Chapter 14: Kieran

“Why did you suddenly run off?”

Kieran’s towering figure appeared from the shadow of the trees, followed by a worried Lind.  He was carrying his axe, as if he were preparing to strike anyone dead.  He glanced around, making me worried of him seeing the stranger.

But he was gone.  In a blink.

“The stranger told me to come here, and he left me… these.”  I showed him the pouch and the military-grade box, wondering if it would be reasonable enough for him.

But Kieran barely glanced at them.  He walked towards me with his long strides until he was a few inches away.  His nose flared.  “Are you out of your damn mind?  You just escaped an ambush earlier, Hestia Locke! Are you really that eager to die?”

I didn’t answer because I knew that he had a point.  It was foolish for me to just trust that stranger when we were not even sure about his true intentions.  I tossed the pouch to him and bent down to pick up the box.  “Look, I know I was foolish to do, but trust me, I’m fine.  I can handle myself—”

He scoffed.  “Oh, please.  Don’t pull that on me.  Just because you’re powerful, doesn’t mean you can run off to any man without even thinking of consequences! This is why you got—”

His mouth shut.  I glared at him, my claws revealing.  Lind immediately stepped in between us, but what could a lanky kid do to stop us?

“Finish it,” I growled.  “Finish it right in front of my face, I dare you.”

Kieran’s mouth gaped, but he instantly shut it again.  He looked away from me, lowering his axe.  Before he could say anything, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

“Uncle Reuben? What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, just checking in.  I heard the Council approved your request.”

I cleared my throat and stepped away from the two for a bit, in an attempt to calm my nerves.  “Yeah, they did… The competitions will begin at the Festival.”

“Good.  Please do tell us if you need anything.  We might not be worth much, but we will do everything we can to support you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Uncle Reuben…”

I waited for him to end the call.  “Hestia, the house you’ll be living in… Was owned by Kieran’s mother, Lady White.  That’s where she died as well, after getting ambushed by Black Wolves. Can you… look after him for me?  I know the memories of his mother bring Kieran a lot of pain, and he might be irritable, so I’m asking for your understanding…”

“Of course, Uncle.”

I lingered on the phone even after Uncle ended the call, because I was unsure of how I would face him.  The once-rising anger from my chest was now replaced by an emotion I couldn’t explain.

We both almost crossed lines we won’t be able to undo.  He’s my Vassal, and it was natural for him to ensure my safety, but…

Is that it all?

When I turned around, I saw him carrying the box and the pouch.  He didn’t spare me a glance, but his deep voice echoed throughout.  “Let’s go home, it’s already late.”

The drive to the White Manor was quiet.  Kieran didn’t even sit at the back with me.  He just took the passenger seat and left the box with me in the back.  Lind’s eyes were restless as they darted between Kieran and me.

In the end, I remained rooted in my seat, barely moving.

The car stopped in front of a massive manor with an overgrown lawn.  Lind pushed the car into the Manor’s premises before stopping in front of the front door.

“Pick any rooms you want.  I’ll make sure the water and electricity are running,” Kieran swiftly said before instructing Lind to bring the box inside, to the armory on the first floor.  Before I could say a word, he disappeared somewhere else.

I followed Lind into the Manor, with this strange emotion I could hardly describe.  Somehow, Kieran’s avoidance bugged me out.  I had gotten used to him hovering around me like a small helicopter, nagging me to death.

I thought that was annoying.  But this was worse.

I peeled off my wet clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the water cleanse my mind.

My eyes swung open.  Fuck.  I forgot to bring a spare pair of clothes!

I immediately turned off the faucet and wrapped myself in a towel.  I rummaged through the cabinets inside the room, only to find nothing.

The cold weather worsened the chill gnawing through my bones as soon as I stepped out of my room.  I wandered through the hall, checking for an open room so I could look in, but none of them welcomed me.

I reached the first floor, still draped in the now-soaked towel.  The kitchen was empty, and I could hear soft clattering in the armory…

I glanced through the window leading to the back of the Manor, only to see Kieran chopping wood.  He had removed his shirt and seemed unbothered by the cold weather.

And Goddess forbid for a woman to stare, but who wouldn’t?

He looked… divine.

What? Oh, shut it, Hestia! Just go look for some clothes!

I turned away, immediately going down the hall to check the empty maid’s quarters for a pair of clothes.  I was in the middle of turning a cabinet upside down when I heard the door click, followed by a pair of heavy footsteps.

I turned around, my hand holding my towel tightly around me.  “Who’s there?”

I met his ruby gaze.  Kieran’s throat bobbed as my eyes went down to his bare chest, skipping to his hands, where he was holding a pair of pajamas.  He averted his gaze to the blank wall of the room, as if it suddenly became interesting.

“Why are you running around in a towel?  You should’ve asked me to bring you clothes.”

He placed the pajamas on the maid’s bed and turned to leave.  But before Kieran could shut the door, I wondered what kind of devil possessed me that made me grab his arm.

“Kieran, wait…”  I gulped.  “Can we… talk?”