Ch. 18：The First Dream

“W – What?” I swallowed at the abrupt statement. Did he hear me arguing with Mary?
“Seth killed himself. I did not kill him, in case you were wondering.” I blinked at the cold and callous way he spoke of his brother’s death.
In the public eye, Seth was the fair prince, the man who would inherit the throne and lead the kingdom to greater heights after his father. On the other hand was Killian, the opposite of Seth. He was the dark prince, the man we all sighed about, knowing he would never inherit his father’s throne. He had the makings of a dictator, a cold-blooded killer who came back victorious in every war.
When the prince died suddenly when Killian returned, people pointed hands at him but the official announcement from the place said Seth died of a strange illness. Of course, if he killed himself, then they wouldn’t tell the public the truth, but it seemed absurd that our beloved Prince Seth would kill himself.
“Why did he kill himself?” I was never curious about the dead prince until now.
“It is none of your business.” I reeled at his bitter tone.
“Then – why –“ Why did he bring it up in the first place?
Perhaps the royal family had sicknesses they hid from the public because this one seemed bipolar. Did I escape a psychopath to tie myself to a bipolar murderer?
“I am telling you this because everyone in my circle knows. Seth and I were close so people would expect me to tell you about him.” He slapped a hand on his thigh as he stood. “That is all you need to know about him. How did the meeting with the queen go?”
“She offered to give me a handsome settlement to leave you.” His lips curled.
“I would hunt you down.” The vow sent a chill down my spine. “I chose you so do not think –“ He pressed his lips together and my heart quivered at the fire gleaming in his eyes.
Sensing danger, my feet carried me backwards. My jerking heart reminded me that I was standing in the presence of a cold-blooded killer, a man so vile the kingdom believed, without evidence, that he killed his brother.
He promised to protect me but he would not protect me from himself. If he snapped my neck in this room, I would be gone for life and there was no one to hold him accountable for it. My hands became clammy and my senses sharpened. I did not have a wolf but I had enough sense to know when to retreat, when to run.
However, he advanced when I retreated.
The desire to flee mounted with every second that passed in the bristling silence of the room. If I turned to run, the beast staring me down would give chase and I could not outrun him, couldn’t even dream to outrun an alpha wolf.
“Never think of betraying me,” he murmured and I stumbled. “The price would never be worth it.” My back hit a wall as I stumbled away from him but he continued to advance on me. My heart beat loud enough for people outside the room to hear and my throat dried up. He stopped a breath space away from me.
“What – I –“ Words danced in my head but before I could form a sentence, chapped lips touched mine.
He stole my first kiss in a false show of affection the other day and now his lips dominated mine in a slow and scorching kiss that had me reeling. My eyes widened as powerful hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me against a rock-hard chest. My traitorous body relaxed against his and when he ran his tongue across my bottom lip, I opened my mouth to say something, to ask why he was doing this but a hot tongue entered my mouth.
My movement was clumsy and unsure. I did not know what to do with my lips nor did I know what to do with the tongue in my mouth. It swirled inside my mouth, dipping into the crevices. I sucked on it, tentatively at first, then harder. The hand around my waist tightened to the point of pain and it wrenched me back to the present. I pulled away from him, skin heating as his lips chased mine.
Why in the goddess’ name were we doing this?
“Stay still.” His usually haughty tone was low and hoarse, sending thrills through my body.
I did not have the time to react before his lips captured mine in another kiss, this one harsh and furious – almost punishing.
My breath caught in my throat and it became impossible for my eyes to remain open. They fluttered shut and with my eyes closed, my other senses sharpened. I felt the heat of his body scorching me, his hand on my waist squeezing and his tongue exploring my mouth became more decadent. The first kiss had been like a small tease and now his control seemed to have snapped.
Following his lead, I tentatively pushed my tongue into his mouth and he almost swallowed it whole. He sucked harshly, one of his hands tugging back my hair. I made yet another sound as my sense of reason fled from me. I could not remember what we’d been discussing or the fear and nervousness that made me shiver mere minutes ago.
His lips pulled from mine and trailed down my chin and to my neck. I clenched my hands tightly at my sides to stop them from wandering but then his teeth grazed my neck and my eyes flew open.
There was no way he wanted to mark me now – Before the thought took root in my mind, he sucked on my flesh. He sucked so hard I painted, fearing my skin would break open.
It all felt like a punishment – No, a warning. A warning that he had me under his control already.
When I felt overwhelmed with my legs quivering on the ground, he pulled away and I swallowed. His red eyes were alight with a fire that warmed my insides and heated my skin. My gaze got stuck on his glistening lips. His hands were still around my waist and with a start, I realized how well we fit.
“In the future –“ He cleared his throat, pulling me out of my absurd thoughts. “We would have to do that often.” I nodded without comprehending his words. “And if you think of joining hands with the queen, there will be hell to pay. I swear it on my father’s grave.” I swallowed thickly.
Wordlessly, he let me go and stepped out of the room, leaving me with a body that still craved him and a mind filled with confusion. This – what in the goddess’ name was this? Why did I react so strongly to a man who was not my mate?
My body shivered as I sank into bed. Touching my lips, lightning zinged through me and I groaned. Was it because he was my first kiss? Was this how kissing was supposed to feel and I just didn’t know because I’d never been kissed?
So many thoughts went through my head but they all stopped when I felt a now familiar piercing in my heart. This time, tears did not sting my eyes. My legs did not quiver and my heart did not ache.
Noah was with another woman now and the fates wanted to remind me that I had a mate bond being defiled every day. The pain lasted for the usual ten minutes before it subsided.
I laughed. Then I laughed some more.
It was like the world would never let me forget Noah. Noah would not let me forget him but I did not mind. The more he hurt me in this way, the more my thirst for vengeance built. For every bit of pain I felt at his hands, I would make him and his pack feel ten times more.
Tired from all the mental stress of the day, I curled up in bed and once sleep took me, I had a strange dream. It felt more like reality than a dream.
A man with a striking resemblance to ‘my mate’ was speaking to a redheaded woman. At first, I thought it was Killian but he had light-coloured hair. He turned and a sense of déjà vu hit me. He had a lean build and his eyes, although the same shade as Killian’s, looked warmer.
‘Scarlett, is it not enough that you will be the Luna Queen?’ The man asked with a sigh.
‘Are you not ashamed?’ Scarlett answered with ice in her tone. ‘Did you not learn from your father’s mistake?’ The man flinched at her words. ‘An affair with a maid? Do you know how disrespectful that is to me?’
‘You are one to talk.’ The man chuckled without humour. ‘Do you know how disrespectful it is to me for you to make googly eyes at my younger brother?’
‘Do not –“ Scarlett started to defend but he cut her off.
‘For years, you have embarrassed me with your infatuation with my brother but I never said a word, did I?’ His red eyes lit up with anger. ‘We may be engaged but we do not love each other so let’s not pretend now, alright? The only thing you care about is being the queen and I will make you the queen so stop bothering me.”
‘You are not even sorry.’ Scarlett let out a peel of harsh laughter. ‘The Luna Queen,’ she mumbled as the air turned frigid. ‘Why do you assume you alone can make me the Luna Queen?” Ice spread through my veins and my eyes snapped open, my body frozen in bed.
Despite my eyes being open, I could not move. My heart pounded from the fear that filled my veins from my bizarre dream. The way Scarlett spoke in that dream – I had never heard her speak with such cold finality, not even when she tried to strangle me.
Seth.
The man in my dream was the dead prince. Why was I suddenly dreaming of him?