Chapter 14

Soft fingers gently brushing my skin woke me up from my slumber as I groggily opened my eyes. Slowly, my eyes darted around the room before focusing on Kieran, who was perched on the bed beside me. Jumping up quickly, I ran to the other side of the room and backed myself into a corner.

"No! stay away from me," I yelled angrily. "Don't come near me!"

Kieran looked puzzled as he stood up and held up both hands submissively. He stayed where he was and made no effort to come closer, but his presence was all over me like a bad smell, which only infuriated me more.

"Why did you run from the gardens, Elena?" Kieran whispered softly. "I sent guards looking for you, but they couldn't find you. I knew you would be up here hiding."

"Well, they didn't look very well, did they?" I replied sarcastically. "Why do you think I left the garden, Kieran? You killed them!"

"But, those people. They hurt you," Kieran defended loudly. "They deserved to be punished for what they did to you. I told you that I'd punish them for you, and I've kept my word."

"They were just children, Kieran!" I scoffed. "Barely even turned into adults. They've only just started their lives, and you've cruelly ripped it away from them! They didn't deserve to die like that!"

"But I don't get it?" Kieran mumbled gently, his face creased up in confusion. "Everything I do is for you! I wanted to show you that you didn't have to worry. Ever again."

"Worry about what, Kieran?" I demanded. "You need to tell me because I don't even know how to understand you right now!"

"I wanted you to know that you don't have to worry about being hurt again. If anyone ever lays a finger on you, I'll sort it," explained Kieran slowly, looking at me innocently.

"What by setting a pack of wild wolves on to them?" I ridiculed. "Those poor kids didn't stand a chance. You sat there and watched them getting torn limb from limb!"

"I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing," Kieran spluttered before walking around the bed. "Please let me come near you. I won't hurt you."

"See! You're so confusing!" I pointed out. "You say you're not like Carlton, but you really are! No! I don't want you around me right now!"

"What do you mean?" Kieran argued back, looking offended. "I'm nothing like Carlton!"

"Yes, you are," I growled, warning Kieran to back off. "You clearly enjoyed that shit storm of a bloodshed show. One minute you're all nice and gentle towards me. The next, you say horrible things and push me away. I can't win with you!"

"I don't know what you mean?" Kieran simply responded, putting his hand on his head and sighing loudly. "I'm not evil. I know I'm not. I'm good and kind and loyal. I've always been bought up to believe that those who go behind the Crown should be punished!"

"What by being ripped to shreds in front of hundreds of others, purely for entertainment?" I scoffed loudly. "Please, your sick in the head! If you don't mind, I'd like to go, please!"

"Go? Go where?" Kieran questioned suddenly, looking back towards me. "You can't go anywhere. You're mine now!"

"See what I mean!" I thundered darkly. "One minute you're all 'Oh, there's something about you, and I need to keep you close' and 'You're all mine, no one else's and then the next thing it's 'Remember you are just my servant girl, destined for the brothels.' I can't keep up with you, Kieran! You either want me here, or you don't!”

"It's complicated! You wouldn't understand!" Kieran thundered loudly. "Can't you just keep your mouth shut and accept what is?"

"I'd understand if you just let me!" I yelled. "You need to let me in! How can I best serve you as a servant if I don't know what is going on!"

"I can't tell you," Kieran replied simply, looking deflated. "I wish I could, but it would only scare you away. I'm fucked up. It's not all golden Alpha Prince like you've been seeing it."

"Then tell me!" I demanded, chewing my lip nervously. "Or you have a choice to make, as either way, I'm not hanging around waiting for you to end my life."

"End your life?" Kieran laughed in shock. "Is that what you think I want to do to you? Oh, baby, you can't be any further from the truth if you tried. What's this choice you speak of?"

"I'll make this quite clear, and I'm only saying it once," I replied loudly, staring at Kieran deeply in the eyes. "You either use me for what you want or need, or you send me down to the brothels like you first planned. I'm not your toy anymore!"

"I don't want to send you down to the brothels," Kieran pleaded desperately. "I don't want another man touching or even looking at you. I need you here, with me!"

"But why!" I screamed in exasperation. "You say all this, but you don't tell me why! Why do you feel like this towards me! I'm not something you can just own!"

"I think you need to calm down," Kierran simply stated, pointing to the bed. "Sit with me, and I'll explain."

"No thanks," I pouted sarcastically. "I think I'll stand here and keep hold of my free will a little longer, thanks."

Before I could blink, Kieran had stomped over towards me and picked me up, throwing me roughly over his shoulder. He simply carried me back to the bed with no struggle before dumping me onto the soft sheets. Carefully, Kieran sat beside me as I crawled away from him in fear and sat hunched up against one of the posts. Slowly, he turned his head and looked at me pitifully before smiling gently.

"Look, I'm sorry about what happened to those kids. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now, I can see that it was anything but," Kieren apologised, his face full of remorse. "I will make it up to you, I promise."

"How?" I whispered moodily, staring across the room sullenly.

"I don't know how, but I will!" Kieran continued gently. "But you are right. You deserve to know the truth seeing as it affects you as well, but please keep an open mind. But let me reassure you that I'm not going to force you into anything. But let's start with this. Elena, I am sorry!"