Kiss the Stranger

“From the moment I heard that voice, my whole body froze. The merciless lashes that had beaten me before sprang back to life, and I was seized by terror. I couldn’t move a muscle, let alone open my mouth.

Why?
Through my whiteemptied mind, I forced a thought into focus. Najima Princess couldn’t have lied to me. Then how—why was the crown prince here? He’d said Asgail had left the city… As I panicked, his sharp voice came again from behind me.
“Have some nerve, don’t you? Come out. Show your face and beg my pardon, and I’ll spare your life.”

Asgail’s words had to be true. But there was no way I could endure it. He knew no mercy, and I had none to spare. Escape was impossible. I couldn’t even hide. Fear made breathing itself difficult. The shaking in my limbs wasn’t only from the pounding rain; cold and dread rattled me through and through.
Just as I clasped my trembling hands together in despair, I spotted a narrow crevice in the rock. My body, stiff as stone a moment ago, somehow moved.
“Where are you—!”

A shout from Asgail echoed, but before I could think, I slipped into the narrow gap.
Beyond the roar of water, I heard the splash of heavy footsteps. I drew myself as far back as I could.
Through the torrent, a massive shadow appeared. It was Asgail, standing beyond the waterfall. He didn’t move at first, as if weighing his next move. But it didn’t take long.

“—!”
I nearly screamed when his hand shot through the spray. I clamped my hands over my mouth, swallowing the sound, but I couldn’t stifle my ragged breathing. His fingers spread wide just inches from my face, then clenched and opened again. I stared, frozen, hoping he’d give up, but I knew he wouldn’t. He would wait. And I knew I couldn’t stay hidden forever.
What should I do?
I squeezed my eyes shut—and suddenly I smelled something around me. Not Asgail’s sweet scent pressing down on me, but the scent of an omega.

My own pheromones.
I blinked in shock. I hadn’t released any before—why now? Disoriented, I peered out, and realized the threat was gone: Asgail’s hand had retracted.
…

I lowered the hand I’d been pressing to my mouth. Aside from the waterfall’s roar, there was silence.
The scent flowed stronger around me. It had been so long since I’d smelled my own pheromones this powerfully. When was the last time? I remembered at once: that rainy day when I’d tried to comfort Asgail and was whipped for it. My pheromones had overwhelmed me then too.
And then another memory surfaced. Beyond the torrent, I heard a different splash—and I realized someone had fallen.

I didn’t need to see to know who it was.
“Kamar—!”
I cried out and sprang forward. My stiff limbs uncoiled so suddenly that a shriek escaped me. Gasping once, I scrambled from my hiding place.

It took a moment to emerge fully from behind the waterfall. I dared only peek, and saw Asgail beyond the spray.
He hadn’t fallen into the water. He stood unmoving, one hand pressed to his face, as if fighting vertigo. He looked unwell—and seeing him like this churned emotions I’d tried to bury.
I heard the waterfall, not rain, but I felt as if I’d been transported back. My mind went blank, and my body moved on its own.

The water pounded my shoulders, then my chest, until I was drenched. My lips trembled as I stepped closer. The water was ice-cold, but somehow I felt warmth from its sting. Panting, I took one step, then another toward Asgail, who remained statue-still.
I realized he was different when I finally stood before him. I couldn’t smell his pheromones—not really. My own overwhelmed them. I lifted a trembling hand, and it shook like that time before. The rain had stopped; now I was the one shivering.
When I gently clasped Asgail’s hand, it was scorching. Just like Kamar’s had been. He’d always been so warm on cold nights.

I lowered his hand and saw his face emerge from the mist. His deep violet eyes met mine—and then, flecks of gold danced across their surface before they returned to purple. His cheeks glowed, his breath came in rough gasps, and his eyes flickered gold again. I understood in that moment: Asgail was in rut.
Because of my pheromones?
Why were mine pouring out in such volume? I’d felt nothing until now.
Then memories returned: whenever I thought of Kamar on the oasis, my scent had flooded the air—when comforting him, when we made love, when we kissed, even when I just held him tightly. It had been embarrassingly strong.

Tears welled as longing struck, and Asgail spoke.
“…Yohan?”
My heart stopped, then thundered so hard I thought it would burst. I looked up at him, wide-eyed, but my vision blurred. I tried to speak, but no sound came—my lips only quivered. Asgail raised a hand, and I stumbled back. His hand cupped my cheek, and he murmured,

“…Why are you crying? Does it hurt again?”
I wanted to answer, but my lips wouldn’t obey. Tears spilled down. His face, so vivid a moment ago, softened into a blur—but the tears wouldn’t stop. I bit my lip, fighting for composure, and finally managed to croak,
“Kama…r.”

“Really…Kamar? You…remember me?”
“Of course.”
His voice came immediately. He smiled at me as gently as he had before, tilting his head. His soft lips brushed my cheek, my forehead, my ear, my nose—and then, just before his lips met mine, he whispered,

“Always, Yohan. My omega.”
“Uhn…”
My sobs broke free, and ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) I pressed myself against his chest, clutching him.

Kamar.
Tears streamed down as I welcomed his kisses, whispering his name over and over. This man was mine—only mine.
“…Ah!”

I thought that when suddenly Kamar pulled me against his waist. Pain lanced through me and I couldn’t help screaming. He released me and looked down, confusion on his face.
“Why…?”
He started to speak, then blinked. He frowned, staring at me—but before he realized anything, he sighed deeply and his knees buckled.

“Kamar?”
I cried out, but he collapsed silently. A great wave of spray followed him into the pool. I froze.
“Kamar!”

I grabbed his arm desperately, but he was unconscious. Thankfully the water was shallow, but I couldn’t leave him there. I hauled him toward the shore, helped by the water’s buoyancy—but he was so large and heavy that by the time we reached dry land, I was gasping for breath. I forced my ragged lungs to calm as I dragged him fully out, but he still lay unconscious.
At last, with him safe beyond the waterline, I collapsed beside him, utterly spent. I lay there, staring at his face as he slept peacefully. A swirl of emotions—resentment, anger, bitterness, joy, relief, sorrow—crashed through me all at once.
Why.

I whispered with my lips.
Why did you leave me so suddenly?
My eyes burned again, and I blinked frantically. If not now, when would I see his face again? I needed to hold this moment, see him longer.

But mercilessly, time ran short. I sensed movement and heard voices.
“Your Highness, are you alright? We heard noises…”
A guard’s voice. I tried to stand but swallowed a gasp as pain shot through me. I had no time to hesitate. I stumbled into the bushes, clutching my clothes as I fled. Moments later, a guard burst past my hiding spot.

“Your Highness! Are you hurt?”
He called urgently into his radio as others rushed in. I shrank back, watching them. Taking advantage of the confusion, I hastily dressed and slipped away.
By the time I staggered back to the lab, I could barely walk.

Hah… hah…
I lurched toward the bed. My vision blurred, but I had no strength to rub my eyes. I fell onto the mattress and blacked out.