Chapter 9. Sealed with a Kiss

* Dorina *

Our eye contact didn't break, I gently nodded permitting him to kiss me. I told myself, it was just a simple kiss nothing wrong with it. But to be honest, I hadn't thought about this part, and knowing that a man of his caliber is going to kiss me is already making my heart pound hard.

His hand although rough, gently held my chin upward. Staring up at his bluish gray eyes like this, made me realize that he was better looking in every passing minute that I stayed with him.

"It's going to be alright Princess."

He murmured in a deep husky voice, I'd appreciate his words more if I were not nervous and I hated the fact that he knew it. So I closed my eyes and braced myself for an awkward boring kiss with this man that I chose to marry.

It should have been awkward the first time his lips pressed against mine, but they were surprisingly soft and warm. I quickly became aware that his breath was very manly, I wasn't able to stop myself from the curiosity when I slightly opened my mouth to taste him.

His mouth pressed harder and to my surprise, his tongue swiftly went in. I moaned demurely. The kiss deepened and it felt so right. Desire surged through me like tidal waves from the ocean, filling my heart with a rush making it pump blood faster than before. I wasn't aware that Ivan would be this good at kissing. So he is not just a skilled fighter but maybe a good one in bed too.

I wanted the kiss to go on but I heard the elder clear his throat and Ivan gently pushed back. When I opened my eyes, I couldn't believe what just happened, so I just looked up to him. It felt as though a part of me was lost and he took it away after that kiss. But his attention moved to the elder.

I was stunned looking at his handsome face.

"Thank you old man, now we can't delay meeting His Royal Highness anymore."

Elder Mardok groaned. "Take care on the road, I hope you won't get killed before you meet the Alpha King. And Princess.."

He turned towards me. I had to shake my head to remove myself from the daze. For goodness sake, it was just a kiss Dorina.

"I appreciate your help, Elder Mardok, I will do my best to convince my father not to give you any punishment. He would understand everything once we were back at the Palace."

"It's alright Princess, it is my pleasure to serve you and make sure you are safe to go back. I just hope you won't regret this decision. And you are lucky, His Highness Prince Douglas and her wife have yet to announce any news of a child. We all know that your father is desperate to have heirs, so maybe just maybe he will forgive your mistake this time."

I felt that a muscle in Ivan's hand tensed when I held his hand. We took the marriage papers and bid our goodbye to Elder Mardok.

The sun would be down in just an hour when we hit the road to the Palace in the Capital. While on the road we were both silent.

The Palace gates rose in front of us like a wall of teeth. Even from a distance I could see the banners - my father's royal black and silver, still flying. Still there. My stomach twisted when I thought about what's going to happen next.

I chose to guide Ivan into the small gate near my place in the Palace. We didn't take the main gate as it would directly lead to the entrance of my Father's main hall. Two Palace Warrior Guards stepped into the middle of the road before Ivan could even stop the Harley. Not the regular gate watch. Warriors. In full armor, hands already on the hilts of their swords. Wolves that could shift mid-fight.

"Stop the engine now!" One of them barked, his eyes glowing faint amber as he scented us. "No one enters after the bell without a seal from the Inner Court."

I lifted my face to the warrior.

"It's me. Princess Dorina."

Both helmets snapped toward me. And then - recognition shown on both of their faces.

"Princess... Dorina?" The second guard lowered his sword an inch, but didn't put it away. His eyes widened. "By the Moon - we were told you were."

"Dead? Kidnapped? Ran away with a rogue?" I tried to keep my voice steady, royal and Princess-like. "I am here now. Open the gate to my quarters."

The first guard didn't move. His amber eyes slid from me to Ivan, who had dismounted and was standing too close to me, his hand still holding the Harley's clutch. His stance was both protective and possessive.

"And him?" Ivan didn't flinch under their stare.

"The name is Ivan of the Northern Border. Her sworn protector," he said, his deep voice even.

"Sworn protector?" The guard scoffed, stepping closer to Ivan, trying to intimidate him. He was almost as tall as Ivan, but not quite. "You have the stink of an unbonded rogue on you. And you ride with the Princess who disappeared three nights before her betrothal ceremony to Alpha Ashborne. Do you know what the Alpha King decreed? That any man found with her is to be executed on sight for treason."

My blood went cold. "What? No, my father would not."

"Orders from His Royal Highness himself, Princess," the second guard said, but his tone was softer, torn.

"We thought... everyone thought you were taken. Alpha Alex's men have been searching the forests. The Palace has been in lockdown."

Ivan's hand found mine. His palm was still rough, still warm from that kiss. He squeezed, a silent it's going to be alright again.

"We have marriage papers," I blurted out before I could stop myself. "Sanctioned. Blessed by Elder Mardok of the Eastern Shrine. I was not taken. I chose to flee."

There was a moment of silence as both of the guards froze.

"You... what?" the first one whispered.

I pulled the folded, sealed parchment from the satchel at my waist. My fingers were trembling so hard I could barely hold it. Ivan stepped forward, placing himself half in front of me, between me and their swords.

"My wife is tired," he said, and the word wife made my breath catch, even now. His bluish-gray eyes were ice on the guards. "She has ridden all day to return home. You will open the gate to Princess Dorina's place, you will announce her arrival to the King as your Princess, not as a fugitive, and you will do it with respect. You can question our papers inside the Palace walls, where it is safe for her. Not here on the road like common criminals."

His voice wasn't loud but he held himself well and full of authority. It was almost the voice of an Alpha. Ivan might have been born as a great commander. The kind that made even Palace warriors instinctively straighten their backs.

The guards looked at each other. The seal of Elder Mardok was clear, one of the oldest and most respected by the nobles, it glowed faintly blue on the paper in my hand. You couldn't fake that. The second guard finally dropped to one knee, fist to his chest.

"Forgive us, Princess. We meant no disrespect."

Then the first one hesitated a second longer, his eyes still locked on Ivan with suspicion and something like a challenge, before he too knelt. He then rose and slammed his gauntleted fist against the gate mechanism. The huge iron gears groaned.

"The Princess Dorina has returned!" he roared toward the inner courtyard, his voice echoing. "With a... with her husband! Open the inner gates! Inform His Royal Highness!"

The gates began to creak open, revealing the long, lit path to my father's palace. To my home. Every window was lit. Warriors were already running toward us.

Ivan leaned down, just enough that only I could hear.

"Stay close to me, Princess," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear, reminding me instantly of that kiss. "The interrogation at the gate is over. The real one is about to begin inside."

I know I should be the one feeling at ease to help him because this is his first time stepping foot in the Palace and meeting my Royal family. But surprisingly I am on edge while I couldn't feel an inch of fear from him and he was the one comforting me.