Edward
My guards flanked an overconfident Arnold as he strutted into the hall, his cocky smirk doing little to mask the flicker of unease in his blackened eyes. He should have been nervous because I had warned him not to touch Bella. I saw the way his gaze darted to her, who sat stiff and pale on the throne beside mine. Her fingers twisted in her lap. Though she tried to make herself small, I could see the marks he had left on her neck. My bite, my claim was already darkened by his filthy hands. The thought of it made my blood burn. He saw the marks The Beast and I had left. She was ours fully and she even tried to mark us in return. Her fire is smoldering. I need it to ignite, and I hope her watching me both protect and defend her will do just that. I regret not believing her the day my Beast had me leave that crude claim.
"Edward," he drawled, the smirk twisting into something more menacing. "You summoned me?"
"I summoned you to answer for your treachery," I said, my voice cold and sharp as a blade.
"Treachery?" He let out a short laugh, taking a step forward. "For what, Ed? For daring to tell the truth about your little plaything? Or is it because I touched something you are too weak to properly protect?" That was all it took to snap my restraint. I lunged at him, crossing the distance faster than human eyes could track. My hand closed around his throat, slamming him into the stone wall with enough force to crack it. His laughter cut off in a choked wheeze while his fingernails clawed against my wrist.
"You think you can take what is mine?" I hissed, my voice low and venomous. "You think you can touch her without consequence? You were warned! Now you will pay!"
His lips curled into a snarl, his teeth elongating as he shoved against me with a burst of strength. The impact sent me stumbling back. I was on him again before he could recover, driving my fist into his ribs. The satisfying crunch of bone echoed through the hall, and his roar of pain only fueled my rage.
"She is nothing!" He growled, his eyes gleaming with defiance even as blood dripped from his mouth. "You do not even want her! You will destroy her like you destroy everything else! She will never be Ara!"
His words did not faze me. They were lies meant to distract, and I would not give him the satisfaction. I want Bella, it is that shadow of Ara I don't want. The real Ara, the one I gave my soul for, will never return. Bella is here, a gift from an unknown god, and she may grow to love me…all of me. "You are right about a few things," I said, my voice a deadly whisper. "Initially, I only wanted her to rid me of my curse. Now, I welcome my curse and only hope that she can forgive me for it all. Ara is gone and Bella isn't hurt. She's far better." I punched him again. "The thing you were completely right about is that I will destroy everything in my path for her. Starting with you!"
In a sudden fury, Arnold lunged at me, his claws slashing toward my face. I caught his wrist mid-swing, twisting it until the joint snapped. He howled, but his other hand came up, driving a blade toward my side. I sidestepped at the last second, gripping the hilt and using his momentum to drive it into his shoulder. The fight turned brutal, I had The Beast, who I could let take over, but my dark Fae could overpower his light Fae. Our Fae strength shook the very foundation of the hall. Blood splattered across the floor, the scent of it thick and coppery in the air.
He was stronger than the mortals I toyed with, sure, but he was not me. I slammed him to the ground, pinning him beneath my knee as I gripped his throat. His struggles grew weaker, his claws scrabbling uselessly at my arms. My grip tightened, and his blackened eyes met mine with something that almost resembled fear. "I warned you," I said, my voice a low growl. "I told you she was mine. You did not listen. Now, you will pay for it."
"Edward" His voice was a rasp, barely audible as blood bubbled at his lips. "She will never be yours."
My lips curled into a cruel smile. "She does not need to be. She chooses to be and It is enough. She is my mate!"
As I was about to give one final squeeze, Bella cupped my face. "Edward, look at me," her voice trembling. I leave Arnold please pinned beneath me and turn my gaze to hers. She pushes my hair back to reveal the hickey on my neck she had left. She kisses it and I want to pull her to me and kiss her until she's breathless. "I am yours and you are mine." She looks at Arnold, "I would never choose you. You broke into my room and then tried to take me from here. You never once spoke to me. Why! Tell me why!" she demanded as I saw the fire spark in her eyes.
I felt Arnold tremble under me. I chuckled as I looked down at him. "I told you that she was nothing like Ara and that she was mine!" I growled before my hand started to tighten.
Bella put her hand over mine. "Wait! Have mercy," she said but it wasn't in a pleading tone instead it was a command that I followed. She leaned down and examined his face. "Has he always had such dark eyes and streaks on his temples?"
I leaned closer and let the red leave my eyes. I looked at the man that was once my friend. "No, he is light Fae. They only become dark if they embrace The Darkness as I did." She is right, he has changed. He didn't take in The Darkness as I did. Is someone using him? But who? Who would want who is mine? I looked at Bella, "Touch my side and call for what I showed you."
With trembling hands, she did as I instructed. "Don't do this," she pleaded.
I cupped her face and then touched my mark. "I won't, but you must trust me. Can you do that, sweetheart?" She nodded as she placed the dagger into my palm. She stumbled back onto her throne as I pressed just the tip of the blade to Arnold's neck. Darkness poured out but quickly faded as all of the Fae let out a gasp.
His body went limp. I stood, brushing the blood from my hands as I turned to face the hall. The room had fallen silent, the other fae watching with wide eyes. I turned back to Bella. She was trembling, her eyes locked on Arnold's bloodied and unconscious but alive form. I crossed the room and knelt before her, brushing a stray tear from her cheek with a bloodstained thumb. "No one will touch you again. Not anyone." Bella nodded shakily, her lips parting as if to speak, but I pressed a finger to them. "Rest now. You are safe with me. I will always believe you just as I will always protect my Queen."
She did not respond. The way she sagged in the chair told me she believed me, at least for now. I straightened, my gaze sweeping the hall. "Clean this mess, put him under watch," I ordered, my tone icy. "Remember those who cross me won't be as fortunate."
I strode from the room. I could feel her eyes on my back. Though I did not turn to look at her, I knew one thing for certain. She would stay by my side, whether she wanted to or not. Some force was out to get her, and I won't lose her or my chance at love again. The air outside the dining hall was cold. Blood still clung to my hands, its metallic tang embedded in my skin. I needed to wash it off, to rid myself of this filth before I returned to Bella. We have a coronation to finish, and then I need to talk to her about how she could sense The Darkness. Was it because some of mine flows within her veins or something else?
Her face before I left to get clean haunted me. The way she had trembled, the fear in her wide eyes as she stared at me, unsure whether I was her savior or another monster to fear. She had not spoken, but her silence had been louder than any scream. I walked swiftly to my chambers, the corridors dark and empty. The few servants I passed lowered their gazes, pressing themselves against the walls to avoid my path. Good. Let them fear me.
Inside my room, I turned the faucet on, letting the water run until it steamed. The blood swirled down the drain as I scrubbed my hands, though the stain of what I had done lingered in my mind. I splashed water on my face, letting it cool the fire still burning in my veins. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, my eyes still faintly glowing red. I took a deep breath, willing the Beast to retreat. For her sake, I needed to be calm and under control.
When I returned to the dining hall, the mess had been cleaned. The air was heavy with tension, the other Fae were still seated in uncomfortable silence. Bella was no longer on the throne but standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared out into the night. Her posture was stiff, guarded. I approached quietly, stopping a few paces behind her. "We will talk about all of it later. Thank you for stopping me from killing my only friend," I whispered into her ear. "Now, let me show you how I treat my Queen out of the bedroom before I show you how I treat her in it."