Chapter 34

I didn't want to go anywhere from Callan's bed. His sheets were soft, keeping me warm the entire morning while he slept on the side, not rising up any time soon. Night-eaters slept through the whole morning, it kept them protected from the blazing sun. I remained in his bed, eyes wide open, squirming left and right under the sheets while keeping my silence.

I didn't want to wake Callan.

I slept with ease, without a single worry in my mind. His room was a safe haven. All those nightmares and visions came to an end when I slept here.

But it was not the last of it.

I woke up with a painful headache splintering all through my face and head. I suppose that was the punishment of doing black magic on someone who was a witch.

The third one.

My hands went over my eyes, rubbing them aggressively before I finally got up from the bed and tip toed to the washroom. It was past three. Late. My stomach grumbled as I reached the sink. My reflection screamed back at me to what I've done. I didn't look up, not even when I wanted to.

After drying the water on my face, I headed out, changing into my clothes and slipping on my shoes. The grounds of the court were ice-cold, freezing to touch. Anyone walking barefoot would be a manic.

I returned to the bed, grabbing my phone from the side table before taking another glance at Callan. His eyes were shut. I leaned close to him, placing a kiss on the side of his cheek before whispering a thank you. I didn't know what I would've done last night if he hadn't let me stay with him.

Slipping out of the room, I didn't look back. Servants and other members of the court were rushing around in the hallways as it was late-afternoon. Some of them caught my glance but most of them were in their own business. While walking back to my room, I noticed a strong, alluring pair of eyes piercing through my back, but every time I turned, there was no one looking at me.

Goosebumps crept over my skin. My stomach growled now in hunger and instead of going to my room, I went to grab some food.

Just as I reached the kitchen, I sensed someone breathing down my neck. The kitchen design was open with several servants working inside. Just beside the kitchen, there was a long wooden table with a few women seated and to the walls on the side, there were old paintings of the court and the castle.

My neck tilted a little and I looked back while one of the servants prepared something quick for me before I fainted.

A familiar woman caught my eye.

Claudia—my aunt who's little brother I had killed. It didn't take me long to recognize her. She was seated with another woman I had seen before. Eileen. Both of them aged and both of them who had their eyes on me.

Fuck.

"Rumors are spreading," I heard Eileen say behind me. "It's understandable the need you've to bed as many men as you can. As much as I've heard, your mother was quite the same. But how many more are you going to?" She asked, her tone playful.

I rolled my eyes, turning away and holding my rage back. Did they watch me leave Callan's bedroom? Or had they send someone to stalk me? I wouldn't get it past these two women. One of them shared the same blood as my father.

Claudia didn't say anything, but I felt her eyes still lingering on me, watching me carefully after last night's confrontation. But I wasn't concerned. Neither of them could do anything to harm me, no matter how much they wanted.

"What do you even tell them? Or do you appear as a broken, naive girl in need for protection? Is that how you trap men around here?" Eileen continued, talking behind me. Even when I didn't want to listen, I had to. "Who's next?"

My shoes clicked on the floor. I grabbed my sandwich and turned to her. "Probably your son—or your daughter—maybe even your husband if you've one. Whoever I can get my hands on." I smiled, mischievously.

Her mouth slammed shut at my response.

I left the kitchen area with my sandwich in my hand and went to eat it in my bedroom. My mind ached by the time I finished eating and even after taking medicines, the pain in my head didn't go.

There was a dark energy in my bedroom, and the walls of the room had consumed it entirely. My heart raced the entire time I was in my room. Unable to bear it, I stepped out and headed into the gardens extending from the court. Even then, I didn't feel at peace. Everything was rushing inside me, making me panic as if there was something terrible approaching.

Was there?

It was getting dark by the time I had reached out. The sun was dipping, skies changing hues and the lights of the court were being switched on.

I stood near to the bench, watching the skies while my arms were folded across my chest. For a moment, I didn't think of anything until I heard footsteps rushing to my direction. A young boy, barely twenty, running toward me with something in his hand and a larger bag hanging over his shoulder.

"Vivian Hart?" He asked, coming to a halt near me.

I lowered my head, meeting his eyes. "Yes?"

"Your room was locked and apparently, not many people around here know of you." He said while raising the envelope in his hand before handing it over to me.

"What's this?" I took it and turned it around. "Oh." A small breath escaped my lips when I found the seal of the Queen on the back.

The young boy smiled at me before running into another direction. From the bag on his shoulder, I could tell her was a sort of delivery boy. My attention diverted to the letter as soon as he was gone.

I opened the seal and pulled out the paper inside.

It was invitation—to the mating ball, the second ball of winter which was also hosted by Queen Alexandria, in her castle and I was invited.

I swallowed down my quickening nerves and headed back into the court, going straight to Callan's bedroom. He was wide awake by the time I reached, sipping on blood and changing his clothes.

"What's a mating ball?" I asked, raising the envelope while having no clue of where I had been invited to or for what. "Wait, did you get one as well?" My eyes lingered before falling on the side table by his bed where the same invitation was left, probably by the young boy.

"Yes. I get invited to everything, little witch," He said while buttoning up his shirt. "Except to your heart. Why did you run away in the morning?"

I pursed my lips, and my shoulders went straight back. "I didn't run. I left to eat something and I gave you a kiss before leaving."

"Mhm, I don't think so I felt it," He stepped forward with morning mischief over his face. "Maybe if you give me another one then I'll have something to go on with." Closing the distance between us, he stood straight, waiting for me to move and do as he wanted.

I reached up on my toes before placing a kiss on his mouth. "Thank you for letting me stay here last night." I whispered again while falling back on my feet.

"You're welcome." Callan turned, grabbing the glass of blood from the table and taking another long sip of it. "Now, what was it you wanted to know?"

I tried not to think of who's blood was in the glass or if I had tasted some of it after giving him a kiss. Instead, my attention returned to the letter in my hands and the mating ball I had been invited to.

"What's a mating ball?"

Callan chuckled. "It's a ball where eligible men and women come to find a mate, or anyone they'd like to wed or spend their lives with. It's held during the winter season, and it's a big event for plenty of us. A lot of arranged marriages are formed at the mating ball, and even some mating might take place."

I raised an eyebrow. "Arranged marriages? That sounds archaic. And isn't mating among werewolves only?" It was as far as my thoughts went.

Witches didn't have any tradition of mating, or marking as compared to werewolves.

"It's not that kind of mating and marking," He shook his head and even laughed a bit at my comment. "It's more like finding someone you'd want to stay with. And it also helps with strengthening alliances between different packs, and clans. No one is expected to find a mate at the ball. However, the whole thing has a different meaning for me."

"And what's that?"

"A sex ball," He grinned before lacing his arm around my waist. "But I've my eyes on someone already. Don't get any dress, or anything. I'll get for you."

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