The Tyrant's Pet

Aries let out a soft moan, waking up at the crack of dawn after her dream. But just as she moved, she realized the warmth wrapped around her. Before she could panic, those muscular arms pulled her against his body.

"Sleep some more." Her eyes nearly left their socket, hearing Abel's coarse voice. "You said you missed me, so I came."

Abel planted a quick peck on top of her head, rubbing her back out of habit. When the familiar musky scent wafted her nose, her heart and body gradually relaxed. Her eyes softened as a subtle smile dominated her face.

"Glad you're here," she whispered, moving her hand that was between them over his body. Aries didn't ask how he got in here or since when he was there because it didn't matter. She closed her eyes once again, attempting to go back to sleep.

However, despite the snugly feeling with her body squeezed against his, Aries couldn't sleep. Abel was still stroking her back, so she knew he hadn't fallen asleep as well.

"I had a strange dream," she murmured, opening her eyes partially.

"A dream?"

"Mhm... not a nightmare — well, it was a bit." She breathed out heavily, trying to recall the dream she had.

"I see..." Abel slowly opened his eyes, waiting for her to continue.

"But I forgot about it." Aries sighed as the dream felt like she could remember it, but not at the same time. It was as if the more she tried to recall, the faster that dream blur.

"But what I'm certain is, it's weird."

Abel chuckled with his lips closed, pulling her body closer even though there wasn't any gap between them anymore. "All dreams are weird, darling. Don't think about it too much. You might have a nightmare once you sleep again."

"I won't." She giggled, moving her head until her nose was touching his neck. "You're here."

"Behave, darling. I didn't come here for that... at least, not the first on the list, but definitely the second."

"I am behaving." Aries frowned, hugging him tightly like a teddy bear. "You'll have a hard time if you keep going to me even when I live in the marquess estate."

"You will, not me," he argued lazily. Aries didn't reply anymore, but she sniffed him, trying to detect any traces of another woman. "I didn't."

She stopped. "You didn't what?"

"Call for night services. Too busy." Abel rested his leg over her thigh.

"Will you call for them if you're not busy?"

"Jealous?" he humored. "I might call for them just to make you jealous."

"As if." She rolled her eyes and pushed him away, only for him to secure her tightly in his arms.

A subtle smile turned up on his face, resting his chin on top of her head. "Don't tempt me, darling. I nearly killed Isaiah just to be here."

"You, what?"

"Let's just sleep some more." Once again, he planted a peck on top of her head. "I missed you."

Aries bit her inner lip, relaxing her body in the safety of his embrace. His warmth and tone told her it was impossible for him to be with another woman. They would never be enough. It made her smile a bit, as his actions were far better than anything.

There was no need to worry. Abel was hers; she got him wrapped around her hand, which made her a little — a little too much — happy.

If only he knew how intense, how deep, and how dark this attachment growing within her. No, if Aries only knew this growing feeling that continued to grow like tree roots underneath the ground, it would terrify her.

While Aries tried to sleep, Abel kept his eyes partially open. He kept stroking her back gently to make her fall asleep, sniffing the faint floral scent of her hair. He continued on doing that until the weight of her head on his arms increased and her breathing grew heavier.

'How... did she see me?' he wondered, recalling the dream he peeked as soon as he snuck under the sheet with her. Actually, he didn't mean to take a peek at her dreams. He was dragged into it.

Abel simply approached her in the dream, knowing she wouldn't see him. However, not only did she see him, she had a conversation with him. It left him with tons of question marks inside his head.

Why? Because that dream... actually happened to Aries in the past.

In other words, that dream was real. Who was she talking to that time, then? Did she really mistake the crown prince for Abel? But they didn't meet beforehand; actually, they had no relation or connection before they met during the world summit.

"So interesting," he crooned, gazing down at her only to see her deep asleep. "Darling, have you perhaps seen me beforehand? If you do, were you actually one of my admirers?"

Abel chuckled in a low tone and shook his head lightly. Surely, Aries never failed to surprise him in the most unexpected situations. Now Abel had something to think about while she was away from the imperial palace.

'Darling, you don't know how you just made Isaiah's injuries worth it.' He mentally laughed, patting her back as she closed his eyes to sleep. 'I might actually bear the longing to embrace you for a day or two to crack this riddle.'

<strong>*****</strong>

Meanwhile...

Conan bent over to lean against the railing, staring at the wounded Isaiah, who was slumped on the landscape below the balcony of the emperor's office. Isaiah was lying flat on his back, gazing blankly at the cloudless night sky. From Conan's vantage point, Isaiah looked pretty much dead after his failed attempt to stop Abel.

"It is, indeed, a futile attempt to stop His Majesty from seeing Lady Aries." He sighed, propping his knuckles against the cheek. "How was he supposed to send Lady Aries to that empire if he cannot even stand this distance between them?"

There was a momentary silence before Conan spoke again. "Well, either way, it's still good that His Majesty didn't just order to obliterate the Maganti Empire." He looked up, pressing his lips into a thin line.

"It's almost time for the coven."