Chapter 16 Letters From Home #2
Elizabeth watched in fascination as his bicep squeezed Asmodeus’s throat. Asmodeus snarled and struggled, gasping profanities.
"Tap, or I’ll break it," Caspian grunted.
Asmodeus yelled, “NEVER.” The words came out muffled and half-choked. “Never give up—never surrender!”
The two spluttered and heaved, then Asmodeus shoved him off somehow. The two circled each other, leaving her standing in the doorway, completely ignored.
They grappled and laughed like overgrown children. She shook her head at the absurdity of monsters play-fighting.
As she closed the door, she heard a cry of victory followed by a loud thump.
On her way back to her chambers, Iago found her and handed her a small stack of envelopes.
When she had sent her first letters, Fiza had suggested she provide her friends and family with an address they could use to reach her, and had given her the name of a place in Veridas that Caspian used for correspondence.
Elizabeth held up a letter from her mother and grimaced. The envelope was thick. Could her day get any worse?
Her father had also written back to her, as had Charlotte. She debated whether she wanted to read Charlotte’s letter first or last, convinced that her parents had both written to tell her exactly how she had disappointed them and ruined the family.
With great trepidation, she ripped open her father’s letter.
Dear Elizabeth,
I am conflicted with you leaving, because, though you have embarrassed me greatly, I miss your presence at home and have been worried sick you have died or hurt yourself.
You have dishonoured the family and brought shame and ruin upon us, but you are my daughter, my only child.
You have tarnished our good name with the queen and severely impacted our coffers for the coming year.
How you thought to leave in the dead of the night after agreeing to go through with the engagement is beyond me…
Elizabeth didn’t read the rest. It was just like her father to be stubborn beyond belief and delude himself into believing she had actually agreed to the engagement.
Her mother’s letter was much the same.
Charlotte’s letter was much more positive.
Her friend was delighted she was off on a grand adventure.
Charlotte revealed outright what her parents’ letters had only hinted at—that the news of Elizabeth Ashcroft having run away from home had taken off in the court.
As a consequence, her family had been thrust from royal favour.
Apparently, Duke Howard was furious with her father and demanded compensation for the smear on his name.
Rumors were so bad, Charlotte advised her to steer clear of Rhodea for a while—at least for a few months—or until there was a new scandal for the nobility to obsess over.
Charlotte also requested that Elizabeth tell her immediately if anything else happened with her mysterious saviour and implored her to stay with her family when things at court calmed down.
Aside from the updates, Charlotte’s letter was filled with love and encouragement.
Elizabeth squinted to read the footnote Charlotte had scrawled at the bottom.
P.S. I hear troubling rumors from the east. Wherever you wander, steer clear of Faina.
The queen is livid. There have been several uprisings in the Fainan labour camps, and the commoners chant for rebellion.
The queen sends her soldiers out as we speak to re-establish order.
However, that kingdom perhaps remains unsafe for travel.
Elizabeth threw herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating what she had just read.
It was troubling to hear there was more unrest in the east. Elizabeth fretted, wondering if the rebels would move against her family next, or Charlotte’s.
She hoped the attack on the queen was the last they would hear about the rebels, but something told her that wouldn’t be the case.
Shaking her head, she tried not to think about it too much. There was nothing she could do from here anyway. Her parents and friends back home would just have to look after themselves.
Quickly, Elizabeth cast around for a quill and ink and penned Charlotte an equally long and detailed letter back. After some hesitation, she made a small request and sealed the letter with a flourish.
***
Later that evening, Elizabeth heard a knock at the door and was surprised to see Caspian standing there. She had forgotten it had already been a week.
Just what she needed, a murderous demon to drink her blood and make her feel even worse about herself tonight.
The letters from home had left her feeling self-conscious and bitter.
Elizabeth smiled grimly and wondered if there would ever come a time when she would regret throwing away her title and fortune.
“Hello, Elizabeth,” said Caspian, leaning against the doorframe and gazing down at her with hunger in his eyes.
The broad planes of his chest, and the chest hair peeking above the V of his tunic, snagged her attention before her gaze snapped up to his face. Their eyes locked.
“Are you ready for me?”
She hesitated. “I don’t think we should do it like that again,” she said carefully. “Can’t you just drink from my wrist? Please?”
His eyes bored into hers. “Why, Elizabeth?”
“Whatever happened last time, I’ve since come to my senses,” she said haughtily. “Besides, I’ve been here for several weeks now, and you’ve hardly said a word to me. I’m not being courted, so my answer is no.”
“Allow me to rectify that then,” he said smoothly, “and spend time with you properly.”
“I don’t think so.” She tried to keep her voice firm. “Why does it even matter? Our agreement is blood. Why must you kiss me anyway?”
“Because I desire it.” Caspian surveyed her with interest, as if she were a puzzle he was trying to solve. “Do you not?”
She lifted her chin stubbornly. “It is not part of our deal, nor am I interested.”
Caspian raised his brows. “Why?”
She narrowed her gaze in revulsion. “Because you’re a…” she trailed off, not wanting to voice the insult at the forefront of her mind.
She refused to say it, her lips clamping shut.
“A monster?” he said softly. “Is that what you were trying not to say?”
She nodded reluctantly.
“And you do not want to kiss or lie with a monster. Is that it?”
Not trusting herself if she looked into his eyes, she looked away. “Physical intimacy is not part of our deal. I checked the contract twice.”
“I could have sworn you liked our last rendezvous. Begged me not to stop, if I recall.” His words were arrogant, as if he knew her innermost desires.
She shook her head a little too hard.
“You’re a little liar.”
He stepped closer.
“A lovely, little liar.”
She inhaled. He smelled divine, like woodsmoke and leather. Her resolve faltered, and suddenly she wanted him beyond all reason. She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in his chest and have him wrap his arms around her.
“Kiss me.”
Pinching her lips together, she pushed her attraction away and resolutely crossed her arms over her chest. “I will not.”
He copied her stance. “Kiss me,” he commanded once more.
The ire in his tone somehow amused her. A mocking smirk crept onto her lips, and she slowly shook her head.
He frowned and lifted a palm. Black fire gathered at his fingertips, as if he were trying to frighten her.
“I said, kiss me,” he said sharply.
Something surged inside of Elizabeth when he said those words.
Was he using his powers on her? Every fiber of her being ached to cave, and give him what he wanted, if only to get him to stop looking at her with those eyes.
They pinned her in place. The authority in his gaze seared into her, almost painful in its intensity.
But he was a male used to having his every whim obeyed, and she would not betray her dignity.
She glared back with determined indifference. It left her feeling terrified and exhilarated all at once. “I really don’t think I will.”
Caspian stared at her, waiting.
Before she could stop herself, she found herself asking, “Why does it matter? Why not take blood from me and leave?”
“Because I desire to watch you break and give in to me,” he said darkly.
She recoiled, affronted. “What? Why—”
He stepped forward, and morbidly curious as to what he was about to do next, she froze.
She could hardly breathe as he leaned over her. His lips grazed the shell of her ear as he whispered, “Be a good girl for me.” His breath was warm against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
When he straightened, he looked smug as a cat.
Her gaze settled on his lips, and she leaned in slowly.
His eyes glowed brighter, his expression turning victorious.
She leaned in, her lips hovering before his as she said softly, “Not on your life.”
She withdrew, and her lips split into a wide grin as she watched him process that she had only been toying with him.
His nostrils flared.
She crossed her arms. “Honestly. I’m a daughter of high nobility. You think ordering me around would make me more interested?”
He looked taken aback but seemed to respect the line she had drawn.
She lightly shook her head, a small smile upon her lips.
He took her hand and slowly brought it to his lips. He kissed each of her fingers and kissed the back of her hand in a manner that bordered on obscene. He gently turned her wrist over, and she gasped as his canines pierced her skin.
The wrist was more painful than the neck, but, gods, was she rewarded.
She floated, her whole body thrumming with pleasure from whatever was in his bite.
Her worries and anxiety from the letters from home vanished from her thoughts.
And she leaned into whatever spell he placed on her.
A rush of affection for the demon in front of her encompassed her senses, and her eyes closed in bliss.
But then he stopped.
Just when she was about to demand he finish what he started, he withdrew.
He swiped her blood off his lower lip. “Until next time, Elizabeth.”