Siana

When they reached the end of the path, Sia couldn"t help but gasp from the scenery.

They were surrounded by trees with mossy tree barks and ground covered with plants and flowers, as if a painting drawn by nature itself. There were several birds that were singing the nature"s song. The deers near the trees hid quickly, but, as if sensing that the intruders had no bad intentions, they came out and started lining up around them. There were also other animals around there like squirrels, rabbits and even red pandas.

All of this beauty was complemented with a lake that was reflecting the magic of the enchanted forest in it. In the middle of the lake was a small wooden hut, the only road to which was covered in flowers on both sides.

As if in a trance, Sia started walking around, not paying attention to Cain who was chuckling at her silly expression. She once told him that her ideal date should be in a secluded place away from everyone.

He approached her from the back and, wrapping her in his arms, asked in a whisper,

"So, does this meet your criteria for a romantic date?"

"When did you prepare all this?"

She turned around astonished: she could not describe the beauty of the place but she knew it wasn"t something to make in a matter of few days. When did he do all of this?

"Remember that long chat we had once after I chased away a suitor of yours? When you started talking about what your ideal boyfriend should be?"

She nodded at him absentmindedly, still not being able to find a link between the two events.

"Well, I already liked you back then so I decided to surprise you one day and prepared this place," he answered matter-of-factly but soon continued with a playful smile, "If you appreciate your man"s effort give me a kiss."

Turning around she quickly pecked his lips and then inquired with her eyes wide open,

"Does that mean that you have liked me since two years ago?"

"I have started liking since you started being your true self."

Without waiting for a response, he started heading towards the hut.

Looking at his retreating figure, Sia quickly came back to her senses and started following him. Once in front of the hut he stopped for her to catch up with him. Forgetting about exploring the hut, Sia hastily asked, afraid that she would miss the opportunity.

"Your last statement, do you mean to say that you had liked me even before that conversation we had?"

Cain gave her a sideway glance and answered with a bit of contempt,

"Why do you think I started that conversation to begin with?"

"You mean to say you did that for me to sort my feelings out?" she asked completely astounded.

Taking a deep breath he answered with a slight ark on his lips,

"It wasn"t just for you but for me too. It was scary how much you meant to me. I wanted to make sure that besides the dependency and friendship you had for me, you also held some place for me in here," he lightly poked her heart.

In her silence he enjoyed the enchantress in front of him. With her shocked expression her big eyes now were even wider making her look cute and innocent, a far cry from her usual mischievous demeanour. He lightly pinched her cheeks in hopes to get her back from her trance, or else he wasn"t sure whether he would be able to control his rising desires or not.

"Cain?" she finally responded quietly.

"Hmm?" he answered still caressing her face lovingly.

"You know, after yesterday"s questionnaire I realised that I know your reasons for helping me back then, but I have no idea when and how you developed feeling for me."

"So?"

"So ... tell me. Please?"

He chuckled at her coy act. His gaze shifted from her face into the distance, and he answered in reminiscing tone,

"It started as interest, developed into liking, then bloomed into love and now I think it can even be considered an addiction."

The next moment he embraced her gently and continued, with his head leaning on her shoulder.

"Siana, we have known each other for over five years and I have had feeling for you for more than four of those five. For the past years, my love for you could already be described as deep or even crazy: whichever you prefer. And now, after being so close to you, touching you, tasting you, I have become greedy and want more and more. You are an addiction nothing can cure me from. Just the thought of losing you is already killing me."

His voice filled with tenderness and longing said much more than his words. She was his light, his life. How could he put these feelings into simple words? But he wanted to tell more, he wanted her to know more,

"Since I got entangled in this messy emperor selection, my world has become crimson with blood. At some point I turned into a killing machine who cared only about results and nothing else. I was truly living up to my reputation of a devil king who spared none that obstructed my path.

But the devil was blessed to have you. You made me feel. You made me human again. It has always been you who kept me sane in these years of lurking insanity."

She patted his head gently and smiled at the devil who looked so vulnerable now.

"I actually never thought you were this emotional," she chuckled to which he raised his head and looked at her accusingly.

"What? Don"t look at me like that! Honestly, I feel like all our conversations are turning so emotional all the time. I am afraid we would even sound cringe if someone heard us," she went on laughing.

"Hmm, and why do you think it is so?"

"Coz despite knowing each other for so long we have never had the chance to shed all our defences?"

"Partly, we also never really talked about our feelings directly."

"Yeah, that"s right too. We are a weird couple aren"t we?"

He laughed lightly and, kissing her forehead, answered,

"I prefer unique. But weird will do too."

She giggled and continued,

"Cain?"

"Hmm?"

"So is there nothing else you prepared and want to show me?"

He glared at her with scorn and decided to simply stay silent.

"What? It"s our first date and if I don"t distract myself with something I will cry of happiness from your words."

"I am glad we are even now," he smiled and pulled her inside the hut, directly to the kitchen area.

With a sly smile he pushed her there and said lazily,

"Your King here is done with his surprise so now it"s your turn to surprise me with your renowned cooking. I am available for help too, so feel free to ask."

--

- Somewhere in country X -

"Are you sure it was him?"

"Yes."

"When did he arrive and what has he been up to?"

"That"s something I can"t be sure about. He was spotted near the central hospital together with Arthur. We tried to follow the surveillance but all the area was hacked minutes later. When we recovered the recordings, all the traces of the dragon disappeared."

"Have you sent people there?"

"Yeah, two of them... but they were discovered."

"Got it. Station more of our people near the hospital area and also the airport. Get the team to hack all the surveillance cameras in the city."

"Luke, you do realise Ribekia is a huge city right?" Paul asked in disbelief.

"So?" Luke answered apathetically.

Sighing, Paul answered in a helpless tone,

"Okay, I will be on it."

After Alex left, a woman entered the room to "satisfy" the man. The man, though, was distracted thinking of something with his lips lifted in a devilish arc.

"I will spoil whatever you are up to, Dragon."