Chapter 27

Chapter 27
Rhea PoV

He came back, just like he promised, and honestly, I didn’t expect him to. I didn’t expect that he would want to be anywhere near me after finding out what I can do to a vampire. But here he is, sat next to me reading a book whilst I watch a show on tv. A show I can’t even remember the name of.

Why am I so attracted to him? My body wants him, in every meaning of the word, but my mind is somewhere else. Somewhere between hate and fear.

Maybe my body knows something I don’t.

He has done nothing but try and protect me, and whilst I appreciate it, he wouldn’t have had to if he left me where I was. My family would have protected me. They always have.

Until the day they willingly gave me away.

“Can I ask you something?” I whisper, unsure of my own voice.

Gabriel closes his book, giving me his full attention. “What is it Rhea?”

His eyes are so intense, it’s like they can see all the secrets of my soul. He has lived a whole lot longer than me, and he knows a whole lot more about fighting than I do.

“Will you teach me how to fight?” I ask cautiously, afraid it’ll anger him. “Or hire someone who will?”

“We can’t trust hiring someone right now, they could very well end up working for the resistance.” He said, deep in thought. “But I will teach you three times a week, the stronger you get, the more you’ll be able to control your power.”

“Are you worried I’ll hurt you?” I ask, wanting desperately to know the answer.

Does he trust me? Even a little?

“No.” He says firmly, “im not worried you’ll hurt me, I have faith that you see that I am more good for you than dangerous.”

“I was so afraid of you at first, and I wanted to hurt you so badly…”

“And now?”  he asks, his eyes so intense that I have to look away.

“I’m not sure.” I admit, “I don’t know how I feel about it, about any of it.”

“It’s ok to be confused.” He says, gently taking my hand in his, “but do not let that confusion turn to anger, just know that I am trying to protect you the best that I can.”

“How do I know that’s true?” I mumble, pulling my hand back, “how do I know that you are not deceiving me?”

“You don’t.” he shrugs, “but right now you have no one else in your corner.” He places his book on the nightstand. “Your family can’t help you, not against the vampires who are coming for your head.”

I groan, throwing my head back against my pillow. “But why do they want me dead?” I ask, “I’ve done nothing to harm the vampire resistance.”

He looks away, and I can’t for the life of me tell what he is thinking, is he planting something I don’t know about?

Does he know something that I don’t?

Perhaps he is lying to me and he knows exactly what they want from me, and maybe he just doesn’t want to let me go. It seems reasonable, but I can’t help but think that I am wrong.

Ugh. I’ve alphas hated being left in the dark.

“I don’t know why they are after you, Rhea.” He says slowly, “but I promise you that I will find out, they clearly know something about you that we don’t.”

This time, when he takes my hand, I let him, and he pulls me closely, laying me on his chest.

“I know that you are afraid of me, but you have my word that I will not harm you, Rhea.” He pulls me closer, “you have become the sun in my solar system, and I can’t survive without you.”

My heart flutters, a a breathy gasp leaves my lips. Does he mean that?

“Are you hungry my little wolf?” He asks, squeezing me. “Why don’t we go down the kitchen and get some ice cream?”

I smile, a real, pure smile. “That sounds like fun.”

“Good.” He smirks, climbing from the bed with me still tucked against his chest. “Then let’s go.”

“Wait!” I cry out, clutching at my nightdress. “I don’t want the staff to see me in my nightgown!”

He laughs, but places me onto my feet anyway, “go and change, but you have exactly three minutes before I come in there and take you to the kitchen regardless of what you are wearing!”

I laugh, running off into the closet and frantically looking through the clothes, quickly picking out a pain of grey joggers and a tank top.

When I walk out of the wardrobe, he’s waiting by the door, looking very impatient, and yet, when he looks at me, he smiles.

That smile is going something to my insides. I don’t know what, I don’t even know how to describe the feeling, but I don’t hate it. In fact, I quite like it.

He lifts me back up into his arms when I reach the door, “ah, no walking for you, my little queen.” He says teasingly. “You are much too good to use your own feet.”

I giggle, leaning my head against his shoulder, “I’m not a queen.”

“You will be, the ceremony is next week.” He says, walking down the winding stars towards the kitchen, “and once you are officially queen. We can start trying for a child.”

Of course, I almost forgot. That is all he wants from me, an heir. I don’t matter to him beyond the capabilities of my womb.

Fuck, I almost got too close. Almost.

“You want to try for a child whisky the rebellion is trying to kill me?” I ask, flabbergasted.

Doesn’t he understand that pregnancy is hard enough without someone trying to kill you every five minutes?

“You’ll be safe here, with me.” He says sternly, “and I only have so long to obtain an heir, my time is running out.”

I frown, not sure that I understand. “What do you mean?”

“If I can not hand my title over to a blood relative, it goes to the next available candidate picked by the council of vampires.” He explains slowly, holding me tighter. “I will be exiled to live my life alone.”

My heart aches for him, and I can’t explain why. From what I know, the vampire race has never thrived as much as it has with him being king. He has gone and changed everything. No more war. No more starvation.

He saved them from the brink of extinction, and this? This is how they repay him, by threatening to exile him?

How dare they.

“I’ll give you a child.” I say, a finality to my voice. “But when I do, you have to let me go.”

He looks down at me, something I can’t read in his eyes, “if you give me a healthy child, I will grant you freedom.”

I nod, not needing to say anything more.

One child and I will earn my freedom.

But I can’t help but think that something has shifted between Gabriel and I, and I’m not sure what it means.

Something feels different.

Maybe it’s the mountain air.