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
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
Chapter 21Elena povI signed and sank down onto the large bed that filled the space room.When I left Dracul and Gulliver to talk, I had been met by an attendant, who had shown me to a large room. At first, I had thought that it was a prison, but it was a stunning room that looked fit for royalty.Plush bedding and gold morning adorned and made themselves known. The beauty didn't escape me and I knew that this was a room meant for Dracul, as much as it was meant for me.I didn't know why I was here, but the door was left unlocked and I had free roamed when the attendant left.I signed and leaned back, flopping against the cover and closing my eyes.I didn't know what I felt. I didn't know how to feel about everything happening.Sure the treatment here was better than at Dracul's castle, but why was I even here?I was clearly needed for something, as the magician knew about me, knew who I was and that I was here to help with something.Maybe he called for me, and Dracul complied. May