Chapter 153 - You’re in pain

EMMA

My heart pounds an insistent drum in my ears. General Zeno keeps a watchful eye on us and it creates a chill over my spine. The soldiers surrounding us form a barrier. I can feel the tension roll off Hadrian. His face stays stoic as one of the soldiers retains him in silver-plated cuffs.

He nearly loses his composure when the same soldier reaches for my wrists. Hadrian releases a low threatening growl. I place a reassuring hand on his chest and hold his eyes for a second.

I don’t want to cause a fight that I won’t be able to win and I know Hadrian would do anything to protect me. I raise my hands and the soldier cuffs me without touching me.

The muddy brown eyes of General Zeno stab daggers in my back and I wonder. What would’ve happened if General Zeno didn’t have orders from the king to follow. Would he have killed me on the spot? Something tells me that he would. I’ve always been his target after all. A fight could be just the excuse he needs.

The soldiers move in unison and with little spoken words. The large wolves run ahead and we're escorted to one of the black SUV’s.

I watch the trees blur past us at rapid speed as we sit in the comfort of one of the SUV’s. It actually makes me a little nauseous. I don’t know if it’s the whole situation or the rumble of the vehicle we’re sitting in.

The cuffs are tight around my wrists. The metal is plated with silver and unmovable. I try to wiggle my hand free but the action is futile. The SUV has tinted windows and sleek leather seatings. Two soldiers are sitting in front of us and are keeping a close eye on us.

Hadrian is sitting beside me and he fills up a large chunk of the seat. His large thigh presses against mine. His body is tense and all his muscles are taut. My eyes linger on the cuffs around his wrists.

The silver is biting away at his skin. The deeper layers are exposed and it makes my own wrists hurt. How many times does he have to face this torment? How many scars does he have to bare?

Hadrian lifts his chained hands and wipes his thumb over my cheek. “Don’t worry about me, little mate.” There’s worry in his eyes.

He strokes away the tears and I lean into his hand. “Of course I’ll worry about you.” I say as I unbuckle myself and move closer to him. “You’re in pain.”

Hadrian lifts his arms and I climb on his lap. I see the soldiers watching us but they don’t say a word and they don't stop me. Hadrian shackles his arms around me and places them softly on my waist. “I’ll be fine if you stay close to me.”

I place my hands over his wrists and I try to be careful not to hurt him more with my own cuffs. Hadrian places his head on my shoulder and his raven hair tickles my cheek.

“How are you feeling?” He asks again. He has been asking me the same question over and over for hours.

“I’m fine.” I say again.

He draws soft circles over my lower stomach. “We’ll be in Sanguinem soon.” There’s a hint of urgency in his voice as if the walls of the city cannot come soon enough.

I pull away a little to look at him. “Are you okay?”

He holds my eyes for a long time and we search each other for answers. Hadrian is behaving in a way that I cannot quite place. “I’m just wondering if we could’ve escaped them if I noticed them sooner.”

His complete attention is on me as he ignores the soldiers as if they’re not even there. He grimaces and the lines between his brows are deep. “The winds should’ve carried their scent miles before they reached us.”

I twist my body a little and hook my arms around his neck. I can see his guilt and don’t want him to feel like that. “I think it’s because of the Sansevieria.”

“The what?”

“It’s a plant that purifies air.” I look around the car, but the soldiers don’t make any indication that they are listening. If the silver cuffs weren’t wrapped around our wrists, I would say that this was an escort.

“So?” Hadrian asks and twists my hips to align with my upper body. Then he places his hands back on my waist.

“Zeno knows that Sansevieria clears their scent.” I explain.

Hadrian moves his hand and can’t hide the wince of pain when the cuffs move around. His pain hits me right in the chest. I don’t think my heart can take much more of his pain.

“Can you uncuff him? The silver is hurting him.” I ask the soldiers guarding us.

The soldiers are stoic, but I notice one of them swallowing hard. *Maybe not so stoic.*

“Please?” I add as if that is going to make all the difference.

“I- I cannot do that…” There’s a tremble in his voice and he looks briefly at the other guard. “Princess.” He blurts out as if he cannot help himself.

I look from the guards to Hadrian to verify if what I perceive is true. Could it be that the guards have trouble going against us? I never wanted to be royalty more than now.

“Release me, now!” Hadrian barks with a tone full of authority that could bring me to my knees. His voice is dark, deep and uncompromising.

Actually more parts of my body are begging me to my knees and I can’t help wiggle in his lap. His command turns the heat up in my core.

“O-of course, Your Highness.” The soldiers say in unison and one of them immediately reaches for the keys. The keys jiggle with the tremble of his hands.

His command is undeniable and they always knew it. They cannot deny his orders. He's the strongest alpha and must be obeyed. He outranks General Zeno by miles.

“Now, uncuff the Princess.” Hadrian says in the same uncompromising tone.

He growls softly in my ear when I wiggle again. “Stop wiggling, sweetheart.” Hadrian directs his command to me and I freeze in his arms. Hadrian gives me a knowing smile as his magnetic aura draws me in.

He nips at my earlobe before he lifts my arms over his neck. Blood rushes to my face under his heated eyes. I hear the unlocking of the metal lock before I feel a cold, unfamiliar touch.

I shriek and pull my hand away from the frigid touch and my heartbeat ramps up. Hadrian growls low and threateningly at the soldier and wraps his free arm tight around me.

“M-my apologies, Your Highness.” His face is pale white as if he stares dead in the eyes.

The other soldier is trembling too as if he’s the one receiving the torment. Am I the only one that gets hot and bothered by Hadrian’s dark command? *Not the right time Emma.*

“Now, tell the driver that there’s a change of plans.” Hadrian commands.