Chapter 38 Slap the prince
“I don't know why and how it got there, but every part of me craves just you, Eva. I love you, I truly do…” he said again as his hands slowly fell to his sides.
She heard it again, it wasn't a dream. He had just confessed to her how much he loved her, something that she needed to hear.
He slowly walked towards her not to infuriate her, he wasn't sure why he had to say but he surely did not want to hurt her again.
Valerio took her warm hands, despite how much they burned him, he held on tight. The sizzling sounds were like fire melting ice. The odds were glaring, fire had nothing to do with ice but that did not stop him.
He loved her. Adored her. Wanted her. Craved her touch, her smell, her laughter. She was the only light that lit up his darkness.
Evyths made him feel seen without the need for duty. She loved him without needing something.
“I thought that keeping you at a distance would… keep you safe. I forgot that it would only hurt you. I should have explained why I acted the way I did for weeks…” his jaw tightened, staring down at her knuckles as he gave them a gentle caress despite the burn.
“There wasn't a day that passed that I didn't crave to hear your voice, your touch…” his eyes scurried to meet her innocent, wet gaze. His fingers slowly reached for the back of her neck, gently holding her head as his fingers glided into her soft, red hair. “Your lips…” he added in a rough, slow whisper as his lips pressed down on hers, forming a delicate, delectable kiss.
Slow. Gentle. Passionate.
Nothing felt better than the kiss at that moment.
The hairs on Evyths’ skin relaxed, giving in to his kiss. Just like him, she longed for everything that he had mentioned and more.
She loved him. Wanted him. Admired him.
The only strain was their devotion to their kind.
When their kiss broke, the yearning in the prince’s eyes crippled her all over again.
He tucked the strands of her hair behind her ears, and the full outline of her pretty face glared again.
“I will never make you cry again, Evyths…” the prince vowed, using the back of his hand to caress her face—his touch was light as a feather as always. For the first time, he called her by her full name and not the name that he usually called her.
His words made her smile, although it was weak but then it was genuine.
“You haven’t told me if you loved me back, Eva!” he said, his voice was more relaxed and a playful smirk covered his lips, making Evyths grin.
“I love you, your… highness—”
“Your… highness?” he asked, his golden gaze lit with slight disappointment. “You cannot call me that when we are alone. You should call me by my name…” he opted, his hands wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to him—pressing her to his chest.
Evyths let out a soft moan, covering her mouth shyly. “What then should I call you? Valerio? D’Arcy? Vulture?” she asked teasingly.
“I didn't think you caught the ‘vulture’ part. I call my father ‘vulture’ which cannot be used by you. It sounds dark and… not suitable to your tongue. My mother and relatives refer to me as D’Arcy and basically the kingdom and beyond know that I'm Prince Valerio. I would prefer you call me… something only you know…” he said, cradling her chin.
“All right, I'll see what name fits you soon but for now, I will call ‘King Valerio’!” she snapped, wrapping her hands around his neck while he stared down at her with amusement.
Instantly, he remembered the coronation and marriage that was around the corner.
“I have something to tell you, Eva…” he let out softly, as his smile faded instantly causing Evyths to pause for a second. She hoped that it wouldn't be something that would ruin the moment.
He cleared his throat and continued. “I will be coronated as king when dusk falls tomorrow,”
“Really? I was right, you are ‘King Valerio’,” she squealed excitedly, hugging the prince as he forced a smile, masking the dilemma that stood his heart.
“That is true, thank you, Eva,” he said. “I must leave now, I have a meeting with the SavannahCrust kingdom’s king. Do you promise to get better?” he asked, shifting his gaze towards the table where the medicines were kept.
“I have labelled your medicines, and… I will bring your dinner later and I was hoping that we could go hunting much later. I suppose you must miss fresh air and the foliage,” he said as she nodded thankfully.
He placed a kiss on her forehead before vanishing. She felt the emptiness welcoming her again. But she picked something from the prince’s actions when she got excited about his position as king.
She expected that he would be happy but he looked drained which was unlike him.
Evyths did not want to press on the matter so much, she concluded that he was only exhausted or overwhelmed even though the chances were slimmer than they seemed.
When she strutted to the table, her eyes first landed on the several vials that had no labels on them. She assumed that they were his recent experiments for the antidote.
“Is he done experimenting? Am I returning to my pack… soon?” she asked herself, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
The vials were nearly arranged on the table, about forty of them. It was red-purplish in color and smelled like copper and deadly stalks.
“Does that mean I'm leaving the prince soon?” she asked herself again as she shifted her gaze to the labeled medicines that he kept for her.
She took them just like he had instructed. It irked her when it reached her throat, it was bitter and liquid, making her face tighten.
She moved from the table, taking the time to properly look around his laboratory for the first time. Just as expected, some books carried dust and webs, legendary weapons and machineries that made her wonder if they would ever be used.
She moved from place to place, and the tip of her fingers rustled against the books. The smell of dust clouded her senses until one thing caught her attention; a transparent glass that was half her height.
Inside it was a reptile she had seen before, something he called his pet.
Evyths didn't know the name but it had scales and a rough back. It had sharp claws and could be easily described as a bigger, deadlier lizard.
Evyths stretched a neck as the reptile she thought was unconscious growled.
Evyths jumped back, panicking, her heart pounding against her chest. Her palms sweated as she ran back to the bed that Valerio had prepared for her.
“I quit looking; I wonder how many more reptiles he's gathered over the century!” she told herself, her frustration evident.
She curled inside the blanket, her heart plummeted with fear while she shut her eyes tightly inhaling and exhaling the dusty smell that somehow mixed with Jasmine fragrance.
…
Some time later.
When Evythe had gotten better, she continued her duties, tending to Lady Crystal. Crystal had missed her dearly given that Evyths had been locked away in the laboratory for some lengthy hours.
While Crystal rested in her chamber, Evyths took the opportunity to look for Hana when she heard some guards say that Hana had been released. It was unexpected although she had wished so.
Evyths didn't want to question Hana, she knew that Lady Blackwin was the perpetrator who must have threatened Hana to exchange the wine jar.
Altogether, today was the coronation. The palace maids and officials had been busy setting up the ballroom that would be used for the event.
If it were in her kingdom, there would be lots of celebration and decorations. Alphas and even Betas would get drunk on foreign alcohol and have women to flaunt their bodies and definitely have sex with them.
No matter what, everyone would know that a prince was going to be crowned.
But all that the vampires did was to clean the ballroom and adorn it horns of animals and husks of extinct mammoths and the like.
A glimpse of the ballroom was eerie, dark, and scary. It was nothing compared to being bought or special in Evyths. In fact, to her, it was a ritual as it appeared to be.
“You are well?!” Lucian’s voice interrupted her causing her to startle. She quickly straightened herself, plastering a smile that only matched Lucian’s playful smirk.
“I am. Thank you for noticing!” she said politely, tossing the strands of her red hair behind. Lucian was mesmerized by it.
Day after day, his affection towards her kept growing. He did not think that he would but he did. He literally understood why Octavio was obsessed and why the prince was addicted to her.
She was irresistible. And worst of all, she was a stark enemy: a dog, as they would say.
“I tried to bring your tea the last time but… somehow someone was in the way. I mean… tending to you already,” Lucian said before she could ask which she naturally wasn't going to ask.
“Thank you, Sir! I, too, did not know what happened. I was… out of existence for a little while…” Evyths teased lightly, making the vampire smile evenly.
“I see,” his dark hair dropped over his face slightly when his eyes looked intently at her. “Did you know, Valerio would be tying would be coronated as king today?” he harmlessly asked.
Evyths nodded, almost excitedly. “I know,” a sense of satisfaction crept on her face, at least the prince did not hide that from her.
“Certainly. You look…” he paused and continued. “Impressed. By the way, the ritual would be boring and definitely not what I would linger around to watch. So, would it be okay to stroll the gardens with you? It is prettier when the moon is out,”
“Are you... asking me out, sir?” Evyths chuckled nervously, fiddling her fingers below her chest. “Forgive me! I didn't think that a—”
“Vampire—”
“Like you would ask me out to promenade maybe.” she gently interjected to him as he beamed. Admiring her eyes, they were dreamy and bright unlike those of vampires that usually appeared dull and dead.
“No pressure. Only if you are not too busy,” he chimed in when he noticed her thoughts shooting off with her.
“All right, sir. Thank you for also asking after me, I am getting better now…” she said about to leave.
“Obviously!” he said after he as sized her up in one gaze, capturing her cleavage and arms—her skin was different from theirs.
Time flew very fast. Evyths had yet to see Valerio nor did he spare a moment to meet with her. It was frustrating yet she understood that he was only busy.
Which was true.
The ceremony had long started, her heart was racing, her thoughts were reeling when she peeped and saw lots of vampires outfitted in their regal, expensive attire. Their fashion had no limit.
She was amazed yet the darkness was nothing that was hidden. The room reeked of fresh blood and fragrances, their fangs were all over the place.
Finally, when she saw Valerio dressed in a red long cloak, a black shirt, and trousers, from the other end of the room, she smiled at herself.
He was enchanting and his soft golden hair flowed below his shoulder like a veil.
Somehow, he smelled her, following her smell with his nose and gaze until his eyes landed on Evyths. He instantly winked and smiled at her instantly breaking from their locked gaze and Evyths smile faded.
He had guests to speak with. Evyths, again, understood why.
While that happened, Raven joined the guests with a grin on her face. She had makeup like a goddess, and her dress was like that of Queen Elena’s. Pretty and flowy.
First, what did it mean? She asked herself. She wasn't the smartest but she could tell that it was a bold move. If anything, Raven should have been locked away by now... or killed but there she stood with royal guests like Valerio, smiling and chattering like it meant nothing.
Evyths swallowed hard, her eyes instantly ached from watching.
It didn't end there, a royal lady congratulated Raven.
“He caught a pretty vamp,” the lady said to her. Those words were imprinted on Evyths’ mind. She knew what it meant and no wonder Raven was dressed as Valerio’s queen.
One minute he was wrapped in her arms and the following minute he was making a woman he hated his queen.
Where was the sense it made? Evyths debated in her mind in silence.
When Valerio caught Evyths staring at Raven hurtfully, he instantly looked in her way.
Evyth’s hurtful gaze also landed on Valerio as tears filled her gaze. She scurried from the ballroom, dashing into the hallway.
Valerio chased after her, the guseats did not know why he was running or why he left swiftly.
The prince did not stop until he caught Evyths by the wrist.
“Ev- Eva, wait?!” he said, his baritone sounding frustrated, his gaze softened. He spun Evyths to face him, and he jammed her wet eyes. He had vowed never to make her cry but failed. Her tears rippled through him like lava as he forcefully mustered the courage to speak.
“Let me explain what that was. It's not as it seemed—”
Evyths struck the prince, his hardened face ached her small hand but Valerio didn't care but everyone who caught the act cared. Their prince had been struck by a werewolf.
That alone meant war.
“I-” Evyths couldn't speak, she was mutilated by the pang in her heart. Staring at Valerio’s face was like reminding herself that she was only a stupid girl.
Evyths turned away and ran off but he stood still, his expression was vacant but his heart carried weight. He had wronged her again.
“Eva…” her name slipped out of his voice in a gentle, weak, pained whisper that Evyths’ ear caught, but ignored.
What had she done to herself trusting a vampire?