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 13 Dracul pov.My breath came in quick pants as I swept through the hall towards my office.What did I just do?My head was spinning, and my mind was racing. My heart pounding in my chest like a drum, banging against my ribcage until it was all I could feel, all I could hear.I'd kissed her. More than that, I'd wanted to mate her. If she hadn't said my name, who knows what I might have done. I might have gone all the way if she was willing.I might have let my Azon take over and ruin every carefully laid plan that I had so far. It wasn't worth it. One girl wasn't worth running everything. I had to keep my head on straight.I stumbled into my office, slamming the door behind myself and locking it. I ran my hands through my hair, taking a few breaths. Everything was hazy and I could barely think through the dog of desire that has descended into me.It was madness, absolute madness. I couldn't lose my head now.Why her. What fucking makes her so special?I had plenty of women in
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 15Midnight lamentationDRACUL POVI jumped at the knock of the door, caught off guard.I was almost never caught off guard and I cursed myself for getting so lost in my thoughts and the pleasure that I didn't even hear the footsteps approaching my door.I hurriedly did my belt, cleaning up my mess as best I could, I could deny entrance if I wanted to, but that would raise red flags.And what if it was something important?"Come in." I said, once I was sure that I had regained most of my composure.I adjusted my position in the chair and pushed it closer towards the desks, hiding more of myself from view.I took a deep breath and tried to act composed. I was the lord of this castle and the ruler of this kingdom. I was composed at all times and no one got under my skin.At least, that's what I told myself. That's the image I needed to present to everyone. If I didn't, my kingdom could crumble. No weakness, no give.I tried to ignore the fact that I had shown a lot of weakness w
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 17Elena POVI stepped into the room and my breath caught in my throat.It was magnificent. The hall itself was huge, a room that would have easily doubled as a ballroom if necessary.Unlike the rest of the castle, the curtains were drawn, and the light was spilling into the room, across the finer silverware and linens that were set on the large table in the middle.But it wasn't the table that caught my breath in my throat. It wasn't the look of the room and the spread of food that made me rethink this castle.It was Dracul.He sat at the head of the table and I got my first look at him in the soft morning light. The glow in his face was nothing like the shadow of torches and the dim light of an abandoned room at the far end of the castle.Now, I could see him clearly and I couldn't look away.I stood there for a moment just staring.Dracul was wearing an elegant suit, one that cut across his chest in the best possible way.He wasn't wearing a tie and the top button of his sh
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 19The MagicianElena povI leaped away from Dracul, stumbling back until I fall against the door itself. My heart was still racing as I frantically straightened up my hair, taking a few deep breaths.Dracul was straightening up and tidying his shirt.He looked composed if you could ignore the flush on his cheeks the way his eyes looked gazed.He has been as into it as I was."Yes?" He said.When he spoke, it sounded curt and refined, like he knew exactly what he was talking about, like a ruler who was composed.Like he hadn't just kissed me until there was no more air in my lung. Like he hadn't just kissed me as he meant it.I felt a flood of warmth in my stomach at the memory of his touch. So recent, my skin was tingling, my lips burning where he kissed me.I could smell the smoke of the wood fire over my skin. I could still taste him on my tongue, sweet and musky all at the same time. I could still feel him pulling me closer."We are here, My Lord." The driver said through