"Mark her!" Rayner said.
Asher gasped.
"Mark her? Do you even know what you're saying?" Asher snapped.
"Of course, I do. I am not dense. The only way you can make her yours and keep Kash away is by marking her." He said.
"Do you think she would just give herself to me?" Asher asked.
"You have to make her do that. Stop acting like a crybaby and be a man. Do you know the amount of power you could get by mating with the heiress of the throne of pure magic?" Rayner asked.
"I am not after power, dad. All I want is her love; all I want is for her to look at me; to give me all of her time and to love me more than anything. I am not after any power, whatsoever." Asher narrowed his eyes.
Rayner cleared his throat. "I understand your point, Asher. If you want her to love you as much as you love her then you need to mark her. She loved you first before Kash came into the picture. The only way to break that bond between them is by marking her."
"But, I'm scared of what she's gonna think. I don't want to do anything that would make her hate me," Asher said.
"If you don't mark her, then get ready to do things that will make her hate you. If you don't make her yours now that you have the chance, don't come whining to me when Kash gets her." With that said, Rayner walked out of the room.
Asher ruffled his hair and sighed. Why must everything in his life be so complicated? He hated the fact that Kash always got the good stuff. He was the king of the school whom everyone, including Cassie crushed on and wished to date but then, Kash came out of nowhere and took that away from him.
"Should I really mark her?" He muttered.
****
Queen Lucinda paced around her throne room with her hands on her waist. She was happy and at the same time annoyed. She had planned to have a wonderful fun with Drake but what she saw was totally unexpected. She saw the demon lord in the pool of his own blood, almost breathless. She would have used that opportunity to end his already miserable life but she loved it when her enemies see her prosper and conquer. She loved it more when they watch her get what they want. She wanted Drake to be alive and watch her take over the throne of Athens. She knew with his present condition, he wouldn't be able to cause trouble.
She sighed.
Crystal appeared. "My queen." She bowed.
"I have heard nothing concerning that heiress from you. Suddenly, you stopped giving me the kind of information I wish and loved to hear." Queen Lucinda sat down on her throne.
Crystal bowed. "I am sorry, my queen. It's just that there is nothing going on around her recently. Princess Lily would have tried her luck but she has been careful ever since the paralysis incident." She answered.
"What about that meddling guardian of hers?" Queen Lucinda asked.
"He's stuck to her like butter." Crystal chuckled.
Lucinda chuckled too. "I would love to have a one on one talk with her, don't you think?"
"Whatever for, my queen?" Crystal asked.
"I need to get her ready to work for me. Now that, Drake wouldn't be able to do anything, I want to get her before Rayner does." Lucinda balled her fists.
"Weren't you planning on eliminating her before?" Crystal asked.
"Hèll No! Why would I eliminate something useful?" She chuckled. "Find a time convenient for me; a time she would be alone."
"Okay, my queen." Crystal bowed and disappeared.
****
THE UNDERWORLD
"Why isn't it healing? It's supposed to be back to normal by now." Mia said as she looked at the wounds Drake developed.
"That girl! I'll make her pay!" Drake yelled.
"Not in this condition!" Mia folded her arms.
"I still don't get it. How was she able to hypnotize you?" Ian asked.
Mia poked his forehead. "Why are you so dumb?" She snapped.
"Ouch! I just wanted to know." Ian pouted.
"Even he didn't know how she did it. What do you expect him to say, huh?" Mia snapped.
"Quit arguing and listen to me!" Master Drake yelled and they looked at him. "Find Princess Sapphire and bring her to me. I don't care how you're going to compel her but find a way. If Tairus family is determined to step on my toes, then I might as well finish what they started." He grinned.
"But, your wound!"
"Forget about the wound, Mia. Bring her to me!" He ordered.
"Okay, we get it!" Mia said and they disappeared.
***
"He hasn't woken up yet?" Layla asked as she entered with a tray of food.
"Yes. He will be up tomorrow, I guess." Sapphire looked at Diego's sleeping figure.
Layla smiled and blushed when she saw Kash. "My prince, you're here." She smiled dreamily.
Kash nodded with a smile. Layla wanted to stare at him all day and the fact that she was going to be staying in the same place as him made her scream for joy... inwardly. She was happy this wasn't like the palace back at OREKLION. She had loved him for as long as she could remember and hoped he would love her back one day.
Sapphire was aware of this and now that Kash is in love with Cassie, she is afraid that her pretty maid was gonna get heartbroken.
****
THE NEXT DAY
Cassie jumped down from her bed and quickly took her bath. She didn't know whether Kash stayed with her that night. All she knew was that he was angry at her and she needed to apologize.
She got out of the bathroom and wiped her body dry before applying body lotion. She looked through her wardrobe and settled on a pink gown but when she wore it, she discovered that it was short.
"Oh my! He isn't going to like this." She muttered.
She removed it and wore a white gown that reached below her knees. She took her flats and let her hair down in waves. Her hair was already reaching her waist. She grabbed her bag and ran out of the room.
"Good morning, Aunt. Bye!" She screamed as she ran past the kitchen.
"Wait! You haven't eaten break..." Aunt Maggie sighed. "Where in the world is she rushing to so early in the morning?"
***
Cassie got to the door and knocked. The door opened and a strange lady's head popped out.
"Hi," Layla waved at her.
Cassie frowned. Who is this girl and what was she doing in Kash's apartment? Did Kash bring a girl in because he was mad at her? Layla noticed the frown on Cassie's face.
"Are you okay?" Layla asked.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Cassie asked authoritatively.
Layla was confused. She was about to speak when the door opened wider and Sapphire came out.
"Cassie!" She hugged her.
Layla gasped. "Princess Cassandra! I'm sorry. I had no idea it was you. Forgive my manners, your highness." Layla bowed.
"Who is she?" Cassie asked.
"She is Layla, my personal maid." Sapphire smiled.
Cassie sighed in relief and smiled at Layla who bowed. "Sorry for my time earlier. I was in a bad mood." She smiled at Layla.
"I have no right to be angry at you, my princess." Layla smiled. She couldn't believe that she was standing right in front of the heiress to the throne of pure magic. She was so excited!
"Just call me Cassie." She said and walked in.
"O... Okay." Layla stuttered.
Sapphire entered and closed the door. "Where is Kash?" Cassie asked.
"He is in his room." Sapphire answered.
"I'll go see him then." Cassie smiled and climbed the stairs up to his room.
"Layla, what are we having for breakfast?" Sapphire asked but apparently, Layla was in her own cloud of thoughts. Her gaze was fixed on Cassie as she went up the stairs. Sapphire tapped her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
"It's just..." She sighed. "Princess Cassandra is very beautiful. I imagined her beauty but what I've seen today beats my imagination. She is so beautiful and elegant!" Layla gushed.
Sapphire chuckled. "Yeah, she is. I felt same way when I first saw her too. But, you don't need to feel intimidated. You're beautiful as well."
"Really?" Layla blushed.
"Yeah." Sapphire smiled.
"So, what are we having for breakfast?" Layla asked.
"I was asking you the same thing! I'm craving for sea cakes though." Sapphire rubbed the back of her neck.
"How about pancakes? Humans eat those. I researched a lot about the good available here yesterday night." Layla beamed.
"I'd love to try those!" Sapphire exclaimed.
Cassie made her way to Kash's room and knocked but no answer. She turned the door knob and surprisingly, the door was open. She entered the room and gushed at what she was. It was so neat and well kept. Everything was in it's rightful position, and Shee didn't even see a spec of dust.
"What a neat freak!" She whispered to herself and looked around. "Where could he be?"
She continued looking around, lost in her reverie when the clearing of throat brought her out. She gasped and turned to see Kash in only his pants. He was not wearing any shirt, exposing his broad shoulders, and cute abs and biceps. She gulped down nothing and got lost staring at him.
"Like what you see?" He asked, leaning on the door. Her cheeks turned red immediately and she looked away.
"Um... I... I only came... to apologize for..." She hurried to the door but he held her wrist.
"For what?" He asked, staring into her eyes.
Cassie was about to talk when he brought his face closer to hers.
"Um..." She didn't know what to say but just stared at him.
"Are you suddenly speechless?" He asked.
"Why... are you acting this way today?" She asked, playing with her fingers.
"I don't know. Maybe, I just want to claim my woman."
.
.