Chapter 324

Ishakan clenched a cigar between his teeth and lit it. The embers of a fire were still burning inside him, and he needed something to take the edge off, to vent the energy that made him want to do something, anything.

Quickly, he smoked the first cigar, then took one of the towels and wet it with water to wipe off the Princess’s body, which was covered with his fluids.

He had been wise to call for cigars before he attempted the task. As soon as he saw her nude body, his manhood hardened again and his instincts flared violently. If he didn’t control himself, he really would be a beast.

Ishakan placed another cigar between his lips, looking down at the Princess. She was sleeping so peacefully, it made him smile, and impulsively he bent to kiss her forehead, and then her nose, and her cheeks, rubbing himself into her.

Even though he had a human appearance, Ishakan was still a beast inside. He wanted to mark his territory.

Satisfied, he bent his head close to her neck, breathing her scent. Her skin was still a little salty with sweat, and emanated a faint scent of flowers. Probably some perfume they used at the palace.

He had heard once that even if two people used the same perfume, it would smell different on each of them because of their unique chemistry. Like most Kurkans, Ishakan had a very acute sense of smell, and he knew the scent of the Princess. He loved her scent.

He hadn’t realized it, but he was rubbing his face into her collarbone, and made himself withdraw. He was acting like a pervert, or an animal. He had to act like a person.

But even as he lifted his head, his eyes still lingered on her. The sight of her small lips made him think that he wanted her to say his name. They had not spoken each other’s names once since they had been reunited.

So he said it.

“Leah…”

It felt nice to say it. He wanted to hear her say his name, too, but the time wasn’t yet right. He just needed to be patient. Soon he would proudly tell her his real name.

Ishakan said her name a few more times, like a song, lightly running his fingers through her silver hair.

“Leah. Leah…”

He hoped to take her to the desert. She would be so much happier than she had been in Estia. He would give her everything she wanted, everything she had been denied. Wealth, power and freedom.

Ishakan thought his plan was progressing well.

But as it turned out, his expectations were very, very wrong.

It was not freedom that the Princess wanted.

***

Once she had returned to the palace, Ishakan sat by the window in the inn and watched the sky slowly brightening, playing with the gold coins she had given them. At last, the sun rose above the horizon.

Many cigar butts filled his ashtray, but the roiling inside him still hadn’t gone away. He had smoked all the tobacco he had.

“……”

Ishakan sighed. He knew that that was not the way to calm himself.

***

Walking through the streets of Estia the next night, he made his way to the palace. Sitting on the high branch of a tree overlooking the palace, he thought of the Princess. He had asked her if she wanted to run away. Her eyes had darkened. – Posted only on NovelUtopia

I want to…die.

Remembering the sight of those dull purple eyes, he felt a surge of anger. Suddenly, he wanted to see her.

A bitter smile curved his lips, and Ishakan leaned back against the trunk of the tree, sighing.

He knew he was making a fool of himself over her. He certainly hadn’t felt anything like this before he came to Estia, and the strange feelings were only growing stronger.

But he didn’t mind. He rather liked it. He felt a tingling in his heart, as if a feather had brushed it gently.

He knew what he would do. He wanted to give Leah back her glow. Gazing at the royal palace in the distance, dimly illuminated by moonlight, Ishakan murmured the blessing he had learned long ago.

“Let the light shine on Estia.”

This was only the beginning.