Chapter 38

Minrad moved closer to her, and she felt her soul was leaving her. The snake wouldn't stop until she was gone because of what he had done to it, but she was still dying slowly, and it was pissing him off.

He brought his knife out of his pants and raised it above his head, willing to strike her with it.

The door came open interrupting him and acting fast, he stabbed the snake instead, not bothering to know who it was. He just did not want to be caught.

The snake hissed loudly and unraveled itself around Myan.

Minrad knew the serpent would attack and so he pinned it to the floor with the knife against its head.

"What happened to you?" Ash went to where she was and frowned at the snake on the floor. "I sensed she was in trouble,” he snapped.

Myan couldn't talk, it felt as if the snake was still wrapped around her neck. She felt sore and wanted to pass out, her body slowly getting used to the presence of the oxygen once more.

"I was about to get my trap from under the bed when I walked in and saw that she was choking. That snake had wrapped around her, I got it off just in time, thank goodness." Minrad answered for her.

Ash frowned at the snake. Taking deep breaths in and out, he targeted the creature and burnt it with his fire.

"There's no way that could have crawled in here without anyone noticing, someone either brought it in here, or it involves a spiritual background." Ash stood to his feet with a frown. It was clear that he was upset.

"Ash, it has to be the latter, do you think anyone would have the audacity? What one of your weak servants can handle a black mamba?" Minrad made sure to take control of Ash's thoughts. Ash was a strong, smart soul and if they dwelled on the topic longer, he knew it was only a matter of time before he figured things out.

"Then that would equal things getting out of hand." Ash frowned, lifting Myan in his arms like she was a child, "I'll have to do something about it,” he warned. Ever since Myan came into his life, he had been a hundred times calmer and had managed to keep his anger in check, learning how to control his emotions.

"We have to act fast." Ash requested, leaving the bedroom with her in his arms. A confused Minrad trailed behind them and wondered aloud.

"Where are you taking her?" He asked him.

Ash didn’t respond. The only thing that was playing in his head was how his absence had caused that to happen. If they had been further, he would have been too invested in his hunt to sense the danger, she would have lost her life.

His anxiety was triggered. He set her down on the couch, knelt in front of her, cupped her cheeks in one hand and waving a servant carrying in some woods with his other hand.

"Get me some water,” he ordered the servant and without argument, he had what he wanted.

"Can you talk?" Ash wondered.

Myan looked up from Ash in his kneeling position and her eyes landed on Minrad. She had her speech back after a choking fit. She had heard Minrad's story, and she felt obliged to believe him even though she was almost sure that was not what happened.

"Yes,” she managed to mumble; her throat was sore after the terror the snake had caused.

"Do you have any memory of the snake crawling up on you?" Ash wondered.

"No." Myan responded truthfully. "I was asleep and that woke me up.”

Ash nodded and turned to look at Minrad, "go ahead with hunting, I can't take this anymore." He stood to his feet and turned to leave the house. "I'll be back before sunrise,” he assured them. There was no need for him to tell them where he was going, they automatically knew.

When Myan was alone with Minrad, her instincts wanted to question him, but she decided against it. "Thank you for saving my life, " she said, afraid to be all alone with this man even though she hadn't confirmed that he was responsible for what she had gone through.

He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off when Asha walked into view from the bedroom she had been in. She frowned at Minrad and Myan amd wondered what the two could possibly be talking about.

"Aren't you going hunting anymore? Where you in the bedroom?" She asked both of them.

"Myan was attacked by a snake." Minrad explained sharply Asha was not a big deal for him. She was easy to manipulate, and he knew her well.

"What?!" She gasped, moving closer to Myan. She had on a green gown that was certainly not catchy. "Oh my God, you poor thing, are you okay?" She asked Myan, lifting her head around as if she was a child.

"I'm fine." Myan assured her, "thankfully, your husband came just in time to save me from its hold." Myan added, not taking her eyes off Minrad.

"But how did it even get in here?" Asha groaned.

"Are you okay?" She asked Myan again, still uncomfortable about the entire thing.

"I am." Myan offered her a caring smile.

"I'll be off to hunt now." Minrad informed them. It was clear, he didn't fancy being in their presence. He especially hated himself for a failed plan. He had not expected it to work that easily, but it was the perfect chance.

As soon as he left the mountains, he headed straight to the forest. Yugi had accepted his offer after much conviction that Ash would refuse to behead Myan.

Knowing very well that a personal encounter would raise suspicions, he had performed dream invoking because that was the only possible way for communication for him.

He was trying to do things as fast as possible because Yugi had only agreed to lift the barrier if he could kill Myan before Ash willingly agreed to.

He sighed and carried on with the hunting, hoping to vent his anger on this task.

***

Kassy sat by the entrance to the servant bedroom. Not a single soul from the palace had bothered to send her a letter asking how she was doing since she left.

She couldn't believe she was intentionally living like a servant at the mountains. Now that the people hated Myan, it would serve as a distraction from her, but it wouldn't regain her respect.

She needed Ash's support. For a moment, her mind drifted to Achu and wondered what he could be doing at the moment. Things were going to be tougher for him know if he was still at the hideout. He was stuck between both orders especially with the introduction of the barriers.

She felt like a terrible person for a second, but she was dragged out of that thought when a starling voice called for her, "fourth princess?"

She lifted her head to look at Ash's friend that was staying with them.

Standing to her feet, she waited for him to speak, knowing well he wouldn't have called her randomly.

"You probably already know who I am,” he began with a nod, "I'm Minrad."

"Do you want something?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Myan." Minrad went straight to the point and that caused Kassy to eye him like he was a crazy lunatic.

"What about her? You know where to find her,” she said harshly and added in an inaudible voice, "probably carried like a baby at the minute."

"I read the jealousy in your tone." Minrad put his lips into a smirk and shook his head at her.

"Are you here to mock me?" Kassy folded her arms across her chest, knowing she was the last person to entertain such madness.

"Absolutely not,” he assured her, "In fact, I'm here to help you but I need your help."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She wondered.

"What do you think your ticket to having Ash to yourself is?" Minrad raised one eyebrow.

"I don't want him to myself, I want him to love me again even if it isn't mutual. I'm just so fed up." She frowned. "My father will listen to Ash if he tells him to restore the princess respect." Kassy had a glimpse of hope in her eyes that faded, "but I am starting to feel like that will never happen. I thought Myan would have been dead, I promise you I was not expecting to see her here being treated like a queen,” she scoffed.

"I have better options for you." Minrad chuckled, "what if you get him in a different trap?"

"How so?"

"He has no escape if he gets you pregnant right?" Minrad raised an eyebrow at her.

Kassy widened her eyes. She was determined to have her way but even she thought having a child for Ash was going to far. "He won't even look at me, how will he get me pregnant?"

"I have a seduction potion, okay?" he told her. "For one night, Ash could be under your control and everything you want will be yours. It wears off after the night, but what better way to make things official than a child?" He raised one eyebrow, digging into the pocket of his pants and dangling a red bottle in front of her face.

"What?" She gasped, hesitantly receiving it, "why are you helping me?" She wondered.

"I find it sickening that royalty has to stay in the servants quarter. Ash isn't treating you right, it doesn't matter what you did. He shouldn't let your servant be a significant head over you." He carefully selected his words, knowing what would please her and what possibly wouldn't.

"I guess you're right." She shrugged, "I could stamp my relationship with him by having a child. Goodness knows I'll go as many rounds as required to knock me up," she grinned, her voice low in case there were people trying to listen to what she had to say.

"He will be back to the mountains late, now is your chance,” he assured her.

"But I don't even know how I'm supposed to use this,” she reminded him, suddenly getting anxious.

"Just spray it on any part of him, it's easy." He was getting irritated by talking to her for so long and he most definitely did not want to be caught talking to her since it would raise questions.

"Okay." She nodded, studying the bottle and its content.

"Whoa, don't accidentally spray it on me,” he warned her with a frown and turned to take his leave.

The first part of his plan had taken effect. He was going to make sure Myan caught them in the act and that was his next step. Ash would have no reason to talk to her because of his guilt and Myan would be helpless when there was no one to come to her aid.

With a sinister smirk, he went ahead to meet his wife in the bedroom.

***

Kassy had never been so excited yet so nervous. She had stayed awake, and her excitement gradually wore went Ash did not show up.

She thought he would never show up and this was a terrible idea.

Minrad had been waiting awake as well, unsure of what to do. He didn't want Ash to find him await but he didn't wasn’t Kassy falling asleep as well.

He had a feeling she would take advantage of the situation but sometimes sleep was a demon and there was no telling when it could show up.

He smiled at the thought of his plan coming true.

Kassy was dozing off when she heard the cave door creak. Someone had walked in, and she couldn't hide her relief when she saw it was Ash.

"What are you doing still awake?" He asked her.

She went to where he stood and kept her hands behind her back, the potion Minrad had given her still secured in her sweaty grip.

"I asked you a question, what are you doing awake?" Ash was tired, angered and still irritated from all of that talking with Yugi that had ended on a negative note and seeing her here was irritating him. She wanted something; he could tell but he had no idea what.

"It's…it's nothing,” she stuttered, shaking her head.

He eyed her from head to toe and shook his head, deciding it would be for the best not to pay attention to her.

As soon as he had his back turned to her, she knew that was her chance. With shaky hands, she sprayed him from behind.

When he stopped walking, she froze in place and waited for his reaction. What if it had not worked and Minrad was only doing this to intentionally make fun of her, or worse, get her in trouble with Ash.

She didn't realize she was holding her breath until Ash came closer to her.

He placed his hands on her waist and looked at her from head to toe. "Why do you have such a great body? Your face is beautiful, your…everything is just perfect,” he commented, moving her closer to him.

"I…my lord…" Kassy found that she was unable to compose a complete sentence. She was shocked to see that he had fallen for her trap.

"You don't have to adore me with words though," she smirked, letting go of the small bottle and watched it roll under a chair. "You have the access, you can touch and do whatever you like,” she said, still finding this hard to believe.

She owed Minrad for making her job a lot easier.

Ash ran his hands down her waist and cupped her huge buttocks in his hands, gently squeezing them. Why was he craving her so much? It didn't even feel wrong. "How did I manage to let go of so much?" He referred to her butt. The mass of it was indescribable.

"I don't know either." She didn't know how well the potion worked and so she was careful not to bring Myan up incase that woke him from his hypnosis.

He let out a small moan when he rested his head against her shoulder, "I'm going hard for you,” he mumbled lustfully, following up with another groan.

"Ash?" A small, creaking voice came from the entrance of the bedroom he now shared with Myan.