Gabriella Monet POV
“He said he just needs help with his room. I was a fool to believe him.” I poured out my heart to Slade who couldn’t do anything but watch me.
“I am going to kill that bastard myself!” Slade threatened and when I looked at his eyes, I knew he was really angry. One side was blue while the other side was golden. His eyes always transitioned whenever he was angry or emotional. “Why are you looking at me?” He seems to notice how I stared at him.
“Your eyes are different now.”
“It’s my wolf and Vampire side. They are both fighting for Dominance.”
“Can you talk to them?” I questioned.
Slade laughed and pulled me towards the bed. He sat down and pointed for me to sit. I sat beside him and continue staring into his eyes. “Vampires don’t have inner self but my wolf side does. ”
“Are you able to communicate?” I didn’t know why I was asking questions about him. I should be angry at him for what happened two days ago but I felt calm that he was sitting beside me.
“Not yet.” He replied. “My wolf is being distant and I’ve not shifted yet.”
I didn’t know how the wolf thing worked so I just nodded in response. “You sure you okay?” He questioned.
“Yes.”
He looked at me and smiled while I cleared my throat and looked away. “You look beautiful tonight?” Beautiful? He wasn’t crazy if he can’t smell how badly I stink
“Really?” I scoffed and then burst into laughter. “You are crazy.”
Slade also burst into laughter. I looked at him and smiled when I saw him laughing. It’s was beautiful to watch him laugh but when I remembered what happened two days ago, my smile turned to a frown. I averted my eyes and he seems to notice. “Slade!” I called.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing here?”
“How I’m I supposed to answer that when you are not looking at me?” He touched my face and turned my head to face him. “Gabriella,” he grabbed my head and held onto it. “I miss you a lot.”
“I doubt that!” I scoffed and tried to free my hand from his but he didn’t let go. “You seem to be happy with your soon-to-be bride.”
“I don’t want to be with her Gab!” He confessed and I felt my heart racing. “I…”
“No!” I tried to stand up but he pulled my hand I landed on him. “Let’s me go!”
“No,” he wrapped his hand around my waist and I felt his breath against my neck. “I’m not letting you go.” His grip on me grew tighter. “It’s you I want Gabriella.”
I scoffed but didn’t say anything. “Stop doing that Gab.” He warned.
“Let’s me go, Slade!” I shouted but he only pulled closer. We were so close that one more pull would lock our lips together.
“It’s you I want Gab.” He touched my face and stare at my lips.
I visibly gulped as I felt his hand on my lips. He trailed it down to my neck and I shivered.
“What are you doing to me?”
“It should be what you are doing to me.” His eyes had changed into a deep ocean blue. “You make me feel loved.” His confession created a deep sensation in my body. My inside was throbbing and if he keeps confessing, I might just kiss his lips. “This isn’t about the bond Gabriella,” he paused and looked at me. I blinked my lashes as I waited patiently for what he had to say. “I don’t love Luciana,” I liked that confession. “I’m going to tell the king that I won’t marry her.”
“Why?” I questioned and bite my lips.
“Isn’t it obvious? I love you Gabriella and this isn’t about the bond. I’ve liked you ever since I saw you at that auction house.”
Slade Donovan, prince of the vampires confessed to liking me and I couldn’t believe my ears. My heart raced, my body trembled, the words resounded in my head. “Is this about Bianca? You like me because I look like her?” I frowned.
“Frowning will give you wrinkles!” He joked and I slapped his chest. “Fine! I like you not because you look like Bianca but because you are you. I fell in love with the sassy human girl who looked like my past lover. Believe me when I say I love you. I do.” He winked at me.
Oh my God.
Time stopped for a while when I heard him say the three words again. Slade Was really in love with me. I didn’t even know if I should reply to him that I love him too but all I could do at that moment was to laugh. “Something funny?” Slade frowned.
“Just kiss me already.” I winked at him.
“Oooh, Gabby!” He cooed like a baby. He stared at my lips and slowly leaned in and captured my lips. He slowly moved his lips against mine while I moaned in return. He lifted me and carried me in his arms without breaking the kiss. His lips tasted like metal. When he broke the kiss, he looked at me with his different eyes and smiled. “I love you too Slade!” I confessed and he captured my lips again.
~~~
The cracking of my door jerked me from my sleep. Slade who was laying beside me opened his eyes and turned to the entrance. After our kiss last night, we just fell to the bed and slept off. “Take her!” A voice commanded. It’s was the king’s voice. The King was in my room with five guards. Two of them pulled me out of the bed and pushed me towards the king.
“Father, what are you doing?” Slade stood from the bed and rushed to my side.
The King eyed him and when his eyes landed on the short Which was the only piece of clothes on Slade, the king cleared his throat and looked away. “You’ve disgraced the whole dynasty by sleeping with a slave when you are weeks away from getting married.”
“Father, I already told you that I won’t marry Luciana. I don’t love her.” The king raised his hand and slapped Slade on the face. “You can slap me all you want but…..” Another slap sounded but this time it’s was on my face. My left eye went blind for a second and when I could see again, I felt my eyes turning and I was seeing stars. “Father!”
“One more word from you and I’ll cut her throat.” The king threatened and beckoned to the guards. “Take her to the punishment ground.”
“Please wait, Sir,” I pleaded. “Your highness, I didn’t do anything wrong!” I shouted as I was pulled away. “Slade help me please!”
The guards dragged me out of the castle into the ground where I was beaten because of Luciana. I cried and struggled against the guards as the memories of the place flashed in my head. “Please!” I begged the guards.
They threw me to the ground and tie my hand and feet together. “Please!” I cried.
Soon, the punishment ground was filled with Vampires who were mostly the guests and some Slaves. The King’s presence was announced as he walked elegantly into the arena and sat on his throne. I didn’t see the Queen and the princess anywhere but the princes all came to witness my downfall. They sat behind the king. Slade was also seated and when I looked at him, he was looking elsewhere.
What happened to love me?
Luciana also walked into the arena and sat beside Slade
I looked at the faces of everyone and saw them pointing fingers at me. Gerald stood among the crowd and when our eyes met, he grinned at me. Anabella was also present and when our eyes met, She smiled at me and mouthed a word I couldn’t even hear.
“Is she the only one in the castle?” I heard one of the servants say.
“Guess this would be her end.” Another slave replied.
“We are here to punish a slave who try to kill her master last night.” A vampire who happens to be an announcer broke the news.
I didn’t try to kill anyone. I looked into Gerald’s face and saw him grinning. He lied against him while he was the evil perpetrator. “This slave,” The announcer pointed to me. “Tried to kill her master last night and when she didn’t succeed he left me alone on the cold ground.” Everyone in the arena Gasped.
“That’s a lie!” I shouted. “Why are you changing the words? He tried to force himself on me last night?” I defended myself. Everyone began to murmur and soon the arena turned into a murmuring ground.
“Enough!” The king’s powerful voice silenced everyone. “You useless slave. You still dare to talk after what you’ve done. Guards break her leg and when you are done, throw her into the cold room.” The king commanded.
“No! You can’t do this to me. Slade! Slade!” I shouted but Slade was looking elsewhere.
” I thought you said you loved me! It’s was all a lie right?” I didn’t say that aloud. I spoke through my mind. I looked towards him with my teary eye and he turned to look at me.
The guards grabbed me and placed me on a chair. In their hands were stick as big as a pillar. I bite my lips as I thought of how I was going to be paralyzed forever if the stick landed on my legs.
“Now!” The king commanded.
I closed my eyes and bite my lips as I waited for the stick to make an impact with my legs but it never came.
“I was there!” I heard Anabella shout. She stood In front of me with her arms wide open. She turned to look at me and nodded. “Your highness,” she kneeled and bow her head. “I was there when Lord Gerald harassed.” She revealed and everyone gasped.
“She is lying!” Gerald stepped out of the crowd and stood in front of Anabella. “You have no proof,” he accused. “And even if I do touch her, she Is a mere human that is meant to serve as a slave.”
He was right about that. We are just mere humans and we meant nothing to them.
“You are wrong lord Gerald,” Slade stood up and walked towards Gerald. “Your highness,” he kneeled and now his head for me.
I was screaming where I kneeled. I couldn’t believe He could stand up for me. It made me realize that what he said to me last night was real. He truly loves me.
“According to Article 24, Number 119 of the Vampire Law,” he paused and glared at Gerald. The rule was somehow funny to me as I have never heard of it. “Vampires Who try to force another Vampire’s slave to bed especially if it’s a royal slave, The Vampire shall serve any punishment by the Master of that slave. I’m sure you aware of that Lord Gerald?”
Gerald visibly gulped and began to tremble where he stood. “Your highness, are you going to believe a word of a slave over mine?”
“The slave you are talking about is mine and I know about what you did to her!” Slade growled at him.
“Silence!” The king stood up and looked at me. Our eyes met and I could see the pure hatred in his eyes. “I….”
“Permit to say something, your highness,” Luciana interrupts the king and bows her head. “Lady Aneka is saying the truth and I’m a witness.”
A witness? I never saw Luciana last night and it made me question why she was standing up for me. Was it because of Slade? Or she was trying to make a mockery of me by standing up for me.
“Lord Gerald try to force himself on The slave Gabriella yesterday. Lady Aneka helped her before he could anything your highness.” Luciana explained. She sat down and looked towards me, when our eyes met she smirked at me.
That’s was when I knew that she was mocking me.