She was sulking.
I could feel it radiating off her like heat from a forge.
The stiff set of her shoulders in the car, the way she refused to meet my gaze — all childish defiance and wounded pride.
Good.Let her be angry.
It would keep her distracted.Keep her from digging into things she had no business knowing.
I was yet to find out who exactly she was and why she easily agreed to be with me. I already found out she wasn't the one who drugged me. But she had made zero effort to prove that. It's almost as if she cared about something else far more than her reputation.
Just some few hours after moving in, she had proved my suspicions by sneaking out late that night. She was definitely hiding something.
And which father in their right mind would disown his daughter after a scandal which had no proof. Especially since he could've easily suppress the news even if it was true. I wanted to see him in person.
I was here because my father had sent me to look for someone that he believed if we won his or her favor, could be our superweapon and send us to a new level of sovereignty. And that I'll be the heir if I do it irrespective of the fact that I'm his last son.
And the same night I arrived, I was drugged and ended up with this suspicious woman. This was definitely no coincidence rather it was deliberate. I felt unease from all the unsolved puzzles, an unease I hated.
At the castle, Duke Veltren greeted me with cool politeness.No acknowledgment for his daughter.I wondered if she felt the sting of it.
I told myself I didn't care.
The conversation dragged.The duke offered meaningless pleasantries, and I offered meaningless answers.Neither of us wanted to say what we really thought.Neither of us trusted the other.
I kept half an ear tuned to the girl's breathing — steady, if a little shallow — and an eye on her every move.
When the duke suggested a walk, I agreed.
It would be easier to assess the man away from prying ears.But the further we walked from her, the tighter the wrongness grew.
Something prickled at the edge of my senses. But I brushed it off.
He kept going on and on about how I should consider talking my father into investing in his projects which all sounded like a big scam. I felt disrespectful thinking he thought I would fall for his Ponzi and pyramid schemes and his fake investment opportunities.
"Look I didn't come here to discuss whatever this is. I want to know why you made no effort to at least hear your daughter out before drawing conclusions." I asked.
"Look she was always a wild card growing up. But she doesn't matter. Enough about her let's..."
I interrupted the duke mid-sentence.
"How can you say that about your daughter?" I said sharply.
"I mean what's more important right now is discussing our corporation."
"What corporation? You mean the one you straight out rejected. You refused to join our subservient saying you don't want to be beneath anyone. So tell me, what's there to discuss?"
"Look I don't want to be partners not a dependant. And my daughter is not worth all this tension. I think you should calm down and think this through."
"You want to know what I think? I think this conversation is over. I just got my answer on what type of man you are."
I said walking towards the hall Zhera was. The King was behind me trying to talk me out of it. But I wasn't up for it, I just wanted to be out of there.
But when I got there, she was nowhere to be found.
"Where is she?" I asked coldly.
"Your companion? I assumed she remained in the hall."
Liar.I didn't bother playing games.I turned on my heel and stalked back.The hall was empty.No trace of her.No trace of a struggle.
Just... gone.
I searched the surrounding areas to see if I'll find her but she wasn't anywhere.A surge of cold panic punched through my gut.
I rounded on a passing servant — a weedy boy with trembling hands.
"Where is she?" I demanded.
The boy paled.Tried to stammer an excuse.I let my aura flare. Pure, crushing dominance.
He broke instantly.
"T-they took her! They said it was the master's orders! Down to the stables—"
he babbled.
That was all I needed.Within minutes, I had the trail.Broken twigs. Scuffed bootprints. The faint, lingering scent of sedatives.
Rage burned in my veins.How dare they. How dare they touch her. If anything, I was the only one who get to do that.
I found the warehouse easily. Smashed the door open without even slowing down.
They barely had time to look afraid before they broke and ran.Pathetic.
I went straight to her.Kneeling.Cutting the ropes with a flick of clawed fingers.
Lifting her into my arms, feeling the faint, trembling thud of her heart against mine.
Alive.Safe.Mine— I crushed the thought before it could form.
She looked up at me, dazed but trying for a crooked smile.
"About time, bloodsucker," she said.
Despite everything, my lips twitched.I carried her out, ignoring the stunned stares of the servants and guards.
Later, back in the car, when she finally fell asleep against my shoulder, I let myself breathe again.
Why?Why had the thought of losing her turned my blood cold? Why had her safety mattered more than the political disaster this would cause?
I didn't know. And I wasn't ready to find out.
So I told myself the truth I could live with:
She was my responsibility.Nothing more.
I closed my eyes and let the smoothness of the ride lull me into silence.
And my arms tightened slightly around her sleeping form, well, no one had to know.