Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty

"Bast, the coven meeting will be held tomorrow. I think it best if you spent the day with Valerie." Damien said after I'd come out after my morning shower.

I thought about this for a few minutes as I dressed, and nearly agreed, until I thought about Damien's reaction when he told me this meeting needed to be called.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." I said, sitting on the edge of the bed, next to Damien. After I'd finished putting on my shoes, I turned to face him. "I won't leave you alone, knowing how you reacted just to the thought of this meeting."

"It's far more dangerous for me if you were to stay, rather than to be safe under the care of Sam." He responded, his gaze far off in the distance as he spoke.

"Look at me." I demanded, unwilling to let him cast me to the side. "I am your soon to be bride, and the wife to the vampire king. Is it not my right?"

Damien started to respond, but stopped as he didn't seem to know what to say. After a few moments, he chuckled deeply, shaking his head softly. "Yes, my love. I must warn you, the side of me you will see, is not a side of me that you'll particularly enjoy."

"You said you're having Sinclair and Sam come over, is it in preparation for the meeting tomorrow?" I asked as I stood and walked out of my room, heading towards the kitchen.

"Yes. I need to settle things with Sinclair, once and for all."

I stopped walking and turned to face him when he said this, furrowing my brow. "Are you going to destroy the house again?"

"If that is what it comes to, yes. I'm going to change the recreant law tomorrow, so I simply cannot have any reservations about my decision." He said nonchalantly, putting his arm around my waist, leading me into the kitchen where Divinity, Sam, and Sinclair were already waiting.

I smiled politely at Divinity before taking my seat across from her, next to Damien to sat at the head of the table.

"Well if you need to fight again, fine. I don't understand why you men can't just talk, like rational people, but so be it. Can you at the very least do it outside?" I said.

"Asking why men cannot be rational, is like asking why the scorpion stung the frog. It's their nature to be completely irrational, and brute. Being vampires just gives them the ability to destroy entire countries while fighting, rather than a room." Divinity said, her face devoid of any emotion.

"How is the potion coming along?" Damien asked her, putting food on a plate before setting it in front of me.

"I should have it done by the first of the month." She responded, watching me as I ate.

When I noticed her watching me, I stopped eating, feeling embarrassed. "What?"

"You rely utterly on this man, it's just fascinating to observe." She responded with a shrug.

"No I don't." I argued, my cheeks burning hot as everyone turned their attentions to me.

"You do, Bastet. He provides you with everything a human could ever need or want. And in turn, you give him your total respect, love, and admiration. It's compelling to know that he bought you, yet you don't seem to mind."

"I..." I trailed off, not knowing how to begin to respond to her. She wasn't wrong, and everything she said was the complete truth. It just seemed so.... wrong when she said it outright like that. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? Did he not buy you? Or rather, trade for you? You were his from the moment he caught your scent, and you accepted that.”

“Excuse me.” I said, my appetite completely gone as I stood, then went outside. I went to the meadow, but found even the serenity of my favorite place couldn’t bring me peace.

“My love, don’t let that woman infect you.” Damien said, walking up behind me.

“Why do you call me that? I’m not your love. I’m your item.” I responded, refusing to look at him as he sat next to me.

“You are nothing of the sort. I’ll admit, the way our relationship began is not ideal. But I love you, you said you loved me too. Was that a lie?”

“No, it wasn’t a lie. Why don’t you go and have your talk with Sam and Sinclair? I want to be alone right now.”

“Kitten,” Damien began to mumble, trying to get me to talk to him, but I shook my head, and sighed, telling him I really just wanted to be alone. “As you wish. I will leave you to your thoughts. I love you.”

I nodded as a response, and laid down in the meadow, looking up at the clear blue sky.

“I love you too, even though I should hate you.” I mumbled softly.