79

“I’d rather be Ruarc’s seventh wife than go back to my pack as a human”.

The nerve of this man. First he let that dumb vampire king bite me, now he wants me to leave after I’ve agreed to stay.

“You did not just say that”, Sia growled, eyes dark. That dump purple dot is back.

“Yes Crinka. You did not just say that. Would you rather go back to your pack as a vampire?”, Massa asks as he plops down on his bed, legs crossed. I don’t even know why he’s still here. Sia and I are having a couple conversation and even though we’re in his bedroom, a little privacy would be appreciated.

“Of course not”, I growl, glaring at him. “I don’t want to be a blood sucker.”

“Well that’s a bummer. I’m sure you would have looked badass with red eyes. It would totally fit your hair”.

“But Hanos didn’t have red eyes Massa”.

“That’s because he’s wearing contact lens. And add king the next time you’re referring to my uncle. The walls have ears you now”.

“And does have eyes”, I retort. “Not contact lens”.

“A vampire is no doe”.

“I don’t care”.

“When you’re done bickering with my brother, go ahead and pack your bags”, Sia says coolly.

“I can’t believe you’re the one saying this to me. Just a few days ago you were begging me to stay and today you’re asking me to leave. The hell?”

“I don’t want to argue with you Crinka so just leave”, he says and I let out a yawn. I just woke up from sleep but I’m still feeling tired.

“Well let’s not argue then. I’m staying and that’s final”.

“Crinka listen to me”.

“I only listen to people who make sense. You’re not making sense right now”.

He groans. “Will yoou stop being fucking obstinate and just know your place?”

“I know my place Sia and it’s beside you”.

“No it’s not. Crinka, you and I might share a blood bond but it doesn’t mean we’re fucking equals. You are way beneath e and I wonder what ever made me bond with you in the first place”.

I shake my head, refusing to believe his words. “You’re lying. You…You called me your queen”.

He scoffed. “I only did that to get in your pants”.

I stagger back, heart heavy. This can’t be true. He’s lying. He has to be.

“You’re lying Sia. I know it! Why…why are you doing this?”

“I don’t owe you any explanation”.

“The hell you don’t. You owe me a fucking explanation Sia. You can’t just drop something like this and not explain it to me. Why are you being mean? I’m the mean one in the relationship and you..you’re the good one”.

He smirks. It’s evil. “Ever heard about switching sides? Well I just did it. Pack your bags and go back home”.

“No. Home is where the heart is and right now my heart is with you”.

“You’re really stupid Crinka. Giving your heart to a man who you don’t even know”.

“I know you Sia and I know that this..that this isn’t you. So please stop. Don’t ask me to leave, I beg you. I’ve come this far and I can’t just go back”.

“You can Crinka. I’ll help you. Now go to my room, pack your fucking bags and I’ll send your arse out of the iced mountains.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Why do you speak as though you’ve forgotten that we’re blood bonded? I can’t leave you Sia. I’d die if I do”.

“TThen die so we can have our fucking peace!”, he roars.

And that was the last straw. I join Massa on the bed, staring at Sia in shock. That he could look me in the eye and tell me to die is heart wrenching. Massa casts me an apologetic look.

“Do you…Do you hate me so much that you wish me death?”, I ask quietly.

He snorts. “Of course I hate you. Loving you isn’t even an option”.

I shake my head, still in denial. “You..you said you care about me Sia”.

“Like I said earlier, it was just to get in your pants”.

“You’re a fucking liar!”, I yell, tears rolling down my cheeks. “You didn’t need to say sweet words to me to get in my pants Sia. You could have taken me forcefully just like your brother had done!”

“I’m no rapist Crinka. I like for things to be consensual, not forced. That’s why I’m asking you to leave on your own, because I don’t want to force you out of my life”.

“You..You scent marked me. You made love to me Sia Lancaster. Why save me, if you wish me death huh?”

“Everything I did, was to get in your pants Crinka”.

I rise to my feet, and slapped him. He glared furiously at me, holding his face.

“I..I don’t regret coming into your life nor marking you. What I regret however is falling in love with a man like you. I’ll leave and when I do, don’t you dare come looking for me. I’ll move on, find someone who’s probably better than you and Ruarc put together. He’ll love me, and I’ll love him too. I’ll forget you and everything about you. And if I can’t…”, I pause, wiping away a tear. “If I can’t…If I can’t forget you Sia Lancaster, I’d take to my grave the memories of our time together. Goodbye”.

Angry, hurt and heartbroken, I turn on my heel and walk away.

….

“Where do you think you’re going Clepp?”

I halt in my tracks, heart racing. I had hoped no one would notice me leaving. I push the small luggage behind me, smiling nervously at Thjis. His brow is raised, arms folded behind his back as he peered at me from where he stood on he grand staircase, waiting for a reply.

I give him one once I’ve gotten my shit together.

“Um…I was going for a walk”.

“And this walk requires you leaving the palace? I wasn’t born last night Clepp. I know you are trying to escape”.

“I think leaving is the right word”.

“Do you actually think that you can come here, invade my palace, steal my intel and then leave here alive?”

My heart thumps in my chest. It’s a wonder it’s still beating.

“I’m not…I didn’t steal any intel. I don’t even know what you’re talking about”.

“Of course you would deny it. You’re no different from your father”, he spits ut.

“What do you mean? How do you know my father?”

“Everyone who was born in my time knows your father, but not everyone knows you are his daughter. I’ll tell you the story another day, if you would be alive to see another day. You there, seize her and take her to the dungeons”.

My eyes widen as two guards seize my arms. Their grip is tight and I let out a cry of pain. “Thjis! It hasn’t come to this”, I cry out.

“You’ve got guts Clepp, calling me by my name. Even my sons don’t do that. Take her to the other dungeons, the one reserved for people like her”.

The men drag me away from the iced doors, past the grand staircase and towards a set of wooden doors. I’m surprised because I thought all doors are carved from ice. The guard to my left pushes it open and there’s a small dainty bulb. It’s hanging from a thin strip of wire, the only source of light in the dark. There’s a set of stairs, leading to only moon knows where. The guard gestures for me to climb the stairs. I swallow.

“You want me to go down there alone?”

He nods shutting the door. I hear the lock twist and I resist the urge to cry for help. I take one step after another. The stairs are leading down and I’m exhausted by the time I’ve come off the last step. Down here is dusty and the lights are dimmer. I can see clearly and this place reminds me of Prita’s cave.

The walls are cracked, and from where I stand, I can see skulls on the floor, bones and sand. Lots of sand. I walk further carefully. Most of the cells have bones, and the bars meant to hold in the prisoners have come off. Makes me wonder how they intend to keep people here.

I’m being grabbed from behind and I let out a yell. A gloved hand is pressed to my mouth, and I nearly vomit.

“Who are you?”

The voice is nasal. I slap the hand away, turning harshly to face the man.

“Crinka. Prince Nasia’s concubine”.

“So you’re the one who’s got the maids talking. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your prince?”.

“He…The king sent me down here. Are you locking me up or not?”

He eyes me. “Look at you getting eager to be jailed. Look, I’m going to do your favour, and not chain you”.

“On what condition?”, I question, eyeing him.

“You..let me have a taste. It’s not everyday a concubine is set down here. You let me fuck you, and I’ll not chain you”.

I resist the urge to vomit. “I’m not interested in warming your bed. Now get me your chains, or should I get them myself?”, I ask confidently, even though I’m scared. This man might rape me or even beat me up for refusing his offer, but I’m shocked when he does none of those. Rather, he picks up some clothes, a dark reddish shirt. It’s got holes in it.

“Wear this”.

“Why? I’ll just stick to my clothes”.

“You’re under no permission to be bargaining with me woman. Take off your nice clothes and put this one. You don’t want to do that? Then let me explore your fucking pussy”.

I bite my lip. One round with him would not hurt, but what if he gets addicted and keeps demanding more? No, I won’t let this man anywhere near my body. It’s mine.

I take the cloth from him, and go to a corner to put it on. I hastily put on the shirt, and I hate the way it sticks to my skin.

The man eyes me like raw meat when I walk up to him, handing him my clothes. “I’ve worn it. Happy?”

His smile is devilish as he takes it from me. “Very”.

He leads me towards a cell, where the bars are complete. He pushes me in, before locking the door. “It’s going to get lonely in here girlie. If you ever need company, just call out my name, and I’ll be here to give you what you need”.

“What’s the name?”

“Mosle”.

I don’t fancy Mosle, and I’m not interested in his offer, but if in five days no one comes to get me out of here, I might just accept his proposal.