The Blood King's Bride
Chapter Sixty Four

Calhoun stared down at his love, his heart finally content. He gently dragged his hands through her hair, watching her look at him. He wished they could remain like that forever. He would be content.

"We have a lot to talk about, you know," Elena said, dragging her hands down his arms.

Calhoun sighed contentedly at the action, snuggling closer to Elena. He buried his head under her head, directly on her chest.

"Yes, we do. Where do you want us to start from?" He asked softly.

"The obvious?" Elena answered, chuckling. "The fact that I have a close relationship with

the blood king should be a reason to start talking."

Calhoun sighed. "I didn't mean to hide it from you, Elena. But any time I brought up the Blood king, you always responded badly. I didn't think that you liked the king, so I kept quiet. I planned on telling you my real identity probably when I have finally proven to you that the Blood King wasn't a bad man."

"And how did you plan to prove it to me, hmm?" Elena asked, still dragging her hands through his hair.

"Well, that was part of the reason I wanted you to come to my home. I would have told

you I was a citizen of the blood kingdom on the way, and when we arrive at the kingdom, I

would pretend to be a commoner and show you all the good things around." Calhoun answered.

"For a powerful king, you are weirdly cute," Elena said, chuckling.

"What can I say? You bring out this attitude in me." They remained like that, both lovers

in each other's arms, content with the silence.

"How did you enter the Blood kingdom? Our kingdom is very hard and dangerous to get into."

"I was kidnapped," Elena answered bluntly. At that, Calhoun quickly sat up. "What?" He answered, his face set into a deep frown.

"Some guys stopped us on our way, calling themselves warriors of the blood kingdom.

They kidnapped me, Elion and Forest, and brought us here. Aaron rescued us and had been taking care of us ever since. We found out that he was a real warrior of the blood kingdom, and that the ones who kidnapped us are working for a faction that goes against the orders of the crown. Aaron is a sweet guy. He was the one who gave us a job here."

Calhoun was trying to process the information Elena had just given him. Among all the

things she has said, she had mentioned something that may threaten his crown and kingdom, but

he didn't know why one less important fact rang loudly in his head.

"Aaron? Who is Aaron?" Calhoun answered, frowning slightly.

"I just told you. He is one of your warriors. He took care of us after rescuing us, checked

on us while we were at the shelter, and even gave us a job in the castle. He is even teaching us how to fight."

"What?" Calhoun said, sitting fully and not bothering to hide his annoyance. "Why would he be teaching you how to fight?"

"Because there was no one too?" Elena answered, confused at his reaction. "Calhoun, is something wrong?" She said, slowly frowning.

"As from today, I would take over your training. I am not comfortable with another guy training you." Calhoun said, pouting. His expression was so funny, and cute Elena could hardly stop herself from laughing.

"What's funny?" Calhoun asked, annoyed.

"Honey," she said, raising her hand and placing it on his cheeks to bring him down for a kiss. "Are you jealous right now?" She whispered, her breath hot against his lips.

"Yes." He answered, not able to keep himself from kissing her again. "Yes, I'm jealous. I can't help it if he teaches you the way I did."

"Ha! I knew it!" Elena said, chuckling. "While in Old Porv's house, you made use of any

opportunity to touch me. I always wondered if it was a normal thing to do to your student, and as time went on, I understand that it was just a ruse to get close to me." Elena said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"What can I say? I use any opportunity I get to the best of my ability." Calhoun replied, nuzzling her neck. "But seriously, I still do not like him training you. I'm currently trying to talk myself into not heading out to look for this Aaron, and removing his head from his body." Elena chuckled. "Don't worry, he isn't a pervert like you. And I'm pretty sure he has another person in mind to carry out all your dirty tricks on."

"And that would be?"

"Elion. Aaron is totally in love with her. Heavens know how many times I have caught

him dreamily staring at her. I'm pretty sure Elion likes the attention too. And besides, all your

warriors adore her, making Aaron pant with worry and anger always."

Calhoun chuckled. "Well, good to know that he isn't going after you. His head is safe on

his body." Calhoun said, finally leaning down to snuggle closer to her.

"I am still not going to practice with you though. I do not want all eyes to be on me,

especially the eyes of your fiancée." Elena said, faking a pout. Calhoun sat up again.

"I swear to my ancestors Elena, I never and would never cheat on you-"

"I know that dummy," Elena replied, chuckling. "I am curious though, on why you brought her here."

"I found out something about her," Calhoun said. Elena frowned, and Calhoun continued.

"My parents know her real identity. They know that she isn't my bride. After taking a

walk with her, my mother came into my study and commanded me not to be with her. She said

she was against the relationship. I laughed and told her that she wasn't a bride, but a prisoner. Firoza didn't just know it yet."

"Really? What's going on?"

"My father knows her real identity," Calhoun replied. "I knew something was wrong with her all along. She was on her way to the blood kingdom after massacring a whole village. I just encountered her on the way and saved her by mistake. Had I known her real identity, I would have killed her on the spot while she was still weak. Now, I don't know how strong she is, and if I would be able to attack without harming those around me. She seems to think that she is the favored bride, and I let her believe it. Her end is near, sooner than you think."

"Is she that powerful?" Elena asked, stuttering. Calhoun nodded in response. "She is capable of controlling people. Once she gives you a drop of her blood, you become very powerful, but at the cost of losing all the control you have on your mind and body." "That, that is not normal!" Elena said, horrified. "Where did she come from? What is her purpose?"

"The blood kingdom has a very powerful enemy. He is the one that is currently causing

chaos across the four kingdoms. He created a group of people called the Allikans. Originally, he planned to take over the blood kingdom, but with the recent events I am seeing, he may have changed his goal and opted for world domination."

"Where does Firoza come in?"

"She was created by him to aid his purpose. My father is confused about her though. She

is much different than the previous ones before her, in the sense that she is much more docile." "The previous ones?" Elena asked, confused.

"The blood empress. They were very powerful, capable of bringing kingdoms to their

knees. Firoza here looks like she could barely hurt a fly. My father believes that this particular reason makes her even more dangerous."

Elena sat up suddenly. "She likes you, Calhoun. I can't believe that I am going to fight someone that powerful over you."

"You're not going to back out now, are you?" Calhoun said, a slow smirk growing on his

lips.

"No," Elena replied, determined. "I will just have to work harder. I would not lose you to

her."

"Relax. The only thing she wants is my crown. I doubt she likes me as you claim."

Elena shook her head. "Have you forgotten that she warned me to stay away from you?

She did that without even knowing your true identity. I'm sure that now she knows this, it's just an extra reason for her be happy about."

"I don't know what she is up to, but I promise you that you won't lose me."

"That's what you say," Elena said, suddenly worried. "She can control people's minds,

Calhoun. She massacred a while city. I do not want someone like that near you." Calhoun chuckled. "You seem to be forgetting something."

"And what's that?"

"That I am the blood king. I am powerful too. Firoza can't touch me."

"But she can touch those around you." Elena placed her hands on Calhoun's cheeks. "I

would protect you. I wouldn't let you have to suffer all these on your own. I just have to become more powerful."

Calhoun held the hand that she placed on his cheeks. "And I would protect you too. We

would protect each other." He turned his head to place a kiss against her palm. "Don't worry yourself about this. Just do as you wish to. Get stronger and powerful my love, so you can fight by my side. A war is coming, we all can feel it."

Elena hugged Calhoun tightly. It felt so right to remain in his embrace. She couldn't explain the feeling of contentment she had just by being in his arms. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she would fight tooth and nail before letting anything take him away. Calhoun caressed her back, dragging his arms down her back. He probably could feel all the emotions she was pouring out through their hug, and he kept on placing soft kisses in her head as a type of response.

"Elena," he called.

"Hmm?"

"Let's get married."

Elena drew herself away from Calhoun's hug, looking at him with mirth.

"Don't play with me. I know you don't want to marry Firoza, but you can't just make a joke like that."

"I'm serious," Calhoun said, his eyes intense. "My heart hurt whenever I thought of you

these past few weeks. I could barely sleep without dreaming of you. Sometimes, I could barely breathe just when I call out your name."

Elena noticed his seriousness and said hesitatingly. "But we haven't been together for

long."

"My parents knew each other for just two weeks before they tied the knot. We knew each

other for more than a month. I can say we did well."

"We are not your parents Calhoun," Elena said, chiding softly. Calhoun frowned.

"Don't you want to be with me?" He asked.

"Of course I do!"

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I'm afraid," Elena said, sighing wearily. Calhoun removed a tendril of hair from her face. "Afraid of what?"

"I don't want you to be tied into a relationship with me, Calhoun. I want you to be sure before you go ahead and make the decision."

Calhoun leaned closer to her and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her so gently, softly caressing her lips with his. After a while, he broke it off.

"Could you feel it, Elena? Could you feel my love for you?" Elena's eyes widened at his confession.

"Yes, I love you, Elena." Calhoun continued. "A Blood citizen takes their emotions seriously. When we love, we love hard. We do not take it for granted. Imagine I who would be

their king. Mine would be intense." He said, chuckling.

"I can assure you, that I would love you with everything that I have, Elena. I might even

end up becoming my dad."

"What happened to him?"

"For a past blood king, that man is properly henpecked. He worships the ground his wife

walks on. I used to be annoyed with that, but after meeting you, I can understand why." Elena chuckled, blushing heavily.

"You might not love me now, but I love you, and can love enough for both of us."

"You silly man," Elena said, lightly hitting Calhoun's arm. "I thought you would have felt

it by now. I also love you. And perhaps that is what scared me. The fact that I loved you that

quickly."

Calhoun beamed at her confession. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get married.

We would carry out a secret ritual of the blood kingdom. My father would lead the process-" Calhoun went on and on about the plans he had for them.

"I have to tell you something first Calhoun before you finalize all these," Elena said

seriously.

"What is it?" Calhoun said, looking at her with intense happiness and love.

"I need to tell you my real identity, Calhoun. I am royalty. My father is the king of the Kingdom of Pres, why my Grandparents are the king and queen of the Kingdom of Neba."