CHAPTER THREE

Rudolph 

"DIANA ROSE GARD," Rudolph lied, causing the King to raise a brow but nodded in acceptance nonetheless. 

"Why are you on my land?" 

Rudolph explained everything that happened, making sure his account of the events matched Diana's. He mentally pictured Diana patting his head and bit back a smile. He loved making her proud. 

He was used to lying after doing it for two years. He never felt bad about it as he would do anything to keep Diana safe.

He could never forget the details of Diana's fabricated story much less her name, not after she made him recite it twenty times. 

He shivered at the thought. 

That was the worst week of his life. The result was that he could now tell her fake story even in his sleep.

Her real story was huge, bigger than anything he had heard in his life but he was grateful she told him. Even though he could die just for knowing it. 

"Show them two rooms on the second floor and have Lacey give them a change of clothes. They will join me for dinner tonight.

"Do not let them be late," The King announced causing the guards and council members' jaws to drop literally. 

Rudolph would have laughed if he was not so scared. 

"But, your Highness, the second floor is-" a man standing close to the King started but was cut off by the powerful glare the King sent his way. 

The glare was not directed to Rudolph but he was startled by the intensity. It almost rivaled Diana's glare and Diana was the scariest person he knew. He knew that from experience. 

"Interrupt me again, Richard, and I will forget you are my special adviser." 

Rudolph shivered at the coldness of the threat carelessly thrown to Richard who looked even paler than pale which almost looked white as Richard was a Vampire. 

"My apologies, your Highness," Richard muttered but not before glaring at Rudolph who already turned on his heels and began walking back to Diana who immediately pulled him to her side. 

He never complained about her protectiveness he relished in it. After five years of being on his own, he could not help but attach himself to the first person who cared about him.

At first, she was cold to him like how she was with everyone else but he followed her around like a lost puppy.

When he helped her after a breakdown, she let him in and they had never been apart since then. They were all each other had after all. 

"You okay?" Diana asked worriedly, pulling him from his thoughts and he nodded with a smile. 

She was always protecting him and he never complained. He understood that it was in her nature to be protective and her wolf had taken a liking to him. He loved her too. 

The guard from before began leading them out of the judgement Hall as Rudolph caught Diana staring at the King curiously.

He nudged her, bringing her attention back to him and shot her a questioning look to which she shook her head. 

"You two can take the two rooms at the end of the hall. Lacey will be there shortly with clothes," the guard said and Rudolph shot Diana a concerned glance. 

For Rudolph's unspoken request, Diana requested the guards let them stay in one room and the guards agreed to Rudolph's relief.

It was not the first time they were staying together and it certainly would not be the last. 

Rudolph looked around the room while Diana took shower. Despite her protests, he let her go first, knowing she needed it more than him. 

Rudolph's eyes widened as the took in the fanciness of the room. It was wide and screamed expensive with furniture that cost more than he had ever made in his entire life.

There was a huge king size bed with red curtains hanging from the canopy over the bed. His hands itched to touch the shiny things he saw but he controlled himself.

The last thing he wanted was to get Diana in trouble because he could not resist taking things. 

Diana came out, dressed in the clothes a woman gave her. Water dripped from her black hair, wetting the black shirt she wore. Swiftly, she scanned the room for threats again before laying on the bed. 

"It's just you and I in here, Ana," he teased with a playful grin on his face. 

"You can never be too safe," she said and he mouthed the words at the same time she did. 

Diana immediately send him a glare that would send a grown-up man running for the hills but Rudolph rolled his eyes, which in turn made her smack his head. 

"Hey!" He exclaimed childishly and she ruffled his head. 

"Go shower, you stink," she ordered bluntly causing Rudolph to pout. 

Diana was only two years older than him but she treated him like a little brother. Rolling his eyes again, Rudolph stomped to the bathroom and came out ten minutes later, looking and feeling better. 

"You think the King has something else in mind for letting us stay?" Rudolph asked after they had both settled down. 

Currently, she was sprawled across the bed with her head on his chest, letting his heartbeat soothe her. 

"We are not staying to find out." That was all she said before falling asleep for the first time in two days. 

Rudolph kissed her forehead and pulled the covers over them. She worried him so much. Most of the time, she would ignore her needs and health, to ensure that he was fine.

She would keep watch over him without rest until she would be certain he was fine. He knew she had been worn out and it would not take long for her to break down and he had to intervene before she did. 

She would be mad at him when she woke up but it was for her good. After all, it was not often that he used his powers to make her fall asleep.