Chapter 49 Under the Tree

Chapter 49 Under the Tree
Where had he disappeared to, and why was he reappearing before her now? Earlier, he had shown no interest in what the news the messenger had brought, but here he was seeking her out. 

Maybe he wished to break the betrothal and send her back home with the Duke. The life she would be subjected to might make her wish to stay in Kunlun. The vampires’ cold demeanor and disgust did remind her of her stepmother. If she failed in the vampire court, that would ruin her stepsister’s chances of a good match, and her stepmother’s fury would be unleashed upon her. She shuddered at the thought, pushing them from her mind. 

Looking at the king, she almost laughed. Hadn’t she been the one in the tree the first time they met? 

“They are good listeners.” She said, as Caen jumped to the ground, Dulcie’s ear only flicked at the sound of his boots against the grass. His legs bent under his weight and then rose to his full height. 

“And what have they been listening to?” He asked, picking a leaf out of her hair, standing in front of her, leaning one arm against the tree. 

For someone with such power, he had an air about him that was without worry. His tunic and breeches had no embellishments, but they did not need him. Just his being was enough to convey he was not to be trifled with. 

When she looked at him, she was beginning to see a different side of him. Not the king, but someone she enjoyed spending time with. Maybe it was one of the vampire tricks a well-meaning housemaid had warned her about before she made her way to Kunlun.

Like a fly trapped in the spider's web, she found herself staring into his eyes. Remembering herself, she broke the contact. 

“Nothing,” She shrugged, looking at the ground in disinterest. 

The bedding seemed unable to leave her thoughts. She could not comprehend how a human and a vampire could possibly complete the task. Would he hurt her? What if he refused? Repulsed by her and refusing to even be near her? 

She could not decide which would be worse, the physical pain or rejection. 

“Nothing? I thought maybe you would tell them of your terrible plight.” He flicked a twig off into the night. 

“My what?” Her head swiveled to look up at the vampire before her. Her wild hair flying as she turned her head. 

“You being stuck here for the rest of your days, married to the devil.” He gestured to himself. 

Lucy’s face contorted into perplexion as she just stared at him. He looked stunning in simplicity with his tunic, breeches, and leather boots. No expression crossed his features as he flicked the leaf into the wind.

There was nothing in her action that showed that portrayal of him in her mind, or at least she thought so. Racking her brain, she tried to think of any time in their meetings that she had. Scared definitely, but thinking of him as the Devil, not.

That was what others had told her he was and what nature might suggest, but to her, he was not, and she could not quite describe what she thought of him. 

She carefully picked her words, “I would not describe you as the devil.” 

Kunlun was by no means her first choice for her to live out her days. If she had been allowed to leave this foreign land, she did not know if she would stay. 

“I saw the look on your face, and I heard your heart; you were terrified.” His eyes bore into her in seriousness. 

In response, her heart began to race, and she prayed his eyesight was not as good as she thought, because she was sure her cheeks blazed red. “That was…” She started searching. “That was about something else.”

He did not seem to believe her as he let out a huff. 

The beating of her heart seemed to pick up as she considered why she had made the face. 

“I think you’re lying.” He said, annoyed.

“Why would you accuse me of such a thing?” She was not lying, but was not forthcoming with the truth. Frustration was seeping into her voice as she tried to prove her case. 

“Because, kitty, your heart beats faster than my horse's hooves in a sprint.” His eyes dropped to her chest and then back to her eyes.

Damn, she thought. He could hear her heart. It was like he could see right through her. Her cheeks burned even more at her thoughts from earlier. 

How could she ever find herself wondering about a vampire in such a way? Her nails dug into her palms as she tried to calm herself down. 

“Do I scare you that much?” He said in a whisper, causing her eyes to dart to his as if she had not heard him correctly. They narrowed as her lips parted in confusion. 

“No, you don’t,” She said before adding, “And that’s what scares me.” The latter was a whisper as she looked down, not even sure if the words had come out. 

The confession fell out of her lips before she could rein it back in. Her cheeks reddened at the mistake. 

Then a cold hand was cupping her chin, pulling her head up towards him. The hair that Patricia had so elegantly styled was becoming undone, with locks falling on either side of her face. Hopefully, it was shielding the red that tinted her face, though she doubted his keen eyes would miss a single detail. 

Her heart raced as his black eyes bore into hers. Searching. If he had not been so close to her, it would not have been possible for her even to make out his face in the darkness. 

He said nothing, causing her to grow worried. What if she had said the wrong thing? “Though there are others in your court who scare me. I don’t think everyone enjoys my presence.” 

It was a nice way of saying some wanted her dead. He seemed to understand her meaning.

Sitting on the ground, the bottom of her riding outfit grew wet, adding to her discomfort. She made no move to vacate the place she was sitting, though, as she waited for the king’s reply. 

Thinking about others wishing her harm helped distract her from her earlier embarrassment, easing the heat on her face. 

The corner of his lips curved up. “I concur, but they are none of importance.”

She looked at him incredulously. She was slightly offended that he was aware his subjects did not like her and wished she would leave. Or worse, “Who is important then?” 

“Me”