The Princess's Guard ✔️

10

Pulling one of my arms free, I rear back to punch him straight in the face, but he swiftly dodges me, trying to grapple me toward the bed.

I thrust my entire body weight downward, trying to pull him along with me, but his strength is unexpected.

I should have grabbed my dagger. Why didn't I grab the damn dagger?

Kicking my foot out, I strike his leg, his balance wavering. I use his moment of panic to wrestle myself free, sprinting for the door.

The handle slips through my clammy fingers, but on my second attempt I manage to grasp it, moving to throw it open but a gloved hand appears from the darkness behind me and presses the door shut.

I scream out, for help, for anything, as my mate gets a hold of me a second time, this time managing to force me down onto the bed, where he holds me down by my arms.

I still, staring up at him.

There's just silence, and our heavy breathing.

Nothing seems right to say. His grip is painfully tight, yet he makes no move to strike me, to deal the final blow to my life.

He just stares down at me, his face invisible in the shadow of his hood.

"Please don't kill me, I'll do anything," I whisper.

He doesn't respond. Instead, he suddenly leans down and kisses me.

I'm stunned, my entire body going rigid.

He doesn't push the kiss, his lips soft against mine, yet firm and insistent. The sparks that flutter over my skin are unmistakable.

He really is my mate. It's the truest fact I've ever been confronted with.

And with that, all rational thought vanishes from my mind, replaced with one burning need.

I kiss him back, feeling him react immediately as his lips move against mine.

He doesn't grant me any room to touch him, my arms still pinned down by his hands, but I don't care. His body is partially pressed against mine, hard and impressive, like a warrior.

I don't know who this man is. I've never even seen his face, and yet my entire body suddenly belongs to him. My mate.

He lets go of my wrists, moving one hand to the side of my face, the one cradling the back of my head, fingers winding through my hair.

I'm breathless, but I don't want to stop, addicted to the taste of him, the feeling of his strong back under my palms.

I could touch his face, feeling his skin, but risking ruining this moment is too much for me to bear.

Even though I know, somewhere deep in my mind, that this is wrong.

No. This is wrong.

With all my strength, I push his chest, causing him to stumble back and away from me.

"You're my mate," I blurt out, even though it's painfully obvious to the both of us.

He stands there, unmoving, not looking ready to pin me down again, although I can see him tense, ready for any movement I make.

"You want to kill me, and I'm your mate," I snap, the haze of desire over my mind finally starting to dissipate, a cold reminder of the kind of man who I've been paired with striking me.

He folds his arms over his chest, slowly shaking his head.

"Take your hood off, I won't tell anyone who you are. I just want to know," I insist.