Chapter 31

Chapter 31
Rhea PoV

I surprised even myself when I managed to finish the entire plate, the promise of Gabriel’s surprise hanging in the air around me like a sweet secret that I couldn’t wait to share. It would be nice to finally see some of the castle and not be cooped up in here all day, or at least, I hope he’d show me around a little bit. I never have been able to stand being inside of too long, it drives me insane. It drives my wolf insane too, not that she’d openly admit her discomfort.

Once the wolf’s bane has completely left my body, I hope she’ll talk to me more, I’d love to know more about her, and where exactly she came from, and why we are yellow of all colours.

I’ve never heard of a golden wolf, there’s no mention of any in all the story books I’ve read over the years.

Perhaps we are an anomaly, I’ve always been called an outsider, but I never actually expected it to be true.

If only I could ask the pack oracle about it, she’ll have an answer for me, she had an answer for everything. That’s her whole job. According to my father, oracles can speak directly to the moon goddess, which I always thought was nonsense, but now I’m kind of hoping that it’s true.

I expected Gabriel to hurt me when he found out I was different, but he didn’t seem too bothered by it, in fact, he was oddly calm. I wonder if he’s seen something like this before?

I’ll have to ask him.

I jump when the door opens, Gabriel striding in and looking directly at my plate before smiling up at me, “I guess I’ll have to keep my promise then.” He says with a shrug of his shoulders.

He acts like it’s no big deal, but I can tell he’s pleased.

“I guess you will.” I smile back, climbing off the bed. “But what is the surprise? Where are you going to take me?”

He smiles even wider than before, the action lighting up his entire face, he doesn’t look so intimidating when he smiles. He looks almost normal. If that’s even possible for a vampire king.

“You’ll have to wait and see, Rhea.” He teases, guiding me towards the door.

I was more excited to be simply leaving the confines of the room rather than actually getting something out of it. He could tow me to the garden and back and I would be the happiest person alive. The outdoors is where I feel the most at peace. I feel closer to nature than I do to people.

People are a lot harder to deal with than animals and plants, I’ve always thought so, even when I was a little girl.

Don’t get me wrong, I played with other kids, but I’d much rather have spent my time alone under a tree with a good book.

I don’t need a lot to be happy, just a small garden and a fresh book in my lap, that would be the dream right now.

It would certainly stop the Borden that has made its way into my soul over the past few weeks.

I hate being a prisoner, there’s nothing worse than the feeling of being trapped inside with nothing to do but sit with my own thoughts.

“You look upset, tell me what’s on your mind.” Gabriel says, catching me by surprise.

I look over at him as I follow him down the corridor, should I tell him the truth? I doubt he’d truly care, even if we have gotten closer over the past few days.

“It’s hard to explain.” I murmur, rubbing the back of my neck, “but I guess I’m just grateful to be out of the room, but I’m also sad because I know I will have to go back in there.”

He stares at me for what feels like an eternity, and then he turns away from me again, and carries on walking like I had said nothing at all.

So much for finally getting somewhere with him. He’s just the same as when I first came here.

He stood in front of a set of large double doors, turning to me, “I wasn’t sure you’d even appreciate this at first, but now I know that you will, and this will only be the beginning if you continue to do as I ask of you.”

I was about to ask what he meant when he turns and shoves both doors open, revealing a room much larger than anything I have ever seen. I walk inside, my eyes wide with shock and awe, lining every wall, from the floor to the ceiling, were books. More books than I could ever read in a thousand years. Much more than I had ever seen in one place before.

I walk further inside, the chandelier lighting up every corner of the room, lights dangling over the dark spines of books in a language I’m pretty sure looked like Latin.

“This is amazing.” I say before I realise, I’m even speaking. “It feels like I’ve walked into a dream.”

“It isn’t a dream, but it is yours.” He says, following me is de as I explore the shelves, “there’s everything from fantasy to science and history, and you can read whatever you like. They all belong to you now.”

I turn to him so fast I nearly fall, “they belong to me?” I repeat, unsure that I heard him right.

He nods, trying to hide his own smile. “Yes Rhea, I’m going to give you the world, one piece at a time, but first, I am giving you this.”

I run to him and throw myself into his arms, burying my head in his neck, unable to hold back a sob. “Thank you so much.” I cry.

“He pushes me back to stare down at me, “why are you crying? Aren’t you happy?”

I laugh a little, wiping away my tears. “Of course I’m happy! I’m just… I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I couldn’t have wished for anything more.”

“You can wish for whatever you’d like, and I’d get it for you.” He says, stroking a finger down my cheek, “all I want is for you to be happy here.”

For once, I believe him.

He’s shown me that he’s more than a monster, he’s also a man.