*Selena*
“Selena!” Damon’s voice sliced through the tense air as he hurried over to me. His eyes swept over me, filled with concern, as he reached out to touch my shoulder, checking for injuries.
“I’m furious with you right now,” he muttered, his grip tight with worry. “But I’m relieved you’re safe. These wounds will heal, but I won’t forgive those who did this to you.” His gaze turned deadly as he glared at the demon king and Nicholas.
Damon closed his eyes briefly, muttering something under his breath. Suddenly, he summoned a golden trident, causing both Nicholas and the demon king to gasp in fear.
“Wait, that’s… that’s the warlock king, Zephyr’s trident,” the demon king stammered, his eyes wide with shock. “How did you get this?”
I stared at Damon in shock. But he seemed unfazed as his smirk was smug and confident.
“Now you’re scared, huh, demon king?” Damon sneered.
The demon king shook his head, his gaze fixed on Damon.
“Alpha Alexander will come for his mate,” he announced, his eyes flicking to me.
Confusion clouded my mind.
“Who’s Alpha Alexander? What are you talking about?” I demanded, but before the demon king could respond, Damon attacked him with his golden trident, and the demon king vanished. I didn’t know if he was dead or just banished back to his realm.
“Now it’s your turn, Nicholas,” Damon growled, turning his attention to the next threat. With a swift motion, Damon struck Nicholas with the trident, and Nicholas disintegrated into ashes.
Then Damon turned to me, his hand reaching out to mine.
“Let’s go, Selena,” he said firmly.
“But what was he saying about Alpha Alexander?” I demanded, my voice urgent.
“That was just a reckless comment by the evil demon king. It doesn’t mean anything. Let’s go,” he said firmly, grabbing my hand and leading me away.
But his words only added another puzzle to my quest. Why did the demon king mention the trident belonging to the warlock king, and why did he bring up Alpha Alexander while looking at me? There were still so many unanswered questions swirling in my mind.
As we returned to the castle, I could feel Damon’s anger simmering beneath the surface throughout the entire ride back.
“What were you thinking, going to my uncle?” he exploded as soon as we entered the castle. I had expected his interrogation.
“I was just trying to find some answers to my questions,” I replied calmly, trying to keep my own emotions in check.
“What questions?” he asked, his brow furrowing with confusion.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “The questions that have been bothering me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What do you want to know?” he snapped, irritation clear in his voice. “I’ve already told you everything, Selena. My whole life is an open book to you.”
“I want to know about Arabella and your past life,” I demanded, feeling a surge of determination.
“Why do you care?” he scoffed, his eyes narrowing.
“Because… because I feel a strong connection to her,” I improvised quickly, hoping he wouldn’t see through my excuse.
“It’s just a coincidence. You have no connection to her,” he insisted angrily.
“Then why do you get so upset whenever I bring her up? And why won’t you tell me the truth about her?” I countered, my frustration boiling over.
“There’s nothing to tell. She died,” he said flatly.
“Died?” I repeated, my anger flaring. “How did she die?”
“She… she died in a war,” he admitted reluctantly.
“In a war!” I exclaimed, my frustration reaching its peak. “And what about you? What were you before you became the Vampire Prince?”
“Selena, your questions are making me suspicious. Why do you want to know about my past life? Don’t you trust me? I’m your mate, for crying out loud!” he growled, throwing his hands up as his dark aura intensified.
“Look, I don’t care about your past life or anything before you met me. You were mated to an alpha, and I never doubted you,” he countered, trying to make me feel guilty. “But you keep bombarding me with questions, making me feel miserable by my own mate,” he grimaced, making me feel like a bad mate. Great!
But this time, I wasn’t going to let it go.
“Why can’t you just give me a straight answer? Tell me, what were you in your past life? Were you the warlock of King Zephyr?” I asked straightforwardly, refusing to let him dodge my questions.
He looked startled for a moment, but then his poker face returned, as I had expected.
“You’re saying this because his trident follows my instructions!” he said.
“Yes, because this divine trident cannot be wielded by just anyone,” I protested.
“You’re very smart and clever, Selena, and that’s why I’m so happy you’re my mate,” he grinned before continuing. “Yes, you’re right. The trident listens to me because I am its owner.”
Though I had suspected it, hearing him admit it surprised me. “So you were the warlock king who ruled over the land?”
“Yes,” he nodded, smirking. “Yes, I was King Zephyr, and I lost my mate and died in sorrow because of her loss,” he confessed.
“Oh!” I gasped, feeling sorry for him. I must have hurt him by asking. He looked truly pained remembering the past.
“I’m sorry, Damon,” I whispered, holding his hand. “But I needed to know everything. It’s my right as your mate.”
“I understand, Selena. But I was waiting for the right time to tell you everything. I didn’t want you to feel overshadowed by my past or Arabella. That’s all in the past now. But you’re my present and very important to me,” he smiled sweetly before his eyes gleamed with joy, looking at me as he always used to do.
“I understand losing a mate is very painful,” I murmured, thinking of Zander.
“But now I have found my mate, you,” Damon announced, bringing me back to the present.
“You’re lying, Damon,” a loud growl interrupted before the imposing figure of the Alpha king appeared, his guards trying to stop him. Zander stood beside me swiftly, glancing at me intently before glaring at Damon.
“You are not her mate, Damon” Zander declared, leaving everyone in the room, including me, confused.