The Devil's Temptation!

242 Light Footsteps

“If he sees you, your reason for coming here will surely be misinterpreted,” she quickly said, “aren’t you a man of royalty yourself? I don’t have to explain everything in detail to you.”

“Correction, we’re from different royalties, different royalty means different rules.” He snapped his finger at her face, startling her as she blinked with obvious perplexity. His attitude right now wasn’t something she’d want to handle, especially at a time like this.

“We’re not done with our conversation,” he cocked his head at her, there was not a single trace of smile on his lips as gestured towards the balcony door with his brows, returning his gaze back to her, “get rid of him instead, not me.”

He was stubborn, and relentless on not leaving the balcony.

Azazel pretty much understood her situation, he would have left if she didn’t stop trying to chase him away.

He’s never seen someone who was capable of shooing him away like this, all in the name of hiding him from another man. Most especially when it was a woman who claimed to like him. He doesn’t understand women’s minds, this minute she’s begging for his presence, the next minute she’s chasing him away.

“I can’t do that.” She shook her head in disagreement, already running out of time

“If you won’t leave, then I will.” And she turned around, heading to the exit, but he suddenly grabbed her by her arm, stopping her abruptly from leaving, and she looked at him. The shock and confusion was visible in her pretty fox-like eyes.

“Where are you going?”

.....

“I’m going to get rid of him so I can get rid of you.” She freed her arm from his hold.

He might not be worried about himself, but she was for him. She hasn’t said anything to Azazel but Archer can be a bit possessive when it comes to her. If Archer catches them up here, she couldn’t imagine what will happen, she didn’t even want to imagine the scene.

Azazel withdrew his own hand like someone who got shocked to reality, he looked taken aback that he held her back from leaving, when on normal days, he was the one fond of driving her away. This sudden act of his was completely unlike him.

Was Levi’s word getting into his head again?? He should stop paying attention to what that silly demon had to say, cause it’s clear he’s been affected by it.

He watched Calista exit the balcony in a hurry, her pleasant scent was the only thing that lingered in the air, reminding him of her presence. She already left, but he was still curious to see what this Archer looked like, and what he wanted.

Unwilling to take his leave cause she told him to, he exited the balcony through the door, secretly following her trail.

—

“Calista!” Archer kept calling as he wandered around the palace, looking visibly confused about where his princess would have disappeared to without a trace.

Fortunately for him, the guards informed him she was last spotted heading up the balcony, and so he headed there, wanting to make sure she was alright and fine.

Making his way up the stairs that led to the side of the balcony, he kept calling her name, and he only stopped when Calista stepped out of the balcony before he could enter, startling them both as they nearly bumped into each other.

“Archer it’s you.” She smiled his way when she realized it was him, and Archer’s expression gradually relaxed when she finally showed up.

“There you are.” He walked up to the princess who bowed her head slightly before his presence.

“You called for me?”

“Where have you been?” He asked, letting out a sigh of relief, “your brother and I are up on something regarding the dark forest, so he wants you in his chamber. You’re smart when it comes to placing two to two together, so we need your help.”

He stated his reason for calling out to her.

“Oh.” Calista blinked in surprise as she processed his words in her head. She thought Archer was here to act clingy towards her like he’s always done, but to her relief, that wasn’t the case tonight.

“Of course.” She nodded with a beaming smile, “I’d be delighted to help, and it’s good to see brother working on himself again. He’s more focused on the route of everything, and no longer interested in opening that sword.”

She was even more surprised that her brother was willing to let her be a helping hand. Back then, her brother felt he didn’t need her help, he didn’t need anyone’s help to be more precise, so it was heartwarming to witness his sudden change.

Archer nodded in agreement, “yes, he was a mess when he returned with a broken knee, but hey, it’s never too late to get back on the right track. And seriously-” he suddenly cupped Calista’s cheeks in his palm.

His touch was gentle and his eyes displayed what he really felt for her.

“You’ll give me a serious meltdown if you go missing like that again. It’s not safe to wander alone, and don’t use the palace as an excuse.” He silenced Calista before she could speak. “Your brother’s wife said something about running into one, so be careful and stay cautious of your surroundings, okay?”

Calista said nothing. She hated to admit it, but she doesn’t like how Archer treats her. He’s so concerned for her that he makes her feel guilty each time she looks at him. She doesn’t deserve Archer, but how will she tell him she doesn’t want to go ahead with this? Her father’s blood pressure might shoot up if she says anything or dares to speak against the marriage.

Her heart ached, she wished she felt these feelings for Archer, but sadly, he’s not the one her heart wants.

Hiding her emotional turmoil with a smile, she released Archer’s hands from her cheeks, gently patting the back of his palm before meeting his warm gaze.

“I understand, I’ll listen to you from now on, but can we leave, brother must be waiting and he might not like it if we show up late.” She changed the subject. She was desperate to escape this guilt and shift her mind into something else.

“Alright.” He agreed. Holding Calista’s hand in his, he interlaced their fingers together before they both made their way to the direction to her brother’s chamber.

Unknown to Calista, Azazel secretly watched them from a corner. He knew he made a good choice by telling Calista to marry Archer. He just witnessed the man’s care and affection, and that’s something he could never give Calista. She doesn’t belong in his type of world, he was sure she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

He got what he wanted, but why wasn’t he happy with it?

When they interlaced fingers before his eyes, there was something in him that snapped, and it was beyond his control. Unlike Roshan, he could control his demons, and that was the only thing capable of stopping him from going over there and separating their hands from one another.

He really hoped it wasn’t what he was thinking that made him react this way, he wouldn’t allow it.

—-

Opening the coffin that was safely kept in a one lit room, Roshan stared at its emptiness. He sensed that inescapable darkness hovering around it, one that didn’t appeal to him in a positive way.

“Did you sleep in it?”

“Is that an accusation?” Questioned Blake’s as he turned to look at Roshan, pretending to be hurt by it.

“It’s a question, you answer it, or get punched in the face, pick one.”

“You really are a bastard,” he chuckled lightly, “and no,” he responded after his chuckle had died down, “I didn’t go near it, I kept it in one of the safest rooms in my home, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Good.” He closed the coffin back, “now we wait, if the owner’s going to show up or not.”

“How will they know it’s here?” Blakes didn’t want to believe they’ll be dealing with a spy who follows their every movement.

“One always knows the road to their home Blake’s, whoever it is will come.”

“How come you’re so confident about that logic?”

“Just my instincts.” He took a step forward, “if the owner doesn’t come for it, it must have changed it’s vessel, or–”

“Roshan,” Blake uttered his name all of a sudden, sounding a bit alarmed as his ears twitched. When Roshan silenced himself up, he could hear the light unhurried footsteps of someone coming in their direction.

The only problem was no one except them where in the house, which could only mean-

“I think your visitor is already here.” Whispered Blake’s as he backed away from the door, the door he was sure their guest would use to make an entrance.