With confusion-filled eyes and a pout on her lips, Isabella looked between his eyes and the hand. Isabella has never seen a hand stretched in her direction. Isabella was yet looking at his hand.
Alexander continued to observe. He could sense that she was not scared but rather confused. He looked around to take a glance when he suddenly felt something soft on his palm.
He quickly glanced at his palm only for his gaze to be fixed. With a quirked eyebrow and steady eye contact, he kept looking at her palm.
Where he expected her palm to be placed, she placed her chin. His confused eyes met her sparkly eye. It looked similar to a puppy as if asking for attention. A chuckle made its way through his mouth and he once again glanced around to avoided being seen by someone.
He doesn't wish for her to change but she also doesn't wish for her to be used by someone else.
"Isabella, you have to place your hand."
Alexander slowly withdrew his hand and placed her hand on it.
She trusted him and let him lead her in a particular direction. After taking few steps, they passed through a secret passage. His one arm was securely wrapped around her waist while the other was holding her hand.
All his anger has vanished by now. Only amusement and some unknown emotion are present. He felt content and happy. May it be due to her small size or may it be her soft nature countering his rough one. But whatever it was, she fitted him like a puzzle piece.
Alexander didn't like how she was with someone else. But no matter what, he was not even the slightest bit angry with her.
"Xander. It is beautiful."
Alexander was brought out from his thoughts by her words. It was a small garden hidden from the prying eyes. He could still hear the music played at some distance. The melody was soft and melodious.
He looked at her eyes which were now filled with life. The loneliness was now lost from her eyes. His chest broad and straight posture. He stood in front of her, which got her attention.
Seeing her eyes on him, he bent forward and stretched his hand to hold. This time she frowned a little but placed her hand on his. He was now doing the first thing which he wanted to do at this whole party.
"Isabella, dance with me."
Isabella was a little worried. She wanted to dance but she also knows it is not possible to dance properly unless you are mates. She tried to snatch her hand back but he held it strongly in his hold.
She has seen countless birds and other creatures dancing with their mates. She tried, but she never seemed to do it properly. She has always wanted to find her mate. Someone to love her the way her father loved her mother. But she lost her hope later.
"I-I, I do not know how to dance."
"Just, follow me, Isabella."
Just as Alexander took the dancing position, the music changed and a soft song started playing. He started moving her with him in harmony. It was almost as if they were one and not two.
Their breathing got synchronized, their souls united. He made her spin in a circle and safely wrapped her back in his arm. Their steps showed that they have been united. Almost as if their souls have been searching for each other and now they are united with each other.
Alexander didn't understand what he was feeling. He was relaxed. He was not even trying to move his feet. It was as if his feet have developed his own mind and were moving. But whatever he was feeling, he was feeling good from his inside.
Isabella was shocked. She couldn't believe that he was her mate. She was feeling happiest right now. Although she never learned how to dance yet her feet were moving on their own.
She was finally dancing. She could feel their souls uniting.
They danced a little more, after some spins, they both stopped and just got lost in each other eyes.
'Oh my. He is my mate. That is why I was always like that around him.'
'What just happened? Whatever it was, I liked it and can't wait to have it again.'
Suddenly as if something clicked on Alexander's mind, he turned his eyes full of love and adoration into a little mix with amusement from confusion. While Isabella's eyes were full of awe and respect.
"So, Miss Isabella can dance. Although she told me she do not dance. Your actions contradict your words, my dear Isabella."
Alexander was amused at how beautifully she moved with him. Almost as if she was a key and he was a lock. The way they both danced was making it hard for him to believe that he could dance that gracefully with someone. The way she moved, didn't appear as if she was dancing for the first time. And boy, he would do everything he could to have one more dance like that.
"I do not know. I-I was never able to."
Those words made Alexander's mind filled with rage. His brain was filled with the thoughts of another man touching her. She wrapped in their arms the way she is in his arms. He didn't know how many before him had tried to dance with her, nor how many have asked her before him. But he would make sure that no other man will ever get his hands on her.
She was his escape, his light from his work and he will be doomed if he let someone else get its hands on her possession. She will become his by hook or by crook. He will make sure of it. But for now, he will let her enjoy her freedom, till it lasts.
"I guess I taught you good then miss Isabella. Have not I?"
Isabella's face was flushed. Now that she knows that he is her mate she couldn't help herself but feel a different kind of attraction. For the first time she found his eyes beautiful, his height, his sharp jaw, and most importantly the adoration in his eyes towards her. She does not have enough words to describe.
The one who will love her unconditionally, she suddenly found herself shy to look at his face and slowly lowered her gaze. She felt something different under his gaze.
His eyes were filled with amusement, seeing a slight red cover on her cheeks.
Alexander adored the redness of her cheeks and shyness in her eyes. He finds it amusing how she was behaving around him. Her antics caused a smile to appear on his face.
"Now, Miss Isabella, I believe you should get a little punishment for the rule-breaking. Am I right?"
Isabella ducked her head and stopped looking at his face as if ashamed.
Isabella didn't want to go there in the first place. It hurt her that her mate was now doubting her and was angry with her because other humans could not follow simple rules.
Her eyes became teary. And she simply nodded her head.
Alexander frowned at the fact that she suddenly started looking down instead of looking at him. He didn't like the fact that she was feeling low. He wanted to see her as his equal and looking at his eyes.
He slowly placed his first finger and thumb under her chin and slowly raised her head to look into her eyes. He felt hurt when he saw her tear-stricken face.
"P-please Xander. D-do not hate m-me. Humans hate m-me."
Her eyes were glossy with unshed tears. Her whimpering at the end made the inside of his churn with guilt. He didn't want her to ever be scared of him but seems like he just did that.
"Isabella, do not cry. You have to give me a simple kiss. Nothing else. I promise you, I do not hate you. I will never hate you."
His eyes turned soft when Isabella looked into his eyes. She found truth and honesty in his eyes. She obliged and got on her toes a little because of their height difference and kissed his cheek. She kept her lips there a little longer, while Alexander's eyes were opened with shock.
He felt sparks. The softness of her lips on his cheek made his eyes flutter and his brain go haywire. No words could describe how he was feeling and neither could she. It was equal to a kiss on the lips and he would give everything to get it again.
After the kiss, the couple was lost in each other's eyes. They were lost in their own little world. Mesmerized in the eyes as if nothing else mattered anymore.
Then suddenly there was a rustling in the grass. Alexander quickly hid Isabella behind him. Because of her petite figure, she easily got out of the point of vision. Alexander took a defensive position and was watching attentively for the intruder.
The area was isolated. No one was supposed to be there to disturb them. Alexander didn't want anyone to know about Isabella. At least not until the time is right.
They were waiting impatiently for the intruder to show up. With shoulder straight, posture rigid, and all senses strained for any motion happening.
When they saw the intruder, an involuntary gasp came from Isabella and Alexander's lips became thin-lined. He kept glaring at the silhouette at the front because that silhouette was wearing a cape. A royal cape.