Chapter Seventeen

Gwyneth didn’t linger for long after finishing her meal. She sipped some water and then retreated upstairs, where she found a balcony overlooking the city. She needed some solitude to gather her thoughts. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder: could she be trapped in this world for the rest of her life?

Strangely, a sense of relief accompanied this thought. Having no choice meant she wouldn’t have to grapple with the burden of making the right decision. She could let circumstances dictate her path, sparing herself the anxiety of choice.

As she gazed at the bustling city below, a familiar pair of arms enveloped her, and she leaned into the strong, warm body of Kiran. His lips pressed against the side of her neck, and her smile widened.

“Let me guess. No answer,” he remarked.

“No answer,” she confirmed.

“Did your new method not work?”

“No…”

Kiran gently spun Gwyneth around and raised a hand before tenderly brushing his fingers against her cheek, coaxing a smile from her. His touch had a magical effect on her, soothing and reassuring.

“You will figure it out,” Kiran assured her.

“Maybe,” she replied. “But I’m beginning to doubt it. Maybe you were right. Perhaps they can’t be reasoned with.”

“I never thought you’d give up so easily.”

“Easily?” she retorted with a smile, and he chuckled. She pushed her hands lightly against his chest without moving him an inch. “I’ve dedicated weeks to this! How is that giving up easily?”

“Because you haven’t spent months,” he teased.

“Oh, and once I’ve spent months, will you upgrade it to years?” she countered playfully.

“I don’t think you’ll need that long.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because you’re fierce and determined, and so far, I have only seen that helping you and not limiting you. You will find the solution,” Kiran reassured her.

“I hope so. I’m so tired of this,” Gwyneth admitted.

“I know, Gwyn, but it hasn’t all been for nothing, has it?”

“I hope it won’t be,” she replied with a small smile. She then rose on her tiptoes, kissed his lips, and offered a warm smile. “I have definitely experienced some things.”

“You know our world much better.”

“That I do. It’s incredible.”

“But not enough to make you stay?”

“I can’t change my answer. I have one mission and one mission only.”

“The perfect soldier.”

“Always.”

Despite the melancholic undercurrent in their conversation, Kiran kissed her again and took her hand.

“Let’s go riding,” he suggested.

“Now? It’s still early. Do you not have work?”

“I want to spend my day with my queen. So let’s spend it together.”

Gwyneth felt elated by his proposal. She welcomed the distraction, and Kiran had a talent for making her feel better. She had also become proficient at riding, and Kiran had even commissioned a sword tailored to her size, which she had attached to her saddle.

Riding side by side, they made their way through the town, and Gwyneth noticed the respect people showed her. News had spread far and wide about the human queen, and the townsfolk received her with love. It was an adjustment for Gwyneth, but she was gradually settling into her role. Perhaps staying here wouldn’t be as terrible as she had initially thought.

She pondered the idea of building something meaningful with Kiran, but the ingrained dedication to her training still kept her trapped.

“What are you thinking?” Kiran inquired.

“Huh?”

“You’re so quiet,” Kiran remarked as they rode alongside each other.

“Just thinking about all of this,” she admitted.

“All of this?”

“My life here. What I’ve built so far with all of you.” Gwyneth turned to smile at him.

“Do you not like it?”

“I seem to have fallen in love with it, actually.”

“Oh really?” Kiran’s voice betrayed his excitement, eliciting a chuckle from Gwyneth.

“Really.”

“And yet you speak of going home.”

“But I might never,” she admitted.

“Why not?”

“I might never find my answers,” Gwyneth explained.

“You will.”

“But even if I did, I can’t say if I can go back. Maybe it’s something only they know how to do. I might have traveled through the portal, but I didn’t control the Jumper. I don’t know how it works, and if they have something similar here, maybe only they can send me back.”

“So, what does that mean?” Kiran inquired.

“Maybe I am staying for good.”

“Because you might not be able to go home?”

Gwyneth nodded and smiled at him, but Kiran didn’t appear as thrilled as she expected, leaving her confused.

“Why do you not look happy? I thought you wanted me here,” she said.

“I do. I want my queen here, but I want a queen who also wants to be here,” he replied.

“Kiran…”

“If it’s all forced, then why do you want to stay with me?”

“No, that’s not… I want to be here,” Gwyneth admitted truthfully.

“You do?”

“I do! Haven’t I made that clear?”

“You speak of going home all the time.”

Gwyneth sighed, understanding why her words might be hard to believe, but they were genuine. “I know what I say. I know the words that come out of my mouth might be hard to believe now. But they are true. I do like it here. I wouldn’t mind staying, but I want to fix things too. I know what my world looks like. I know the damage that has been done. Kiran, I’ve seen some horrible things while being a Protector. I’ve witnessed so many innocent people, often children, paying for our mistakes.”

Kiran looked at Gwyneth, clearly surprised, but remained silent as she continued to speak. “I’ve seen such horrible things that could have been prevented had greed not won. People seeking power have corrupted everything! I can fix that. Or… at least, I believed I could.”

“That’s very honorable,” Kiran acknowledged.

“No, it’s about being a decent human wanting others to be happy. There is nothing glorious about it,” she said with a slight smile. “Just like you don’t expect thanks for keeping your people safe.”

“You’re correct. I do not.”

“I know I talk about it a lot. I know I speak as if I hate it here. But I don’t. I’m just worried because it feels like I might be able to do more, but I keep failing them.”

“You have failed no one, Gwyneth. You didn’t ask to be here.”

“No, but I’m not sad I’m here either,” she said, smiling sweetly at him, which seemed to comfort Kiran. “I’m enjoying my time. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve experienced things I know I couldn’t have experienced by traveling back in my time. I don’t regret being here or that it turned out this way.”

“But you do hope for a solution.”

“To some degree, yes, I do. I want to help. I need to help.”

“Why do you feel such a strong need?”

“Do you not? For your people?”

“I am a king. I was born to lead,” he stated.

“I was born to protect.”

“No, you chose that path. I had no choice,” he said. “This is who I am. This is my life’s purpose, but you chose it.”

“Can I not still feel a sense of responsibility?” she asked.

“You can, but I wonder if it might also be linked a little to proving yourself.”

“I should never have confessed that,” Gwyneth groaned.

“You should have.”

Gwyneth sighed. “Okay, you may have a point. Maybe it is a little about proving myself, or maybe I just hope not to let more people down.”

“Who did you let down?”

“Sometimes I wish I could have been there.”

“Where?” Kiran asked.

“To save my father,” she confessed. “I wanted to be a Protector before he died, but when he did, it gave me an even stronger motive. I just wish sometimes that I could have learned to be one earlier. Maybe then I could have had his back.”

“Or maybe you would have been killed too.”

“At least I wouldn’t have been so alone,” Gwyneth whispered and looked down.

“You felt very lonely?”

“I did. I was surrounded by people after I became a Protector. I was even surrounded throughout school, but I never connected with them. Not in the way I have connected with people here.”

“Maybe you were not supposed to connect with the others,” Kiran suggested, and Gwyneth turned to him, smiling now.

“You think I was born in the wrong world?”

“Perhaps, or just meant to leave it.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

“That you are.”

They continued to ride while smiling at each other, and Gwyneth felt her heart beating wildly. Had she already fallen for him? She had been cautious about letting him get too close, thinking she would leave soon, but now her hope of leaving had diminished. Perhaps it was time to truly let him into her heart. However, Kiran surprised her by turning his horse and guiding hers as well, crossing the gravel road and entering a small path into the forest.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“You’ll see,” he replied with a secretive smile.

“Did I tell you I hate surprises?”

Her words elicited a chuckle from him, and the sound sent warmth coursing through her entire body. They continued to ride in comfortable silence until the distant sound of a waterfall began to fill the air. Kiran abruptly halted his horse, leaving Gwyneth puzzled. He dismounted, indicating that he wanted her to do the same, and she followed suit.

“So, where are we going now?” she inquired as they tethered their horses to a nearby tree.

“Over here,” Kiran replied, walking a little further away and parting some bushes that concealed a narrow path.

Kiran led her to the edge of a serene lake, and Gwyneth gazed upon the breathtaking sight before her. In the distance, a colossal waterfall cascaded, continually replenishing the lake with crystal clear water. A smile of awe and wonder graced her face. It was as if she were gazing at an exquisitely detailed painting, only this was a real, living masterpiece.

“Wow…” she murmured in appreciation.

“Beautiful, right?” Kiran inquired, yet when Gwyneth turned her head, she noticed his eyes were fixed on her.

Her heart raced once more and she smiled at him. In a bold move, she suddenly shed her jacket, prompting a surprised look on Kiran’s face. Next, she kicked off her boots and discarded her shirt, revealing more of her sun-kissed skin.

“Up for a swim?” she proposed, before removing her pants and plunging into the chilly water. She submerged herself briefly before resurfacing, sweeping her wet hair away from her face. She then turned to Kiran, who remained on the edge of the lake, hesitating.

“What are you waiting for?” she teased.

“You will catch a cold,” he cautioned.

“Don’t worry, I’m not so easily taken down. Besides, I got my vaccinations before leaving,” Gwyneth quipped with a mischievous smile.

“Your what?” Kiran asked, looking bewildered.

Gwyneth chuckled and waved him closer. “Come on!”

Kiran shook his head with a bemused expression but a playful smile on his lips. He quickly discarded his clothes, and Gwyneth couldn’t help but enjoy the sight before he joined her in the water. As he drew near, he reached out and grabbed her.

“I see you love to tease me,” he remarked. “Making me all distracted from my task of keeping you safe.”

“I’ve told you I can protect myself,” she reminded him.

“I’m well aware, but we are very vulnerable right now.”

“Then we should probably hurry,” Gwyneth suggested, her voice now taking on a flirtatious tone. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, kissing him hungrily and slipping her tongue into his mouth. Kiran responded in kind, his desire for her evident. However, he didn’t linger in the cold water with her. Instead, he brought them back to shore and gently laid her down on his jacket.

With his hands and mouth expertly exploring her body, he swiftly aroused her. After teasing her pussy, he slid his cock inside her, both of them groaning with pleasure. Their rhythm intensified, and Gwyneth felt her orgasm building to new heights. Together, they pursued the peak of bliss.

She climaxed first, calling out his name as he increased his pace, thrusting his length in and out of her until he too succumbed to the intense sensations. The sound he made as he reached his climax sent shudders of pleasure through her, and she clung to him tightly, longing to freeze this moment and hold onto him forever.