Evelyn
In the morning, sunlight streamed into the room, despite heavy curtains and woke me up. My eyes shot open. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Then reality hit me.
The attack. The castle. The vampires. And my vampire mate Damian.
I groaned and sat up on bed.
"Morning, Evelyn," Eva said in my head. "Hiding won't change anything."
"I know, Eva," I muttered.
But she was right. I couldn't hide here forever. I dragged myself out of my soft bed, and went to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror looked terrible. Dark circles under my eyes. Messy hair. Pale skin.
Great. Just great. one night turned me into a ghost.
I took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away some of the tension in my muscles. After getting dressed in jeans and a simple sweater, I stood in front of the door.
Should I go outside? Explore this creepy castle?
'Don't wander at night,' Damian had said last night. Well, it is morning now. So, I wasn't breaking his rules.
I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Empty. Silent. Just flickering candles. Does sunlight hate this place?
My stomach growled. I needed food. But where was the kitchen in this huge place? No one came here, and Damian hadn't told me anything.
I started walking, trying to remember the path from last night. Left or right? I couldn't remember.
So I chose left.
In the hallways I saw vampires staring at me with cold eyes.
After what felt like forever, I heard voices. Female voices. Laughter.
I followed the sound.
The voices led me to a large room that was slightly opened. I peeked inside.
Then I froze.
The room was beautiful. Not dark and cold like the rest of the castle.
A dozen women sat around on couches and chairs, all of them gorgeous, like models.
Most of them were vampires, some witches and humans too.
They wore elegant dresses. They were laughing. Talking. Drinking something red.
Oh goddess. Blood.
My stomach turned.
"Did you see the way the king looked at me last night?" one of them said.
"Oh please, Molly. He barely glanced at you," another one replied, rolling her eyes.
"He'll visit me tonight. I know it," the girl whose name was Molly said. My heart beat faster than it ever had before. He would visit her today?
"You wish. I heard the king brought a werewolf girl," another one said.
"A werewolf girl. Can you believe it? A filthy animal in our castle."
They all laughed. The sound made me want to claw my nails on their faces.
"Why would our king bring a wolf?" the dark-haired one asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Molly said, examining her perfect nails. "He's adding her to the harem."
Anger built up inside me like lava.
This was a harem. These women were Damian's women.
And they thought I was here to join them.
No.
My hands started shaking. My vision blurred with tears. So he was enjoying his life and fucking women while I was waiting for my mate and hadn't even kissed a man. What could I expect from him?
"If he even lets her leave," another added.
"You know how possessive he gets with his favorite things."
Things?
"Why are you listening to them, Evelyn? They're lying," Eva said, but there was agony in her voice.
"A werewolf could never be a favorite," Molly said with disgust. "She's probably just a pet. Something to play, until he gets bored."
I couldn't listen anymore.
I turned and ran. My footsteps echoed through the hallways, but I didn't stop.
I wiped my tears away angrily.
How could I be so stupid?
Damian had a harem. He was a king. A powerful vampire. Why wouldn't he surround himself with beautiful women who worshipped him?
Was this why he took me here? Another addition to his collection?
"Evelyn, calm down," Eva said in my head.
"You don't know that—"
"Don't, Eva!" I stopped her. "Don't defend him."
Somehow I reached the room I was occupying. And cried like a stupid girl.
Six months. I had to survive six months in a castle with a vampire king who had a harem. I couldn't live here. I felt sick.
'You're more than that,' he'd said last night. What was that?
I couldn't go back. I had to stay for my people.
Even if it killed me.
"Excuse me, Lady Evelyn?"
I spun around, quickly wiping my tears. A young vampire servant stood there with blank eyes. When had she come?
"Yes?" My voice came out harsher than I intended.
"His Majesty requested your presence in the dining hall. For breakfast," she said robotically.
"Tell him I'm not hungry," I said.
Her eyes turned red.
"His Majesty doesn't like to be refused."
I smiled bitterly. "I don't care what he likes or doesn't."
"Please, my lady. I'm just delivering the message. If you refuse, he'll likely come get you himself."
The thought of seeing Damian right now made my blood boil. But the servant looked terrified, and it wasn't her fault her king was an arrogant bastard.
"Fine," I said. "Let's go."
Soon we reached the dining hall, which was huge. A long table adorned the center, covered with different types of dishes.
Damn it. My favorite smells are all over the place. My eyes collided with Damian, who was sitting in the head chair.
His eyes turned red.
"Good morning, little wolf," he said. "I trust you slept well last night?"
I wanted to throw something at his perfect face. I wanted to kill him for having so many women in his life.
Instead, I walked to the table and sat down. As far away from him as possible.
"The food is for you."
"I'm not hungry," I lied. My stomach was growling, but I'd rather starve than accept anything from him.
He raised an eyebrow. "You need to eat."
"I said I'm not hungry."
We stared at each other.
"Why are you angry?" he asked. How did he know?.
"I'm not angry."
He leaned back in his chair, studying me.
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
"Little wolf—"
"Stop calling me that!" I slammed my hand on the table.
Damian's eyes flashed red. Dangerous.
"Careful. You could get hurt."
"Why did you take me here?" I asked him angrily. He didn't say anything.
"You want to add me to your harem?"
I stood up. I couldn't sit with him.
"I'm here to save my people. Not to be your entertainment."
Damian was on his feet in an instant. He moved so fast I didn't even see it. Suddenly he was right in front of me.
"You think I brought you here for that?" His voice was dangerously calm.
"What else for?" I shot back, even though my heart was in pain. Just like I expected, he didn't say anything.
His jaw clenched. "Those women are not mine. They live here. They serve the others. Some of them have nowhere else to go, and some of them asked to stay here."
I didn't know what I should say. Was he saying the truth?
"He is," Eva said. "Of course, only for you."
"But you could have any woman you want. Why make a deal for me?"
He stared at me for a long moment. Something flickered in his eyes. Then he turned and walked away.
"Eat your breakfast, Evelyn."
After saying that, he was gone.
Why did he leave?
Eva whimpered in my head. "Evelyn..."
"Not now," I whispered.
I sat back down and stared at the food.
I was still angry, and wanted to run away from this place.
But a small part of me—a part I didn't want to acknowledge—wondered if maybe, just maybe, I'd misjudged him.
No. I couldn't think like that.
He was a vampire. I was a werewolf. We were enemies. Nothing else
And I was stuck here for six months.