Chapter 141: My Heart Screamed "Yes*

*Ciana*

The air was cool today but not in a way where it wasn't pleasant to be outside. The last few days had been weird, to say the least. I had settled into the palace well even though it didn't feel like I needed to settle in. This place, as strange as it sounded, offered me a certain peace.

My mind wandered to a pair of mesmerizing dark eyes and the way that they tried to lure me in.

I shook my head, trying to rid my mind of King Theo's presence.

Jake said to trust him but I didn't know why I just couldn't. There was something familiar about him but I couldn't bring myself to take that leap.

I had just turned the corner when I was nearly toppled over by one of the servants who were sprinting in the opposite direction from me.

"Forgive me, my lady." She bowed before sprinting past me.

Three more servants followed after her, brushing past me.

"What's going on?" I muttered to myself as I walked into the square and searched for what they were running from.

"Why the hell is it so damn big?" I heard Jake's muffled voice in the distance.

I hid behind one of the finely pruned hedges and looked through the small opening. There was Jake, approaching the square. But he wasn't alone.

Was that a... leopard? I squinted my eyes and zeroed in on the moving object.

Yep. That was a leopard, all right.

Why on earth was there a leopard on the loose in this grand palace?

Jake looked around the area and then turned to the leopard that was now moving toward the large oak tree.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty..." He moved to the animal slowly and groaned, "Why didn't I recommend a normal gift? Like a diamond or a damn handbag?"

Gift?

"Did you find it?" Warren came out of seemingly nowhere. "Of all the things this man could have bought, he decided to get her a leopard?"

"She likes animals." Jake scratched the back of his neck.

"Then get her a cat, not a freaking predator of the jungle," Warren panted. From where I was hiding, I could see his face was red from trying to get on the tree. It was rare to see the elegant and graceful prince frustrated like this.

"Believe me, that was what I meant when I said a cute cat. Sir, can we please just get it down before we ruin the surprise for her?"

"Alright. You go to the left, I'll be on the right to corner this baby," Warren instructed. As they slowly moved to the tree, Warren commented. "But I'm pretty sure that Ciana will love it. She has always had an affinity for animals."

What? This leopard was a gift for me? From the king?

That same light fluttery feeling returned to my chest. It happened whenever his name was mentioned or when he was close to me. I didn't fully understand my bodily reaction to him. It unnerved me.

"Ciana?”

Jake was staring right at me.

Oh well, they saw me.

I stood to my full height and hoped my cheeks weren't flaming red.

"Prince Warren, Beta Jake, fancy seeing you two here." I cleared my throat and came out from behind the bush, plastering on a fake smile, looking at both men.

My eyes flicked to the leopard that had now settled at the base of the tree. It was unlike its nature to not climb, but then again it probably felt safe here. I pointed to the predator on the ground, "I see you both are quite busy on this fine day."

exchanged a look

to

out of his trance as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head. "Can you watch him for a second? I need to run and get the king, I will

run to," Warren, smiling nervously, also started to back away. "You are good with animals, right? He

I looked at

around," they both said

I waved

like two little

turned to the leopard that was

for animals, it wasn't a secret. Seeing the leopard reminded me of my friends in the woods back home.

apex predators-the kings of speed. I thought back

I smiled at her. "Don't worry about all those people that were running from

in just the right spots to truly highlight her fur. "You

walked over to her slowly, closing the distance inch by inch. When I was about a foot away I stopped, not wanting

and being friendly, those were the keys

held my hand out to her and waited for her to allow me to approach her. Then she raised her head and sniffed my hand. When she

and settled

and looked up at the

to me. I stroked her fur and we

at me. "You need a name, sweet girl. What should we call you?

purred and scratched behind

Aurum? It matches your

She scratched her face.

strength and resilience. Do

purred and I knew

the ground and went straight to a

feeling for the past few

people around me did seem harmless to me. I just wish I could remember exactly

I didn't particularly like to be trapped

and decided not to get bogged down in the

my hand. Animals

back against the tree and

Neava as a gift for me? Why would he do that? It wasn't my birthday nor was it any

day isn't it?" A deep and smooth voice sent a frenzy of flutters into my

my eyes open and

Majesty," I

stared directly into my soul, his gaze intrusive and sharp. “Theo.

insisted

to the leopard and crouched down. He reached into the bag of treats beside him and offered them to Neava, who gladly

I smiled, trying to find a common ground for us, "Few people get along with

He rubbed Neava's forehead. "Wait,

my cheeks. "Yes, Neava. It’s an ancient name from her ancestral land that means strength and resilience." I looked down at her. "A beautiful name for a

voice came out much softer than

at him I saw him staring directly at

away. “Who taught

very special person

good friends with that person then.

"I'm sure you

found myself staring at him longer than what would be considered polite, so I cleared my throat and looked away from him. "I feel much better now. I think now it's time for me to return back to my home pack. Thank you for your

my gaze. What did he mean? I wasn't a prisoner! "...Yet," he added, after seeing my unfriendly glance. "Your father is on his way here. He sent

"My father?"

So instead of rushing back maybe

nodded with my face heated a little, feeling guilty that I misunderstood him, “Okay. Thank

gave me a pointed look. "I told

for me to say his name out loud in his presence, but if that

about you join me for a

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