Chapter 17 - Seventeen

"Deal" she shakes on it with a smile that they both share.

"Oh before going, here's a bonus to our deal. John's being punished for taking you out of the castle" she smoothly said walking out. She feels no obligation to relay the messages to her but just can't help to tell. Perhaps the cruel thoughts of her crushing in on Steffen and questioning his decision led her to. She's certain Ella will be out there defending John and once she does that, Steffen might feel disqualified and a right will exist between them.

Well, it's stupid for it might go bad, but what's the harm in trying? If she doesn't spicy it up then who would?

Plus she isn't the villain or so said she.

Others can say what they want she's only fighting for what she believes is hers. She has been the first in his life and she deserves his mark sbd, not her, she's just some nobody who's probably the biggest threat in his life.

She feels dented to him since he saved her age and took her in, but she still holds on to his kindness towards her and perhaps that kindness is what restricts her from disappearing from his world.

In just a minute away she is in his open after a quick chase of her feet through the corridor the second Balu finishes her words. Her hands wildly rubbed the door open as she let her feet in, giving less attention or care to his eyes that stabbed at her nor his brows that arched in question at her rude entrance into his office without permission.

"Are you punishing him?" She asks not giving a damn about her tone or the manner in which she face him. Her first concern at her is John and him being punished because of her, her guilt won't let her rest if ever he surfers.

"Is that why you're here?" He asks much of a sting to her concern towards him. Sure he holds no emotional attachment but he still owns her, or so he believes as she's his mate. And the audacity of her to walk into his office without consent and query him for the decision he feels is right is so not suited in his chest.

"Of course" she shortly responds "I want to know why you're punishing him?" She demands fronting her eyes tensely at him.

"He deserves it, he took his queen out and risked her safety" Steffen plainly stated resuming his eyes on the screen of his laptop. He owes her, not an explanation yet he tells only to have her out of his office or yet to ease her curious mind.

" I compelled him to take me out" she defends

"And he should have known better than to give in to your request" he countered back a bit upset at her caring tone. He hasn't held her responsible for leaving the castle without his consent and she dares stand before him and speak caringly in another man's favor.

He can evade the reality of being spiked by her care to another than him but not his fingers that knuckle in hard on the desk or his teeth that greet within as he tries to subdue the grain that's in his throat. His eyes firmly stare at her for seconds before blinking back at the screen that displays data known to him.

"You can't have him punished, it's unfair," she says compelling him to let a tight grunt out which fades into a gloomy scowl.

"Nothing is unfair in the king's decision," he said owning to his words. He's their king and his words stay true, he does as he wishes and none dares provoke his authority. And if she thinks he's being unfair then it's her stupidity, not his.

"Please, he did nothing wrong. I am to blame, if anyone deserves a punishment then I am. Don't have him wrong because of my stubbornness " she defeatedly says, her eyes weak on the floor as drops fall from her eyes.

His fingers clutched within as he watched her unlock the door after his seconds of silence to her pleas. It was settled, his decision wasn't blinking not even at her request, he's going to punish John but I'd he really?

****

"So how was your talk with him?" Startled Ella grasps Balu's shadow reflecting her wholeness halfway out of the king's study. Her eyes steady on her as she stalks her feet toward Ella.

"Tell me, what was his response to your protest?" She asked curiously, assured she had left the second she told her of John being punished to question the king. Her mind couldn't satisfy her urge to hear what happened.

"That you have to ask him yourself," Ella said with a scowl

Her relationship with them isn't that bad with the king as if she is so much as needy for the information she can fish it out of him. She holds no time to please her or play her damn games.

"And oh, do be sure you owe up to your end of the deal, I want out of here the earliest the best "Her words come out with her feet taking the long road of disappearance with the loud bang of the door.

"Bit**h" she mutters fencing her arms on her chest. All she wants is a bit of information but her stupid human head won't give her.

Forget that, she'll be out of her life any moment soon, it just a matter of an hour or less then Steffen would be hers to win over.

Quick as time flies, they are out ready to depart for the city. Balu stood beside Ella as she was ready to have a shared ride with her.

Just one problem, she has to convince the big wolf to do that.

"Ella should ride with me" Balu suggests with the hope of having a chance of letting her flee while on the road, that's the only time she would get an opportunity since both Steffen and his men's eyes are constantly gawking at Ella's every step.

"She's riding with me" Steffen states with eyes that instruct poor Ella to get in the car, which door he has wide. He can't risk her being alone not with fear of her running but the risk of her being in danger. It is more safe and assured with her by his side plus if danger is encountered then he would be surely able to protect her.

She's not only carrying her own life but his connection, thou a bit of him knows he seeks her closeness due to the bond and scare of losing his mate but he won't dare acknowledge it even if it kills. He can't be having his mind running wild when serious matters are at hand, like finding that bastard and ripping the hell out of his miserable life.

His fangs have been viciously terrorizing the city and news of the strange death of people has spread on every channel.

Soon he fears someone figuring the whole shit out.

"Don't I get to protest?" Ella's words seize as his huge eyes lay on her, ensuring there is no space for negotiation.

With a scowl, she leads her feet to him and reluctantly sits in the car, swearing the hell in her mind, which he can tell from her constant blink of lashes at him. He bothers less about her unjust decision for as long she's safe, her childish behavior can be looked past.

And she wishes him death so that she can free herself, well not so much as death but a little faint won't harm, so long it earns her freedom from him. She can only hope Balu figures a way to let her out of his grasp or else.

Silence fills in as she takes a seat beside her in the car.

With a voice of his the car soon moves as the driver takes turns leading after the first two cars. It's a convoy of display as the council members were all present for the mission.

"He has been redeemed from his punishment" The words come out flat after a tight bit on his tongue to hold back. His mind is still baffled as to why it feels obligated to have her think positively about him or best to have her out of her gloomy mood.

"Why are you telling me this?" If he's to be honest it'll be to make you happy but since he's a man with a steel heart and a bit of an ego he definitely won't come clean to her. Instead, he lets his huff respond as he takes a deep stare at the dark screen of his phone which lights out with a touch of his finger on it.

Damn her, she can clearly see his efforts yet she acts unclear. He shouldn't have fallen trapped to her sweet words and had him off punishment, he should have made an example of him by ridding him of his title or at least having him

" So " he drags out unsure of what to say. Thou desire to hold a conversation with her but are all drop dead with her glares and avert attention that is stolen by the side trees that dance with the wind. Even for a tough shell like him he can't help but redeem admiration for nature's masterpiece of artistry.

As long as the drive took, they were at this big mansion that stood isolated from others and gave a resemblance to it. In the middle of the probable acres of free grass and trees well cultivated.

Out he lets the car door wide for her and leads her through the door that's set open by the guard at the stand.

Within a huge grasp of chandeliers that attract her attention from all, it jiggles against the wind that erupts through the glass windows. Her gaze falls on the paintings on the walls orderly set in steps pattern, much so of a familiarity of his castle.

No doubt this must be one of his properties, she thinks through a walk behind him.

" You don't have to worry you'll be safe here," he said, not sure if she needed to hear that but again, he wants her to be assured he is going to take care of her.

Well till he figures her mystery.

"I know, now can you tell me where am gonna be staying?" She asks not giving a deal in his words. She's set to let loose any soon from his grasp so why hold much faith in him? Plus she isn't some girl that needs protection, well she's a girl but not some weak damsel.

"I'll handle that" Balu slips in catching their gazes behind them.

"You're probably busy and am all free, plus the council would be waiting on you," she says. And true, the council is on its wait to discuss Teslime and how they're to capture him or best stop him and his rouge soldiers from turning humans into one of them.

"That's settled then" he agrees leaving them and walking for the stairs to the second floor that leads to a door and wide in welcome of a cabinet.

"So how do you plan on getting me out of here?" Ella asks eyeing the guards whose eyes won't split a second off her.

"I'm thinking about it," Balu says as she scrambles her thoughts for ideas. She can't just have her walked out they would prevent her and even if they don't, she won't be able to respond to Steffen when he's told she took his mate out and she hasn't returned.

She does want to help but in a way that doesn't lead back to her.

"Great" Ella sighs frustratedly "Don't you have any witch power that you can use to distract them?"

"I'm not a witch girl" she tensely corrects with heavy stares at her. " I'm a night sucker" she informs catching the eyes of one of the guards. A lead, as he stands giant with intimidating looks that can back anyone off.

"Okay vampire, do you have any useful power?" She provokely asks rolling her eyes in the air.

As a matter of fact, she does, she didn't want to do it as its effects tend to last long and she doesn't want to have them crawling in her orders, but again desperate times call for similar measures. With no time to waste she approaches them in snail, a finger on her lips, she lets her eyes glow out as her lips sync riddles for her ears only. With this, the guard's eyes take the copy of her ginger eyes for seconds then back to their normals before drooling in dazzle at her.

"Pretty" one murmurs as he sings her neck.

"Goddess," another says kissing her fingers.

"Wow, quite impressive," Ella says smirking at her ability. Who would have thought she could hypnotize men into doing his bidding?

"Stop staring and get out of here" she orders. Before anyone else comes and sees, she wants Ella out of sight and her in peace of it ever being revealed.

As told she was out of there and now at the gate of the organization. Air set in her lungs, and she set out a heavy air as her legs took heart steps inside the cage she wasn't sure she would be out of.

"You finally show up," a voice said out demandingly

"You failed your mission and dare show up?"