Chapter 12For seconds, I stood frozen, staring at the door. I needed to run. I needed to move. I fucking needed to start moving, but I couldn't.Somehow, I couldn't even breathe as the footsteps got louder and louder.Run! Move! Do something!The door swung open and it was too late for me to run. In the darkness, I saw a figure step out of the room and come towards me. Bulky and big, he towered over me just like Dracul did. He was huge!Suddenly, I was painfully aware of the torch in my hands. I gripped it tighter, knowing that I was already caught. If they hadn't seen me already, they will see me any minute now.I felt a shiver move down my spine, shaking me with cold, all the way down to my core. They had caught me.I shouldn't have been listening in. I shouldn't have been standing outside the door. I should have run when u had the chance. I should have moved before they opened the door.Time seemed slow as a second figure appeared and they both turned their eyes towards me. In th

Chapter 14 Dangerous choiceElena pov.I stood in silence in the dark hallway as Ryder and Delan disappeared down the hall. They had dragged me into the main part of the castle and dumped me there with a few more threats.I didn't need any more threats, though. I knew they were serious. My skin scraped up and I felt dazed as they walked away. For a second, I had seriously thought they were going to go back on their word and kill me anyway.My hands were shaking, and I could feel the stress twisting in my chest. I thought I was going to be sick. I didn't know what to do.Should I go to Dracul?The thought was fleeting and terrifying all at the same time. If I went to Dracul, I knew Ryder and Delan would be furious. They had made it perfectly clear that they would kill me if I talked.But Dracul was the Dragon Lord and for some reason, he seemed to want me alive. Maybe, just maybe, he had enough protection to keep me safe from them?And what was the alternative? Cower in fear and wait f

Chapter 16Elena povI arched in the sheets, feeling the softness beneath my skin. As I stretched, my mind wandered to Dracul, to the way his hand felt on my skin, to the sweet hum of his kiss.Caught in a place between sleep and waking, I slid my hands down my nightgown, my body humming and aching with the sweet sin of desire. it tugged at my mind, reminding me of the heat on my skin.Remember me of the way Dracul had felt last night when he kissed me when he held me she meant it. it was dizzying and breathtaking and I loved every part of it.And then, I woke up.The cobwebs of sleep fell away from my mind bit by bit and my hands flew away from my skin.I opened my eye in a rush, the panic flooding back to my chest and leaving me breathless.What was I doing?What was I thinking,? laying around the bed, waking up slowly like I had all the time in the world? I didn't have all-time in the world, far from it!Suddenly, I was reminded forcefully of what happened last night, of what had h

Chapter 18 Carriage RideElena pov.The carriage rock slowly, a gentle rhythm as it moved along the road.I had no idea where we are going and so far, Dracul hasn't been so talkative. We were sitting beside each other in the carriage and he looked consistently ahead.There was a focused expression on his face.I had gotten ready quickly, throwing a few supplies into one of my smaller trunks. They had been loaded up with the rest of the luggage and I had been the first one in the carriage.Dracul had swept in a few minutes later, giving order to the coachman, before sliding into the seat beside me.My heart had been pounding in my chest. Maybe this was my chance for conversation. Maybe he'd tell me what was on my mind, what we were doing, what was next.Maybe we could talk, and I could share what I knew. I had hope, the certainty that everything could be smoothed out.But he didn't say a word, brooding with the darkest expression. I had stuck back against the chair and sit in silence

Chapter 20 Royal BloodDracul pov.I turned to Gulliver, surprised at his words. He wanted me to bring Elena and now he was asking her to leave?"What?" Elena said, looking surprised.I couldn't blame her. I swallowed the confusion and turned to look at her fully, "Elena, could you wait outside, I will be with you in a moment."She looked at me, and then at Gulliver. I expected her to get angry, to ask questions, to be her usual feisty self, but she didn't say a word.Instead, she pressed her lips together in a tight line and nodded. Turning without a word, she left through the wide doors, letting them, banged shut behind her."What was that about?" I said, turning on Gulliver.I always felt uneasy around him. I felt uneasy around magic in general, around something I didn't fully understand, something that felt dangerous and dark and untamed.I didn't know want game Gulliver was playing and I never felt like he was being straight with me. He wasn't lying, but it was like he was dumbin