Chapter 21

The next morning quickly rolled by, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-day. Elena spent the entire night thinking to herself, wondering if she could possibly be the witch everyone seemed to believe she was.

At first, she chalked up the misconception made by her abductor as a result of how barbaric and uncivilized the people of Reeves were. But now, with all four kings of the clover coalition fully convinced she was said witch, the princess began to doubt herself.

"Revive a plant he said, obey me he said...just what does that monster take me for?" She rhetorically asked, staring animatedly at the dead plants, her gaze softened.

"Did he hurt you? I wouldn't put it past him to do something so merciless." The princess thought aloud, taking a feel of it's withered petals and leaves, wondering how it might have in the past.

To lessen her burden, Elena had stared to wrap her chains around her shoulders, making it easier to move both hands freely. At least, that was what she told herself in defense.

In truth, the princess was left traumatized by yesterday's incident with the demon king, and used her chains as a preventive measure. Due to how long they were, after being wrapped around her shoulders, the chains dangled at the tip of her navel.

Which meant, that if the 'brute' ever tried to get familiar with her again, he'd have to first squeeze the chains weighing her down.

"I cannot understand that man, would he stoop so low as to do it with the enemy?" Elena irked at the thought of commiting the sensual scene she read in books, with her abductor.

However, once she thought of doing 'it' with her handsome knight, her cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment.

"I take it that you're not too inconvenienced with your stay, perhaps you have found a way to channel your abilities into reviving the dead plant." Alixandre's unequivocal voice spoke from the window, alerting the princess of his presence.

Elena felt her chest tighten, nay, she felt a sharp sting in her right breast the moment her enemy walked into the tower chamber and headed straight towards the table where she sat.

She reflexively crossed both hands over her shoulders, forming an X over her chest, sending a clear message to him, that she was not for touching.

"Don't delude yourself with delusions, I detest this tower! And your country!" She spat out with venom in her words, wearing the exact look befitting of a regal woman.

"Weren't you supposed to come back in two days? Why are you so eager to show your face to me?" Elena asked with haughty eyes, feeling superior over the realization that her abductor was sexually attracted to her.

'Of course, any man should naturally fawn over beautiful women, it's the law of nature. I suppose even monsters like him aren't immune to feminine charm.' she thought to herself, scoffing at how weak willed men could be.

"Eager? Between the both of us, which one appears to desire the other's company more?" He whispered into her left ear, wearing a wicked smirk Alixandre toyed with the chain she used to guard her body, caressing it sensually.

"Don't spit out lies! I like wearing my chains this way." Elena retorted, unconsciously referring to the chains as her own. She trained her focus on the plant, avoiding how much closer he was to her, just like yesterday.

'Is he daft? Any man with pride would never to woo a woman whose already rejected him. And yet he calls himself a king!' she rolled her eyes at the thought, and folded her arms across her chest instead.

Alixandre pursued his lips as he watched Elena's movements closely, she was just as dicey and disapproving as when he first laid eyes on her. He was convinced, that something, or rather someone, was providing his slave with an extra surge of confidence.

"If that will be all, then you may leave now, I'd like to focus on reviving the plant. After all, I'm meant to be earning my keep here." She retorted crassly, doing something no other person had done before and lived to tell the tale.

"It's interesting how foolish an eighteen year old princess can be, you must have forgotten who I am, and just what I can do to you. Perhaps starving you isn't enough punishment..." He took a pause and caged her chin in his hands.

"I think it's time to remind you your place!" The king said in a loud voice, grabbing Elena by the wrist, pulling her to her feet. Before she could say something in protest, Alixandre dragged her with him towards the window, and then without much thought...

Pushed her out the window!

"Aaaaaaaaaah!" She screeched in a panic, as she felt her entire body falling down the tall tower, putting up a pathetic fight against gravity.

But what made things worse, was the fact that Alixandre stood at the window, with a crazed smile, watching with satisfaction as she fell to her demise.

Elena had talked big about wanting to die and killing herself, but at this dying moment, the princess wanted nothing more than to come out of it alive.

And intact.

Fate, seemed to favor her, because as she shut her eyelids in preparation to endure the most painful death imaginable, a cold breeze, followed by the warmth from a strong pair of arms enveloped her.

Even despite the fear numbing her senses, the princess could hear the sound of wings flapping against the wind, keeping them both in the air. She clutched tightly unto his shoulders and rested her head against his chest, nestling into the arms of the enemy.

"Where's that stern look of disapproval you wear whenever you're around me?" He inquired shamelessly taking advantage of the situation to tease her.

Elena slowly opened her eyes and stared at Alixandre's face for a second, then diverted her gaze to underneath her feet, curious as to how high up she was.

She gasped once a bird flew right beneath her feet, it's wings brushing against her toes. The maids underneath her were as little as ants!

"You look far too calm for a slave being punished, I wonder how you would react if I were to..." Elena was too fixated by the fact that she was suspended in the air to pay heed to what he was saying.

It was his next line of action that reminded her that she was not on a sight seeing rendezvous but was in fact being punished.

Alixandre suddenly retracted both his arms from her sides, with the intention of letting her drop to the floor!

"Good heavens!" Elena cried out, clinging unto Alixandre's shoulders, digging her fingernails deep into his skin, piercing through the man's clothes.

As her feet nervously kicked the air, whilst her hands latched unto him, Elena could hear his mocking laughter, eating away at her soul. He swayed his body midair from side to side, shaking off her grip.

"What's wrong?! I thought you despised me! If that were true, then let go!" He taunted repeatedly, trampling all over Elena's pride.

"With the way you're holding unto me, someone might think you might actually harbor feelings for the enemy. A true masochist!" Alixandre mocked, knowing all too well that she would, just like nobles abandon her so called pride and beg for her life.

He cupped her chin with one hand, and brought her frightened eyes to meet his.

"That's good..." He said and slowly licked his lower lip, "I love that expression on your face, count yourself lucky, I'll remember the way your eyes beg for dear life." His fingers dug into her cheeks while he spoke, forcing her lips apart.

Just as he attempted to wrap his arms back around her, Elena's cowering glance strengthened into a piercing fierce gaze. The princess retracted her right hand from his shoulder and rudely slapped his hand away from her face!

With one hand supporting her body weight, the princess parted her lips and said something shocking to Alixandre's ears.

"I hope you remember this as well." She told him and withdrew her other hand, falling gracefully with her lips flattened into a satisfied smile!