Chapter 16

“Release him."

My eyes jolted awake only to be welcomed by a white ceiling and rather than feel the scorch of silver chains, I was comforted. Comforted by a familiar King size bed. I frowned as I reviewed the large room, wondering how I got here.

The last I remembered was Green's atrocious words and being locked in a prison that constantly burned my skin and then came Martha. My eyes exclaimed; she was the one. The lady who commanded that tone. I heaved a sigh; she was probably ordered by Green to release me.

I alighted from the bed bare chested with a pair of ash joggers. Whoever changed me must have certainly gawked at my little man down there. What a respect of privacy, I rolled my eyes before walking to the luxurious brown wardrobe.

As I donned a black T-shirt, all I could think of was Green. How she was faring, what she was currently doing, I craved to see her regardless of how our last conversation ended. My thoughts came to an abrupt end as the twin doors opened for Martha. She sauntered in with a tray of sliced bread and egg complemented with tea.

“Morning,” she greeted with a sweet smile, but I wasn't going to buy it. One thing I'd learnt in this Vampire City, they all had PhD in lying and faking emotions.

“Where's Green? I need to see her."

She dropped the tray gently by my bed side as she sat.

“Your injuries seemed to have healed up. I have to say, your speedy recovery is similar to Green,” she continued.

“Well thank you but I'm not in for talks now. I need to see my mate, Where is she?" I responded curtly.

She maintained her smile regardless.

“She asked me to release you but she's not ready to see you. Yet."

“All the more reason I want to see her." I insisted, gradually losing my patience.

“Do you want her to repeat the same cycle all over?" She frowned with heavy sternness gracing her tone.

“What do you even want to see her for? To confirm whether or not she truly meant what she said that night? Or to see how she's faring?" She quoted and my tongue failed me as I saw regrets in those blue eyes.

“We’ll let me break it to you Zeus. She used you. Your mate used you! And no! She's not faring well. She's so stubborn that she's chosen to let her pain sting." She pursed her lips as her tone relatively calmed. "Meeting her is not going to help matters. Just let her be."

“You don't know that," I said.

“I'm her best friend! We've been friends from childhood, so I know when to cross the line and not!" She retorted and then heaved a sigh.

“You were locked in that prison for a week and not even once did she ask or check up on you. And then when released you, you passed out for two days. Yet again, your beloved mate failed to show compassion." She pursed her lips.

“Aren't you tired? Of the humiliation, of the feeling that you're never accepted, that anytime, you could just land yourself in life threatening punishment."

My legs failed me, and I was left to wonder how I was still standing. She was right, every word that toured out of her mouth struck my heart like a knife. But still, I wasn't going to give up. I could still change her regardless of how many times she rejects me, punishes me, or use me. My love for her still stood strong.

“I'm not and I won't ever be." I asserted with a smile. She held my gaze trying hard to hide her surprise which she failed at. I joined her by the bed side while my fingers trailed to the bread My eyes widened as my tongue salivated on the egg crumbling in my mouth. If I had expected a bland taste, then I was wrong.

“Who made this?" I asked almost immediately.

“Is it bad?" She asked with a frown. I wriggled my head.

“It's absolutely delicious!" I chirped with a wide smile.

“I made it,” she whispered with a smile.

“Then I must say, Martha. You're a wonderful cook."

“I'm not that good though,” she replied. I frowned.

“It's unfortunate you can't taste your own masterpiece but I'm telling you, Martha. This is one of the best meals I've ever had." I ascertained before taking another bite. My eyes closed in ecstasy as I hummed, and I could feel her gaze on me.

“Thank you,” she finally said, her smile refusing to fade off. By now, I thought she would have taken her leave, but she still remained. Perhaps this was a time I could have an actual conversation without fear of being locked up for days.

“You know, it's pretty crazy how a Werewolf has managed to stay alive in a Vampire Clan for close to two weeks now,” I said. "Normally, I was expecting to be chased by blood thirsty Vampires, but you all seem to act normal around me."

She chuckled.

“City of Marr is one of the safest Vampire Clan in the World for any creature. We have a reasonable amount of strong self-control and thanks to Green's laws, Vampires here are forced to stick with animal diet."

I smiled while I took another bite.

“Besides, Almost everyone in this mansion knows you're her mate. You have to be treated like a king." We rewarded each other with knowing glances.

“We both know I've been treated otherwise." We both laughed.

“So," she pursed her lips as our eyes met again. "What was your life like before Green? I mean who in his right mind would want to live with Green."

I stared at the tray.

“Is this another ploy of my mate to use me?" I asked unsure if I could trust her to start blabbing about my life's journey.

“No!" She quickly disagreed. "Certainly not,” she chuckled sadly. "These days, I no longer know anything about her plans,” she added with sadness hinting in her tone. Her smile gradually faded as she stared at the marble floor as if she were lost in it.

“Why?" I asked softly, keeping my gaze in her. "I mean, She's your best friend."

“Well, she is, but currently, our ways of thinking are no longer in tune with each other,” she sighed.

“Since when has this been happening?" I asked.

She turned to me again.

“Ever since you came." I gulped down my saliva.

“It's not her fault to be honest,” she continued. "Green and I have killed a lot of people, we basically slaughter mates like it's nothing, but my thinking began to change once she had you."

My brows arched in a slight frown.

“And it changed completely when I had something so dear to lose,” she added in a low tone.

“You fell in love too?" I asked while she hesitated for seconds before nodding in agreement.

“I found my mate too." Her voice almost trailed off. My jaw almost dropped, and my heart missed a beat as several thoughts raced in my head. She was scared, not because she had a mate but because she feared what Green could do to her mate.

“I met him a day after she met you and trust me, having him in my life is the most beautiful thing I've ever had.

It was then I realized how weighty our sin was. Killing innocent people because they loved and respected each other."

My frown deepened as a question sprung up within me. I wondered why Green hated men, or why she had this despise towards mates.

“Green loves you Zeus." Her voice tossed me back to reality. "She just doesn't want to accept it. She feels it's going to go against all her principles, she feels that loving you, is only going to be a hindrance to her dream."

“What dream?" I asked almost immediately.

She smiled sadly.

“You have to hear if from her yourself,” she pursed her lips. "I just fear she might do something horrible to you, something she might spend her eternity regretting before accepting her feelings."

I smiled sadly.

“I don't know why you chose to accept her. I don't know why you want to be in her life, but you have to win her over. I know this is selfish of me to ask but you have to save your mate from her unending darkness." She paused. "Because if you don't," she held my gaze. "Then my mate, hundreds of others out there, are at risk."

I gulped down my saliva hoping the tension building within me would die down, but it didn't. Countless thoughts raced in my mind, but I knew one obvious truth, Green was my mate and I needed to save her.

“Can I trust you on this?" She asked in a whisper.

Perhaps this was the reason the moon goddess mated us together. To save each other from our unending darkness.

I looked into those blues eyes that beamed of hope and I nodded.

“Yes, you can. I love her after all." I assured her with a smile and in an unexpected moment, she hugged me.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she whispered.

“Thank you for what?" Green's tone suddenly sounded. My eyes darted to the door only to find my mate standing there. We quickly pulled away from each other's embrace and there I could see my mate's eyes lit in rage and jealousy.

Martha went dumbfounded but I couldn't afford to because whatever either of us said, could probably lead to an ugly scenario.

“I was just complementing her cooking skills that's all,” I said, trying as much not to stammer but my mate didn't seem to be buying it.

“And is that why she had to hug you?" She queried.

“Actually, Green," Martha tried to say.

“Shut your filthy mouth and get out of my sight." She almost growled and instantly, Martha arose but I held her back.

I gulped down my saliva again, wondering what devilish plans was scaling through my mate's mind. Regardless, I wasn't going to fear her.

“You know what," I said with a smile while Martha mentally pleaded for me to let go.

“Martha and I were just about to go for a walk." I arose too and walked towards her. Staring eye to eye. "Do you mind?"

She glared at the both of us like she was going to shred us into pieces but maintained my gaze regardless.

“Just don't forget your meeting with the commanders by four, Martha,” she said through gritted teeth before storming out. We both heaved a sigh as we exchanged looks.

“She's definitely jealous." I remarked and she laughed.

“You know, for a split second I thought she was going to do something drastic,” she replied.

“Me too but thankfully she didn't,” I said. "Which is quite weird." I added while she nodded.

“Anyways, are you still interested in going for a tour?" She asked.

“You bet I am." I chirped.

“As you wish, Lord Zeus,” she joked and then we began our gentle pace. I tried to retain my smile but deep down, I knew Green just leaving after what she saw meant something disastrous was bound to happen. To me or Martha.