Emperor Of The Abyss

Chapter 6

For a moment they just stayed like that, holding each other, both of them trembling and breathless.

Kane kissed her temple, her cheek, her lips.

 "I love you." 

He said again, because he couldn't stop saying it.

"I love you too." 

Valerie whispered. She was smiling, her eyes half-closed and dreamy.

They shifted, lying down properly on the bed. Kane pulled the covers over them, tucking Valerie against his side. She curled into him like she belonged there, her head on his chest, one leg thrown over his.

"Tomorrow." 

She murmured sleepily.

 "Tomorrow you'll be king."

"Tomorrow." 

Kane agreed, pressing a kiss to her hair.

"And then we'll get married."

"And then we'll get married."

"And have two children."

Kane smiled in the darkness. 

"We'll see about that."

Valerie made a sound that might have been a laugh, but it turned into a yawn. Within minutes, her breathing had slowed and deepened. She was asleep.

Kane lay there, staring up at the ceiling of his room, listening to her breathe. His body felt heavy and satisfied, warm where she pressed against him. Tomorrow everything will change. Tomorrow he'd be king. He'd have responsibilities, duties, the weight of the crown.

But tonight, just for tonight, he was just Kane. Just a man holding the woman he loved.

His eyes grew heavy. The room was dark now, full night having fallen while they'd been... occupied. Kane let his eyes drift closed, letting himself sink into that comfortable space between waking and sleeping.

He was just starting to dream,something about walking through the gardens with Valerie, the sun warm on his face,when he heard it.

“Knock knock knock.”

Kane's eyes flew open. He lay perfectly still, trying to figure out if he'd imagined it.

“Knock knock knock.”

No. Someone was definitely knocking on his door.

He turned his head to look at the window. Still dark. Still a full night. Who would be knocking at this hour?

“Knock knock knock.”

 More insistent now.

"I'm coming."

 Kane called out quietly, trying not to wake Valerie.

She stirred against him but didn't wake, just mumbled something and burrowed deeper into the pillow.

Carefully, slowly, Kane extracted himself from the bed. The cool air hit his bare skin and he realized he was completely naked. He grabbed his trousers from the floor and pulled them on, then looked back at Valerie.

She was sprawled across his bed, the sheets tangled around her, her blonde hair spread across the pillow. Even in the darkness he could see she was naked, one pale shoulder exposed above the covers.

Kane grabbed the blanket and pulled it up over her, covering her completely. If someone was at the door, the last thing they needed was to see the princess like this.

“Knock knock knock.”

"Coming." 

Kane said again, louder this time.

He padded barefoot across the cold stone floor to the door. His hair was probably a mess and he knew he smelled like sweat and sex, but whoever was knocking this late deserved whatever they got.

Kane reached for the door handle.

On the other side of the door, Elara stood with her back pressed against the opposite wall of the hallway, trembling.

She'd been standing there for five minutes, trying to work up the courage to knock. Her hand had risen and fallen a dozen times before she'd finally forced herself to tap on the wood.

Now she could hear movement inside. Footsteps coming closer.

The door was about to open.

Elara stumbled backward a step, her whole body shaking so hard she thought her legs might give out. Her right hand was tucked into the pocket of her apron, fingers wrapped around cold metal.

The dagger Lady Morgana had given her was small but sharp. Meant for cutting fruit, not killing princes. But Morgana had assured her it would work.

 ‘Just one strike.’

 She'd said. 

‘Quick and clean. He won't even know what happened.’

Elara's mind raced with fear, spinning so fast she felt dizzy.

She thought about her father, about the debts that would crush her if she didn't do this. She thought about Morgana's cold smile, about the promise that had felt like a lifeline: 

‘Do this one thing and you'll be free.’

She thought about Kane,kind, gentle Kane who'd always smiled at her in the hallways, who'd once helped her carry a heavy water bucket when her arms were tired.

The door handle turned.

‘Do it.’

Morgana's voice echoed in her memory.

 ‘You know what to do. Don't hesitate.’

The door began to open.

Elara's hand tightened on the dagger hidden in her pocket.

And then Kane was there, standing in the doorway, shirtless and confused, his dark hair messy from sleep.

"What is it?" 

He asked, his voice rough. His eyes were kind even in his confusion, concerned rather than angry at being woken.

Elara opened her mouth but no sound came out. Her hand stayed frozen in her pocket, gripping the dagger so hard the handle was cutting into her palm.

‘Do it.’

 Morgana's voice whispered in her head. 

‘Do it now.’

But Kane was looking at her with those kind eyes, waiting for her to speak.

And Elara couldn't move, couldn't even think of anything except the terrible weight of what she was about to do…