The lord looked at the young woman, never before feeling the storm of emotions inside like today. He wasn't planning to kill her. He wished to find out what happened to her. He saw a bleed from her scraped knee and another from a cut that looked a lot like a slashing wound. Yet, she still stood tall when talking to him. She smelled divine, awakening his appetite, but more strongly, awakening his desire. She held their eye contact. Her eyes were amber-brown. Warm and kind. And in that instance, the lord realised his fate. That woman was his soulmate.
He didn't just think it, he knew it. Every part of his body seemed to gain warmth within it that was never present before. It ached in need of connection with the woman before him. There was one way to confirm it and that was to touch her.
The lord strode down from the throne towards the woman, grabbing her arm. A sudden jolt of electric spread through him followed by the feeling of overwhelming dread. He wanted to delve into the depths of the woman's eyes, but the feeling was so powerful that he retreated his hand.
"What is your name?"
"Lilian Hearthorn." The woman replied showing not an ounce of awareness that she faced her own soulmate. "Who are you?"
"I am Cassius, the Lord of Ironwood."
Cassius wondered if she was able to hide her feelings so well or if she felt nothing. It never before crossed his mind that his soulmate could be human and he never contemplated how this unbreakable bond presented in between species. "You shall stay alive and remain in my castle. I am intrigued by your ideas. You are amusing."
"I am your prisoner." Lilian's eyes clouded with displeasure. She hoped to escape not to be imprisoned.
"With many more liberties than a prisoner. You have access to all castle grounds and my staff will be to your service." Cassius hated to see the effect his words had on her.
"But I am at your whim?"
"Indeed."
"So…" Lilian considered her situation. "I am your pet."
The corner of Cassius' lip curved up but he managed to hide his smile. It was a ridiculous suggestion.
"That is...hmm… maybe." He declared at last as he decided not to share how highly he regarded his mate in the castle and Lilian's real power. She was yet to find out her position within the court. Cassius waved at the servant to summon them. "Take Lilian to the Green chamber. Ensure that she has everything she needs to refresh herself before dinner."
"Yes, your highness." The maid bowed deeply before she led Lilian out of the throne room.
Lilian followed in silence, yet her eyes darted from painting to painting, from sculpture to sculpture, and from one closed door to another. She was astonished by the richness of the decorum, the deep colours and variety of arts.
The maid led her into an enormous bedroom with a large canopied bed. The room was painted in deep green colour on the three walls and the fourth one had a mural of forest with a starry night carefully painted above the lavish trees.
"Ma'am, I shall run you a bath and bring you some fresh clothes. Do you have any other requests?"
"No, thank you." Lilian forced a smile upon her face. She had no idea what was to happen and how long she can amuse the vampire lord. The maid readied a bathtub full of warm and fragrant water and brought a set of velvet soft dresses. Lilian kindly declined any further support and keenly barricaded the door to the room once left alone. She made sure that all the windows were locked and only then she proceeded to marble bathroom.
The bath was pleasant and comforting after a long night and many unfortunate events. It provided the relief to the many body aches from an earlier fall and attack on Lilian.
Lilian submerged herself and soon her mind replayed the tragic murder that she was a witness to. She sat up panicked, sputtering the water and choking, recalling the shining eyes of the vampire that fed on her friend. And now, she was among them and alive solely due to their lord's amusement. She needed to continue to amuse him. She needed to hide her fear and make a spectacle. This was her only way to freedom. Survive first, escape later.