Chapter 10 Chapter Ten

Chapter 10 Chapter Ten


Jaslyn 

I hissed for the sixth time in a row as I flipped through the pages of the book I wasn't really reading. The words seemed to blur into each other, and my head was starting to ache. I crossed my legs together and leaned against the fluffy chair with another sigh. 

I was all alone in the large room I shared with Zeeland, and thankfully for me he wasn't around. He was prolly in the garden, North wing with Alyse. I tried to ignore the sharp pang of pain that shot around my heart with no success. After that time in his study, I'd caught Alyse giving me mocking and hateful stares. Surprisingly, I was affected by it even though I considered myself as thick skinned.

For the past few days, I acted the real part of a fake-mate. Maybe the arrival of Alyse prompted Zeeland to put me in my place. And did I mind?

Yes.

Even though I wanted to deny it.

The fact that Zeeland was a cripple didn't matter to me. He was well…good. 

“Uhhh, I'm going to go crazy if I don't get some fresh air.” I grumbled and pushed off the chair. I threw down the book on the nearby table and hurried out of the room. 

The hallway was as busy as usual and I pushed through the bustle with calm strides. I caught the arm of a nearby maid and she jerked around with a start. She gave a little bow and straightened.

“Is this the road to the library?” I asked, staring ahead. Hallways in the Fort were so complicated, and more often than not since my arrival, I'd ended up in the wrong place.

“No. But I could take you there.” She shook her head and offered in a respectful tone.

“Please.” I forced a smile.

As she led the way through another hallway, I caught the stares of some servants who turned their faces away whenever I met their stares. There were hushed whispers which I wished I could hear. 

“We’re here.” The maid announced moments later as we rounded up a large tall gray door that pushed up almost to the ceiling. 

“Thank y-” I turned toward the maid but she'd already left. I shrugged and went inside the library. 

“Woah.” I muttered with a look of awe and admiration.

It was like stepping into a fantasy library. The walls were soft-tone red with flecks of black and white. Shelves and shelves of books were neatly arranged in a circular manner. In the center was a little table with an unlit scented candle and two rows of beautiful bookmarks. Three chairs were alongside. There was also a coffee maker in the corner and a soft looking couch.

I allowed myself to admire the unorthodox library which was out of my expectations, before I finally pushed the door close and walked fully inside. I lit the candle and turned to peruse through the shelves. I stopped at the thriller stand and picked out a book. Then I went to sit down on one of the chairs.

This time, I wasn't distracted by thoughts of Zeeland or his…whatever she was to him.

It was halfway through the book that I felt an urgent need to feed. I wasn't sure if it was hunger for food or blood, but I grudgingly dropped the book down all the same. But that was after inserting a bookmark and making a silent promise to come back later.

As I straightened, I faced the window that could give a clear view of the forest and stretched my limbs a little. I blinked when I suddenly caught a movement in the forest. Concentrating and straining my eyes, I looked again.

There it was, a movement that looked like someone was running through the forest. Someone, not something.

Without thinking, I dashed out of the library and took a pathway that I hoped would lead me to an exit of the Fort. 

I muttered a quick thanks when I pushed open the door and ran out into the open. The forest was moments away from where I was.

One of the guards approached me and blocked my way. “The Alpha gave an order that you shouldn't be allowed outside.” He looked ready to drag me inside.

I didn't give him the chance. “Well, tell him that except I'm a prisoner, I can be allowed to race in the forest.” I darted off and spared a quick glance to see the sour look on his face.

Sunlight didn't manage to push its way through the thick and tall trees with their equally thick shades, into the forest. Occasionally, high pitched birds’ chirps broke the silence. I looked around in high alert as I went deeper into the forest.

“I can sense you. Come out.” I called out, as I caught a sharp rustle of leaves.

Quiet.

“If you don't come out now-” I began saying, when a man emerged and the words died on my lips. I knew at once that he was the stranger from that night. 

Same height. Same pale skin.

His skin even looked paler than it did that night, and my eyes met his. If it was possible for someone's breath to get knocked off, I'd be pretty sure that happened to me. His eyes beheld great power and seemed to see through me. He finally stopped right at my front and brushed his hand across my cheek.

I jerked as if I'd been electrocuted, and backed away. The place where his hand touched tingled and I didn't meet his gaze out of embarrassment.

“You called for me?” He asked in that smooth rumble of his, and that accent I was yet to place. It sounded British, but at the same time it wasn't. 

I didn't speak for a moment. 

“Jas?” He prompted, and I narrowed my eyes at the informality.

“It’s Jaslyn to you. Since I'm quite sure you won't tell me how you knew my name, would you want to tell me who you are?” I questioned, pleased at gaining back my confidence.

A strange look crossed his eyes for a moment, before his lips curled into a smile.

“You know who I am, Jas.” He drawled.

“It’s Jaslyn to you, Mister. And I don't know who you are.” I countered.

He crossed his arms lazily, and leaned closer to me. Filled with trepidation, I wanted to move away but my legs wouldn't do my bidding. The traitors pressed against the ground stubbornly and wouldn't move, even as alarm bells went off in my head.

His face was now inches away from mine, and if I moved my head up a bit, our lips would touch.

Oh God.

The thought sent a sharp foreign feeling across my belly and my breath rate quickened.

“Jas, you don't even know who you are.” Amongst all the words I'd been expecting him to say, those ones weren't on the list.

“Pardon?” I breathed when I finally found my voice.

His eyes twinkled with amusement. “You turned out to be prettier than I thought.”

Confused by his words, I forgot to correct his intimate pronunciation of my name.

“What are you talking about? What do you mean I don't know who I am?” I spat.

He pushed away from me. “Oh, you don't. But in a matter of time, you will.”

I stared at his gorgeous face, and the silent power that swirled in his eyes. My body began humming again.

“You’re a Vampire, aren't you?” I asked quietly, looking around in fear that someone might overhear us.

His face closed up. “The werewolves would stop at nothing to eliminate our kind. It's a war that's been going on for ages. But something far greater than what they expect, is coming.” When he spoke of the werewolves, his expression was cold and angry.

My stomach clenched at the steel in his voice and cold sweat dripped down my back. 

“I’ve exceeded my time here, Jas. I'll see you soon.” A look of longing crossed his eyes, and like a flash he was gone leaving the rustling of leaves and whip of air behind.

With straight shoulders, I made my way out of the forest and towards the library, determined to find out what I could about the war between werewolves and Vampires.

After walking for a while, I decided to take the path through the garden as that would lead me faster to the Fort. I took a detour, and hurried through the garden.

“You look more handsome than before, Zee.” The unmistakable voice of Alyse floated with the wind, and halted me in my tracks. 

“And so do you, my love.” There was adoration in Zeeland's voice as he replied, and I didn't need to see them to know that.

“What are you going to do about the slave?” Alyse said, when I turned to leave to head back the way I came from. I slowed down my steps as I waite

d for Zeeland to correct her manner of addressing me.

He didn't. 

“You don't need to worry about her, sweetheart. She won't be a bother.” He crooned.

That elicited a pained gasp from me, and I hurried away unwilling to hear more.