Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 123

EMILIA'S POV

Our lips were still tingling from the kiss — that desperate, shaking, soul-deep kiss that felt like it pulled the breath straight out of my lungs. My hands were still tangled in his hair, his fingers still gripping my waist like he couldn't decide whether to keep me close or pull me fully into him.

Then, slowly, Maximus pulled back.

But he didn't pull far.

Just enough for our foreheads to touch. Enough that his warm breath brushed across my lips, soft and uneven.

We both let out a shaky laugh at the same time.

A small, quiet moment—but it felt huge. Like our bodies were finally remembering how to be light after being weighed down for so long.

He lifted one hand and cupped my face gently. His thumb brushed my cheek, slow and warm, and a soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm so happy to see you smile like this," he murmured.

My chest tightened.

His eyes softened further. "I felt like dying when you wouldn't even look at me." His thumb traced my cheekbone again. "Don't do that again."

I swallowed hard, the warmth in his voice melting me from the inside out. "Yes, sir," I whispered.

He let out a low, amused exhale and leaned in, kissing me lightly—a soft, slow kiss compared to the one before. A kiss that felt like a promise. A reset. A beginning.

When he pulled back, his lips brushed mine as he whispered, "I've missed you so much. I feel like I can breathe again."

"I missed you too," I breathed, my fingers curling lightly around the back of his neck.

He stood first, then tugged me gently up with him. As soon as I was on my feet, he pulled me into his chest, his arms wrapping around my waist like he was trying to fuse us together.

"Promise you'll never leave my side again," he murmured into my hair.

I rolled my eyes, even though warmth spread across my chest. "Maximus..."

He pulled back slightly, his expression dead serious. "Promise."

I sighed, because how could I say no when he said it like that? "Fine. I promise."

He finally relaxed a little, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips. For a moment, we just stood there, breathing in sync, holding onto each other like the world outside didn't exist.

Then the quiet settled, gentle and comfortable — but my chest began to tighten again. There was something I needed to say.

"There's something I want you to do for me," I said softly.

His head tilted, eyes immediately sharpening. "What? Tell me. I'll do anything."

His voice was so sincere it made my heart squeeze. I smiled gently.

"Please... talk to Damien."

His expression froze.

"You two need to talk," I continued quietly. "I know there's tension. I know there's guilt. Pain. But Maximus... he loves you. You're his brother. You both need each other more than you want to admit."

He let out a long breath, his gaze drifting away. "You think he'll even want to talk to me? Emilia... after everything, he must hate me."

"No." I shook my head. "He doesn't. He's hurting, yes. Confused, yes. But he doesn't hate you. You should just... talk to him."

He stared at me for a long moment, and then he nodded slowly.

"Thank you, Emilia," he murmured.

We pulled apart slightly, but then I saw it—the shift in his face. The warmth vanished. His expression hardened, like a cold wind blew right through him.

My stomach tightened. "What is it?"

His eyes sharpened with suspicion. "I need to deal with Soraya."

My breath stilled.

He continued, voice low and edged with something dark. "If she claims to be so powerful... why didn't she know you were my mate? And why did she keep insisting that you had a bad spirit inside you?" His jaw clenched.

"She's definitely not telling me something. And I don't understand how I felt Raina was my mate and not you. How it never occurred to me that something was off."

He stepped away from me, shoulders rigid. "Get some rest. I'll be back."

I grabbed his arm. "Let me come with you."

He shook his head immediately. "No, darling. You should rest."

I blinked. "What did you just call me?"

He turned his head toward me and smirked —that rare, devastating smirk that always made my stomach flip. "Darling."

I felt my cheeks burn. "You can't go out with just a robe on."

His eyes flicked down to himself — at the barely tied robe and absolutely nothing underneath it. "Jealous someone might see what belongs to you?"

I smacked his shoulder. "Not that. You're the king, Maximus. You just caused one hell of a chaos."

At that... his smile faded.

His eyes went sad. Quiet. Heavy.

"I owe my people an apology," he said softly. "I almost destroyed everything."

"Good thing you didn't," I whispered.

His gaze lifted to mine, and something warm flickered behind his eyes. "Thanks to you."

He started walking toward the bathroom but stopped at the doorway. He turned his head over his shoulder, eyes dark with mischief.

"Want to join?"

I glared. "Maximus."

He raised both hands in surrender. "Fine, fine."

The door closed behind him, and for a moment the room fell silent.

I sat on the edge of the bed, letting my breath finally settle. My heart felt full in a way I didn't think was possible anymore. A small, stupidly giddy smile crept across my face.

This was real.

Maximus—my Maximus—was my mate.

My mate.

I couldn't stop smiling.

I pressed my palms to my warm cheeks, shaking my head in disbelief. I felt like a teenager again, hopelessly infatuated. My chest buzzed with something so bright, so sweet, it almost hurt.

The bathroom door opened.

Maximus stepped out, towel in hand, rubbing it through his hair. His body —bare and unapologetic —gleamed faintly from the steam.

My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

He looked down at himself like he had genuinely forgotten to grab a towel for his waist. "Now is not the time for modesty, Emilia."

"Maximus!" I sputtered.

He didn't even bother hiding himself before putting on clothes. First trousers. Then a shirt. His muscles flexed with every move, and I found myself staring even when I tried not to.

He buttoned the last button and walked toward me.

He leaned down and pressed a soft, warm kiss to my neck — a kiss that sent heat curling low in my stomach.

"I'll be back soon," he murmured against my skin.

Something warm fluttered under my skin.

But the second he opened the door, something cold swept through the room.

A chill.

A sharp, quiet shiver that crawled up my spine out of nowhere.

I straightened, my breath catching.

Maximus stepped out and closed the door behind him.

I swallowed hard and looked around.

Nothing felt wrong.

Nothing looked off.

But...As I turned my head toward the window, the hair on the back of my neck rose.

It was just the wind.

Just the curtains moving.

Just the night settling in.

At least, that's what I told myself.

But the feeling wouldn't go away.

The feeling that something was watching me.