Dear Immortal Tyrant

Since Kaden was already home and dressed in a suit, the two decided to head out on a nice date. The planning was last minute, but Lina enjoyed it nonetheless. They did everything that a normal couple should.

Kaden booked out an entire movie theatre for her, made the gentlemanly suggestion to screw where no one was watching, and she gave him the ladylike response of actually wanting to enjoy the movie. Then, Kaden took her to a lovely sushi restaurant where for dessert, he suggested devouring her over the dining table. Next, was a quiet walk by the beachside, where the waves lulled her anxious heart.

"Look, Kaden, a shell!" Lina gasped, pointing to the single shell nestled in the sand and resting in the path of the moonlight.

Lina had never visited a beach before, much less, taken a beautiful walk under a starry sky where the moon shone brightly. She was excited by everything she saw.

Before Kaden could stop her, Lina had kicked off her heels and was dashing towards the sand. He reluctantly stood by the stairway that separated the streets and the beach. He didn't understand what could be that intriguing about an ugly house that a shellfish used to live in.

"Isn't it pretty?" Lina asked him, bouncing up to his location.

Lina showed him the light pink shell with an enthusiastic smile. Then, she saw two antennas poking out of it. Before she could react, out came tens of tiny legs. She blinked in confusion. Suddenly, Kaden slapped the shell out of her hand.

"Ow!" Lina cried out in disbelief, watching the shell fall to the ground. He roughly yanked her up the stairway as a small bug with tens of legs crawled out of it.

"What was that for—?" Lina paused.

Kaden's expression grew grim and pale. There was a sheen layer of cold sweat on his forehead. When his eyes met hers, his lips thinned into a straight line.

Lina felt a slight tremor tightly gripping her arm. She glanced down to realize it was Kaden. Realization dawned on her faster than he could bark a lecture at her.

"This is why you don't pick up random things on the beach," Kaden bit out. "If you wanted a shell, I could deshell oysters for you."

"You're afraid of bugs."

Kaden's expression darkened. "I'm not."

Lina bent to pick up the centipede. Immediately, his fingers dug into her arm. In a pull, he had her back onto the street. Barefoot.

"Don't test me— Lina!" Kaden snarled, furious when she tried to poke the bug.

Kaden shot the creature a glower so venomous, the thing wished it was never on the food chain. Instantly, the bug scurried off, burrowing back into the shell. He could feel his heart race in disbelief.

"But it's cute," Lina mumbled. "Look at its tiny legs."

"You're crazy and I need to enroll you into the nearest psychiatric evaluation," Kaden deadpanned.

Kaden tugged her to a bench. There, he forced her to sit down. Kneeling before her, he helped her put on her heels.

"Next time you run, it better not be on a damn beach where filthy bugs are lurking in shells and there are microplastics or glass shards in the sand. It's dangerous."

Despite his rough words, Kaden dusted the sand from her toes, and slipped the heels on her feet. He frowned at the throbbing behind her ankles. She winced when his thumb brushed upon an open wound.

"Dove," Kaden seethed.

"It doesn't hurt," Lina mumbled, resting her palms on either side of the stone bench. The seat was cold, but nothing beat Kaden's icy stare.

"Like hell, it does not."

His speech was cruel, but his actions were gentle. Kaden tossed her heels to the sidewalk and refused to let her touch them.

"They're red bottoms, hand them over," Lina groaned, reaching for the shoes that she'd only worn once.

"The chauffeur is coming, you do not need this junk," Kaden reassured her.

With great patience, Kaden massaged her tender and sore feet. She squealed, her entire body going rigid.

"You're ticklish," Kaden realized.

Lina glared at him, attempting to pull back. But he clutched her ankles tightly, his eyes filled with mischief. She quickly glanced around them, relieved that the night was late and there were only a few people on the streets.

"I guess we both learned a silly fear tonight," Kaden warned her.

"Shut up—"

Kaden tugged at her ankles, forcing her body to jolt forward. She tightened her grip on the seat's edge, her eyes formed a dangerous glare. He smirked and bent his head to kiss her on the knee.

"Do not use my fear against me," Lina said.

"Well—"

"Or one day, you'll wake up to fake bugs in the bed."

Kaden's grip tightened on her legs. He narrowed his stare. She was dead serious.

"I know you're old and a jumpscare can give you a heart attack," Lina triumphantly said, finally having the  one-up on him.

"I'll show you old," Kaden murmured, rising to his full height.

Lina gulped. Kaden was tall, his powerful figure towering over her. The moonlight made him appear even more menacing. His tanned skin was pale and his eyes flickered red like blood. He rested a hand behind her, gripping onto the fence. Lowering his head, she felt her breath hitch.

Kaden's eyes were like fire, licking at her skin. His other hand slowly touched her leg. His fingers were long and with just one hand, he was able to wrap it around her upper thigh. Her throat tightened. This thumb brushed on the sensitive skin near her entrance.

"I heard your contract with the Elits went through," Kaden softly said, his voice a husky lullaby.

Lina shakily glanced at his throat, where his Adam's apple was prominent. Then, her attention drifted to his sharp features. What stood out the most was his devious gaze. He was the kind of man that mothers warned their daughters about. A man that was too cruel for love, but once he fell, would only cherish a single woman.

Kaden eased his head down. They stared eye to eye and he heard her heart quicken. His grip tightened on her thigh, earning a soft gasp from her. He loved the feeling of her soft skin on his.

"Tell me more," Kaden murmured. He lowered his arm on the fence, caging her in.

"There's a celebration dinner," Lina admitted.

Lina knew he was coaxing the answers out of her. His voice dripped with sweetness. She felt the heat rolling off his powerful frame. The warmth went straight between her legs. His eyes flared at her words and she felt the force of his mood.

"If you go, your status in the race will be confirmed. It'll be too late to pull out now."

Kaden never pulled out. Lina realized that on the spot. Her face grew hot with the realization. He always liked to fill her insides until his seed leaked down her thighs.

"Is that really what you wish to do?" Kaden murmured.

Kaden lowered his arm, using it to stroke her lower back. His thumb brushed on her straight spine. Her eyelids fluttered, her eyes dropping to his mouth. His lips curled.

"If you keep on looking at me like that dove, we might have to go to jail," Kaden warned her.

Lina was confused. She naively blinked and tilted her head. "What for?"

"Indecent exposure," Kaden hoarsely said. "For fucking you on this bench right now."

"O-oh."

Lina wouldn't mind getting charged.