The One after my Heart

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Hugging you?", he asked her with a fake innocent and confused expression on his handsome face.

Kyra stood there affixed, held by his arms at the waist glaring at the person as her fists clenched slowly. He stood in front of her with a cheeky, confident expression on his face as though he were daring her and testing her patience.

" I like the colour you're wearing," muttered the handsome man as looked at the red jacket that Kyra wore, giving her an approving look as he nodded. She felt his right hand feel the material of the jacket lightly on her back. "Interesting sense of fashion too."

Kyra was infuriated. Even though she knew he was stronger and dangerous due to Bree's warning, it didn't mean she would let him walk all over her! She glared at him with anger in her eyes.

"I asked you, what do you think you're doing?", said Kyra repeating her question, with her voice even louder this time.

"Isn't that why you opened your arms for me? For a hug?", the man replied with fake-innocence as though he were confused.

But upon noticing Kyra's simmering expression the man immediately changed his stance.

"Haii~ I'm just claiming what belongs to me", replied the man in black innocently in an obvious tone as his seductive ice-blue eyes pierced her soft-brown ones. "We had a deal. You said if I saved the little girl you would give me 'anything' I wanted remember? Don't tell me you want to renege on our deal?"

He gave her a woeful look which then slowly turned into a mischievous smile. She could feel his cool breath on her face as he spoke.

Kyra, whose ears were flushing red at their close proximity, was taken aback at his justified and righteous tone. She recalled about herself pleading him to go save Maya earlier. She vaguely remembered that she did promise anything he wanted as she hastened him to act.

But then Maya still wasn't anywhere in sight to be seen.

"No! He lied, Sister Kyra! He didn't save Maya. I haven't found her yet and he won't let me search for her either", shouted Nisa with tears in her eyes, threatening to spill out of her eyes any moment now.

Kyra's eyes turned cold, and she glared at the man in front of her. "So where is Maya? Don't you think one should first fulfil his words before deciding to collect upon his promise?"

The man in black sighed, knowing the moment between him and the beauty in front of him was gone, thanks to the annoying brat behind her.

"Annoying witches", he muttered with a wry face.

With a flash, he stretched out his right hand and pulled Nisa out from behind as he held her up by the cloak on her back as though he were picking a cat by its neck.

Nisa, who could feel herself move freely, started to kick her legs wildly in the air in protest as she yelled throwing a tantrum," Damn Blackie put me down! I need to find Maya! You lied to me! Boohoo-"

"What are you rambling on about, brat. She's right where I told you she would be." replied the man in a lazy voice as he dropped her to the ground on her feet. He reluctantly pulled back his left arm that held Kyra's waist with an annoyed look now.

Kyra didn't know whether to laugh or cry in anger. Look at that aggrieved look on his face as though he was the one being treated unfairly when just a few moments ago he had his arms wrapped around her waist!

"You liar! You said I would find Maya within a thousand steps that way and I didn't!" bellowed Nisa as she pointed at the dead witch's direction and glared at the man in black, her teary eyes spewing in hate.

"What're you talking about?" the man in black responded lazily, "I clearly mentioned that she was in that direction and you'll find her within ten steps. Take a look behind that tree,Blondie"

He instead pointed in the opposite direction, where he had come from the first time, the one that Kyra's foot of the stone bed pointed towards.

Upon hearing these words, Nisa was stunned. But then she clearly recalled how he had sent her in the opposite direction. Could she have been wrong? Glaring at the man in suspicion and doubt, she pulled Kyra with her and walked towards a tree that was up ahead just a few steps from the stone bed where Kyra earlier was laid upon.

Sure enough, they found a little figure sleeping peacefully with her back against the tree, completely oblivious to her surrounding.

Nisa immediately exclaimed out loud as she rushed forwards. She hugged her little sister as she picked Maya up and held the latter in her arm.

'She's safe!' Kyra felt her eyes sting and her heart ease as she felt a wave of emotion sweep across her. Looking at the two sisters reunited, she let out a relieved laugh. She was about to thank the man but recalling his behaviour she immediately stoved that thought away.

Bree, who had her eyes on the young lord all this while, noticed him staring at Kyra, reading her every expression with interest. If she wasn't wrong, she'd definitely sensed a smug look across his face.

She looked around the circle formation and then looked in the only direction in this forest's clearing that was undamaged or untouched by any fight or magic where Maya was found. Her eyes flashed in understanding.

'Perhaps the rumours about him are not true and I've made the right decision after all. Who knows.' Bree thought to herself.

Nisa handed Maya over to Kyra with absolute trust and put her arms on her waist, walking a few steps forward and yelled," Damn Blackie, to dare that you tricked this princess. Wait till my mother hears about this!"

"What are you talking about? Didn't I say she was right here? It's not my fault you are dumb for your age you know. Haha, I worry about this domain's future."

"I'm not dumb!"

"Yes, you aren't dumb. You're more like stupid."

"Am not!"

"Uhuh, you are!"

"Am not!"

Meanwhile, Kyra held little Maya in her arms gladly. After taking a look at her and making sure she was alright, she lightly kissed the sleeping one on the forehead. She then turned to look at the bickering duo in front of her with a strange expression on her face.

"Oh, you wait until your mother finds out you were out exploring the borders again. Heh heh", laughed the man in black man menacingly.

Kyra was no fool and by now realised that these two indeed knew each other. Although she was a little amused at the man's childish actions, it didn't make her forgive him for his rude behaviour earlier. Thinking about it made her blood boil, and she felt perhaps, she would feel better after giving him a piece of her mind.

It was then that the man looked at Maya was sleeping in Kyra's arms. "The little one's just exhausted. Give her to me. I can help her", said the man jolting her out of her thoughts and pulled Maya into his arms. Kyra looked at Nisa, who reluctantly nodded, gesturing it was alright.

Kyra nearly melted and felt her anger deflate as she noticed an almost gentle look flash across the man's handsome face as he looked at the little girl. Kyra found herself staring at his face, his striking features, his lean, taut, muscular arms as they gently held the sleeping Maya.

The stranger murmured a few words and, closing his eyes, gently kissed Maya's forehead. Kyra went red in the face as she felt herself blush and immediately looked away.

That was the same place where she had kissed Maya just a few seconds ago!

Wait...Wait a minute! Did he do that intentionally?!