Mated To The Barbarian King Who Is My Ex-husband's Father.

Arianna couldn’t stop herself from laughing aloud at the old man’s words. She had believed every single thing he said right up until that last part, which made her realize the whole thing was likely a sham.

​Yet, the priest didn’t act surprised or disappointed by her laughter.

​"You are joking, right? I am nothing like what you just said," she said, a skeptical smile playing on her lips. "I am a human princess from the West. It wasn’t some grand fate that brought me here. I came of my own free will."

​"Then I must have mistaken you for someone else, Your Highness," the old priest said smoothly, taking a few steps back. He beckoned to his young guide, who quickly stepped forward. The priest rested his hand on the boy’s shoulder. "Forgive me. My advanced age has made it rather difficult for me to recognize anyone these days."

​Arianna’s brows furrowed. She wasn’t buying his sudden backtrack for a second. The old man had recognized her from the very moment he walked in; he couldn’t simply turn around now and claim he didn’t know who she was.

​Before she could press him, a voice drifted in from outside. It was one of her guards, answering a question directed to him by the King.

​Any chance of demanding answers from the Wise One vanished as the tent flap parted and Kane entered. He was still wearing his heavy lion fur, with intricate beads bound tightly around his muscular arms and neck. His crown sat heavily on his head, matching the weight of the responsibilities he carried.

​Kane swept his gaze over his wife from head to toe. His brows arched slightly before he turned his attention to the old man.

​Arianna swallowed hard, her hands resting in her lap. She rubbed her palms together nervously, wondering if he had overheard any part of their conversation.

​"Your Grace," the old priest murmured, bowing immediately.

​"I see you honored my invitation," Kane said, his expression softening with genuine respect for the elder.

​"I did, Your Grace. Who am I to deny your request?" The old priest chuckled, bowing once more.

​"Thank you, Wise One. I see you are leaving," Kane said, stepping aside to clear a path for him.

​"Yes, King Kane. My work is done and your wife is fine," the old man said, tapping his hand on his young guide’s shoulder to signal him to move forward.

​"Wise One, do you know anything concerning my wife’s attack?"

​Arianna’s heart skipped a violent beat. She almost bolted upright from the bed to stop the old man before he could spew any nonsense about her to the King. However, the priest’s response left her utterly speechless.

​"Not at all, Your Highness. I only heard that the assassin was executed this morning."

​Arianna was stunned by his sudden shift. He hadn’t told the King a single word of what he had just revealed to her.

​"Yes, but I don’t think Ulric did it," the King countered quietly.

​The old man nodded gently, walking a step closer to the King. He stared toward him for a few silent seconds before speaking. "Your instincts are always right, Kane. You should listen to them. That is all I have to say for now."

​The King didn’t press him with further questions. He simply watched the priest leave the tent, and as soon as the old man was gone, he turned to his wife with a warm smile. "You look absolutely beautiful this morning."

​A sudden heat rushed to her cheeks, turning them a deep red. Arianna looked down quickly, intertwining her fingers in her lap, completely unsure of how to respond to the compliment.

​Kane walked over to the bed, gently lifting her chin with his finger to tilt her face upward. He leaned down, placing a soft, lingering kiss on her nude-colored lips.

​Arianna closed her eyes, melting into the taste of him. Her heart was beating incredibly fast, but it wasn’t out of fear—it was pure excitement.

She wanted so much more than just a kiss, but she knew all too well that they couldn’t cross that line right now.

​The realization made her heart ache.

​"What are you doing to me, Princess from the West?" Kane asked softly, breaking the kiss. He leaned his forehead against hers, rubbing it gently against her skin.

​Arianna opened her eyes, looking directly into his mesmerizing blue gaze. "What have I done to you, Your Highness?"

​His hand slid down from her chin, his fingers slipping into hers. He held her hand securely as he helped her rise to her feet. "Everything, little one. It has been only two days with you, but it feels as though we have been together for centuries."

​"K-Kane... I... I..." Her voice trailed off. She had absolutely no idea what to say in a moment like this.

​Arianna wondered if he truly meant what she thought he did. Love? Had he actually fallen for her? It seemed impossible. A powerful King wouldn’t fall in love with a woman he had met only a few days ago. It was an insane prospect for someone in his position.

​"You don’t need to say anything," he told her gently. "Just listen to my heart."

​Kane took her hand and placed it flat against the left side of his chest. Beneath her palm, his heart was beating rapidly, and she knew exactly what the gesture meant.

​"I know you still have nothing to say, Arianna," Kane murmured, looking down at her. "But I want you to open your heart and give us a chance. Let us see what fate has in store for us."

​She couldn’t bring herself to answer him. There was so much she needed to confess...especially about her complicated, dangerous history with Ethan...but she kept silent, terrified of what the fallout would be if the truth came to light.

​"You should go out and mingle with the women today," Kane said, gently releasing her hand. "It will help you get accustomed to the environment and it will allow the tribe to see what kind of person their Queen is. Aunt Freya will act as your guide and show you around today."

​Arianna’s warmth instantly evaporated, replaced by a sudden wave of suspicion. She looked at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that what they told you to make me do in the council meeting?"

Kane sighed, tilting his head to the side. "Not really. We discussed other matters."

​Arianna knew that wasn’t the truth. His face gave away everything, proving she was right, but he clearly didn’t want to upset her. "I shall do as you say then," she conceded quietly.

​She turned back to the mirror to look at herself one last time. The marks on her skin were completely gone; her throat looked as though it had never been strangled. But even if her flesh had healed, the memory of the attack would never fade.

​"What do you think about the old priest?" Arianna asked, watching Kane’s reflection in the glass. "Does he always tell the truth?"

​"Yes... he is no liar."

​"W-what?" She spun around to see if he was joking, but his expression was entirely serious.

​His brows furrowed in confusion at her sudden intensity. "What happened?"

​"N-nothing," she shrugged, trying her absolute best not to panic but her body betrayed her. Nothing? Deep down, she knew it was the exact opposite. There was a massive storm brewing on the horizon.

​"That’s not true, Arianna. You are shaking right now," Kane insisted, his gaze beginning to darken with growing concern and suspicion.

​She desperately scrambled for something to say to throw him off the scent, but her mind was a chaotic blank. At a complete loss, she blurted out the first thing she could think of "I love you, Kane."

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