Chapter 170 - The Truth

Nathaniel had imagined many times how he would tell her his secret - but none of them included the darkness of a little shelter and the smell of hay bales all around them. This was neither the place nor the atmosphere he imagined. Katherine was already on edge because of his secrecy, and now this.

With a sigh, he brushed his hair back, and unwillingly answered her question: "Yes. You saw it just now. My magic is" he searched for words and found none that were reassuring, so he just told the truth. "it's the most terrible destructive force in this country. And it is not fully under my control, though I do my best to change that. Skin contact... it is dangerous."

In the bad light, he could not see what expression Katherine made. Thus, he was surprised, when she only asked: "And emotions affect it, too? Like the usual magic?"

A dry laugh escaped his throat. "If you want to call it that way. It is a wide stretch to call it 'usual', seeing that it even has its own will."

It seemed she was taking things too lightly, and he felt the need to tell her just how dangerous his magic was. To warn her to be careful. Maybe it was for the best if she left him, so she could be safe. Clenching his fists, he steeled his heart for another truth. The words rolled over his tounge like a stream of poison, fast and cold. "My magic eats people's flesh. It takes less than a second to consume them and only their bones will be left. All I have to do is let it run wild and every life on this planet might vanish. I can not touch anyone, because the magic could use that opportunity to eat them alive, like it tried with you just now. It is that dangerous."

His eyes gleamed red in the darkness of the shelter as he waited for a reaction, waited for her to run or show the fearful pity he had seen on his uncle and siblings. Courage and boldness made hardly a difference in this case, since there was no solution to his problem. Every roard led to death. Now she would understand what it meant when he said that he 'could not be anyone's husband'.

This mask again, Katherine thought with annoyance when she got a glance on his cold face. Again, he told her to run and leave him behind. At least now she knew why he did that and what he had really tried to warn her about. It wasn't that she was not shocked. She totally was. Deep down she had suspected something, but never this, and if it was anyone else telling her this, she would suspect it to be a joke. But this was Nathaniel talking. It was frightening to think that all of her touches were her walking on the boarder of death, but when she looked into his face, she couldn't help believing him. Rapidly, she suppressed the upcoming fear. There was no time for flinching and tears. She had to think clearly now, since any of her reactions could hurt the man she loved. It was essential to understand the whole situation first.

Thinking back, it was no wonder Nathaniel reacted so strongly to her approaches, but she was not going to judge him because he kept his magic a secret for so long. It was heartbreaking to imagine that he could not even hold anyone's hand without fearing for that person's life. Yet she knew that Nathaniel didn't want her pity. He didn't ask for her understanding either. Instead, he was prepared for her to run away. He always expected her run. Maybe he even wanted it to be that way.

Anger boiled in her stomach, and her shoulders straightened with the deep breath she took. Despite trying to remain rational, this was something that bothered her every time. When she raised her head, her gaze pierced through the darkness and his indifferent facade at once. "If you think this is enough to make me run like a frightened rabbit, you are wrong. We are husband and wife and since you want it to stay like that, you have to finally get this into your head: I will neither run nor leave you! Ever! I asked for time, but I didn't say I would go. It is too late for this anyway. I already love you, so quit trying to drive me away!"

With the final yell she took a step forward, so they were now face-to-face. Even in the bad light, they could see each other's features. Nathaniel's mask began to crumble when he saw her determination. His Adam's apple moved up and down. "I... It is just the truth."

He shrugged, but there was helplessness in this movement. "Well, maybe I exaggerated a little bit, but not much."

Katherine snorted very unladylike and put her hands on her hɨps. "If you say so. So, what will we do about this? It can't stay this way, can it? If practice is all it takes to have your magic under control, you better start now. Because just to make it clear: I expect my husband to fulfill all of his responsibilities."

With the last words, her cheeks burned red, but she herself seemed to be annoyed by it. With knitted brows, she blew a strand of hair out of her face, then tucked it behind her ear.

Nathaniel's lips unwittingly turned up into a full-fledged smile. To him, her actions were just adorable. And it was more than that: they made him feel relieved. "I can't promise you anything like that, and you know it. But I will try my best."

He turned silent for a second. Taking in her appearance in the faint light and the rosy scent of her skin, awoke a deep longing in his ċhėst.

"I wish I could take you in my arms right now.", he said, brushing his hair back. It was longer than the first time they met. "Do you still need time to think?"

Losing her drive, Katherine opened her mouth to answer, but only nodded quietly in the end. Despite their undeniable connection and her promise to stay with him, this was all too much at once. She was afraid she would make the wrong decisions if she acted too hastily, and what he revealed right now only made it harder to pacify her hurt feelings. "It's not like we can't see each other though. Just don't expect me to..."

She made a motion with her hand which she herself didn't fully comprehend, yet Nathaniel nodded in understanding. "Don't worry." A wry smile crossed his mouth for the blink of an eye before it vanished. "I hardly was the proactive one of us, remember?"

Katherine couldn't help but smile awkwardly, until she noticed Nathaniel's eyes deepening. Her heart suddenly accelerated as the atmosphere changed and her predator husband was back for a visit. In a husky voice, he mumbled: "It is not as easy as before though. I want you every time I see you. If you smile and laugh, I dream of suċkɨnġ those lips and savoring their taste. Whenever you blush, I feel the urge to press you against the next furniture and make you mȯȧn. In the future, you need to take responsibility for that."

His eyes scanned her from top to bottom, and everywhere they touched, Katherine's body reacted excitedly. Her mouth turned dry and brėȧsts tingled, while her warm thɨġhs rubbed together. Hearing her gasp, an evil smirk emerged on his thin lips. "I see you are up to it."

If touching was allowed right now, Katherine would have shoved him for being so arrogant. Instead, she gritted her teeth in frustration over her own unruly body. "You really get bolder each time."

He lifted a brow in mock-surprise, but at the bulge in his trousers she saw he was not doing any better than her in suppressing his body's reaction. "Of course. I am a prince, after all."

"Then can your princely self explain what exactly happened there outside with your magic and mine?", Katherine retorted, crossing her arms and imitating his annoying tone.

At that, Nathaniel hesitated. "I'm not quite sure, but I have a theory..."