The Crown's Fire - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: His Future Reign
Tarah continued until Ezekiel reached his climax. His body trembled as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathless.

“You,” Ezekiel whispered, gathering back his composure. He looked at her deeply and asked, “Where did you learn that?”

Tarah’s face flushed with embarrassment and realization.

“I’m a wanderer, your Majesty. So I… I’ve picked up a few things from books and conversations with others,” she lied. “I just applied some techniques I’ve heard about.”

“Also, I… I’m a healer. Of course, I know well about human anatomy,” she added, a fact that was quite true.

Ezekiel remained silent, his gaze unwavering on hers. Then, a playful smile formed on his lips as he whispered, “You experimented on me?”

Tarah blushed even deeper with embarrassment. Ezekiel leaned in and kissed her lips gently. “You can explore more once we are married. And know that I’m eager to explore every part of you as well.”

She didn’t know how to react at all. Deep inside, she anticipated it happening, but she also knew how reality would eventually unfold. Another stabbing pain in her heart ruined her blissful moment.

She felt Ezekiel’s knuckle caressing her cheek lovingly. Oh, she would definitely miss that gesture of his on her cheek. “Hmm, what’s wrong? What’s with the sudden long face?” he asked her, his forehead creased with concern.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she simply answered. Then, she felt Ezekiel pull her into an embrace. “Shhh, don’t think too much, Tarah. Everything will be alright. I will make things right. I will not let you go, no matter what,” he firmly stated.

“But what if I suddenly disappear?” she subconsciously muttered, knowing that was a real possibility. She would simply vanish from his sight.

Tarah didn’t know what would happen next once Ezekiel penetrated Helion, but she had already given instructions to the people she trusted on how to proceed once she escaped from Devon with Levi and the dragon spirit fully merged and became one with Ezekiel’s body, soul, and spirit. She would face the consequences, and no one really knew what those consequences would be. There was no assurance that she could return to Ezekiel at all.

“You can’t escape me. There’s nowhere in this world where you can hide from my reach, Tarah. I will find you, even if I have to turn this world upside down,” he remarked, and Tarah felt his arms tighten possessively around her.

Those words sounded rather familiar to her. She was sure she heard it from Ezekiel before. Tarah closed her eyes and recalled that vision where Ezekiel said the same to the woman in his future. The woman’s face was a blur but she was sure it was not her since the color of the woman’s hair was black.

‘Damn,’ Tarah cursed inwardly at the stabbing pain in her heart. Ezekiel had said those words to her, but later on, he would say the same thing to another woman in his future.

“This should be enough dipping, I’m afraid I’ll lose myself again if we don’t get dressed soon,” Ezekiel hummed.

Only then did Tarah realize something hard poking at her. “You…” she gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ezekiel chuckled and then released her from his embrace. “I’ll be leaving first,” he whispered against her lips before giving them a quick peck.

Tarah watched him turn and walk away. She immediately turned away when his body slowly emerged from the water.

“Are you going to stay longer?” he asked.

“I’ll follow shortly. Please tell me when you’re done and turn around so I can put my clothes back on,” she bashfully answered.

After some time, Ezekiel said, “I’m done. You can now come out from the water.”

Tarah turned and smiled upon seeing Ezekiel standing nearby with his back to her. She quickly walked out of the hot spring, dried herself, and put on her clothes.

Approaching Ezekiel, she informed him, “I’m ready, Your-” she faltered, noticing the sudden narrowing of his eyes. Right, he wanted her to call him by the nickname he provided, so she immediately muttered with a smile, “Kiel.”

Instantly, Ezekiel’s lips stretched adoringly wide at her, filling her with delight. Her heart rejoiced at seeing him smile like that.

“I prefer you call me that since no one else calls me by a nickname. That’s exclusively for you,” he announced.

Tarah nodded in agreement. Ezekiel grabbed her hand and said, “Should we enjoy a walk around the forest? This way we can hold hands like this without you worrying too much about others’ eyes in the palace.”

“Let’s do that then. But aren’t you needed in the palace?” she inquired, eager to spend more time with him.

“I’d rather spend more time with you. We can return after lunch. There’s nothing urgent to attend to anyway. It’s just the same old pressure about the queen selection and the formal ceremony for the new fated Seer,” Ezekiel replied, leading them into the forest hand in hand.

He released a heavy sigh and uttered, “I might end up telling them about us if they keep pestering me about it.”

“But you promised me. You must keep your word to not talk about us until after your coronation. I don’t want any negative rumors or backlash about you. I’ll personally decline the official appointment to become the kingdom’s new Seer,” Tarah reminded him.

Ezekiel turned to face her, gently cupping her face as he spoke, “I won’t forget it, Tarah, though you’ve never explained to me why it’s necessary. But I trust you, so I’ll believe whatever you say.”

“Thank you,” Tarah said, then she pounced at him, wrapping him in a tight hug.

How could she tell him the reason that she was deliberately delaying it? She was bound to leave anyway, and the unnecessary scandal between a prince and his Seer would be too much if he announced it now. A prince in love with his Seer, only to be abandoned by her. There was no way she would allow such humiliation to tarnish his future reign.