Chapter 78

78 Open Your Mouth

“Do you really want to do this?” Roshan considered her going over her own choice for the second time, but the lady in particular was already dressed in a white linen shirt, along with a black corset that perfectly held her small waist. It attractively brought out her delicate shape and graceful figure.

She wore breeches and black boots, her cinnamon-brown hair was tied in a messy bun and just staring at her under the moonlight as she pointed a sword at him made a strange feeling crawl up to his chest.

Her chocolate-brown eyes sparkled and she radiated confidence. Her face barely showed a hint of fear, as though proving that he didn’t entirely frighten her.

“Why?” The sound of her dulcet voice brought him back to the present, making him realize the situation in front of him.

“Is his highness afraid of losing to a common maid?” She challenged and to her surprise, his face lit up at her question.

The glacier was half-impressed by her courageous advances and he wouldn’t force her into backing out. He roughly grasped her peaceful desposition and picked up his sword as well.

The courtyard was cool and airy at night, making it the perfect time to commence their little duo and Anna was physically and mentally prepared for what to come.

She’s seen him fought before and it proved how much of a great successor he was when it came to swords. This was exactly why she picked this, to stimulate his interest further.

He beckoned her over and Anna wasted no time lunging her sword at him for a quick thrust, but Roshan had enough super reflexes which made it pretty easy to avoid her advances and their swords clashed with an unexplainable fierceness.

.....

For a few heart stopping seconds, their eyes clashed.

Hazel-green green against chocolate-brown and Anna’s heart thumped in response to their unplanned eye contact.

“Too slow, try again.” He kind-heartedly hinted and Anna blinked.

She quickly broke from the trance and withdrew her movement, only to try once more but she quickly switched moves. The sounds of swords clashing non-stop echoed in the courtyard and Roshan remained on the defensive part, evading her constant thrusts and lunges and he had to secretly admit that she had a good timing and improved stances.

“You’re good.” He complimented before letting out a tsk, “but not good enough.” He deflated her sword and with a movement that Anna didn’t sense approaching, her sword was knocked right off her hand and it clattered to the ground.

“I must say you’re doing so much for just an antidote.” He aimed his sword at her, leaving the unarmed Anna to retreat while he advanced forward. She was already out of breath but the glacier barely broke into a sweat. It looked as though it was nothing but a warm-up for him, and it hurt her pride to see he was this strong.

“I’d explain it to you but I have no time for people who have no soul.”

“Really? It didn’t actually feel like that when you kissed me last night.” The neutrality in his tone came to a halt when Anna’s eyes went round at his unbelievable words.

She did what?!

“What.....what do you mean I kissed you?” She asked again, wondering if she had ear problem and heard him wrong but Roshan’s shoulders relaxed as he let out a sigh.

“I had a feeling you wouldn’t remember.”

“You’re lying!” She took the opportunity of their conversation and skillfully kicked his sword away from her face, distracting his mind from her direction and she did a somersault, quickly reaching for her sword on the ground. She swiftly turned to look at the glacier who kept his interested gaze fixed on her.

“Of course you’d say that, afterall you picture yourself to be ‘nothing’ like me.” He subtly responded with a teasing smirk that made her seem foolish, deliberately trying to get on her nerves and he could hear the fast beating of her heartbeat, yet her face was contorted with a building anger and the colors on her cheeks ruined the moment.

Such a lovely irony.

She lunged forward with an intense speed and the clashing of sword continued, except it was fiercer than the last and she gave it her all in trying to scar the man a little bit, but he was just too good with his movements that she couldn’t help but envy. His timing and distance were all accurate and he seemed to have already figured out her moves before she did them.

Worst of all, he looked good doing it, as though his body was made for this and it left her feeling conflicted.

He was the one to attack now and before Anna knew it, she had her back against a tree and the cold steel of his blade was placed on her neck.

“You can’t win, there are no silver bullets to sword fighting.” He withdrew his blade, allowing Anna to catch her breath at the fact he didn’t end her life just now.

“How are you so...good at this?”

“Sword Fighting is similar to playing a game of chess,” he sheathed his sword in place, “...you win through strategy, not simple one two three and you-win process.”

She understood his logic even if he sounded a little arrogant, but she has to get that antidote.

“You lost.” He clearly stated, “but you tried to some extent.”

“Isn’t there any other way I can get the antidote?”

Roshan stared at the desperate look on her face and he realized he’s never met anyone who shocked him in different ways as much as she did. It haunted him and now he felt the irresistible pull between them.

“Do you promise to do anything I ask?”

She nodded without thinking twice about what he might request from her. A smile of mischief adorned his lips but it disappeared the moment it came.

Anna’s mind had barely wandered far when the being suddenly leaned forward, startling her as she didn’t expect his advances. Her eyes widened seeing he was standing a little too close to her and she felt herself shrink against the tree like someone who wanted to disappear.

Her heart raced and his seductive stares were killing her to the point she lowered her head, but a gasp left her lips when he tilted her head up to meet his stare and Anna felt herself let out a ‘hoof’ of breath. This particular stare burned with something she couldn’t fathom with and it spoke of danger, a danger that could lead to serious consequences if he kept staring at her like that.

His fingers trailed her chin before moving to cup one side of her cheek and his lips landed on hers when he couldn’t hold himself back anymore.

Anna’s eyes dilated as those warm soft lips on hers sent her whole system electrocuting as though a heavy current just ran through her.

Seeing she wasn’t responding to his kisses and remained frozen like a statue against the big tree, he pulled back to meet her stare.

“If you want the antidote, you have to respond and I mean it.” His tone came out hoarse with a look of desire flashing in those hypnotizing stares, the one that never failed to leave her in a trance.

Anna only blinked, she couldn’t speak as the shock of it had held her down completely, at least that was what she thought until the glacier’s fingers caressed her bottom lip and he coaxed.

“Open your mouth.”