And so it seems I must always write you letters that I can never send.
—Sylvia Plath
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"I—I am not engaged to him."
Her words sent vexation through the Lord while Theo only stared but was feeling relieved from within. If she had agreed to the man, he did not know what he would've done in anger.
He turned to look at Ken who was now glaring at Eva with irritation visible in his eyes. He did not like any men staring at her and came to stand before Eva, hiding her from the Lord's view.
"Do you know the consequences of a false claim in court, Mr. Fraden?" asked the King and the Lord gulped seeing the fangs inside the his mouth.
He was a vampire.
"I am not lying, Your Majesty. Miss Blythe has promised me her hand in marriage and we are supposed to get married next week." he lied through his teeth and Eva clenched her fists at every word that dispersed from his mouth.
Theo sensed her anger and chuckled out loud making everyone look at him. "Then is Miss Blythe lying? You accuse a woman of falsehood in court?"
Ken fumbled with his hands which were crossed at his back. He had arrived here in hopes that the King will hand over the girl to him and Ken would be able to persuade Eva to marry him by next week. He had heard rumors of this King but hadn't given much thought to it when he rode here. The King had cunningly trapped him in webs of deceit like a spider.
"I think that Evangeline has forgotten the promise she made to me, My King. If you would be kind enough to send her to me-"
"What if she doesn't want to?" questioned Theodore, observing the nails on his hands with great concentration.
The Lord laughed weakly and craned his neck to get a look at Eva. The King's massive structure was blocking her from his sight and he felt himself growing frustrated.
Eva gripped the ends of her dress tightly and kept her eyes on the King's back. She did not know what he was planning in that head of his and felt worried for the Lord who kept spouting nonsense from his mouth.
She was not sure if the King would send her away yet. Maybe he had been playing with her all along? Unlikely...
"Would you like to go with him, Eva?"
Eva's eyes caught his and she held her breath. "What do you want?" he asked again, and Eva swallowed seeing his dark and emotionless eyes.
His voice was hypnotic, and his warmth had her under a wicked spell. He was the adventure she craved. He was a temptation she wanted to indulge in. He was part of her wildest dreams.
Without knowing it herself, she was falling into his abyss not caring how hard she landed. All she could see and feel was him.
"I do not want to," she mumbled, and even though her words were lower than a whisper, he heard her loud and clear.
"The lady has declared that she wants to stay. You have no claim on her Mr. Fraden so it is best if you leave-"
"No! The girl is lying! My King she has promised to marry me and is mine-"
In a second, Theo reached him and his hand gripped his neck in a powerful grip. The lord was lifted off his feet and tried his best to escape the King's iron-hard grip. He could feel the air leaving his lungs and Ken could see his doom in the devil's eyes.
Eva gasped audibly as she saw the scene taking place before her. Without caring about anyone who watched her, she got up and sprinted down the stairs to stop the dispute that was taking place.
No, it was not a dispute. The King had already won with the Lord at his mercy. The one she wanted to save was the Lord from the King's wrath before he got killed brutally in the middle of the courtroom.
Leon stepped forward to stop her but she quickly dodged him and approached Theo from behind.
"Your Majesty-" she started but was interrupted by the King.
"Leon take Eva back to our room." came his order and everyone's eyes widened when they heard the word "our."
What was this girl's relationship with the King, they all wondered silently in their minds.
"No!" cried Eva, stopping Leon from coming near her. "I am not leaving!"
Theo sighed letting go of the man's neck and turned around to face the raging bird. She looked like a Queen as she stood there with her back straightened and glaring straight into his eyes without any hesitation.
Leon was surprised that the lady had managed to make the King pause. The girl seemed to have a great influence on the King to make him turn around.
"Everyone leave." came his husky voice and in less than a minute, every man was scurrying out the room afraid to face the King's rage. Leon dragged the Lord outside and Ken did not protest, happy to get out of the devil's sight.
The door closed and the only people left in the room were Eva and Theodore. The courage that had fired her up appeared to be fading away as Eva gulped seeing the fury in his eyes.
She had dug a grave for herself willingly.
"You seem to be having a soft corner for him in your heart," said Theo, as he stepped closer to her and Eva continued to step back. He was looking at her like a predator does when he saw its meal for the day.
"I-I did not want your hands to be tainted by blood," she spoke and he paused.
"Are you trying to distract me with your words? Because this time it won't work," he spoke with his eyes darkening.
Her hair was whipped across her face; caught between parted and damp lips as her eyes blazed with stormy surprise. She was panting frantically as she stumbled back, and his hand darted out to grab her wrist.
"Your Majesty," she gasped, trying to pull away and shield her face. "What are you-
But she was cut off as he grabbed her other hand and placed them sternly at her sides; backing her up until she was trapped between him and the wall. She felt panic bubble in her chest; not because she thought he would hurt her, but because he was too close. Her alarmed breathing was sucking in his drugging and masculine smell, and she found her body swarming with heat as their proximity ached beneath her skin.
How had she gotten herself stuck in this situation!?