Chapter 8. Being saved again

It was Cayden with his guards behind him.

"Please give us a moment."

As a sign of acknowledgment, Margaret bowed her hair slightly and then walked out to give them privacy.

"What brings you here?" Hera swallowed hard due to his sudden appearance until Cayden strode toward her, but the guards stood still.

"I want to discuss your artwork. I really love it." he smiled and halted in front of her. "But before that, there's one thing I'd like to talk about first."

Hera nodded as she felt uneasy, especially when she remembered how she rejected this man in their last encounter.

"Alright. What are we going to talk about?"

He looked thoughtful, pondering what he wanted to convey next. Then he leaned closer to her. "Well, I wanted to sincerely apologize for proposing without your consent. If you could just give me another chance to prove my devotion, I promise to wait for you until you are ready to marry me. No rush, Hera, just give me a chance."

Her gaze went down to the floor, unprepared to convey her utterances. She doesn't want to insult his sentiments, but she doesn't want to give false hope anymore. "You don't need to apologize, 'cause I'm honestly honored by the proposal an—"

"Then it means I have a chance?" he interrupted without letting her finish the sentence.

"I'm sorry, Cayden. I appreciate you, but I can't commit."

This was harder than she thought it would be, even knowing it was the best and only decision she could make. For her, she would have married into her passion than to the man she doesn't love.

"So, that's a no?"

She nodded.

"B-but why, Hera? Everyone is so obsessed with me, but you just simply refused me. Seriously? Am I not e-enough for you?" he asked, voice jiggling as fury ascended inside him; however, he concealed it by maintaining his composure.

"No, Cayden. That's not what I mean."

He took hold of both of her arms, staring directly at her. "Then why can't we love each other the same way?"

"We don't feel the same way." she finally broke free from his grip, but her words caused more frustration to fill him. "You're amazing, but I don't feel any attraction for you."

For a second, he looked genuinely devastated. "Isn't it obvious how perfect our match would be? I've been courting you for almost two years, and this is how you repay me?"

"I never insisted on that, so please don't compel me," Hera's voice softened as she felt the pain in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"No, I cannot accept your apology!" Cayden became suddenly aggressive, making her take a few steps back, but Cayden pulled her again. "I'm not supposed to make it harder, Hera, but what you did is unacceptable!"

"Let me go, Cayden..." she begged while he advanced towards her. He held her hands tightly, not letting her take another step away from him.

Hera immediately yanked her hand back, feeling how hurt he had made her. "Just stop, please..."

Cayden was persistent in holding her captive.

"Let me go, please!" she said once again as she struggled against his iron grasp.

Everyone was watching the scene unfold right in front of them, yet nobody came forward and helped her. They know Cayden very well enough not to intrude. No one wants to be punished by the emperor.

Suddenly, a gust of wind knocked him aside until he fell to the ground, clutching his head and trying to retrieve control of himself. A few seconds later, the loud thump resounded through the whole surrounding, and another robust wind blew off their feet, hitting everyone else off balance and shutting their eyes.

Soon as Hera opened her eyes, her mouth fell open in a wide shock, realizing that someone was standing in front of her, preventing her from falling.

"Darth..."

And again, their eyes met for another time. This time, it was more intense.

After a while, he let go of Hera and started walking towards Cayden, who was now lying down on the ground, holding his head, groaning. He quickly stood up and faced Darth.

"You shouldn't force someone to do something they don't want to. It's cruel."

Cayden raised his eyebrows, looking slightly offended. "How dare you come here to tell me that? You have no right to be rude to me!"

"I don't care who you are. You don't have the right to force someone against her will," Darth stated firmly, his expression showing nothing but disapproval of Cayden's actions. "Don't come near her again. That is a warning you must not transgress."

"Who the hell you are to say that, huh?!" he was full of anger because everyone was watching them, but no one attempted to intervene.

Darth stepped closer. "Because she's mine. And I don't share my property with anyone."

His words made Hera gasp in disbelief. She knew that was just part of this scene, to protect her from Cayden in that way.

"Now that you know, I assume you to avoid her. I don't punish senselessly, Cayden, so do not provoke me."

Darth left Cayden standing still and aggravated after delivering his warning.

Hera became even more stunned when Darth approached her again, grabbing her hands to wrap them around his waist. Hera didn't know what to say as he pulled her against his body.

"Don't look at him. I'm just here," Darth stated gently, then he let another gust of wind soar through the sky, rendering everyone to fall backward on their feet again, and soon Darth was carrying her in his arms.

Hera closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of his embrace. The thought of being saved by this man made her uneasiness away. This was not their first encounter, but she couldn't decipher why the feelings were constant and why she was being protected by this man every time she was in trouble.

Everything seemed familiar as if she had experienced this before, but she knew she didn't remember anything.

A few minutes later, she opened her eyes, and the next thing made her stiffen and stupefied as her heart sank into the abyss of passion.

UNHESITANTLY, Darth kissed her, making Hera's whole body freeze like an ice cube on the ground; all she could do was return the gesture and close her eyes.

She was kissing Darth. She couldn't believe what she was doing, something she never does before. Her body was reacting by itself without permission. It was as if something was controlling her soul.

She could feel Darth's tongue licking every part of her mouth, sucking her tongue, and the two hugged each other tightly, inseparable.

Darth's eyes lingered on Hera's face, his lips left Hera briefly, looking at the girl whose face was flushed because of his kiss and her eyes were blurred, Darth's desire was aroused again.

Hera looked like a ripe and juicy peach, sweet juice flowed out when bitten, and Darth wanted to taste it.

And he did.

He kissed Hera a second time.