My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 91

Kylo's eyes were blazing in anger as he stormed straight at me. I ducked in a flash and made a long slide, bending my body down to avoid the range of his claws. I jumped up on my feet before he could turn around and roundhouse-kicked him. I used as much muscle strength in that kick as I could, but it barely made him move a few inches back.

He grinned at me, his eyes widening with excitement. I clenched my teeth. I had to attack him first while trying to avoid his claws. It was safer to use a series of kicks that provided distance. He scratched my legs more than a few times, ripping the fabric of my leggings and soaking them in my blood. It hurt. It made me roar in pain, but it also increased my adrenalin to the maximum. I couldn't be more thankful that my wounds were regenerating at the speed of light. Nonetheless, the pain of my flesh being torn by his claws remained excruciating.

I was more than determined to win. Not only because I didn't want to die, but to prove that I wasn't weak. My attacks on Kylo finally started to bring results. It looked like he was getting exhausted from throwing missed punches at me. I dodged most of his attacks, and I could see him getting infuriated every time that happened. His rage made him more and more clumsy, and I was adapting fast. I could predict his hits, and as his movements became slower, my reaction speed increased. I was on fire, ignoring the pain that stayed longer than the wounds from Kylo's scratches and stabs. As I became more confident, I chose close-range actions, hitting his solar plexus and jumping up to hit his massive jaw.

Befuddled as my strike reached him, he stepped back, swaying on his feet. I could hear nothing but silence as the crowd gasped in anticipation. This was my chance. I clenched my teeth and bounced off the ground to kick, aiming at his left temple. He gave me a confused stare as he realized my hit came hard. He fell on the mat.

"I won…" I muttered under my breath, "I knocked him out…" I watched his body, lying motionless.

I was still high on adrenalin and strangely confused that the fight was over. I wanted to win. I needed to win, and I believed that was possible, but once it truly had happened, I entered a state of bewilderment.

The silence quickly turned into murmurs and rows of gasps. I slowly raised my head, and first I saw Leo with a proud smirk on his face, and Patrick, standing next to him with a beaming grin. I sighed, amazingly happy and relieved. My hands and knees were still shaking as the adrenalin rush began dissolving in my blood.

"Kill him!" someone from the crowd shouted.

"Finish him off!" the angry yells from the crowd intensified.

I looked around, nervously shaking my head. Winning the fight was one thing, but I had never intended to kill anyone! I could never murder! I gazed at Leo in panic, praying in my heart that he would understand my begging for help staring. Thankfully, he did. He raised his hands to silence the agitated crowd and walked to the center of the arena.

"There is no doubt that Lady Lilith is a winner!" he exclaimed decisively.

"Soldiers who have lost after challenging someone to death should face their death!" an enraged voice roared, others quickly supporting him.

I looked around, seeing everyone around me with the word "kill" forming on their lips. My panic increased.

"I am not a soldier," I muttered, facing them, then I took a deep breath. "I am not a soldier, and I don't wish to kill anyone!" I shouted.

Apparently, my voice sounded convincing enough for the crowd to go silent. Leo chuckled.

"The military law is our law, but we shouldn't force the King's concubine to make her hands dirty," he stated, then he crouched down next to Kylo's body and pulled out his claws.

I gulped, watching him. The indifferent expression on his face was more than petrifying. I had never faced an execution up close until that moment. I froze, but couldn't take my eyes away. I was forcing myself to look as Leo's claws swung through Kylo's neck, ripping off his head. Leo smirked faintly, wiped the blood drops off his face, and looked at me. I stood silently, my brain trying to acknowledge what had actually happened as Kylo's blood flooded my shoes. I was so paralyzed by the view of Kylo's headless corpse that it took me more than a while to realize every soldier around the arena kneeled and bowed down to me. I glanced at Leo, questioningly. In response, he winked at me and kneeled as well.

"Lady Lilith, the Royal Army vows loyalty to you," he called out, speaking in the name of everyone around, "As you have proven your strength, we shall offer our strength and lives in return."

As a sign of their covenant, they all started to hit the floor rhythmically with their fists. The pounding filled the hall in seconds, and it kept increasing. The pulse vibrated under my feet, sending waves of thrill through my body. Soon, the vibrations mixed with all kinds of roars and hollers. It was the sound of the Royal Army's respect. I stood there inhaling it while my body shivered from how amazing it felt. I smiled faintly, exhausted but elated.

Suddenly, the pounding sound started to fade, giving way to mutterings and gasps, and then silence. I looked around and noticed that everyone's eyes seemed to be directed to whatever was happening behind me. I heard someone's steps and my heart started to hammer. I turned around and saw Sariel rushing towards me. The crowd spread, making space for him to the center of the arena. One gasp later, I was wrapped in his arms, his lips aiming at my own, hungrily filling me with his passion. My emotions burst out in a form of tears falling down my cheeks, even though it didn't feel like crying.

"Long live King Sariel! Long live Lady Lilith!" someone called out, creating an avalanche of repeating shouts spreading through the hall and raising its volume.

Sariel broke our kiss to look around the hall while nodding to the soldiers, permitting them to rise to their feet. He grabbed my hand while facing them all, the continuous hail bursting out of their throats. Leo bowed down to his master, smirking in satisfaction as the one who orchestrated the whole thing. It seemed that along with accepting me, the army accepted Sariel's leadership. I would probably feel pissed and hurt that I was used like that if it weren't for the fact that I felt insanely satisfied… and madly exhausted.

Sariel raised his hand, turning the shouts and hails into silence. "Is this the one who dared to challenge my woman?" he asked, giving the headless corpse a full of disdain stare.

"Yes, my King," Leo answered.

"Burn him to ashes," he ordered, and then inquired, "Any other living members of his family?"

"Father, step-mother, and two sisters," Leo replied.

"Burn them alongside him." His words sent shivers down my spine.

I looked Sariel in the eyes. They were blazing with fury, one I couldn't comprehend.

"Yes, my King," Leo said once more, this time forming a spiteful grin.

"Leo, let the soldiers enjoy the night with drinks," Sariel called out, causing a full-of-excitement and content wave of comments and laughs, "and I shall enjoy my concubine." He gave me a meaningful gaze.

His last words certainly increased the cheers and laughter. They naturally caused many man-like remarks that wished us a pleasant night… but in a less well-mannered way. I blushed uncontrollably. Although I was no longer embarrassed in front of Sariel, I wasn't exactly comfortable hearing others discussing our sex life openly.

Fortunately, Sariel didn't let me listen to those remarks for too long. Before the blush burned my face completely, he lifted me in his arms and carried me back to the Palace in, running at his vampire speed. A few seconds later, he gently let my feet touch the carpet in his Palace chamber.

He looked into my eyes. They were no longer filled with fury. There was something different surfacing within his stare, something I couldn't describe, and something that seemed like pain. He embraced me tightly, his hands desperately pressing me against his body. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his waist and as I stroked his back I felt him shiver.

"I'm sorry…" Sariel exhaled while leaning his head on the nape of my neck. "I will never endanger your life again. If I knew that someone dared to challenge you sooner… I wish I could bring that fucker back to life over and over again just so I could slowly rip him to pieces…" he muttered angrily.

"It… It's ok… I am ok…" I mumbled, trying to smile while shedding tears again.

"Just endure it a little longer, Lilith," he said, pulling me back to look into my eyes. "Wait until I kill Elora."