Page 61 of Beneath the Watching

“You look beautiful,” I murmured by her ear as we began to dance. She nuzzled my neck while I breathed in her scent. It was nice not to have to keep her locked up in the northern wing for a change.

I watched as Lucian brought Kiara out onto the dance floor, guiding her near us to dance. My guard instantly went up. This felt like a calculated move though I couldn’t begin to discern his motivation. Steering us away, I tried to keep an eye on the duo.

“Stefan,” Mabel hissed. “She's right there. Please?”

She glanced up at me with her big blue eyes. “We talked about this. She wouldn’t even recognize you,” I chided her.

“She’s my friend, one of my best friends. I miss her. What if I never get to see her again?”

“Maybe someday but not right now. Stop asking me when you already know what I’m going to say.”

Her back stiffened. “How do expect me to get used to being here when you won’t let me do anything? I’m stuck in your rooms all day, every day, other than when I get to back in the kitchen.”

“Mabel,” I warned. “Stop.”

“Kiara’s my friend and you’ve told me she's in danger.” She was starting to get angry. My quiet little human ward was coming further out of her shell at the worst possible time.

She growled at me, “She’srightthere.”

Mabel freed herself from my grasp and darted to the left, but not before I managed to snag her by the upper arm. I could’ve sworn I saw Lucian smirk. I leveled a gaze at the man and led Mabel across the marble flooring.

“Stop it Stefan, I’m worried about her.” She wrenched her arm away and I guided her forward.

“Don’t test me.”

We went through a doorway, and she whirled on me. “Let me see her,” she demanded.

“You saw her. You can see she’s fine.”

Mabel pointed her finger in my face, and I had to fight the urge to bite it. “But I’m not. I don’t see any danger in speaking to her, there was nothing happening. There’s hundreds of guards. What’s the problem?”

“The problem, my dear, is that you’re you. You have magic in you. Strong, valued magic. Not some minor magic like you can make a flower float in the air, no you can change people’s destinies with a word spoken by that little voice in your head.”

She blanched and I continued. “Your magic is sought after. People sell pieces of their souls, enslaving themselves to the likes of me for just the tiniest sliver of what you have within you. If you think for one fucking moment that I’m going to let anyone like that get their hand on you, you are sorely mistaken.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?”

This woman was going to drive me to a homicidal spree. “What do you think I’ve been telling you all this time?” I was struggling to keep my voice down. My aura was so violent I could see it in my peripheral vision for once. This wasn’t good, I didn’t need anyone getting curious what the disturbance was.

“Come on, I’m taking you back to our quarters and then I have to go back out there.”

We made our way to our rooms in silence, Mabel mostly staring at the floor. Her mental battle was written all over her face, so I was happy she met no one’s eyes. Her mood had changed, and I felt her withdrawing. I’m not sure what I expected after unloading on her the way I had but I did find myself smiling over her standing up for herself.

Once we were behind closed doors, I pulled her to me. She was trembling and I tried to soothe her, running my hand up and down her back. She was a vision of beauty in the deep blue gown she wore, her dark hair framing her face and complementing the dress. I had no idea what a vile creature such as myself had done to catch the eye of a woman like her, but I was happy the fates had granted the favor.

“Do you still want to be here?” I didn’t have to explain my question.

She glanced up at me. “Yes.”

“Technically, I did kidnap you.” She blinked and looked away. “Regardless, you did ask to come.”

Mabel ran her palm down my forearm and clasped my hand. “Well, if I have a choice in kidnappers, I’d choose you every time.”

Choice?I gripped her by the back of her neck. “Since when do you have a choice?”

“You, I mean you. What did you think I meant? I said you.”

Holding her face in my hands I pressed my lips against her forehead. “Your only choice is me, don’t lie to yourself.” She letout a little laugh and I grinned at her just as Benjamin and Jack strode through the door.

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