Chapter 8 #2
Xavier tilted his head, as if debating something. “Did it speak to you?” he asked.
“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to believe it myself. “But not with words. Not exactly. It felt more like… like it was inside my mind. Not saying anything, but somehow I still felt it trying to communicate with me in some way…”
Xavier closed his eyes for a moment, almost as if trying to absorb my answer. Did he know something and wasn’t telling me? When he opened them again, there was something different in his gaze.
“A dragon feeds on emotions…”
“Like vampires feed on others for blood?”
Xavier grinned at my question, suggesting my comparison wasn’t that far from the truth.
“Well kind of, but a water dragon can’t control it as much as vampires can control their lust over blood.
It lies in the power of a water dragon. They may have the ability to influence other people’s emotions, using the nature of water to evoke feelings of calm or clarity, and even turmoil and fear.
“Oh, how do you know so much about them?” I asked, still in awe from everything he’d explained about the dragon. Xavier tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s just say… I’ve lived long enough to learn a thing or two.”
I arched an eyebrow, curiosity rising like a tide. “How old are you?”
“You want to know my age… Why so curious all of a sudden?”
“I mean,” I began, my voice faltering a little under his gaze, “you said you’d been alive long enough to know all this lore about dragons, sirens, ancient bonds… It made me wonder. How old is long enough?”
“True, let me tell you I’m older than you, far older. Vampires are nearly immortal.” He smirked.
“And yet you don’t act like something so ancient…”
He chuckled. “Charming. I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment.” His expression turned more serious, though still warm. “And from now on, you’re not sleeping alone in my bedroom anymore.”
“What?” I blinked. “… I just had a nightmare, Xavier. That’s all.”
“This isn’t up for debate, my love.”
“But you cannot stay in the same bed as me…”
He chuckled at my protest, his fingers trailing along my calf.
“If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll grab a mattress and take the floor. But I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I murmured, though part of me hoped he would.
“Don’t argue with me, my sweet. It’s decided,” he said, and the way he spoke made it feel like a demand. “And frankly, a mattress is still better than last night.”
“What do you mean? What was last night?”
He didn’t look at me right away, his jaw tightened slightly.
“I didn’t sleep,” he said finally. “I couldn’t. I wanted to give you space, but I couldn’t walk away either.”
“Wait… where were you?” I asked.
“I stood outside the door the entire night… because I needed to know you were safe. Because I needed to remind myself…” he muttered. His eyes met mine, dark and burning red. “…that you were really here.” That you were really here.
What did he mean by that?
“You’re joking, right?” I said, though I already knew he wasn’t.
He only rolled his eyes like I was the ridiculous one for asking.
“I needed to make sure you weren’t just…
gone,” he murmured. “After everything I told you yesterday about me and our world, I didn’t want to risk waking up and finding you missing, or worse.
” His confession stirred something deep inside me.
I wasn’t sure what to say, so instead, I looked down at the soft blush-colored organza dress laying across the bed.
“I wasn’t sure about this dress at first,” he confessed, his eyes trailing over my body, “until you put it on this perfect body. With your beauty, it will turn into a masterpiece.”
I flushed, my cheeks burning under his gaze. What was wrong with me? My body responded to him as if it had a will of its own… like it remembered something I didn’t.
“Do you need help with the cords?” he asked gently.
I hesitated and shook my head, but then I imagined the touch of his hands on my skin…and it made my pulse quicken. I guess I wanted this more than I was willing to admit.
“Maybe… but turn around until I say so.”
To my surprise, he obeyed without a word. I slipped the dress over my body and struggled with the corset lacing at the back. After a few failed attempts, I felt his hands take over.
When I turned to the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The jeweled bodice shimmered like sunlight dancing on water. As if the sun blessed the dress itself.
“You are utterly stunning, my little demon,” he said quietly.
“Why do you call me that?”
He smirked, brushing his thumb across my lips, parting them.
“Because demons are beautiful, blending into society like a haunting curse… there is this wild and untamed spirit inside you that’s just waiting to be unfurled by me.
You challenge me, you ruin my mind, make me restless with need.
I yearn for the claws buried beneath your sweet soul, which is teasing every single thought in my mind.
” He lifted my chin, his eyes piercing right into my soul.
“And…” His tone turned gentle, his eyes glimmering a dark red. “I crave your madness.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Every single word branded itself in my heart like a sweet symphony. For a while, neither of us spoke, as his thumb kept brushing over my lips.
“So… what are we doing now?” I whispered finally.
“When it comes to me,” he said, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “…my intentions are far too unholy to share.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Xavier…”
He smirked. “What do you want to do?” His fingertips brushed softly over my face and I leaned into his touch, in a way that allowed myself to slip further into madness. Into him.
I should keep my distance, and should put space between us. I barely knew him, and I shouldn’t forget the world outside this place waiting for an answer from me.
“I was actually thinking…” I turned to face him, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. “You clearly own magic. And knowledge. And power. So…”
“Yes?” he said, arching a brow, amused.
“Do you know how to open a portal?”
That caught him off guard for a second. His smile faded into something more thoughtful.
“To where?” he asked, voice low and careful.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Home? Another realm? Where I came from, or maybe… where I belong.”
He studied me for a long moment, the teasing look gone now, replaced with something more solemn.
“Portals are dangerous,” he said at last. “And they’re never random.
They open for reasons… or for people who are meant to cross.
You didn’t end up here by accident, Gwendolyn.
If one brought you here… it’s because this world was calling you.
” And it would mean that I never belonged in the mortal world.
Xavier brushed his fingers against my cheek, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.
“Didn’t I tell you when you first came here, that some people don’t recognize when they end up in the place they belong to…”
Before I could respond, Xavier just extended his hand out for me to take.
“I don’t open portals, nor would I if I could. You’re mine,” he said.
“But… we only met… yesterday?”
“And?” Xavier looked at me, amused. His hand was still extended out and after a while I hesitantly took it.
“Well, where I come from, people go on dates, and spend time together before they marry.”
“So, you had some dates with Alexander before your engagement?”
“No. But my case was different. It was an arranged marriage.”
“Arranged in terms of force? I had no idea that humans were that far behind on love.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think the last arranged marriage was three-hundred-fifty years ago in Marabour. They aren’t well seen.” Somehow, this information surprised me.
“Why?”
“Because power thrives on love, and when you have an arranged marriage it’s most likely going to end very bad.
You won’t ever get to the point of trying your best for your kingdom, if you’re not with the person you love.
” He almost sounded hurt, and I wondered if it had to do with the relationship between his parents, knowing that neither were mated.
“Thursday evening, we will have some guests,” he suddenly stated.
“What guests?”
“My kind.” Vampires.
I knew he carried elven heritage inside him as well, but except for the shape of his ears, Xavier symbolized everything a vampire could ever stand for: obsession, temptation, sensuality and death.
Xavier embodied this forbidden desire women dreamt of while their parents talked about finding a good husband for them.
Not that good was ever the ideal I strived for.
I just wanted someone who accepted me and embraced the weirdness lingering in my mind.
Alexander used to be the type of man my mother wanted to see me with, but he treated me and everyone around him poorly, like he was some sort of royalty. Xavier on the other hand was a prince, and didn’t seem to care at all—as he barely behaved like one. And yet…he didn’t seem to want to change me.
“Why are they coming?” I asked, as I imagined what a room full of vampires looked like.
I was slightly intimidated by the fact that I was indeed meeting vampires, a folk I’ve never believed to be real.
Not that I believed any of this was real.
I didn’t want Xavier to notice my insecurity or fear, but he must have sensed my unease as his fingers brushed against my face.
“It’s business. An annual thing, a gathering of the entire Council of Elders, some still highly connected to the kingdoms of Aetrum and Marabour.
I always try to use this evening as an opportunity to discuss new territories, political matters, trade routes, and alliances.
You don’t need to be nervous… If any of these men even try to glance your way, it won’t be without any consequences for them. ”
Xavier took my hands in his, brushing over my knuckles until he pressed a kiss on each of them. “I’ll try my best to protect what’s mine, the behavior of a drunk vampire could always get out of control. Especially when they are in the presence of a haunting beauty like you.”
Haunting beauty.
I didn’t even realize that I was saying the two words quietly when I felt Xavier’s finger on my chin.
“Yes,” he said, lifting my face and making me look into his eyes.
“Captivating, memorable and striking. Your presence ignites an atmosphere around me that is both alluring and uneasy…”
“Uneasy?”
“It makes me long for you… it’s like you have woken something deep inside me… feelings I barely can control. That’s unsettling.”
Before I could ask him what he meant, his fingers slid through my hair, bending my head slightly backward. His nose brushed against the crook of my neck.
“You have no idea how sweet you smell. I can’t wait to taste you…
” As Xavier spoke these words to me, I felt a thrill run down my spine.
He leaned in, close enough that his cheek brushed against mine.
“One day you’ll beg for me, Gwendolyn. I’m going to taste your essence in various forms. Whatever you give me, I’ll lick it off, for I have starved far too long for you. ”
“Excuse me,” I said and yet a jolt of heat raced down my back.
“But let’s have breakfast first. Shall we?” Xavier didn’t seem to care about my outraged reaction. Instead, he took my hand and led me to a large balcony with an integrated stairway leading down to the garden. The warm sunlight caressed my face as he slowly began opening the large doors outside.
“I’ve had my servants prepare some food for us.
I didn’t know what you like. If something is missing, tell me right away and Marielle will prepare it for you,” he said, moving my chair to sit on it.
The tray was filled with all sorts of bakeries and pastries: rosewater macarons, candied violet cakes, glazed croissants and fresh bread.
His arms snaked around my waist, pulling me into a tight embrace from behind. My back was pressed against his stomach, as he buried his face into the crook of my neck, breathing me in.
“What are you doing?”
Xavier pulled his head back a little to glance at my face, a slight smirk forming at the edges of his lips.
“What do you think I’m doing?” He cupped my chin while his thumb gently grazed my lower lip.
He looked pensive like something was troubling him, before he suddenly leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, his lips still lingering on my skin as he spoke again, “I don’t ever intend on letting you go, Gwendolyn.
You might not understand it now, but eventually you will give in to me, and then you will beg. ”
“What?”
“You will plead for me… so desperately that anyone will hear you, even the ones that don’t have the ability to hear. Your screams will be imprinted into deeper spheres.”
Xavier’s hand on my waist dropped lower until it was resting around my pelvis, his other hand stroking my hip bone while his lips brushed against my ear, whispering, “Now that we are alone, my little demon. I’m going to show you what it’s going to look like if you’re mine.
One day I want you not only in my bed, but on my throne. ”
“A throne? I thought Carnivalland isn’t a kingdom, and that you don’t care about your title.”
Xavier almost seemed amused at my comment as his fingers trailed through my hair, twirling the ends of it.
“That’s true. I don’t care about the crown or the title.
But I do care about giving you everything you deserve.
I want all kingdoms, especially my father’s, to bow and kneel one day, not for the throne, but for you, my love. ”