You Are Mine

Illyria's POV

We arrived once again to the village. While we walked through the crowd, they kept looking at us and murmuring amongst each other. I hugged myself and looked at Kieran, a lot of questions running through my mind.

“Why are they looking at us like that?" I asked, curiously. I felt uncomfortable and sudden goosebumps raised on my skin.

“They know,” he replied with a smirk, making me look at him confused. 

 “Know what?” 

“I will explain to you in the castle. For now, we have to get there and clean ourselves," he replied, picking up his pace, not giving me any choice but to follow him. We walked inside the castle and he took me by the hand to pull me towards his room.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, thinking he will definitely do something to me this time. My heart was beating fast, but I wasn't sure if it was fear or maybe attraction for him. ‘

'Shut up your stupid brain,' I said to myself.

We walked into his room, it was beautiful and modern. The bed was big and tall, with black cotton sheets and it was perfectly placed next to the arched windows. He also had a radio and a computer on a wooden desk by the bed. A stone fireplace was lit on the corner and there was a painting of a vampire sinking his teeth on a lady right on top of it.

It gave me chills to see that. I never realized someone could have all the commodities in an old castle. He walked to the bathroom and got a first aid kit to clean my wounds. I was surprised at how concerned he was about me.

I stopped him, taking the kit in my hands, our fingers brushing as I held a gasp at the strong sparks that I felt inside my already hot and bothered body. 

“Sit down, I will clean you up instead,” I whispered. 

He sat down and took his ripped shirt off, showing his muscles. Every time I saw them, my brain would turn into mush and my core would have an explosive reaction. After he took a deep breath, I came to my senses and looked at the kit for the alcohol and bandages.

“You know, thank you...for saving my life twice,” I said. He gazed at me with those intense golden eyes that scared me earlier, but for some reason, they were now comforting.

“It's nothing, just don't do it again. There are a lot of dangerous things out there, and you were lucky I was there to save you. You would have been a Warlock's prisoner.” 

I had to process those words. A Warlock's prisoner? 

“Those are the real monsters and they are way more dangerous than we are. They are powerful and would hit you even with the simplest of curses. That is why you don't wander the woods alone,” he scolded. I didn't want to argue, so I nodded.

Taking the alcohol and pad, I proceeded to clean his wound. As I kept cleaning, I noticed the big scratches were not there.

“You healed already. That's good,” I said, still not believing I was in a room with a vampire. A very strong, very sexy, very rude vampire.

“Stop having naughty thoughts about me,” he said, showing a glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. I rolled my eyes, putting the alcohol back in the first aid kit, but he stopped me, taking it back and lifting me to sit me on the bed. 

His hands traveled on my neck, where I had a deep cut and patted down with the pad, making me hiss as I held onto his biceps. They felt strong, making me gulp. He looked at my hand and his eyes glowed while he let out a soft snarl that surprisingly didn't scare me.

“Sorry, it stings a little,” I whispered, letting my hand go, but not taking my gaze away from him. He still had that cold expression on his face and I was wondering to myself, what could I do to make him like me?

‘No, Illyria. You are supposed to hate him. They are all monsters,’ I thought to myself. As he finished cleaning and bandaging my wound, he cleaned the blood he brushed on me.

“It's better if you take another bath, this will not come out easily like this,” he grunted while putting everything away, “you can use my washroom, I will prepare the bed for you.”

“You don't have to. I'll go to my own room.”

“You will not. I can't afford for you to try to escape again,” he said as he towered over me, looking straight into my eyes and I had no choice but to agree.

His testosterone was over the roof, showing his male dominance. I walked into the washroom, taking my dirty and bloodied clothes while checking my body in the black stoned mirror by the bathtub.

I turned the faucet on and I went in, letting the vapor of the hot water envelop me. It was an enjoyable bath and I scrubbed my body well before I stepped out, puting on a big buttoned up shirt he let me borrow.

“Ready to go to bed?" he asked. I nodded, making my way there.

He grabbed me by the hips, helping me up the bed. My body tensed at his touch and his breathing was heard in the silent room. I covered myself with the sheets, looking at him walk around, getting ready to take his own bath.

I couldn't sleep, I was restless. Looking out the window from the bed, I could see the sun rising in the distance. Putting my knees against my chest, I wrapped my arms around them. My dampened hair fell, covering my face while I remembered my parents again.

Tears would not stop falling down from my eyes, when I felt a cold, but comforting hand touch my cheek. As I looked up, I could see Kieran's concerned face, giving me a soft, reassuring smile. He sat next to me to take me in his arms in a comforting hug.

This is not the Kieran that I met. He was gentle and caring. I would hate him tomorrow, but for now, I needed his arms. I needed his embrace.

After a few minutes of enjoying his gesture, I calmed down and he pulled away, leaving me on my side while he turned around to go to sleep.

“Kieran, what did the red rose mean, and why did you paint me with the blood?” I asked, not containing my curiosity.

“That meant you were marked. That is what I did, I marked you with it instead of sticking my fangs in your neck. It is the least painful way to do it, but not permanent.”

“Does that mean?”

“Yes, Little Rose, it means you are mine now.”