Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
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Mirah
My head pounded furiously as I watched his hand encircling another woman's. I couldn't see her face, since she stood right in front of him. Their intimate position sent countless needles into my heart, and I felt my vision fail me.
“Mirabella?” His emotionless voice broke through my self-inflicted pain. I straightened, and cleared my throat awkwardly. The lady broke away from him, and finally turned towards me. “Is this the human that's been causing a buzz?” She had a cold smile on her face, as she approached me.
Her entire demeanor screamed fury, and I couldn't help but take a step back.
“Oh, don't be afraid. I'm Darcel.” She stretched out a slender pale hand.
I glanced at it for a moment, before stretching out mine. “Mirabella. And I'm not afraid of you.” I added.
I glanced behind her, at Zeke who didn't look so pleased. Darcel was taller than me, by a foot. Her hair lay in waves across her shoulders. She was a slender beauty, and I couldn't help but feel... jealous.
“You were about to say something?” Zeke came over at that moment.
“Yes, and that ‘something,’ interrupted our alone-time.” Darcel added with a mocking smile.
I looked back at Zeke. I suddenly wanted to hit him, to yell at him. To ask him who the beautiful woman standing beside him was. And why he'd been holding her intimately, when I walked in. Instead, my throat flexed. “Sorry, you can carry on.” I dashed out of the room fast, before he could stop me.
I didn't slow down. Even when I heard his calls behind me. Even when hot tears trickled down my cheeks, blurring my vision. Even when I stumbled, and crashed to the floor.
I pushed the door to my room open, and rushed inside, bolting it shut behind me. It wouldn't deter him of course.
Breathing suddenly seemed like a feat, as I fell onto my bed. The door clicked open, and I felt a presence in the room. But I I didn't react, nor turn.
I'd always recognize Zeke's scent in a room filled with hundreds of people. I sniffled in a silent sob, grabbing the sheets hard and biting into my lips. I bit hard, until I tasted the coppery taste of blood.
“Mirah,” Zeke called out.
I pushed off the bed and faced him, nose flaring in silent anger.
“I want to leave.” If that was the only way I could keep my sanity, then so be it.
“If you leave, you'll die, Mirah. Is that what you really want?” He asked me, no hint of emotion in his dark eyes.
For a brief moment, I thought I saw his eyes hold a plea in them. But I knew it was just a figment of my imagination. He didn't care if I left or not. I doubted if he even cared about me, at all.
All he wanted was to control me. Like he'd always done.
To play with my emotions. To have me at his mercy.
Leaving would be a bruise to his ego. I tilted my chin defiantly. “What difference is there? If I stay, your fellow vampires would drain my blood. And if I leave-” I choked back the rest of my words.
“You really want to die, don't you?” A strange breeze blew past, and I hugged myself.
“Die?” I scoffed. “Is there any pain greater than emotional manipulation?”
His eyes darkened. “Stop talking.” He ordered.
“Or what? You'd kill me?” I snickered.
He went silent, his eyes swirling like a silent tsunami. Silent, and ready to devour. To destroy.
“Let me go, Prince Ezekiel Elliott. At least, I'd be killed the human way. I don't belong here. Me and you-” I pointed towards him. “We come from different worlds. You were right. Take me out of here.”
He didn't react, and I thought he didn't hear me. With a cold chuckle he pulled me into his arms. I stiffened, and jabbed at his chest.
“What do you think you're doing?” I hissed.
He brushed a finger against my jaw. His touch was as cold as always. His dark eyes held mine.
“You really think you have a choice, don't you?” He murmured against my skin. A tingling sensation crept through me, and I pushed back the urge to throw my head back, and close my eyes.
“I do. I have a choice.” I argued, trying to remain logical.
“You do?” He lowered his head, and caught my earlobe. My breath caught in my throat, and I instinctively grabbed at his neck.
“Let me go, Zeke.” Half-plea, half-warning. Hazy, and caught up in the moment, I forgot to address him formally.
He didn't. Instead, he pulled me even closer against himself. “Do you need a reminder, or can you vividly recall your words the night you rushed to my car?” His voice contained a hint of mirth in it.
And it was disastrously seducing. As always.
I shook my head, letting the events of that night flow through my mind.
“I don't-” I froze.
Of course, I did. It didn't stop me from closing my eyes in self-admonishment. Fuck.
“Yes, I'm yours. Those had been your words, when you entered my car. In case you haven't noticed, we vampires take our promises seriously.” His breath against my skin sparked off the desires I was trying to sweep beneath the carpet.
“It wasn't a promise.” I retorted with heat.
“Oh?” He pulled back. In contrast to his provoking voice, his face was calm.
“I said those words on the spur of the moment.” I added when he didn't continue.
My heart swelled when he burst into a rich laughter. I hadn't heard Zeke laugh before. And I had to admit that it exceeded my expectations.
“You shouldn't have uttered them. I took them seriously.” His hold on my waist tightened, and I winced.
“It doesn't matter. What matters is that I want to leave. And I want to do that right now.” I was tired of playing it cool with the handsome vampire prince standing before me.
I'd always envisioned how the man I'd fall in love would be like. But this? This was more than I could handle.
“Listen to me, Mirabella. You aren't leaving, until I say so.” He walked towards the door.
“You can't do this to me, Prince Ezekiel. This is abduction.” I called out in panic.
With an arched brow he turned towards me. “Did you just realize?”