Blood Bound To The Vampire King

ELIANA'S POV

The guy was gritting his teeth. If the spoon wasn't metal, I'm sure he would've snapped it in half—but I didn't care. He was bothering me, and more importantly, he was bothering my husband. I may not love Xavier, but I don't sit back and watch people get bullied. I hate injustice. It's one of the few things I stand firmly against.

I turned to Xavier and caught him grinning at me. I couldn't help the flutter in my chest. Why was he looking at me like that?

I looked back down and took another bite of food, trying to ignore the heat in my cheeks. Suddenly, the guy slammed his plate to the ground. It shattered from the impact, food splattering across the floor. He kicked his chair back and stormed off.

Asshole.

I finished my meal, drank a glass of water, and stood up. Xavier was still watching me with that glint in his eyes. "Thank you for breakfast, Your Majesty," I said, then turned to him. "I'll meet you outside."

And with that, I walked off, their eyes still boring into my skin.

I didn't care what anyone thought of me. I never aimed to make a good impression in the first place.

My mind drifted to Sebastian. I had to believe he was still alive out there. At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

I badly wanted to escape from here to at least find him myself but I couldn't leave the palace—not without my powers. This body was weak. Too weak. I kept walking through the hallway, thoughts swirling, when the same guy from earlier marched up and blocked my path.

I looked up, unimpressed. "Oh. It's you."

"Please excuse me. I want to go to the garden," I added, trying my best to sound civil. But he just stood there, glaring down at me.

Was he deaf?

I sighed and tried to walk past him, but he moved again, blocking my path.

Seriously?

"Can you please get out of my way?" I said, my voice sharp with venom.

Without warning, he grabbed my neck.

His grip was tight.

My lungs screamed for air, and my heart pounded against my ribs. Still, I refused to look weak. Not in front of him.

"How dare you? How dare you speak to your future king like that?" he spat, his face twisted with fury.

I turned my gaze away, refusing to meet his eyes.

"I said—answer me!" he roared, shaking me slightly.

I heard footsteps echoing behind us.

"Well, for a future king," I rasped, struggling to breathe, "you lack basic decency. I was only trying to teach you—"

He tightened his grip.

Air fled my lungs. My vision blurred. I kicked at him—aiming between his legs—but it was like kicking a wall. I was too small, too weak.

"Today, little girl, I'll teach you what it means to respect your leader," he growled, fingers pressing harder against my throat.

It was getting tighter. Too tight.

My body weakened. My life flashed in front of me. Sweat slid down my temples as fear consumed me but I didn't let it show. I couldn't let him see it.

I couldn't die.

Not yet.

I hadn't saved my people.

I hadn't saved my mother.

Her face filled my mind, and hot tears spilled from my eyes.

The only one who could save me now was Xavier.

And if he didn't come…

I would die in this jerk's hands.

"Eliana!"

A voice shouted behind me—filled with urgency and terror.

From the corner of my tear filled eyes, I saw him. I saw Xavier.

"X-Xavier…" I whimpered.

His gaze darkened, his eyes fixed intently on the brute who strangled me. His fist clenched in his sides.

In a flash, he was there.

He punched the guy so hard across the jaw I heard a crack. The bastard dropped me, and I fell to the floor with a heavy thud.

I gasped, air flooding back into my lungs as I clutched my chest, trying to calm the frantic beat of my heart.

Thank the heavens.

Xavier kept on throwing heavy punches, I could hear the sounds of bones cracking. I had never seen anyone like this. It was terrifying.

Blood painted the tile floor. The smell of sweat and blood hung heavily in the air.

I watched him with a glimmer in my eyes. Yes, he should vent his anger. He shouldn't hold back.

The other two Princes ran to Xavier as they tried to peel him off the brute but It was futile. He threw them back as he punched and punched and punched. Till the guy's face was totally unrecognisable.

He pulled away from him, his garment once clean now stained with blood. His hands trembled as he walked to me. His once blue eyes now a bright shade of red.

What's with his eyes?

He approached me—his steps slow and precise. He wrapped his hands around my neck and below my thigh the picked me from the ground. His eyes not leaving me for a second.

There was something about him and something about the way his eyes glimmered. That made a small shiver run down my spine. Was I scared? Yes, but my legs couldn't run even though I wanted to.

Those eyes—

Those beautiful eyes held secrets and I didn't know why but I wanted to uncover every single one.

He carried me to the bedroom—His bedroom and He laid me down carefully, as though I'd shatter if not handled properly. Well I couldn't blame him. I could have probably died if he didn't come save me earlier.

His gaze lingered on my neck and I could see his eyes darken when he gazed at the red mark on it.

His jaw clenched and his bloody fists folded. He was about to walk away when I held him back.

Not because I cared. But because I knew he would kill that guy if he stepped out of this room and that couldn't happen.

I wanted to kill him myself.

He faced me his eyes turned blue again. His gaze soft. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" He asked and I shook my head a bit shocked but I hid it.

Wasn't his eyes red just now?

He vanished into the bathroom, then came back with a bowl and a strip of cloth.

He walked to me, his aura dominating and cold. This was a new side of him, that I had never seen and I didn't know why but I liked it."Turn around." He ordered. His voice cold but gentle.

I obliged, my back to him. He swept my hair to the side as he placed the cold cloth on my neck. I winced slightly from the cold but he didn't stop—he eased the pressure slightly. His eyes fixed on my neck as he worked.

Their was silence between us. So thick. So heavy—

It choked me.

I wanted to speak. I wanted to ask him questions but my lips felt heavy.

He finished up and dropped the bowl beside the bed. I turned to him. Questions burning inside me but I didn't speak.

"I'm sorry." He apologised, avoiding my gaze. His voice etched with shame and guilt.

Why?

Was he ashamed?

I felt my heart clench and I didn't know why. "Why are you apologising? You did nothing wrong." I coaxed, moving closer to him but he pulled away quickly and I couldn't help but feel sad.

Why was I sad? What was this feeling in my chest?

"I'm a monster Eliana. I'll hurt you." He turned and made his way to the door. "Please don't come close to me again…" he added then left the room.

Hurt me? What did he mean by that?