Page 46 of The Time Of Kings

“I must impose upon you, Sophia, to stay… yes stay and become my betrothed’s companion, for strangely she knows no one here,” Draven said after giving me back my space but granting me a knowing look… That said he would soon discover all there was to know about me.

Well not if I could help it, because if this was the Sophia I knew and loved as a sister, then I also knew she was here to help bust me out of this situation.

“No one?” Sophia asked with a sceptical brow, making me question once more if she was still simply playing a part.

“Yes, my little beauty, here, came to be in my possession by strange means indeed, but that conversation is for another time, I dare say,” Draven replied, watching me as I let my shoulders slump, now wishing more than ever that I was free to just get up and leave.

However, Draven’s warning about chasing me was enough to keep me rooted to the spot. I didn’t exactly want to make more of a scene than this little family exchange was already making. The whole room seemed transfixed and they weren’t exactly trying to be inconspicuous about it.

But then something in the way that Sophia looked at me now gave me the tiny shred of hope I really needed in that moment. Something that was confirmed when she said,

“Very well, let us speak no more about it, for it is a joyous occasion and one celebrated without jolts of the past.”

I ended up swallowing a small gasp, one that Draven unfortunately didn’t miss. Because this was all I had needed to know that this was my Sophia, and the relief I felt could no doubt be shown on my face. As soon as her brother wasn’t looking, now turning his accusing gaze towards me, she shook her head ever so slightly at me, telling me to keep cool. Although how I could do that when Draven was raising a single brow at me in question, I didn’t know. Acting cool wasn’t exactly my forte at the best of times.

Thankfully, he looked back to Sophia, his frown firmly cemented on his face as he now cast suspicious eyes on his sister. He even opened his mouth as if about to question her. However, Sophia got there first.

“If you'll excuse me, the journey was arduous, and I would like to freshen up before the festivities are to fully begin,” she said with a curtsy, forcing Draven to bow his head in acknowledgment of this, no doubt his mind still questioning my reaction to his sister.

The whole interaction was so stressful that the second a server came close enough, I reached out and grabbed a glass, drinking down the red wine like it was the only water to be found in the desert. And I wouldn’t mind, but I still hated red wine.

As for Sophia, she left, making me wonder where Pip was. But most of all,where was my daughter?I was even about to scan the area in hopes of seeing her here and ensuring for myself that she was alright. But then I felt a firm hand rest upon my leg, and I swear I thought I would choke on my wine.

“Easy, sweetheart, for I have plans for you later,”he whispered once more in my ear, as clearly, he didn’t want our conversation to be overheard.

“Plans?”I practically squeaked out. Which was when he took the glass from my hand and held it out, as if knowing it would instantly be taken away by one of his minions.

“Plans…that don’t include sleeping,”he told me seductively, and I couldn’t help the shiver at the idea of what he may have ‘planned’ for later. Which was why I purposely yawned and told him,

“Well, I am very tired.”

He tossed his head back and laughed, his hand now slipping to the back of my neck where he gripped it in a firm hold.

“Then it is time for me to play the thief, for I very much intend to steal your sleep from you,”he replied, causing me to gasp and just like always, he knew exactly the right thing to say.

“What is this? No witty retort from the blade of your tongue?” he teased, and I couldn’t help but reply,

“You didn’t seem to mind my tongue earlier.”

His eyes widened, and those handsome, fine laughter lines appeared at the corners as he grinned.

“Ah, there she is, you had me worried for a moment.” He smirked, knowing what he was able to do to me. In fact, I had the next witty remark at the ready to go when the sudden sound of a glass breaking echoed throughout the room. A sound that ended up drawing my eyes away from Draven and towards another family member, making me suck in a quick breath.

Amelia.

Our sweet, quirky, brilliant, daughter was now looking panicked as her eyes focused solely on one person in the room…

Her own husband.

A Vampire who had clearly been occupied with another woman.

“Oh no.” I couldn’t stop myself from reacting, making Draven frown down at me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his gaze now focusing on where my attention was rooted. Meaning I had to think fast.

“That poor girl dropped a glass and it looks like she is getting scolded for it.”

I wasn’t wrong as the same man I remember being named Jacobs was snapping angry words down at her. But as soon as Draven’s eyes focused on our daughter, I couldn’t help but look to another. The devilishly handsome face of Lucius now fully intent on her, leaving behind the woman he had been with as he swiftly started to make his way across the room.

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