The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

~ ENRIQUE ~ Her heart thunders before her eyes well up as she stares at the mark that is imprinted on my neck. I want to see it too. Wanting to know how it looks, to see her claim upon me.

We enter the bathroom, and I kiss her lips softly before placing her on the floor. I switch the shower on, and unlike the packhouse, there is warm water here. I will need to make sure we have warm water everywhere since My Diosa loves a hot bath, even if I believe cold showers are better.

I turn to the sink, looking at the mirror above it and tilt my head to look at my mark. It's perfection. A mark that clearly personifies her.

There's a white moon, with a crown and sword in front of it, a cherry blossom branch goes across the top past the hilt of the sword. There are scattered cherry blossom petals behind it. A faint hint of pink glow emits from behind the moon and there's a white long double hexagon shape surrounding the branch, crown, and sword.

My heart races as I stare at it.

The realisation that I am marked hits me. Marked by the woman I love...

How did I get so lucky?

Emotions threaten to consume me, and to hide it I turn to her.

"Well, I never thought I'd ever wear anything pink," I say mockingly, looking down at her, she pouts.

"It's only a few flowers..." she says, sounding fucking cute.

I smirk. "For you, I could wear pink every day," I say, wrapping my arms around her from behind. "It's beautiful, Mi Amor, just like the diosa who gave it to me.

"}

She looks at us in the mirror and I have to admit we look perfect together. She fits so well in my arms. 1

She smiles softly as she gazes into my eyes.

"One day soon, I will mark you too," I promise her. She looks up at me, her heart skipping a beat, and my attention dips to those pretty plush lips.

"Soon?"

"As much as I want to mark you right now, I'm not sure it would be safe. Not when I don't know what kind of hold he has on me."

She turns in my arms and shakes her head. "I don't know about me either... he's able to take me to his crypt... somehow..." Just the thought of him harming her again makes my grip on her tighten. I lean down, kissing her deeply. She kisses me back before I pull back. "We're going to figure it out, because this time we will work together," I say quietly.

She nods and I brush her hair back. "Now come, let's get you showered. I have to go soon to take care of a few things, but your mother will be here to keep you company."

"OK." She cups my face, kissing me again. Mi Reina is selfless; I can tell from the way she's holding on to me she doesn't want me to go, but at the same time she knows I have things to do and doesn't want to stop me.

His words, "Only one way to find out," are delivered with a hint of a snicker that I do not return. When I flip my palm and form a barrier over his, it is one that is all fire and magic. My eyes are blazing with excitement.

In spite of the loud shrieks coming from the crawler, I continue to move forward, making sure that my fire jail encompasses all sides, including the earth beneath it. This is to ensure that he does not escape or attempt to escape by digging his way out. Keep me up to speed on Kataleya, Doctor Elena, said the patient.

I concur, Alpha. So I will. Her vital signs are stable, and she is well on her way to recovery.

"That's good. "I want to make sure that she has everything that she requires," I respond, severing the mental connection with her.

By inflicting such cruelty on Kataleya, the crawler pendejo has merely made this horrible situation more personal. The shite is going to end now. 1.

In what amount of time will the lights be turned back on? I inquire in a direct manner through the mind-link.

With regard to it, Alpha, they have ripped through the wire in a number of different locations. It is currently being worked on by us.

"Where is Kataleya?" Skyla has a question for me.

"At the hospital," I respond to her. While she continues to gather up the tables and chairs that had fallen over when whatever the heck broke out, she gives a slight nod and glances at the door, but she does not leave the room. To this day, I am not aware of the complete picture. As Liam tells Royce, "I'm going to contact the others," Royce is taken aback. When he takes his phone out of his pocket and looks down, he gives me a quick glimpse before turning his attention back to me.

"She has made a great deal of sacrifices for you. Do not do her any further harm than you have already done, or else you will, like many of us, continue to feel bad and regret what you have done. However, by that time, it will be far as far late. He continues by saying, "And although I am certain that you already feel guilty about it, please do not make it any worse."

After uttering such remarks, he walks by me, and I frown while looking towards the future. Skyla comes over to me as Royce moves away to do something across the room. Royce gives me a pat on the shoulder before crossing the room.

"Don't be too hard on yourself about things. As someone who has been in your shoes, I can tell you that there are times when it is acceptable to not be as critical of oneself. Everyone who cares about us will comprehend. She has always loved you, Kat has marked you, and she marked you. Her existence has always revolved around you, and it will continue to do so for the rest of her life. Love like that does not simply disappear with time. What she says in a low voice is, "Just treat her like the queen that she is."

Her words strike a chord within me, even though I have my doubts about whether or not she understands them. She is not not in error.

It is my intention to treat her with the utmost respect, but her uncle is absolutely right. I am not going to forgive myself.

As the lights begin to flicker, I look up and notice that they are turning back on, which causes the crawler to hiss.

We are going to have to relocate it to a different location. I tell Royce, "I'll spend some time working on something," and then I turn to Benigno and Antonio and signal for them to come along with us.

As Skyla is leaving, I overhear her saying, "I'm going to the hospital to be with Kat," and then she goes. Exactly at that moment, a woman walks up to me.

My companion is in a tremendous deal of discomfort. He sustained an injury. In what way is he going to become better?

"The water of the moon. All of the patients are receiving the appropriate care, and we had enough of supplies stacked up following the most recent attacks. In response to the woman who appears to be pregnant, I tell her that he will be OK. As she nods and fights back tears, she "Thank you, Alpha."

says.

It was not possible for Alpha's family to be present tonight. He was one of the deceased. Would you be willing to inform them of his passing on your own? He asks me, Jose. "If you're up to it, I could do it if you-"

I would rather be alone myself. I say in a low voice, "I owe them something that much." "I want to see those whom we lost tonight."

Killed while I stood there doing nothing but standing there.

Jose gives a slight nod. I am very pleased, Alpha. I'll take you to the bodies as soon as the crawler has been dealt with.

"Ok. Alpha Royce, shall we?"

A nod is given by the other man, and he moves forward; but, before we can even begin to explain how we will accomplish this, the Rossi witch whispers from behind us.

"Let me assist you with it. I apologize for being late.

He mutters to himself, "Remember, if you try anything, this body will feel it, not I," and he is really serious about it.

What is it?