Rhysand POV
"Where are you"Phoenix asked,a note of urgency coloring her voice "What happened" I said a little concerned
"It's Elara" my heart pounded in my chest as I heard Phoenix panicked voice say her name
Without a second thought, i bolted from my room, the door slamming shut behind me.
"Where is she?"I yelled at Phoenix
"In her room"she replied "And hasn't anyone heard her yell?" I could feel my jaw tighten with each question
"A veil is put over her room,so no noise can be heard" Phoenix replied and I could feel my heart stop.I didn't want to admit to myself what would happen if something happened to her
"When were you told something was up with her Phoenix?" There was a long paused before she replied "About ten minutes ago?" I could feel my breath hitch
The dimly lit corridor blurred as i sprinted towards Elara's dorm, my mind racing with fear. Each stride propelled me closer to the threat that loomed over her. The urgency of the situation fueled my adrenaline, and the cold sweat on my palms mirrored the tension in my veins
As i neared her room, my thoughts focused solely on her safety. Clustered at the entrance of her bedroom door were girls their faces etched with concern and fear.
The gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air as I navigated through the tense group. The urgency to reach her fueled my every step, and the hushed whispers of the girls heightened the tension.The distinctive smell of blood hit me and I could feel the shadows lurking in my vision
I kept my gaze on the ground,not wanting to behold the scene in her room.As I got to her door and I looked up the scene before me took my breath away
The lifeless bodies of two men with their heads decapitated from their bodies and a blood stained Elara seated on the pool of blood spread out on the floor
No one had gone in,no-one except her sister and her friends
She had been crying,I could see the dried tears on her face and the reduced heaving of her chest
"Elara love" I started and her eyes met mine "What happened here"
She let out few sniffles before she spoke"They tried to kill me,talked about bonding with my dragon after.It wasn't my intention to make the scene this way" she gestured to their heads that were placed neatly on their bodies "One said he was going to kill Elaine after,that she also looked easy to kill.....so I snapped"
Also?He told her she looked easy to kill?
I looked over at Elissa who didn't seem fazed in the slightest "Elissa,a minute"I said before walking out.The crowd had mostly dispersed as we walked towards the hall way
"You don't seem fazed,why?" I blurted out "Don't lie to me"
She didn't give a reply for a few seconds before saying "I am sure you noticed Elara poisoning her opponent" and I nodded
"Elara is....different.She wasn't trained to fight,she was trained to kill and the reason is because my father wants her dead"
I asked through gritted teeth"And why is that?"
"She isn't his child" Elissa whispered
I had been pacing back and forth as Elissa told me everything
"My parents were an arranged marriage and few years after we were born,my mother wanted to leave saying she had given him an heir and needed to go.My father was already in love with her and wouldn't let her go,threatening to kill us if she does.Eventually she started an affair with her true love,the one she left my father for and got pregnant by him"
"My father found out and killed him,he was going to kill my mother with Elara in her when news went out about her being pregnant.He waited till she was born and promised he was going to kill only the child,but every thing never seemed to work"
I had stopped pacing around now and just stared at Elissa who was staring in the direction of Elara's room
She let out a sigh "My uncle knew about it and said he was going to train her when she was old enough.He trained her about poisons and kept adding a drop of every poison known to man into her meals,after a while Elara became immune to most poisons"
"Elara had been having these vivid nightmares since she was a child,hence the veil over her room.She always thought it was something more,she even said maybe she was a seer but the healers said it was a result of the poisons she had been injesting.My mother and uncle couldn't tell her so we continued with it"
"She said she wanted to learn how to fight so if whatever was in her dreams came to life,she could defend herself.My uncle never said No to her,she wanted to know how to wield a blade?He taught her.She wanted to know how to use a bow and arrow,he taught her"
I interjected her immediately "Elara can't use a bow and arrow.She had to get extra help from Aurora"
"Well the Elara I grew up with,can wield a bow and arrow blindfolded"she replied "The only reason I am telling you this Rhys is because I heard that you stood up for her when my father came to marry her off.Thank you"
We walked back to the room to see it was cleaned and Elara was in a pair of clean clothes.The room also didn't smell of blood and the bodies were no where to be seen
"Do you want to go for a walk Draconis"I ask looking only at her as she stood by her bed frame
"Yes...yes she would"Kyra replied immediately nudging her in my direction
We made our way out of the dorm after much giggling from mostly Kyra.She seemed more excited about the whole thing than Elara did.It was two in the morning and the Academy seemed peaceful.Moonlight casting an ethereal glow on the walls,shadows danced in harmony with the soft glow creating a captivating play of contrasts that transports the courtyard into a dreamscape.
Everything seemed so beautiful this time of the night but I couldn't allow myself take everything in because of this Captivating woman walking by my side.I was scared,scared that she would be dead and I wouldn't get the chance,my chance to let her know how I felt
"You're scared?"a voice dragged me to reality.I turned around to see she had stopped walking and kept her gaze to the ground.
"Why would I be scared?" I raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
"I just killed two men and you're not scared of me?"she asked tears welling in her eyes
I chuckled softly "They tried to kill you,they got what they deserved....don't you think"
She gave a nod but didn't move from her spot "Why were you crying"
"I didn't want to kill them" was all she said.There was an excruciating long pause between us
I was standing right in front of her, my hands in my pockets "I would have razed down this place if anything happened to you.Do you know that?"
She looked up at me with those glassy eyes, subtle blush tinted her cheeks "When I heard something was wrong with you,I had no idea how to react there were so many thoughts ringing in my head but the one that was the loudest was how would I live if I didn't tell you I wanted you"
She stood up on her toes and crashed her lips to mine.I didn't know what to do, but I knew I wanted to do it again. And again. And again. I pulled her in close and felt the warmth of her body against mine.
Her hands moved to my hair, pulling it back so she could kiss me better. My hands were now on her waist, holding her close. I felt the softness of her breasts against my chest as we kissed. Our tongues danced with each other as our lips pressed together.
I could feel her heart beating against my chest. We broke away from each other. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to do that,I just didn't know what to say so I assumed this should sum it up.I'm so sorry."
"Elara please stop....You shouldn't be apologizing.I was going to do it anyways" I said before crashing my lips down on hers
A hand went to her throat while one pulled her closer to me.She wasn't as close as I wanted her to be. I wanted to be inside of her. She put her arms around my neck and I felt her breasts pressing harder against me. My hands went to her ass and I pulled her in even closer. She was wearing a short dress and it rode up her legs as we kissed.
"We can pretend like this didn't happen if you wanted"she whispered against my lips
My next words pitched low and rough "That is never going to happen love,I want to make one thing clear,from this point on you are mine.Do well not to forget that"