bChapter 70 /b

Valencia

The crowd kept staring at me in stunned silence, and even though it was full of people, the only sounds I could hear were that of my own shallow breathing.

I had never felt the weight of the stares of so many people upon me. My hand subconsciously traveled up to my corbone and gently brushed upon the

mark.

“Oh”

A few people eximed in shock and took a step back in surprise.

“It is glowing!”

I didn’t have to wonder what it was about now because someone was

pointing at me

meand

I said with big, terrified eyes.

Maelyn, who had been looking at me with shock and contempt, now looked at me with some new emotion.

Unease. And fear.

At first, I didn’t want people to be afraid of me. I wasn’t sure why the mark manifested or how it was glowing.

But then Killian whispered in my ear.

“Own it like a weapon”

And I understood what he meant. My look of confusion was reced by that of a firm resolve. I straightened my spine and looked at Maelyn dead in the

eye.

“Would you want to step forward and take a closer look?”

I asked in a strong, loud voice, and Maelynb, /bfor the first time, took a step back.

“N–no thanks,” she muttered and turned to her aunt, hiding behind her like the coward she was.

Killian’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, firmly gripping the sleeves so as not to let the dress slide down any further.

“I hope that is enough of a proof for you and the other courtiers.” Killian said to Maelyn, but she had no words to say.

Killian then turned me around towards the other side of the table, one where the King and Martin were seated.

Apparently, they had realized something was going on because they were already looking at us when we turned around.

Killian motioned for me to start walking, and we iboth /iapproached the King.

“The Blessed One’s mark, my King. I thought you might be interested to see it.”

King Aecidus looked at me then at the mark with a/grim expression.

He only gave Killian a brief nod. There was no happiness, or shock on his face. It was devoid of any surprise.

Meanwhile, Martin looked extremely ufortable in his seat and it seemed like he wanted to be anywhere other than beside the bKing/b.

Killian coolly turned his attention to his elder brother and smiled.

“Not sure if you had seen it at Seranthyne. I heard you were quite eager to chase her just bto /bsee the mark.”

Martin’s face turned pale, and he threw a quick nce at his father, who asked in surprise.

“Chased her?”

Martin added hurriedly.

“Killian likes to just dramatize everything, Father.”

I narrowed my eyes at Martin, who looked at me and asked, “It is great to see the mark and have the Blessed One with us. Nowi, /iour kingdom will be

saved.”

What a bunch of bullies these people were! First Maelyn and now Martin, who acted all high and mighty but cowered when confronted with the truth in front of the King.

I wanted to call him and his so called betrothed out in front of not just the King but the entire court, but Killian seemed to have noticed my rising anger for he gently tapped his fingers on my shoulder before pulling

ie /ineckline of my dress up.

His action denoted that he wanted me to calm down and not make a scene right now.

I didn’t necessarily agree with it.

But the King looked at him or rather us and muttered. “Don’t disappoint me”

Killian bowed to his father and said. “I won’t”

And just like that, the King excused us and went back to me as Killian led me out of the court.

whatever they were discussing. I was vaguely aware of Martin and a few other people staring at

For the first time since setting foot in the court, I wanted to stay. I had revelled in the shocked gazes and expressions of the courtiers and felt happy that I had somehow managed to shut them up.

When a light breeze fluttered against me, I felt it lightly brush against my face and lips, reminding me of the passionate kiss I and Killian had shared in the

court.

I had not even got time to process it, let alone wonder about my mark, when Killian

“Hey, wait” I called him out, but he appeared to be in a hurry.

was already striding away from me.

“Where are iyou /igoing?” I hurried behind him, but his pace increased as if he were running away from me for some reason. Quite literally.

The fact that I was wearing a gown and sandals didn’t help, and I screamed out his inam /idisappear in a second.

loudly when he reached the wall behind which he would

“Killian, you better stop right there!”

I shouted, and then he did stop. And I realized how loudly I had shouted because the voice echoed through the corridor and bounced off the stone walls, amplifying it.

I ran towards him as fast as I could in that heavy dress and asked. “Why the hell are you actin

so weird?”

His back was facing me, and he didn’t turn to look at me. So, I reached for his shoulder and grabbed his coat in a fist to yank it towards me.

Killian slowly turned, but he was looking down at the floor.

“What is going on?” I asked, realizing all that smile and charm had disappeared, leaving behind a perplexed expression on his face.

He wouldn’t look at me, so I neared him and asked slowly.

“Is everything okay?”

His eyes were closed, and he had his fingers coiled into fists.

“Killian, talk to me! Why are you running away?” I asked softly this time and nudged his chin to make him look at me.

“Because it takes a lot more strength for me to kiss you and walk away without wanting to bury myself inside of you.

He said and opened his eyes. More than his words, his eyes made me step back in shock.

“Killian,” I gasped as I looked at his eyes that were devoid of any white.

They were pitch ck.