The Crown's Entrapment

“I wish we had more time to talk…” Xenia regretfully sighed.

After all was said and done, the day that Xenia and her mate had to leave finally arrived. Her reunion with her sister Mineah felt far too short-lived for her liking as they went back to the harbor. King Nikolai had accompanied them all the way to port, having seemingly gone to send them off.

“I do too, Sister,” Mineah sadly sighed. “Unfortunately, we all have our parts to play in the wider scheme of things.”

“That we do,” Xenia chuckled as she gave her Mineah the warmest smile she could muster. “I suppose there’s still next time, whenever that might be.”

“I’ll be sure to be there at your wedding ceremony, Sister. That, I promise,” Mineah radiantly smiled. “And I’m sure we’ll see our brother Ezekiel safe and sound by that point.”

“We can only hope, Sister,” Xenia nodded.

Looking out by the dock, the Lucian was already waiting for her and Darius to board while they walked their way through the harbor. There were also a few other ships sharing their ship’s dock, probably merchant vessels selling their wares for Valcrez.

Eventually, they arrived at the foot of the Lucian. Xenia could already hear Osman shouting out orders to his men before she even boarded, the admiral preparing the ship for their departure.

“I thank you for accompanying us this far, my friend,” Darius nodded to King Nikolai, turning to face the other king before they boarded. “I hope that your journey will be safe.”

Journey?

Xenia blinked at his mate’s words. As if only now gathering her bearings, she suddenly noticed that King Nikolai and her sister had way too many items with them for them to simply see them off. She found herself looking to Mineah for answers, her sister simply giving her an amused smile, obviously knowing more than what she let on.

“Are you coming with us?” Xenia asked, a bit of hope blooming in her heart as her sister smiled.

“Haven’t I already told you that I was going back home to Ebodia?” Mineah lightly teased, slightly wagging her finger toward another ship just beside the Lucian. “We’re not going to be sharing a ship, however. And my husband has decided that he’ll be coming with me.”

“Oh right…”

Xenia chuckled, a bit of jealousy almost flaring up in her chest at her sister being able to come home. Still, she remembered just why her sister was going back home. She wasn’t going to be relaxing with their parents. Instead, she was going to participate in the search for their brother Ezekiel, possibly also talking with Mother about the interactions that her angel blood might have once her and Darius completed the Mate Bond.

“My thanks, Darius,” King Nikolai nodded in gratitude to the other king. “We’ll be sure to appraise you of any developments that might’ve come to pass.”

Xenia then found herself standing beside Darius, watching as Mineah and King Nikolai walked past them towards their own ship. It was just as big as the Lucian, but it was unmistakably Valcrez with its sails and sporting the Valcrez emblem.

“Safe travels, Sister!” Mineah called out one last time.

“You too!” Xenia quickly replied, her heart singing out in hope as the other couple boarded their ship.

“Shall we then, my love?” Darius asked beside her. “We have a long voyage ahead of us.”

“Of course.”

With a nod, Xenia followed her mate’s lead. Walking up the ramp, the sudden feeling of Darius’s hand holding onto hers made her smile wide. It was a simple gesture, but she couldn’t help but feel like it was as special as a simple kiss, especially since it was being done out in public.

“Welcome back, Lady Xenia, Your Majesty,” Osman dutifully greeted, sporting a wide smile on his face as he invitingly spread his arms out wide. “Ready to set sail?”

“Go ahead,” Darius nodded. “Let’s return home.”

The crew cheered at her mate’s command. They were about to return home, after all, and surely some of them might be missing their respective families.

Seconds ticked by, and Xenia’s face reddened upon realizing how she still let Darius hold her hand all this time.

“What’s the matter?” Darius nonchalantly asked, the warmth from his hand still seeping into her soft skin.

“N-Nothing,” Xenia stuttered, weakly trying her best to let go. “It’s just that…”

“Yes?”

The princess couldn’t help but blush even harder. Her gaze looking downward, she whispered, “Shouldn’t you… let go of my hand by now?”

“Do you want me too?”

His question was something that only made her heart beat harder. Finding the courage to look up, Xenia shook her head. There was now way for her to deny him now. Darius seemed to be determined to hold onto her hand despite her quiet protests.

Darius’s lips stretched wide as he continued. “We’ll be heading to our cabin once we’ve fully gone out to sea.”

“O-Okay…”

Xenia found herself meekly wilting under his intense gaze. There was no way that she’d be able to hold herself back from accepting him back wholeheartedly. And she didn’t have any plans to drag her punishment on any longer. She understood that Darius was only thinking of her own well being in the process anyway. At least she had the opportunity to make him understand how she didn’t prefer any secrets between them even if things were messy. The two of them should discuss things together, and only then should they decide on what was best to do as a couple.

Plus, she already had plans to tell him about Ezekiel and her worries about her family later… That was how much she trusted him.

With her hand still firmly in his grasp, Darius commanded, “Osman, unfurl the sails!”

“Right away, Your Majesty!”

Xenia stood by as the Lucian burst into a hive of activity, the crew moving quickly in order to set sail. Before long, the anchor was raised, and they were finally out to sea.