The guy extended his hand and seeing this Joanna assumed he wanted to strangle her to death.
"Joan, it's me," the one in the dark finally said something.
The familiar voice and touch made Joanna snap out of it.
"Kayden!" Joanna shouted in a mixture of shock and anger. She couldn't believe that the one whom she ran away from was Kayden Greyson, the only King of the Twipera Kingdom. She is his mate.
"Joan, why did you take to your heels on seeing me…,"
Joanna beat his hand away in annoyance. "Hey Kayden, you scare the freaking hell out of me," Joanna complained bitterly. She squats to catch her breath.
Kayden, despite being surprised to see her like this, squats in front of her.
"Joan, I am sorry. It wasn't my intention to scare you and I was surprised to see you run earlier. I thought you were trying to avoid me as you usually did that is why I pursued you," Kayden's innocent voice while talking to her didn't resemble that of a king but instead resemble that of a concerned lover.
Joanna raised her gaze to stare at him. "You should have at least said something earlier. Because it was dark I mistook you for those wicked werewolves and vampire boys who are out to get me," said Joanna, standing up to her feet. She began walking with Kayden following her closely.
"You didn't let me speak. You took me by surprise when you ran like you had seen a ghost. I had no choice but to run after you," Kayden said, walking closer to her so that their hands brushed against each other. He repeated the same thing the second time and this time around he grabbed her left hand.
Joanna stopped walking the instant he held her hand. She wriggled her hand out of his grip thereby making the atmosphere awkward.
"Shouldn't you have been long gone after attending to the urgent matter in the principal's office so why are you still here?" Joanna resumed walking. She acted like nothing was wrong.
"Don't tell me you returned here to hang out with your girlfriend without any disturbances from the Queen mother, the maid or guards at the palace," Joanna didn't stare at him as she talked and this made Kayden unhappy.
He halted, held her right hand and spun her so she was facing him. "You are my only mate, the only woman destined for me so how could I ever have a girlfriend aside from you?" Kayden asked in a serious tone, his gaze centred in her pure eyes that of innocence.
"You clearly know how I feel about you so why do you always pretend not to know of my deep feelings for you?"
Joanna couldn't handle the intensity of his burning gaze so she immediately looked away.
"You are the King of the Twipera Kingdom. The supreme king of both the werewolves and vampires while I am a girl with no powers. Even though I am stupid I wouldn't aim for where I know my hands can not reach~,"
"Joanna Anderson, you look so gentle and harmless but why do you always have the tendency to hurt me most viciously?" Kayden asked as he pulled her onto himself. He placed his left hand around her slender waist to prevent her from running away like she normally did.
"You are my mate and that makes you the most qualified girl to be with me…,"
"Your majesty, if you don't care about your reputation I care about my life so I advise that you watch your words and you mind your manners," said Joanna in a formal tone as she tried to free herself. Even without his powers she was no match for a warrior like the king who works out everyday both alone and with his soldiers.
"Earlier in the day, you only held my hand and the four witches accused me of stealing and even tried to beat the hell out of me. I am sure I won't be able to keep my poor life if they sees us in this manner…,"
"Joan, why do you always used the girls as an excuse to keep a distance from me…,"
"Because no matter how wretched my life is, I still love my life. I don't want to die just yet," Joanna stated fiercely, taking Kayden by surprise with her harsh tone.
"Why am I telling you this when I am sure you don't understand what I mean".
Joanna's words made Kayden release her at once. His fallen expression didn't escape Joanna's notice.
He has been protecting her in the dark without anyone knowing. He is aware that she will be in even bigger danger if he do it in the open.
It might seem like the world and everyone in it adores him but he understands that isn't the case at all. No ruler doesn't have enemies no matter how good he is.
Publicly protecting Joanna will make her become their target and that is why he has been secretly protecting her. How he wished he could tell this to Joanna and Everyone who blames him for Joanna's suffering.
The only sure way he knew he could protect her is by making her the Queen, the mother of the Kingdom and that is why he has been eagerly waiting for her to reach the legal age of marriage.
'Damn! It looks like I hurt him with my words again.'
Joanna tried to come with ways to make him brighten up a bit.
"Kay, I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I just don't want to get into any more trouble with the girls, my stepsister and stepmother. You know how brutal they can be, so I hope you understand my point of view," said Joanna in a soft tone.
"I know despite having prophesied to be my mate since you were in your mother's womb that you don't love me. I won't force you…,"
"Hey Kay, stop looking so sad because I know that you are not that weak to get affected by what I said. As the King, you are supposed to be strong minded which I know you are…,"
"So what if I am the King, I am a living being with feelings too and I get hurt especially by you," Kay said as he walked further into the dense forest.
Before he was the one who always cause after her but this time around it was Joanna's turn to chase him.
'Is he really hurt or is he pretending to be sad to make me feel guilty for what I said?', Joanna questioned Kayden's real emotions at the moment.
Since she was afraid Kayden would keep on pursuing the issue, she followed him without uttering a word.
She was too busy caring about how Kayden felt to realise that instead of leaving the forest they were walking further into it.
Joanna abruptly stopped walking when she realised this. "Kay, why are you taking me further into the forest? Shouldn't we be leaving the forest?" Joanna asked the guy still walking.
She began feeling afraid when she saw that Kay wouldn't stop walking further away from her.
"Kay, stop walking and say something," Joanna shouted momentarily forgetting his title.
Before Kay became the king, they were good friends and this was obviously in secret since she was scared of not only her life but also ruining his reputation.
Although he became the King not long ago, she still talks to him as friends do. And this is majorly because when Kayden is with her, he doesn't act like the king he was.
He always talks and treats her more than a friend would.
"Kayden Greyson, stop right there?" Joanna ordered coldly. She was so relieved when he turned to stare at her. "Damn he has transformed!" Joanna exclaimed on seeing his crimson red eyes from afar. She subconsciously began walking backwards when she saw him approach her.
Getting closer she could see that his once friendly look was gone. It was now replaced by his cold look. Seeing him this way combined with the environment they were in made Joanna tremble.
Her heart raced rapidly against her chest. Joanna bit her lower lips to suppress her fears.
"Kay…Kay… I…," Joanna gave her fears away the moment she stammered.
"Kay, what do you think you are doing? Don't tell me you have suddenly become a beast who takes advantage of the weak?" Joanna asked amidst her fears.