The Unexpected Pull

Kael stopped by a driveway, dismounting from the horse. Then he turned around, reaching his hand to Valencia. She swallowed a lump of anxiety as she stared at his hand. Kael’s lips curled as he locked eyes with her.

“Miss Elyane, I’m not here to bring you any harm… please come down safely,” Kael said.

Valencia clenched her fists, her brows furrowing. Mother said not to trust anyone… especially powerful nobles. Can I really trust you? Her fingernails pierced her palm through the gloves.

Kael sighed in frustration, grabbing her hand. She instinctively slapped his hand away.

“I… My apologies, Young Duke…” she bowed.

Kael chuckled, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her down. Valencia screamed as she landed hard on his chest, gasping.

“I’ve never been rejected as an escort…” he murmured.

Heat rushed to her face. She squeezed her eyes shut and hid her head against his chest. Fuck, he’s annoying. How do I get out of this?

He leaned closer, breath warm at her ear.

“What’s wrong?”

She shoved at him and scrambled out of his arms—but he caught her legs, wrapping an arm around her knees and holding her tight.

“Let me go!”

“No can do,” Kael replied, already turning.

The world tipped. He rolled, hauling her with him, flipping her onto his back. She gasped, her body awkwardly draped across him.

She covered her face, mortified.

“We have something to talk about.”

Kael entered the front door. The butler hurried to him but stopped at the sight of Valencia over his shoulder. The servants and maidservants dropped their jaws, watching Kael and Valencia.

Valencia grabbed his cape on his other shoulder and covered her head. This stinky bastard. I will make sure he gets a ‘voidable’ farewell gift before I leave!

Kael paused and faced the butler.

“Butler Jayce, please tell Sir William that I got everything under control,” Kael ordered.

Jayce nodded hesitantly.

"And… she is?”

“Oh, her!” Kael swung her around, smiling. “She might be my Guide!”

Then he turned to the stairs and headed to his bedchamber. He slammed her onto his bed. She opened her eyes and crawled backward.

“What do you want?!” she shouted angrily.

Kael chuckled as he sighed heavily. He brushed his hair back and thought.

“What do I want?” he repeated. Then he crawled toward her.

Valencia’s eyes scurried around the room, looking for a weapon to grab. As Kael hovered over her body, she quickly grabbed the dagger in his belt and pointed it at his neck.

“I won’t hesitate to kill you…” she declared.

He smirked, grabbing her hands as he forced her hands to press the dagger against his skin.

“Then do it… I want to see you try,” he dared.

Valencia glanced at his eyes. Dead as a walking zombie. Although he represented the light and warmth, his words sounded distant and eerie… as if he wanted to disappear for a long time already—just like her. She gulped, releasing her grip around the dagger.

Kael noticed her retreating and grabbed the dagger as he threw it to the side. He then grabbed her shoulder and pushed her down to the bed.

“Tell me… was what that lady said about your rank true?” Kael questioned sharply.

Valencia held his wrist as she gritted her teeth.

“Yes…”

“Rank F?” Kael tilted his head. She nodded. “How? How are you a Rank F when… something about you feels different?”

Her eyes widened.

“Different? What do you mean—?”

“I’m the one asking questions!” Kael said, raising his voice. He pressed her down until he realized that he had gotten aggressive. He released her shoulder with his trembling hand.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I would prefer it if you had kept your hands to yourself… how dare you bring an unmarried lady into your bed?” Valencia retorted.

Kael scoffed, grinning as his hand reached for her neck. He measured the width of her neck with his fingers and leaned closer.

“I can snap your neck, and not a single soul out there would care…” he threatened.

Valencia silently groaned, rolling her eyes. This dumbass thinks I’m afraid because he’s an S-rank Light Esper? She locked her deadpan eyes with his, flinching him.

“If you brought me here to kill me, then why didn’t you just do that before we entered? Why did you create a huge scene?” she muttered with annoyance.

His eyes widened as she pouted.

Fearless? Naive? Uncharmed?

These felt distant from what Kael had experienced growing up. Many noble families had always tried to get into his family’s good graces or the Royal family, but she didn’t.

He chuckled, which evolved into laughter as he rested his head against her shoulder.

“Did someone crack your head?” he joked.