Killian.
“How do I know if I can trust you?”
And just as I said, I needed to prove myself to the bloodsucker. I needed to prove that I was trustworthy enough to tell me all the secrets in Yzabelle’s life.
“I’m your daughter’s mate. And just so you know, it’s our rule to love and protect our destined mate. There’s no way I will harm your daughter,” I bowed my heart and soul.
I threw away the thoughts about the mission. Draco could probably hear my thoughts. Even if not, all I wanted to show him was my sincerity to protect his daughter.
There’s a moment of silence between us. He seemed to calculate what I said. And without a blink, I let him see through me.
I knew just by staring back into my eyes, he could read me.
He could read deep down on me.
And for a couple of minutes, he gave up gazing at me. He breathed out a hard and frustrated breath.
“Did she know?” he finally asked.
“Knew what?
Draco arched an eyebrow.
“That you were mates. Didn’t you say my daughter was with you? I didn’t doubt it, given the fact that you are the Lycan Prince. I knew better that you wouldn’t give up until you get what you want.”
I didn’t know if he either complimented me or mocked me.
I kind of grew some pride that he knew I wasn’t the one to give up so easily. He knew who he was dealing with.
“Yeah. I told her. She didn’t believe me. She was confused. And I was giving her time to understand and contemplate everything. But I knew, she was questioning her nature as well. After experiencing such an ability that no human could have, she will probably ask you questions. You should prepare yourself.”
Draco cleared his throat. “I don’t know when I will be able to tell her. I can’t confide in her. I couldn’t find myself letting her know the real reason why and how her mother died. She’ll definitely hate herself. Just how I loathed myself for years.”
I was stunned, a little confused about the beans he had been gradually spilling.
“What do you mean?” I whispered in confusion.
Draco turned his back on me. And I was certain it was to hide the emotions that were starting to fill his pale face.
“Her Mom and I committed an unforgivable sin. We shouldn’t be together. We aren’t fated by the law of her world. But the only sin we committed was to deeply love each other. Your goddess Selene seemed to play favorites among her children.”
I seemed to grow my head big. I could read between the lines. He mentioned the laws of her world. The goddess Selene. There’s no need to tell it straight to me. Yzabelle’s mother was a she-wolf!
“And she seemed to loathe my dearest Eva that much.” Draco continued as he turned to me. I could see the great fury in his eyes. It’s burning down…through his soul—if ever he had one.
“Your Goddess gave her the most horrible mate who did nothing but humiliate and punish her for something she never did. She was thrown to the valley farthest from his pack territory. And there, I found her, holding to her lifeline as thin as a thread. I should have killed her, drunk on her blood. But I can’t. Looking into her deep green eyes, I saw sorrow, yet it was lace with goodness that radiated through her. Right then, I knew that I wanted her. Not to be my living blood bank and food, but I wanted to be with her, cherish her, love and protect her. I did. I thought I did.”
Draco heaved a deep breath. I could hear him groaning inside, mourning inside.
“I got her pregnant. We were both happy and afraid. Eva knew that Selene would never be happy about it. We were from different worlds and not even mates and yet, we created something we shouldn’t. But we hold on to it. We couldn’t kill our own blood. Yet, we weren’t certain if Eva’s body would be able to hold the pregnancy. I mean, you know how we eat, how we live.”
I gulped the lump in my throat, hearing the agony faintly lacing his voice.
“Did you turn her? Into someone like you?”
I knew the answer but I still wanted to confirm it’s not possible.
“If only I could, if there’s only a way, I could. I would. I could not risk telling my ancestors and asking for help, because I knew they wouldn’t do that. And my Eva would only end up being their meal. I could not risk that from happening.” There was emorse layered through his voice.
I could figure out he was having those what-ifs lingering inside his head.
“So you went on with the pregnancy. What happened?”
“She was skin and bone when she gave birth to Yzabelle. She was able to see our daughter but it lasted a few minutes. She was lifeless right after giving our baby a goodbye kiss.”
Draco went to be indifferent again. It sure was his way to conceal the sorrow he had for the longest time.
I couldn’t imagine the pain of losing someone he deeply loved. Someone he fought and risked breaking laws for. I couldn’t imagine how much pain it was that he went on not showing any emotions at all.
Numb.
The pain turned him numb.
“I did everything to hide Yzabelle from the threatening danger if someone from my ancestors found out about her.. I gave everything to fulfill her longing for a mother. I even married a woman that I thought would fill the gap.”
“But do you know that’s the ultimate reason why she left home?”
Draco turned to me, wearing his emotionless face. “Did she tell you?”
“She didn’t. She was keeping it to her heart, afraid that she’d hurt you if she did. But I could feel it. I could see through her. Especially when I saw how her relationship with your stepdaughter was,” I gritted my teeth when I remembered the scene at the mall.
No one dared to yell and disrespect my mate. Even if it was her stepsister.
She was just a stepsister. They weren’t even related by blood.
And I thought vampires were never gullible. How come Draco was clueless about what was happening to his household?
“I rarely stayed in the mansion,” he said as if to answer my thoughts. “I distanced myself from my beloved beautiful daughter.”
I grimly looked at him. “But why?” I asked in between anger and puzzlement.
Draco turned to me, giving me the coldest gaze I had ever known.