Chapter 60 Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty
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Mirah
“Did you come alone?”
“Qyle and Natasha are with me. We didn't realize it was a trap, until the very moment we were captured.” He gritted his teeth.
“Where are they? Qyle and Nastasha, I mean.” I sniffled.
“In a separate cell. I have no idea why he placed us in the same cell.” My eyes strayed down to his hardened fists.
I watched him closely, recalling something that Xavier said.
“Zeke?”
He faced me.
“What does it mean when you mark someone?” I asked him softly.
Surprise flashed in his eyes for a moment, before it vanished. “Where did you hear that from?”
I adjusted my position. “Xavier said it'd make his work easier.”
His brows knitted. “What is he up to?”
“Tell me what it means.” I subconsciously held my breath.
He heaved a sigh. “Marking in the vampire world means leaving a mark on your mate while having sex.”
I didn't avert my gaze. “Ohh,” I finally lowered my head.
I got it. I wasn't his mate. And that was why he hadn't marked me. I was reminded of our status once more.
“Mirah,” he reached out for me, but I didn't move away. I was tired. Tired of everything.
He embraced me tightly. “I tried to harm you with my fangs, once. I was afraid I'd repeat my mistakes if I tried to mark you. I don't know if you can bear the pai-”
“Zeke?”
“Yes, Kitten?”
“Stop talking. It hurts.”
He didn't speak further, but I could feel the way his body tensed up.
“Okay, reunion is over,” an icy voice said and we jerked away from each other.
I saw no one when I looked around.
“Walk out through the door,” as he spoke, the door to the cell opened on its own accord.
My eyes widened. Zeke's face was bland. I saw his hand tighten on his waist, and concluded that he had a hidden weapon there.
We met Qyle and Natasha on the way out. Natasha’s face was bland as a plain sheet. Qyle wasn't any better.
“Did you endanger yourself because of a human?” She asked coldly. She was staring at me, so I thought she was talking to me. Until Zeke spoke up.
“Watch what you say.”
We continued walking, until we stopped in the center of a room that looked like a boxing ring. I looked straight, and my blood boiled over when I saw Xavier comfortably seated on his throne.
“Isn't this wonderful? A Halfling, a See-brid, a vampire, and my mate in one spot. The most wonderful gathering indeed.” He laughed, the sound coming off as annoying to my ears.
Zeke's hand on mine tightened.
“The alley. Was it your doing?” He asked.
Xavier chuckled. “Very smart. But that was only a feint. The real plan was to lure you down to Zandaya. I've been manipulating your actions without your knowledge, young prince.”
My stomach churned at the creepiness of his words. I couldn't help but steal a glance at Zeke.
As expected, his face was as hard as granite.
I cleared my throat. “Let us go, Xavier.”
He simply laughed at my words. “I love it when you call my name, Princess.”
“Keep your eyes away from her, Rogue-brid. What do you want?” Zeke pushed me to his back protectively.
I looked at the others. Qyle wasn't as nonchalant as he usually was. Instead his face was hardened like steel. Nastasha was staring at Xavier with a look that could kill.
Xavier didn't respond. He regarded us for a while, and then called out to no one in particular. “Bring her forward!”
I felt an invisible force push me forward. Zeke tried pulling me back, but it was to no avail. It even seemed like the more he tried pulling me back, the more pain I felt.
“You're hurting her, Vampire.” Xavier said without an iota of pity.
Zeke let go hesitantly. I was dragged to the podium, where the force dragged me down to my knees. From my position, I could see Xavier more closely. He looked like a maniac at that moment. How I wanted to gouge out his eyes.
Zeke looked at me, with pain filled eyes.
“What do you think you're doing?” Qyle finally spoke up.
“You should ask your friend who willingly led you into my den.” With that he stretched out his staff towards me.
A sizzling pain spread through my body, and I yelled loudly.
It felt like my whole body was being tortured. My body rose into the air, and the pain intensified.
“Let her go!” Zeke roared in anger.
I couldn't let out a sound, as the tears slipped down my cheeks.
‘Please, make it stop!’ I yelled inwardly, hoping he'd hear me.
Xavier continued talking, like he'd done nothing.
“If you want to get away unscathed, allow me access to your powers.” He said to Zeke.
“Never!” Zeke spat, his anger mounting.
Xavier wasn't bothered. “I knew you'd say that. Give me your powers, and if you refuse,” he paused, his voice lowering dangerously.
“I'll end her life.”
“You wouldn't dare!” Zeke charged forward, but Xavier intensified the pain and I shouted loudly.
“Noo!” I screamed.
I wanted to tell Zeke not to consider such an absurd request. I had no qualms dying.
There was nothing to live for anyway. Everyone only thought of how they'd use me. I was better off dead.
“What do you say, Vampire?” Xavier asked with the confidence of someone in charge.
The pain mounted. It seared through my blood making it feel like I was placed in the middle of fire.
My body burned, yet it couldn't be compared to the pain I felt in my heart.
If anything happened to Zeke, I'd never forgive myself.
I was the one who'd unintentionally led him here after all.
After what felt like eternity, I heard him say, “Let her go, I'll do whatever you say.”
“Zeke, no! You mustn't -” Another bout of pain hit me, and my words stuck in my throat.
“Zeke, you can't!” Qyle called out desperately.
“Zeke, your vampire-force. You can't!” Nastasha seconded.
“Good, I knew you'd come around.” Xavier said.
The force finally lowered me to the ground. I tried getting up, but I couldn't even crouch. My vision was getting blurry.
“Zeke,” I raised a bloodied hand. “Please-”
“Since we're on the same page, can I talk to her?” Zeke asked through gritted teeth.
“Of course.” Xavier waved his hand nonchalantly.
Zeke ran over to me, his hand automatically going over to support my head. He leaned down, and I thought I heard him whimper.
“Listen to me, Kitten. How well do you trust me?” I was puzzled by his words.
I blinked my eyes in response. “With my life.”
He leaned down, and kissed me. With that, a loud explosion sounded and I froze. Even as I slipped into oblivion my eyes didn't leave Zeke's.
Right. He told me to trust him.
Zeke would never let anything happen to me.
He'd protect me.
My eyes were slipping shut. “No-” There was something I wanted to tell him. I wanted him to stay safe. He should stay alive for me.
“What have you done?!!!” I heard Xavier growl furiously.
“I love you, Kitten. And I'm going to take us away from here.” He leaned down and kissed me softly.
I tried stretching out my hand to touch him. If I was going to die, at least I should touch him one last time.
But my consciousness slipped away even faster, and my hand fell limply to my side.
And in the midst of all chaos, my world was finally quiet.