Page 48 of The Wild Prince’s Favorite (The Dragon Empire Saga #3)

Kassein had only ever felt at peace in the midst of a battle, where his thoughts could be drowned out by the sounds of violence and chaos around him.

Yet, in here, confined with that woman, he felt more at peace than ever before, staring into her dark eyes.

Neither of them was going back to sleep as it was the middle of the day, but they had nothing to do or say to break the silence, a silence that wasn’t awkward.

They were simply there, finding comfort in each other’s company, holding hands as if that gentle, trustful grip could wordlessly carry their feelings to the other.

He wished he could read her mind. He wished he could have asked her all those questions that haunted him.

Alezya was holding onto his hand, as if looking for comfort too, her eyes looking straight into his without any fear; that wasn’t something he was used to, but he did find solace in her gentle gaze.

He found that woman fascinating. She could be surprisingly brave at times, and sometimes, she looked incredibly vulnerable.

It made him think about something his older brother had told him before: “ You never care about anyone but yourself. ” Back then, Kassein had thought that was untrue and got mad as a result.

Yet, right now, while looking into Alezya’s eyes, he was beginning to doubt if he had ever known what it was to truly care for someone.

He loved his family, but none of them really needed his protection, his care.

He was the seventh in a family of eight children, with a difference of over ten years with his older siblings.

None of them had ever needed him like Alezya did.

Kassein was woken up by a light stroke on his cheek. He wasn’t used to getting touched in his sleep, and his body reacted to it right away, grabbing the hand. He opened his eyes just as Alezya winced in pain, and immediately let go.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

He must have sent the message across because she shook her head with a slight blush and a guilty expression.

She was embarrassed to have been caught caressing his face, but as soon as the surprise had passed, Kassein grabbed her hand and put it back against his cheek.

He wanted to show her it was alright; he hadn’t meant to push her away and was now afraid she’d gotten the wrong message.

As he pressed her palm against his cheek, Alezya blushed a bit more.

The sudden contact felt incredibly intimate, and he felt his own heartbeat quicken.

He liked her fresh skin against his, and that soft flush in her cheeks. Kassein’s stomach leaped.

He wanted more... He wanted her to touch him more.

He wanted to touch her more.

As he stared into her eyes, gawking at her reactions, he very slowly turned his head until his lips reached her palm.

He held her hand pressed against his face, and with his green eyes riveted on her, he kissed a small square of her skin.

Alezya shivered slightly but didn’t avert her gaze.

She was breathing more heavily, and he could guess her heartbeat had accelerated too.

Kassein was trying hard to read her, looking for the slightest sign of fear or disgust, but there was none.

There was hesitation and doubt, perhaps, but she was looking right at him, not shying away, although she did look shy as he held her hand.

His gaze went from her eyes to her lips.

The sight of that cut on her lower lip cooled his ideas like snow in the sun. She could barely eat properly; what was he thinking about?

Kassein sighed and let go, Alezya’s hand falling slowly back on the mattress.

He stood up and walked away from her, trying to regain his composure and chase away the image of her chapped lips lingering in his mind.

He felt like a shameful animal, lusting after a battered woman.

With no idea what else to do, he took care of the fire and put water on to boil, keeping himself busy with anything that would help him avoid looking back at Alezya.

“Kassein?”

Her voice calling him made him stop right in his tracks. He hesitated.

Of course, she was confused by his erratic actions.

What was he thinking? Nothing he should be proud of, that’s for sure.

He’d gotten carried away by that single stroke on his cheek, and unknowingly, she’d encouraged him to pursue his reckless desires.

It hit Kassein brutally, but the truth was there.

He desired this woman. And he hated himself all the more for it.

It was a messed up situation, and he knew all too well it was unfair.

She was in no state to refuse him. Worse, she possibly felt indebted to him. Kassein hated that.

“Commander.”

Tievin calling him from outside was a welcome intervention.

With a valid excuse to leave the tent, Kassein stepped out without looking back, only feeling sorry for ignoring Alezya like this.

He just didn’t have the courage to glance at her right then.

Wrapped up tightly and visibly hating every single snowflake falling on his coat, Tievin was standing outside and seemed surprised when Kassein joined him. He glanced toward the tent but didn’t dare voice his question.

“Your dragon is in sight,” said Tievin.

He was right. The snow had calmed down while Kassein had fallen asleep, and on the horizon, Kein’s orange silhouette could be seen flying toward them. Finally.

Kassein had never felt so relieved to see his dragon come back, even more so as he noticed it wasn’t alone. A smaller, slimmer dragon was flying next to Kein, and each dragon was carrying a human silhouette too.

“Get ready,” Tievin said to some of the soldiers nearby.

Whatever they were supposed to get ready for, the soldiers nodded and hurried away.

By the time Kein landed in the snow a few paces away, two soldiers had already made it back, carrying sets of thick clothing and fur boots, and stood waiting patiently.

Kassein had his eyes riveted on the silhouette riding Kein.

When his orange dragon growled angrily at the sight of him, he ignored it and walked toward them.

“He lives!”

The woman on Kein’s back greeted him with a snarky smile, and effortlessly jumped down, landing elegantly in the snow.

She was tall, sporting a sleeveless leather outfit, with her skin tone the exact same color as Kassein’s. As she stood up, she slid her long braid over her shoulder nonchalantly, and with a little amused spark in her dark green eyes, she patted Kein, who gave her an affectionate growl.

One of the soldiers rushed over to offer her the thick clothing, but she just took it without a second glance and walked over to the other dragon.

The second dragon landed more elegantly, its long body making a soft sound on the snow. It was dark gray with ash-colored scales and small black eyes shining like onyx jewels. As soon as its four paws were dug into the snow, it turned its head around to watch the female human on its back get off.

The first woman helped her down, and immediately wrapped the fur cape over her shoulders, then proceeded to help her put the fur boots on right away as she was still wearing basic leather shoes that would be wet in no time.

They smiled affectionately at each other before walking over to Kassein and Tievin.

“Good day, Your Highness, my lady,” Tievin greeted the two of them with a slight bow.

“Hello, Tievin,” said the second woman with a gentle smile. “Your Highness.”

She was a very pretty woman. She had beautiful black eyes, slender traits, and an oval face circled by an impressive mane of black hair only held by two thin silver bands.

She seemed even smaller once wrapped up in a fur coat and standing next to Kassein and the other woman, who was almost as tall as the Wild Prince.

Those two hadn’t greeted anybody yet and were just staring at each other.

The woman with the high and long braid was staring at Kassein with a smirk, her arms crossed.

“You sent Kein and didn’t even come to get me yourself. What kind of trouble did you get into this time?” she scoffed.

“...I need help,” Kassein hissed.

“Help?” she repeated. “Did I just hear you ask for help? What happened to the Kassein I knew, who’d die before he asked anyone for help?”

“Kiera,” the other woman called her with a little scowl in her voice.

“Oh, come on,” she chuckled. “I’m summoned by my brother after well over a year without any kind of news from him. I should get to tease him a little now that he needs me...”

“It’s not for me,” he retorted.

“Color me curious,” she said, tilting her head. “I do hope you didn’t make me cross half the continent during a blizzard for nothing!”

“We’re happy to see you well, Your Highness,” said the other woman, speaking on behalf of her partner.

Kassein glanced at her and finally gave her a faint nod of acknowledgment.

“Lorey.”

She smiled back politely, but Kiera wasn’t having it. She sighed.

“Come on, Kassein, what is it? If you called me of all people, it means you’re in some trouble that you can’t tell the others about, right?”

Kassein let out a faint sigh, annoyed at his older sister’s acumen, but he still turned around to guide them to his tent.

Just like him, his sister had no need for winter coats, so the soldier who was still carrying one followed, unsure what to do until Lorey took it from him with a polite smile, causing him to blush.

Then, with one look from Tievin, he quickly left the small group of four to go back to his tasks.

While the siblings walked ahead, Lorey walked alongside Tievin, a few steps behind.

“How have you been, Tievin?”

“As well as one can be in this area of the Empire, my lady,” he said, wrapping his coat a bit more tightly around him.

“I feel you,” Lorey smiled. “I miss the heat of the south already. But I’m happy His Highness called Kiera for help... Is he really in a lot of trouble?”