"What in the actual hell?" she hissed at him, keeping her voice low so no one else would hear them and tried to snatch her hand away from his hold.

"Wait! Listen, please don’t be angry. I apologise for not being honest with you but I was asked to keep this a secret. They needed someone to stay close to you and protect you in case the need arose. Being who I am, I was equipped for the job."

He didn’t let go of her hand as he explained while she simmered in anger ready to explode at him, any second.

"I don’t need protection, why can’t all of you put this through your thick heads? First Yurian and now you? Did anything you said even true or were you faking it to stay close to me?" she snarled at him, anger surging through her like wildfire, ready to burn him down. He could sense her agitation, so he kept his voice as gentle as he could:

"Everything I feel about you is true. I didn’t want you to be awkward around me. In other words, I wanted to see the real you and what I saw blew me away. That’s why I brought you along and I wanted you to know the truth so you won’t feel overwhelmed when you meet the king and the second queen," his other hand wanted to cup her cheek, but she leaned as far away as possible from him in the confined space they were sitting, her eyes narrowing on him.

"I am done with men and their lies," she jerked her hand free and tilted her face so would face the window and not him.

Her head was spiralling from all the information that had been thrown at her. A prince, she was going to meet the famous King Zohane, one of the oldest vampires alive. As much as she was mad at Jaguar for hiding his identity, her heart bubbled with excitement too to see the royal family up close. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Hey! I am sorry. Please, don’t give me a cold shoulder. I was only sent as a precaution and had no plans of developing feelings for you. It only happened naturally. You can’t control your heart, it doesn’t listen," he quietly spoke like a broken record and she could feel his gaze boring holes into her backside.

"Forgive me? I pinky swear not to ever hide anything from you," he extended his little finger towards her like a five-year-old, trying to seal an important pact.

Aselia tried to keep a straight face at his jovial actions but she couldn’t hide the tiny smile that tugged on the corner of her lips. She side glanced at him and he was watching her like a love-sick puppy.

"Ok! This is your final chance. Come clean about everything. Who sent you my way?" she demanded, trying to keep a straight face and not be affected by his actions.

"It was my step-brother; Prince Casmian, he is also the crown prince as you know. The organization ’OFA’ is under him and I am the head of the Assassin Branch. About 10 months ago he gave me this assignment that I had to watch over you. He had this complete profile on you but he only told me that I was to be your bodyguard and keep you safe. You are an important person and few other parties had vested interests in keeping you safe."

Aselia was flabbergasted, how and when did she become so important that a prince sent his brother, another prince to keep her safe?

"What? But I have never even met Prince Casmian..."

"I don’t know. We are very professional when it comes to doing the tasks assigned to us. So I just took it as another mission and came here. Rest you know," his hand finally reached her cheek to caress it and she didn’t flinch away. He held her gaze for a few seconds before she let it drop.

"So much of my life has been shrouded in mystery after I lost my memories. I feel like everyone is hiding something from me," she kept her eyes lowered focusing on her hands. She knew there was more to it but who would be willing to tell her?

"For starters, we can ask my brother," Jaguar’s words kindled a little hope in her perturbed heart and she genuinely smiled at him.

"I would like that Prince Jaguar," and he heartily laughed at the title. His features were highlighted as his facial muscles flexed.

"That’s not my real name," he whispered, leaning closer to her, his hot breath fanning her ear.

"What is your real name?" she asked a bit flustered, the tips of her ears turned crimson.

"Prince Kamian at your service my lady," he answered with a smirk, taking hold of her face with his rough hands, unsettling her in the process. There was this raw hunger in his glance as it lingered on her lips.

"Never thought I will have a prince at my beck and call," she replied, not breaking eye contact.

The air hostess approached them and cleared her throat, and Jaguar had to reluctantly let her go, a heavy sigh escaped him as he turned to face the air hostess.

"Sir! Ma’am! Anything you need?" she asked with a broad smile on her face.

"Apple juice and some chicken," Aselia gave her order.

"Just a beer," Jaguar said, eyeing her malevolently, she had ruined his moment. The air hostess gulped and scurried away making Aselia suppress a chuckle by biting down at her lower lip.

"There, there," she patted his shoulder with a smirk and he crossed his arms in annoyance.

They landed safely and Jaguar guided her outside the airport where a white luxury car was waiting for them with a chauffeur. He bowed to them and took their luggage from Jaguar, placing it in the car he helped them settle down and off they went to the royal palace of Emeradius City. Jaguar’s home.