body was about to go yet another round falling, my arms successfully stopped my momentum and pulled myself up to have finally found a safe footing now.

I breathed life infused air into my lungs. A drop of sweat dripped from my forehead and fell, as my eyes followed it I took in the height from where I was sitting.

I was sure to have broken a bone or two if I had not stopped myself in time.

My ears stood up to a sudden movement on the neighbouring branch, I turned to see Fang landing safely on that branch. The face he made set my nerves on fire, how can he look this amused at someone's pain!

Fang took a look at me scanning everything and his palm raised to cover his face. I saw his shoulders move and then the sound of the laughter became more and more evident.

My blood boiled at his gesture, how can someone be so displeasing that you don't even wish to breathe the same air as them.

He said barely able to control his laughter as hid his sharp devious canines, "you looked like a cat who was about to fall into the water, so desperate for your little life"

I snarled at him, "You were the one who left me to fall"

"You were the one who asked for it," his words were quick as the hand covering his face left its place and his tongues caressed his unnaturally sharp canines. Fang tilted his head slightly, "are you suggesting I should have held you close to me, where I could feel your heartbeat against mine and you could hold onto me tightly?"

My eyes darted away as I remembered the space we shared a moment ago. I was always strictly kept away from boys as a kid and when I was locked up in the dungeons for the next 14 years, the only person I met was Dandeline and my trainer.

I was a child imposed with thoughts that even looking at a man before marriage could red paint my character. And here I was, just a few weeks out of the castle sharing this amount of proximity with a man I utterly hate.

My eyes didn't go back to his as I got up, brushing off the dirt and the leaves my clothes had caught onto.

There were minor injuries on my skin but nothing major, I couldn't fathom the thought of how the bones in my limbs could have been displaced if I had hit the ground after being manhandled by the branches.

"Excuse me, I don't have time for your shit right now," I cleared my throat and jumped up again. It had taken me enough time to reach the top previously and I couldn't afford to lose any more of it.

But Fang laughed again and louder this time. It was deliberate and that only got on my nerves, this man could trigger me even at the sight of him!

"SHUT UP!" I shouted, gritting my teeth, it happened without my notice and I immediately regretted my words.

Fan's lips curled in a wicked smile, "little one, you are in my territory right now. Are you suggesting I listen to you in my own kingdom? I wouldn't mind it though if you rule by my side here"

My face ridiculed at his words, "your kingdom? Do you forget it belongs to my father?" I decided to ignore his subtle hint at proposing our marriage.

He came up smoothly, jumping on the branch I stood on. He was moving around on the tree as if he does this every day, "Really? Then tell me, daughter of the ruler, what brings you here?"