Red

The cold floors of the Manor were silent under my bare feet. The massive house was somehow silent despite the many sleeping bodies in it. MK crept beside me, his predatory eyes scanning every dark corner and empty hallway.

Dread followed me up the stairs with every step I took. I had been all too comfortable in Ivar's stall. The only problem was that I don't remember how I had ended up down there.

A couple of hours ago, I was drinking in the tavern while watching the local harlots debate whether it was worth the risk to pet MK or not. I got too comfortable, apparently, as I woke up in Ivar's stall with a pounding headache and the urgent need to empty my stomach.

MK seemed less than pleased about sleeping in the barn and so despite Ivar's vehement protest, I peeled myself from the hay-covered floor and made my journey back to my room.

It was clear why my inner alarm bells had been going off as I finally made it to the top floor of the manor.

"And where have you been all night," Ezekiel stood, with his arms crossed, outside of his office.

MK gave the grumpy male a mix between a growl and huff. To which said grumpy male didn't even bother to acknowledge. His green eyes remained zeroed in on me.

His nostrils flared as his eyes narrowed even more on me. Did he just smell me?

"You reek of ale," he scowled at my disheveled appearance.

I truly must've been a sight. My loose-fitting tan pants were covered with straw. One pant leg was tucked into my shin-high boot, while the other covered the other boot. My loose-fitting grey blouse was half-tucked half-hanging over my pants.

If my outfit hadn't made it apparent, I was off-duty tonight. So I chose to spend some coins at the tavern in my most comfortable clothing. Though the clothing definitely would've only gotten in the way, had I been ambushed, I trusted that MK could've handled whatever was thrown our way.

So unlike my usual attire, I let loose. Which I had, admittedly, been doing quite often this past month. Though my usual fears and worries about relaxing were less prevalent with MK around.

The predator never left my side and was always prepared. I found it comforting. To which, I will forever be grateful to the feline... Or male... Or whatever the damn thing is.

"I'm beginning to worry that your abilities are beginning to decline with the lack of work I'm giving you," Ezekiel pondered out loud, though his roving eyes remained on me.

I felt a challenge bubbling in my chest, though a sneaking thought reminded me that that is what he would want. To counter him. To curse him. To challenge him.

The comment was easy to roll off before I gave him a disinterested look as if to say are you done?

I tried to steady myself as we had a stare-off, but it was evident that the ale from earlier still kept a firm grip on my body as I swayed slightly.

His green eyes didn't miss that either. And I suppose it was because of my disheveled state that he backed down. Though I know he would never admit it.

"Clean yourself up. Physically and mentally. Can't have people thinking that the Royal Assassin is as unhinged as rumor says."

His words were harsh.

And had they come from anybody else, I would've slit their throat.

However, through the liberty of whatever confusing-fucking-relationship we shared, he was entitled to call me out.

Though that didn't stop the growl from my protector that rumbled the floors we stood on.

The only acknowledgment that Ezekiel gave the feline was a glare before he turned on his heel and disappeared in his room.

Once he was out of sight, MK relaxed and turned from my hip as he lazily padded to my closed-bedroom door. He didn't wait for me to open it as he nosed the handle up and pushed inside.

I scoffed at the sight of the predator dragging his feet to my bed before jumping up and stretching out across the foot of it. He acted as if he was exhausted, and considering he was already snoring by the time I had changed clothes, I couldn't blame the poor thing.

I nearly felt bad for putting the feline on guard duty all night long while I got drunk and slept in the stable. Though I suppose, if it really bothered him, he could leave at any time.

There was nothing binding the murderous cat to me. He was the one who wandered into my room and continued to follow me every day, after that. Though something in my chest fluttered at the thought that the spirit inside the feline had chosen me. Chosen to follow me. To guard me.

I dozed off with a smile as I slid my feet underneath the large cat. His heat, combined with his snores, and the ale coursing through my system, provided me with a soft lullaby that sang me to sleep.

It wasn't too much later though that I felt the bed dip and a warm arm snake around my waist.

My feet were yanked from their cozy spot underneath MK as Ezekiel pulled me to his chest. My back met his rock-hard abdomen as he nuzzled his face into my neck. His warm breath fluttered across my hair as he sighed.

Then the slightest whisper rang through the room.

"I wish you would trust me."

And although it was nearly five minutes later that he too joined MK in a symphony of snores, I was wide awake.

My thoughts raced over his words. Why would he say that? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?

And although confusion tainted my every thought, one thing was clear. I had no fucking clue what Ezekiel wanted from me.

Several hours later and the dawn of a new day still hadn't brought me any answers. In fact, I was even more confused by the time the stealthy male released me from his embrace and crept out of my room.

As the door to my room shut behind him, I flipped to my back and stared at the painted ceiling above me. The peace that my ocean scenic ceiling usually brought me was nowhere to be found. Instead, I was now frustrated.

The predator at my feet yawned while stretching out his murder mits. His intelligent blue eyes watched me intently. And although I said nothing to him, he still seemed to sense my inner turmoil as he playfully threw his head against my foot.

His action was wordless but still read like a book. Get out of bed. The cat seemed to tell me.

So, with little to no thought, I crawled out of my giant bed and headed straight for the shower.

I figured a shower would do me no harm before I went down to see Ivar. And I figured right once I stepped out of the magical room, feeling refreshed and happy.

The cat on my bed seemed so also. Though his sudden change in mood was likely due to the fact that I had forgotten to bring clothes into the washroom and was now padding -naked - across the wood floors to my closet.

His growl of disapproval filled the room as I shut the closet door behind me and got dressed inside.

This was one of those moments that I knew a male inhabited the spirit within the large predator.

Once dressed, I changed my now-straw-covered bedding and tidied up my room, before promptly making my way downstairs.

MK followed suit as I dropped off laundry in the usual basket and made my way to the stable.

His pace matched mine while he walked at my hip, though his bristling didn't go unnoticed as I rolled back the massive stable door.

I watched as the feline went on full alert. The hairs on the back of his neck stood tall and claws protruded from his fuzzy paws. It was intimidating.

At quick glance, the stable appeared empty. And it was until I stepped inside and allowed my eyes to adjust to the dark-interior lighting, that I spotted the threat.

The male figure knew he had been spotted as he jumped down from where he had sitting on the wooden ceiling beams. His bare feet absorbed his landing and were planted firmly as he stood tall.

The massive, imposing male cocked his head at me. He wasn't sizing me up, but rather taking me in.

I couldn't help but return the favor, as I hadn't gotten the time to do so during our last meeting.

The male before me was huge. By far the tallest I had seen and fought. His white hair was cropped short and paired with his pale blue eyes, he looked... Icy.

He, surprisingly, wasn't wearing the colors of his home continent. Instead, he wore a white cloak that shined in pristine condition. His bare feet peaked out below his cloak and I nearly chuckled at the sight. The sleeves of the cloak shifted as he did and I couldn't help but notice a peeking of ink.

The male reached for my horse, who snorted curiously at him. I was struck at the sight before me. At the traitor before me.

A month ago, Ivar couldn't stand to be in the same field as this male. And now, here he was whoring himself out for some pets.

The Prince's Guard petted Ivar with a strange motion. As if he had never done so before. As if he was just as surprised by my horse's actions.

He shook off whatever curiosity he had and turned back to me. His ocean blue eyes took me in again.

"I'm glad to see the cat has recovered," the male spoke with a deep, warm voice. Though he seemed unsure as to what to refer to MK as.

The cat in question watched the male with lethal attention. He was not about to let our last interaction go easy, it seemed. His body pressed against my hip and I felt every muscle in his body ripple. He was poised - ready for anything.

I watched the male retract his hand, noting the shift of his cloak and the fact that it seemed as if he wore no shirt underneath.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my words clipped and short. I hated wasting my words.

But alas, I saw no way around this interaction. The male had proven he knew where I resided and that he knew how to access the thing I care about most. He was officially dangerous.

"Just figured I would check up on you," his words were accompanied by a slight pull at his upper lip as if he found something humorous.

"I've stayed away from the prince." Except for the time he followed me and sat with me in a field. But that was completely his own choice.

"So it seems, yes." the male took a step closer - almost like he was testing the waters.

MK's responding growl was one that dared him to do it again.

"Then I fail to see why you're here," I glared at the imposing male and his strange behavior.

"Hmm, yes. You do have a point," He said as if he was pondering out loud. His blue eyes shifted from me to the feline at my hip. "It's truly good to see another rare species around," his words were not directed at me.

And MK's bristling body confirmed that.

"I was worried that you wouldn't make it," he spoke to MK. "Tell me, how long has it been since you shifted? I've always heard how dangerous it is for your kind to stay in one creature for too long." The male's head tilted in question. A challenge blooming in those icy blue eyes.

I saw it then. The trap he was laying out for MK. He didn't come here for me. He was here to lure MK out, to rile him up, to make him shift.

The feline didn't care though as his muscles tightened and he suddenly lunged at the male. Though like their first altercation, the wyvern shifter was faster.

MK skidded to a halt and turned to face the male who had slid out of the way. That's when I saw it. The sparkle in his navy blue eyes. The magical speck that alluded to the illusion behind all that fur.

The male hummed a noise of approval as he saw it too. That was the first and only hint that I had to suggest that the wyvern shifter wasn't 100% in his belief that MK was anything but a giant cat.

So he was here to get information. I concluded.

Interesting. And of course, MK had handed it right to him.

MK watched the male who had turned his attention to me.

"You know, that is a rare treasure you have there," he pointed at the predator who dared him to make a move. "One should be honored that they've been chosen by such a precious creature," the wyvern shifter told me with a strange bow of his head.

I could barely muster a response before the male disappeared. Like actually disappeared, right before my eyes.

I was in shock and even more confused than before.

What the hell was with males today and their confusing ass-selves?

I scoffed before turning towards the one male in my life who wasn't confusing. Ivar snorted at me while pawing at the ground.

I knew he was anxious to get out and go for a ride. Because, unlike every other male, Ivar was simple and I had no problem understanding him nor what he wanted from me.

~~~~~~

Thank you for reading Chapter 18! I hope you enjoyed this extra-long chapter! I hope it sort of makes up for the absolute lack of updates. I do sincerely apologize as I've been so incredibly busy these past couple of months. Lemme know what you thought about this update in the comments!