Chapter 11

He didn’t move, didn’t bear his fangs, didn’t growl, didn’t acknowledge them even though everyone was bowing. Just silence. Majestic, he just sat there, like he knew the world would fall on his feet if he so much as breathed.

He look around the mess he had created. The open roof, the broken glasses, the chairs, tables and people all over the place.

He turned to me instead, slowly, lazily.

My heart stopped and my legs shook. He was strikingly beautiful, but clearly a very dangerous beast.

He tilted his head, urging me to come.

I guess.

I didn’t speak nine-tailed fox. But I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to go close to something that was bigger and taller than me.

A look fell on his eyes. One I recognize all too well. Amusement. He found it funny that I was scared.

I glared at him, then remembered my situation and slowly made my way towards him. Up close, he was even bigger than I imagined. The bear was a joke. And he was so beautiful and majestic, I couldn’t breathe. My hands itched to touch his furs yet my heart was pounding so loud, the whole room must have heard. And maybe he could tell, because he lowered his head and nuzzled my stomach. Shocked gasps followed .

I didn’t move.

But he pushed, rubbing against me, my dress making it hard to ignore the ticklish feeling that followed till I giggled and ran my hand through his furs, unable to stop myself. He was so soft, my heart could explode. Then I relaxed into him, happy, grateful.

He came.

I don’t know how long I remained like that for. But strong arms suddenly wrapped around my waist. I stiffened as that sweet, peppery scent hit my nostrils and I realized he shifted back. A little too seamless.

“All rise.” He entered, and I immediately tried to pull away but he held me in place. Ignoring everyone else as they watched us. I kind of understood how he could just do whatever he wanted before now.

When he was satisfied, he let go of me and turned his attention to the chief of the bear clans.

“I will be taking her.” He took my hand, intertwining it with his. Eyes widened. My father and mother looked shocked. Their guests were whispering and the bears glared.

“This woman belongs to me.” Knox growled, stepping forward. I shriveled closer to Kane, remembering his threat.

“I remember saying the claiming was suspended, indefinitely.”

“But she is mine.” He didn’t step back.

“I never agreed to this.” I snapped. He laughed.

“Your agreement isn’t required. What is mine stays mine.” He smirked. Cocky, victorious. It didn’t matter if the empire came in. That was what he was saying. And I was fucking tired of getting pushed around by bastards like him.

“I belong to no one but myself.” I moved away from the prince, glaring at him head on. Gasps followed my degree and my parents stared at me like I had lost my mind.

“None of that now, love.” Kane pulled me back to him, his hand wrapped around my waist. I turned to him. He smiled, meeting my eyes.

“You belong to me.”

Before I could understand what he meant, his lips came on mine. Fierce, sweet, hot, like fire branding my flesh, laying claim. A tease that burned at my senses. My skin turned hot. The spot between my legs, ticklish and warm. My body came alive, filling me with the spicy and sweet scent that made me want to beg for more, till we were skin deep, sweaty and fucking exhausted.

Another gasps. Then growls.

I snapped out of it, and tried to pull away but he kept me still with his hand at the back of my head, and the other on my waist till he was satisfied. Then he pulled away, meeting my eyes. The green in his eyes a few shades darker while the gold flecks bloomed like sunlight. He let go of my head, but his hand on my waist stayed.

“I will be taking her.” He repeated, meeting Knox’s eyes, daring him to protest. Then he turned to the chief, then my parents.

“Except you want to defy the imperial prince.” He added. Knox glared, the fight still there, but the warning and threat keeping him still.

“At least the bear clan have a good head on them.” Kane smiled. And took my hand. And without saying anything else, he walked away from the hall.

I didn’t look back, I feared what I would see if I did. So, I followed him quietly. Till he stopped, then lifted me in a bridal style.

“What are you doing?”

“Shhh…” he flew into the sky. My heart lodged in my throat and cold air pierced my skin like needles. I shrieked and wrapped my hands around his neck.

“You really don’t like heights huh?” He chuckled, then came to a stop. I realized with dread that I was at the mercy of this man when we just hovered in the sky.

How was he flying?

“No, it’s you I don’t like.” I glared at him. He grinned.

“Even after I just saved you from that savage?”

I swallowed and tightened my hand around him. He laughed loud, free and mocking.

“I hate you.”

“I can always send you back to the bear.” He grinned.

“I am sure Knox will be happy to teach you a lesson on how to conduct yourself as his claimed.”

I froze.

I said nothing else and he continued gliding through the sky. A lot more slowly. But I had to remember that he might be laughing now, but he was a nine tailed fox. One the bears were scared of. And a fucking prince. He could have me in worse situations than Knox ever could if he wanted.

I don’t know how long we flew for, I didn’t look to see. But sometime later, he descended and I opened my eyes to find us surrounded by rocks and large mountains. I looked down and stumbled backward, pressing myself flat against the rock hard edges realizing we were somewhere in the middle of a mountain.

“Are you going to kill me?” My heart raced.

He chuckled and turned to the wall of the mountain.

“I don’t have to hide to do that?”

“Then are you going to force yourself on me?”

“That would be a delight.”

My heart stopped. He turned to me, a strange look passing through his gaze.

“Willing women tastes better and it wouldn’t be hard to make you willing.”