I instantly look down, not daring to maintain eye contact with him. I can feel his intense gaze on me, and it feels like he is not just looking at me, it almost feels like he is gazing into my soul, trying to uncover all my secrets.
Thankfully, Prince Virgil arrives from within the room. "Woah, you look even more beautiful all dressed up, kitten. That dress looks like it was specially made for your body. " He said and I managed a small smile.
King Cassius sighed and it was the type that usually accompanied an eye roll. I still haven't been able to figure out this man's problem with me.
I'm suddenly pulled away from my thoughts when King Cassius lifts my chin up, forcing me to share a gaze with him and those enchanting eyes almost leave me frozen.
"You should know better than to bad mouth me right here in my presence." He said tautly and I gulped. Of course, I mentally kicked myself when I remembered, I had forgotten about the mind reading again.
"But I didn't say anything….." I muttered, trying to pretend like I didn't know what he was talking about.
"If there's anything I hate more than insults, it's deception and that's exactly why I hate humans, your kind are only experts at deceit. If you make a mistake, I expect you to apologise instantly and learn from that mistake. Never ever again should you lie to me, I don't tolerate lies and I don't forgive. I'll let you off with a warning this time but If you offend me one more time, I won't be so lenient." He threatened.
"I'm…… I'm sorry, I didn't……" I instantly tried to apologize but he ignored me and just left. A small shiver runs down my spine. Why is he so intimidating?
"Do you really have a death wish? I may be able to forgive you out of the goodness of my heart but the King, he's not so merciful. You can offend anyone else and get away with it, anyone but his Majesty. You should learn to keep your thoughts under a tight leash from now on.
I've told you this a lot of times already but since words aren't getting through to you, action will. You're lucky you're already dressed up or I might have straightened you out right away. When we get back, I'm going to punish you." He barked at me, he seemed to be genuinely angry.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…….master." The word felt like lead on my tongue but I had no choice but to say it. "I didn't know that I'd bump into him, I really didn't mean to offend him. I was just so scared at the sight of him that I could barely control myself and my thoughts slipped. I'm really sorry, please don't punish me." I pleaded.
Prince Virgil's expression softens and he caresses the side of head shortly before recovering his strict expression once more.
"Enough of this, we must leave now." He said and grabbed a hold of my hand, pulling me with him.
We were soon outside the castle gates and in front of a carriage. I had honestly never thought that I'd ever get the chance to ride in a carriage.
A little while later, we finally arrive at the market and Prince Virgil helps me alight from the carriage.
We move around the market and he mostly bullies the merchants who are unfortunately humans and forces them to submit their earnings for the day. The ones that refuse are left in a bad shape, it's not a pretty sight but at least it's not brutal.
I instantly recall the vampire by the name of Jared, that very brutal one. I'm sure that the market would have been filled with blood if he were the one that had been asked to handle this task. Prince Virgil isn't a saint but he isn't evil either.
I keep an eye around but I sadly don't spot Kayden anywhere and all the standing and moving around is making me feel exhausted. I somewhat regret asking to tag along.
"Master…… May I please return to the carriage? I'm tired and my feet are killing me." I politely request and he smiles. "This is exactly why I didn't want you to come, you'd only get tired and bored. You can stay in the carriage for the time being, I won't take long." He says and ruffles my hair a bit and I scrunch my face up in disapproval but he pinches my cheek.
"Smile kitten, it suits you better." He says and I sigh. One of his guards quickly escorts me back to the carriage.
I sit in the carriage lazily, patiently waiting for him to finish his business quickly so that we can leave this noisy place. My mind can't help but wander back to Kayden, if he's really fine then he should have found a way to contact me by now, right?
But what if my assumptions had been wrong all along? What if he had been unable to escape the Vampires that day and they had killed him? What if I had really lost my Kayden? These thoughts scare me to the core and bring on a bitter feeling in my lower belly. I close my eyes and try to shake the thoughts away.
No, that couldn't have been it because if that was the case, I would have felt it through our bond. Kayden and I have a bond and although it's not official yet and our wolves are absent, I believe I'll be able to feel it if something happens to him.
I tried to convince myself of this but something within me certainly wasn't buying it. I rest my head on my thighs and take quick deep breaths. I miss Tara, I miss her terribly. Life without her has been horrible.
During these kinds of situations, she would cheer me up and assure me that Kayden was alright and he was probably trying his best to contact me. She would have given me hope and strength to flounder through but without her, I feel hopeless and lost.
I don't even know the next step to take. How am I supposed to carry out this task if I don't even know what to do or what not to do? And my worry about Kayden's safety isn't helping at all. I'm just about to tear up when I hear someone whisper to me, trying to catch my attention.
I look up and finally see the man that I'd been longing to see. Kayden is standing just beside the carriage but his face is covered with a scarf and he's pretending to be a peddler.