I Want my mate

Aria's POV

Once I was in the clear of being caught, I started to run. The man who attacked me was powerful, I could tell.

He was also an important member of this kingdom, although I couldn't help but wonder why he was conspiring with others and keeping it away from the king.

I looked back when it felt like footsteps were following me and sighed when I didn't see any.

I looked forward again just to crash into a solid wall, my hands quickly shot up to brace myself.

It hit a warm chest, my eyes shot up immediately and I looked till I got to the face, a gasp escaped me when I saw the king staring down at me with alarm.

I looked at our position and saw how intimate it looked, I struggled to free myself but the hand on my waist was preventing me from doing that.

I bowed as awkwardly as I could, "My king,"

A satisfied growl left his lips and it made me shudder. I felt his hand on my waist become tighter.

"What is going on?" He asked.

I nodded, "Your highness, please let me go,"

His eyes widened like he wasn't aware that he was holding on tightly to me. He cleared his throat and took a step back.I hated to admit that I started missing his warmth when he did.

"I wanted to have a side self training for myself so I walked the grounds and I stumbled upon two people whispering,"

"What do you mean two people whispering?" He asked with a frown.

"They were talking about the war from the little I heard but I was attacked and I had to run,"

"Hold on, you are telling me I have a traitor in my midst?"

"Yes, your highness. I am deeply sorry,"

"Why are you sorry? You did well, I have to look into everyone of them right now,"

I nodded, seeing as I was done relaying what happened. I expected him to release me but he just kept staring at me.

It occured to me that this was our second encounter and I could feel his scent so closely that it made me want to wrap my arms around him and bury my face in the crook of his neck.

I shook my head slightly asking myself what the hell was wrong with me. I had a role here and I couldn't be swayed by such an Influence.

"Your highness, I want us to talk about the rejection,"

When he said nothing, I continued.

"I know we are mates and you have refused to acknowledge that which is fine but I am pleading with you to cut this string between us,"

I saw the tick on his jaw and how he clenched it, his eyes narrowed and his fists were formed into a fist like he was trying so hard not to blow up.

He was angry.

He took me by surprise when he shook his head, "No, there is no point to that anyway,"

"What do you mean?"

"As my mate, winning the Mate Games would make everything fall into place but if you didn't win, then you never qualified for my mate so I believe your rejection can wait," he said flippantly.

I narrowed my eyes at him too, the nerve of this man. He was waiting for me to fail before he rejects me?

I bristled at the implication that I wasn't good enough to be by his side and that irked me to no end.

I vowed in my mind to win the game so I can turn his arrogant ass down. It sounded like a good plan.

I nodded to myself after I agreed with my plan.

The confusion on his face grew but I gave him a sweet smile but the message in it could be interpreted.

"If there is nothing else, my Lord. I would like to retire to my room," I said and waited.

He froze slightly and his eyes traced the contours of my face like he was committing it to memory before he nodded."Goodnight, my king,"

I started to walk away but I swear I heard him mumble,

"Goodnight, mine," before he walked away.

I got to my room and slumped on the bed, I meant to go take a bath but when I opened my eyes again, it was morning.

The morning was Bright and early and I took that bath anyway. I looked at my schedule and noticed that the first challenge was a test of wisdom that we are meant to do alone.

The questions were a little tough considering my level of education, I wasn't privy to this sort of tertiary level.

The said questions covered the kingdom's history and cultural knowledge that made my head spin.

I wasn't educated and the little I learnt, I self taught so I could enter the warriors circle. The only ones with this access to education are those born into nobility.

They were the lucky ones.

It was stated in a bracket that each moon maiden had different questions so copying off each other was out of it.

I gritted my teeth the more I looked at the questions. I dressed up and went to the library, it said we could access it anytime.

I got to the library and saw the rest of them seated there with different stacks of books each, I nodded a greeting that they respond to and went to a different corner.I could hear them whispering to themselves but I couldn't find it in me to envy them from being so close together.

I worked better alone.

Thankfully, I found some answers and started scribbling down a few of them. When the time was up, I tried to submit the paper to the minister who came into the library suddenly.

"Oops,"

I heard just as the girl beside me spilled ink on my answer sheet.