The Royal Revenge
Chapter 192: To Love Is To Be Vulnerable Part 1

Chapter 192: To Love Is To Be Vulnerable Part 1

The Western Kingdom was ruled by a young king who rose to power not by his own, but with the help of an exceptional human wife, his queen, the woman who knocked sense into his head that was harder thana a rock.

They were wed under whimsical orders by the late king himself. And compared to their relationship now, at the beginning, it was far from what one would call a harmonious and loving union.

There was no love involved in an arranged marriage. Most especially if it was between a bastard vampire prince and a human slave.

No- there was nothing one could say that made the match right.

The young couple tried to plot against each other the very moment they laid their eyes on the other. They bickered, retorted, and threatened one another without a tinge of remorse in their hostile tongues and piercing gazes.

Their servants would have sworn that the only thing the two shared in common was the blazing rage in their hearts and the undeniable desire to kill each other.

It does go to say that their relationship has significantly changed since then up to now. The human slave turned out to be of royal blood, a warrior princess of the conquered Northern Kingdom. She was powerful, but had her own flaws and fears hidden under a strong facade.

The bastard prince saw his wife for who she truly was, and hell, she slapped the senses out of him. He began to develop as an individual, and with it their relationship as well.

In the course of working their differences and finding a common ground, they ended up working together to achieve one goal - to get revenge on the people that have wronged them.

And now, as they plastered themselves on the throne, they face another challenge thrown in their face by those same people they were bent on taking revenge on - to provide a royal heir.

Elys held her breath as Aleksander’s eyes settled and stared back at her. She couldn’t deny that his eyes were definitely mesmerizing in both silver and gold, but she had to admit her favorite would probably be the shimmer in both of them.

Slowly, his molten silvers turned to piercing golden orbs. Elys focused herself and tried to read the subtle changes in his actions.

They were seated at the couch of their shared chambers, him still fully dressed from their meeting with the High Courts, and her already changed for the night. She could tell that something had changed with him, a slight hitch in his breathing pattern, and somehow, the colors of his cheeks were turning flushed.

She could not tell if it was merely the effect of the warm fire near them. Perhaps it was the proximity of their bodies, him previously leaning on her shoulder as he spilled his kingly woes.

"What are you thinking, my queen?" he suddenly asked after a long and pregnant pause.

"Nothing in particular, my king," she promptly replied.

Aleksander moved in closer, his hand reaching out to cup her tiny face. He gently caressed her cheeks, a smile rising in his eyes.

Elys’ eyes dropped down to his lips. They were partly opened, a luscious set of armory meant for kissing. They were dangerous in their own way, soft yet hard if needed be, sweet but poisonous at the same time.

The young queen recalled that those were actually the same lips that had forced their way on her when Aleksander thought seducing her would be a good idea - it wasn’t at all.

Why had she found herself thinking of Aleksander’s lips as attractive? Could it be that she was slipping away from control? Was it his doing that she was now out of words to say?

’Focus, Elys,’ she told herself, ’you have a mission to fulfill. Love is not something you should indulge yourself in. Especially with this man with anger issues.’

She vowed that she would avenge the deaths of her parents and those who perished when their kingdom was conquered by the vampires, save those who survived and provide them the life they deserve, uplift those who were abused.

Elys was willing to do anything for the human race, and she was well equipped and capable.

"You are beautiful," she heard him whisper, pulling her back to reality and away from her thoughts.

The young queen’s eyes widened with surprise, and immediately guarded herself and her heart with what was about to come next.

"Thank you for staying by my side despite the struggles and my ugly personality at the beginning," Aleksander spoke softly.

He looked at her, as if he was looking at someone he truly cared for and appreciated. Aleksander’s smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and from cupping her face, the young king moved and pulled Elys into a tight hug, burying his face at the nook of her neck.

Without warning, Elys’ heart started to pound against her chest - and more so against her will. She did not expect him to say those words to her at the moment, much less speak them as if he meant it.

She could feel the air from his nose tickling the hairs on her skin, sending shivers run up and down her spine all the while she tried her hardest to keep still and stay calm.

What was this sudden display of affection he was giving her? It was unwanted, uncalled for, shocking and every bit astonishing to her senses.

’Wait, this is my chance!’ she thought at the back of her mind. ’If I play this right, I can get Aleksander to do my bidding. A king’s power in his queen’s hands... it is a chance far too great to pass!’

She can’t falter now.

She must do what’s needed.

She was going to make him fall in love with her.

Love made oneself vulnerable, cutting one’s own heart out and trusting the other that they wouldn’t destroy it. If she took advantage of Aleksander’s vulnerability now, it would give her an upperhand in their deal to work together for revenge.

Elys lifted her hand, commanding herself to act like she meant what she was about to do. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around the vampire’s waist, hugging him back and pressing her body towards him.

"!"

"My king, thank you for adoring me like you do as well," Elys whispered, soaking her words with honey and making herself sound genuine at the same time. "I am beyond blessed to have you too, Aleksander. Forgive me for my inability to accept your feelings for the longest of time - I admit, I was scared it was all but a trick."

"Ely...sianne? Are you sure what you are saying at this exact moment is your true feelings?" Aleksander asked her, disbelief and shock evident in the way his voice wavered.

It was too good to be true. He did not deserve her, and yet here they were.

The young king did not hear her respond, but his wife only hugged him tighter, bringing her lips to the nearest part of Aleksander she could kiss - the back of his neck.

Aleksander was profoundly surprised with Elys’ response to his hug. He spoke to her earnestly, pouring his true feelings out and hugged her without expecting anything being returned.

He knew his wife had still been guarded with him, but he did not want to stop his efforts to prove himself better.

At first he wanted to trick her and use her powers to his advantage, but her personality and wisdom changed all of that. The way she handled herself in front of their enemies, held herself together and fought with grace either with a blade or with her sharp wits, Elys was just too perfect in his eyes now that he looked closer.

Henry’s words rang in the young king’s ears, and Aleksander could only smile thinking about it.

’Henry, I think I have to admit that I have failed...’ he thought, ’I have become madly invested in this woman, no matter if she was powerful or of royal blood.’

Aleksander pulled out of the hug, and stared at Elys’ flushed face. He was equally burning as well, a sudden hunger rising in the depths of his desires.

Suddenly the fire that crackled in the background turned silent, and the only thing that Aleksander listened to was the sound of his and Elys’ heart beating wildly and unnervingly in sync with each other.

Their breaths were held back, afraid to make any sudden movements or speak words they might regret later.

"My queen..." Aleksander spoke with a whimper, as if afraid to ask and be rejected once more.

But even before he was to utter another word, Elys reached out to his face and without warning, brought her lips crashing on to him.

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A/N: Finally something to move the romance between these two! Ugh, if you guys only knew the struggle I had trying to write their romantic scenes and Elys and Aleksander just plainly denying me every time with how stubborn they are. Sometimes I fear my characters writing themselves HAHA